Wilo Increases Market Access to China

The Wilo Group has acquired all shares in the joint venture Mating (Shanghai) Membrane Technology Co., Ltd.. The company specialises in membrane bioreactors for wastewater treatment. In addition, Wilo has increased its stake in the German-Chinese joint venture Guhong (Shanghai) Environmental Engineering Equipment Co., Ltd. – a specialist in flood control – to 75 per cent, thus acquiring a majority interest.

With these strategic acquisitions, the technology group is purposefully expanding its water management portfolio, not to mention its manufacturing capacity and direct market access in China. “Thanks to the acquisitions, we can offer our customers an even wider range of solutions and implement local projects even quicker and from a single source”, explains Oliver Hermes, President & CEO of the Wilo Group. “In this way, we’re not only counteracting economic decoupling tendencies. We’re also consistently pursuing our strategic development towards becoming a solutions provider for all applications in the transport, use and treatment of water and sewage.”

The two companies will be integrated into the Strategic Business Unit Water Treatment, which combines all of the Wilo Group’s activities in the water and sewage treatment sector. However, the companies will continue to be led by local managers in Shanghai and remain economically independent. “Wilo’s market expertise and the two companies’ special solutions are the ideal combination to exploit the potentials of the Chinese market together”, says Dr Patrick Niehr, Member of the Executive Board and CCO of the Wilo Group.

The number of people employed by the multinational technology company will increase by around 80 in China thanks to the acquisitions. “The Wilo Group’s global distribution network and in particular the excellent set-up in China are an ideal base for tapping into other Asian markets”, Wilo President & CEO Hermes summarises. “With these acquisitions and the further diversification of the portfolio, we’re taking the next step in our growth strategy and strengthening our regional presence.”