As already reported several times, the former Polyethylene Business Unit of Hoechst AG (HQ: D-65926 Frankfurt) has been operating as an independent company, Hostalen Polyethylen GmbH (D-65926 Frankfurt) since 1 July 1997. The marketing company for Great Britain, Hostalen Polyethylene Ltd. (Milton Keynes, GB-Bucks NK15 8HQ), commenced operation at the end of 1997 already. On 1 February Hostalen Polyethylene S.A.R.L. (55, rue Felix-Brun, F-69364 Lyon Cedex) took up work as the marketing company for France and the Benelux countries. A marketing company for Italy is scheduled to be set up very shortly.

The company has an "award-winning" material on offer with its "CRP 100". This PE pipe material was awarded the "German Industry Innovation Prize" by the Rhine/Main Economic Club and the "Wirtschaftswoche" weekly newspaper. Being tougher and more rigid, the material permits larger pipe diameters than with conventional materials. "CRP 100" is also particularly suitable for renovating defective pipe systems by the relining method. This involves the pipes being folded into a U-shape and drawn into the existing system. The material's good recovery properties mean that it returns to its original circular shape under steam treatment. Further advantages of the "CRP 100" pipes are their high chemical resistance and long fitting lengths. Gas, drinking water and waste water pipelines can also be produced with thinner walls – the company claims that material savings of some 20% are feasible.

READER SERVICE: Brochure "Reliable Pipelines in Hostalen CRP 100" – Properties, Practical Application and Standardisation, 38 pages (German): PIE-No. 42490.