Borgstena Sews-Up Chatham Automotive

COLUMBIA, S.C. and BORGSTENA, Sweden--Borgstena Textile North America has bought CMI Industries’ Chatham Automotive Textile business in Elkin, N.C. for an undisclosed sum. CMI and Borgstena had been partners in their automotive operations since 1993

“The acquisition of Chatham is a major step in Borgstena’s strategy of providing automotive textiles to its customers on a global basis,” said Ulf Ellwen, the chief executive officer. Borgstena is headquartered in Borgstena, Sweden with operations in Germany, Portugal and Brazil that, along with the North American acquisition, “positions the company as a leading provider of automotive textiles in the world’s largest markets,” he said. Borgstena also has joint manufacturing ventures in Malaysia and South Korea and will continue Chatham’s successful relationship with Tatsumura Textile Co. Ltd. in Japan.

Borgstena will operate its North American subsidiary as Chatham Borgstena Automotive Textiles and will continue to be located in Elkin, N.C. The company’s global customer base includes General Motors/Opel, DaimlerChrysler, VW, Volvo, SAAB, Scania, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Toyota, Honda, Suzuki, Jaguar, Rover and Mazda.

Ellwen said Jim Meek, currently senior vice president of the Chatham Automotive Textiles business, will serve as President-CEO of Chatham Borgstena Automotive Textiles. “Borgstena also plans to retain all of the current CMI associates affiliated with the automotive business.”