MONTABAUR, Dec. 19--PRNewswire-AsiaNet/InfoQuest The Klockner Pentaplast Group is pleased to announce that it will increase its market presence in Asia/Pacific Rim. The Group will open new sales offices in India and Australia and one representative office in China early 2006. In addition, the Klockner Pentaplast Group's Thailand plant will be expanding its capacity with an approximately $ 8 million investment in its Rayong facility. The extension will again cover the highest level of hygiene and is especially designed to meet future requirements. Klockner Pentaplast To Open Sales Offices in India, China, and Australia The Klockner Pentaplast Group is scheduled to open three new sales offices supporting customers in the Asian/Pacific Rim in early 2006. It has established its sales office located in Gurgaon (outside of New Delhi) in December of 2005, scheduled to open in January of 2006. The fully owned Indian subsidiary will service the Indian sub-continent. The representative office located in Shanghai, China, is scheduled to open in January 2006, serving the Chinese market. The Australian office located in Melbourne, a fully owned subsidiary, will begin to service Australia and New Zealand in February 2006. Klockner Pentaplast Thailand Plant Expansion The Klockner Pentaplast Group announced an 1100 square meter [11,840.302 square feet] expansion of its pvc calandering capacity at its Rayong, Thailand manufacturing facility. The additional 8 kilo tons (8,000 tons) of pvc capacity is targeted to come on-line by mid 2006 to service pharma, food and special static controlled applications. The expansion will add 19 employees to the current 134-person site. Commenting on Klockner Pentaplast's expansion in the Asian-Pacific Rim, Joachim Kreuzburg, president and COO of Klockner Pentaplast/Europe & Asia, notes "The Asian-Pacific Rim region represents an important market area for the Klockner Pentaplast Group. We are committed to servicing our customers' film requirements in this region for the long term. At this time, we are investing to enhance our ability to deliver excellent film and service to our customers, and to provide capacity to meet future market demand." About the Klockner Pentaplast Group The Klockner Pentaplast Group is the world's leading producer of films for pharmaceutical, medical device, food, electronics, and general-purpose thermoform packaging, as well as printing and specialty applications. Founded in 1966 in Montabaur, Germany, Klockner Pentaplast has grown from its initial facility to 24 current production operations in 13 countries. The Klockner Pentaplast Group is a wholly owned subsidiary of funds managed by Cinven Ltd. and J.P. Morgan Partners. The company has sales of over euro 1.1 billion ($1.3 billion) and employs more than 3,900 people committed to serving customers worldwide. For more information, visit our web site at www.kpfilms.com Contact: Caroline Funk Vice President, Strategic Marketing & Communications Klockner Pentaplast/Europe & Asia +49.2602.915.148 +49.2602.915.197 [email protected] or Nancy E. Ryan Manager of Global Communications Klockner Pentaplast Group (Corporate & the Americas) +1.540.832.1427 +1.540.832.1419 Fax [email protected] SOURCE: Klockner Pentaplast Group CONTACT: Caroline Funk, Vice President, Strategic Marketing & Communications of Klockner Pentaplast/Europe & Asia, +49-2602-915-148, or +49-2602-915-197, or [email protected], or Nancy E. Ryan, Manager of Global Communications of Klockner Pentaplast Group (Corporate & the Americas), +1-540-832-1427, or Fax, +1-540-832-1419, or [email protected] Web site: http://www.kpfilms.com --Distributed by AsiaNet (www.asianetnews.net)--