Starlinger Group (HQ: Starlinger & Co, Sonnenuhrgasse 4, A-1060 Vienna) has acquired the plastics machinery factory of Lenzing AG (A-4860 Lenzing) as of July 1. The plastics machinery business area will be incorporated into the newly formed SML-Lenzing Maschinengesellschaft mbH, of which Starlinger will have an 80% share and Lenzing 20% according to Lenzing.

The Starlinger Group includes firms with sites in Vienna, Ternitz and Weißenbach/Triesting an der Triesting in Austria, Schwerin and Stuttgart in Germany as well as Kanpoor in India. In Austria and Germany, 700 employees realise a turnover of ÖS 1.5bn (DM 213m). Starlinger intends to retain plastics machinery production in Lenzing which was one of the conditions of purchase.

In 1994, Lenzing's turnover declined from ÖS 557 to 394m and the profits were "unsatisfactory" due to increasing competitive pressure. Under the management of the Starlinger Group, the new company is projecting turnover of about ÖS 450m for the next two years.

Certain structural changes will occur in Lenzing. The new SML-Lenzing Maschinen GmbH will concentrate more in the areas of film extrusion, calendering machines as well as extrusion and coating plants for polyolefine products. All of the necessary development, design, purchasing, assembly, project planning and sales will be concentrated in Lenzing. Starlinger will take over sales of plant for the manufacture of webbed sacking and woven packaging.