Poland appears to be evolving into a centre for the production of domestic appliances. As a reaction to rising demand for EPS moulded parts used in transport packaging for washing machines, cookers and dishwashers, Hirsch Servo AG (A-9555 Glanegg; www.hirsch-gruppe.com) has implemented its previously announced investment scheme for PFI Spòlka (PL-51-317 Wroclaw), acquired in June 2003 (see PIE 14, 2003). The group´s Polish subsidiary, now trading as Hirsch Porozell, will receive a total investment of EUR 4m to boost production capacity at its two sites.

Porozell´s core business is the supply of transport packaging to manufacturers of domestic appliances such as Whirlpool-Polar, which have production facilities at Wroclaw. Capacity at the Hirsch site at Wroclaw will be expanded from 1,500 t/y to 2,500 t/y at a cost of EUR 2m. After signing a long-term supply agreement with German household products manufacturer Bosch-Siemens Hausgeräte to manufacture transport packaging for clothes dryers, Hirsch Servo has revealed plans for an additional EUR 2m plant for production of EPS moulded parts at Lódz / Poland, to go on stream at the end of 2004 with a capacity of 1,500 t/y.