During the 1960ies and 70ies, ANDRITZ continued to grow.  Production halls were enlarged, new manufacturing machinery was purchased and research and development activities were intensified. ANDRITZ started producing electro-chemical and metallurgical plants as well as main coolant pumps for nuclear power stations.  Order intake and Sales kept growing at steady rates, with orders from abroad representing an ever increasing portion.

Times started getting tough again at the beginning of the 1980ies.  ANDRITZ suffered from the effects of the second oil crisis and the worldwide economic stagnation.  Order intake started to drop and the company operated at a loss, which was covered by state subsidies.  A period of rationalization and streamlining followed.  The foundry had to be shut down and personnel was reduced from 2300 to 1600.

In 1987 ANDRITZ became profitable again and AGIV AG, a Frankfurt-based investment company, purchased the majority of shares.  ANDRITZ initiated a change in strategic direction from a licensee for other machine manufacturers to a leading international provider of high-tech production systems.

In 1990 the purchase of Sprout-Bauer, a producer of plants for manufacturing of mechanical pulp (mainly refiners) based in Pennsylvania, USA, marked the beginning of the successful acquisition strategy of the ANDRITZ GROUP.  

Further company acquisitions included

• Durametal Corporation, Oregon, USA, a successful refiner plate manufacturer (1992)
• Kone Wood, Finland, a leading supplier of wood processing equipment for the pulp industry (1994)
• Jesma-Matador A/S, Denmark (later renamed Sprout-Matador), a manufacturer of feed production equipment (1995)
• 75% of Sundwiger Eisenhütte Maschinenfabrik, Germany, a leading supplier of cold rolling mills and strip processing lines for the international steel industry (1998)

In 1999, ownership changed again.  AGIV AG sold its shareholding in ANDRITZ to a consortium consisting of investment companies, Custos Privatstiftung founded by ANDRITZ President and CEO Wolfgang Leitner, and the Management.

ANDRITZ AG in 1976	ANDRITZ Main Coolant Pump, 1974