Barlo Plastics transfers production to ensure future growth and profitability
Geel, Belgium (ots)
Barlo Plastics Europe, announced the transfer of the entire production capacity from its Belgian site to other existing production facilities. Headquarters of the plastics division will remain in Belgium.
Following a series of acquisitions in recent years Barlo Plastics operates now at nine production locations across seven European countries. A number of these locations have overlapping production capabilities and facilities. To ensure future growth and profitability Barlo Plastics' management designed a 'built to last' program.
All sites commenced the implementation of a consolidation and cost reduction program. In the Belgian site the commercial services are being reinforced with the creation of a European call center centralizing order input and customer service. Another implication for the Belgian site is the transfer of all production lines to other Barlo Plastics manufacturing sites.
"The transfer is an important step in Barlo Plastics' strategy to reduce its cost base and to secure our future growth and market presence" said Marc Van den Cruyce, Business Development Director. "In our Belgian plant we extrude mainly SAN and GPPS sheets. The Western European market for GPPS sheets is stabilizing whereas in central Europe there is still a huge potential and we expect this demand to continue to grow" stated Marc Van den Cruyce. "For SAN sheets the cost structure became very important. These factors implied to transfer of the entire Belgian production to 'state of the art' manufacturing sites in Nischwitz (Germany) and Pribram (Czech Republic)" he continues.
The closing of the Belgian production facilty will have an effect for 78 of 134 employees. Social agreement has been reached with the unions on June 1st for the blue collar workers and on June 19 for the white collar workers. Customer service, Sales & Marketing, Finance department as well as ICT will remain in Belgium.
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), BARLO VECTAN (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.
Contact:
Karin Jans
Input International
Tel. +32 12 67 20 02
Fax +32 12 67 20 03
E-mail: karin@inputint.com