(Yicai Global) May 19 -- Chinese ceramic materials supplier Shandong Sinocera Functional Material is buying a majority stake in Dekema Dental-Keramiköfen, a German manufacturer of false tooth-making equipment, for EUR13.5 million (USD14.5 million) so as to expand its footprint in the global dental restorative materials and lab equipment market.

Sinocera’s Singapore unit is purchasing a 74.9 percent stake in the Bavaria-based company, which makes ceramic furnaces, three-dimensional printers and other dental lab equipment, the Dongying, eastern Shandong province-based company said yesterday, citing the deal signed between its subsidiary and Dekema’s parent firm Debros on May 16.

Dekema has a mature global research and development, manufacturing, sales and services network in the field of dental sintering gear, Sinocera said. The acquisition will boost Sinocera’s abilities in the R&D of all-porcelain materials, bring R&D and production between the two parties closer, help its products penetrate the European market and realize one-stop services of ‘materials and processing equipment’ for its clients, it said.

Dekema posted net profit of EUR670,800 (USD721,950) in the nine months ended June 30 on revenue of EUR6.3 million (USD6.8 million).

Sinocera’s share price [SHE:300285] was trading up 1.8 percent at CNY27.76 (USD4) as of 1.15 p.m. China time today. Earlier in the day it advanced 2.9 percent to CNY28.08.

Editor: Kim Taylor