Oerlikon, a supplier of surface engineering, polymer processing, and additive manufacturing services, has signed an agreement to acquire Italy-based INglass SpA and its hot-runner technology operating under the HRSflow brand. The acquisition represents a significant step in expanding Oerlikon’s current manmade fibers business into the larger polymer processing market, said the company, which has its headquarters in Pfäffikon, Switzerland. Completion of the transaction, subject to customary regulatory approvals, is expected by the second quarter of 2021.

Oerlikon said that its Manmade Fibers Division will be renamed Polymer Processing Solutions Division to reflect its expansion into this high-growth market. The division will comprise two business units: Flow Control Solutions and Manmade Fibers Solutions. The former will combine the expertise of Oerlikon Barmag’s existing gear metering pumps business line with INglass’s HRSflow operations. Manmade Fibers Solutions will continue to focus on growing the existing chemical fiber machinery and plant engineering business for the production of polyester, polypropylene, and polyamide.

“Our new Polymer Processing Solutions Division and the acquisition of INglass SpA and its HRSflow business are critical components of Oerlikon Group’s growth strategy,” said Dr. Roland Fischer, Oerlikon Group CEO. “We are accelerating our efforts to drive sustainable organic and inorganic growth in all of our businesses. The acquisition enables new synergy opportunities between both Oerlikon divisions in specific end markets such as automotive. With INglass and its HRSflow operations, we acquire leading suppliers in their markets with proven success of their technologies and services,” he added.

“We firmly believe that within the Oerlikon Group we can further exploit the potential of our hot-runner systems technology,” said Antonio Bortuzzo, INglass CEO. “When combined with the capabilities of Oerlikon Barmag gear metering pumps and their melt distribution engineering competence, our business will be positioned as one of the leading precision flow control specialists for multiple applications in a global growth market,” said Bortuzzo.

The Oerlikon Barmag brand offers high-precision flow-control components, including a large selection of gear metering pumps for textile and non-textile applications used in silicone casting, dynamic mixing, and oil spraying for the chemical, paint, polymer processing, and automotive industries.

The product portfolio of INglass includes hot runners as well as engineering and consultancy services for the development of polymer processing products. The HRSflow hot-runner systems are applied in multiple industries from automotive, consumer goods, and household appliances to packaging, waste management, construction, and transportation. The company is headquartered in San Polo di Piave, Italy, near Venice, and operates 55 sites worldwide, including production plants in Italy, China, and Grand Rapids, MI.

Following integration with Oerlikon Barmag’s gear metering pumps business of about 200 employees in Remscheid, Germany, the new Flow Control Solutions business unit will have aproximately 1,200 employees.

"We see great potential for growth in our new Flow Control Solutions business unit,” said Georg Stausberg, Polymer Processing Solutions Division CEO and member of the Executive Committee of the Oerlikon Group. “The businesses form the two core growth pillars and benefit from each other in global market development, in modern and digitized production, and in customer services. We also see potential synergies in R&D by combining existing know-how in the field of polymer processing. New technological solutions between hot-runner systems and gear metering pumps are conceivable. We also anticipate collaborating more closely with the Oerlikon Surface Solutions Division, particularly in future mobility applications and functional polymer component solutions for the automotive industry. All in all, we will offer our customers innovative and attractive solutions in the field of polymer processing and high-precision flow-control components,” said Stausberg.

Oerlikon has a global footprint of more than 10,600 employees at 179 locations in 37 countries.