RS Clare & Co. Ltd has announced it has completed the acquisition of Swiss based railway lubrication solutions provider, Igralub Holding GMBH, together with its subsidiaries in Switzerland, Germany and Austria, and its share of a joint venture in North America. The acquisition is complementary to RS Clare’s existing rail lubrication business and partnerships.
The benefits of effective friction management are becoming increasingly well understood as a key enabler for the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of all types of railway, and this is leading to the development and use of increasingly sophisticated friction management system technologies, including remote monitoring of equipment and intelligent control of lubricant application. As a result, customers are increasingly looking for complete friction management solutions rather than individual products.
Access to Igralub’s advanced trainborne application system and monitoring technology will allow RS Clare to respond to changing market needs and supports the company’s strategy to grow its railway business and offer a comprehensive range of friction management solutions. Igralub will continue to operate as a subsidiary of RS Clare and will benefit from the broader resources of the RS Clare Group and especially its state-of-the-art R&D facilities.
David Meadows, managing director of RS Clare said: “RS Clare is focused on growing its rail business by becoming a friction management solutions provider and increasing our footprint in key markets, such as Europe. Igralub has built an enviable reputation with over 30 years relevant experience in wheel rail friction management and satisfied customers word wide, so this acquisition supports both these goals. We are very excited by the long-term growth opportunities for both RS Clare and Igralub as their advanced systems knowledge, project delivery experience and extensive market presence enables us to leverage the complimentary capabilities of both businesses.”
Fabrizio Steinebrunner, CEO of Igralub AG commented: “RS Clare is the perfect match for us, on one side they share the same values for quality and customer orientation, on the other side, RS Clare is an agile, versatile and clever partner striving for innovative products. Together we will be able to offer railway customers a comprehensive set of friction management solutions”.
Image credit: RS Clare & Co Ltd
