PVC producer Vinnolit Kunststoff GmbH (Carl-Zeiss-Ring 25, D-85737 Ismaning), a 50: 50 joint venture of Hoechst AG (HQ: D-65926 Frankfurt) and Wacker Chemie GmbH (HQ: Hanns-Seidel-Platz 4, D-81737 Munich) will become completely backward integrated on 1 July when Hoechst transfers responsibility for chlorine, ethylene dichloride (EDC) and vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) output at Gendorf, Germany, to the joint venture. A DM 60m scheme to expand VCM output at Gendorf by 100,000 t/y, scheduled to be completed by the year 2000, will allow PVC production to be supplied from a single source and result in "substantial cost savings," the company said. At the same time, Wacker will shut down its 240,000 t/y VCM production at Burghausen. This will reduce Vinnolit's net capacity in Bavaria to 280,000 t/y. The cutback is linked to a new concept to make PVC plants at Köln-Merkenich and Knapsack independent of VCM transports from Bavaria. The 350 Wacker employes made redundant at Burghausen will be offered jobs at other sites.