Kabelwerk Eupen (Eupen / Belgium; www.eupen.com), the largest company in the eastern part of Belgium, has managed to continue the brisk business from the last two years – at least in the first half of 2008. The company nevertheless suggested that, by year-end, it would probably not quite be able to match the very good results from 2007.

In 2007, Kabelwerk Eupen lifted sales by around 6% compared with the previous year to EUR 352m. The operating result grew to EUR 13.6m (EUR 8.9m in 2006), leaving a net profit of EUR 9.5m (EUR 5.3m), which was more than double the figure for the previous year. This was attributed partly to the favourable economy and partly to the effects of the measures initiated in 2003 when the cable factory reported a loss of EUR 19m. In 2008, however, these effects would not be so marked, according to the Group's annual report. Five years ago, the company had a workforce of more than 1,000, but the number had dropped by the end of 2007 to 928.

Kabelwerk Eupen operates three business segments, which are not broken down any further in terms of volume. Its core business is the production of plastic-covered cables of all kinds, an area in which the company puts itself among the European leaders. Since 1956, the company has also been involved in the extrusion of PVC and PE pipes. Its broad product portfolio includes pressure pipes, waste disposal pipes, protective pipes and specialty pipes.

Since the 1980s, Kabelwerk has also been operating in the field of polyurethane foam. This part of the group includes the German Schaffer-Schaum (www.schaffer-schaum.de), Gutmann Schaumstoffe (www.gutmann-schaumstoffe.de), Gebr. Klünder Schaumstoffwerk (www.gebrueder-kluender.de) as well as the Belgian company Serpo (www.serpo.be), the Dutch-Belgian company Formafoam (www.formafoam.nl) and two French firms.