Bekum Maschinenfabriken GmbH, Berlin has acquired the pultrusion business unit of ProTec Polymer Processing GmbH (ProTec) effective 01.04.2023. Bekum is one of the world‘s leading manufacturers of extrusion blow moulding machines with locations in Germany, Austria and the USA and stands for energy-saving and flexible technologies and worldwide service. With this diversification, Bekum is investing in a promising future market for fiber-reinforced plastics and is setting the course for further growth. Bekum Services GmbH, located in D-64625 Bensheim, was established for the new business division. The company was able to retain both the previous technical managing director of ProTec as well as experienced and leading employees from the areas of design, sales and service from ProTec., which was in insolvency. The assembly of new pultrusion lines is integrated at the Bekum site in Traismauer, Austria. In addition, Bekum Maschinenfabriken GmbH, Berlin also acquires ProTec Polymer Processing Shanghai, which in recent years, has successfully sold LFT systems to the Chinese market. The Shanghai site will continue to further expand sales and local service in China and Asian countries.
Pultrusion, also known as strand drawing, is a highly efficient process for the production of long-fiber-reinforced thermoplastics in granulate form, which promises exciting applications in the manufacture of lightweight components in the automotive and electromobility sectors.
Bekum will offer complete production lines in the sizes 8-strand LFT lab line, 32-strand LFT production line and 64-strand LFT production line.
In addition to the new LFT machine business, Bekum will also continue the service business for the existing lines in the market with maintenance & repair, spare parts, installation and commissioning worldwide.
In the future, Bekum will also develop the LFT lines for applications in the areas of UD tapes and continuous fiber-reinforced thermoplastic profiles.