On 29th November, Munich-based Max Valier Holdings completed the acquisition of Kolbus GmbH & Co.KG. The acquisition of the Kolbus parent company and all global subsidiaries in UK, USA, China and Europe will be complete by 1st January, 2025.
Kolbus has been a family-owned business for 249 years and began the self-administration process in July 2024. The restructuring and investment will ensure 340 jobs remain at the Rahden business. However, 155 immediate job losses were confirmed, along with the closure of the small satellite manufacturing site in Krostitz near Leipzig and the relocation earlier in the year of the AutoBox machinery production from Houghton Regis, UK to Rahden.
“Over the last six months, machine orders have continued to be fulfilled and new orders have also been taken, highlighting the trust and faith that remains for the Kolbus business and its high quality products, ensuring stability throughout the process of securing a new investor,” said Greg Bird, Managing Director, Kolbus UK. “The announcement is excellent news, providing a perfect solution to ensure Kolbus can continue to support all of our existing customer markets and we look forward to a future with accelerated innovation enabling the continuity of high quality customer focused solutions.”
Hannes Mahlknecht and Franco Nocera of Max Valier, said, “The acquisition of Kolbus is a valuable strategic addition to our business portfolio, with high quality mechanical engineering and foundry operations, we want to keep the company for the long term, long past its 250th anniversary next year.”
Max Valier specialises in the acquisition and development of medium sized engineering production and service companies. The commitment and support is long term, allowing the benefit of innovation and modernisation of the businesses. Kolbus GmbH joins four existing engineering companies within the Max Valier group, adding to over 1,000 current employees.
