Technifor to be merged with New Hermes
New York, NY—The merchant bank Castle Harlan Inc., owner of Gravograph New Hermes Holding LLC (Atlanta, GA), plans to acquire Technifor. S.A. (Mirabel, France) and merge it with Gravograph. Gravograph (www.gravograph..com) is said to be the world's largest producer and distributor of engraving and laser marking machines and accessories.
Technifor (www.technifor.com), a leading producer of permanent marking devices, has among its products a Nd:YAG laser marker that will add capability to New Hermes' (www.newhermes.com) line of CO2 laser markers. More than 80 percent of Technifor's sales are outside of France and 50 percent of sales are to the automotive industry. Gravograph markets its products worldwide, although the U.S. represents about 40 percent of sales. Adding to the 35 percent of Technifor's sales in the U.S. will make the combined companies a major factor in the domestic marking market.
Gravograph chairman and CEO Ben Anderson-Ray says, "By acquiring Technifor, Gravograph will expand its position in industrial markets and add to its already significant worldwide distribution and service capabilities.—DAB