Tornos acquires Swiss machine tool maker

Almac develops, manufactures and markets CNC machining equipment for small, high-precision parts, predominantly for watchmaking applications in Swiss companies. Other customers come from the dental, medical and connector fields. Almatronic SA is a specialist in computerised numerical controls and programming. Its main customer is Almac SA. These two companies are based in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland with some 40 employees. Their combined turnover for 2007 was in the region of CHF 17 million (£8.3 million). Almac’s products are tailored to companies operating in the fields of microtechnology, medicine and electronics – three of the four key market segments in which Tornos is involved. With their complementary, non-competitive machines, the two companies share the same target markets, allowing them to benefit from synergies in terms of sales and service networks. Almac SA and Almatronic SA will remain independent companies, will not be merged with a company belonging to the Tornos Group, will still be based in La Chaux-de-Fonds and the current management will be retained. Almac products will benefit immediately from the sales and service network already established by the Tornos Group.