Lectra acquires Lacent Technologies
The CAD/CAM textile and leather cuttings systems specialist, Lectra, has announced it has acquired
Lacent is active in the same market sectors as Lectra and focuses on three major segments: airbag cutting solutions, automotive seating and trim and industrial textiles. The company has an estimated 25% market share of the highspeed continuous process textile laser cutting systems market, behind Lectra which is the world leader.
In 2003, the companies’ combined revenues in laser cutting systems exceeded $17 million. They estimate that the worldwide demand for continuous process laser cutting systems will double over the next four years to around $30 to 40 million and be dominated by the automotive industry.
Ted Redmond, Lacent’s CEO, said: “Lacent has been financed almost since its inception by venture capital and needed to merge with a large, world-wide organisation in order to meet its customers’ global demands, and ensure the continued development of its technologies and products: Lectra was the best fit for us.”
Daniel Harari, Lectra’s CEO, added: “The acquisition of Lacent strengthens our world leadership in the automotive industry, in which we have made our strongest growth in 2003, in Asia-Pacific,
