Dürr expands automation business through acquisition of BBS Automation

The automation specialist BBS Automation is generating sales of around € 300 million in the current year. This will bring Dürr's sales in the segment to a good € 500 million and expand its global presence as one of the leading suppliers of automated assembly and test systems for automotive and e-mobility components, medical devices and electronic components. "With BBS Automation, we are establishing ourselves as one of the most powerful competence centers for automation solutions in mass and high-speed production. We are investing in a fast-growing sector with above-average earnings prospects," said Dr. Jochen Weyrauch, CEO of Dürr AG.

BBS Automation, based in Garching near Munich, was founded in 2013 and has around 1,200 employees and 14 locations in Europe, Asia and North America. These include highly efficient engineering and production sites. Systems for the production of automotive components, especially for the e-mobility sector, are expected to account for around 55 percent of sales in 2023. Examples include electric components, batteries, and elements for brakes and lighting. Automation technology is one of the most important growth sectors for Dürr. The Group had already acquired the automation experts Teamtechnik and Hekuma in 2021. With BBS Automation, the product range will be significantly broadened once again. The accessible market volume is expected to increase by an average of 9% over the next few years. Growth drivers are the shortage of labor, ever higher quality requirements and volumes in mass production, and rising prosperity in many regions of the world. Added to this are the e-mobility boom and - in the medical products sector - the growth and increasing age of the world's population. Under the Dürr umbrella, the three companies are to benefit from synergies and economies of scale, for example in sales, development, purchasing, service and production. This is expected to lead to increases in efficiency and margins.