With the purchase of construction supplier Saint-Gobain Rigips’ (Düsseldorf / Germany; www.rigips.de) EPS division, Austrian EPS processor Hirsch Servo (Glanegg; www.hirsch-gruppe.com) is expanding its presence in Germany by three production sites. Insulation materials production in Rheda-Wiedenbrück, Ebrach and Bad Rappenau-Grombach is being purchased through an asset deal and all the nearly 180 employees will be taken over. Financial details of the transaction have not been disclosed. The deal is expected to be completed within the first quarter of 2018.

This is Hirsch’s first step to extend its Western European presence in the EPS insulation panels area. The company’s 13 existing production sites, focused on EPS packaging, insulation panelling and processing machinery, have been primarily based in Central and Eastern Europe as well as southeastern Europe. Hirsch board member Harald Kogler said, “The market for insulation materials in Germany is booming and we are expecting … synergy effects for our packaging division in the medium term.”

Rigips had only just restructured its German EPS insulation division in 2015/16 under managing director Christian Grimm, who will continue to manage the three plants after the change of ownership. For instance, the factory at Neustadt / Germany has been closed at the beginning of 2016 and the capacities for grey EPS and other grades have been relocated to Rheda / Germany, where two additional production lines have been installed (see Plasteurope.com of 08.09.2015).