US group Breed Technologies Inc (PO Box 33050, Lakeland, FL 33807, USA) has acquired Gallino Plasturgia Srl (Via Einaudi 154, I-10040 Rivalta Torinese, TO) and affiliates from IAO Industrie Riunite SpA. Gallino is one of Italy's largest automotive component suppliers producing steering wheels, instrument panels, bumpers and other plastic trim components. The group supplies to Fiat, BMW, Volkswagen and Opel and is the third largest European steering wheel supplier with 90% of the Italian market.

Gallino was originally acquired by IAO in 1991. The group was expanded in 1995 with the acquisition of Gruppo Plastico Industriale (Via della Liberta 30, I-10040 Grugliasco), a leading manufacturer of bumpers and other thermoplastic components and Macchi Arturo Srl (Via Concordia 49, I-20055 Renate Brianza, MI) which manufactures RIM bumpers, door trims, spoilers etc. Other companies in the group include FAS, APCO and AG International, all of which are significant plastics processors manufacturing for the automotive trade. In total Gallino operates 14 plants in Italy, and is estimated to use 10-15,000 t/y of polymer material.

Breed Technologies is a major producer of occupant safety systems for cars such as airbags, as well as steering wheels and sensing systems. The acquisition is yet another example of the global strategy now pursued by most leading automotive component manufacturers wishing to ensure their status as No 1 supplier to the industry. For Breed it will further develop and complement its position in the world marketplace as a low cost supplier of fully integrated airbag systems and integrated steering wheels.

With the addition of the Gallino plants, the group now operates 42 facilities worldwide and turnover for the year ending 30 June 1996 was USD 431.7m with net earnings of USD 63m.