Zamil Air Conditioners (ZAC) recently made a technology and brand name acquisition of Kessler Tech - well-known in Germany for its air handlers and ventilation units.
This is the third acquisition for Zamil Air Conditioners in Europe, the earlier two being Clima Tech in Austria and Geoclima. in Italy. Clima Tech specializes in air handling units for clean room applications and Geoclima is a reputed name for water chillers. Kessler Tech is more than 50 years' old. The brand with its unicorn-logo is firmly established and well positioned on the market for AHU solutions, as also with integrated refrigeration and control systems.
Kessler Tech ventilation and air handling units (standard, thermal-break free or welded unit series) are suitable for almost all applications in the industrial and comfort areas and are available for indoor and outdoor installation as well as for use in the hygiene sector. Major customer segments for Kessler Tech are pharmaceutical, chemical, automotive industries and power plants.
Kessler Tech units are available with designs as per regulations of the RAL-approved Quality Control Association for Ventilation and Air-Conditioning Equipment. Its units also conform to all the test procedures of Eurovent Certification.
Consequent to the acquisition, Kessler Clima Tech GmbH will be responsible for the sales activities in Germany, whereas production of its AHUs will take place at the Clima Tech factory in Austria.
Zamil Air conditioners is the largest supplier of air conditioners in the Middle East. It manufactures and markets a whole range of air conditioners - from room air conditioners to package units to large commercial air conditioners. Over the past few years, the company has embarked upon an ambitious growth path. Besides its three acquisitions in Europe, Zamil Air conditioners has expanded its production, and invested heavily in R&D.
Dammam-based Zac achieved earnings of $55 million through its international operations in 2001, representing 30 per cent of the company's total revenues, and expects to see "healthy performance" in 2002, a company official said earlier this year.
"We are looking to Europe with great hope, particularly the EU. Our acquisitions in Europe are providing us with the needed strength," a company official had said earlier this year before the Kessler Tech acquisition. Much of the hope for 2002 emanates from the "remarkable" growth of 30 per cent in 2001 witnessed by both the European operations.
ZAC also exports to the Middle East and North Africa (Mena), Australia, the Americas, the GCC states and several other Asian states. The major country markets are the UAE, Australia, Morocco, Tunisia, Iran and Bahrain.
Zac says it is keen on increasing European sales as the EU is the world's largest and richest trading bloc. It has said that as economic integration proceeds within the continent with the possible inclusion of East European countries into the EU, a production location in these countries will have natural advantages based on the economies of scale and with no worries with regard to tariff barriers.
The company says the European acquisitions are now not very big operations, but they enjoy respectable brand equity.
