In mid-June 2010, wood specialist Fritz Egger & Co (St. Johann / Austria; www.egger.com) acquired a 71.5% share in plastics edgeband manufacturer Roma Plastik (Gebze / Turkey; www.romaplastik.com). Egger also has the option to acquire the remaining 28.5%, currently still in the hands of Roma’s management. Financial details of the transaction, which still has to be approved by the Turkish cartel authorities, were not disclosed.

As a result of the deal, Egger has expanded its portfolio to include edgebands manufactured in-house. The family-run business is capable of processing 6.35m m³/y of wood and wood materials, a large part of which is further refined with special decorations and surfaces. Sales manager Ulrich Bühler said Egger is particularly keen on the strategic value of Roma’s presence in the important markets of eastern and southern Europe as well as the Middle East.

With revenues of about EUR 50m – roughly half of which is generated in Turkey and the other abroad – Roma Plastik claims to be one of the world’s leading edgeband manufacturers. Led by CEO Aydin Robert Baler, the company’s portfolio includes edgebands made of PVC, melamine and ABS.