With the recently announced takeover of 75% of Polish plastics converter Dom-Plast SA (ul. Zlota 6, PL-76200 Slupak) and the acquisition last spring of French converter Injecta Plastic SA (F-01103 Oyonnax), the US group Rubbermaid Inc of Wooster, Ohio, has made an impressive comeback on the European market. Its withdrawal from Curver Rubbermaid in 1994 seemed to mark the end of the group's European presence. "Our joint venture did not hold the promise we had expected," Larry Porcellato, md of Rubbermaid Home & Seasons Products Europe, told PIE.

For Rubbermaid Europe SA, which has set up its new European headquarters at 13 rue Robert Stumper, L-2557 Luxembourg, the acquisition of Dom-Plast, by its own account Poland's largest manufacturer of plastic household products with around 12% of the market, is a strategic complement to its engagement in the household products sector in France. Rubbermaid paid founder and md Andrzej Debowski Zl 34.56m in cash for the 75% of the private company's equity. In accordance with Polish regulations, it will float the remaining 25% for Zl 15.40 per share. Rubbermaid expects the new Polish subsidiary to have sales of more than $30m in 1995.

Despite the recent buying spree, Porcellato stressed to Plasteurope.com that "our strategy is not only to grow through acquisition, but to gain market shares through the introduction of new and intelligent products." In 1996, plans are to launch 100 new products. Using state of the art technology, the group intends to increase capacities as well as the range of products.

Rubbermaid is a leading supplier of plastic consumer and industrial products worldwide. Some of the newest additions to its range are aimed at the do-it-yourself sector, but the portfolio also extends to other innovative products for consumers who have everything else: coolers on wheels in various sizes and colours, as well as plastic doghouses and garden sheds.

READER SERVICE: Comprehensive press information with photos of do-it-yourself products (German): PIE-No. 38578 – Collection of news releases on coolers with photos (English): PIE-No. 38579 – News releases with photos on doghouses and garden sheds (both in English): PIE-No. 38580 – Company portrait brochure "75 Years of Rubbermaid" (English): PIE-No. 38581 – Rubbermaid Annual Report 1994 (English): PIE-No. 38582.