Gleason Corporation announced today that it has acquired the gear cutting tools business from Hurth Infer Indústria de Máquinas e Ferramentas Ltda. ("Hurth Infer").

The gear cutting tools business, newly named as Gleason Indústria de Ferramentas Ltda. includes shaving cutters, shaper cutters and chamfering and deburring tools accompanied by tool sharpening services for such products. The acquired business has assumed the current employees supporting the design and manufacturing of these products and will operate in a separate facility at its current location.

John J. Perrotti, president and chief executive officer of Gleason said, "while the economy in Brazil is currently depressed, it remains a significant market for us, offering longer-term growth opportunities. We have long-standing relationships with most of the gear producers in this region and expect that expanding our local manufacturing capabilities will further strengthen those relationships."

Aniello Milone and Rafael Funaro, managing directors of Hurth Infer, commented, "we have great respect for Gleason and believe they will continue with the fine tradition of customer service that Hurth Infer has developed for these products in the Brazilian market. We will work closely with Gleason to assure a smooth transition and maintain a close cooperation to create maximum value for our customers. By this transaction, Hurth Infer expects to focus on and strengthen the manufacturing and support of Hurth Infer's other products, such as broach tools, round tools and related services, and heat treatment services, which were not included in this transaction, in all its facilities located in Sorocaba, Joinville and Cachoeirinha, Brazil."