Leamington Spa group Umeco, the supplier of advanced composite materials primarily to the aerospace, defence and automotive industries, yesterday bought a South African company.

It has acquired the entire issued share capital of Aerodyne Advanced Composites (Proprietary) from Aerodyne Industries (Proprietary).

The deal will cost Umeco around £1.5 million. The acquisition is being made through Advanced Composites Group, a subsidiary of Umeco's Composites Division.

AAC, based in Cape Town, employs 130 staff and manufactures advanced composites component parts principally for McLaren Automotive.

It has a contract for the sole supply of components to the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren super sports car.

Umeco said AAC was highly complementary to ACG's business which also supplies McLaren Automotive along with other high performance automotive and motorsport customers including Koenigsegg, Porsche and Formula 1 racing teams including McLaren Mercedes.

Clive Snowdon, Umeco chief executive, said: "The acquisition of AAC cements our relationship with McLaren Automotive and further underlines our position as a leading supplier of advanced composites solutions to the new genre of super-cars.

"AAC will sit alongside ACG's existing composites engineering business to provide a low cost base to help demonstrate the use of composites and their applicability within the mainstream automotive industry."

Umeco had turnover of £242.4 million in the year to March 31, 2005 - it releases its latest results today.

It has three divisions. Umeco Components' customers include Rolls-Royce plc, BAE Systems, Snecma Groupe, Parker Aerospace, Goodrich , Bombardier, Lockheed Martin and the US Department of Defense.

Umeco Composites lists Boeing, Airbus, BAE Systems, Goodrich Aerostructures, British Airways, Lufthansa Technik, and a number of manufacturers of high performance super cars and Formula 1 teams.

Umeco Repair and Overhaul offers a repair and installation service to operators of fixed and rotary wing aircraft ranging in size from executive jets through to a Boeing 747.

Clients include BA, KLM, Swiss, Alitalia Express, Bristow Helicopters, BAE Systems, Saab Aircraft and Pratt & Whitney.

Last week Umeco said its Aeromedic Innovations subsidiary had clinched a " significant" extension to its contract with British Airways.

The three-year agreement covers on-board first aid kits for BA's planes and medical supplies to its occupational health units. Shares in British Airways are down 7.25p at 340.5p.