Door Industry Journal - Winter 2013

Also online at: www.dijonline.co.uk 16 THE door industry journal winter 2013 industry news SOMMER ACQUIRES DOCO INTERNATIONAL Sommer Antriebs- und Funktechnik GmbH has broadened its spectrum. On October 1st, a new member became part of the corporate family - Doco International. Doco is one of Europe’s leading providers of door components for industrial and domestic doors and is active in more than 40 countries. “This acquisition will allow us to expand our portfolio even more by laying the foundation for successful further development. This will not only benefit ourselves but also our customers from trade and commerce”, stresses Sommer Managing Director Gerd Schaaf. Doco was founded in 1982 and currently employs 70 staff. The company’s head office housing Development and Administration is located in the Dutch town of Sittard. The manufacturer’s products are of a high quality, while the portfolio covers a broad spectrum of garage door components for the production of sectional doors, including hinges, fastening elements, shafts and frames, through to door windows, locks and handles. All of the above makes Doco an ideal complementary business to Sommer’s door and gate operators. The target customers of both companies are primarily small and medium-sized firms from the international door industry that have concentrated on the construction and assembly of sectional doors as well as the sale of complete solutions from door components. Sommer is a leading manufacturer of garage door operators, swing gate operators, sliding gate operators, roller shutter and awning operators, parking and blocking systems as well as radio technology for home automation. The company sells its innovative products throughout the world. Sommer employs over 320 staff, with everyone playing their part in ensuring Sommer’s international success. “Tremendous quality, a complete, standardized product range and excellent service combined with loyalty among the trade are all things we are proud of”, states Managing Director Gerd Schaaf. “Having Doco under our roof as an independent brand will allow us to further develop those areas where our buyers know and appreciate us.” The corporate group already includes Aperto Torantriebe, also based at Sommer’s head office in Kirchheim/Teck, Groke Türen und Tore GmbH from Karlsruhe as well as diverse foreign companies. Strongly positioned for the future Further information can be found at www.doco-international.com and www.sommer.eu. In a letter to customers, Michiel D. van Doornik, Managing Director of Doco wrote: Dear Customer, Over the last years we have considerably, improved our logistics and supply chain and expanded our product offering and market presence. This has in turn increased our standing in the garage - and industrial door market. However, the Management of Doco have felt for some time that to grow our business further we need to substantially increase our size and this would best be achieved by a strategic alliance with a European company offering complementary products to our own and sharing our vision of the future market needs. I am pleased to advise that after detailed consultations that we have forged an alliance with SOMMER of Germany who is one of the product leaders in garage door openers. In an agreement dated 1st of October 2013, it has been agreed that SOMMER will buy the entire shares of Doco Holding B.V. SOMMER and Doco will however continue to operate as two separate companies with their own management teams but will work closely together in the fields of marketing and logistics to the benefit of both companies. I believe this development will give Doco the ability to sustain and increase its place in the market to the benefit of our customers and employees. Yours sincerely, Michiel D. van Doornik Managing Director Managing shareholder of SOMMER Gerd Schaaf (left) together with chairman of the supervisory board Pieter Evers of Doco International B.V. (right).