In response to carmakers' demands for ready-to-assemble modules, Plastic Omnium (1 rue du Parc, F-92300 Levallois) and Inoplast (Z.I., PO Box 3, F-07340 St-Desirat) plan to form a 50:50 joint venture for development and marketing of vehicle rear opening assemblies, such as trunk lids, hatchbacks and rear opening hoods. The new company will be known as Inoplast Omnium. The French partners say the "excellent strategic fit" of Inoplast's skills in thermosetting resins and Plastic Omnium's capabilities in thermoplastics will allow them to "provide integrated, global multi-technological solutions."

Inoplast, based in France's Rhone-Alpes region, is a leading manufacturer of components made of thermosetting resins, in particular involving sheet moulding compound (SMC) technology. With consolidated 1997 sales of FRF 650m, the company employs 850 people. The global group Plastic Omnium counts itself among the European leaders in automotive components, notably bumper and door panel asssemblies. It had sales of FRF 6.2 bn in this field in 1997.