PITTSBURGH, Aug. 17, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Matthews International Corporation (NASDAQ GSM: MATW) announced today that the Company has closed on the previously-announced acquisitions of German based engineering firms, OLBRICH GmbH (“OLBRICH”) and R+S Automotive GmbH (“R+S Automotive”), for EUR €43 million (approximately U.S. $45 million).

Headquartered in Bocholt, Germany, OLBRICH is a production and intelligent equipment manufacturer, specializing in purpose-built rotary processing equipment, including equipment used in the manufacturing of dry and wet electrodes for lithium-ion batteries uses in electric vehicles and components for hydrogen fuel cells and electrolyzers, with additional strong positions in Specialty & Pharma, Packaging and Home & Décor. R+S Automotive is a specialty engineering services provider of automation, plant and tooling concepts for automotive manufacturing companies around the world. The Company plans to integrate OLBRICH and R+S Automotive with its Saueressig Engineering and Energy business, part of its Industrial Technologies segment focused on high-precision engineering for a broad range of industrial automation applications including high-tech custom energy solutions, surfaces, marking, and coding systems.

Joseph C. Bartolacci, President and Chief Executive Officer of Matthews International, stated, “We are extremely excited to acquire OLBRICH and R+S Automotive as part of our long-term strategy to offer an extended portfolio of purpose-built engineered equipment and services for the burgeoning electric vehicle and broader green energy market. Our combined capabilities offer innovative solutions to accelerate development of an end-to-end solution for dry-electrode battery production and other energy solutions. Together, our offering will have significant impact on the mass market adoption of electric vehicles and benefit the entire energy solutions industry. This strategic acquisition continues our investment in technologies and accelerates commercializing new innovations across multiple industrial automation applications.”

“Matthews is the right partner for our future,” said Bastian Kuhl, CEO of OLBRICH and R+S Automotive. “OLBRICH, like Matthews, is making great strides in helping to scale up the manufacturing of hydrogen fuel cell components. With OLBRICH’s recent order for a mass production line for gas diffusion layers (GDL), and Matthews’ strength in the field of bipolar plates, our combined portfolio is well positioned to create a market force not only as a supplier to OEMs but also as a key production partner across Energy, Specialty & Pharma, Packaging and Home Décor.”

With the acquisition of OLBRICH and R+S Automotive, Matthews International expands its global presence and solidifies itself as a key player in the energy solutions sector.

About Matthews International Corporation

Matthews International Corporation is a global provider of industrial technologies, memorialization products and brand solutions. The Industrial Technologies segment designs, manufactures, services and distributes high-tech custom energy storage, marking, coding and industrial automation technologies and solutions. The Memorialization segment is a leading provider of memorialization products, including memorials, caskets and cremation and incineration equipment, primarily to cemetery and funeral home customers that help families move from grief to remembrance. The SGK Brand Solutions segment is a leading provider of packaging solutions and brand experiences, helping companies simplify their marketing, amplify their brands and provide value. The Company has approximately 11,000 employees in more than 26 countries on six continents that are committed to delivering the highest quality products and services.

About SAUERESSIG Group

SAUERESSIG Group brings together the business units packaging, elastomers, surfaces, engineering, rollers and e.GEN under a common umbrella brand. As a leading international supplier along the pre-press stage as well as of rotary tools for gravure and flexographic printing processes, embossing rollers and cutting and creasing tools, SAUERESSIG Group offers a comprehensive expertise. SAUERESSIG works on forward-looking research projects and invests in the development of intelligent workflows and digital solutions. As an innovator for special machine construction in the field of future oriented battery and energy storage technology, individual solutions are developed for pioneers of tomorrow. Brand manufacturer, printers and converters as well as renowned manufacturers of modern energy storage technologies benefit from solution-oriented innovations, decades of experience and maximum flexibility. Within currently 13 production sites SAUERESSIG Group has a strong global network. Worldwide presence enables an optimal development, implementation and support of international projects at any time.

SAUERESSIG Group is part of Matthews International Corporation (NASDAQ GSM: MATW). For more information please visit: www.saueressig.com

About OLBRICH

OLBRICH GmbH was founded in 1949 and together with its brand Polytype Converting®, the machine builder has today become one of the world’s leading companies in the field of production machinery and equipment for the manufacture of web-shaped products. Battery foils, labels, release materials, sustainable paper and packaging materials as well as wallcoverings, floorcoverings, adhesive tapes and technical textiles are exemplary products manufactured on the lines. OLBRICH has a full value chain including engineering and manufacturing as well as state-of-the-art technical centers in Bocholt (DE) and Fribourg (CH). Today, OLBRICH has approximately 450 employees. OLBRICH is headquartered in Bocholt (DE) and has additional locations in Hamburg (DE), Fribourg (CH) and Jiangyin City (CN).

About R+S Automotive

R+S Automotive GmbH is an important manufacturer of machines and tools for the production of interior and exterior components for the automotive industry, such as door panels, dashboards or rear shelves. R+S Automotive has a fully integrated value chain including engineering and production as well as a technical center on an area of 1,100 sqm designed to support comprehensive technical services and customer-oriented development. Today, R+S Automotive has approximately 350 employees. R+S Automotive is headquartered in Bocholt (DE) and has additional subsidiaries in Holoubkov (CZ), Jiangyin (CN), and Comstock Park, MI (USA).

Forward-looking Information

Any forward-looking statements contained in this release are included pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause the Company’s actual results in future periods to be materially different from management’s expectations. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, no assurance can be given that such expectations will prove correct. Factors that could cause the Company’s results to differ materially from the results discussed in such forward-looking statements principally include changes in domestic or international economic conditions, changes in foreign currency exchange rates, changes in the cost of materials used in the manufacture of the Company’s products, changes in mortality and cremation rates, changes in product demand or pricing as a result of consolidation in the industries in which the Company operates, or other factors such as supply chain disruptions, labor shortages or labor cost increases, changes in product demand or pricing as a result of domestic or international competitive pressures, ability to achieve cost-reduction objectives, unknown risks in connection with the Company’s acquisitions, cybersecurity concerns, effectiveness of the Company’s internal controls, compliance with domestic and foreign laws and regulations, technological factors beyond the Company’s control, impact of pandemics or similar outbreaks, or other disruptions to our industries, customers, or supply chains, the impact of global conflicts, such as the current war between Russia and Ukraine, and other factors described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and other periodic filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

For Investor Relations:

William D. Wilson
Senior Director, Corporate Development and Investor Relations
412.325.8418