Wavin BV (Stationsplein 3, NL-8000 AD Zwolle) are one of the largest plastics processing groups in Europe. In 1995 they used 430,000 t of polymer, although this volume represented an 8% fall on 1994 levels. Falling raw material prices in the latter half of the year prompted customers to reduce stocks, plus recession in the building industry in southern Europe and Germany contributed to the decline. However, the company reported that lower direct operating costs have generally contributed to better performance with its subsidiaries in the Netherlands, UK, Ireland and Scandinavia producing particularly good financial results.

Currently, 85% of the company's business is in the manufacture of pipe systems. This compares with around 75% at the beginning of the 1990s and illustrates how the group have been restructuring to focus on its core activities. In February this year it sold its refuse bags business in the Netherlands and France to the French company SP Metal (HQ: 9 rue Beaujon, F-75008 Paris) and the company continues to search for strategic alliances in its other non-pipe activities.

In its pipe operations Wavin has been particularly focussing on Eastern Europe. It recently bought a plastic pipe company in Lithuania and set up a sales office in Bucharest. Turnover and net profit results were both up just over 1% on 1994 to NLG 1,951m and NLG 21.1m respectively.