SP Group (Søndersø / Denmark; www.sp-group.dk) is expanding its thermoforming activities. Through its Gibo Plast (Skjern / Denmark; www.gibo.dk) subsidiary, the plastics group is close to completing the acquisition of PlexxOpido (Kråkerøy / Norway; www.plexx.no). The takeover price agreed on is DKK 33m (EUR 4.4m).

"The acquisition strengthens our core areas, which consist of twin sheet, high-pressure-forming and standard thermoforming", says Jan Kyster Madsen, manager of Gibo Plast. In addition, the takeover means the Danish group now has a wider production portfolio, having acquired the "Opido Reinforcement System" processing technique, by means of which thermoplastic thermoformed products gain a higher rigidity through a spray layer of PU foam. SP chief executive Frank Gad also anticipates the acquisition to yield synergy effects and drive the group's growth.

PlexxOpido is made up of Plexx, headquartered in Kråkerøy, south of the Norwegian capital Oslo, and its subsidiary Opido (Lagan / Sweden; www.opido.se), which operates a plant in Schonen, southwestern Sweden. Total group sales come to about EUR 9m, with a workforce of 45 employees. PlexxOpido's customer base extends to seven different countries.

The SP Group operates three units: Coatings, Polyurethane, Vacuum Forming and Injection Moulding. It is comprised of 10 operative firms located in Denmark, Norway, Sweden and the USA, and also runs a number of sub-units in Poland and China.