Georg Fischer AG (CH-8201 Schaffhausen; www.georgfischer.com) and Simona AG (D-55606 Kirn; www.simona.de) will establish a 50:50 joint venture for the production of “high purity” pipes and moulded components made from fluoroplastics at the existing Simona production site at Ettenheim, Germany. The new company is to start operations on 1 July. Simona will then cease independent marketing of “pureplus” piping systems for clean room applications and focus on its standard business in chemical and technical apparatus and plant engineering. Georg Fischer is a conglomerate company with a 15% share in Simona AG.

The expansion of the high purity segment for customers in the semi-conductor, life science and pharmaceutical industries is in line with the strategy of the Georg Fischer piping systems group (Georg Fischer Haustechnik AG, Georg Fischer Schwab GmbH) to further expand its market position as a supplier of piping systems for industrial applications, the gas and water utlity sector and household installation. In 2001, the group posted sales of CHF 845m with pretax profit down 56% to CHF 32m. See Plasteurope.com 10, 2002 for details on Simona´s annual result in 2001.