Swepac gets new owner and plans export push

Swepac, the Swedish plate compactor manufacturer, has been sold to South End AB, a company that has holdings in a number of small engineering businesses in Sweden.

South End, which is owned by Johan Cervin, has acquired a 100% share of Swepac and plans to expand its product range and export activities.

It has immediately appointed Åke Lindgren, a former managing director for Atlas Copco-owned Tremix, as sales and marketing manager.

Lennart Svensson, Swepac's managing director, in a letter to customers, said Swepac had become a well-established company over the last 20 years; "we have managed to increase our market shares and, at the same time, establish ourselves outside Sweden with subsidiaries in Finland and Poland...we believe it is an exciting opportunity to invite a new owner to develop the company further."

Both veteran sales manager Mats Gedal and Mr Svensson are staying with Swepac for the time being, and Mr Svensson said customers should not be worried by the changes; "As a customer you can remain calm - we are still fully involved."

The exact plans of South End are still not known. However, Mr Gedal told IRN that Åke Lindgren would help the company expand its export activities and that a widening of the product range was likely, including a move into concreting equipment.