As a specialist in valves for power-generating installations, Advanced Valve Solutions B.V. (AVS) is internationally renowned for its incredible plethora of knowledge and innovations. Over more than 20 years, founder Karel van Wijk and his management and employees have brought the company to where it is today. The outgoing managing director is now approaching retirement age and has found a buyer in Swedish listed company Addtech, that acknowledges AVS’s distinctive position in the energy transition.

On a daily basis, a team of some 25 employees is engaged in designing and supplying innovative, engineered control valves, valves, stop-check and valve systems tailored to the power-generation and petrochemical industries. AVS does not manufacture its own products, but realises customised solutions for power-generation installations in Europe, the Middle East and America. The company forms an indispensable link between power plants and manufacturers of technical installations.

Attractive company profile

The power-generation industry will change significantly in the coming years with the rise of growing unreliable renewable energy sources such as wind and solar energy. Installations which used to generate energy at a constant level using gas and coal, must now become more flexible with the upswing of these renewable green energy sources. “AVS therefore plays a crucial role in the energy transition,” Joep van den Enk states. Together with dealmakers Jeroen Oldengarm and Mike Korenromp, he exploited for example Geneva Capital Group’s international network in approaching potential buyers across the border. “AVS has a very attractive company profile: vital specialist knowledge in a crucial global market where many changes are underway.”

That fitted exactly into the picture of Addtech, which consists of 140 independent tech-oriented companies worldwide, all with a focus on long-term sustainable growth. With such a strong shareholder behind it, AVS is able to solidify its name and position even more. The company will continue to be headed by its current management. Karel van Wijk now focuses fully on his passion: development and implementation. “I would have loved to have been 20,” he laughs. “The current energy transition is turning the whole power-generation industry upside down. That offers great deal of opportunities that I still want to be part of.”

Focus on long-term sustainable growth

Addtech’s strategy aligns flawlessly with AVS’s. In the ‘Energy & Industrial Solutions’ segment, the various companies can reinforce each other where necessary, but this is not a prerequisite. Sustainable long-term growth is what connects the companies acquired by Addtech. “And AVS fits right into that,” Joep observes. “On the one hand, we as a global community want to reduce the use of fossil fuels and make more use of renewable energy sources that are unreliable, and on the other hand, demand for energy capacity is ever increasing due to the electrification of our society and rising standard of living for people around the world.”