Italy’s Tratos Cavi Spa (Tratos) reports that it has acquired Telnet and all shares of AFL Telecommunications Europe Ltd. (AFL TE), a subsidiary of AFL Telecommunications LLC (AFL).

A press release said that Telnet, a Spanish manufacturer founded in 1996, provides fiber optic cables, antennas, passive components and GPON equipment to regions in Europe, South America and Asia. The business unit was acquired in a judicial process that prevented its closing and saved more than 100 direct jobs.

The purchase by Tratos unlocks the potential of Telnet’s fiber optic cable and passive optical component division. “Telnet completely cleaned up its balance sheet and reversed the trend of operational deterioration, significantly improving profitability, with a turnover of approximately €20 million.”

A press release said that the AFL purchase includes all fiber optic cable product lines for the power utility, rail, and oil and gas markets, including the SkyWrap® attached fiber optic solution for overhead power lines, ruggedized trackside fiber optic cables and subsea umbilical optic cable components.

The company will continue to operate in its recently expanded facility in Swindon, U.K. The acquisition will increase the Tratos footprint in the U.K., alongside its existing electrical cable facility in Knowsley.

Tratos CEO Elisabetta Bragagni Capaccin said that the addition of AFL TE’s product capabilities, staff technical expertise and EMEA sales team will strengthen Trato’s market position.

Jeff Schmerbeck, AFL’s vice-president of cable solutions, said that Tratos is a good synergistic match for the AFL Swindon facility. “This is exciting news for the European utility, renewables, and rail industries.”