Eschmann joins the SISK Group

SISK Group is pleased to announce its acquisition of Eschmann, an international market leader in the design and manufacture of equipment for hospitals, and dental practices.

Eschmann employs around 200 people with revenue last year of over €30million. Based in the UK with an office in Singapore, Eschmann supplies the UK market and over 50 countries around the world.

"This acquisition marks a further important step in SISK Group's continuing expansion, diversification and internationalisation of its business," according to SISK Group CEO Liam Nagle. "Despite the economic difficulties we are growing and developing, building on our strength and traditions."

The managing director of Eschmann Philip Kennedy said, "Eschmann is 180 years old this year, and we are delighted to be joining a business like SISK Group, which celebrated its 150th anniversary last year. What we have in common is a respect for our long corporate history, and a focus on building on our traditions and values to develop and grow into the future."

SISK Group is a diversified family business with a presence in several sectors and a broad international spread of activities. It has a substantial construction focus through its subsidiary John Sisk & Son which is Ireland's largest building company, and it also has a contracting business in the UK for the last 25 years. It has developed a substantial healthcare group in the last 5 years, and has a diversified portfolio of trading and investment companies and construction subsidiaries.

While SISK Healthcare has a substantial presence in the distribution of medical devices and equipment, this acquisition marks SISK Group's first expansion into manufacturing and design of healthcare products.

Eschmann design and manufacture medical equipment and products for all healthcare sectors including: powered operating tables, operating table accessories, surgical suction units, benchtop autoclaves, washer disinfectors, electrosurgery units, smoke evacuation units and accessories such as monopolar and bipolar forceps, scissors and electrodes.

Eschmann's status as a leading innovator was recognised again last week when it won the Innovative Working Practices Award, at the first-ever national EEF Future Manufacturing awards, beating competition from the cream of the UK's manufacturing sector.

Eschmann received the accolade as a result of adopting a new and radical approach to many of its business processes to fulfil a multi-million pound export order for 300 operating tables as part of the rebuilding of Iraq's healthcare system.

For further information contact:

Murray Consultants 01 498 0300
Mark Brennock 087 233 5923
Aoibheann O'Sullivan 087 629 1453

About SISK Group

SISK Group is a large diverse Irish owned family business with operations in Ireland, the UK, Poland Belgium and the United Arab Emirates. SISK Group has historically had a large construction focus, through its subsidiary John Sisk & Son with significant construction activities in both Ireland and the UK. Its UK business is currently experiencing significant growth by building on its presence in that market for the last 25 years and leveraging on its Irish companies skills and scale developed over the last 150 years. SISK Group also owns and manages a diversified portfolio of activities in distribution, healthcare and construction related businesses.

The Sisk Group consists of twelve operating companies including John Sisk & Son Limited (Ireland); John Sisk & Son Limited (UK); John Sisk & Son Ltd (International); Cardiac Services; Korine Property Partners; M.E.D. Surgical; Origo Distribution; Stone Developments; Synapse Medical; Tekno Surgical; Williaam Cox; & Eschamnn.