Konecranes acquires its Belgian licensee

KCI Konecranes has bought the business and some of the assets of Breva Technics NV, its former Belgian licence holder based in Zonhoven.

The Finnish company has also gained explosion-proof technology by taking over French company ECA Levage.

Breva’s crane division had held a Konecranes licence since 1991 and claims about 30% of the Flemish part of the Belgian market. Sales in 1998 were e3m.

On average, it sells between 50 and 80 standard cranes a year, but it has had an exceptionally high order intake for 1999, taking in orders for more than 100 cranes during the first eight months of the year.

In spite of this, the family that owns Breva has decided to concentrate on its core electronics business, Electro.

Konecranes said that owning the Breva business, together with its own Wallonian operation, would strengthen its sales in Belgium and give it new opportunities to promote its special crane products and maintenance contract services.

The acquisition includes all customer records and the right to use the Breva name for two years. Eleven employees are transferring across to the new owner.

The ECA Levage deal was signed in July. Konecranes said that it expected to generate sales of $10m a year from the business.

Explosion proof hoists are used mainly in the chemical industry and the oil industry where high explosion risks have highly specified demands on the technology used in the motor, electrical steering and power supply of the lifting equipment (see Explosion proofing – a users guide, HOIST issue 6, p34).