FENTON — Burgaflex North America, a manufacturer of coolant system tube and hose assemblies serving the heavy truck, agricultural and off-road markets, has acquired Burgaflex GmbH, a Germany-based supplier for construction and agricultural equipment industries.
Burgaflex NA and Burgaflex GmbH were both previously part of the Burgaflex Group, which disbanded in 2010. Now, five years later, the companies have reunited. The transaction marks the first international acquisition for Burgaflex NA, and will provide them with a key European location to help better service their global OEM customer base.
“Our team has a strong relationship with Burgaflex GmbH, which will make for a smooth transition and integration of the two businesses,” said David Kennedy, CEO of Burgaflex NA.
Founded in 2001, Burgaflex GmbH currently employs 45 people and anticipates the company growing to more than 60 employees over the next five years as a result of this transaction. The company operates out of its 25,000-square-foot facility and predominantly serves the aftermarket.
“In approaching this acquisition, we factored in the strategic importance of international business,” said Jeremy Sheppard, president of Burgaflex NA. “We are confident that we can aggressively grow the business and improve the profitability through an increased focus on both operational efficiency and systems integration.”
Blackford Capital, a Grand Rapids-based private equity firm who partnered with Burgaflex NA in July of 2014, helped facilitate the acquisition.
