Kyoto, Japan and Holliston, MA 8/10/18—YMC, which provides lab and process chromatography solutions to the pharmaceutical market, has entered into an agreement to acquire LEWA-Nikkiso America’s pharmaceutical systems business from LEWA, a division of Nikkiso. LEWA-Nikkiso America provides production-scale chromatography systems, including the EcoPrime LPLC, HPLC, simulated moving bed (SMB) and continuous chromatography systems. Financial details were not disclosed. “Through this acquisition, we will create the first Americas-based manufacturing for YMC,” stated YMC CEO Ryuji Yamamura. “In addition, we believe acquiring LEWA’s extensive experience in precision purification systems and automation for GMP-scale equipment can unlock YMC’s mostly untapped growth potential for systems outside of Asia.” LEWA will continue to supply pumps for the systems. The deal is expected to close in the fourth quarter.

The purchase adds process-scale chromatography to YMC’s current chromatography product line, which includes columns as well as HPLC and preparative LC systems. The deal includes LEWA-Nikkiso America’s agreements with ChromaCon and Bayer Technology Services, related to the companies’ SMB technologies. YMC stated that the management team and staff of the acquired business will remain in place. YMC also stated that LEWA was exiting the business due its view that the business needed to add complementary products, such as columns, in order to succeed. The acquired business is based in Devens, Massachusetts.