Wickeder Westfalenstahl GmbH, manufacturer of clad materials has acquired a 35% stake in the Netherlands-based screen manufacturer Inflotek B.V. Inflotek was launched in 2012 and has developed a growing base of customers worldwide. Inflotek uses proprietary waterjet technology to produce high-performance screens for industrial centrifuges that separate large volumes of solids and liquids. These screens have application in the mining, chemical and paper industries as well as in food production. The company provides product development, engineering and manufacturing capabilities for the production of screens. These capabilities allow Inflotek to deliver industrial separation screens with better performance, longer wear life and lower cost.

With this investment, Wickeder Westfalenstahl pursues its strategy of expanding into new market segments while developing complementary technologies and business lines. For example Inflotek is partnering with a subsidiary company of Wickeder Westfalenstahl GmbH, Micrometal GmbH, to develop and market its etched screens for various food and chemical process applications. A further area of cooperation is the application of Inflotek’s know how in water jet cutting for the finishing of clad materials such as those produced by Wickeder Westfalenstahl GmbH.