Techno Tool A/S and ProTool A/S amalgamate Large synergies are to be achieved when we – as two of the packaging industry's well-known suppliers – merge our companies as of 08.02.07. This means that Techno Tool A/S, Esbjerg, and ProTool A/S, Alslev, will unify their Danish activities in Esbjerg. Techno Tool gives its name and address to the merger witch will have no disturbing effects on the company's relations to customers, suppliers, and business relations. In fact, everybody is expected to benefit from the combined knowledge and competences. And there will be no staff reductions – the approximately 30 employees in Esbjerg and the 20 employees in Alslev will still be employed. The merger enables large-scale utilisation of knowledge, with the two parties being complimentary to each other. The stated objective is to strengthen the position in Europe and on the overseas markets from which both companies bring along valuable experience to be used with the merger. Techno Tool CEO, Hans Bonde Lauridsen, keeps his position in the merged company. He characterises the merger as a marriage of convenience: "Our primary focus is on the effort to merger with so much dynamic and synergy that one and one will equal more than two. The merger is formed during prosperity. The two companies do well – but they are competitors, too. Now, we are complimentary to each other, creating a new, strong common platform – also in an international perspective." Techno Tool is one of Northern Europe's leading companies within development/production of thermo-moulding and stamping tools for the packaging industry as well as technical products for the plastics industry. The high-profile products are sold in Europe, USA, Russia, Australia, and South America. In addition, parent company Techno Trading A/S acts as a Danish/Norwegian agent for Kiefel GmbH, Germany, that, as a leading manufacturer of thermoforming devices and HF/thermo-contact welding machines, can be considered a "door opener" to a large-scale accessory and aftermarket for the Danish specialities. ProTool is a sub-contractor for the plastics and machine industry and manufactures machine components and plastic tools among other products. The company focuses on three sturdy production branches: EPS tools, blowing tools, and thermo-moulding tools. A Danish knowledge and competence centre will be established, while a department in Malaysia has been simultaneously build up since 2005, and is expected to have some 15 employees by 2007. The establishment in Malaysia is to secure continued competitive sub-contracts on a market where the combination of high competences and low costs have great significance for the customers. The stockholders do not question the advantage of the merger. Techno Tool A/S' stockholders are its two founders, Mr Hans B. Lauridsen and Mr Mogens Cnota (formerly responsible for management and production respectively), as well as Mr Steen Johansen and Mr Claus Lauridsen (sales and production respectively). ProTool is represented by founder Mr Jimmy Rose as well as Mr Jesper Thomsen and Mr Flemming Dyrvig (responsible for sales and construction respectively (Malaysia)): "We have agreed on a 1,000 m2 expansion of Techno Tools' factory complex that already covers some 2,250 m2 with a DKK 5 mio. investment in new equipment for testing and test series, while continued investments will keep the company up front of the utilisation of CAD/CAM and CNC equipment. We are convinced that we, by merging, secure the possibility to continue the positive development that in turn will benefit everybody – customers, suppliers, business relations, and staff. Esbjerg on 08.02.2007