By Liz White, UT contributing editorMinneapolis, Minnesota-Graco Inc. is to buy Liquid Control Corp. Inc. and an affiliated company Profill Corp., of North Canton, Ohio, for an undisclosed sum. The acquisition also includes Liquid Control subsidiaries Decker Industries Inc. of Palm City, Florida, and Liquid Control Ltd of Wellingborough, UK. Liquid Control is "a leading designer and manufacturer of highly engineered precision resin dispensing equipment solutions," said Graco's statement on the deal. The firm's plural-component resin-dispensing solutions cover applications from general assembly, electronic assembly, fabrication, and composite manufacturing to polyurethane moulding.For fiscal 2004 (ended 30 Sept) Liquid Control's sales were about $26 million. The transaction should be finalised 1 Jan 2005, said Minneapolis-based Graco. "We are excited about this opportunity to expand our presence in the sealants and adhesives equipment market,' said Graco's president and chief executive officer David Roberts. Since it was set up in 1975, Liquid Control has "established a strong quality brand reputation in its markets," he added.The company has some 150 employees including "an experienced management team that will be staying with the business. We see a good fit between our two companies and are excited about the prospects for future revenue and earnings growth," Roberts commented. Graco describes itself as "a world leader in fluid-handling systems and components." The firm adds that it makes products which "move, measure, control, dispense, and apply a wide range of fluids and viscous materials used in vehicle lubrication, commercial and industrial settings."
