DSM Engineering Plastic Products bv (Weiveldlaan, 41, b 6, B-1930 Zaventem), a business group of the Dutch chemicals and material group DSM (HQ: PO Box 6500, NL-6401 JH Heerlen) has concluded an agreement with the Polish company Kaprolan Sp. (Poznan) concerning the setting up of a 50/50 joint venture, DSM EPP Kaprolan Sp. z.a.a. (Ul. Dziegielowa 7, PL-61-680 Poznan). The jv will be responsible for the production and sale of engineering plastic stock shapes for the Polish market. DSM EPP Kaprolan will start trading immediately. The creation of DSM EPP Kaprolan is in line with DSM Engineering Plastic Products' strategy, which is aimed at reinforcing its global leadership position in the production and sale of engineering plastic stock shapes.

Kaprolan holds a strong position in Poland in cast nylon stock shapes. In addition to these products DSM EPP Kaprolan will also bring DSM Engineering Plastic Products' wide product range to the Polish market. From its base in Poznan the new company will also support local customers in the development of new applications and in their choice of materials. Engineering plastic stock shapes are sheets, rods and tubular bars, which are machined or fabricated into parts for the engineering, mining, chemical and medical industries as well as in numerous other sectors.

DSM Engineering Plastic Products has annual sales of approximately NLG 600m and employs roughly 2,000 people worldwide. The business group holds global leadership positions with its products and has over 20 production sites in Europe, North America and the Far East. Its subsidiaries include Axxis, Cestidur, Erta, Polypenco, Sheffield Plastics and the Polymer Corporation. They produce stock shapes from polyamide, polyacetal, PET, (U)HMW-PE, PEEK, PVDF, PEI, PSU and PPS; also polycarbonate sheets, modified-PET sheets and thermoplastic industrial hoses.