Tokai builds up European base through acquisition

JAPANESE firm Tokai Rubber Industries (TRI) is acquiring the entire share capital of Anvis Group, a Germany-based manufacturer of automotive anti-vibration systems (AVS) serving European OEMs on a global basis. The acquisition will allow TRI to further expand its European customer base and reinforce the development and manufacturing capabilities of AVS for small to mid-sized vehicles. Europe is one of the largest automotive markets globally and major OEMs (including major customers of TRI) have manufacturing footprints in Europe.

TRI already has a manufacturing subsidiary in Poland from which it supplies AVS products to its Japanese customer base in Europe. Leveraging on Anvis Group’s manufacturing footprint in Europe and relying on its strong relationships with European OEMs, TRI aims to accelerate the global supply to Japanese clients and to expand its foreign customers base, both targets TRI committed to under its mid-term management.

Last year, TRI established a joint venture with Anvis Group in Mexico. It also recently announced the acquisition of Dytech-Dynamic Fluid Technologies, an Italy-based manufacturer of automotive hoses. (RJA)