Additive Manufacturing | ΕΠΕΞΕΡΓΑΣΙΑ ΜΕΤΑΛΛΩΝ - ΠΛΑΣΤΙΚΩΝ
Lossburg/Kirchheim unter Teck, 18 January 2021
Strategic investment in the future: Arburg’s entrepreneurial families Hehl and Keinath have acquired AMK Arnold Müller GmbH & Co. KG and with it the Drives & Automation division as of 1st January 2021. The company will operate under the new name of AMKmotion GmbH + Co KG in future.
The AMK Group, which is based in Kirchheim/Teck, is one of the international technology leaders in the electric drive technology, control technology, industrial automation engineering, and automotive sectors. AMK has worked closely with Arburg as a development partner in electric drive systems for more than two decades. This combined effort has contributed significantly to the success story of the electric Allrounder injection moulding machines.
Over the past five decades, AMK has evolved from an engine manufacturer into a system supplier. The AMK Group is divided into two divisions. The product portfolio of the Drives & Automation division, which previously belonged to AMK Arnold Müller GmbH & Co. KG, includes motors, centralized and decentralized drive solutions, and control systems. The Automotive division of AMK Automotive GmbH & Co. KG manufactures items such as air suspension compressors, air suspension systems, and power steering drives. In 2016, the family-owned company from southern Germany was sold with its two divisions to Chinese investor Zhongding Holding Europe GmbH.
By acquiring AMK Arnold Müller GmbH & Co. KG, Arburg Partners Juliane Hehl, Michael Hehl and Renate Keinath (from left) are investing in the future of electric injection moulding machines.
One-time opportunity seized
The Chinese owner’s desire for strategic change presented the entrepreneurial families Hehl and Keinath with the opportunity to take over the Drives & Automation division with AMK Arnold Müller GmbH & Co. KG.
“We are very confident about this important acquisition,” commented Michael Hehl, Managing Partner and Spokesman of the Arburg Management Board. “This underlines the importance of electric injection moulding machines, whose share in our portfolio has been growing steadily for years and still has plenty of potential for the future.”
The former AMK Arnold Müller GmbH & Co. KG will operate under the name AMKmotion GmbH + Co KG in future. The employees of the former AMK Drives & Automation division will be retained, and the Kirchheim/Teck and Weida locations in Germany and Gabrovo in Bulgaria will also continue.
Moving forward with renewed strength
Acquiring the important AMK division is intended to give Arburg access to its expertise and influence on future development work. This will enable pioneering refinements to be made even more quickly and efficiently to the drive systems of the electric Allrounders.
Besides the technology and long-standing partnership, the new company’s sound basic philosophy was also a factor for the Arburg partners in the purchase. AMK and Arburg traditionally have similar values and exemplify long-term entrepreneurial commitment with a view to stability and a sustainable strategy focused on expertise.
Joint success story
So the Arburg partners are not buying an unknown quantity: The development partnership with Arburg in the engine sector has existed since 1994. An important milestone of the successful collaboration was the market launch of the first electric series machines, the Alldrive series, in 2001. Since that time, the Allrounder A machines have largely been equipped with AMK drive components.
Winner of the Arburg Energy Efficiency Award
Arburg’s requirements for energy optimisation, environmental protection and resource conservation have been strongly supported by AMK and implemented in its drives. AMK was awarded the Arburg Energy Efficiency Award in 2013 for its successful developments in this respect.
About Arburg
German family-owned company Arburg is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of plastic processing machines. Its product portfolio encompasses Allrounder injection moulding machines with clamping forces of between 125 and 6,500 kN, the Freeformer for industrial additive manufacturing and robotic systems, customer and industry-specific turnkey solutions and further peripheral equipment.
A first-class customer support on-site is guaranteed by the international sales and service network: Arburg has own organisations in 26 countries at 34 locations and is represented in over 100 countries together with trade partners. Its machines are produced exclusively at the parent company in Lossburg, Germany. Of a total of roughly 3,200 employees, around 2,650 work in Germany. About 550 further employees work in Arburg’s organisations around the world. Arburg has triple certification, in accordance with ISO 9001 (quality), ISO 14001 (environment) and ISO 50001 (energy).
Further information about Arburg can be found at www.arburg.com
About AMKmotion
AMK Arnold Müller GmbH & Co. KG was acquired by Arburg partners Juliane Hehl, Michael Hehl and Renate Keinath in 2021 and renamed AMKmotion GmbH + Co KG. The portfolio of AMK’s former Drives & Automation division covers the areas of electrical drive systems, control technology and industrial automation technology, in which AMK has been one of the market and technology leaders for five decades. From servo motors and intelligent servo inverters to PLC controllers, the innovations from Kirchheim/Teck ensure progress in many industries.
Numerous groundbreaking AMK developments have shaped the market for electrical drive and control technology. To facilitate this pioneering work, particular prominence has been given to research and development. AMK’s declared goal is to develop innovative drive and control technology at a high technological level and with distinct customer benefits, thereby ensuring its customers’ success.