UZWIL, Switzerland - The Bühler Technology Group has reached an agreement with EQT III, a group of private equity funds that invests in North and East Europe, Asia, and the United States, to purchase Leybold Optics, Alzenau, Germany. The transaction is subject to approval by antitrust authorities.

For Bühler, the acquisition marks yet another important step in the expansion of the activities of its Advanced Materials division. Leybold Optics is one of the world’s leading providers of production systems for vacuum deposition of functional layers for a wide range of applications. Its Optics unit is a supplier to leading manufacturers in the optics, automotive, electronics and packaging industries. It holds a particularly powerful position as an innovation leader in the fields of process engineering and automation, especially sputtering technology. The company’s Glass & Solar unit supplies coating systems for large-size substrates to the photovoltaics, glass and display industries.

The new acquisition supplements Bühler’s existing Grinding & Dispersion and Nanotechnology business units, enhancing technology and market access. Leybold Optics will be integrated in the Advanced Materials division as a new business unit; it will retain its existing management.