Amoco Fabrics Europe (V H Goedhartln 935/1 NL-1181 LD Amstelveen), an affiliate of Amoco Corporation (HQ: 200 East Randolph Drive, Chicago IL 60601 / USA), has opened its first manufacturing plant in Central Europe. The USD 40m facility at Gyor, Hungary manufactures carpet backing fabric mainly for the European market and reinforces Amoco's position as the world's leading producer of woven polypropylene carpet backing.

The plant started production in September with capacity to produce 150m m2/y of secondary carpet backing when fully operational in 1998. Start-up of the new facility followed a strategic review of Amoco Fabrics European operations in order to secure its long-term competitiveness and capture growing opportunities in the carpet backing market.

The new plant brings to 17 the total number of Amoco's fabrics and fibres facilities in nine different countries across the world. Within Europe, the company has additional manufacturing plants at Gronau in Germany and Consett in England, producing primary carpet backing and non-woven products, and woven industrial fabrics respectively. The new plant at Gyor will enable Amoco to transfer all its secondary carpet backing (brand named "ActionBac") from Gronau to Hungary. Gronau itself will concentrate on the production of primary backings (brand name "PolyBac") and non-woven products.

In 1996, Amoco Fabrics and Fibres worldwide contributed more than USD 900m in revenue to Amoco Corporation.