In the space of three weeks, Villeroy & Boch AG (D-66688 Mettlach; www.villeroy-boch.de), producer of kitchen and bathroom equipment, has continued its expansion course of the past two years (most recent takeover see Plasteurope.com 04, 2001) and taken over another two European suppliers of plastic bathtubs, jacuzzis, shower cabins and steam cabins. With this latest acquisition, the company´s “Wellness” division has achieved a turnover volume of approximately EUR 120m. When the division was founded in 1999 with the intention of combining the group´s plastics activities, it had a turnover of EUR 37m.

In the middle of last October, Villeroy & Boch announced the complete takeover of Acomo Belgium (Populierstraat 1; B-8800 Roeselare). The company produces high-quality sanitary products from plastic material. In the last fiscal year, it had a turnover of EUR 22m and a workforce of 160 employees. The next takeover followed in November when the company bought the Italian market leader for acrylic bath tubs Itema (I-62010 Montecassiano; www.itema.it). This company also has a turnover of EUR 22m and 150 employees. With subsidiaries in the Netherlands, Sweden, the Czech Republic, Belgium and Italy, Villeroy & Bosch has now established a European network of plastics activities.