The Perlos Corporation (Mahlamäentie 2, P.O. Box 9, FIN-01901 Nurmijärvi) increased sales by 38.7 % to EUR 281.5m in 1999, with a 53.5% rise in the EBITA to EUR 69.8m. Finland´s biggest injection moulding company has been quoted on the Helsinki stock exchange since June 1999. Up to February 2000, the quoted price had risen from EUR 9.5 to more than EUR 45.

The Perlos Group supplies three market segments with industrial injection mouldings. The automotive industry takes 4.2% of sales in value terms, while medical and pharmaceutical engineering account for 12.7%, and supplies to the telecommunications and electronic industry contribute the biggest share. Perlos is benefiting particularly from the booming mobile phone market. Sales to this sector were up 45.3% in 1999 compared with the previous year. Sales have thus increased almost five-fold since 1995.

Apart from facilities in Finland, Perlos also operates sites in Great Britain and in Fort Worth, Texas, USA. In spring 2000, two new plants came on stream in Komarom, Hungary, and Guangzhou, China. According to an interim statement, the management is expecting a further increase in sales in the first third of the year compared with this same period last year.

• Plasteurope.com Service: 1999 Perlos Annual Report: PIE-No. 44636.