For Germany´s Friatec AG (Postf. 710261, D-68222 Mannheim) the watchwords for 1999 were integration of its activities with those of Glynwed International Plc (De Montford House, High Street, Coleshill, GB-Birmingham B46 3BP) and development of its innovation strategy. As part of the integration process – Glynwed acquired Friatec in 1998 – the UK group´s R&D activities for plastics were concentrated at Friatec´s Mannheim site. Glynwed Rohrsysteme GmbH (Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany) was merged with Friatec AG and its operative business integrated into the Mannheim company´s industrial pipes segment.

Due to the merger of distribution organsations and subsidiaries, the sell-off of the medical-technical activities and Meroblock, along with other restructurisation measures, Friatec group sales declined from EUR 298 in 1998 to EUR 270m in 1999. Pretax profit increased to EUR 34.7m from EUR 26.4m. However, the company said that due to changes in its corporate structure the figures are not entirely comparable.

Main “beneficiary”of the EUR 13.8m capital spending programme was the plastic products division. Most of the funds were spent on development of a new plug fitting system for the sanitary and heating sector. According to Friatec, its plastics portfolio is a “perfect” match with that of Glynwed, and the merger of the two opens up new market potential. The combined operation already claims to be world market leader for welded heating coil fittings. In future, strategic development will be aimed at achieving the leading global position in plastic pipe systems.