Antwerp-based Crown General has sold the trade and assets of its sheet extrusion division to British Vita (GB-Manchester M24 2DB; www.britishvita.com) so that it can concentrate on its core PE films business. The purchase price has not been disclosed. Vita is already the largest manufacturer of thermoplastic sheet in Europe and will use the acquisition to increase its presence in the PE and PP sheet markets, particularly for materials handling and horticulture applications. The business being acquired had a turnover of GBP 1.5m last year.

Calvin O´Connor, British Vita´s director with responsibility for Industrial Polymers, believes the acquisition of Crown General´s sheet division will provide further opportunities for growth and enhance the company´s position in polyolefin sheet in Europe. The Crown General business has been based on two sheet extrusion lines. One will be relocated to the Metzeler Plastics plant in Julich, Germany, the other will be installed at the site of Plastech (Tanhouse Lane, Widnes, GB-Cheshire WA8 0YQ), Lancashire.