Barlo Plastics growth continues eastward with new facility opening in the Czech Republic

Geel, Belgium, 26 March 2001. Barlo Plastics Europe, the European leader in manufacturing transparent plastic sheets, has announced the opening of new Central Europe manufacturing and warehouse facilities in Pribram, located in the Czech Republic.

André De Smet, Managing Director of Barlo Plastics Europe, stated, 'A vital element of Barlo Plastics' strategy is responding swiftly to increasing production demands while continuing our expansion in Central Europe. This new facility in Pribram strengthens our position in this emerging market while giving us a local entity with a local supply advantage. This gives us more capacity, low cost, and a central location.'

100 million BEF was invested in both the land and building, with an additional 200 million BEF going into state of the art equipment for the facility. The result has been the construction of two manufacturing halls and one warehouse, which comprises an ecologically responsible cooling system, recycled hot air for improved energy conservation. Total surface of the new facility covers 3 x 1500 m² with options for expansion. Four extrusion lines are already operational. It is foreseen to add another two extrusion lines first half of 2001. Fourty-one people currently work in three shifts during a five day week.

Jan Braekers, Pribram Site Manager and East European Operations Director, pointed out, 'The two key benefits of the completed facility are the enlarging our production capacity while increasing our overall cost effectiveness.

It also clearly shows our commitment to growth in new territory, specifically central Europe.' He went on to explain how the main product produced at the facility is BARLO PS in a thickness from 1 to 6 mm. 'Because of the Pribram operation, we have been able to extend our current product range to new sizes and colours.'

The plant's production capacity creates a more flexible system that can easily expand from a five to seven day work system, producing 8 K tons for a five day week, and 9 k tons for a seven day week.

André De Smet added, 'The new facility is exactly what we envisioned, in that it adds value in our fabrication department with bending, drilling, sawing and thermoforming. In combination with the recent acquisition of PCHZ-Akryl a.s. in Slovakia this will provide us with a significant advantage in today’s Central European market. With these very important channels-to-market into mid and Central Europe now in place, we confidently forecast sales expanding into the significant Central European market for our plastic sheets.'

Barlo Plastics is Europe’s foremost supplier of transparent plastic sheet. Key products are: BARLO XT (extruded PMMA), BARLO CAST (cast PMMA), BARLO PC (Polycarbonate), BARLO PS (Polystyrene), SPECTAR sheet (PETG), BARLO SAN (Styrene Acrylo Nitrile) and BARLO SPC (multiwall Polycarbonate) as well as HIPS, ABS and PP.

Headquartered in Geel, Belgium, Barlo Plastics has operating facilities in Belgium, Germany, Spain, France, Ireland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic as well as sales and support operations in all major European countries. Today Barlo Plastics employs more than 900 people.

Barlo Plastics is an operating company of the Irish Barlo Group, a European leader in plastic products and radiators. The Group is listed on the London and Dublin stock markets.

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