UZWIL, SWITZERLAND – The Bühler Technology Group has reached an agreement to acquire Maes SA, a supplier of milling equipment and services based in the French Alsatian town of Haguenau, just north of Strasbourg.

Uzwil-baed Bühler said the acquisition will expand the company’s market opportunities in France, particularly in the area of customer service.

Established in 1974, Maes is a family-owned business specializing in products and services for the milling industry. Its product line includes milling equipment as well as milling laboratory devices.

The company offers equipment for remachining grinding rolls of roller mills (regrinding and corrugating/fluting) as well as for manufacturing and retensioning plansifter sieves.

“Maes SA has already been an important distribution partner of Bühler for France and other French-speaking markets in North and West Africa up to now, including after-sales service,” Bühler said. “The profitable company has over 50 employees and generates annual sales of about EUR €35 million ($47 million). The parties have agreed not to disclose the selling price.“

Bühler said the acquisition is part of its continuing efforts to expand market penetration and build out its service business in the fields of installation, customer service, maintenance, overhauls and roll reconditioning.