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08/2015

GREAT LAKES FOAM TECHNOLOGIES acquired by UNIQUE FABRICATING

UNITED STATES Chemicals & Materials / Material Transformation / Plastics EV 10M - 30M USD

Context

The acquisition of Great Lakes Foam Technologies by Unique Fabricating is a strategic move to consolidate the industry and expand the group's technological offerings into polyurethane molding, while diversifying its sectoral reach beyond its historical exposure to the mass automotive market. This transaction enables the transfer of the target's customer base to the acquirer's broader sales force, leveraging the alignment of the two companies' profitability and growth profiles to generate immediate scale benefits. Under the leadership of its founders, the target had established itself as a niche leader in reaction injection molding technology, with a strong presence in high-value-added sectors such as medical and defense. However, it faced commercial capacity constraints that hindered its ability to reach the next level of national growth. The operational integration led by Unique Fabricating will focus on deploying cross-selling initiatives to the group's existing major automotive accounts, which are increasingly demanding complex polyurethane molded components, and on pooling polymer purchasing capabilities. The continued operational management at the Concord site ensures the preservation of technical expertise, while the acquisition is fully financed through the acquirer's existing credit line, securing rapid execution without altering its capital structure.

GREAT LAKES FOAM TECHNOLOGIES, which reported an EBITDA margin of in 2014, is valued in this transaction at an EV/EBITDA multiple of , representing a to the average currently observed in the Industry & Manufacturing sector (11.6x).

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Target

Great Lakes Foam Technologies, Inc. operates a specialized industrial facility that utilizes Reaction Injection Molding (RIM) to transform polyurethane into high-precision components for acoustic management, sealing, and ergonomic comfort applications. Based in Concord, Michigan, the company supplies demanding industrial customers across diverse markets, including automotive, off-highway vehicles, medical equipment, office furniture, and military hardware. Its business model is built on mastering complex chemical formulation cycles and owning custom molds for each part, configured for medium to high-volume production runs. The company invoices on a per-unit basis, aligned with integrated supply chain schedules tailored to its clients' production flows, while the amortization of initial tooling is covered under specific development contracts. Demand is directly tied to vehicle platform replacement cycles and industrial equipment programs, requiring the company to maintain strong operational flexibility and rigorous quality certifications that meet the stringent requirements of Tier 1 and Tier 2 supply chain partners.

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REFERENCES

Valuation range: EV 10M - 30M USD

Revenue range: 5M - 25M USD

EBITDA range: 0M - 5M USD

Note: This page provides detailed data on a private equity M&A transaction. Detailed and exact financial metrics for the acquisition of GREAT LAKES FOAM TECHNOLOGIES by UNIQUE FABRICATING are reserved for mynth community members. Register for free to unlock full data.

Authors: This transaction was contributed by a verified mynth contributor and cross-checked against available transaction documents and official company communications.

Target: great lakes foam technologies