Like many other plastics converting and packaging businesses, Low & Bonar PLC (Bonar House, Faraday Street, GB-Dundee DD1 9JA) found market conditions during 1995 volatile and often highly competitive. However, it appears to have come through it satisfactorily recording a modest 2% rise in turnover to GBP 431m with pre-tax profits up 19% to GBP 52.4m. The group is involved in a variety of plastics processing operations in Europe and North America. Its polyethylene film extrusion activities are among the largest in the UK and Europe and in rotational moulding it is one of the leading companies in the world.

Its largest division is in packaging, which accounted for 63% of turnover and 54% of profits. In Europe sales increased by 7% to GBP 173.3m although the bulk of this increase was the affect of higher raw material prices. In both the UK and Belgium business was affected by the long dry summer which restricted sales of silage wrap. However, despite the difficult trading conditions the group achieved a 9% improvement in profits to GBP 19.4m. In addition to its polyethylene film operations the group is also a leading supplier of food cartons in the UK.

Low & Bonar's plastics division includes significant activities in rotational moulding with plants in the UK, Germany, France and the Netherlands as well as companies in North America. During last year the group expanded its activities in Europe with the purchase of Ex-Press Plastics, a specialist manufacturer in glass fibre reinforced components. Overall sales for this division increased in 1995 by 10% to GBP 64.1m with profits before interest up 19% to GBP 8.7m.

The remaining activities of the group are in floorcoverings and polypropylene yarns and fabrics. This sector achieved a 10% increase in turnover for 1995 to GBP 95.1m with profits before interest of GBP 16m.