MASATS S.A. (ES)

Mestre Alapont, s/n, Polígon Industrial Salelles
ES 08253 Sant Salvador De Guardiola, Spain

Masatas is specialized in the manufacture of doors, flaps and accessibility solutions, both for road transport (buses, coaches and minibuses) and rail. The origins go back to Salvador Alapont Masats established in 1953 in Manresa (Barcelona) as a workshop for the repair of vehicles. Here began the production of pneumatic cylinders, valves and equipment geared to the bodywork industry. In 1967, was established the Masatas S.A., initially as a passengers transport company. Then in 1979 the two activities merged into SA Masatas. In 1986 started the production of pneumatic vehicle boosts. A couple of years later started the partnership with the German company Gebr. Bode GmbH & Co, which led to the shareholding of the German company in S.A. Masatas and to the establishment of the Bode Masats SA for the production of aluminum doors for buses and coaches. In 1999 the Iberian company began production of automatic ramps (designed by the same Masatas) for disabled passengers followed by complete vehicle accessibility systems. Another significant milestone in 2002 was the incorporation to Masatas of the Iberian manufacturer Irizar S. Coop as the company's majority shareholder. In 2003 SA Masatas and Bode Masatas SA merged to form the new Masatas SA that became the second largest European door systems manufacturer. In the same year, Gebr. Bode GmbH & Co ended its relationship with Masats as a shareholder. In the following years the range was expanded with a lift for coaches and electric sliding doors. Today Masatas has a staff of 300 employees and exports 47 per cent of its turnover.