Wavin NV is buying a plant in Greece, but will close an injection molded fittings plant in Lichfield, England.
Wavin's British subsidiary, Wavin UK, is relocating Lichfield production to the company's site in Doncaster, England, in the second half of 2007, cutting as many as 115 jobs.
The move is Wavin's latest step toward integrating the United Kingdom operations of plumbing and drainage pipe manufacturer Hepworth Building Products Ltd., which Wavin bought in March 2005.
Last year, Wavin transferred pipe extrusion operations from HBP's plant in Padiham, England, to its own sites in Chippenham and Brandon, England. The Padiham move led to a net loss of 90 jobs. That plant had operated 30 extruders. The site still employs 45 as Hepworth Composites and compression molds fiberglass-reinforced products.
Currently, Zwolle-based Wavin has eight production plants in the United Kingdom and one in Ireland.
Meanwhile, Wavin is expanding in Europe by purchasing a plant in Thebes, Greece. The company is buying the plastic pipe and fittings operations of Aristovoulos G. Petzetakis SA of Glyfada, Greece, that country's leading supplier. Wavin is paying 60 million euros ($78 million) for the site. Petzetakis makes pipe and hose, including spiral, flexible hose reinforced with rigid PVC.
The deal is due to be completed by the end of March.