SPX to acquire extraction, evaporation, vacuum and freeze-drying company

SPX Corporation has announced that its Flow Technology segment entered into a definitive agreement to acquire e&e Verfahrenstechnik GmbH (e&e), a leading supplier of extraction, evaporation, vacuum and freeze-drying technologies to the global food and beverage, pharmaceutical and bioenergy industries.

"Our acquisition of e&e will expand and enhance our food and beverage capabilities and complement our 2010 acquisition of Anhydro, another leader in dry powder processing technologies and systems," said Don Canterna, Segment President, SPX Flow Technology.

"Additionally, e&e's freeze-drying technologies and deep experience in creating instant coffee production facilities will give expanded presence in the global coffee market, particularly in Europe and Asia, where e&e has strong relationships."

Founded in 1998 and based in Warendorf, Germany, e&e has approximately 40 employees and global capabilities through its commercial representation and sales in China, France, India, Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines, Russia, Turkey and Vietnam. The company's extraction, evaporation, vacuum and freeze-drying technologies are used primarily by customers in the food and beverage industry, but also by the pharmaceutical and bioenergy industries.

e&e has extensive in-house process and product expertise and has developed production plants handling more than 300 different types of products. A key market segment for the company is providing state-of-the-art processing technology for the soluble (instant) coffee industry, specialising in coffee extract preparation and freeze drying of coffee extract.

e&e's core technology covers solid/liquid and liquid/liquid extraction, thermal liquid concentration, solvent rectification and vacuum/freeze continuous belt or tray drying of pharmaceutical extracts, coffee extract, herbal extract, instant tea extract and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). e&e also operates a test centre for refining customer-specific processes and new product development.

The terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2011.