Finland-headed forest industry and energy technology provider Valmet Oyj has announced that it has entered into agreements to acquire EWK Umwelttechnik GmbH, a German company manufacturing and supplying air emission control systems and after-installation services, and ECP Group, a Finnish manufacturer and maintainer of air emission control systems. Expected to be completed in July 2021, these acquisitions complement Valmet’s customer offering in environmental technologies and related services.
According to a statement, the values of the acquisitions, which were entered into on June 9, 2021, will not be disclosed. After the acquisitions are completed, Valmet’s Environmental Systems offering covers technologies and services for wet and dry flue gas cleaning, flue gas desulfurization, NOx reduction and burner systems for energy and process industries, and marine scrubbers.
EWK Umwelttechnik acquisition
Founded in 1868, EWK Umwelttechnik is based in Kaiserslautern, Germany, and has approximately 50 employees. The company develops and plans individual systems for exhaust air, exhaust gas, and process gas cleaning with water treatment and energy recovery.
The emission control technologies portfolio includes electrostatic precipitators (ESPs), wet absorbers, catalytic and heat recovery systems, and wastewater purification products. The company serves multiple customer segments, including wood-based panelboard, glass, mineral wool, and steel industries.
Both Valmet and EWK have a long history in environmental solutions, technology, and business. The complementary broad offering of emission control solutions offers good possibilities to widen the scope beyond the current technologies, applications, and customer industries, and to continue to serve the customers globally to meet their current and future needs. As an industrial long-term owner Valmet provides EWK and its personnel a solid platform for further development and growth, said Peter Ohlenschläger, CEO of EWK Umwelttechnik.
The net sales of EWK Umwelttechnik were approximately EUR 22 million in 2020.
This acquisition is an excellent strategic fit for Valmet and our technology and services offering to enhance our customers’ environmental performance. The tightening emission regulations and strive for sustainable technology is increasing the demand for various air emission control solutions across industries. Integrating EWK Umwelttechnik’s offering to Valmet’s offering strengthens our environmental systems business by complementing our existing technology offering especially in the area of wet and dry electrostatic precipitators and in water treatment technology as well as widening the industries that our emission control technologies cover. EWK Umwelttechnik has a very skilled team and I am happy to warmly welcome them to become part of Valmet, said Bertel Karlstedt, Business Line President, Pulp and Energy, Valmet.
ECP Group acquisition
Founded in 2002, ECP Group is a manufacturer and maintainer of electrostatic precipitators (ESP), focusing on power plants and pulp and paper industry, in Finland. Based in Vantaa, and around 20 staff, the company’s offering consists of manufacturing and modernizing electrostatic precipitators as well as providing services, such as inspections, annual maintenance, spare parts, and performance improvements.
The net sales of ECP Group were approximately EUR 6 million in 2020.
Environmental demands are tightening in all industries, and this development is supporting Valmet and its Environmental Systems business. The acquisition of ECP Group means a step-change in our capabilities to offer environmental systems services. Together with ECP Group’s offering and competencies, we will enhance our after-sales capabilities and are able to serve our customers in improving and maintaining the emission controlling, said Jussi Sinisalo, Director, Environmental Systems, Pulp, and Energy business line, Valmet.
