Sartorius signs agreement with technology group

Sartorius has signed an agreement with the British technology group Smiths.

The Smiths Group is in the process of purchasing all the shares in the hydrodynamic bearing company for around 20 million euros (14 million pounds).

According to Dr Joachim Kreuzburg, chief executive and executive board chairman of Sartorius, German-based Sartorius Bearing Technology will be integrated into the John Crane business of Smiths, focusing on the design and manufacture of seals.

"We carefully weighed all options for the future and ultimately chose the best prospects for employees, customers and shareholders," he commented.

"Our successful hydrodynamic bearings business will be optimally promoted in John Crane and will gain the opportunity to rapidly take the necessary steps for globalisation," Dr Kreuzburg concluded.

The Sartorius Group intends to focus on its two core areas of activity, biotechnology and mechatronics, as well as on its major groups of customers, the biopharmaceutical, chemical and food industries.

Hydrodynamic bearings are used by customers from the energy sector and plant and system engineering field, predominantly in high-speed applications such as turbines, compressors and industrial pumps.

The Sartorius Group is a leading laboratory and process technology provider covering the segments of biotechnology and mechatronics.