Apart from a large number of technical innovations, a new player in the field of transparent plastic panels emerged at K ´98 in Düsseldorf: Barlo Plastics Europe NV (Leukaard 1, B-2440 Geel). The company belongs to the Irish Barlo Group plc, which is listed on the stock exchange, and has recently been established from a number of acquisitions. The Barlo Group acquired IRG Plastics – the Belgian company which holds the lead in polystyrene panels – back in 1992 already. In December last year, the company also acquired the German Resart GmbH and the Spanish producer of cast acrylic panels, Critesa.

The product lines of the individual companies fully complement each other, Plasteurope.com was informed by Barlo, so that Barlo Plastics now supplies the widest range of transparent plastic panels in Europe. Against this background, and with sales running at almost DEM 200m, the company is on its way to becoming the No. 1 in transparent plastic panels. It has a payroll of 400 in four plants, including a polystyrene plant in the Czech Republic. The original product designations already on the market have had a “Barlo” added in front of them. Extruded acrylic panels will thus be known as “Barlo XT” in future, while “Vectan” is being made into “Barlo Vectan”, etc.

READER SERVICE: Extensive collection of press information (German/English) on the strategic orientation of Barlo Plastics with photos: PIE-No. 43244 – Product range brochure (English): PIE-No. 43245 – Company portrait “A change of course for plastics”: PIE-No. 43246.