Vision systems firm Seidenader joins Körber group

German precision machine company Körber is buying Seidenader Maschinenbau, a specialist in inspection machines, software, and vision applications for pharmaceutical production.

Körber said it is using this acquisition to boost its fast-growing pharmaceutical packaging technology division, headed by Körber Medipak. The division focuses on packaging machines - including cartoners, blister and sachet lines and integrated systems to pack parenteral drugs and medical devices - and the Rondo range of packaging materials.

Adding Seidenader into its portfolio gives Körber a range of inspection and sorting machines, packaging control software and industrial vision systems, including track-and-trace systems for serialisation and electronic pedigree applications.
 
"We are delighted that with Seidenader, an innovative company with very interesting technologies, we will be able to further expand our activities in the healthcare market of the future," said Richard Bauer, Körber's chief executive.

Seidenader joins a group of companies within Körber which collectively have sales of around €1.75bn a year and around 9,500 employees.

Körber Medipak itself has some 1,000 staff and reported sales of around €130m in 2009. Seidenader has 365 employees in Germany and the USA, and sales currently amount to around €55m a year. Financial terms of the acquisition have not been disclosed

Regarding the new management structure, the former managing partners of Seidenader, Nikolaus Seidenader and Volker Wedershoven, will continue to head the company within Körber as managing directors.

"Seidenader dovetails perfectly with Körber Medipak’s companies," said Gerhard Breu, Körber Medipak's chief executive.

"Together we will be able to exploit additional growth opportunities."


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