European plastic pipe giant Wavin (NL-8000 AD Zwolle www.wavin.com) plans to acquire Prague-based Ekoplastik (www.mop.cz) at the end of 2003. The Czech firm, which employs 250 and has annual sales of EUR 27m, claims to be one of the leading central and eastern European players in hot and cold tap water pipe systems. Wavin said it plans to develop the new acquisition into a “centre of excellence for PPr tap water pipe and fittings.” The Dutch company, which regards itself as Europe´s market leader in plastic pipe systems with annual sales of EUR 922m and 4,700 employees, has plants in Poland, Hungary and Lithuania, but no production facilities in the Czech Republic.

According to Wavin CEO Philip Houben, the acquisition “fits very well in our drive to establish a leading position in central Europe and to expand our sanitary product range.” The market position of Ekoplastik with its extensive range of above-ground tap water and soil and waste systems is “fully complementary to Wavin´s market coverage in the region,” Houben said. Wavin´s stated goal is to be “the unrivalled European supplier of plastic pipe systems.”