SCAPA Group plc has bought a specialist Swiss business for an undisclosed sum.

The firm, based in Blackburn, has acquired the Prestex division of Sefar AG who manufacture synthetic fabrics.

The Prestex business specialises in the manufacture of heavy fabrics for belt filter presses used in industrial processing and environmental applications.

Specialist equipment used to produce the fabrics will be transferred from Switzerland to a Scapa factory in Sweden.

"We are delighted to have been able to buy the Prestex business from Sefar," said Peter James, chief executive of Scapa's Industrial Materials Division.

"We have been looking out for acquisitions in this area and believe this will give us the opportunity to share technologies and to strengthen our position in these niche markets."

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