EMCO Maier Changes Hands

The Kuhn Group, Salzburg, Austria-based heavy-equipment distributor, purchased the full-line supplier for turning and milling machines, the EMCO Maier Group (including EMCO MECOF, one of the leading manufacturers of high-speed milling and boring machine centers), Hallein, Austria, from A-TEC, Vienna, for 25 Mio. Euro in December. In addition, Kuhn will take over liabilities so that the total transaction was valued at 37.7 Mio. Euro.

Kuhn won the bidding process over five other groups.

According to EMCO, for its 630 employees it is assurance for the future of the company and that the company remains Austrian-owned.

Regarding the reasons for the purchase of EMCO, Guenther Kuhn, Kuhn Group CEO, says: "EMCO was really the jewel of the A-TEC Group and we are pleased that we were able to take it over and to continue its success and its history as a family company. EMCO is a division which we have researched carefully and deliberately chosen. It will be our third strong pillar, and a diversification into a very promising market. We are a family owned company and not an investor. We want to safeguard jobs and know-how in Hallein“.

Guenther Kuhn started the company in 1973 in Salzburg and grew it into one of the biggest construction equipment dealer in Europe. Since 2000, his twin sons Stefan and Andreas have been part of the company. There will be no intervention into the operational side of EMCO, the company said.

With its extensive product portfolio, the EMCO Group is a respected and proven partner within the field of turning and milling. The group of companies consists of an association of top European suppliers (EMCO, EMCO MECOF, EMCO FAMUP, EMCO INTOS and EMCO MAGDEBURG) all of which come from the machine-tool industry. United under the common commitment of “Made in the Heart of Europe” they work on intelligent production solutions for machining industry and training. This means that all machines are designed consistent with the Design to Cost principle and that development and production of the machines is carried out entirely in Central Europe, making exclusive use of European brand-name products. All selected manufacturers fulfill the highest standards regarding quality, productivity and economy.

The takeover news was well received by the employees of EMCO. “This was the best possible outcome for the employees. The anticipation is that the new owner will strengthen and support the expansion of the headquarters in Hallein. EMCO has always been profitable and the employees are motivated to capture new markets”, said Baldur Eibl, head of the EMCO work council.

EMCO’s CEO Dr. Stefan Hansch expressed confidence that the support of Kuhn will enable EMCO to grow globally in markets including Brazil, Russia and China. “For the market expansion into Eastern Europe, the help of the new owner will be very helpful,” he said. “Kuhn’s sales expertise in Eastern Europe is very strong, and we want to follow what the Kuhn Group has already achieved in those markets.”

EMCO Maier USA relocated from Columbus, OH to Novi, MI, in January 2012. According to Dr. Hansch, “This is a new beginning and opportunity for EMCO USA to contribute to our global growth strategy.” Most of the staff moved with the company.

The new contact information is: EMCO Maier Corporation 46850 Magellan Drive, Unit 160 Novi, MI 48377-2448 Phone: 248-313-2700 Fax: 248-313-2701. www.emco-world.com.