Alfa Laval adds a fourth core product group - acquires membrane filtration competence

Alfa Laval adds a fourth core product group - acquires membrane filtration competence. Alfa Laval - a world leader in centrifugal separation, heat transfer and fluid handling - have today signed a contract to acquire Danish Separation Systems A/S (DSS), specialists within membrane filtration in the biotech/pharmaceutical and the food industries. DSS has annual sales about 90 MSEK and 65 employees within R&D, manufacturing and sales. Alfa Laval has since more than 100 years supported its global customer base with process optimization through the separation technology i.e. high-speed separators and decanters. Alfa Laval is one of the absolute top players within centrifugal separation, if not the one. The industry in general and the biotech/pharmaceutical and food industry in particular have today an additional need of separation of less dense particles as this industries becomes more and more advanced and membrane filtration is the accepted industry standard. Mr. Sigge Haraldsson, President and CEO of the Alfa Laval group, commented on the acquisition: "The acquisition of DSS is filling a gap in our product portfolio and will broaden the scope of our offering to existing and potential customers, especially to the fast growing biotech and pharmaceutical industries as well as to the food industry. The combined strengths of our global presence, with sales in more than 100 countries, and overall process expertise together with DSS expertise in membrane filtration is a prefect match. The acquisition of DSS is very exciting and it represents a growth potential." The acquisition offers a growth opportunity above the average. Membrane filtration has showed an annual growth in excess of 5% during a number of years. The growth is higher in USA and Asia where DSS have no market presence. Their main sales have been concentrated to Western Europe i.e. to Denmark, Italy, United Kingdom and Germany. Mr. Haraldsson continues: "It is of course our intention to extend the use of the membranes, as a complement to our high speed separators, both geographically and into our other customer segments as well. Lars-Erik Christensen, chairman of the board of Danish Separation Systems comments on the acquisition: "Alfa Laval and DSS have been working together, we know each other and I see a strong potential in this match. DSS is one of the oldest and most competent players within membrane filtration and with the market access now offered through Alfa Laval I see an clear growth potential." Editor's notes: Alfa Laval is a leading global provider of specialized products and engineering solutions. Our equipment, systems and services are dedicated to assisting customers in optimizing the performance of their processes. Time and time again. We help our customers to heat, cool, separate and transport products such as oil, water, chemicals, beverages, foodstuff, starch and pharmaceuticals. Our worldwide organization works closely with customers in almost 100 countries to help them stay ahead. Alfa Laval is listed on the Stockholm Exchange and has annual sales of approximately SEK 16 billion with about 9,200 employees. Further information can be found at www.alfalaval.com and www.sepsys.com/ For further information please contact: Peter Torstensson Lars-Erik Christensen Vice President, Communications Chairman of the board Alfa Laval Group Danish Separation Systems A/S Phone: +46 46 36 72 31 Phone: +45 70 20 02 35 Mobile: +46 709 33 72 31 Mobile: +45 40 64 06 76 peter.torstensson@alfalaval.com lehc@lehc.dk Yannick Richomme Executive Vice President Alfa Laval Group Phone: +45 39 53 60 00 Mobile: +33 29 75 22 703 yannick.richomme@alfalaval.com ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net The following files are available for download: http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2002/09/04/20020904BIT00210/wkr0001.doc http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2002/09/04/20020904BIT00210/wkr0002.pdf