Biesterfeld Group Acquires Leading South African Supplier Aerontec
Hamburg/Cape Town, 3 June 2024 – The Biesterfeld Group, a global distribution and service company in the field of plastics, rubber, and specialty chemicals, has expanded its geographical reach with the acquisition of Aerontec Pty Ltd, a leading South African supplier and distributor of advanced composite materials and related technology. The transaction was completed today, making Biesterfeld the 100 percent shareholder of Aerontec.
Founded in 2002, Aerontec has established itself as a premier distributor of advanced composite materials in South Africa. The company offers a wide range of materials for industries such as marine, transportation, consumer goods, and aerospace. With certified warehousing and distribution facilities in Cape Town, Johannesburg, Jeffreys Bay, and Durban, Aerontec has become a trusted partner for global suppliers looking to enter the African market.
Dirk J. Biesterfeld, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Biesterfeld AG, expressed enthusiasm for the acquisition, stating, “The sub-Saharan region is of high interest for Biesterfeld. With this acquisition, we are not only pursuing our global growth strategy but have also gained a great team, which shares the same goals and values that we hold at Biesterfeld. I welcome Graham Blyth and all new colleagues as part of our Biesterfeld family. We are looking forward to a successful future together.”
The acquisition aligns with Biesterfeld’s strategy of geographical expansion and a stronger focus on technology and consultancy-driven businesses. Stephan Glander, CEO of Biesterfeld AG, explained, “Founder Graham Blyth and his team have built a very successful, fast-growing company, which combines distribution and logistics with outstanding technology expertise and differentiated services in composites. That is why they are a perfect match with our strategy of geographic expansion and an even stronger focus on technology and consultancy-driven businesses. We look forward to building on Aerontec´s success, working together to develop markets and providing customers with even more value-added products and services.”
Graham Blyth, founder and Managing Director of Aerontec, also expressed excitement about the acquisition, stating, “Biesterfeld is a leading international distributor of plastics, rubber and specialty chemicals with high reputation and know-how, and therefore a great company to speed up our growth on a solid basis. In addition, and even more importantly, it is a family business with people sharing the same DNA in terms of how to do business. I look forward to joining our forces and expertise to accelerate the solution portfolio for our customers and the growth in the composites markets and beyond.”
The details of the transaction have not been disclosed.
Biesterfeld AG is the strategic holding company of the Biesterfeld Group, one of the world’s leading distribution and service companies in the field of plastics, rubber, and specialty chemicals. Established in 1906 in Hamburg, Germany, the group has more than 1100 employees across 50 locations in Europe, North and South America, Asia, and Africa. With an annual revenue of 1.38 billion EUR in FY 2023, the fully family-owned company offers specialized market know-how and application-based technical advice across numerous industries through its business divisions Biesterfeld Plastic, Biesterfeld Spezialchemie, and Biesterfeld Performance Rubber.
Founded by Graham Blyth in 2002 in Cape Town, Aerontec Pty Ltd has grown into a leading supplier of advanced composite materials in sub-Saharan Africa. The company has 40 employees and certified warehousing and distribution facilities in Johannesburg, Jeffreys Bay, Durban, and its headquarters in Cape Town, where it also operates a technology-sharing center and a training facility for customers. Leading global suppliers rely on Aerontec as a sole supplier to service the African market.
Press contacts:
Biesterfeld Group
Sven Weber
Phone: +49 (0)40 32008-670
s.weber@biesterfeld.com
www.biesterfeld.com
Aerontec Pty Ltd
Graham Blyth
Phone: +27 (0)21 671 2114
graham@aerontec.co.za
www.aerontec.co.za
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.