Niederweningen, 2 July 2010

Bucher Industries is expanding its fruit juice equipment unit and acquiring the operations and employees of Unipektin Engineering AG based in Eschenz, a company specialised in fruit juice processing.

Established in 1936, family-owned Unipektin AG based in Eschenz, Switzerland, has been operating successfully in the food industry worldwide for over 50 years. Its engineering business is engaged in planning, supply and assembly of evaporation, adsorption and filtration systems for fruit and vegetable juice, fruit purées and milk. Unipektin's sales have fluctuated substantially in past years due to project volume and ranged between CHF 15 and 30 million. Sales for 2009, generated with 26 employees, were well below the long-time average at CHF 7 million because of the financial and economic crisis and the ensuing absence of major projects. Completion of the transaction is scheduled for the beginning of August.

Bucher's and Unipektin Engineering's application areas and technologies are largely complementary. Bucher's strengths lie especially in juice extraction, while Unipektin's lie in juice processing and production of fruit purées. The worldwide customer relationships and complementary sales partners will strengthen their combined market presence.

The acquisition covers not only the purchase of assets and liabilities but also the takeover of the Chinese sales and assembly company, Unipektin Equipment Co. Ltd. in Beijing, China, and the Unipektin Engineering employees. Bucher will also acquire the entire process expertise and continue the ongoing projects as well as spare parts and service business.

After completion of the acquisition, the operations will be integrated into Bucher Processtech AG, Niederweningen, and be carried on under the management of its current managing director, Hartmut Haverland. The Niederweningen competence centre concentrates on juice extraction using machinery and systems for fruit reception, grinding, enzymatic treatment and dejuicing, as well as planning of complete turnkey systems. The Eschenz competence centre is specialised in juice processing using machinery and equipment for filtration, adsorption, evaporation and flavour recovery.

Bucher Processtech AG is a world leading manufacturer of fruit juice processing equipment as well as apparatus and machinery for drying heat-sensitive products and dewatering municipal and industrial sludge.

Contact
Philip Mosimann, CEO
Roger Baillod, CFO

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

In 2007, 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, hydraulic components, manufacturing equipment for the glass container industry, and wine and fruit juice production equipment. Bucher Industries' shares are traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange (SIX: BUCN).