Erhardt+Leimer and AVT have announced their intent to form a strategic slliance to provide a wider range of integrated automation products and machinery for the printing and converting industries. AVT intends to acquire Erhardt+Leimer’s print inspection systems. The move broadens product portfolios and strengthens services for customers of both companies, including end users and OEMs, through equipment born of the two companies’ combined experience and technological skills.

According to the companies understandings, in a first step, AVT will acquire E+L’s automatic print inspection solutions and will assume the responsibility to develop and manage these solutions for both companies’ customers in label and packaging applications, including the corrugated segment. In return, E+L will be entitled to future earn outs and a cash payment, as per the set terms. As part of the agreement, Michael Proeller, E+L’s CEO, will be appointed chairman of AVT’s Advisory Board and serve as an observer on AVT’s Board of Directors.

The expected agreement makes AVT the official inspection and press control provider for E+L, positioning AVT as responsible for the companies’ mutual automatic print inspection solutions development; this includes both current products and ongoing product developments in the printing sector. Being an integration specialist, AVT says E+L is the ideal partner for the realization of complex automation and inspection solutions. Each company will then offer products from both AVT and E+L to all customers.

Consequently in the next stage, the alliance will offer customers a wider selection of products that may originate from either AVT or E+L. This allows both companies to increase customer responsiveness and maximize global footprints.

One major achievement of this strategic alliance will be the level of technological know-how it unites. E+L’s expertise in web, press and vision systems combined with AVT’s inspection, press control and workflow management capabilities will enable the companies to offer comprehensive end-to-end quality control systems. Many of the advantages to which customers will be privy also will be enjoyed by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) that partner with either AVT or E+L. OEMs will benefit from the one-stop-shop created by the alliance, providing everything from web guides, measurement systems and viewers to press control solutions, workflow management setups and automation.

“We look forward to working together with the great team at E+L to provide better solutions to our customers,” comments Jaron Lotan, CEO of AVT. “This partnership is exciting for all involved and will broaden each firm’s reach and expertise. This alliance was founded and structured in a way that will allow us to bring the best of both companies together to create great value for customers, employees and shareholders.”