Menzolit-Fibron GmbH (D-75005 Bretten), subsidiary of Dynamit Nobel AG (PO Box 1261, D-53839 Troisdorf), plans a strategic alliance with Nobel Explosifs SA (Vonges, France). A letter of intent has been signed and the cooperation is expected to be placed on a formal footing in the second half of 1996. World's largest producer of SMC/BMC compounds, with DM 300m in annual sales, Menzolit-Fibron and subsidiary Menzolit SA also are France's largest producer. Through the cooperation with Nobel Explosifs, the group will gain a production base for moulding compounds in the country.

In the words of Menzolit-Fibron managing director Klaus-Uwe Brodersen, it is hoped the move will "allow us to penetrate the French market more thoroughly and give us a broader basis for supplying customers throughout Europe." Nobel Explosifs had sales of DM 50m in 1994, including DM 20m in fibre reinforced composites.