Dürr to develop innovative RoDip process for dip painting of vehicle bodies further

11/08/2000

Memorandum of understanding signed with ABB

Dürr and ABB have agreed in a memorandum of understanding that Dürr will obtain a worldwide, non-exclusive license of the painting process developed and patented by ABB, and will take over the development and competence center for RoDip in Butzbach near Frankfurt at the same time. The contract will be legally valid after approval by the German Federal Cartel Office.

RoDip is a process used for dip painting of vehicle bodies in mass production and will yield benefits in quality, costs, and efficiency. Dürr will take over the existing RoDip business and will push ahead with its further development and marketing. The granting of licenses to further systems suppliers is planned. Dürr will receive an exclusive license for the license territory Japan.

The corporate unit in Butzbach will be managed within the Dürr Paint Systems business unit, both as worldwide competence center for RoDip and also for the commercial vehicles, automobile component suppliers and general industry sector for the German market.

The Dürr technology group is one of the world's leading manufacturers of production systems and manufacturing support services for the automotive industry and its component suppliers. With its five business units: Paint Systems, Automotion, Environmental, Protecs and Services, Dürr AG operates in over 20 countries and is expecting sales of over euro 1.7 bn and a double-digit growth rate in earnings for the fiscal year 2000.