Last year, despite the weak economy, the producers of the classic plastics toys “Playmobil” established new worldwide records. For Germany, geobra Brandstätter GmbH & Co KG (D-90513 Zirndorf; www.playmobil.de) reported an 18% growth in “Playmobil” products, for Austria and the Benelux countries, the company reported 30% each and the growth rate for Switzerland amounted to 40%. In 2001, despite losses in Italy, Spain and the US, the world-wide turnover of “Playmobil” products rose by 10% to EUR 268m (previous year: EUR 243m). The export share amounted to two thirds.

In addition to the German production facility in Dietenhofen near Nuremberg, Brandstätter group has other production sites in Malta and Spain. At the beginning of this year, geobra Brandstätter took over the production facility in Onil near Alicante / Spain, which was formerly operated as a 50:50 joint venture with the Spanish doll manufacturer Famosa (E-03430 Onil) and is now trading under the name of Playmobil SA.

The company consumes more than 8,000 t/y of plastic materials and an additional 1,000 t/y of reclaim. Approximately half of the material processed is ABS, followed by PS and the use of TPE is said to be on the increase. With 200 injection moulding machines, more than 7,000 moulds and a plastics raw material stock of 1,000 t at its German site, the company has a good market position, said Robert Benker, technical manager in a conversation with PIE.

Apart from the “Playmobil” range of toys, Brandstätter group, which achieved a total turnover of EUR 297,9m, a 10% increase, in 2001, has been establishing a second range of products with less market prominence: In a step by step approach, high-quality plant containers with an automatic irrigation system with the trade name of “Lechuza” are to become established in the market.