Bosch Tools acquired the power tool accessories business ofย the Freud Group, headquartered in Milan, Italy. With this acquisition,ย Bosch adds to its existing range of power tool accessories,ย especially high-performance Freud. Among other things, they make some of the best thin kerf miter saw blades, circular saw blades, and router bits. The deal also includes Diablo accessories. As Bosch acquires Freud, theย dealย should result in some excellent shared technologies for both brands. The companiesย have agreed not to disclose the purchase price.
Freud and Diablo Background
The Freud Group is a global supplier of circular-saw blades, routerย bits, and cutters for enthusiast woodworkers, professionals, andย industrial users. They produce under both the Freud and Diablo brands. These products are mainly manufactured in fourย locations around the city of Udine in northeastern Italy. In this areaย of activity, the company employs some 580 associates worldwide andย generated sales of 100 million euros in 2007.
Feedback on the Bosch Acquisition of Freud Accessories
โFreud is an innovative supplier of high-quality circular-saw blades,ย routers, and cutters for professional users in trade and industry. Theย company is successful worldwide in these segments, especially in Northย America. This makes Freudย a perfect addition to our business, both technologically andย regionally. As we further expand this business, we will build on theย experience and extensive know-how of Freud associates and managers,โ
Uwe Raschke, member of the board of management of Robertย Bosch GmbH and president of the Power Tools division
โIn our opinion, Bosch is the best possible partnerย for the Freud power tool accessories business, and will help it toย continue its development worldwide and in particular in North America.ย Freud know-how and manufacturing competence will certainly strengthenย the current Bosch position in this segment.โ
Gino Pozzo, managingย director of Freud SpA
Gianpaoloย and Gino Pozzo will continue to accompany the development of Freudโsย accessories business over the next three years as consultants. Theย family will be represented on various governing bodies and, togetherย with Bosch, help to shape the companyโs future.
Final Thoughts
As Bosch acquires Freud, this is the companyโs fifth strategic acquisition this year to strengthenย its Power Tools division. In January and July 2008, Bosch expanded itsย measuring-tools business by acquiring the Chinese specialist RoboToolzย and the U.S. company CST/berger. A few weeks ago, Bosch also purchasedย parts of the garden irrigation business of L.R. Nelson Corporation,ย based in Peoria, USA, strengthening its range of garden irrigationย products. In addition, it has acquired the majority shareholding in Siaย Abrasives, a Swiss manufacturer of flexible abrasive systems.
With power tools, accessories, garden tools, and measuring technology, the division employs a global workforce of roughly 16,000ย associates.
