Sioen Industries NV, a worldwide solution provider in technical textiles, has announced the takeover of Manifattura Fontana S.p.A, an Italian producer of geotextile nonwovens serving the European civil engineering market.

In a first phase, Sioen Industries Group will acquire 90% of the shares. Under the terms of the acquisition, Mr. Francesco Fontana will remain as managing director. The company will be integrated in Sioen’s nonwovens business.

According to Sioen, the acquisition is consistent with the Group’s strategy, aimed at technology driven, sustainable and profitable growth. It opens to the Group a new and promising market: geosynthetics. This market is driven by the growing global demand for improved infrastructure. The purchase also provides the Group with improved access to (for the Group) new geographical markets, and it brings to the Group additional know-how in its needlefelt technology. Since 2001, the Group has run a nonwoven production plant in Liège, Belgium, Sioen Felt & Filtration (former Nordifa).

Manifattura Fontana S.p.A, founded in 1704 and since 1932 in the hands of the Fontana family, is a manufacturer of nonwoven needlefelt, located in Valstagna, Vicenza, Italy, close to the Austrian border. It employs c. 50 people.

Sioen Industries NV is a diversified stock quoted Group that has an extensive portfolio of products and activities: spinning, weaving and coating, manufacturing of garments, production of fine chemicals and processing of technical textiles. The Group was founded in 1960 and employs about 2800 people in 34 companies in 17 countries with sales in over 80 countries.