Fast expanding European plastic automotive parts producer Mecaplast Group has reinforced its presence in Iberia with the acquisition of Portuguese technical plastics molder Arouplás Plásticos Técnicos Ltda.
Arouplás, based in Mansores south of Porto, with 20 years experience providing injection molded components for the automotive sector, is a regional supplier of the French car manufacturer PSA Group (Peugeot-Citroën).
The takeover, for an undisclosed sum, will give acquisitive Monaco-based Mecaplast a new production platform from which to serve the PSA vehicle plants in Mangualde in northern Portugal and Vigo in northwest Spain.
Formed in 1993, the Portuguese molder operates 15 Battenfeld injection molding machines with clamping forces from 35-450 metric tonnes. The plant, which molds a range of plastics including polycarbonate, nylon, acrylics and ABS, is equipped with robots and has a paint shop, ultrasonic welding equipment and assembly lines.
From 2019, the Arouplás plant is reported to be chiefly supplying the PSA assembly plant in Vigo. There are plans to expand the Mansores molding plant with the construction of another building and the addition of extra molding machines.
In mid 2014, Arouplás extended its production capability with the addition of new equipment for multi-component injection molding. The firm installed a Battenfeld HM300/ 2250H/ 525L molding line to broaden its part supply range.
Arouplás also manufactures a range of molded plastics components for the telecommunications industry.
Tier 1 component and module supplier Mecaplast, which supplies a number of automotive OEMs including PSA, Renault and Toyota, has grown rapidly in recent months as it swallowed extra plants in China, Germany and the United States last year with the acquisition of U.S.-based Key Plastics.
Mecaplast recently announced it was pulling out of heavy-duty truck component supply as it sold off French auto trim molding plants Izernore and Précigné, together employing 340 to the German industrial holding company Mutares of Munich.
Today, Mecaplast operates 28 production plants around the world including two units in eastern Spain at Seseña near Toledo and La Pobla de Claramunt close to Igualada. The group has recorded annual sales of around 1.1 billion euros and now employs more than 10,000.