KE-Burgmann Expands Product Portfolio


On 1st August 2009 KE-Burgmann of Denmark, a subsidiary of the EagleBurgmann Group, acquired 100 percent ownership of American company EJS Inc. (Expansion Joint Systems) based in Santee, California. KE-Burgmann has been among the world's leading producers of fabric, metal and rubber expansion joints for decades, and this acquisition will considerably expand and strengthen its product portfolio. EJS was established in 1984 and, with its 70 employees, is one of the internationally leading manufacturers of highly engineered metal expansion joints. The company has a market share of some 35 percent in this field in the USA and Canada, in which two countries around 85 percent of its annual turnover (2008: over 20 million dollar) are generated. EJS will be known as KE-Burgmann EJS in the future. With this acquisition KE-Burgmann underlines its growth strategy in this high-end segment.

At its premises comprising almost 7,000 m2 of production and office space, EJS manufactures top-grade, technically sophisticated metal expansion joints which are very much in demand in the oil/gas and petrochemical industries, for example in the conveyance of very high temperatures in the fields of styrene processing or in highly abrasive media as catalytic cracking plants (FCCU Fluid Catalytic Cracking/CCRU Continuous Catalytic Cracking Units). The company's excellent standing in this respect is reflected in its status as one of just four expansion joint producers on UOP's schedule of preferred suppliers for these processes. UOP (United Oil Processes) is one of the world's largest providers of process technology and services to refineries and the petrochemical industry. EJS is a member of the internationally recognized organization EJMA (Expansion Joint Manufacturer Association), a body responsible for the standards and design criteria to which expansion joints are subject. Furthermore, the company is ASME-certified (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) in accordance with Section VIII, Division 1 and a certified PED-compliant (European Pressure Equipment Directive) manufacturer. Important USA-based customers including Exxon, Mobil Oil, Chevron or Shell trust in the high product quality and expertise guaranteed by EJS.

KE-Burgmann EJS will also be operating in the future with EJS founder Neville Barber as General Manager. "This acquisition has considerably boosted our chances and growth potential in the booming oil/gas and petrochemicals markets such as those in the USA or Middle East. Our combined engineering and production know-how together with our strong service orientation will significantly strengthen our position as the most versatile manufacturer in the global expansion joint market", emphasizes Peter Nielsen, CEO of the KE-Burgmann Group. "Seeing as EJS has mainly been active in the USA and Canada up to now, the EagleBurgmann Group's tightly-knit, worldwide sales and distribution network will make for major synergies and significant potential which we will greatly benefit from", adds the new and old General Manager of KE-Burgmann EJS, Neville Barber.

Further information on KE-Burgmann

Peter Lønborg Nielsen, CEO, KE-Burgmann Group

KE-Burgmann EJS Inc., 10035 Prospect Ave, Suite 202

Santee, CA 92071, USA

Phone: +1 619 562-6083, Fax: +1 619 562 0636

www.ke-burgmann.com

Neville J. Barber, General Manager

KE-Burgmann EJS Inc., 10035 Prospect Ave, Suite 202

Santee, CA 92071, USA

Phone: +1 619 562-6083, Fax: +1 619 562 0636

Signing of the contract. From the left: Peter Lønborg Nielsen, CEO, KE-Burgmann Group
and Neville Barber, General Manager, KE-Burgmann EJS.

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