At the end of January 2008 Konecranes acquired the Norwegian machine tool service (MTS) company Eiker Automasjon AS. The acquisition was carried out through Konecranes' Norwegian MTS unit Kongsberg Automation. This supports Konecranes' strategy of strengthening its position in the MTS market. The value of the transaction is not disclosed.

Eiker Automasjon AS specializes in tailor-made automation and modernization applications for machine tools in several industries. Eiker Automasjon also has a large customer base, which is very important for Konecranes. Through the acquisition Konecranes strengthens its competence in robotics and handling (pick and place) and widens its products offering for the engineering industry.

"This is a very important addition to our organization," says Pekka Kujala, Director, Service, MTS at Konecranes. "The 20 years that Eiker Automasjon has put into developing automation systems for production equipment forms a strong base for our range of MTS services."

The acquired entity, including all 14 employees, will be transferred to Kongsberg Automation, which is Konecranes' MTS unit in Norway.

Caption: "Konecranes has acquired the Norwegian MTS company Eiker Automasjon AS."

Konecranes is a world-leading group of Lifting Businesses, serving a broad range of customers, including manufacturing and process industries, shipyards, ports and terminals. Konecranes provides productivity-enhancing lifting solutions as well as services for lifting equipment and machine tools of all makes. In 2007, Group sales totaled EUR 1,750 million. The Group has 8,400 employees, at more than 470 locations in 43 countries. Konecranes is listed on the OMX Helsinki Stock Exchange (symbol: KCR1V).