Acquisitive Bristol-based international speciality chemicals and gases firm A-Gas has bought German refrigerant business Arthur Friedrichs Kältemittel, giving it a foothold in the European automotive market.
A-Gas plans to further invest in the company, based near Hamburg, by building a refrigerant reclamation facility – a growing sector of the refrigerant market. 
Friedrichs Kältemittel has supplied refrigerants for more than 60 years.
A-Gas managing director for Europe, John Ormerod, said: “This investment is a good fit for us. We’ve worked with Friedrichs Kältemittel in the past and much admired the way in which they operate.
“We are pleased that the highly-experienced management team is staying on to help us grow the business. This acquisition will allow us to further strengthen our global OEM (original equipment manufacturing) automotive presence, where Friedrichs Kältemittel has made a considerable impact.
“We will also be introducing reclamation to the business. This is an area where A-Gas can make a real difference. We will invest in a reclamation plant and create new jobs by doing so. Reclamation will expand as the pressure on supplies of key gases continues and the need to reclaim grows ever more important.”
As well as supplying refrigerants to the European market since 1955 Friedrichs Kaeltemittel also provides products to the OEM market, services equipment and offers expertise on new installations.
The acquisition is subject to clearance from competition authorities in Germany and Austria.
This is the second A-Gas acquisition on the European mainland in less than a year. In August it acquired the Netherlands-based refrigerant, speciality gases and fire suppressants reclamation business BTC.
A-Gas, which operates in the UK, Europe, South Africa, Australia, Asia and the Americas, specialises in the supply and lifecycle management of chemicals and gases for end users across a range of sectors including commercial refrigeration, aviation, automotive and industrials.
It has grown rapidly through a string of acquisitions in the US and Europe.
