German window profile manufacturer Roplasto Fensterprofile (Bergisch Gladbach; www.roplasto.com) has filed for opening of insolvency proceedings due to an impending collapse in liquidity. Hans-Gerd H. Jauch of the Cologne-based Görg partnership of attorneys (www.goerg.de) has been appointed temporary administrator. Roplasto managing director pointed to the "poor economic situation" of the profiles industry as the reason for the company´s financial woes. All customers will continue to be supplied until further notice.

Jauch said negotiations are in progress with a strategic investor, who is prepared to market Roplasto´s products. The potential buyer is believed to have expressed interest in the business earlier; however, a deal is unlikely to take place before insolvency proceedings begin. Germany´s Aluplast (Karlsruhe; www.aluplast.de), rumoured to be a possible buyer, has not expressed interest thus far. Aluplast itself had not commented as this story was prepared.

Roplasto, which employs 250 people, including 81 at Bergisch-Gladbach, reported sales of EUR 43m for 2006. The company has two production facilities outside Germany, in Poland and – since 2005 – in Russia.