IN FOCUS

Flender has officially started operating its new location in Brazil, strengthening its presence and service offerings in South America, especially in the wind energy sector, but also in the broadly diversified industrial business. This move follows the successful acquisition of the service business for wind turbine and assimilated industrial gear units from Wärtsilä Brasil Ltda., which started as a partnership in 2018 and represents the natural progression of this collaboration.

Valmet is strengthening its flow control capabilities in Australia with the inauguration of a new service center and a manufacturing unit in Sydney. The new facility enhances the availability of mission-critical flow control solutions and services for customers in process industries across the region, with a particular focus on Australia’s pulp, paper, mining and metals, refining, chemicals, and renewable energy sectors.

Trelleborg Sealing Solutions in India announces the development of its new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Bengaluru, Karnataka, a greenfield investment that increases production capacity by 30%.

Lutz Holding GmbH, a German group of companies specialising in professional fluid management, is expanding its international presence. The new branch office “Lutz-Jesco Italia S.r.l.” in Milan is set to become the foundation for long-term growth in one of Europe’s key regions. The new branch office builds upon an established sales partnership with the renowned Italian pump manufacturer ARGAL.

SMC has officially begun operations at its new Japan Technical Center (JTC), located in the Kashiwa City of Tokyo’s metropolitan region. The centre becomes SMC’s main global hub for research and development, designed to accelerate innovation and reinforce the company’s technological leadership worldwide.

The Wilo Group has opened the new Health Cube at its headquarters, Wilopark in Dortmund. At around 5,500 square metres, the health centre offers space for Wilo’s Global Health Management, including occupational health and psychotherapeutic services, social and life counselling, the Health Club with sports diagnostics and outdoor sports facilities, a “quiet room”, hydro massage beds, a lounge with an open, experiential kitchen, and holiday care for children.

Valmet is planning changes to its manufacturing in Sweden and Poland and has initiated change negotiations in its Global Supply unit concerning the planned closure of manufacturing at its Sundsvall site in Sweden. In addition, Valmet starts negotiations about proposed changes to its Global Supply unit’s operations in Gothenburg, Sweden, and Jelenia Góra, Poland.

EKKI Group, together with Germany-based HOMA Pumpenfabrik, has expanded their joint-venture manufacturing facility EKKI HOMA, strengthening the production of advanced sewage pumping solutions in Coimbatore, India. The expansion was recently inaugurated by N. K. Ranganath, Chief Advisor of EKKI HOMA, along with Hans Hoffmann, Marcel Hoffmann, Arumugam P, and Kanishka Arumugam, Directors of EKKI HOMA.

ViscoTec has reached another strategic milestone in its global expansion: On January 23, 2026, the company acquired its long-standing sales partner MEI Representaciones, based in Querétaro, Mexico, thereby establishing the new ViscoTec Mexico branch.

Busch Vacuum Solutions USA proudly celebrated a major milestone – 50 years of business in the United States – with a Grand Reopening and VIP Open House at its Virginia Beach headquarters. The event brought together employees, customers, community partners, and dignitaries to commemorate a half-century of innovation, growth, and partnership.