Alliance with Philips Enabling Technologies Group

Philips Enabling Technologies Group and Aalberts Industries N.V. are to work together intensively throughout the world in the area of Material Technology (heat and surface treatment).

Philips Enabling Technologies Group (Philips ETG) has decided to concentrate on its core activities. In view of this, it has been seeking a partner for its materials treatment (heat and surface treatment) activities. It has found this partner in Aalberts Industries N.V. As part of the deal Aalberts Industries will take over some business units from Philips.

A request for comments on the proposed acquisition was submitted to the works councils and trade unions in mid-2001. The acquisition will also be notified to the Dutch Competition Authority NMa.

The companies to be taken over are Philips Galvanotechniek Eindhoven (PGE) and Heat & Surface Treatment (H&ST) in Acht. The combined turnover of these activities is approximately eur 23 million. 250 employees will be affected by the turnover. The activities will be placed within two independent service centres which will form part of the international network of Aalberts Industries. This network comprises around 40 service centres throughout Europe and one centre in the USA.

The specific know-how possessed by Philips, particularly in the field of electronics applications, combined with the wide knowledge within Aalberts Industries in a wide variety of fields, will make it possible to offer combined solutions to meet the ever higher demands being placed on materials treatment activities both within Philips and beyond. In addition to production, the alliance will also focus on the development of new technologies and treatment methods.

The alliance fits in with the commitment of Aalberts Industries to expand its international network further, both quantitatively and qualitatively.