The Bosch Group has acquired the power tool accessories business of the Freud Group, Milan, Italy.
Bosch adds to its range of power tool accessories with the buy, especially in circular saw blades and router bits. The Freud Group is a global supplier of circular-saw blades, router bits, and cutters for woodworkers, professional and industrial users. These products are manufactured in four locations around the city of Udine in northeastern Italy. In this area, the company had sales of 100 million euros in 2007 (US$138.71 million).
Freud is Bosch’s fifth strategic acquisition this year to strengthen its Power Tools division. In January and July 2008, Bosch expanded its measuring-tools business by acquiring the Chinese specialist RoboToolz and the U.S. company CST/berger. A few weeks ago, Bosch also purchased parts of the garden irrigation business of L.R. Nelson Corporation, based in Peoria, IL, strengthening its range of garden irrigation products. In addition, it has acquired the majority shareholding in Sia Abrasives, a Swiss manufacturer of flexible abrasive systems.
With power tools, accessories, garden tools, and measuring technology, the Bosch Power Tools division had sales of 3.1 billion euros in 2007 (US$4.3 billion).
The Bosch Group has also acquired Servico N.V., its Belgian distribution partner. The company had sales of EUR 28 million in 2007. Servico’s core business revolves around selling Junkers products. The acquisition strengthens Bosch’s Thermotechnology Division.
Bosch Thermotechnology is a supplier of resource efficient heating products and hot water solutions in Europe. In fiscal 2007, the company had sales of EUR 2.8 billion (69 percent outside Germany). Bosch Thermotechnology has strong international and regional brands and manufactures a diversified product range in 18 plants in nine European and North American countries.
On Dec. 17, 2008, Bosch Rexroth and Ratos finalised the acquisition of Hägglunds Drives.
