VETROTEX
Reinforced Plastics: Reorganization to attain return of profitability / FF 3bn turnover
In order to attain a return of profitability in 1995 and to remain the leading supplier of glass fibre in Europe, Vetrotex International SA (PO Box 929, F-73009 Chambéry) has installed a new management as well as a restructured marketing organization, instigated dramatic cost reductions, redefined the objectives of its Research and Development Department and aimed to strengthen the partnership with its clients.
Since March 1993, the European and Korean activities have been run by a small operational team. It comprises Roberto Caliari as General Manager for Europe and Korea, Gérard Laigroz as International Sales and Marketing Manager and Jean-Paul Dalle, who is responsible for Research, Development and Quality Management.
Within the rationalization and reorganization measures, Vetrotex tries to realize the specialization of a factory on one or a few product ranges in order to optimise efficiency and product quality. The result of cost reductions represented a 10% saving on the cost of raw materials for the glass fibre production. Finally, Vetrotex continues its research and development activities which reached 4-5% of its turnover in 1993. One of the company's main achievements was the ISO 9002 certification which it got within a space of a year from December 1992 to December 1993 for its five European factories.
Vetrotex, since 1937 part of the French group Saint-Gobain, achieved sales of FF 3bn in 1993 with 5,023 employees in fourteen countries. According to company statements, Vetrotex is number one in the glass fibre market of Europe and – following Owens-Corning – number two world-wide. As the expansion of the glass fibre market in new geographical areas seems to be profitable, production facilities were built up in Brazil and Korea. Even with 39% of Vetrotex's 1993 sales being in North and South America, 5% in Asia Pacific and 2% in African, Middle Eastern and Indian sub-Continental countries, the European countries still remain the company's major market with 54% of sales. Here, the four largest markets are Germany and Austria (27%), France (26%), Italy (21%) and the United Kingdom (10%).
The most important applications on the European composites market are the automotive industry (25%), building and public works (20%), industrial and agricultural machinery (19%) as well as electricity and electronics (16%). In each of the three major processing sectors, SMC (sheet moulding compound), thermoplastics and textile applications, a growing concentration of four to six dominant customer-groups is obvious. Out of hundreds of European users, 15 large industrial groups account for 20% by volume of the European composites market.
READER SERVICE: Detailed press release on Vetrotex with market data and pictures: PIE-No. 35750 – Company profile: PIE-No. 35751.
Since March 1993, the European and Korean activities have been run by a small operational team. It comprises Roberto Caliari as General Manager for Europe and Korea, Gérard Laigroz as International Sales and Marketing Manager and Jean-Paul Dalle, who is responsible for Research, Development and Quality Management.
Within the rationalization and reorganization measures, Vetrotex tries to realize the specialization of a factory on one or a few product ranges in order to optimise efficiency and product quality. The result of cost reductions represented a 10% saving on the cost of raw materials for the glass fibre production. Finally, Vetrotex continues its research and development activities which reached 4-5% of its turnover in 1993. One of the company's main achievements was the ISO 9002 certification which it got within a space of a year from December 1992 to December 1993 for its five European factories.
Vetrotex, since 1937 part of the French group Saint-Gobain, achieved sales of FF 3bn in 1993 with 5,023 employees in fourteen countries. According to company statements, Vetrotex is number one in the glass fibre market of Europe and – following Owens-Corning – number two world-wide. As the expansion of the glass fibre market in new geographical areas seems to be profitable, production facilities were built up in Brazil and Korea. Even with 39% of Vetrotex's 1993 sales being in North and South America, 5% in Asia Pacific and 2% in African, Middle Eastern and Indian sub-Continental countries, the European countries still remain the company's major market with 54% of sales. Here, the four largest markets are Germany and Austria (27%), France (26%), Italy (21%) and the United Kingdom (10%).
The most important applications on the European composites market are the automotive industry (25%), building and public works (20%), industrial and agricultural machinery (19%) as well as electricity and electronics (16%). In each of the three major processing sectors, SMC (sheet moulding compound), thermoplastics and textile applications, a growing concentration of four to six dominant customer-groups is obvious. Out of hundreds of European users, 15 large industrial groups account for 20% by volume of the European composites market.
READER SERVICE: Detailed press release on Vetrotex with market data and pictures: PIE-No. 35750 – Company profile: PIE-No. 35751.
15.05.1994 Plasteurope.com [21420]
Published on 15.05.1994