BITZER SE, Sindelfingen, has taken over the long-established company Armaturenwerk Altenburg GmbH (AWA) based in Germany, with retroactive effect from 1 January 2013. The acquisition was approved by the Federal Cartel Office on 20 December 2012. Chief Procurement Officer Jürgen Kleiner explains, ‘By taking over Europe’s leading manufacturer of refrigerant fittings we have secured a supply to our manufacturing sites worldwide, and expanded our product portfolio. Our customers will from now on benefit from a complete range from a single supplier – all in the familiar BITZER quality.’
AWA, which was founded in 1879, produces and sells valves, sight glasses, solder adapters, flanges and fittings for refrigeration and air conditioning systems worldwide. The company generates a turnover of around €23 million with a total of 200 employees. Forty-five percent of its products are exported to the European Union, the USA, China, Brazil and Russia. ‘The AWA, FAS and Hans Nobis brands which the company markets will be retained, all of which stand for exceptional quality and reliability,’ comments Jürgen Kleiner.
New managing directors of the BITZER subsidiary will be long-standing AWA employees Diana Schubert and Günter Schuboth. Jürgen Kleiner continues, ‘Both of them enjoy our complete trust and will provide continuity both within the company and to the outside world.’ The previous owner,
Karl-Fritz Jordan (67), is leaving the company for personal reasons. Jordan made the business successful within just a decade, multiplying its turnover from three million (2002) to the current level of 23 million euros. Jordan says that selling AWA to BITZER secures a promising future for the Altenburg-based company. BITZER plans to expand and develop the location very soon. A neighboring property has already been purchased from the local council. ‘We are extending the production facilities and planning a logistics center which will ensure fast, flexible delivery,’ says Jürgen Kleiner.
AWA, which was founded in 1879, produces and sells valves, sight glasses, solder adapters, flanges and fittings for refrigeration and air conditioning systems worldwide. The company generates a turnover of around €23 million with a total of 200 employees. Forty-five percent of its products are exported to the European Union, the USA, China, Brazil and Russia. ‘The AWA, FAS and Hans Nobis brands which the company markets will be retained, all of which stand for exceptional quality and reliability,’ comments Jürgen Kleiner.
New managing directors of the BITZER subsidiary will be long-standing AWA employees Diana Schubert and Günter Schuboth. Jürgen Kleiner continues, ‘Both of them enjoy our complete trust and will provide continuity both within the company and to the outside world.’ The previous owner,
Karl-Fritz Jordan (67), is leaving the company for personal reasons. Jordan made the business successful within just a decade, multiplying its turnover from three million (2002) to the current level of 23 million euros. Jordan says that selling AWA to BITZER secures a promising future for the Altenburg-based company. BITZER plans to expand and develop the location very soon. A neighboring property has already been purchased from the local council. ‘We are extending the production facilities and planning a logistics center which will ensure fast, flexible delivery,’ says Jürgen Kleiner.
