Constab Additive Polymers GmbH & Co KG (D-59602 Rüthen; www.constab.de) is closing its facility in Rüthen, Germany. In a brief statement, managing director Klaus Walter cited “economic reasons” for the decision to give up what was the first production site of this masterbatch and compounding group, founded in 1971. Parent holding company Constab GmbH & Co KG (D-40213 Düsseldorf) will amalgamate production in the Czech Republic. Marketing, technical service and distribution will continue as before in Germany and the rest of western Europe. The changes will have no effect on the holding´s UK operation.

Ninety employees are affected by the German closure. According to an announcement, the company and works council are endeavouring to find a “socially compatible solution. No details were given of the timeframe involved. German press reports suggest that production will cease by the end of 2002, with the site being shut down definitively at the end of January 2003.