Heico Acquires Astro Tecnologia, Dominates Cargo Securement in Western Hemisphere

CHICAGO, IL, USA — The Heico Companies, LLC, the parent holding company for a diversified portfolio of more than 37 businesses involved in manufacturing, construction and industrial services, including Ancra International, Ancra Systems B.V., Kinedyne, S-Line and Wistra, today announced that it has completed the acquisition of Astro Tecnologia. Astro Tecnologia is one of Brazil's leading manufacturers of cargo securement systems, webbing, lifting slings and supplemental decking equipment. The company also produces thermal bulkhead structures that enable the contents of refrigerated trailers to be more accurately segregated based on their storage temperature requirements.

"Heico has a long-established leadership position in North America's load securement marketplace and has been making steady inroads into the major South American markets of Argentina, Chile, Peru and Colombia for years," Steve Frediani, president and CEO of Heico's Ancra platform, explained. "With the acquisition of Astro Tecnologia, we have significantly enhanced our offensive posture in both Brazil and the entire South American continent as a whole."

Since its inception in 1998, Astro Tecnologia has experienced significant growth, most recently spurred by Brazil's adoption and enforcement of strict new load securement regulations. Headquartered in the industrial district of Cachoeirinha, Brazil, the company's manufacturing facility weaves polyester webbing, produces a full complement of standard and custom designed cargo securement applications, web slings and round slings, and has an in-house quality control lab and load capacity testing equipment.

Known in Brazil as an industry innovator, Astro Tecnologia has also developed highly advanced automated manufacturing equipment that Heico will use to bolster efficiencies throughout its global manufacturing operations. The company's proprietary technology also makes short-run custom webbing and hardware configuration more practical and cost-effective.

"Astro Tecnologia has a seasoned management team that have solid relationships with Brazil's largest and most respected trailer manufacturers," Frediani added. "Their mature, nationwide distribution network and sales force enhances Heico's ability to bring its diverse transportation cargo securement product offering to Brazil and to the broader South American marketplace."

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About The Heico Companies, LLC
The Heico Companies, LLC is the parent holding company for a diversified portfolio of over 37 businesses involved in manufacturing, construction and industrial services. Since its founding over 30 years ago, Heico has grown by acquiring companies and providing them with the resources to strengthen their service offerings and expand their operations. Heico has a tradition of holding the businesses that it acquires for the long term and while each business runs on a stand-alone basis, Heico's many operations benefit from the opportunity to share resources and best management practices with all of the other businesses in the Heico family. Learn more about The Heico Companies, LLC at: http://www.heicocompanies.com.

About Astro Tecnologia
Headquartered in Cachoeirinha, Brazil, Astro Tecnologia is recognized as one of that country's most advanced manufacturers and distributors of cargo securement products and equipment. The company weaves its own polyester webbing and its product offering includes load securement straps and lifting slings that can be customized with specific hardware and branded imprinting. Astro Tecnologia sells supplemental decking equipment that enables users to significantly increase a trailer's payload capacity. The company also produces thermal bulkhead structures that enable the contents of refrigerated trailers to be more accurately segregated based on their storage temperature requirements. Learn more about Astro Tecnologia at: http://www.astrotecnologia.com.br