Mitsubishi Rayon (MRC, Tokyo / Japan; www.mrc.co.jp) is to acquire US-based Aldila (Poway, California; www.aldila.com) to strengthen and expand its graphite golf club shafts and carbon fibre intermediate materials businesses globally. Aldila was established in 1972 and has become a leading US brand manufacturer of graphite golf shafts.

Since it began developing golf shafts in 1976 as a part of its carbon fibre composite materials business, MRC has continued to provide quality products to the market based on its material development capabilities linked to carbon fibre production and advanced product processing and quality control technologies. Through this acquisition, MRC expects to develop synergies between a leading premium brand, Aldila, and its existing brands, “Diamana”, “Fubuki” and “Bassara” and aims to expand its sales in the North American carbon fibre golf shafts market.

Additionally, through the addition of Aldila’s prepreg business, MRC aims to strengthen its intermediate materials business in North America together with its 100% owned subsidiary Newport Adhesives & Composites (Irvine, California; www.newportad.com).