Wavin enters North American market with Bow Plumbing deal

Jul 12, 2023

Zwolle, Netherlands-based Wavin BV has acquired Bow Plumbing Group Inc., a Montreal-based manufacturer of plastic pipes and fittings.

The deal gives Wavin a presence in the North American residential and commercial construction industry.

Founded in 1939, Bow produces drainage and pressure plumbing products from a wide range of materials, including cross-linked polyethylene (PEX), chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC), ABS and PVC.

Bow has a manufacturing plant in Quebec and warehouses and sales that reach across the U.S. and Canada.

The deal combines Bow's commercial reach and deep understanding of North America with the global footprint and innovation capabilities of Wavin, which belongs to parent company Orbia Advance Corp. SAB de CV.

Wavin is part of Mexico City-based Orbia's building and infrastructure business group, which represented 33 percent of Orbia's 2021 sales of $8.78 billion.

Orbia was known as Mexichem SAB de CV until 2019.

Wavin employs about 12,000 people at 65 production sites worldwide.

Company officials said the Bow acquisition strengthens and extends Wavin's presence in water management with end-to-end products for drinking water, wastewater and rainwater systems.

The deal also propels the Wavin business on its growth journey in the area of sustainable urban and residential development, according to Orbia CEO Sameer Bharadwaj.

"North America is experiencing increased demand for solutions that ensure urban resilience: a critical area of focus at Orbia," Bharadwaj said in a news release. "This investment will provide us with local presence and know-how, expanded capacity and a strong customer base for our end-to-end water management offerings that advance life around the world."

Maarten Roef, president of Orbia Building and Infrastructure, which currently includes only Wavin, said the Bow acquisition brings the company a step closer to supporting major cities worldwide to become more sustainable.

"We are working together for the long-term to provide safe and efficient water supplies, better hygiene and sanitation, improved building performance and help North America's cities become climate resilient," Roef said.

Gilles Cyr, former CEO of Bow Plumbing Group, now is general manager of Wavin's new business in Canada. He called the deal a "leap forward."

"Wavin and Bow both stand for high-quality products and customer-centricity. By now being part of Orbia, we will push innovation in the North American market further together," Cyr said.

In addition to building and infrastructure, Orbia operates five business units made up of six companies in the markets for materials (Vestolit and Alphagary), agriculture (Netafim), conduit (Dura-Line) and fluorinated solutions (Koura).

With $500 million in annual estimated sales, Knoxville, Tenn.-based Dura-Line ranks 10th among North American pipe, profile and tubing extruders, according to Plastics News' latest ranking.

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