KÖMMERLING
Family-owned converter confident in jubilee year / Expansion overseas / No plans to sell
Gebr. Kömmerling Kunststoffwerke GmbH (PO Box 2165, 66929 Pirmasens), Europe's leading manufacturer of plastic window profiles with a market share of 25%, is confident that 1997 will be a good year, despite tough competition in Germany, which led prices and volume sales to fall in 1996. Turnover of the family-owned firm celebrating its 100th anniversary this year declined 9% to DEM 623m. But by paying close attention to costs, Kömmerling was able to double operating profit to DEM 30m (DEM 15.4m) and nearly quadruple net earnings to DEM 16.3m (DEM 4.4m), said finance chief Michael Stüven.
Sales of the Kömmerling group, which includes activities in sealing agents and glues in addition to plastics, fell 5% to DEM 790m. The group expects "stable earnings development" and sales of DEM 810m this year, said Stüven. Gebr. Kömmerling anticipates sales of DEM 635m. More than 50% of business is outside Germany, including 10% overseas. The profile manufacturer claims a leading position in important eastern European markets; in March, a distribution subsidiary was set up in Poland, Kömmerling Polska Sp.z.o.o. (ul Brylowska 8a, PL-01216 Warsaw). Growth potential is seen mostly outside Europe. In South America new plastic components for the building industry are being launched. A sales office has been opened in Canada, US activities are being widened. Kömmerling Plastics USA LLC (3402 Stanwood Blvd, Huntsville, Alabama / USA) started production of PVC sheets earlier this year. New markets for high quality products could open up in the Middle East and North Africa, Stüven believes. Already active in China (see Plasteurope.com 22, 1995), India will be the next Asian focus. The finance chief denied that Kömmerling could be up for sale, saying it will remain family-owned "in the foreseeable future."
READER SERVICE: Comprehensive Kömmerling press information on 1996, with figures for German and European window markets: PIE-No. 40983 – Jubilee year brochure "100 Jahre Kömmerling": PIE-No. 40984 – Company portrait brochure: PIE-No. 38630 (all in German).
Sales of the Kömmerling group, which includes activities in sealing agents and glues in addition to plastics, fell 5% to DEM 790m. The group expects "stable earnings development" and sales of DEM 810m this year, said Stüven. Gebr. Kömmerling anticipates sales of DEM 635m. More than 50% of business is outside Germany, including 10% overseas. The profile manufacturer claims a leading position in important eastern European markets; in March, a distribution subsidiary was set up in Poland, Kömmerling Polska Sp.z.o.o. (ul Brylowska 8a, PL-01216 Warsaw). Growth potential is seen mostly outside Europe. In South America new plastic components for the building industry are being launched. A sales office has been opened in Canada, US activities are being widened. Kömmerling Plastics USA LLC (3402 Stanwood Blvd, Huntsville, Alabama / USA) started production of PVC sheets earlier this year. New markets for high quality products could open up in the Middle East and North Africa, Stüven believes. Already active in China (see Plasteurope.com 22, 1995), India will be the next Asian focus. The finance chief denied that Kömmerling could be up for sale, saying it will remain family-owned "in the foreseeable future."
READER SERVICE: Comprehensive Kömmerling press information on 1996, with figures for German and European window markets: PIE-No. 40983 – Jubilee year brochure "100 Jahre Kömmerling": PIE-No. 40984 – Company portrait brochure: PIE-No. 38630 (all in German).
30.06.1997 Plasteurope.com [19299]
Published on 30.06.1997