Unifrax I LLC entered into an agreement to acquire Super Saffil Limited and Saffil America, Inc. (Saffil) from Dyson Group plc. Saffil develops, manufactures and sells innovative, high-temperature polycrystalline wool materials to a global customer base. It has two main business units: Saffil Automotive and Saffil Fiber. Saffil is headquartered in Widnes in the U.K. and has manufacturing operations in the U.K. and South Africa as well as regional offices in the U.S., Japan and China and sales representation in Brazil.

According to Unifrax, the Saffil high-alumina fiber and Ecoflex product lines nicely complement its product offerings. The acquisition, which is expected to close in the third quarter of 2011, will also significantly strengthen Unifrax’s emission control mat and industrial insulation businesses. Unifrax plans to make a substantial capital investment in Saffil to add additional capacity to support the continued long-term growth of the business.