DES PLAINES, Ill.—September 30, 2005 Littelfuse, Inc. (Nasdaq/NMS:LFUS) announces its successful transfer of controlling interest of the WICKMANN Group and its Wickmann, Efen and Pudenz brands of circuit protection products from Heinrich Industrie, Essen, Germany.
The addition of the Pudenz automotive team adds a powerful engineering and product development capability to Littelfuse. Additionally the European automotive sales team is strengthened with the addition of a knowledgeable and responsive senior sales staff. Pudenz automotive products greatly increase the breadth and depth of Littelfuse’s automotive portfolio. Pudenz contributions to the Littelfuse portfolio include high-current multi-element MasterFuse® products, BF Inline® high-current inline cable protection fuses, battery disconnect systems, blade fuses, bolt down fuses, fuse-holders and aftermarket fuse products for vehicles and automotive equipment.
“Our customers want us close to their locations - engineering, manufacturing and selling, shoulder-to-shoulder with their globally distributed operations,” said Tracy Crawford, Director of Marketing, “this move strengthens our ability to support our customers the way they want to be supported.”
This acquisition will directly benefit automotive customers by providing them unparalleled access to product, technical expertise, technical support, and applications assistance. In addition, this strategic move strengthens Littelfuse’s position as the world’s leading provider of circuit protection solutions.
"The WICKMANN Group adds powerful brand names to the Littelfuse portfolio of circuit protection solutions, and greatly enhances the company’s position as the world leader in circuit protection," said Gordon Hunter, Chairman, President and CEO of Littelfuse. "In addition, with this acquisition we gain some of the world’s finest technical support and application assistance. The WICKMANN Group helps make us a significantly more global company than we were just a few years ago."
The WICKMANN Group’s electronic products are marketed under the Wickmann name. The product line includes fuses for a variety of electronic devices in the consumer, data and telecom markets. Automotive products sold under the Pudenz name included blade fuses, bolt down fuses, fuse-holders and aftermarket fuse products for vehicles and automotive equipment. Products for the electrical business are marketed under the Efen name and include power fuses and fuse switches for electric power distribution equipment and other industrial applications. WICKMANN Group annualized sales by unit in 2004 were approximately EUR 35 million for electronic, EUR 15 million for automotive and EUR 25 million for electrical. The company has facilities in Germany, Hungary and China, and sales offices in key regions throughout the world.
About Littelfuse Founded in 1927, Littelfuse, Inc., the worldwide leader in circuit protection, offers the industry’s broadest and deepest portfolio of circuit protection products and solutions. Littelfuse devices protect products in virtually every market that uses electrical energy, from consumer electronics to automobiles to industrial equipment. In addition to its Chicago, Illinois, world headquarters, Littelfuse has more than 20 sales, distribution, manufacturing and engineering facilities in the Americas, Europe and Asia. Technologies offered by Littelfuse include Fuses; Gas Discharge Tubes (GDTs); Positive Temperature Coefficient Devices (PTCs); Relays, Controls, and Systems; PulseGuard® ESD Suppressors; SIDACtor® Protection Thyristors; TVS Diode Arrays (SPA™ Family of Products); Switching Thyristors; TVS Diodes and Varistors. The company also offers a comprehensive line of highly reliable Electromechanical and Electronic Switch and Control Devices for commercial and specialty vehicles, as well as underground Power Distribution.
For more information, please visit www.littelfuse.com.
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