Financial and press releases
INDUS acquires packaging machinery specialist
- H+S Group develops and produces special machinery for packaging solutions made from cardboard and paperboard
- Growth potential from global trends such as automation and sustainability
Stock exchange-listed INDUS Holding AG will take over 100% of the shares in Heiber und Schröder Maschinenbau GmbH (H+S), headquartered in Erkrath, Germany, and its subsidiary Heiber Schroeder USA, Inc., headquartered in Cary, Illinois. Established in 1985 and employing some 70 people, the medium-sized supplier of special machinery for the cardboard industry plans to generate sales of approx. EUR 28 million in 2021. The H+S Group covers the value chain from machine development to service and serves packaging manufacturers across the globe, primarily in the supply sector for the food and cosmetics industries, but also for the household goods and toys industries. After the acquisition, INDUS will unite 48 subsidiaries under its roof.
“As the technology leader in tray forming and window patching machines, H+S is a typical hidden champion in a niche segment, which is exactly what we are looking for to strengthen our portfolio,” says Dr. Johannes Schmidt, Chairman of the INDUS Board of Management. “Machines from H+S are used in automated processes in the cardboard industry. H+S incorporates current developments such as the substitution of cardboard for plastics or automated shipment packaging in the mail order business into new machine concepts. It is this innovative strength and the clear focus on markets of the future which convinced us.”
“Together with my two co-partners, we were looking for a new owner for the H+S Group who is able to offer the company and its employees excellent growth prospects,” says Dr. Julius Schröder-Frerkes, the previous owner of H+S. “Global trends such as automation and sustainability promise great growth potential. These market opportunities can now be leveraged by the H+S team together with a strong partner in the background.” Dr. Julius Schröder-Frerkes will remain associated with the company as a consultant. The long-serving managing directors André Garmer and Gustavo Adolfo Cuata-Mata will stay responsible for the operational management of the H+S Group.
Following the recent acquisitions of JST, WIRUS and the complementary addition of FLACO, the INDUS Group is continuing its growth strategy. “The stability of the non-cyclical food industry has become particularly evident during the pandemic. The acquisition of the H+S Group thus allows us to further strengthen our diversified portfolio,” says Dr. Johannes Schmidt.