Bosch to Acquire Beissbarth and Sicam

The Bosch Group has unveiled plans to further consolidate its foothold in the workshop equipment market through the acquisition of Munich-based Beissbarth GmbH, and Italy’s Sicam s.r.l., companies that both belong to parent company Beissbarth Automotive Group GmbH. An agreement between Bosch and Beissbarth Automotive was signed on February 14.

Commenting on the purchase, Peter Tyroller, a member of the Bosch management board responsible for OE sales and the Automotive Aftermarket division, said: “We want to further strengthen the position of our Bosch Diagnostics business unit in the workshop equipment business, especially when it comes to business with diagnostic systems.”

Bosch will primarily benefit from the acquisition through a resultant expansion of its chassis-measurement systems product segment. Its workshop equipment range will also now include tyre-servicing equipment. Furthermore, the acquisition will serve to strengthen its workshop equipment business in OEM authorised repair centres.

Beissbarth GmbH produces the Touchless® non-contact wheel alignment system, as well as chassis-measurement systems and tyre-testing and servicing equipment. Sicam s.r.l. focuses on tyre-servicing equipment. While keeping their corporate structure, Beissbarth GmbH and Sicam s.r.l. are to be integrated into the Bosch Automotive Aftermarket division’s Diagnostics business unit.

Together the two companies generate sales of approximately £60 million and employ a total of some 430 persons at two locations, as well as in several sales companies. It has been agreed that the purchase price for the two companies will not be disclosed. The transaction is subject to approval by the relevant antitrust authorities.

This latest move builds on last November’s partnership arrangement that Bosch entered into with Maha, the world’s largest manufacturer of car and truck safety and service test lanes. The November deal capitalised on both company’s strengths in the field of vehicle servicing and testing hardware, and the partnership offered clients a complete workshop design, planning and installation service, including the obtaining of any required legal approvals.