The New Zealand subsidiary of multinational chemical company Chemetall has acquired Tergo Industries, giving the German-owned company its first manufacturing presence in this country.

Auckland-based Tergo makes industrial chemical products while Chemetall is one of the world’s leading suppliers of surface finishing, aerospace and industrial products. It opened a branch here in 1998.

The five Chemetall New Zealand staff will move from their base in Penrose to Tergo’s Avondale site, where 16 are employed.