FFE Minerals acquires materials handling company

FFE Minerals, the minerals processing arm of FLSmidth, has acquired KOCH Transporttechnik Germany and KOCH Transporttechnik Austria. KOCH Transporttechnik is a world leader in materials handling systems for various industries and is the worldwide market leader in pipe conveyors.

KOCH designs, manufactures, markets and services a broad range of mechanical transport equipment and systems in the minerals and cement industries as well as in pulp and paper.

The company is very well known especially for the transport of minerals such as iron ore and coal and is very active in cement as well. KOCH Austria is just now handling the pipe conveyors for the world’s largest cement production line, St. Genevieve in USA, - a plant designed and currently under construction by FLSmidth. KOCH Germany is completing the world's longest pipe conveyor of 8.2 km for Cementos Lima in Peru.

KOCH’s global reputation in conveying equipment application, design, and engineering will now be reinforced by FFE Minerals’ direct operating presence in eleven countries. FFE Minerals will greatly benefit from the experience of KOCH and together they will build a very strong position in the marketplace by creating a new Materials Handling technology Center within the FFE Minerals Group, headed by Heinz Känel, current General Manager of MVT, who worked for KOCH for 18 years prior to his service with FFE Minerals.

The sales of KOCH are expected to surpass 80 million euros in 2007 and will have a positive effect on the FLSmidth Group’s earnings in 2007.

“KOCH Transporttechnik has a proven record as a solid supplier of materials transport systems and brings to us technology, experience and a strong brand name that will strengthen our strategy of growth in the minerals processing industry. KOCH also has numerous references in the cement industry, thereby, demonstrating the synergies between our cement and minerals businesses” says, Group CEO Jørgen Huno Rasmussen, FLSmidth.

The acquisition is subject to approval by the authorities concerned, and the parties have agreed not to disclose the acquisition price.

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