REHAU to Reopen Prescott, Ontario Plant Under Agreement with DBI to Produce Municipal PVC Pipe
Contract Enables REHAU to Leverage Prescott Facility for Technical Innovation Advancement
LEESBURG, Va., January 30, 2009 - REHAU announced today that the privately held companies DBI, a company of the Québec-based Groupe Béton Brunet Ltée, and REHAU have established a business relationship for the production and distribution of municipal PVC pressure, sewer and storm drain pipe. This agreement will enable REHAU to reopen its plant in Prescott, Ontario, where municipal pipe production had been discontinued as of November 1, 2008 due to the company's strategic shift toward technical, high-performance polymer systems.
"DBI was seeking to secure a Canadian source for PVC pipe when they learned of REHAU's plant closure last October," said Ralf Helmold, Prescott plant manager for REHAU. "Reopening our Prescott plant will allow us to capitalize on our existing equipment and experienced staff, which will more rapidly propel the development and production of our latest innovations in pipe system solutions."
The agreement enables DBI to grow its extruded municipal PVC pipe business by leveraging REHAU's longstanding experience in this area, while allowing REHAU to take advantage of the Prescott facility for new developments in the renewable energy and industrial pipe sectors. It also secures the continued supply of REHAU's PROLOC® Schedule 40/80 PVC industrial pipe, which is produced out of the Prescott plant.
"We are excited to have the opportunity to expand our PVC business on the solid foundation set by REHAU in establishing the Prescott plant as the first municipal pipe extrusion facility in North America nearly 40 years ago," said Alain Huot, vice president and general manager at DBI. "As a like-minded company with a similar history and culture to that of REHAU, we are also happy to be forging a mutually beneficial relationship that will allow REHAU to further its efforts in polymer system innovation for the energy and industrial pipe markets."
The agreement, signed on January 23, stipulates commencement of a production schedule in Prescott during the first quarter of 2009. This allows for the immediate re-hire of 19 REHAU staff members, representing recovery of nearly half the jobs eliminated in Prescott upon the plant's closing in November 2008. Under the agreement, REHAU will produce municipal PVC pipe, while DBI will be responsible for all distribution and marketing.
"It's wonderful to be able to bring staff members back into the REHAU family so quickly, and to have the advantage of their established experience at the plant as we move forward in these new endeavors," Helmold said.
For more information, contact: REHAU, 1501 Edwards Ferry Rd., N.E., Leesburg, Va., 20176. Phone: 1.800.247.9445. Fax: 1.800.627.3428. E-mail: rehau.mailbox@rehau.com. Web site: www.rehau.com.
For more information, contact Alain Huot: Distribution Brunet, Inc., 777, rue Perreault, bureau 100, Lévis (QC). Phone: 1.866.932.1208. Fax: 1.418.839.5667. E-mail: ahuot@brunet.cc. Web site: brunet.cc.
DBI is a company in the Québec-based Groupe Béton Brunet Ltée which also owns Béton Brunet Ltée. With more than 80 years of manufacturing experience, Béton Brunet Ltée produces pre-cast concrete pipes in varying diameters (250 mm to 3600 mm), as well as manholes, sumps, valve houses, rectangular box culverts, barriers and other custom products. The privately held group of companies employs approximately 250 people in eight locations in Québec and the United States.
REHAU delivers "Unlimited Polymer Solutions," and is the premium worldwide brand for polymer-based innovations and systems in construction, automotive and industry. The company generates continuous growth through its expertise and innovative capabilities in materials development, systems design and surface technology. More than 15,000 employees at more than 170 locations around the world ensure success of the independent, privately held company.
CONTACT:
Jennifer Parker
Parker PR, Inc.
P: 716.316.2097
E: jparker@parker-pr.com
