Plastic pipe systems specialist Uponor Group (HQ: FIN-02110 Espoo) has acquired three companies in Germany, the United States, and in Denmark. The combined turnover of the companies, which employ a total of 50 people, is approximately FIM 70m. The value of the deal is around FIM 50m. The acquisitions will strengthen Uponor's position as a leading supplier of hot water systems in central Europe's main markets as well as in the United States whose markets are currently undergoing expansion. The largest of the three companies is Rolltec Heizsysteme GmbH (Sinninger Str. 48, D-48282 Emsdetten), which markets under-floor heating systems and manufactures the baseboards for them using its own method. The company is based in Emsdetten near the Dutch border, close to Uponor's factories in Ochtrup. The purchase of Rolltec will open up new channels for Uponor's products and increase the company's own baseboard output.

The US acquisition, Stadler Corporation (3 Alfred Circle, Bedford MA 01730 / USA), is a rapidly growing New England-based company that sells radiant under-floor heating systems and manufactures installation panels. Stadler used to be the North American agent for Uponor products. – In Denmark, Uponor has acquired a 50% shareholding in the electronics company, PentaCom A/S (Vestergade 5, DK-6520 Toftlund). The company has together with Uponor's German subsidiary Velta GmbH developed a method of regulating the room temperature by controlling the under-floor heating via radio signals. In the spring of 1997, Velta launched Velta Genius onto the market – the first radio-controlled system of its kind in the world.

Uponor Group is one of the world's leading suppliers of plastic pipe systems. The company has 34 factories in 14 countries, with sales in 80 countries. Uponor's turnover in 1997 was around FIM 4bn and the company employs a total of 3,700 people.