Axopar acquires Markos
Axopar secures majority stake in its biggest OEM Markos to boost production and innovation.
Finnish Axopar Group made a significant move on 4 June 2024 when it acquired a majority shareholding in Markos Sp. z.o.o through its newly founded subsidiary, AX Composites Ltd. The company hopes this strategic acquisition marks Axopar’s movement towards becoming a global leader in composite technology manufacturing.
Polish Markos specialises in building componentry for heavy industry as well as the energy, marine and leisure industries and is a leading manufacturer of fibreglass-reinforced composite products used in boats, motor vehicles, transport and wind power. The company has more than 30 years of experience in component design, construction and fabrication and employs more than 1200 professionals.
Axopar is distributed to Australia and New Zealand by Eyachts and managing director Ross Turner had this to say about the bold business move: “Acquiring a majority shareholding of one of Europe’s most progressive and successful composite OEM boat manufacturers, Markos, means Axopar has moved from customer to owner, bringing with it all the benefits of even greater control over production, quality and cost of manufacturing.
“Markos is a powerhouse of high-quality European boat manufacture as well as composite technology across a wide range of industries, so its R&D, expertise and vast manufacturing capacity solidifies Axopar’s position as Europe’s fastest-growing boat brand.”
Axopar’s 10th anniversary and what’s in store for the future
This investment is a strategic move that marks a significant expansion for Axopar’s business, strengthening its leading position in the adventure boat industry.
Despite a general market slowdown, Axopar is accelerating with a 15 per cent revenue growth in 2023 while also increasing its profitability. This acquisition of Markos shows Axopar’s commitment to the long-term development of the company and its operations.
Jan-Erik Viitala, one of the founding partners of Axopar, commented on the achievement: “We promised that our 10th anniversary would be full of surprises. The investment in Markos stands as one of the most significant announcements during this milestone year.”
The future looks very exciting indeed for Axopar as it gains access to Markos’ state-of-the-art composite manufacturing facilities, technologies, know-how and its highly skilled workforce in Poland. This will enable Axopar to enhance its R&D and production capabilities, streamline its operations, increase efficiency and meet the growing demand for its innovative products.
“As family-owned companies, Markos and Axopar share the same values when it comes to building brands based on experience, solid reputation and dedication. Strengthening our relationship with Axopar enables us to enter new markets with our products. This investment is a matter of pride for our company and team, and a great distinction for the entire region in which we are located,” summarised Szymon Koseski, CEO of Markos.
For more information head to the Eyachts website.
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