Rapala VMC Corporation
Press Release
July 22, 2010 at 2.00 p.m.
Rapala VMC Corporations's (Rapala) new braided line, Sufix® 832 has been honored with the Best Line Award at the 2010 International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades (ICAST) in Las Vegas, US. ICAST is the most important fishing tackle show that gathers together all the key parties of the fishing tackle industry worldwide. The show takes place annually at mid-July.
Rapala, one of the leading fishing tackle companies in the world and Yao I, one of the leading manufacturers in precision-engineered superior premium fishing line - in partnership with Gore®, the makers of Gore-Tex® Fabrics, has created a brand new breakthrough in fishing line technology: Sufix 832. Six years in development, Sufix 832 allows anglers for the first time to have a fishing line designed with all of the characteristics to match any application worldwide.
Superiority of Sufix 832 is comprised of three main technology features. The first is Dyneema® fibers, which contribute to the small diameter, high strength and sensitivity of the fishing line. Secondly, the Gore® Performance Fibers add improved abrasion resistance, noise and vibration reduction, along with improved casting length and accuracy. Lastly, the R8 Precision Braiding and fiber technology developed by Yao I add superior strength, roundness and line consistency.
Formulated with eight fibers - seven Dyneema® and one Gore® - at 32 pics (weaves) per inch, Sufix 832 is the only fishing line to combine both Dyneema® and Gore® polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) fibers.
"The composition of these two fibers coming together creates the strongest, most abrasion-resistant, fastest-sinking, UV-protected, roundest fishing line on the market," says Lars Ollberg, Head of Rapala's Accessory and Fishing Line Business. "We're excited to see the quality of Sufix 832 recognized with the Best Line Award."
Rapala acquired the Sufix brand in 2008 from the Taiwanese Yao I, with whom Rapala has an exclusive supply agreement for fishing lines. More information on Sufix 832 line can be found at www.sufix.com (http://www.sufix.com/).
RAPALA VMC CORPORATION
Jorma Kasslin
Chief Executive Officer
For further information, please contact:
Lars Ollberg, Head of Accessory and Fishing Line Business, tel. +358 9 7562 540
Jorma Kasslin, Chief Executive Officer, tel. +358 9 7562 540
Jouni Grönroos Chief Financial Officer, tel. +358 9 7562 540
Olli Aho, Company Counsel, tel. +358 9 7562 540
Distribution: Main media
Rapala VMC Corporation is a leading fishing tackle company and the global market leader in fishing lures, treble hooks and fishing related knives and tools. The Group also has a strong global position in other fishing categories and it is one of the leading distributors of outdoor, hunting and winter sport products in the Nordic countries. The Group has the largest distribution network in the industry. The main manufacturing facilities are located in Finland, France, Estonia, Russia and China. The Group brand portfolio includes the leading brand in the industry, Rapala, and other global brands like VMC, Storm, Blue Fox, Luhr Jensen, Williamson, Marttiini and Sufix. The Group, with net sales of EUR 235 million in 2009, employs more than 2 000 people in 31 countries. Rapala's share is listed and traded on the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki stock exchange since 1998.
HUG#1433406
Press_release_Rapalas_Sufix_832_Line_Awarded (http://hugin.info/120091/R/1433406/379280.pdf)