Niederweningen, 28 March 2006

Yesterday Bucher Industries sold LB Produktion GmbH in Trier to the Hydraulik Nord Group headquartered in Parchim, Germany. Hydraulik Nord is a service, assembly and mechanical engineering business that provides LB Produktion with an ideal industrial environment to further develop its activities. The parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price.

LB Produktion GmbH emerged from the restructuring of former Laeis Bucher and has specialized in services, assembly and machining of large mechanical engineering parts since Laeis Bucher Technology GmbH was sold to the Italian Sacmi Group in January 2004. LB Produktion always operated profitable, generated sales of Euro 6.5 million for 2005 and employs 73 people.

The Hydraulik Nord Group's business units include construction and building renovation, services and assembly, and mechanical engineering. Hydraulik Nord is represented at more than 25 locations in Germany and has a broad customer base. The acquisition of LB Produktion will strengthen Hydraulik Nord's market position in southwest Germany and enhance its activities, especially in the growth segments of manufacturing and assembly services. The Hydraulik Nord Group provides LB Produktion with an ideal industrial environment to further develop and expand its capabilities at the Trier site. All employees of LB Produktion will be taken over by the new owner. Wolfgang Jaetzold, managing director of LB Produktion, will continue to hold this position. In 2004, the Hydraulik Nord Group generated Euro 170 million in sales with 1 900 employees.

Now that LB Produktion GmbH has been sold, all operations of the former Laeis Bucher Division have been transferred to new industrial owners.

Bucher Industries is a global technology group with leading market positions in specialty areas of mechanical and vehicle engineering. The company's operations include specialized agricultural machinery, municipal vehicles, wine and fruit juice production plants, hydraulic components, and production equipment for the glass container industry. Bucher Industries' shares are traded on SWX Swiss Exchange (SWX: BUCN).


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Philip Mosimann, CEO
Roger Baillod, CFO
Phone +41 44 857 22 07