Sioen acquires Contender to expand sailcloth division
Sioen Industries has signed an agreement to acquire Contender Sailcloth, in a deal that brings both Contender and Dimension-Polyant under a new division called Sioen Sailcloth Technologies.
Sioen Industries is an international textile group and already owns Dimension-Polyant.
“By joining forces with a group whose sailcloth innovations perfectly complement our own, we’re creating an unparalleled opportunity to deliver superior products to the market,” says Guus Bierman, founder of Contender Sailcloth.
“The creation of Sioen Sailcloth Technologies represents a significant milestone in our industry,” says Uwe Stein, CEO of Dimension-Polyant. “Our combined expertise will accelerate innovation cycles and enhance our ability to serve sailmakers and end-users with the highest quality materials on the market.”
Sioen says the new structure will maintain the current product lines from both Contender and Dimension-Polyant, in a bid to ensure continuity for customers and allow familiar materials to remain in use without change.
The combined group also intends to increase investment in research and development, with plans to accelerate the creation of next-generation materials and production technologies.
Contender Sailcloth and Dimension-Polyant will continue to operate through their current offices and distributors, maintaining independent brand identities within the new Sioen Sailcloth Technologies group.
Sioen Industries is based in Belgium and employs approximately 6,000 people worldwide. Its operations span multiple textile markets, including coated fabrics, fibres, woven textiles and protective clothing.
