Johnson Controls Plastics PET Packaging (Ringlaan 5, B-2960 Brecht) has started up a new plant in Spain to produce PET preforms. The plant is operated by Johnson Controls Plastics (Camino del Sabinar s/n, Poligono deValdemuel, E-50290 Epila / Zaragoza). The preforms are to be sold to converters for production of PET bottles for soft drinks, mineral water and vegetable oil. The new unit is Johnson Controls' ninth in Europe. It complements existing facilities in Italy, France, Belgium, the UK, Hungary and the Czech Republic.

US-based parent company Johnson Controls Inc (5757 N Green Bay Avenue, PO Box 591, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201 / USA) claims global market leadership for PET preforms and bottles. This business segment had sales of USD 1.19bn in 1995, a 20% rise against 1994. At the recent "Interpack" packaging trade fair in Germany, the company showed PET bottles suitable for high temperature washing, along with a patented "Supercycle" recycling process. Johnson Controls' automotive division is market leader for complete seating systems and components for the automobile sector, with 1995 sales of USD 3.84bn (USD 2.87bn). Total sales were USD 8.33bn (USD 6.87bn).

READER SERVICE: Detailed Johnson Controls information prospectus on PET preforms and bottles: PIE-No. 39378 – Annual Report 1995 Johnson Controls Inc: PIE-No. 39379 (both in English).