After a good start to 1996, Sarna Kunststoff-Holding AG (CH-6060 Sarna) is looking forward to growth in sales, earnings and cash flow for the full year. In 1995, sales were 2% ahead of 1994 at CHF 477m, but net profit was down 8% to CHF 25m and operating profit down 20% to CHF 29m. From January to April 1996, results of the company's "Sarnatech" injection moulding division (CHF 139m in 1995 sales) were in line with predictions, group chief executive Hanspeter Käser said at the annual press conference. But he said the long, cold winter affected results of the "Sarnafil" division (1995 sales of CHF 283m), which includes sealing systems and membrane constructions for the construction sector.

Business with the automobile industry has developed well this year, although sales to the packaging, mechanical engineering and electrical sectors have remained below expectations. Sarna sees good prospects for sales of plastic waterproofing sheets, in particular its new polyolefin-based "Sarnafil TU 122" lines for sloping roofs. New polyolefin products in the "T" series for flat roofs are being introduced. The injection moulding division continues to pursue acquisitions to improve its market and technology position. In the UK, BNL Ltd (Knarresborough), a leading producer of plastic ball bearings, was added to the group last year, in Germany, Paulmann & Crone GmbH & Co KG (Breslauer Str. 26, D-58511 Lüdenscheid), the country's leading manufacturer of functional parts for automobile interiors (see Plasteurope.com No 9, 1996).

READER SERVICE: Press conference speech by Käser, as well as talks by "Sarnafil" division chief Karl J. Brandenburg and "Sarnatech" injection moulding head Rudolf O. Friedrich: PIE-No. 39256 – 1995 annual report of Sarna Kunststoff Holding AG: PIE-No. 39257 (all in German).