French automotive supplier Plastohm (F-69656 Villefranche s/s; www.plastohm.com) agreed at the end of 2000 to form a joint venture with Slovakian plastics converter Sulzba (Sturova 12, SK- 949082 Nitra). Both companies have capabilities in electrical protection. The new joint venture, to be called Plastohm-Sluzba, reinforces Slovakia´s growing position in production of automobile components. Plans are to supply, among others, Plastic Omnium (HQ: F-92300 Levallois; www.plasticomnium.com), which recently set up production nearby (see Plasteurope.com 01, 2001).

Plastohm brings into the jv, located in Nitra near Brastilava, its existing customer base among tier one suppliers in eastern Europe and its production knowhow for small components, Sulzba its existing injection moulding facilities, consisting of twelve machines. In 2000, the France-based company had a turnover of EUR 78m. According to its general manager, Jean-Marie Berche, “sales of the new jv in 2001 could go as high as EUR 1.5m.”