Plastic Omnium sells molding facility
PARIS — Cie. Plastic Omnium SA has sold an interior trim auto plant in Northampton, England, to Bourbon Fabi Automobile SA of Paris.
Paris-based Plastic Omnium sold the 33,000-square-foot injection molding plant in October because it was too small to support future expansion, said Managing Director Derek Showell of Plastic Omnium Automotive Ltd., the company's Telford, England, subsidiary. Terms of the sale were not disclosed.
``It lacked potential for development in line with our aspirations,'' Showell said.
The site, which employs about 110, was part of Plastic Omnium's Reydel interiors group, which the firm bought in 1995. The plant recorded about $12.5 million in 1996 sales and makes such parts as interior consoles, door trim and grab handles, Showell said.
Bourbon Fabi, which makes plastic decorative auto parts, desired a larger presence in England, Showell said. Bourbon Fabi officials were unavailable for comment.
Plastic Omnium also is installing equipment at a new plastic exteriors auto plant in Measham, England, which is scheduled to begin production late next year. The 100,000-square-foot plant will make bumper systems, fuel tanks and exterior trim components for Rover Group and Jaguar Cars Ltd.
Ecia makes bid to buy auto seat maker
PARIS — Ecia SA, a unit of PSA Peugeot-Citroen, has made a bid to purchase automotive seat maker Bertrand Faure SA to create one of Europe's largest auto suppliers.
Ecia tendered a friendly offer of 430 French francs per share ($72) to buy the 83.3 percent of the company that it does not now own. Faure's stock price closed Dec. 9 at 385.4 francs ($64), before trading of both Paris-based companies was suspended.
The firms expect the deal to be completed.
Both suppliers make car seats, plastic interior trim parts and exhaust systems. About 50 percent of the companies' combined products are expected to be used by French automakers Peugeot and Renault SA.
Ecia's sales would increase to about 26 billion francs ($4.3 billion) from about $1.7 billion currently if the acquisition is approved. The company would become the third-biggest maker of car seats behind Southfield, Mich.-based Lear Corp. and Plymouth, Mich.-based Johnson Controls Inc., Ecia officials said.
Packaging producer FP relocating its HQ
REDWOOD CITY, CALIF. — FP International, a loose-fill packaging producer based in Redwood City, is renovating a warehouse and moving its headquarters down the street after the beginning of the year.
``We will consolidate three operations into one,'' said Dennis Fernandez, vice president of finance.
The 30-year-old company moved into its current facility 14 years ago. Corporate offices at two locations and a machine shop will move to the new, 26,500-square-foot facility. The company plans to employ about 70 there. FP invested about $1.5 million to improve the leased building, which is only a block from its present headquarters.
FP recycles polystyrene packaging collected from equipment manufacturers, local businesses and individuals. Recycled PS is used in the company's loose-fill products. Its plants are located in Atlanta; Newark, Del.; Thornton, Ill.; and Los Angeles and Redwood City.
Coca-Cola testing decontaminating unit
ATLANTA — Coca-Cola Co. says testing has begun on new equipment for detecting contaminants in recyclable plastic materials.
A prototype of the equipment now is being tested, but a Coke spokesman did not know who is doing the tests. The machine can remove impurities from the PET recycling stream.
The equipment includes a chemical detecting apparatus and an optical scanner, according to the company. Although it still needs approval from the Food and Drug Administration, the Atlanta-based company is investing in technology to produce safe, high-quality recycled material for use in food containers.
The company filed its application in April 1996 and received patent No. 5,688,693 last month.
Alltrista applies for listing on the NYSE
MUNCIE, IND. — Alltrista Corp. has filed a listing application with the New York Stock Exchange and meets eligibility requirements.
The Muncie-based firm has been trading on the Nasdaq market under JARS since it became a public company in April 1993. Pending final approval by the exchange, it will begin trading on the NYSE with ALC as its new trading symbol.
Alltrista manufactures plastic and metal products, and is best known for its home canning products under the Ball and Kerr brand names. Sales in 1996 were $230.3 million. The company has roughly 1,100 employees in 12 manufacturing locations in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.
