European Rubber Journal articles from January 2001

European Rubber Journal archives from January 2001

Saiag to make hydraulic hose in Chinese JV plant.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 1, 2001... Italian rubber product maker Saiag SpA has signed a deal to make hydraulic hose in China with Chinese firm Shenyang No. 4 Rubber Factory (SRP). Saiag's hose-making subsidiary ITR SpA will invest $3.7 million to set up a plant to make...

ContiTech units for sale--eventually.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2001... Restructuring at Continental means parts of ContiTech are no longer core business and will be sold--but only if it can be done profitably. German tyre and automotive systems supplier Continental AG is prepared to sell parts of its...

Processor news: ERJ newsbriefs.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2001... Conti links with auto e-business firm Hannover, Germany--Continental AG, has formed a "strategic partnership" with automotive e-commerce company Autobytel.com, which includes the development of a new tyre module to be featured on Autobytel...

United Polymers adds UK rubber moulding firm.(Huddersfield Polymeric Products Ltd.)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 1, 2001... Acquisition will boost UK rubber group's turnover to 30 million [pounds sterling] in 2001. United Polymers has acquired Huddersfield Polymeric Products Ltd, a 3 million [pounds sterling] ($4.2 million) turnover rubber moulding firm based...

French firms struggle with 35 hour labour rule.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2001... Employers, trade unions and government agencies are currently concluding difficult negotiations over the 35-hour week in France, according to French industry group, Syndicat National du Caoutchouc et des Polymeres (SNCP). Under the 35-hour...

Clarification.(Brief Article)(Correction Notice)
January 1, 2001... London--In ERJ's November issue, a report on a deal between J Allcock & Sons Ltd and Nordmann Rassmann GmbH, attributed a prepared statement to Wolfgang Nagel, managing director of Nordmann Rassmann. Andrew Rushton, managing director of J...

Elring buys Versatech, plans N American strategy.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2001... German seals company buys assets of Canadian company, previously run by liquidators. New management is installed. Germany's Elring Klinger AG has purchased Canadian rubber moulder Versatech Sealing Systems Inc., expanding its product line...

Berstorff's owner put up for sale.(Mannesmann Plastics Machinery AG )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2001... Mannesmann's plastics machinery group is on the market, following the purchase earlier this year of Mannesmann's engineering businesses by the combined forces of Siemens AG and Robert Bosch AG. The plastics machinery grouping includes...

Bridgestone opens Tokyo tech centre.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2001... Bridgestone Corp. celebrated the completion of a new $65 million technical centre in Kodaira, Tokyo on 13 Nov. This "state-of-the art" replacement for Bridgestone's original Tokyo technical centre became necessary because of the centre's...

SaarGummi does glass encapsulation in Mexico.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2001... German firm opens first plant in Mexico to supply GM' s Avalanche SUV. Production could soon double. SaarGummi Americas has opened a 3500-[m.sup.2] plant for automotive glass encapsulation in Guadalajara, Mexico. The plant, SaarGummi's...

Avon Rubber moves more production to E Europe.(expansion in the Czech Republic)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2001... Avon follows UK plant closure with expansion in the Czech Republic, into rollers. Avon Rubber plc has started manufacturing rollers for business machines at a new facility in the Czech Republic. The automotive and technical rubber...

SSL acquires Malaysian site for clean room.(SSL International PLC)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2001... Buildings near Kuala Ketil will be used for sterile packaging and clean room operations for Kulim manufacturing plant. SSL International plc has purchased a plant in Kuala Ketil, Malaysia, near its recently expanded glove facility in Kulim,...

Rubber news: ERJ newsbriefs.(half-year results)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 1, 2001... Vita chairman notes business downturn Middleton, UK--British Vita plc has found the going tougher than expected since the announcement of half-year results in September, according to Jim Mercer, the group's chairman. "Trading...

Letter to the editor.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2001... Although I realise that anyone working for the ERJ is unlikely to have a very broad industrial perspective, I must take issue with the article on closures in the UK rubber industry and its conclusion (Postscript Nov 2000). No-one can...

Federal-Mogul signs Czech wiper deal.(Pal Praha will assemble complete wiper systems using Federal Mogul blades)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2001... Czech company Pal Praha will assemble complete wiper systems using Federal Mogul blades, for distribution to European automotive manufacturers Federal-Mogul Corp. has signed an agreement with Czech automotive supplier Pal Praha AS to...

Fenner upbeat after H2 recovery.(Fenner PLC)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2001... A better market for its products towards the year's end makes Fenner optimistic about next year. Despite a strong second-half performance, Fenner plc's operating profits before exceptional items for fiscal 2000 fell 12.7 percent on last...

Mitsui and Sumitomo confirm merger.(Mitsui Chemicals Inc. and Sumitomo Chemical Company Ltd.)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2001... Japanese firms unite to form fifth largest global chemical firm--with EPDM, SBR and TPE supply. Mitsui Chemicals Inc. and Sumitomo Chemical Co. Ltd are to consolidate all their businesses by October 2003, the company announced 17 Nov. ...

Supplier news: ERJ newsbriefs.(Great Lakes Chemical Corp.; Skinner Engine Co.)
January 1, 2001... Bayer unhappy with margins Leverkusen, Germany--For the first nine months of 2000, Bayer's polymer division reported operating profits up 4 percent to 897 [European Dollar] million ($771 million) from sales 29 percent higher at 8408...

Tyre news: ERJ newsbriefs.(Ceat Ltd.; Bridgestone Firestone Inc.)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2001... No BSFS bankruptcy Tokyo-Bridgestone Corp. is placing $450 million in reserve to cover possible legal claims against US subsidiary Bridgestone/Firestone Inc., said Bridgestone chairman Yoichiro Kaizaki in a prepared statement. The sum...

Tornel leasing former Uniroyal truck tyre plant.(Hulera Tornel S.A. de C.V.)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2001... Mexican site to commence tyre production in January. Independent Mexican tyre maker Cia. Hulera Tornel SA de CV is leasing a Uniroyal SA de CV tyre plant in Tacuba, Mexico, that the Groupe Michelin subsidiary closed earlier this year. ...

Axa buys stake in Goodrich, tyre makers.(AXA Financial Inc.)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2001... Insurance firm's newly acquired major stake in Goodyear, Cooper Tire and BF Goodrich will make no difference to the companies. AUS subsidiary of French insurance firm Axa SA has obtained large interests in Goodyear, Cooper Tire & Rubber Co....

South Pacific Tyres to close Somerton plant.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2001... Goodyear-Pacific Dunlop IV will trim operating costs by $21 million to regain profitability. South Pacific Tyres Ltd, the Australian joint venture of Goodyear and Pacific Dunlop Ltd, is cutting tyre production at one site and laying off...

Bridgestone to build tyre plant in Thailand.(Bridgestone Corp. (Tokyo, Japan))(Brief Article)
January 1, 2001... Bridgestone Corp. plans to invest $195 million to build a radial truck and bus tyre plant in Chon Buri, a Bangkok suburb, according to Thailand's Board of Investment, which recently granted Bridgestone tax incentives for the project. The...

Bridgestone one advances Donuts tyre technology.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
January 1, 2001... Bridgestone Corp. has launched a new version of its AQ Donuts tyre technology that was originally designed to prevent deterioration in wet-surface performance over the life of the tyre. The mark II version of AQ Donuts technology prevents...

Blue Circle and Michelin create scrap tyre JV.
January 1, 2001... New firm set up to help tyre sector dispose of scrap tyres in cement kilns. Blue Circle Cement UK and Groupe Michelin's UK subsidiary, Michelin Tyre plc, are to form a joint venture, called Sapphire Energy Recovery, to supply shredded...

Politicians' group to bolster UK tyre industry.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2001... Members of Parliament to encourage tyre makers to commit to UK. The UK's embattled tyre industry is to receive support from a new group of MPs (Members of Parliament) representing constituencies where tyre plants are located. The group is...

Goodyear tyres under investigation.(National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2001... US authorities to study accidents involving Goodyear Load Range E tyres. The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is to investigate the safety performance of Goodyear s Load Range E light commercial tyres, the company has...

AES in alliance with Italian TPE compounder.(Advanced Elastomer Systems NV/SA has formed a strategic alliance with Italian compounder Applicazioni Plastiche Industriali SpA)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2001... AES continues to expand network of strategic alliances through deal with API. Advanced Elastomer Systems NV/SA has formed a strategic alliance with Italian compounder Applicazioni Plastiche Industriali SpA to supply speciality compounds to...

ERJ PEOPLE.
January 1, 2001... DuPont Dow Elastomer changes Hemel Hempstead, UK--DuPont Dow Elastomers has rejigged its European management team, appointing Steve Santoleri as global business director for Hypalon and Tyrin, and Patrick Leder as European product manager...

ElastomerSolutions aims to ease `points of pain'.
January 1, 2001... Rubber portal prepares for full on-line trading in early 2001. Although it is owned by major materials suppliers, the organisation says it aims to be completely independent and neutral. ElastomerSolutions.Com is now preparing to...

Jamak takes on Trico in wiper-blade contest.(Jamak Fabrication Inc. and Trico Products Corp.)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2001... Single-edge silicone blades are competing with a new Teflon/natural rubber design in the automotive aftermarket. Premium-priced wiper-blades produced by Jamak Fabrication Inc. and Trico Products Corp. will go head-to-head in the US...

Dolder buys Massara.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2001... Swiss rubber and chemicals distributor Dolder AG has extended its range into Italy by buying the activities of Bollate, Milan-based Massara SpA. The Massara business will be operated by a new unit Dolder Massara srl, which will be in operation...

BFGoodrich sells unit.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2001... BFGoodrich Co. is to sell its performance materials business for around $1400 million to an investor group led by AEA Investors Inc., which has offices in New York and London. Expected to close in the first quarter of 2001, the deal...

Bridging the industry/ academic research gap.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2001... The German rubber institute aims in its biennial meetings to provide a forum for dialogue between researchers from all types of organisations--and give young researchers a voice. And as its autumn 2000 meeting showed, the rubber sector...

DSM plans acquisition programme.(DSM Elastomers B.V.)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2001... DSM Elastomers--the world's largest supplier of EPDM--has been asked to grow faster than the EPDM business allows. This means the company is now seeking acquisitions in the speciality elastomers area, to help meet its ambitious growth targets....

IRSG considers its future.(International Rubber Study Group annual meeting)
January 1, 2001... At the annual meeting of the International Rubber Study Group, the implications of the collapse of INRO were one of the main areas of discussion. First, how will the international community use the IRSG and will its role expand beyond...

Holroyd Associates propose changes to tyre industry.
January 1, 2001... In this article, Eric Holroyd suggests that the tyre industry has been walking up a blind alley for the last 50 years or more, because of its method of constructing tyres. He argues that a tyre does not need to use separate steelcord and fabric...

TyreTech meeting in Poland.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2001... TyreTech 2000 was held in Warsaw at the end of November. Delegates heard how the Polish tyre industry is expanding fast--especially in high performance and in winter tyres. Poland--and especially the area around Warsaw--is booming,...

Polish tyre industry booms.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2001... Tyretech 2000 was held in Warsaw at the end of November. Delegates heard how the Polish tyre industry is expanding fast--especially in high performance and in winter tyres. The Polish tyre market is in a dramatic transformation, according...

Doom and gloom! NR shortage to bite hard.(natural rubber)(Brief Article)(Editorial)
January 1, 2001... When I was a child, I remember being very concerned that the sun would eventually grow to the size of a giant, and boil away all life on earth. My parents told me not to worry about it. And they were right. Today, I am more worried by the...