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Bergisch Gladbach, 5 June 2025

INDUS adds U.S. fabrication and engineering expertise through strategic acquisition

• INDUS Group strengthens its presence in North America
• METFAB Engineering, Inc. becomes part of INDUS subsidiary M. BRAUN
• Acquisition of U.S.-based HBS subsidiary successfully completed

INDUS Holding AG, a publicly traded company, is expanding its footprint in the U.S. market. METFAB Engineering, Inc.—a precision metal fabrication and machining company based in Attleboro Falls, Massachusetts—has joined INDUS subsidiary M. BRAUN.

METFAB specializes in custom stainless steel solutions and offers a full range of services, including welding, machining, waterjet and laser cutting, laminating, painting, and assembly. The mid-sized company employs around 40 people and generates approximately €7 million sales. In addition to M. BRAUN, METFAB serves customers in the aerospace, automotive, medical technology, and consumer electronics sectors. METFAB complements M. BRAUN’s existing capabilities and strengthens INDUS’ Engineering segment.

“Our EMPOWERING MITTELSTAND strategy is centered on further developing our portfolio companies in international growth markets,” says Axel Meyer, member of the INDUS Board of Management responsible for the Engineering segment. “In North America, in particular, we aim to continue growing both organically and inorganically, and we are thrilled to also expand our local value creation footprint by acquiring METFAB.”

M. BRAUN Inertgas-Systeme, part of the INDUS Group since 2002, designs and manufactures advanced glove box systems and gas purification solutions for clean environments used in research and industrial production. The company is headquartered in Garching, Germany.

Its U.S. subsidiary, M. Braun Incorporated., has been serving the fast-growing North American market for over 30 years, offering systems built locally to meet the needs of customers across the region.

A strategic addition: METFAB expands production capacity to support growing demand in the U.S. market

“We have known METFAB for many years as a reliable supplier of stainless steel glove box housings that meet our high quality standards,” says Chris Chausse, Managing Director of M. Braun Incorporated “By acquiring METFAB, we are expanding our value chain with the corresponding expertise in metal fabrication and machining. This will provide us with the local production capacities that we need in view of our rapidly growing business.”

“When looking for a succession solution, it was important to me to offer my company the best possible prospects for the future,” says Edward M. Urquhart, former sole shareholder, founder, and CEO of METFAB. “As part of INDUS Group, METFAB can now fully tap into its growth potential. M. BRAUN has access to customers in the university sector, nuclear research, and conventional industry, which offers METFAB new opportunities.”

Acquisition of U.S.-based HBS subsidiary SUNBELT successfully completed

HBS, a specialist in stud welding and automation technology, has been part of INDUS Group’s Engineering segment since early 2025. With the acquisition of its U.S. subsidiary, Sunbelt Stud Welding, Inc., based in Houston, Texas, INDUS has taken another strategic step to strengthen its footprint in the North American market. The HBS Group employs over 50 people and generates annual sales of approximately €13 million (about $14 million USD).

Note:
This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements are based on the current views, expectations and assumptions of the management of INDUS Holding AG and comprise known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. INDUS Holding AG assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements.

Axel Meyer

COO Engineering
Axel Meyer (German citizen, born 1968) has been a member of the INDUS Board of Management since October 2017.

Until joining INDUS, he held various management positions at Schuler AG, most recently as Managing Director of Schuler Pressen and Head of the Service Division of the Schuler Group, Goeppingen, Germany.

Previously, Axel Meyer worked as a member of the Board of Management of the international management consultancy IMAGIN Prof. Bochmann AG, Eppstein im Taunus, Germany. He started his professional career in the Schuler Group's Solid Forming Division, initially in global sales and later as Division Manager.

Axel Meyer studied industrial engineering in Germany and the USA and earned a Master of Mergers & Acquisitions (LL.M.) at the Frankfurt School of Finance & Management while working. 

Gudrun Degenhart

COO Materials Solutions
Gudrun Degenhart (German citizen, born 1970) has been a member of the Board of Management of INDUS since October 2023.

She has more than 20 years of experience in the management and development of portfolio companies in Europe, USA and the Asia-Pacific regions.

Before joining INDUS, Gudrun Degenhart was CEO for the German portfolio companies of the international service group ISS. She previously worked for the thyssenkrupp Group, including as CEO of the international business unit for special lifts and as CEO of Materials Western Europe and Asia-Pacific. She gained experience in medium-sized companies as a board member of the construction technology company Schöck.

A graduate in business administration, she began her career by building up the Central and Eastern European activities of the construction specialist Lindner Group. 

Dr. Jörn Großmann

COO Infrastructure
Dr. Jörn Großmann (German citizen, born 1968) has been a member of the INDUS Board of Management since January 2019.

Up until joining INDUS, he worked for the Dutch group Aalberts Industries, with his last position being the sole managing director of Impreglon, Lüneburg, Germany.

He previously held various positions at the Georgsmarienhütte Group, initially becoming managing director of Mannstaedt, Troisdorf, Germany and later managing director of GMH Edelstahl Service Center Burg and GMH Engineering. Before Dr. Großmann became the managing director of Buderus Feinguss, Moers, Germany, he worked as a development engineer and as a technical director for Doncasters Precision Castings, Bochum, Germany.

He studied material sciences and earned a doctorate in the field of natural sciences.

Dr. -Ing. Johannes Schmidt

CEO
Dr. -Ing. Johannes Schmidt (German citizen, born 1961) has been a member of the Board of Management of INDUS since January 2006. He has assumed the position of CEO since July 2018.

Dr. -Ing. Schmidt was previously the sole managing director of ebm-papst Landshut, Germany, a manufacturer of ventilation motors and fans. During his tenure there, his main achievements included advancing the development of new product platforms and the internationalization of production sites.

Dr. -Ing. Schmidt began his career at Richard Bergner, a manufacturer of electrical instruments from Schwabach, Germany. He initially led product development before rising to the position of managing director during his 12 years at the company.

Schmidt, who studied mathematics, gained an engineering doctorate in mechanics from the Technical University of Darmstadt. 

Rudolf Weichert

CFO
Rudolf Weichert (German citizen, born 1963) is the CFO of INDUS.

Before joining the INDUS Board of Management in June 2012, he was a Partner at KPMG for nine years. He spent three of these years in Detroit, Michigan, United States, where he worked mainly with companies in the engineering, and materials trading industries.

Mr. Weichert, who holds a masters degree in business administration, worked for KPMG for about 20 years, primarily in the firm’s Duesseldorf office, where he worked mainly with multinational manufacturing corporations.