US-headquartered extrusion technology and machinery supplier Davis-Standard (Pawcatuck, Connecticut; www.davis-standard.com) has agreed to buy Finland-based Maillefer International (Vantaa; www.maillefer.net) for an undisclosed sum. Privately owned Davis-Standard said its latest acquisition was a "global leader in wire, cable, pipe and tube production technologies." The firm said the deal was expected to complete later this month or in early September, subject to regulatory approval.

The firms said the arrangement would help both extend their global reach. Davis-Standard currently has six manufacturing centres around the world; three in the US and one each in Germany, China and Malaysia, as well as sales and service activities in the UK, Europe, the US, Latin America and the Far East. Maillefer has two "competence centres" – one in Finland and the other in Switzerland – as well as five service hubs, in the UK, the US, Latin America, Finland and China. The company also has a network of service agents across the world.

Speaking about the transaction, Davis-Standard chief executive Jim Murphy said, "Today is an important day for both our company and for Maillefer. We combine two strong brands into a market-leading global extrusions systems and services provider."