Posted January 15, 2002 Manufacturing News Lincoln Electric Acquires Venezuelan Welding Business Lincoln Electric Holdings Inc. (Cleveland; www.lincolnelectric.com) acquired Messer Soldaduras de Venezuela, manufacturer of welding consumables in Venezuela. Headquartered in Caracas, the company has annual sales in excess of $10 million US. This acquisition will strengthen Lincoln's presence in South America, particularly in the Andean countries (Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela), where the Company continues to increase its market presence. The acquisition of Messer Soldaduras de Venezuela provides Lincoln Electric with its fourth manufacturing plant in Latin America. Lincoln has two facilities in Mexico and one in Brazil. The Manufacturing Report © Copyright 2002 by Lionheart Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. E-mail Editorial Dept: tmr-editorial@lionhrtpub.com Lionheart Publishing, Inc. 2555 Cumberland Parkway, Suite 299, Atlanta, GA 30339 USA Phone: 770-431-0867 | Fax: 770-432-6969 E-mail: lpi@lionhrtpub.com