The Antal Group has established a strategic collaboration with Ropeye, manufacturer of composite and textile components.
The agreement follows on from a commercial agreement with Karver at the end of 2025 and the acquisition of XPO earlier in 2026.
Antal, based in Padua, Italy, specialises in the production of hardware for a range of sailing, says it strongly believes in the quality of Ropeye’s products and the alliance will lead to both brands delivering successful projects together.
The agreement with Karver focused on the customer portfolio and on the possibility of mutually expanding each other’s catalogues with a broader range of products, while the transaction with XPO was a full acquisition aimed at expanding in the French market.
The objective of the Ropeye collaboration is to extend its offering on selected projects, particularly in the racing world.
We share a common vision based on research, innovation, and absolute focus on performance.
Giovanni Licursi
Ropeye, with its manufacturing site in Tallinn, Estonia, and operating area between Padua and Milan, is a key supplier of components for the IMOCA 60 Class and for other sailing projects, where Antal is also increasingly present, especially in the Class 40 segment.
“First of all, I believe this strategic agreement is a great story of how two companies from the same area, Padua, decide to combine their expertise to strengthen a path of international growth in the sailing world, where technological innovations and new materials are driving an important acceleration of change,” said Antal chairman Enrico Gomiero.
“I also want to emphasise how deeply Antal believes in the quality and research that Ropeye puts into its products.”
Strategic step
Ropeye director Giovanni Licursi, added: “The collaboration with the Antal Group represents a strategic step of great value for Ropeye.
“We share a common vision based on research, innovation, and absolute focus on performance, especially in the racing world, where every detail makes the difference.”
And he praised Antal’s strong manufacturing history and technical culture, saying the company’s international presence aligns with Ropeye’s growth path.
“Combining our expertise means we can offer increasingly integrated, lightweight, and high-performance solutions, meeting the needs of the most advanced projects while keeping our outlook constantly open to global innovation,” said Licursi.
Alternatives to metal components
Antal was founded in 1977 by Gastone Carraro, whose family led the company for over 45 years, during which time it has partnered with numerous world-class sailing champions.
The company has a network of distributors in 21 countries worldwide and collaborates with leading Italian and international sailing shipyards.
Ropeye, founded in 2012, has developed alternatives to heavy metal components with solutions made of carbon fibre and textile fibre (Dyneema).
