(l-r) Karlheinz Wex, Co-Chairman of the Executive Board of CERATIZIT S.A.; Horst Klenk, Managing Director of Klenk GmbH & Co. KG; and Thierry Wolter, member of the Executive Board of CERATIZIT S.A. at the contract signing.
Countersink drill by KLENK. Special tools like this drill are created for machining composite materials made of CFRP and titanium.
CERATIZIT S.A. has acquired the German manufacturer of solid carbide cutting tools Klenk GmbH & Co. KG. The CERATIZIT GROUP is thereby augmenting its product portfolio with customized solutions for solid carbide round tools. "The purchase is part of the worldwide acquisition strategy and reinforces the positioning of the CERATIZIT GROUP as a premium provider of all kinds of cutting tools," said a company spokesperson. "The acquisition of KLENK further advances CERATIZIT's growth in the aerospace, automotive and medical technology industries."
KLENK will profit from the global sales network of the CERATIZIT GROUP and its strong presence on the world market. For its production, KLENK will be able to draw rods and blanks from the competence brand Toolmaker Solutions by CERATIZIT. The solid carbide tool manufacturer's own KLENK brand will be kept.
The acquisition provides a spurt in the growth of the CERATIZIT GROUP in important target sectors since KLENK mainly produces solutions for the aerospace, automotive and medical technology industries. "KLENK is highly specialized in the aerospace sector," said Thierry Wolter, member of the Executive Board of the CERATIZIT GROUP. "With this acquisition we are investing in new know-how for a worldwide growth market." Air traffic is set to double in the next 15 years, while aircraft reaching the end of their service lives will be replaced by more efficient and environment friendly aircraft. Correspondingly, the demand for industry-specific metalcutting solutions will rise.
KLENK has been manufacturing carbide cutting tools since 1959 and has 120 employees at its site in Balzheim, Germany. Managing Director Horst Klenk, son of the company's founder Rolf Klenk, has been running the company since 1976. The solid carbide tool manufacturer makes over 85% of its turnover with special tools for drilling, countersinking, reaming and milling as well as regrinding and diamond-coated tools. These tool solutions are used in the machining of carbon fiber-reinforced plastics, titanium and aluminum alloys or steels.
For over 90 years CERATIZIT has been developing hard material products for cutting tools and wear protection. The family owned company, headquartered in Mamer, Luxembourg, develops and manufactures highly specialized tungsten carbide cutting tools, inserts and rods.
For more information contact:
CERATIZIT S.A.
www.ceratizit.com
Klenk GmbH & Co. KG
www.klenk-tools.de