FRANKFURT, August 26, 2008 (AFP) - The German industrial group ThyssenKrupp plans to sell its Industrial Services division next year, it said on Tuesday.

The unit has annual sales of around 1.7 billion euros (2.5 billion dollars) and employs 23,000 people 'but it is the smallest unit' in the group's services segment 'and has the smallest synergies with the core business,' a statement said.

A sale was expected 'in the course of next year,' it added.

Industrial services covers a range of activities that ThyssenKrupp performs for other groups, such as factory maintenance and assembly, repairs, and protection against rust or other kinds of corrosion.