Hexpol completes purchase of Spanish compounder Unica

Malmo, Sweden - Hexpol AB has completed the €48-million acquisition of Spanish rubber compounder Unión de Industrias CA (Unica) from private equity firm Espiga Capital.

Based in Corella, Navarra, Unica operates one compounding facility, employs 80 people and had a turnover of €40 million in 2020, said Hexpol in a 7 July statement.

Operational since 1958, Unica has five mixing lines, using both intermix and tangential technologies. One mixing line is exclusively dedicated to colour mixtures.

According to Hexpol, the Spanish compounder is “a significant player” in the country, supplying to “several demanding customers in the automotive, construction and agriculture sectors.”

"Through the acquisition of Unica, we will strengthen our position in rubber compounds for demanding customers in Spain and other EU countries," said Ralph Wolkener and Carsten Rüter, presidents Hexpol Compounding Europe/Asia.

Unica, he went on to say, will be "a perfect complement" to Hexpol's existing operations in Spain, which are mainly active in other sectors.

Unica has made “significant investments” in equipment and technology in recent years and is “well positioned to support the transforming automotive market in southern Europe,” according to Hexpol.  

The acquisition of Unica was announced in April and follows the €30-million takeover of wire & cable compounder Vicom in early March.

Hexpol also operates another compounding unit in Barcelona which supplies to the construction industry.

"This is a perfect acquisition as Unica mainly supplies to the automotive industry," a source close to Hexpol explained to ERJ in April. 

This, said the industry insider, means Hexpol will run three Spanish sites in three different segments with no competition among them.