Hazelett Strip-Casting Corporation in Colchester, Vermont, has become a member of the EBNER Group, headquartered in Leonding, Austria. EBNER acquired a majority interest in Hazelett, with Mino S.p.A., based in Alessandria, Italy, remaining a shareholder and David Hazelett remaining both a shareholder and president of the company.
“From the first time I met David Hazelett it was clear to me that we share many of the same values — to invest in research and development, to always be one step ahead of your competition, to build the equipment inhouse, to serve your customers first class world-wide, and to have a dedicated team of experts around you who believe in the same values,” said Robert Ebner, CEO of the EBNER Group.
Hazelett is an over 100 year old company, with a history of designing and manufacturing continuous casting machines for the global metal industries. The company’s technology is used in metal manufacturing processes worldwide to cast aluminum, copper, zinc, and lead into metal strip and bar used to create countless products.
Similarly, EBNER has been a leader in the design and manufacture of thermal processing furnaces for over 70 years. The company specializes in the research, development, fabrication, installation, and commissioning of heat treatment facilities for the ferrous and non-ferrous industries, using the most environmentally friendly and energy efficient technologies.
Both companies have been family-owned throughout their histories and this merger preserves that legacy. Mr. Hazelett stated, “As family-owned businesses, Hazelett and EBNER have the freedom to take a longer view, one that encourages investment in research and development, building long-term relationships, and preserving our environment.”
In addition, the cooperation with MINO will enable the EBNER Group to offer complete process lines to the aluminum flat rolled products industry — including Hazelett twin-belt continuous casting technology and MINO hot and cold rolling mills.
“Mino’s first cooperation with Hazelett Strip-Casting Corporation dates back to 1997 and ever since the two companies have completed several successful projects around the globe in the field of combined casting and rolling lines for both aluminum and copper strip,” Cesare Pettazzi, president of Mino S.p.A. “The acquisition by EBNER of a majority interest in Hazelett Strip-Casting Corporation will strengthen and complete our offerings by making it possible, through the combination of the respective technologies, to cover complete projects, from melting to casting and rolling.”
The merger with Hazelett further strengthens EBNER Group’s position in the aluminum industry. In recent years, the company has added several aluminum industry equipment manufacturers to its portfolio, including Gautschi Engineering in Ranshofen, Austria; HPI in Ranshofen, Austria; and GNA alutech in Montreal, Canada. Together, the companies offer a wide range of furnaces, upstream and downstream auxiliary equipment, project management, and other services to the aluminum and other metal industries.