Germany-based GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft, which services Africa through Johannesburg-based subsidiary GEA Africa, has acquired another three companies in carrying out its merger and acquisition (M&A) strategy. The recent acquisitions are CMT S.p.A, a leading supplier of single equipment and integrated production lines for pasta filata cheese; Hilge, a leading supplier of hygienic pumps (especially stainless steel) for food and beverage applications; and Comas, a leading supplier of industrial processing equipment and solutions in the cake and pastry industry.

“With the acquisitions of CMT S.p.A, Hilge and Comas, we continue implementing our M&A strategy to fill technological gaps by acquiring accretive specialist companies which complement our product portfolio”, said Juerg Oleas, CEO of GEA. “Hilge strengthens our position as a leading supplier of equipment and provider of solutions in hygienic and aseptic process environments, CMT S.p.A also enhances our position, but rather in cheese processing and the same can be said for Comas in cake and pastry.”

 Located in Peveragno, Northern Italy, CMT S.p.A generated E11 million in revenues in 2014 with the European Union its main regional market. The company also has significant project references in the Americas. This business will be integrated into GEA’s application Centre Dairy in its newly created Business Area Solutions.  

Hilge is based in Bodenheim, Germany, and generated revenues of more than E35 million in fiscal year 2014. The company’s product range is complementary to the GEA’s flow components portfolio offering. The transaction remains subject to approval by the anti-trust authorities. Comas, whose solutions are used throughout Europe, is headquartered in Torrebelvicino, Italy.

GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft is one of the largest suppliers of technology for the food processing industry and for a wide range of other process industries. As an international technology group, the Company focuses on world-leading process technology and components for sophisticated production processes.