The Solvay Group (HQ: D-1050 Brussels) is expanding its market position in the field of medical films. American subsidiary, Alkor Draka Advanced Films Inc. (LaPorte, Indiana) is acquiring the Californian Ellay Inc. (6900 Elm Street, City of Commerce, CA 90040-2625, USA) and is being moved in its entirety to this location close to Los Angeles. Alkor Draka belongs to the “Industrial Films” business unit and comes under Solvay Draka BV (P.O. Box 14, NL-1600 AA Enkhuizen), which coordinates Solvay´s medical-technology plastics applications.

Ellay has been calendering and extruding a wide range of PVC films, sheet, laminates and compounds ever since the Fifties. The company makes glazing for convertibles and motor boats as well as viewing windows for protective suits. According to figures from Solvay, Ellay is one of the leading American companies in the field of medical film. Solvay regards itself as European market leader for medical film applications and, according to a company announcement, Ellay´s activities in the field of blood pouches mark a favourable addition to its product range. The “Industrial Films” business unit accounted for 35% of Solvay´s sales in plastics processing in 1998, at USD 585m.

Web-Service: Direct access to the Ellay company presentation, to the Solvay Draka company-division site and to press information on the acquisition (all in English) via Plasteurope.com on the Internet.