Premium Dutch mould maker comes under new ownership
IGS GeboJagema, a company specialising in the design, manufacture, and validation of high-end multiple injection moulds for the production of high-precision applications such as contact lenses, asthma inhalers, insulin pens, and blood-diagnostic devices, joins investment firm Smile Invest’s portfolio.
In collaboration with its current investor Nordian Capital, IGS GeboJagema developed its client base in both the optical and medical markets, investing in R&D and production facilities. This acquisition signifies the next phase for the high-tech company in Eindhoven, in which it intends to develop the American market further.
Nordian Capital acquired the company in 2016, intending to develop the medical division of the business commercially and financially. IGS has since established itself as a leader in this specialist and innovation-driven market. The first steps towards the US market have already been taken, marking a new phase for the company.
Expansion to the US market
Peter Mertens, CEO of IGS GeboJagema, said: “This move has come at the right time. We are in the process of expanding to the US, where we have many opportunities for our medical applications. Clients cannot and do not want to take any risks with medical applications. We take care of all aspects concerning precision, quality, and continuous validation. Smile Invest’s entrepreneurial network opens up new opportunities for us, particularly with its knowledge, experience, and extensive contacts. Nordian Capital has greatly helped and stimulated us as our sparring partner and with its insights and guidance in terms of financial and commercial management. We have always been successful in finding the right investment party for each phase of our company's development.”
Perry Bos, Managing Partner at Nordian: “Peter and his team represent yet another high-tech Eindhoven firm making big waves on the international market. There are not many companies that can do what IGS does. We have witnessed the company’s transformation into a leading player in the high-end medical devices and equipment market. Its manufacturing plant and team of developers, engineers, and operators are among the very best in the market. In the next growth phase, there will be a new party that will be able to help IGS further.”
Ivo Vincente and Ad Notenboom, Partners at Smile Invest: “IGS is a fantastic company with a unique market position. Our entrepreneurs’ network and the knowledge and experience we contribute are exactly what IGS is looking for to support it with further expansion to customers in, for instance, the US and with the continued development of applications for injection moulds, such as medical packaging. In turn, IGS’s innovative medical profile and growth ambition are a perfect match for our portfolio. In Rabo Corporate Investments, we have a trusted partner with a physical presence in the US.”
Peter Mertens will stay on as the CEO and is reinvesting in the company. Along with Smile Invest and Rabo Corporate Investments as the new owners, Mertens anticipates that a successor will be found by the end of 2022, when Mertens himself will take a seat on the company’s Strategy Board.