IN FOCUS

KSB Limited of Loughborough, the UK arm of KSB Aktiengesellschaft, Frankenthal, has acquired the companies Prüftechnik Services Limited and Pumpserve Limited in a deal that will increase KSB’s service capability across the UK.

Solid growth in sales, particularly in the largest segment, water and wastewater. Lower margins for products to the process industry.

Invoiced sales for the first half of 2000 increased to MSEK 1211 (last year MSEK 1165) This corresponds to an increase of 3% adjusted for currency fluctuations and acquisitions. The increase was good in the water and wastewater segment which accounts for more than half of ABS sales. Deliveries to the process industry were at the same level as last year, whereas shipments to the building and construction area increased only thanks to the acquisition of CH&E in the US.

The economy’s upward swing, which has been apparent since last year, continued in the first half of the year 2000. Almost all regions, including the emerging economies in Asia and Latin America, registered rising demand and production. In the Western European industrialized countries the economy picked up markedly, which also improved the order intake situation in the German mechanical engineering sector. This development is beginning to show effect on the demand for pumps and valves.

Eaton Hydraulics has appointed Motion Industries as its nationwide, authorized Maintenance, Repair and Operations (MRO) Distributor for its complete line of Eaton, Char-Lynn® and Vickers hydraulics products. This new agreement helps Eaton provide border-to-border, localized supply and customer support through Motion, enhancing Eaton’s existing distribution network of applied engineering distributors (AEDs).

Sanitaire Corporation, which became a part of ITT Flygt in January 1999, will supply over 100,000 diffusers and 96 large ABJ stainless steal decanters over an eight month period, beginning in April 2001, at a value of over US$12.5 million. The process equipment requires minimum maintenance, and enables plant personnel to observe effluent quality at all times, it also provides emergency overflow control and a uniform rate of discharge.

Operating profit reached 37 MSEK (same as last year ) thanks to the good development of sales of cost-effective pumps, mixers and aerators to the Water and Waste water segment. Invoiced sales for the first quarter of 2000 increased to 571 Million Swedish Crowns (last year 538).