Composites manufacturer Plasticon Europe (Oldenzaal / The Netherlands; www.plasticoneurope.com) will acquire AC Plastiques Canada (Quebec; www.acplastiques.com) in a deal backed by its majority owner, private equity investor AAC Capital Partners. Europe's largest manufacturer of specialty engineered and corrosion resistant glass fibre reinforced plastic and dual laminate products called the takeover “an important step in the company's growth strategy,” which will allow it to strengthen its position in its core business and explore markets where it currently has limited presence.

AC Plastiques, which produces tanks, apparatus and piping systems mainly for the chemical, metals-and-mining industry, will profit from synergies with the other Plasticon Europe companies and be able to offer a “much wider product and service package,” the Dutch company added. Plasticon, with 1,100 employees, has production facilities in the UK, Germany, Poland, France, Finland, Thailand and Malaysia in addition to The Netherlands. AC Plastiques, with bases in Canada, the US and China, will be held independently and will continue to operate under its own name.