European Rubber Journal articles from July 2001

European Rubber Journal archives from July 2001

Tessenderlo buys French compounder.(Tessenderlo Chemie S.A. acquires Technicompound)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 1, 2001... Acquisition will enable Belgian chemical group to strengthen compounds unit. Tessenderlo Group has acquired Technicompound, a maker of PVC and thermoplastics elastomer compounds, based near Nantes, France. The company was previously part...

Conti Teves to licence intelligent tyre system.(Continental Teves, Electronic Stability Programme)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Magnetised tyre system offers way ahead for stability control. Continental Teves Inc. is opening the door for other tyre makers to licence its Intelligent Tyre technology, predicting they will eagerly grasp the opportunity. The tyre,...

Yaroslavl still operating.(Yaroslavskyiy Teknicheskiy uglerod)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... * Yaroslavl, Russia--Vadim Orlov, general director of the Yaroslavskyiy Tekhnicheskiy uglerod (Yaroslavl carbon black plant), has written to ERJ to assure us that his plant is still operating. In the June issue of ERJ, we said the plant was...

Marangoni sales up, profits down.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 1, 2001... * Rovereto, Italy--Tyre, retread and retreading systems producer Marangoni SpA suffered a 76.1-percent drop in net earnings last year, to $1.5 million, while sales rose 9.7 percent to $221.6 million. The company blamed the profit erosion on the...

IRSG to replace rubber digest.(International Rubber Study Group, Rubber Industry Report)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... * London--The International Rubber Study Group will cease publication of its monthly International Rubber Digest this month, replacing it with a new, monthly Rubber Industry Report, the group said. The new publication will be an extended...

Wrong photo.(Correction Notice)
July 1, 2001... * In last month's issue of ERJ, we printed a picture captioned as Hans-Joachim Zwarg of Phoenix. In fact, the picture was of Laszlo Jaczko of Michelin. We apologise for the error and any confusion caused.

Unipoly group under new management.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... UniPoly's financial backers have forced the departure of Laurence Cant, chief executive officer, and Ted Minick, commercial director of the group formed by the 515-million [pound sterling] management buy-out of four ex-BTR polymer divisions....

Mark IV to sell part of Dayco Industrial.(Mark IV Industries Inc. intends to divest Dayco Products)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... US group to increase focus on automotive market following sale of industrial belting unit. Mark IV Industries Inc. has signed a letter of intent with an unnamed buyer for the sale of the assets of its industrial global power transmission...

Rapra may take new direction, says Ward.(recently appointed chief executive Andrew Ward)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Change in store for UK polymer technology firm, under new leadership. "The industry and Rapra are going through changing times and we need to decide upon our technical strategy, and the markets we are going to operate in," said Andrew...

Daikin to establish first FKM plant outside Asia.(Daikin Chemical France SAS to run new fluoroelastomer plant in France)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Growing overseas sales prompts Japanese firm to establish fluoroelastomer production facility in Europe. Daikin Industries Ltd is to build a fluoroelastomer plant near Lyon, France, which it expects to bring on-stream at the start of 2003....

Cognis exits Asian JV.(Cognis B.V. to leave joint venture with Sanyo Chemical Industries Ltd., San Nopco Ltd.)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... * Roermond, The Netherlands--Dutch-based Cognis BV is to withdraw from San Nopco Ltd, its 50:50 joint venture with Sanyo Chemical Industries Ltd, of Japan, Cognis announced 11 May. San Nopco supplies paper additives, coatings, latex and...

Bayer in profits retreat.(Bayer AG expects second quarter losses)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 1, 2001... * Leverkusen, Germany--Bayer AG expects second-quarter profits to fall sharply, leaving full year earnings below those of last year, the agrochemicals chemicals, pharmaceuticals and polymers group said 27 June. In March, Bayer chairman Manfred...

Takeda initiates rubber latex exit.(Takeda Chemical Industries Ltd. divesting rubber latex business to Nippon A& L Inc.)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 1, 2001... Osaka, Japan--Takeda Chemical Industries Ltd of Osaka has started divesting its synthetic rubber latex business, by passing over the unit's sales activities to Nippon A&L Inc.--a joint venture between Sumitomo Chemical Co. Ltd and Mitsui...

BASF to shut plants.(BASF AG)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... * Ludwigshafen, Germany--BASF AG is closing 10 sites and 14 plants worldwide to cut production capacities in response to continuing high feedstock prices, the US market slowdown and weakening business in Europe. The German chemical group will...

China tops agenda at IISRP.(International Institute of Synthetic Rubber Producers meeting)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... * Kohala Coast, Hawaii--China is on the agenda for the International Institute of Synthetic Rubber Producers, as the source of a new member and the site of a future general meeting. An enterprise representing synthetic rubber production...

Kraiburg TPE steps out with global plan.(Kraiburg TPE GmbH)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 1, 2001... Now an independent company, Kraiburg's TPE operation will soon offer a manufacturing presence in the three main global regions. Kraiburg Gummiwerk GmbH & Co.'s former thermoplastic elastomer department is now operating as a separate...

AES adds Asian alliances.(Advanced Elastomer Systems LP forms alliances with Hydro S&S Industries Ltd., Sei Woo Rubber Works Pte Ltd.)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 1, 2001... AES adds two more strategic alliances to help develop sales of its TPV materials. Advanced Elastomer Systems LP has established two new strategic partnerships to develop markets for its thermoplastics vulcanisate (TPV) materials in the...

US disposals signal Avon changes.(Avon Rubber PLC sells divisions in United States)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... US sales signal mounting pressure for change at leading UK component maker. Avon Rubber plc has initiated the sale of its o New York operations, as part of a restructuring plan to focus its automotive division on core automotive hose...

Habasit expands with Charles Walker buy.(Habasit AG acquires Charles Walker Holdings)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Established UK belt making firm to join US group. Power transmission and conveyor belt manufacturer Habasit AG acquired Charles Walker Holdings Ltd of Bingley, England, in June in a move that complements Habasit's capabilities. Charles...

Elastomer Solutions joins Elemica.(ElastomerSolutions.com forms alliance with Elemica)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... * Cyberspace--ElastomerSolutions.com, the on-line trading company for the elastomer industry, is to join Elemica, the e-business network established by global chemical suppliers, ElastomerSolutions has announced. Terms of the partnership were...

Tokai Rubber results.(financial statistics for Tokai Rubber Industries)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... * Mainz-Kastel, Germany--Tokai Rubber Industries has recorded operating profits of [yen] 15 476 million ($124 million) from sales of $1368 million for the year ended 31 March. Net income for the Japanese firm came in at $42 million. Non-tyre...

SSL study finds inflated figures.(SSL International PLC)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 1, 2001... * Knutsford, UK--SSL International plc has found that its last two annual statements overstated sales by around 25 million [pound sterling] ($36 million) and profits by a similar amount. The healthcare and personal protection products group is...

Tomkins slow with strategy.(Tomkins PLC sells Totectors Ltd. to UKS Group Ltd.)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Tomkins plc has so far failed in its efforts to buy out the Gates family s 700-million [pound sterling] ($1000-million) preference shareholding in Tomkins, chairman David Newlands, admitted in the group's results statement. The Gates...

Trelleborg expanding auto parts facility.(Trelleborg AB)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Trelleborg AB is investing SK60 million ($5.5 million) to increase production of its DuraLam engine noise-suppression product. The project features a new 5000-[m.sup.2] facility in Kalmar, Sweden, managed by the group's Trelleborg Rubore AB...

EU clears Conti's purchase of Temic.(European Commission permits acquisition of Temic by Continental AG)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... * Hanover, Germany--The European Commission has cleared Continental AG's planned deal to purchase majority control of chassis systems supplier Temic GmbH from DaimlerChrysler AG. Conti is paying $340 million for a 60-percent share of Temic,...

Two in hunt to buy Siemens business.(Apax Partners and Company Ventures Ltd., Investcorp S.A. will bid for Apax Partners and Company Ventures Ltd.)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Siemens is close to finalising the sale of its MPM group--including Berstorff GmbH. Siemens AG will choose between two investment firms, Apax Partners & Co. Ventures Ltd and Investcorp, to buy its machinery business, Mannesmann Plastics...

Mitsubishi restructures tyre machinery unit.(Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. to move tire machinery operations to Hiroshima)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Large Japanese machinery supplier moves to cut costs in tyre unit. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd is moving its tyre machinery operations to Hiroshima from its current base in Nagasaki, under a two-year plan to improve efficiency of the...

MachinePoint to offer rubber machinery.(MachinePoint.com)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... On-line firm targets used rubber equipment market. MachinePoint.com, which claims to be the world's largest marketplace for used plastics machinery, has added rubber equipment to the range of products for sale on its on-line trading...

Farrel cutbacks help to stem losses.(Farrel Corp.)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 1, 2001... * Farrel Corp. reported a net loss of $600 000 on sales of $11.1 million for the quarter ended 1 April, 2001, the rubber and plastics machinery maker announced 16 May. Farrel said the loss was smaller than the losses reported a year...

Watts consolidates, mulls China JV.(closes plant)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Plant closure as leading UK independent rubber firm shapes up for the future. Watts Industrial Polymers (WIP), part of e Watts Industrial Group, closed its re retread compounds plant at Keighley, Yorkshire, at the end of June. Production...

Bandag and Conti in retread alliance.(Continental)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... German tyre maker to outsource retreading activity to Bandag. Bandag is to supply truck tyre retreads for Continental AG under a deal now being finalised by Bandag AG, the Swiss-based subsidiary of Bandag Inc., and the Hanover,...

Bridgestone-Firestone awaits Ford decision.(regarding European tire supply account)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Bridgestone/Firestone Europe (BFE) is so far unaffected by the decision of US sister company, Bridgestone/Firestone Inc., to stop supplying Ford Motor Co. "For the time being" the decision applies only to business with Ford in North and...

Trelleborg adds remainder of Pirelli JV.(Trelleborg Wheel Systems SpA)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... * Trelleborg, Sweden--Trelleborg Group has acquired Pirelli Tyre SpA's 40 percent holding in Trelleborg Wheel Systems SpA. The Tivoli Italy-based agricultural tyres firm is now a wholly-owned Trelleborg subsidiary, the Swedish firm announced 3...

Continental, Yokohama cooperate in tyres.(Continental AG and Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd.)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... German/Japanese tyre alliance to meet global market demands. Tyre makers Continental AG and Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd are to cooperate in tyre sales in Japan and will look at cooperating more strongly in the Nafta region, where they currently...

Michelin rebuffs EC "market abuse" charges.(European Commission)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... French tyre group queries European Commission zeal in pursuing charges over abandoned market practices. The European Commission has fined Groupe Michelin 19.76 million [European Dollar] ($17.8 million) for abusing its dominant position in...

Fire hits Cooper-Avon mixing plant.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... * Melksham, UK-Tyre production at Cooper-Avon Tyres' Melksham plant has continued as normal despite a recent fire, which damaged machinery in the mixing department at the site. Initial investigations have linked the fire, on 10 May, to...

Marangoni, Teknor Apex to form retread supply pact in North America.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... * Verona, Italy--Marangoni Tread SpA and Teknor Apex Co. plan to form an alliance to manufacture and sell retreading systems and tread rubber in North America. The tentative agreement when completed will combine the two sales organisations...

Michelin increases share of OE sales in UHP tyre sector.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Michelin is on target to take 50 percent of the "high performance" OE car tyre market by 2003, according to Pierre Menendes, vice-president of marketing for passenger and light truck tyres. Menendes said `high performance' means W - and Z...

Sumitomo develops tyre tests for ice grip.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Cost-effective approach to sub-zero road testing. Sumitomo Rubber Industries has developed a machine to test ice grip and aquaplaning performance of tyres. The machine, located in Kobe, is currently occupied about 80 percent of the time on...

Michelin UK workers agree four-year deal.(Michelin Tyre PLC, pay deal for employees)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... UK tyre workers relieved at pay deal after long negotiations. Production and engineering workers at Michelin UK's tyre plants in Ballymena, Burnley, Dundee and Stoke have accepted a four-year pay deal designed to cut the company's wage bill...

Michelin to increase chassis cooperation.(Michelin et Cie. to extend agreements with Kinugawa Rubber Industrial Company Ltd. and Woco Group)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... * Michelin intends to extend the cooperation agreements it has formed with Kinugawa Rubber Industrial Co Ltd. and Woco GmbH in antivibration systems. Pierre Menendes, vice-president of marketing for passenger and light truck tyres, said, "We...

Michelin to license acoustic technology.(Michelin et Cie to license technology from Transense Technologies PLC)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... * London--Groupe Michelin has licensed an acoustic wave technology from Transense Technologies plc for use in tyre pressure warning devices, but the tyre maker did not disclose how it intends to implement the technology. The sensor, about...

New board members for RubberNetwork.(RubberNetwork.com.Inc. hires John Garrison, Bob Webster, Ron Wells, and Phillip Ringo)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... * Alpharetta, Georgia--RubberNetwork.com LLC has appointed Philip Ringo as its first chief executive officer, the e-business company for the tyre and rubber industry announced 12 June. Ringo was previously president of ChemConnect, an on-line...

EC launches road noise study.(European Commission, project to study tire noise and noise reduction)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... * Brussels -- The European Commission is seeking tenders for a 12-month project to develop modelling tools to study tyre noise and propulsion noise reduction measures. The study will also cover low noise road surfaces and their effectiveness in...

Goodyear reorganisation.(Goodyear Dunlop Tires Europe B.V. hires Valensi Sylvain, Marco Molinari, and Gerd Grunenwald)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... * Brussels--Goodyear Dunlop Tires Europe has appointed three group managing directors for operations in France, Germany and the UK. The company has named Sylvain Valensi, group managing director French operations, based in Paris; Marco...

Large natural rubber plantations could return.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Rubber-growing sector is ripe for change, Goodyear boss tells IISRP meeting. Large natural rubber plantations have mostly gone the way of colonialism and disappeared, but globalisation could bring them back, said Goodyear's top NR...

Tyre firms wheel out case for aircraft radials.(aircraft radial tires, Simex Aircraft Tyre Company Sdn. Bhd., Michelin et Cie., and Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co.)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 1, 2001... Air frame manufacturers urged to specify radial tyres to improve safety and performance Tyre makers are pushing the aviation industry to accelerate its use of radial tyres, which, they claim, offer safety and long-term cost benefits...

Michelin launches Concorde tyre.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Groupe Michelin has developed a new radial tyre for EADS, the French aerospace group which is working to restore Concorde's certificate of airworthiness, which was withdrawn after the crash of an Air France Concorde on 25 July 2000. Called...

All-TPE weatherseals almost here?(thermoplastic elastomer)(Industry Overview)
July 1, 2001... TPE markets developing strongly as technology improves and niche applications benefit from advantages. A development long awaited by thermoplasic elastomer suppliers--the all-TPE-sealed car--is probably here... in Japan... but not all on...

Dow aims to smarten up SBR supply via e-tools.(Dow Chemical Co. wants to standardize production of styrene butadiene rubber)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Dow proposes radical overhaul in SBR markets, to minimise the cost of the supply system. Dow Chemical Co. wants to take the next logical step in general-purpose rubber supply. It aims use e-business tools to aid a complete reorganisation...

Monopoly issues.(RubberNetwork)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Are there problems in terms of monopoly issues? Mader said this has been a concern, but really it is simply a smart supply venture, he said, adding that there would be more scope for concern if the three top rubber producers were getting...

BR capacity raised at Berre le Etang.(Dow Chemical Co. to expand butadiene rubber capacity)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Dow Chemical Co.'s board has approved expansion of butadiene rubber (BR) capacity at Berre le Etang, France, confirmed Andreas Mader, commercial leader, global synthetic elastomers, with Dow. He declined to reveal details of its investment in...

Desma expects record year for IM machines.(Klockner Desma Elastomertechnik GmbH, injection moulding machines)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 1, 2001... Strong sales in Germany and India contribute to record year. Klockner Desma Elastomertechnik GmbH expects 2000-2001 to be a record year. ales will be up to around DM 105 million, from DM 95 million a year earlier, according to Haraid...

Armenian CR plant back on stream.(Solar Corp. looks for markets for Nairit's polychloroprene rubber)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... New source of polychloroprene could ease shortages Solar Corp. is seeking markets for polychloroprene rubber in Europe. The material comes from the state-owned Nairit plant in Armenia, which was operating only sporadically during the early...

Enichem aims for CR latex grades.(chloroprene rubber)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... [] Birmingham, UK--European demand for CR is very healthy, according to Claude Champeau, technical service manager for Enichem's polychloroprene business. Champeau said Enichem is investing in its plant in France to add capacity for latex...

Carter introduces continuous mixer.(Carter Bros. (Rochdale) Ltd.)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... Carter Bros commercialises the Continuous compounder developed at Loughborough's RuPEC centre by Phil Freakley. Carter Bros (Rochdale) Ltd has introduced a continuous mixer based on development work performed by Dr Phil Freakley at the...

Germany positioned for growth.(rubber production reached about DM17,700 million in 2000)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 1, 2001... Germany's rubber industry drives the rest of the rubber sector in Europe. From offering premium quality at a premium price in the 1980s, most companies have invested heavily in low-cost manufacturing operations, and now many companies have very...

Different from Phoenix and Freudenberg.(Vibracoustic)(Company Profile)
July 1, 2001... Vibracoustic is forming its own identity, separate from either of its parents--and it is winning enough new business to double turnover in five years. Vibracoustic is a joint venture company dedicated to the management of comfort and sound...

Bush triggers new way of working.(Vorwerk and Sohn GmbH and Co.)
July 1, 2001... Vorwerk & Sohn is supplying a suspension bush for Porsche's controversial Cayenne sport-utility vehicle. Frank Roder, production manager at Vorwerk & Sohn believes he has saved well over half the time he used to spend managing projects by...

Freudenberg aims to please.(Freudenberg und Co.)(Company Profile)
July 1, 2001... Freudenberg & Co has long been one of the companies to beat in the rubber industry. Here Jorg Sost, chairman of the sealing and antivibration unit of Freudenberg explains some of the ways the company approaches its business. One of the...

Berstorff plans for system supply.(Company Profile)
July 1, 2001... Prior to K '01, Berstorff invited ERJ to its Hanover headquarters to describe the changes which are taking place in the company, and its vision for the future. Berstorff GmbH says it has re-built its business after nearly going bankrupt in...

Berstorff trials new Stellite system.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... [] Hanover, Germany--Berstorff GmbH is trialling a new Stellite system which results in much reduced cracking on hardened surfaces. Manfred Reichel, managing director of Berstorff told journalists at a pre-K'01 conference, that Berstorff is...

Berstorff to develop rubber injection moulding systems.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... [] Hanover, Germany--Berstorff GmbH has said it is working with other members of the MPM holding group to develop rubber injection moulding machines. Berstorff is best known for its automotive profile manufacturing lines. In this sense it is...

Berstorff sets up maintenance company.(Berstorff Service)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... [] Hanover, Germany--Berstorff GmbH has set up a service and maintenance company with the aim of taking over the day-to-day running of rubber production plants. The company is currently seeking a site in the Aachen-Maastricht area, where many...

Continuous and reactive mixing get EC funding.(rubber research)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... European-wide project gets possible 2-million [European Dollar] funding for development of mixing technology. Continuous mixing/extrusion of rubber and reactive mixing of silica-filled tyre compounds will come under the spotlight in a new...

`Projects need good leader ship'--Limper.(European Commission funded projects)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... EC-funded projects have "very strict rules on aspects such as steering committees and task leaders," said Limper (above). Also, the EC now prefers having a university or research unit leading projects, for constancy. One initial task is...

Team work needed.(European joint research projects)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 1, 2001... The costs of European joint research projects are comparatively high--even just for proposals, said Limper Costs for Mini Derucom are 3.3 million [European Dollar], with 1.85 million [European Dollar] coming from Brussels, 0.85 million...

Continuous, reactive mixing focus.(new tire compound development)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2001... The new SATPRO (System Analysis for The Production of technical rubber goods and tyres) project has two tasks: 1. Development of a silanisation reactor for silica-filled compounds; and 2. Development of direct extrusion--for...

Southern Europe sees buoyant growth.(France, Spain, Italy - rubber sector data)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 1, 2001... The French, Italian, Spanish rubber sectors have much in common, not least consistent growth in recent years, and plan to hold regular conferences to capitalise on their common interests. France, Spain and Italy have a lot in common,...

France: activity high, profits down.(France rubber market statistics)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 1, 2001... Good growth and rapidly rising foreign trade in 2000 for the French rubber sector were overshadowed by difficulties in making money, Muret pointed out in a separate interview with ERJ. France's rubber sector grew for the seventh year...

Small Latin rubber firms thrive.(Statistical Data Included)
July 1, 2001... Rubber part makers in the Mediterranean area are keen to expand their product ranges--and offer them to a wider market. Rubber processors from the Latin countries of southern Europe have been experiencing good growth recently, and are...

Sheeting a speciality.(Tovo Gomma)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 1, 2001... Tovo Gomma of Brescia near Milan in northern italy has a turnover of 17 million [European Dollar] in both compounds and vulcanised elastomeric sheet, said Paulo Morandi, the firm's technical director. Production is currently some 12 kt of...

Clever compounding gets results.(the use of neural networks in tire design)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 1, 2001... Neural networks, finite element analysis and other complex computer technologies are being used by the rubber sector for compound design, mixer control, part design and property prediction. But these techniques have their limitations,...

Sector must train staff, tackle used tyres.(French rubber industry)
July 1, 2001... French experts discuss how the rubber industry educates engineers and the latest French plans for scrap tyre disposal. Custom compounding is also assessed. Training of qualified technical experts, encouraging young people into the rubber...

Constant investment in mixing lines needed.(Jevsa makes capital investment)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 1, 2001... Jevsa made a strategic decision in 1990 to reinvest constantly in equipment and in personnel so that it could offer high quality material to customers. Previously it used its machinery to the end of its life, said Marin. The firm has invested...

New formats to reverse visitor decline.(low turnout at conferences)(Brief Article)(Editorial)
July 1, 2001... I am just back from the latest European International Rubber Conference event. This one was held in Birmingham UK. Last year it was in Helsinki. But the story at the two events was the same. Visitor numbers were well down on previous years. ...