The German subsidiaries of H.C. Starck GmbH -- TeCe Technical Ceramics and CFI Ceramics for Industry -- recently merged into a single company, H.C. Starck Ceramics GmbH & Co KG. H.C. Starck assumed responsibility for Bayer's engineering ceramics business in 1998. This included the CFI Ceramics for Industry subsidiary, an R&D company and producer of specialized ceramic components. At the beginning of 2001, H.C. Starck acquired a majority holding in TeCe Technical Ceramics, which manufactures ceramic parts for sintering applications and machine and engine construction. "The new name is an expression or our inclusion in the H.C. Starck family," said Dr. Jans-Jurgen Pohlmann, joint-managing director, along with Helmut H. Simon, of the new company. The new production and R&D facilities are currently being completed at the company headquarters in Selb, Germany. With some 200 employees, the new company is expected to generate total annual sales of 20 million euros in 2002.

For more information, call (49) 5321 751 3153, fax (49) 5321 751 4943 or e-mail manfred.buetefisch.mb@hcstarck.de.