HZI to take over Schmack Biogas, microbEnergy

Hitachi Zosen Inova (HZI) will take over Schmack Biogas Service and microbEnergy, both headquartered in Bavaria, by the end of the year.

HZI entered into an agreement with Viessmann Group to acquire the business activities of both entities on 9 July. The final closing is expected after formal approval by the regulatory authorities. By this date, the business activities of the Schmack entities will be transferred to HZI and the entire workforce will become part of the HZI Group.

Schmack specialises in the engineering, construction, maintenance, technical services and operation of wet fermentation plants. Its product and service portfolio also includes retrofitting and modernising biogas plants, advisory services to biogas plant owners in the field of feedstock solutions, and a power-to-gas process for biological methanation.

Schmack Biogas and microbEnergy are well established companies in the German biogas market. HZI will value this positioning and leverage it going forward to support the development of its products and services in the reference markets.

With the acquisition of Schmack, the Swiss cleantech company will considerably increase its presence in the biogas market. The addition of Schmack’s capabilities will enable HZI to match customer needs, whether industrial, municipal, agricultural, or financial, across the entire value chain and for all possible feedstock.

“We are extremely pleased to welcome Schmack’s employees to the group,” said Bruno-Frédéric Baudouin, CEO of HZI. “They bring amazing expertise and know-how in the renewable gas business.

“What they have created over time is an excellent complement and extension to HZI’s existing offering, particularly in the field of wet fermentation.

“This joining of teams will ensure that we can provide our markets and partners with an even broader range of integrated technologies and services in the future.”

Joachim Janssen, co-CEO of Viessmann Group, added: “We are very happy to have found a new owner in global cleantech leader HZI. Thanks to the global network of HZI and its Japanese parent Hitachi Zosen Corporation, doors will open to new markets for Schmack’s products and services, while HZI will be able to open up new market segments with its expanded product and service portfolio.”

“With the sale of Schmack Biogas Service and microbEnergy, our colleagues have found a good new home,” commented Manuel Götz, managing director of Schmack Biogas Service and microbEnergy.

“I am convinced that together with our new shareholder HZI we will continue to lead the two companies to new strength internationally.”