Miguel Ferrer

Camoplast Solideal has acquired Rodaco to boost its capacity to manufacture and distribute tyres for the South American materials handling equipment industry.

Solideal Mexico managing director Miguel Ferrer says: "With this acquisition, Camoplast Solideal reinforces its position as a strong player, with a significant (marketshare) for materials handling tyres (and) a strong presence in construction tyres ... in the key Latin American markets."

Rodaco was founded in 1997 and has manufacturing facilities in Porto Alegre and Buenos Aires, and a distribution centre in São Paulo. The two plants span over 5,000 sqm (53,800 sqft.) and sit on 18,000 sqm (193,750 sqft.) of land.

Rodaco employs 100 people who will all remain with the company and will continue to "help build a bigger, better business," Ferrer says.

Francois Augnet, chief operating officer, construction and materials handling at Camoplast Solideal, says a physical presence in Latin America is an important component in achieving the company's growth objectives in materials handling.

"By combining our manufacturing and distribution processes with the local knowledge and reputation of the team at Rodaco, we will have a unique offering to best serve this growing market," he explains.

The acquisition price is confidential.

Camoplast Solideal designs, manufactures and distributes off-road tyres, wheels, rubber tracks and undercarriage systems to serve the materials handling, construction, agricultural and power sports industries. It employs over 7,500 dedicated employees and operates R&D centres and manufacturing plants in the USA, Canada, Europe and Asia.