Trelleborg expanding pipe repair business with Finnish acquisition

Trelleborg, Sweden – Trelleborg Group is expanding its pipe repair capabilities with the planned acquisition of Rajamaki, Finland-based BP-Tech Group.

The acquisition is being made through business area Trelleborg Industrial Solutions (TIS) and includes BP-Tech brands such as Boldan and Spraypoxy coating systems, said the Swedish group 16 Apri.

The to-be-acquired business is “an innovation leader” for trenchless pipe repair including liners, resins, and specialist equipment.

The Finnish group reported sales of just over SEK 220 million (€19 million) across 24 countries in 2023.

According to Trelleborg, the business has “a strong portfolio including a proprietary spray-in-place solution and offers industry leading contractor training.”

The purchase strengthens Trelleborg’s position in “a fast-growing industry”, stated TIS president Jean-Paul Mindermann.

According to the TIS leader, aging infrastructure in Europe and North America sees between 25% and 50% of piped water lost to leaks annually.

This, Mindermann went on to say, leads to “significant cost and environmental consequences”.

“Trenchless technology is a sustainable and cost-effective solution that allows critical infrastructure to be repaired rapidly and with minimum disruption to property owners,” he added.

According to Trelleborg, the pipe repair market is forecast to grow strongly over the coming years as utility companies and civic authorities address critical infrastructure.

Trelleborg has made a number of recent investments, including acquisitions of German Innovative Sewer Technologies at the end of 2022. (ERJ report).

This latest transaction, the details of which were not disclosed, is expected to be finalised in the second quarter of the year.