The technology group Schott, based in Mainz, Germany, has acquired a majority interest of 70.8 per cent in Moritex Corporation, Tokyo. Schott submitted the tender bid for Moritex on 25 September 2008.
The chairman of the board of management at Schott, Professor Udo Ungeheuer, considers the acceptance of the bid of 70.8 per cent to be a clear sign of confidence from the market. 'We are optimistic that we’ll be able to improve our ability to compete internationally and generate stable growth for both companies,' Ungeheuer said.
Schott is an international manufacturer of fibre optic light and image guides. Moritex is a leader in the field of lighting systems based on LED and fibre optic technology, as well as optical imaging systems for industrial image processing. 'Joining forces represents a win-win situation for both companies. Together with Moritex, we are seeking to become a global leader in imaging and lighting solutions,' explained Dr Jürgen Dahmer, the member of the board of management responsible for fibre optics business division at Schott.
Schott and Moritex both signed a letter of intent on strategic cooperation in June of 2007 and have been working together successfully in the areas of sales, purchasing and research and development since then. The technology platforms at Moritex and Schott complement each other. Moritex, for example, has technological expertise that is of interest for the markets that Schott addresses, including the medical technology, aviation and automotive industries. Schott, on the other hand, offers outstanding technological potential in hot forming, fibre drawing and automated manufacturing processes. At the same time, the relationship between both companies – Schott with its strong presence in Europe and the United States and Moritex with its strong presence in Asia – will improve access to markets of strategic importance.
