Remaining on course for growth – CeramTec AG acquires ETEC

CeramTec and ETEC Gesellschaft für Technische Keramik mbH signed a purchase agreement on Wednesday, October 8th, 2008, finalizing the takeover deal to integrate ETEC into the CeramTec Group, effective November 1st, 2008. This keeps CeramTec on its growth course and extends its business activities into two additional market segments.

Based in Lohmar, Germany, ETEC is also represented in the USA and has 180 employees worldwide. It is one of the leading providers of solutions for wear and corrosion protection in industrial plants as well as components for ballistic protection of persons and vehicles. The acquisition opens up the ballistic market for CeramTec and ensures profitable growth within a new product segment. The name ETEC Gesellschaft für Technische Keramik mbH as well as the organizational structure will be retained unchanged. The Lohmar site will be expanded and contribute to the future success of the entire CeramTec group.

ETEC has made a name for itself worldwide as one of the largest and most important providers of wear and corrosion protection solutions. Its ceramic liners provide protection where highly abrasive materials are required. They are used in machines and systems in steel plants, in foundries, in the mining, processing and preparation of minerals, within the paper, pulp, chemical and pharmaceutical industries, in power plants (coal, wood and solid fuels), in cement production, and in concrete production and transportation.

ETEC ceramics are used in ballistic protection of personnel and property such as vehicles from UN and NATO peace-keeping troops, who use ceramic-based supplementary armor plating to protect against direct fire, artillery, mortar shrapnel and mine explosions. Vehicles belonging to German peace-keeping troops operating in conflict zones are also equipped with ceramic-based protection systems. ETEC also offers ceramic components for body protection systems. An important element of the composite systems is a ceramic plate that is fixed to a polyamide or glass-reinforced plastic backing using a high-performance adhesive. The advantage of such a system is that its basis weight is about half that of armored steel while still providing individuals with approximately the same level of protection.

Dieter Effenberger now Sole General Manager

Since that date, Dieter Effenberger, aged 55, has become CeramTec-ETEC’s sole General Manager. He has been member of the Management Board since April 1^st, 2010, being the Company’s responsible manager for sales and marketing.