NEWS


Plastiflex makes


two buys Belgium-based Plastiflex – which makes customised tubing – plans to acquire two healthcare compa- nies.


It has already agreed to buy US-based Smooth- Bor, which specialises in heated tubes for continu- ous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices, plus other tubes and masks for the respiratory care industry. The company has factories in California and Malaysia.


In addition, Plastiflex plans to acquire Kobarid, Slovenia-based TIK – a manufacturer of dispos- able medical devices. The company specialises in coated urethral catheters and other tubing systems. The two acquisitions will give Plastiflex 12 manufacturing facilities across the world with seven dedicated health care operations – and a workforce of around 1400 people. � www.plastiflex.com


Sales suffer at Georg Fischer’s pipe division


Georg Fischer says that its piping systems division reported a sales decline of nearly 5% in 2024. The division reported


sales of just under CHF2 billion for the year. For the same period, profitability (EBIT) fell around 14% to CHF239 million. Order intake and sales were affected by delays in microelectronics projects and weaker markets, especially in the APAC region. The division made


progress into the Marine and Cooling business, backed by agreements with global customers, partially offsetting subdued seg- ments such as microelec- tronics. It also strengthened


Müller: “Solid performance in a turbulent environment and decisive steps taken to transform our organisation”


its presence in the Gulf region, expanding prefabri- cation capabilities in Abu Dhabi (UAE) and opening new sales offices. In North Africa, it inaugurated a new


plant in Cairo (Egypt). Its related business, GF Building Flow Solutions (formerly GF Uponor) reached sales of just over CHF1bn. However, compari- sons with the previous are difficult because of a business reorganisation. While markets in North America developed throughout the year, demand in Europe re- mained subdued. The company made efforts to streamline combined operations, such as closing the division’s plant in Sanliurfa (Turkey) and adding a new factory in Poland to strengthen the division in Eastern Europe. � www.georgfischer.com


Tessenderlo: Dyka sales dip


Tessenderlo’s industrial solutions division – which includes pipe manufacturer Dyka – reported a decline in sales last year.


Sales in the division fell by around 5% to around


€671 million while profitabil- ity (adjusted EBITDA) fell by 20% to around €67m. In the first half of 2024, the division’s sales were down 9% due largely to Dyka revenue being


affected by a lower con- struction market demand. In addition, Tessenderlo made several investments, including for “technology improvements” at Dyka. � www.tessenderlo.com


Orbia sales decline in extrusion division


Orbia, the Mexican chemicals com- pany, reported reduced sales and profits in 2023. Overall sales fell 9% to around US$7.5 billion, with lower sales in all its divisions.


Sales in pipes division Wavin fell 7% to US$2.5bn. At the same time, profitability also suffered – with operating profit down 8% to US$130m. It said this was due to lower volumes in Europe – mainly Germany and France


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– as well as weaker demand in Latin America.


Orbia has two other extrusion-relat- ed businesses: US conduit maker Dura- Line and Israeli pipe irrigation com- pany Netafim. At Dura-Line, full year sales fell 25% to US$839m, while operating profit fell 78% to US$62m, due mainly to lower prices and an “unfavourable mix”. In Q4, sales fell 9% and profits shrank to zero (compared


PIPE & PROFILE EXTRUSION | Spring 2025


to a US$14m profit the previous year). Netafim’s sales fell by 2% for the


year, to around US$1bn, while profits halved to US$6m. In Q4, sales rose by 6%, but the division still made a loss of around US$5m in the period. This year, Orbia expects “limited to


no recovery” in market demand and an overall increase in profit (EBITDA) of around 10%, to US$1.25bn. � www.orbia.com


www.pipeandprofile.com


IMAGE: GEORG FISCHER


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