Lincoln Electric Acquires Brazilian Brazing Products Manufacturer

Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. (Cleveland, OH) announced that it has acquired a 90 percent interest in Brastak, a leading Brazilian manufacturer of brazing products. The company is based in Sao Paulo and has annual sales of approximately $30 million. "The Brastak acquisition represents the expansion of our brazing product line as well as our continued expansion into developing international markets," said John M. Stropki, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "The Brastak business, previously owned and operated by the Takemoto family, will strengthen our presence in the Brazilian market and provide a platform for servicing the South American region with high quality brazing products."

Founded by the Takemoto family in 1973 and operated since that time by two generations, Brastak has been a technology and innovation leader in the Brazilian brazing and soldering alloys market. The company is certified ISO 9001/2000 and was a pioneer in achieving ISO 14001 certification within the brazing alloys industry in Brazil. Lincoln Electric is a leader in the design, development and manufacture of arc welding products, robotic arc-welding systems, plasma and oxyfuel cutting equipment and has a leading global position in the brazing and soldering alloys market. Lincoln has 39 manufacturing locations, including operations, manufacturing alliances and joint ventures in 20 countries and a worldwide network of distributors and sales offices covering more than 160 countries.

www.lincolnelectric.com