Kansai Helios acquires powder coating and resin manufacturer CWS Lackfabrik
Kansai Helios has signed a share purchase agreement to acquire 100 percent of the shares in CWS Lackfabrik GmbH ("CWS"). CWS, with its group companies, is a renowned manufacturer of powder coatings as well as liquid and solid synthetic resins with a tradition of over 150 years and headquarters in Düren (Germany).
Following fulfillment of the closing conditions, Kansai Helios will become the new owner of CWS and its group companies in Germany, the USA, Denmark and Poland. According to Kansai Helios, this consolidation represents a long-term opportunity to expand its market position in the coatings industry, particularly in the area of powder coatings as well as synthetic resins. CWS Lackfabrik GmbH is a family-owned company with around 250 employees. Its successful history began in 1864 and has been driven by continuous growth and ongoing investment in modern production technologies. CWS is also a recognized brand in the industry with powder coating production in Düren (Germany) and New York (USA), solid resin production in Düren (Germany) and liquid resin production in Düren and Hamburg (Germany). In addition, the group also has trading companies in Poland and Denmark. The owner and CEO of CWS, Mr. Hans-Helmuth Schmidt, explains his decision to sell his company: "CWS has developed into a strong and stable company that has become known far beyond the borders of Germany. Yes, we are on course for success and the company is in top form in terms of sales, profits, development potential and market share. But we are still a medium-sized company without the advantages of a large corporate group in a market environment that is becoming increasingly challenging for small and medium-sized companies. Selling my company is a great opportunity for long-term development, both for CWS and Kansai Helios."
As part of Kansai Paint, Kansai Helios is one of the major global market players. The group of companies has more than 170 years of history and tradition and today develops, manufactures and distributes industrial coating solutions, chemicals for bleaching and cleaning, materials for bonding and sealing, high-quality resins, architectural paints and repair coatings throughout Europe and beyond. The Kansai Helios powder coatings segment represents one of the most perspective-rich programs, offering a completely new look at functional coatings of the future - environmentally friendly and without organic solvents. With the purchase of CWS, Kansai Helios is significantly expanding its strategic position in this field, gaining additional know-how, sales channels, and production and storage capacity, and will further expand its presence in Europe, especially in Germany. Bastian Krauss, Managing Director of Kansai Helios Group, explains, "This acquisition is a milestone in line with Kansai Helios' ESG and growth strategy. With CWS, we have found a perfect complement and extension of our own competencies in powder coatings and synthetic resins as well as the existing liquid coatings business, which strengthens our system supplier strategy, as we not only share the same philosophy, but also the same values. I am convinced that this step will take us from Good to Great."