New number one for life sciences and precision cleaning solutions

Kowema, a Swiss group of companies exclusively funded by Swiss pension funds, is bringing together two specialists in precision cleaning solutions and surface finishes in the pharmaceutical, medical technology and precision industries to form the leading provider in Switzerland and Europe.

Kowema is bringing together the recently acquired Amsonic-Hamo Group, headquartered in Biel/canton of Bern, with KKS Ultraschall AG from Steinen/canton of Schwyz. The latter has been owned by Kowema since 2017.

Perfect complement

With their different technological approaches and products, the two companies complement each other perfectly – there are practically no overlaps in the sales markets. Together, the companies operate at five locations worldwide: In addition to the three large plants in Steinen, Biel and Munich/Germany, the companies have an additional site in Changzhou/China and a sales location in Lyon/France. The bundling of forces and technologies offers excellent potential for growth, new customer solutions and additional jobs.

Pascal Imfeld, CEO Kowema: “It is an absolute stroke of luck that Alex Moser, CEO and sole shareholder of Amsonic-Hamo, is entrusting us with his company with a view to joint development. Together, Amsonic-Hamo and KKS are already leaders in the Swiss and European markets. Our long-term goal is to make the combined company number one worldwide.”

Gradual merger
For the time being, the two companies will continue to run in parallel under the existing management teams led by Alex Moser and Robert Gnos while they get to know each other. A joint steering committee will identify opportunities for immediate and easy cooperation and growth. From now on, the advantages for customers arising from the complementary strengths will be rapidly addressed and exploited.

New leadership
The merger coincides with the transition in the management of KKS: the position of CEO currently held by Robert Gnos will be handed over to Christoph Baumgartner, who will join the company at the end of March 2023. Robert Gnos will remain on the Board of Directors of KKS. Christoph Baumgartner will lead both companies from 1 April 2023 and bring together the organizations by the end of 2023: “I am pleased to be able to get to know the team members of KKS and Amsonic-Hamo and to shape the two companies into the number one worldwide.”

Alex Moser will be instrumental in the further development of the combined company: “Amsonic-Hamo and KKS will together form a company with a great future. I look forward to continuing to manage Amsonic-Hamo until the merger before focusing on the further development of the entire business.”

Contacts
Pascal Imfeld, CEO Kowema, pascal.imfeld@kowema.ch, +41 44 787 57 90
Alex Moser, CEO Amsonic-Hamo, alex.moser@amsonic.com, +41 79 787 42 43
Robert Gnos, CEO KKS Ultraschall, r.gnos@kks-surfacetreatment.com, +41 79 435 53 06

About Kowema (www.kowema.ch)
Under uniform management, Kowema unites a network of various Swiss SMEs, all of which could be taken over as part of succession solutions and will be continued sustainably in the interests of the sellers. The existing six Swiss companies develop, produce and sell technologically sophisticated products and services at their locations in Switzerland and abroad. The founders and owners of Kowema AG as the parent company are company pension funds and collective foundations for SMEs. The group currently employs around 2,000 people.

About Amsonic-Hamo (www.amsonic-hamo.com)
Amsonic-Hamo is a long-standing market leader for validated cleaning in the pharmaceutical, medical and precision industries. With innovative solutions in the containment sector (pharmaceuticals) or the cleaning of 3D printed implants (medical technology) under vacuum, Amsonic-Hamo is further expanding its technology leadership. The head office is in Biel, Switzerland. Further production and sales units are located in Munich and Lyon.

About KKS (www.kks-surfacetreatment.com)
KKS Ultraschall AG is a technology company that has been operating internationally for 40 years, both as a manufacturer of devices and system solutions and as a service provider for the surface treatment and ultrasonic cleaning of medical devices and other sophisticated products. Through its unrestricted focus on customer needs and application-oriented research and development, KKS has established itself at the forefront of the market. While the system solutions are manufactured exclusively in Switzerland, KKS operates service centres for the surface treatment of medical technology products in both Switzerland and China. KKS employs 95 people at its headquarters in Central Switzerland and a further 25 at its site in Changzhou, China.