Resilux NV (B-9230 Wetteren; www.resilux.com) is to considerably expand its production of PET preforms in Russia. Before the end of the year, a fifth production line with a capacity of 160m preforms per year is due to start up in Kostroma. This will raise the total annual capacity of this factory to around 500m pieces. The preforms are used for the production of bottles for mineral water, beer and soft drinks.

Resilux´ preform production in Russia began in 1999 and has continued since then very successfully, because the Russian packaging market is growing at an above-average rate. Resilux regards the plant in Kostroma as a strategic base for further expansion in the Russian PET market. A number of drink bottling companies are supplied from there. In 2001 (see Plasteurope.com 12, 2002), Resilux sold a total of 1.67 bn preforms (+ 21%).