core sector communique

SMS SIEMAG

SMS Siemag acquires gatv, Gesellschaft  fur aero-und thermodynamische Verfahrenstechnik

On July 1, 2011, Gesellschaft fur aero-und thermodynamische Verfahrenstechnik, gatv, Germany, a company hitherto domiciled in Leverkusen and specializing in aerodynamic and thermodynamic process engineering, was incorporated into SMS Siemag, Germany. The employees of gatv are being integrated as a separate department into the newly created ‘’Thermal Processing Engineering’’ Division in Dusseldorf.

Through this acquisition, SMS Siemag has gained a team of experts who have been working successfully for more than 20 years in the field of process technology for strip coating lines (drying and cooling systems for strips, exhaust-air cleaning systems with highly efficient energy recovery systems). gatv designs, manufactures and supplies process plants for foil and strip processing lines worldwide, above all for the aluminum and steel industries. A particularly important element of this supply scope are the technologically sophisticated floater furnaces for aluminum in the coating and annealing sector (automotive und aerospace).

A further successful pillar of the firm is the revamp of existing plants with a view to achieving enhanced efficiency and energy savings. The annual business Volume is 5 to 8 million euros.

To further expand its competences in the field of heat treatment of flat products, SMS Siemag founded the ‘’Thermal Process Engineering’’ Division on January 1, 2011. The division, with headquarters in Dusseldorf, has more than 200 employees distributed worldwide. This also includes its subsidiaries Drever International from Belgium and Ares, domiciled in China.

‘’One of the aims of the Division is to expand our competences in process technology installed in strip processing lines for aluminum and steel’’, says the Executive Vice President of the Division, Dr.Fritz Bruhl. ‘’We have made great strides in this direction with the acquisition of gatv.’’

There have already been a number of cooperative ventures between SMS Siemag and gatv in the past. For example, gatv  is providing the complete  process engineering for the color coating line for aluminum and steel strip, which is currently being erected in Turkey by SMS Siemag for ASAS Aluminyum.