Kadant Inc., Westford, Mass., USA, this week announced that it has acquired all of the outstanding shares of RT Holding GmbH, the parent corporation of a group of companies known as the PAALGROUP (PAAL), Germany, for approximately EUR 51 million in cash, or approximately $58 million. PAAL manufactures channel balers and related equipment used in the processing of recyclable and waste materials. The company has operations in Germany, the U.K., France, and Spain. 

"Our acquisition of PAAL broadens our product portfolio and extends our presence deeper into recycling and waste management," said Jonathan W. Painter, president and CEO of Kadant. "With its strong aftermarket business and emphasis on product innovation, PAAL is an excellent fit with Kadant." 

Franzotto Hornung, president and CEO of PAAL, noted that "we are excited to join Kadant and become a part of this dynamic organization. Kadant’s global platform and business model offers a number of exciting opportunities to extend PAAL’s leading market position in Europe to geographic regions around the globe." 

PAAL was founded in 1854 in Osnabrück, Germany. Its primary products include horizontal balers and conveyors used to process various materials including paper, plastic, and metal. The company is the leading European manufacturer of channel balers with a global presence. PAAL has 193 employees and revenues of approximately 48 million Euros for its fiscal year ended December 31, 2015. 

Kadant Inc. is a global supplier of high-value, critical components and engineered systems used in process industries worldwide. The company’s products, technologies, and services play an integral role in enhancing process efficiency, optimizing energy utilization, and maximizing productivity in resource-intensive industries. Kadant had of $390 million in fiscal 2015 and 1,800 employees in 18 countries worldwide.