Brady acquisition strengthens position in Thailand

Brady Corporation, a leading manufacturer of identification solutions and precision die-cut materials, has acquired the businesses of Technology Print Supplies Ltd and its associate, Technology and Supply Media Co. Ltd, manufacturers and suppliers of pressure sensitive labels, nameplates and tags based in Laem Chabang, Thailand, approximately 90 minutes south of Bangkok. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Technology Print Supplies, founded in 1993, is a well-established label converter in Thailand, with customers including major original equipment manufacturers from South East Asia, Japan and the United States. The company's primary focus is serving the electronics and hard disk drive markets, but also offers products to other industries, including healthcare and automotive. With fiscal 2004 sales of approximately US$6 million, the acquired businesses will employ about 160 people in Bangkok and Laem Chabang.

"Thailand is a key location for our geographic expansion initiative and an important market for Brady's continued growth in Asia," said Allan Klotsche, vice president for Brady Asia Pacific. "It is the second largest producer, after Singapore, of electronics equipment and devices, including hard disk drives, in South East Asia. While Brady has had a sales presence in Thailand since 1998, this acquisition will now allow us to provide local engineering and production capabilities to our customers. In addition to enhancing Brady's position as a leading label and die-cut products supplier in South East Asia, we now also have opportunities to further expand vertically into new markets such as automotive in this important region."

Brady Corporation is an international manufacturer and marketer of complete identification solutions and specialty materials, with products including labels, software, printing systems, label-application and data-collection systems, signs, safety devices and precision die-cut materials for manufacturing, electrical, electronic, telecommunications and a variety of other markets. Founded in 1914, Brady is headquartered in Milwaukee and employs more than 4,500 people in operations in the United States, Europe, Asia/Pacific, Latin America and Canada. Brady's fiscal 2004 sales were approximately $671 million.