Bochum - GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft has agreed to acquire STERIS GmbH, a subsidiary of U.S. based STERIS Corporation. The transfer of STERIS GmbH to GEA Group, which is still subject to approval by the antitrust authorities, has been scheduled for November 2005. STERIS GmbH registered in Hürth near Cologne, Germany, is one of the leading manufacturers of lyophilizers (freeze dryers) for the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Annual sales of the corporation which employs some 160 persons total approximately 40 million U.S. dollars. "The acquisition of STERIS GmbH is another valuable addition to our product portfolio for the growing biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors. Over the next few years, the demand for lyophilizer (freeze dryers) will increase substantially, mainly driven by the growth in pharmaceutical products produced via the biotech route," said GEA Group's Executive Board member Peter Schenk. The pharmaceutical lyophilization (freeze drying) business of STERIS GmbH will strengthen the Process Engineering Division in the Process Engineering Segment.
The biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries are important markets for the GEA Process Engineering Division. As global market leaders in many segments, the GEA Process Engineering Division offers the pharmaceutical and biotechnology customer individual equipment and complete systems for liquid and powder (solid dosage forms) processing. Products include systems for fermentation, cell rupture (disrupture), filtration, cell harvesting, cleaning (CIP), dispensing (dosing and blending), granulation, drying, coating and tablet compression.
Niro Inc. (Niro Pharma Systems) will represent the STERIS GmbH lyophilizer (freeze dryer) range in North America.
SOURCE: GEA Process Engineering Inc.
GEA Process Engineering Inc. • 9165 Rumsey Road • Columbia, MD 21045
Tel. 410-997-8700 • E-mail: info@niroinc.com • Website: www.niroinc.com
RSS
