Norican Group

MidEuropa created Norican Group, the world’s largest provider of metal surface preparation and finishing equipment, by bringing together Wheelabrator (surface prep technology) and DISA (moulding technology) in June 2009. The Group designs, manufactures, distributes, installs and maintains a wide range of moulding and surface preparation solutions, including standard and custom-tailored stationary moulding, wheel-blast and air-blast systems, and related replacement parts and aftermarket services. Norican has over 15,000 active customers in c.100 countries and an estimated 50,000 machines in field, the largest installed base in the industry.

MidEuropa purchased Wheelabrator in 2006 in a proprietary transaction sourced through its network. Shortly thereafter, DISA, which had been identified in MidEuropa’s origination mapping, came up for sale. MidEuropa’s prior understanding of the business and sector gave it an advantage in the sale process. Thereafter followed a period of integration, including shifting production base to cost-advantageous Central & Eastern Europe and expanding in high-growth BRIC countries.

Norican  was sold to financial buyer Altor in 2015.

Partnership highlights:

• Hands-on management by MidEuropa during the relocation of production facilities to CEE
• Maintained the best strategic position in the industry despite economic headwinds and reduction in demand following the financial crisis, even going on to achieve record profits in 2012
• Repositioned for growth to the BRIC countries
• Retained one of the best management teams in the industry

Value creation:

• Operational Excellence
• International Expansion