en.Wedoany.com Reported - Messer Group GmbH (headquartered in Bad Soden, Germany) announced that it has completed the acquisition of 100% of the shares in WKS Group (covering operations in Singapore and Malaysia) and Wipco (Malaysia), and has signed a final agreement to acquire 100% of the shares in Kobewel (Malaysia). This move marks Messer's official entry into the largest industrial gas market in Southeast Asia, bringing new growth opportunities and synergies to the region.
WKS Group is a leading private industrial gas company consisting of six entities, with 195 employees, operating across Singapore and southern Malaysia. Its diversified business portfolio includes bottled gas filling stations, dissolved acetylene production plants, a welding equipment and consumables distribution network, cylinder gas warehouses, and specialized services for the marine and offshore industries.
Wipco Industrial Sdn Bhd (Wipco), founded in 2000 and headquartered in Ipoh, Perak, is a private industrial gas company covering northern Peninsular Malaysia. It operates a cylinder filling station and a modern PLC-controlled dissolved acetylene production plant, serving a stable customer base primarily from the manufacturing, semiconductor, and electronics industries. This acquisition provides Messer with an immediate operational platform in Malaysia's world-class semiconductor manufacturing and advanced manufacturing ecosystem centered around Penang.
Kobewel Kogyo Gases Sdn Bhd (Kobewel), founded in 2007, is a private bottled gas company with facilities in Sepang, Selangor. It serves a diverse range of industrial customers, with a high proportion of direct end-users. This acquisition will strengthen Messer's position in central Malaysia and enable the strategic integration of its existing Kuala Lumpur operations with Kobewel's Sepang facility, creating a unified and more efficient central hub.
These acquisitions align with Messer's strategy to expand its footprint in Southeast Asia, aiming to fully leverage the growth potential of the industrial gas markets in Singapore and Malaysia. The local reputation and customer relationships of these companies will enhance Messer's ability to provide customized solutions for industries such as electronics, healthcare, marine, and offshore. WKS Group's expertise in welding equipment distribution and marine services further enriches Messer's product portfolio.
Peter Mohnen, CEO of Messer, stated that these acquisitions represent a significant milestone in the company's journey to become a leading player in the Southeast Asian industrial gas market. By combining the local expertise of WKS Group, Wipco, and Kobewel with Messer's global capabilities, the company is poised to deliver innovative solutions and drive sustainable growth in Singapore, Malaysia, and the broader region.
