In a transaction highlighting the importance of the North American market to its operations, German machinery manufacturer Reifenhäuser (Troisdorf; www.reifenhauser.com) in mid-December 2012 purchased US screws and barrels manufacturer Westland Corporation (Wichita, Kansas; www.reiloyusa.com). Financial details of the deal, as part of which Westland on 1 December was integrated into Reifenhäuser business unit Reiloy Metall (Troisdorf / Germany; www.reiloy.com), were not disclosed. Westland now operates as an independent business unit under its new name, Reiloy Westland.

Under the terms of the agreement, which not only expands Reifenhäuser’s production capacities in the US, but also its engineering and service in the region, Westland’s former president Dave Larson will continue to manage the new Reiloy Westland as president, reporting to Thomas Porstner, who heads the group’s Reiloy global business unit.

Commenting on the transaction, Reifenhäuser CEO Bernd Reifenhäuser said, “I am convinced that the US is an important strategic market for the Reifenhäuser group and that its significance will continue to increase in the future. By acquiring our own site for screws and barrels on location and investing in the capacities of the site, we are reacting to this development in the market.”