Germany`s ContiTech group has bought the Danish rubber belts business, Roulands Rubber, and its five group companies, from the AP Møller/Maersk group, for an undisclosed amount. As part of the deal, Roulunds` conveyor belt activities will become part of ContiTech`s conveyor belts group.

Roulunds Rubber, which employs 1,100 people, achieved sales worth €70m last year. It produces power transmission belts for industrial and automotive applications.

The industrial conveyor belt division recorded sales of around €10m during 2005. The ContiTech belt group that it is joining has a global workforce of some 2,500 people and posted sales worth more than €300m last year.

Hans-Jürgen Duensing, who heads ContiTech`s conveyor belt business, says the acquisition will strengthen the group`s industry and engineered products segment. He describes Roulunds` products as "a sensible addition to our assortment".

The acquired products include vertical-lift belts, steep-angle belts, and conveyor belts for transporting hot materials. There is also an enclosed conveying system which negotiates sharp corners by bringing the belt edges together to form an enclosed loop that prevents the conveyed materials from escaping

The ContiTech group employs around 23,000 worldwide and had sales in 2004 worth almost €2.1bn. It is owned by the €12.6bn Continental automotive conglomerate.

In the UK, the Roulunds and Bando branded power transmission products will continue to be distributed by Corby-based Codan Rubber, owned by Codan Gummi, which remains part of the AP Møller/Maersk group.