The film manufacturer Lonza Folien GmbH (PO Box 1580, D-79550 Weil am Rhein), part of the Alusuisse-Lonza-Group (HQ: PO Box 495, CH-8034 Zürich), is projecting expansion in its traditional products as well as in high-tech film during the 1995 business year, whereas the demand for photographic film base "declined". Turnover dropped to DM 64.1m in 1994 from DM 72.3m in 1993; a drop which was explained by Lonza-Folien as due to reduced production and loss of photographic film base business resulting from declining demand from a blue chip customer. In spite of decreased turnover, the company operated profitably with an operating profit of DM 2.3m in 1994 compared with a loss of DM 1m in 1993.

Lonza AG (Münchensteinerstr 38, CH-4002 Basel), representing the chemical business within the Lonza Group, reported significant growth in polymers and additives with turnover rising by about 28% to SFr 472m, and a doubling of profits. The Italian companies Lonza SpA, Molding Compounds SpA, Reglar Srl and Resinmec SpA as well as the German company Duroform J. Fritz GmbH & Co KG (Kieselstr 6, D-56357 Miehlen) all belong to this part of the group. Following the negative trend of the last 2 years, Lonza increased its turnover of unsaturated polymer resins and of thermosetting technical compounds by about 10%. Nevertheless "in spite of this the price and profit margins are not satisfactory". Reglar Srl, which manufactures moulded finished products from SMC, increased turnover by about 50%.

READER SERVICE: Annual reports 1994 (German): Lonza-Folien GmbH: PIE-No. 37931 – Lonza AG: PIE-No. 37932.