Alfa Laval and Sartorius extend alliance in beer filtration


STOCKHOLM, Sweden, July 16, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- Alfa Laval, a world leader in centrifugal separation, heat transfer and fluid handling, has extended its alliance with the German-based Sartorius Group, a market leader in biotechnology, filtration of beverages and mechatronics.

Alfa Laval receives the exclusive right to sell Sartorius' membranes and membrane systems for crossflow filtration and sterile filtration of beer as well as dead end filtration in breweries. Sartorius will exclusively supply the membrane filter elements and transfer its know-how for the design and production of complete membrane filter systems as well as its key engineering and sales personnel in the largest markets like China and Japan to Alfa Laval.

Until now, kieselguhr has been the established method for filtration or clarification of beer. Kieselguhr, also known as diatomaceous earth, is a filter aid that has known problems, for instance, kieselguhr has a negative impact on the environment and can cause health hazards and entails waste disposal difficulties.

The new crossflow system, specially designed for beer filtration, eliminates the problems associated with diatomaceous earth. Instead, the crossflow system uses porous membranes produced by Sartorius instead. This system also ensures continuous and efficient operation, excellent beer quality and minimum product loss.

Cold sterilization is a membrane-based filtration method for sterilizing beer without any heat impact. This method results in a high final product quality and in significant energy savings. The technology has already enjoyed major success in Asia, particularly in China and Japan.

"The extended alliance is a proof of the long-term nature of the commitment from both Alfa Laval's and Sartorius' side," said Ulf Granstrand, Executive Vice President and head of the Process Technology Division. "It will increase our possibilities to develop the technology and market presence within beer filtration technology even further."

Dr. Eric Janssens, Executive Board member of Sartorius AG and President of the Biotechnology Division, welcomed the extended alliance with Alfa Laval in which both partners contribute their particular strengths, as he claimed. "We have seen in the past months that our alliance with Alfa Laval has worked out to the mutual benefit of both companies, and now it's time to proceed systematically with the next step. Sartorius will profit by the considerable market presence that Alfa Laval has as the global market leader in the engineering and construction of beer production systems. This alliance holds promise of substantial growth potential for Sartorius for unit sales of membrane filters for beer filtration."

Editor's notes:

Alfa Laval is a leading global provider of specialized products and engineering solutions based on its key technologies of heat transfer, separation and fluid handling. The company's equipment, systems and services are dedicated to assisting customers in optimizing the performance of their processes. The solutions help them heat, cool, separate and transport products in industries that produce foods and beverages, chemicals and petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, starch, sugar and ethanol. Alfa Laval's products are also used in power plants, aboard ships, in the mechanical engineering industry, in the mining industry and for wastewater treatment, as well as for heating, cooling and refrigeration applications. Alfa Laval's worldwide organization works closely with customers in nearly 100 countries to help them stay ahead in the global arena. Alfa Laval is listed on the Stockholm Exchange and, in 2003, posted annual sales of approximately SEK 14 billion (approx. 1.5 billion euros). The company has some 9,400 employees. For further information, please visit the Alfa Laval website at www.alfalaval.com

Sartorius AG is an internationally leading laboratory and process technology supplier covering the segments of biotechnology and mechatronics. In 2003, the technology group earned sales revenue of 442.3 million euros. The Goettingen-based company founded in 1870 currently employs a good 3,660 persons. Its biotechnology segment focuses on filtration and separation products, bioreactors and proteomics. The mechatronics segment particularly manufactures equipment and systems, which feature weighing, measurement and automation technology for laboratory and industrial applications, as well as bearings, especially the hydrodynamic versions. Sartorius key customers are from the pharmaceutical, chemical and food and beverage industries and from numerous research and educational institutes of the public sector. Sartorius has its own production facilities in Europe, Asia and America as well as sales subsidiaries and local commercial agencies in more than 110 countries. For more information, please visit the Sartorius website at www.sartorius.com



 For further information, please contact:
 Peter Torstensson
 Alfa Laval Group
 VP, Communications
 Tel: +46 709 337 231

 Mikael Sjoblom Alfa Laval Group Investor Relations
 Tel: +46 709 787 482

 Patrick Roggemans
 Alfa Laval
 Brewery Technology Manager
 Tel. +32 2 728 39 13

 Petra Kirchhoff Sartorius AG VP, Corporate Communications 
 Tel: +49 551 308 3702

 Dr. Erbil Turgay Sartorius AG SVP, Business Area Food&Beverage
 Tel. +49 551 308 1441

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