BP Chemicals (6th Floor, Britannic House, 1 Finsbury Circus, GB-London EC2M 7BA) is investing £ 7m in its UK Primary Packaging Business based at Darton, near Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Capacity for five-layer co-extrusion will almost double with the installation of a new production line. New three-layer co-extrusion equipment and an eight-color printing machine will increase overall extrusion and printing capacity by 20%. BP Chemicals expects the investment, due for completion in mid-1995, to extend and enhance its growing business in both the UK and Europe. The business supplies plastic packaging film for food, toiletries and other consumer goods.

Primary Packaging Business Manager Martin Elliott said: "This level of investment is the first stage in implementing Darton's business strategy which will lead to it becoming Europe's leading supplier of quality flexible packaging." – The 17-acre Darton site, situated between Sheffield and Leeds, employs 300. The business forms part of BP Chemicals Plastics Fabrications Group which operates sites across Europe.

Suppliers of the new equipment are three leading German companies: Barmag for the five-layer Hy-bar machine; Windmöller and Hölscher for the three-layer and Starflex printing machines; Lemo for conversion equipment. Hy-bar is a trade name for five-layer co-extrusion.