Fuchs Petrolub SE acquired the lubricants business of Batoyle Freedom Group in the United Kingdom on June 20 and will integrate it into its subsidiary Fuchs Lubricants (UK). Terms were not disclosed.
Batoyle and Freedom, based in Huddersfield, recorded combined sales of 15 million (U.S. $20.4 million) in financial year 2013-2014. Following a transition period, manufacturing will be integrated into Fuchs’ plant in Hanley.
Mannheim, Germany-based Fuchs said in a news release that it made the acquisition to gain access to product technology, customer base and personnel, especially in the glass manufacturing lubricants sector. A Fuchs spokeperson told Lube Report, With regard to the glass business, we acquired a product line for the hot end of the glass manufacturing process (sheer lubricants, shot gun lubricants and lubricants for the so-called independent section machines. We intend to use Batoyles global footprint to develop the glass technology.
The Fuchs spokesperson said that all 70 employees will transfer to Fuchs.
According to Batoyles website, the company is one of the largest independent lubricant manufacturing companies in the U.K. Its five main lubricant divisions serve the automotive, glass, industrial, textile and tube and wire industries. It exports lubricants to more than 50 countries.
Batoyles other product lines complement the lubricants portfolio of Fuchs’ automotive and industrial businesses. The industrial product range consists of metalworking fluids and industrial oils including compressor oils. Automotive products are sold to agricultural customers and resellers.