The technology group Linde has purchased the Swiss engineering and plant construction firm Bertrams Heatec AG. The purchase price is undisclosed and completion of the transaction is subject to approval from the anti-trust authorities.

Bertrams Heatec AG, based in Pratteln, Basel, is a leading provider of turnkey systems for safe transfer of process heat, particularly in the chemical and petrochemical industries. These systems are used for the manufacture of artificial fibres, synthetic resins (melamine), caustic soda, aluminium oxide-and dyestuffs, as well as in the textile and food industries. They are also used to store thermal energy in solar power stations. Europe’s first system for indirect process heating was built by Bertrams. Since then some 3,000 plants have been delivered all over the world. According to the company’s press release, in the 2006 financial year, the company generated sales of around EUR 15 million with 35 employees.

"With this acquisition, we are tapping into new business areas in the thermal fluid systems segment", explained Dr Aldo Belloni, member of the Executive Board of Linde AG. "We see huge growth potential here, particularly for solar power systems."