September 12, 2007 — MONDSEE, AUSTRIA — Christ Water Technology Group takes over 76 percent of the stock of the Zeta Group, located in Tobelbad, near Graz (Austria) and thus expands its activities in the pharmaceutical and life-science sector even further. Zeta is primarily active in the central European market, with locations in Austria, Germany, France, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic. The company is a leading supplier of production systems and process equipment for the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry, employs 240 people, and achieved a turnover of about 40 million euros in 2006. With this takeover, Christ extends its range of turnkey solutions, amongst other things.
“We are now the only manufacturer who can supply the entire process chain, including a higher-level automation system, for the biopharmaceutical industry, and in particular the sector of liquid processes. Many years of experience in the construction of biotechnological plants and the wide range of special high-tech equipment also permit Christ to achieve a sustainable development in the booming biotechnology market”, says Christ CEO Karl Michael Millauer, PhD. The engineering expertise and product competence of Zeta, combined with the global service and sales network of Christ offer comprehensive synergies and new chances for further growth. In the medium term, Christ plans to become one of the world’s leading supplier of pharmaceutical process and media systems.
Zeta was founded in 1987 and is today an established supplier of process technology, with the sales emphasis on central Europe. The special strengths of the company lie in the area of technical competence at a high quality level and a wide product portfolio of mixing systems, bioreactors, agitation and mixing technology, filtration, freeze and thaw systems, biopharmaceutical engineering with customer-specific automation solutions, and the erection of sterile systems. But the takeover will not only supplement the Christ product portfolio: Zeta, which will continue to operate under this name, also possesses a large and highly qualified construction department, which will strengthen the service sector of Christ.
Since Christ is a worldwide active company, the takeover offers both companies opportunities in the international marketplace. “Christ offers Zeta many new opportunities for development, with particular emphasis on the marketing and service at an international level,” says Zeta’s managing director Hermann Grundnig. “In addition, we can ensure that the rapid growth of our group remains sustainable and thus guarantee a successful and stable future for our employees, partners and customers,” adds his partner in the company management, Gerhard Zehetner.