Mill buys German robot firm for nuclear work

Feb 25 2009 by Graeme King, The Journal

AGRICULTURAL and engineering business Carr’s Milling has announced a £5m deal to buy a German company which specialises in robot technology.

The Carlisle company hopes to expand its small engineering business with the purchase of Hans Wälischmiller, which specialises in remote handling technology in factories.

Markdorf-based Hans Wälischmiller has been in administration for a year, so Carr’s has acquired the business, with 70 staff, from the administrators. The Carlisle company already has a division known as Carrs MSM, at Swindon in Wiltshire, which does similar work to Hans Wälischmiller, so it is hoped to benefit from economies of scale and shared expertise and technology.

Carr’s will pay £4.9m for its acquisition, with £2.6m payable next month, £1.8m in August and the remaining £500,000 when the German business receives payments on a particular order.