Linter North America, a subsidary of Linter Investments of Spain, one of the Moratiel Group of companies, has acquired Balcrank, announced today by Alberto G. Moratiel, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the group. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

The Moratiel Group, an integrated manufacturing group of companies, through Linter Investments, and Samoa Industrial combined, is one of the world leaders in Automotive, Petroleum, and Industrial Lubrication Equipment products.
Recently the Group has expanded its assets into electronic fluid metering, control systems, automatic ink distribution pumps and systems, electric fluid pumps, and direct-flow diaphragm pumps.

Mr. Moratiel said, the new Balcrank Corporation, based in Weaverville, N.C., will continue the excellent 103 year tradition of producing only the highest quality products and giving excellent customer value and service.

Mr. Moratiel announced, C. Roy Mendenhall, a lubrication equipment industry veteran of 40 years, will serve as Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Linter, North America Corporation. Holdings of the Moratiel Group also include Samoa Industrial, Gijon, Spain, who owns Samson Corporation, Swannanoa N.C., a premier company in the North American Lubrication Equipment market.

Mr. Mendenhall, a Board Member of both companies, does not expect the marketplace to see any significant changes: Balcrank and Samson will continue to market through their respective sales channels and will continue focusing on what has made them successful serving their outstanding customers. The Group is excited to be working with the respective Management Teams to continue the Groups growth in the global markets they serve.

The Moratiel Group anticipates no change in either Company’s brand identity, sales representation, pricing, or distribution. The Management Teams see this as an exciting opportunity to improve services and product offerings through leveraging the operating strengths with the technology leadership, innovative engineering and manufacturing expertise of the various companies within the Group.