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In the field of high-performance deck fittings, the boundaries between textiles, composites and metal are becoming increasingly fine. Antal Group, a long-standing Italian player in deck fittings, has formalized a technical collaboration with Ropeye, a manufacturer renowned for its composite and textile solutions. The clear objective is to offer a more integrated range of products for targeted projects, mainly in the racing sector.
An alliance focused on performance and specific projects
The aim of the collaboration is to create a joint offering for certain programs, with a global approach integrating winches, rails, blockers, textile anchoring points and composite components. This approach meets the requirements of modern racing projects, where weight savings, load optimization and structural integration are crucial.
Ropeye, founded in 2012, has established itself as a supplier on numerous IMOCA 60 programs. Its textile components and composite endings are used in environments where every gram and every load point counts. The company has a production facility in Tallinn, while its headquarters are located between Padua and Milan.
Antal, a growing force in the racing segment
Founded in 1977 by Gastone Carraro, Antal has long been identified as a manufacturer of complete fittings for pleasure craft, from cruisers to superyachts. In recent years, the brand has strengthened its presence in racing, with a notable presence in Class40.
The agreement comes at a time of strategic expansion for the Group. After a commercial partnership with Karver, focused on the mutual expansion of catalogs and the sharing of customer portfolios, followed by the acquisition of XPO to consolidate its presence on the French market, this collaboration with Ropeye completes the technical set-up.
Textile and composite materials, a structural evolution
The evolution of deck architecture and rigging is driving manufacturers to integrate more textile and composite solutions. Tack points, textile chainplates, low-friction rings and optimized anchoring systems are gradually replacing some traditional metal parts.
For Antal, integrating Ropeye's expertise enables it to broaden its technical palette for complex projects. The combination of mechanical fittings and textile solutions opens the way to lighter, more modular configurations, adapted to the demands of contemporary racing yachts.
Geographical and industrial proximity
Both companies are based in the Veneto region, around Padua. This proximity facilitates technical exchanges and the development of joint projects. According to Enrico Gomiero for Antal, this collaboration is part of a dynamic of international growth, driven by innovation in materials and the rapid evolution of technological standards in sailing.
Giovanni Licursi, for Ropeye, emphasizes the industrial complementarity between the two structures, with a shared vision focused on research and performance, particularly in the racing world.
A strategy of gradual integration
This alliance is not a capital merger, but a targeted technical collaboration. It does, however, reflect a fundamental trend in the nautical industry: the search for integrated offerings capable of meeting the growing demands of architects and technical teams.
