Swiss manufacturer of sinks, taps and appliances Franke Group has acquired high-end cooker hood and ventilation manufacturer Wesco Group for an undisclosed sum.

The Wesco Group includes Wesco AG, which makes kitchen extractor hoods and air filtration for homes, schools and offices in Switzerland, and Berbel Ablufttechnik which caters for the German market.

Founded in 1962 and headquartered in Wettingen, Switzerland, the family-run Westco Group has 280 employees and in the 2022/2023 financial year, Wesco Group generated net sales of CHF 97million.

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The Wesco Group will become part of Franke Home Solutions following the transaction, which is subject to approval by the relevant competition authorities.

Franke Home Solutions is a division of Franke Group, which employs around 4,200 people, in over 30 countries, and generates net sales of CHF 932million.

It is part of the Aarburg-headquartered Franke Group which employs around 7,700 people in 35 countries, with net sales of CHF 2.42billion, and is owned by the Artemis Group.

According to the Franke Group, the acquisition of Wesco Group provides the opportunity to strengthen its position in the extractor hood market and achieve a leading position in Germany and Switzerland.

President/CEO of Franke Home Solutions Barbara Borra commented: “Acquiring Wesco is an ideal strategic fit for us.

“Wesco brings to Franke advanced air quality technology and robust commercial organisations in Switzerland and Germany.

“By leveraging Franke’s global scale and financial strength, we can support Wesco’s growth both in its traditional markets and internationally.

“With Wesco, we have found a company who shares the same values as Franke in terms of quality, technology and innovation.”

Owner of Wesco Group Beat Ernst added: “As part of a succession plan, I decided to sell my company to Franke.

“As there is no succession in our family environment, it was important to me to find a sustainable solution that would hand over our life’s work into good hands.

“Franke has the necessary expertise and resources to fully utilize the potential of our brands and position them even more successfully in the market.”