For Rethmann Plano GmbH (D-48356 Nordwalde), a subsidiary of Rethmann Entsorgungs AG & Co (D-44536 Lünen; www.rethmann.de), the acquisition of the Dutch company Texplast BV (NL-6827 BM Arnhem) marks the start of its involvement in the European PET recycling market. For ten years, Texplast has been recycling PET bottles. The company with a total of 32 employees has a turnover of EUR 7.5m. The annual capacity of the Arnhem plant amounts to 12,000 t. For 2002, the capacity is planned to be extended by 5,500 t/y, turning the facility into one of the biggest PET recycling plants in Europe. The business transaction will have no effect on the German company Texplast GmbH (D-06766 Wolfen; www.texplast.de) which was once connected to the Dutch group by the common partner Jan Snellenburg, but has long since become an independent market player.

For over 30 years, Rethmann Plano has been involved in plastics recycling. The company has three sites in Germany with facilities for recycling polyolefins and one PET recycling plant in Taiwan. These plants recycle more than 75,000 t of plastic material per year. The trade names “Planolen” and “Planomid” stand for regrind and compounds, which are supplied to more than 35 countries all over the world.