Japan’s Toray Industries (Tokyo; www.toray.com) has acquired Italian carbon fibre fabric and prepreg producer Saati’s (Appiano Gentile; www.saati.com) European business, integrating its composite materials supply chain in Europe. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed. The Japanese group plans to take over all assets of Saati’s Legnano-based plant in January 2015, and rename the business as Composite Materials Italy (CTI). The deal does not include Saati’s North American composite business.

Saati has been one of Toray’s leading customers, and has carved out a leading role for itself in the premium automobile field, Toray said. The acquisition allows the Japanese group to expand its existing composites activities in Europe – which consist of a French production site for carbon fibre polyacrylonitrile (PAN) as well as carbon fibre reinforced plastics parts production at two German subsidiaries – by adding carbon fibre fabrics and prepregs production.

Toray said it plans to transfer its proprietary technology to CTI, while at the same time giving the business a more global focus. The purchase is part of the company’s strategic plan to expand its carbon fibre composite materials business by enhancing its supply chain.