Ecka takes BSA in fire sale move to extend range

Non-ferrous powder maker Ecka Granules based in Essen, Germany, has acquired the Birmingham, UK, powder operation of BSA Metal Powders in a bankruptcy sale completed in the closing days of December, 2005. The move has come as a great relief for the 30 employees whose future had been in the balance for three months.

Operating as Ecka Granules Metal Powders Ltd, the former BSA facility makes copper, brass and leaded bronze powders, and nickel-cobalt-iron alloy powders for thermal spraying and industrial diamond markets. The plant has three air-atomising units and two water-atomising units.

Two other BSA units were involved in last year's receivership. BSA Precision castings at Redditch has closed and although there have been rumours of a buyer for BSA Sintering in Ipswich, no commercial interest has been confirmed.

Ecka's acquisition of the former BSA operation extends its product range in the nickel-cobalt area and the new owners are expected to invest in Birmingham with a view to ramping up production in a move that could see the operation back in profit by April or May.

Ecka has also entered a JV with Zhongke Tongdu Powder New Material Co Ltd, owned by a major copper smelter, forming Ecka Tongdu Metal Powder. Located in Tongling, west of Shanghai, the plant produces copper powder via air, nitrogen or water atomisation and has an annual capacity of 2,200 tonnes. Ecka is one of the largest nonferrous metal powder companies in the world, producing more than 110,000 tonnes of aluminium, copper, tin, and magnesium powders annually.

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