Niederweningen, 21 November 2008

Bucher Industries is acquiring Command Controls Corp., a US company based in Elgin, Illinois, for its Bucher Hydraulics division. Command Controls is specialised in manufacturing cartridge valves for hydraulic system solutions. In 2007, the company generated approximately CHF 13 million in sales with 91 employees. The parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price.

Bucher Hydraulics holds a very strong market position in Europe and significantly expanded its presence in North America by purchasing Monarch Hydraulics in January 2008. From the beginning, Command Controls was part of the strategy pursued by Bucher Hydraulics in the USA, which has now been brought to a successful conclusion. The Command Controls cartridge valve technology for hydraulic system solutions ideally complements Bucher Hydraulics' product offering in the USA. Together with the existing product portfolio, the acquisition provides the opportunity to offer a wider range of hydraulic system solutions to the division's local and global customers. Combined with Monarch Hydraulics, it will allow efficiency improvements in manufacturing, purchasing and distribution.

After the acquisition is completed, Command Controls will be led by Dan Vaughan, CEO of Bucher Hydraulics North America. All employees are expected to remain, and the Elgin location will be retained.

Bucher Hydraulics is an international leader in the design and manufacture of custom mobile and industrial hydraulic system solutions. With eleven manufacturing facilities and sales organisations in Europe, India, China and the USA, Bucher Hydraulics is never far from its customers. In 2007, Bucher Hydraulics generated sales of CHF 387 million with some 1 300 employees. During the first 9 months of this year, Bucher Hydraulics grew sales by 35% year on year.

Contact
Philip Mosimann, CEO
Roger Baillod, CFO

Bucher Industries AG
Phone +41 43 815 80 88
Fax +41 43 815 80 81

Last year, Bucher Industries celebrated its 200th anniversary commemorating its successful evolution from a blacksmith's shop to a global technology group with leading market positions in speciality areas of mechanical and vehicle engineering. The company's operations currently include specialised agricultural machinery, municipal vehicles, wine and fruit juice production equipment, hydraulic components, and manufacturing equipment for the glass container industry. Bucher Industries' shares are traded on the SWX Swiss Exchange (SWX: BUCN).