HT TROPLAST
PVC profiles now part of “Profine” / Europe´s number one / Move facilitates asset sale
The PVC profile businesses of HT Troplast (D-53839 Troisdorf; www.ht-troplast.com), KBE (D-12277 Berlin; www.kbe-online.de), Knipping, Kömmerling (D-66954 Pirmasens; www.koemmerling.de) and Trocal (www.trocal-profile.de) have been combined in a new company, Profine GmbH - International Profile Group, based at Troisdorf, Germany, and headed by Hans-Werner Kleffner as CEO – see PIE 13, 2003. According to HT, which wholly owns the new entity, the name evokes professionality, finesse, emotionality and, of course, profile. Despite the new name, the brands will continue to have their own identity and will expand their respective market positions.
According to Kleffner, the new organisation will make it easier for interested companies to acquire the profile activities. As reported previously, HT is up for sale, as coal and chemicals group RAG (www.rag.de) is planning to sell plastics processing activities of the Troisdorf company´s corporate parent, Rütgers (www.ruetgers.de). However, Kleffner stressed that the profiles merger was planned prior to RAG´s announcement.
Profine will have annual sales of EUR 648m. In 2002, the combined businesses, which have a total capacity of 300,000 t/y, produced 230,000 t of plastic profiles and had a share of 40% of the German profile market. With a market share of 22% in Europe (including Russia), the new company regards itself as undisputed leader, followed by Deceuninck (B-8830 Hooglede-Gits; www.deceuninck.com) with 17% and Veka (D-48324 Sendenhorst; www.veka.de) with 16%.
Troisdorf, where 50 extrusion lines are operated, will continue to produce profiles, while R&D will be concentrated at Pirmasens. In view of the “enormous growth”of business in eastern Europe, KBE´s Berlin site may be strengthened as regards logistics and production, said Kleffner. He said Profine also intends to be the “leading producer of profiles” in eastern and southeastern Europe and expand in Asia. Kömmerling´s sheet business is to be expanded in particular in the US and Canada. Up to 2005, Profine hopes to lift overall sales to EUR 87m annually (EUR 58m in 2002), while at the same time extending its range of ancillary equipment.
According to Kleffner, the new organisation will make it easier for interested companies to acquire the profile activities. As reported previously, HT is up for sale, as coal and chemicals group RAG (www.rag.de) is planning to sell plastics processing activities of the Troisdorf company´s corporate parent, Rütgers (www.ruetgers.de). However, Kleffner stressed that the profiles merger was planned prior to RAG´s announcement.
Profine will have annual sales of EUR 648m. In 2002, the combined businesses, which have a total capacity of 300,000 t/y, produced 230,000 t of plastic profiles and had a share of 40% of the German profile market. With a market share of 22% in Europe (including Russia), the new company regards itself as undisputed leader, followed by Deceuninck (B-8830 Hooglede-Gits; www.deceuninck.com) with 17% and Veka (D-48324 Sendenhorst; www.veka.de) with 16%.
Troisdorf, where 50 extrusion lines are operated, will continue to produce profiles, while R&D will be concentrated at Pirmasens. In view of the “enormous growth”of business in eastern Europe, KBE´s Berlin site may be strengthened as regards logistics and production, said Kleffner. He said Profine also intends to be the “leading producer of profiles” in eastern and southeastern Europe and expand in Asia. Kömmerling´s sheet business is to be expanded in particular in the US and Canada. Up to 2005, Profine hopes to lift overall sales to EUR 87m annually (EUR 58m in 2002), while at the same time extending its range of ancillary equipment.
25.09.2003 Plasteurope.com [14123]
Published on 25.09.2003