This acquisition significantly expands Sulzer Metco's coating services business. The two acquired companies specialize in coating services for customers in the automotive, paper, machine-tool and other industries. The terms of the transaction are not being disclosed. 

Euroflamm GmbH provides thermal surface coating services mainly for automobile manufacturers. The company has 150 employees at plants in Bremen, Horb am Neckar and Weissenborn (all in Germany) as well as in Naples (Italy). Annual sales are around CHF 30 million (DEM 40 million).

Metaplas Ionon GmbH has decades of experience in PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) coating technology and plasma-based heat treatment. In addition to customized surface coating services the company also markets complete surface coating systems. Annual sales of Metaplas Ionon GmbH total about CHF 40 million (DEM 50 million) with 145 employees in Bergisch Gladbach, Salzgitter and Hochenlockstedt (all in Germany). 

Sulzer Metco is a global market leader in thermal surface coating materials, components, systems and related services. Sulzer Metco development and production facilities are located in Wohlen (CH), Westbury, NY and Troy, MI (US), Lomm (NL), Hattersheim and Salzgitter (DE), Tokyo (JP) and Singapore. With 1215 employees, Sulzer Metco sales for the first half-year 2001 totalled CHF 208 million (annual sales for 2000 not including Eldim: CHF 338 million).