OC Oerlikon is selling its Oerlikon Optics business unit at the Balzers site to the unit’s management.
The corresponding contracts were signed on 24 October 2008. Dr Uwe Krüger, CEO of OC Oerlikon, said: ‘We are following up on our strategy to streamline the Oerlikon portfolio. In view of its size and focus on niche markets, the optical coating business in Balzers no longer fits into the OC Oerlikon business strategy.’
The Balzers-based optical coating business, including relevant technical plant and equipment, customer and supplier relationships, will be transferred to the new company, which will continue trading under the new name Optics Balzers from 1 January 2009. The annual sales in the region of CHF 35 million and some 160 staff will all transfer to the new company as well.
The parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price. Separate discussions are ongoing with respect to the other two Oerlikon Optics businesses in Golden, Colorado (US), and Shanghai (China).
The Executive Board of Optics Balzers will comprise Martin Kaspar (CEO), Esther Schneider (finance), Dirk von Frajer (marketing and sales), Norman Korner (production), Othmar Zueger (research and development), and Guglielmo Cappellari (product management).
