Start-up at the end of the first quarter of 2000 is predicted for the USD 30m polyolefin foam plant to be built in the UK by US producer Sentinel Polyolefins LLC. The factory, to be located in south-west England in Plymouth, is partly a defence against the recent announcement that UK manufacturer Zotefoams (675 Mitcham Road, GB-Croydon CR9 3AL) was establishing a US production facility for polyolefin foams in Florence, northern Kentucky.

Sentinel Polyolefins, based in Hyannis, Massachusetts, is a joint venture between Sentinel, an established US foam producer, and packaging giant Tenneco, which already has a USD 1 billion business in cushion packaging. The UK operation is expected to employ 100 staff by the end of 2000, building to 200 over the next four years.

First off the UK production line will be continuous foam in thicknesses up to 15mm, with emphasis on the Senflex H grade, a ligtweight foam based on Dow Chemical´s Index inter-polymer ethylene-styrene combination. A second phase will see the introduction of Sentinel´s block foam technology, where the standard size is 3m x 1.5m x 100mm. This will be in direct competition with the Zotefoams operation which is also based on block foam manufacture.

Sentinel´s UK plant will be the base for development of sales throughout Europe, targeting computer packaging, gaskets and seals and sports/leisure applications. One of the reasons behind the choice of the Plymouth location is the logistical opportunity to supply computer giants in Ireland and continental Europe.