• Addex will continue independently under its existing name, with new leadership.
• North America subsidiary of German machine builder acquires supplier of cooling technology for blown film extrusion.

Windmoeller & Hoelscher Corp. (W&H) has acquired Addex, Inc., a supplier of blown film extrusion equipment with a special emphasis on bubble-cooling technology. Price and other terms of the deal were not disclosed. The transaction became effective on August, 1.

According to a press release, Addex will continue to operate independently under its existing name, maintaining its product lines and customer relationships, focused on the U.S. and Canadian markets. The company, based in Newark, N.Y., was founded in 1989 by Bob Cree and Rick von Kraus.

Brad Humbolt, who served as sales director of corporate accounts at W&H Corp., has assumed the role of president from Bob Cree, who has transitioned into a new role as director of special projects. Humbolt brings more than 15 years of experience in the flexible packaging industry, having held leadership roles in sales, operations, engineering and capital management.

In 2020, Windmöller & Hölscher reached an exclusive agreement with Addex to incorporate Addex´s Intensive Cooling technology into some of its blown film extrusion lines. The technology improves the stability of the bubble and allows manufacturers to work with difficult-to-process films more quickly.

“I am extremely pleased to entrust my company to W&H, with whom I've had a wonderful relationship for years,” Cree said. “This acquisition represents our succession plan and gives me complete confidence that the business that Rick and I built will continue to flourish well into the future. I look forward to working with Brad.”

“This acquisition reflects Bob’s trust in W&H,” said Andrew Wheeler, president of W&H Corporation. “Addex and W&H have enjoyed a long relationship, and their capabilities are highly complementary to our growing retrofit business. We have great respect for Bob and the technologies Addex has developed.”

W&H, based in Lincoln, R.I., is the North American subsidiary of Windmöller & Hölscher Group, a family-owned German supplier of film extrusion lines, printing presses, and converting equipment for production of flexible packaging.

Photo: From left to right: Andrew Wheeler, president of Windmoeller & Hoelscher Corp.; Brad Humbolt, new president of Addex; Bob Cree, and Rick von Kraus of Addex. Photo Source: Windmoeller & Hoelscher Corp.