European Rubber Journal articles from July 2002

European Rubber Journal archives from July 2002

Gislaved acquires GFD, eyes further expansion. (Rubber news).(Gislaved Gummi, GFD Technology)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Swedish rubber firm Gislaved Gummi AB has acquired German rubber compounder GFD Technology GmbH. And Gislaved may expand further by more acquisitions, according to Ola Rollen, president and ceo of Hexagon AB, the engineering group which...

Specialist parts and compounds. (Rubber news).(Gislaved)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Gislaved's sales are split roughly 50:50 between compounds and products. It has three units: Gislaved Gummi in Gislaved, Sweden, Stellana, in Laxa, Sweden and Elastomeric Engineering Co. Ltd at Colombo, Sri Lanka. Both Gislaved and EEC...

Large bore hoses gaining ground. (Rubber news).(Rediweld Cerambond)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... [] Horndean, UK -- Marine diesel exhaust hose up to 508mm in diameter, for use at temperatures up to 140[degrees]C. is now available from Horndean UK-based Rediweld Cerambond. Lloyds Register has extended the firm's approval to make these...

PPE invests 2m [pounds sterling] in plant for high-tech seals. (Rubber news).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Precision Polymer Engineering, a UK maker of high-performance fluoroelastomer seals, is investing over 2 million [pounds sterling] ($3 million) in purpose-built facilities on the Greenbank Business Park in Blackburn, UK. The UK's North West...

Germany's ZF combines Boge, Elastmetall units. (Rubber news).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Automotive supplier ZF Friedrichshafen AG as reorganised its rubber operations into one unit--ZF Boge Elastmetall--which the firm estimates will be the fourth largest supplier of rubber-metal bonded antivibration parts globally. The new...

Silicones group aims for growth in compounds. (Rubber news).(Silicone Engineering)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Silicone Engineering Ltd of Blackburn, UK, has been bought from Meggitt plc for 2 million [pounds sterling] ($3 million) by Dennis Beadman, its former managing director, and Barrie Warren, previously sales chief for GE Bayer Silicones in north...

GDX wins VW Golf sealing contract.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Farmington Hills, Michigan -- GDX Automotive has secured a vehicle sealing contract for the Volkswagen Golf, worth an estimated $78 million over the life of the contract. GDX will supply all the outer waist belts for both two- and...

Glove maker wins in first latex mass tort case.(Baxter Healthcare)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... St Paul Minnesota -- In the first federal latex mass-tort case to go to trial, a federal jury in Minnesota has returned a verdict in favour of glove maker Baxter Healthcare Corp. on all counts. After a five-week trial the jury found no...

Delphi developing hybrid braking system.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Pontiac, Michigan -- Delphi Corp. is developing a hybrid braking system as a competing technology to electro-hydraulic brakes. The hybrid system uses a "smart" rear electric calliper with integral brake control function to control the braking...

Bulletproof inflatable launched.(by Zodiac)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Stevensville, Maryland -- Inflatable boat manufacturer Zodiac has unveiled the world's first system--Armorflate--for making inflatable raiding craft bullet-resistant. The system uses a bulletproof material provided by Simula Inc. "This...

Tapes group gets $6m aid to secure 450 jobs. (Rubber news).(Scapa Group)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... The UK government has given 4 million [pounds sterling] ($5.85 million) in Regional Selective Assistance grants to two Scapa Group plc plants making specialist adhesive tapes. The grants will ensure a planned 33 million [pounds sterling]...

Dunlop Standard shares offer.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Hamilton Bermuda -- Aerospace and defence supplier Dunlop Standard Ltd has made an initial public offering of 19.5 million shares at an expected price between $17 and $19 per share. Dunlop Standard itself will offer about 12.8 million newly...

Semperit opens tech centre.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Wimpassing, Austria -- Semperit AG has opened a 7.5 million [euro] ($7.0 million) technical centre at its headquarters in Wimpassing. The Wimpassing unit is now the material development centre for the whole Semperit group. Rainer...

Lord opens European unit.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Strasbourg, France -- Lord Corp. has opened its European Technology Center in Mundolsheim, in suburban Strasbourg. The new facility "will enhance Lord's capability to provide its European customers with localised custom diagnostic,...

Degussa supports epidemiology professorship.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Frankfurt, Germany -- Degussa AG of Dusseldorf, Germany, is to endow a professorship at the University of Munster's Institute of Epidemiology and Social Medicine for five years, as part of its programme of product responsibility. The...

Correction.(Brief Article)(Correction Notice)
July 1, 2002... The photograph accompanying the Rhein Chemie story (ERJ June, p15) is not of Anno Borkowsky as stated. The picture instead shows Pierre Rota of Ciba Specialty Chemicals, and was incorrectly positioned with this story. Apologies to all concerned...

ContiTech starts to build new factory in Romania. (Rubber news).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Work has started on a new ContiTech belting plant in Timisoara, west Romania, called ContiTech Romania srl. The new unit of ContiTech Power Transmission Systems will start to manufacture automotive drive belts in October this year. ...

Magnifoam expands ownership of Leewood. (Rubber news).(Magnifoam Technology International, Leewood Elastomer)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Canadian silicone foam producer Magnifoam Technology International Inc. has raised its stake in German silicone elastomer part maker Leewood Elastomer GmbH to 71 percent. Using proceeds from a deal with holding company Amber International...

Tomkins earns less as sales edge up.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... London -- Tomkins plc's industrial and automotive group blamed slumping automotive sales last year and early this year for a 23.4-percent drop in operating earnings for the year ending 30 April. Sales edged up 0.9 percent to $2850 million....

Freudenberg-NOK 2001 sales fall.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Weinheim, Germany -- Freudenberg-NOK GP suffered a 10-percent drop in sales last year to $776 million, but increased operating earnings 1 percent as management pursued "extensive price recovery and cost reduction actions to preserve...

GenCorp improves earnings.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Sacramento, California -- GDX Automotive, part of GenCorp Inc., posted a 27-percent increase in second quarter operating profit to $14 million. This rise reflected productivity gains due to cost and personnel reductions, the group said. ...

TPE handles better.(thermoplastic vulcanisate)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Soft touch handles are a selling point on kettles from Kitchenware designer Michael Graves & Associates, The firm uses AES' Santoprene thermoplastic vulcanisate for cool handles on its kitchenware.

Michelin ends sales to GM, Fiat in Europe. (Tyre news).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Groupe Michelin is to stop supplying passenger car and light truck tyres to General Motors in Europe when current contracts expire on 31 July. The decision does not apply in North America where the companies have supply deals until 2006/7. ...

Cradle reduces flatspots. (Tyre news).(TireCradle from Bayer)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Owners of luxury sports cars fitted with low-profile tyres can now avoid flat spots developing in the tyre if the vehicle sits for long periods. Bayer's new TireCradle--made of high density integral skin polyurethane foam--is designed to...

Nokian Tyres and Amtel to form JV in Russia. (Tyre news).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Amtel Holding of Russia and Nokian Tyres plc of Finland plan to form a 50/50 joint venture to make and market premium brand Nokian tyres in Russia and former CIS countries. The deal, for which a letter of intent has been signed, is the next...

Pirelli to aid Russian radial tyre project. (Tyre news).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Pirelli Tyres SpA has signed a contract worth $10 million to supply know-how and equipment to enable Russian tyre maker JSG Nizhnekamskshina to raise its production of radial car tyres by two million units a year. The Italian tyre maker...

Michelin outlines Russia plan.
July 1, 2002... [] Moscow -- Groupe Michelin's plant at Davydovo, near Moscow, will produce Michelin- and Kleber-branded car tyres of size 16 inches and less when it starts up in June 2003 The company is even now buying some raw materials in Russia,...

Conti to acquire stake in Sime Darby tyre unit. (Tyre news).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Continental AG has agreed to buy a 30-percent stake in Sime Darby Bhd's tyre activities--DMIB Bhd and Sime Tyres International (M) Sdn Bhd--which Sime Darby is unifying into Merit Manufacturing Sdn Bhd. Continental and Sime Darby signed a...

Pirelli to expand in Brazil.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... [] Luxembourg -- Pirelli Pneus SA plans to add capacity in Brazil for radial tyres for light vehicles to its 25-year-old Feira de Santana, Bahia, plant. The facility, acquired by Pirelli in 1986 from Pneus Tropical, has a nameplate capacity of...

Sumitomo adds in Indonesia; eyes China.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... [] Kobe, Japan -- Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd has completed work on a second tyre plant in Indonesia and is laying the foundation for tyre production in China. Sumitomo's second production site in Indonesia raises output in that country...

Goodyear centralises UK activities.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... [] Wolverhampton, UK -- Goodyear Great Britain Ltd is to run its Goodyear and Dunlop tyre making businesses from a purpose-built head office and distribution centre in Birmingham. Sited adjacent to Fort Dunlop, the three-storey building can...

AA acquires tyre business.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... [] London -- Centrica plc, which owns the Automobile Association--a leading UK motorists organisation--has acquired Tyreserve. for 400 000 [pounds sterling]. "Tyreserve gives the AA a key foothold in the tyre market... we can more...

Who should pick up the bill after EU landfill ban? (Tyre news).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... With time running out, many national regulators are still struggling to get to grips with European Union rules phasing out disposal of scrap tyres to landfill from next year. Their key task is to ensure that the 2000 kilo-tonnes-plus of tyres...

Lafarge Blue Circle has invested 1 million [pounds sterling] in equipment to feed tyres to both kilns at its Westbury, Wiltshire site. (UK scrap tyre projects--an update).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... --Lafarge Blue Circle has invested 1 million [pounds sterling] in equipment to feed tyres to both kilns at its Westbury, Wiltshire site. The cement firm now has permits to burn 14 million tyres/yr after the Environment Agency found that the...

Castle Cement Ltd is burning tyres at its Ketton kiln and has plans to start tyre burning at a second facility. (UK scrap tyre projects--an update).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... --Castle Cement Ltd is burning tyres at its Ketton kiln and has plans to start tyre burning at a second facility, while Rugby Cement Ltd is to trial tyre burning at Rugby later this summer.

Coalite said it is on track with plans to burn 90ktpa of tyres within 18 months, depending on tyre supply and market demand for its products. (UK scrap tyre projects--an update).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... --Coalite said it is on track with plans to burn 90ktpa of tyres within 18 months, depending on tyre supply and market demand for its products. In April, Coalite started up the first 15-ktpa pyrolysis unit at its Bolsover, Derbyshire site,...

Energy Power Resources Ltd's project to build a 15.5MW electricity facility fuelled by 65 ktpa of waste tyres at FourAshes, near Wolverhampton, remains stalled. (UK scrap tyre projects--an update).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... --Energy Power Resources Ltd's project to build a 15.5MW electricity facility fuelled by 65 ktpa of waste tyres at FourAshes, near Wolverhampton, remains stalled. "The situation is currently under discussion with the contractor building the...

MTS system for Bridgestone. (Tyre news).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Bridgestone Corp.'s Tokyo test centre has begun using a modified version of MTS Systems Corp.'s Flat-Trac LTR tyre test system, for dynamic testing of its high-performance tyres, specialised racing tyres, and tyres for light truck and sport...

US defers tyre monitoring decision.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... [] Washington -- Automotive manufacturers can now use either direct or indirect tyre pressure monitoring systems from 1 Nov 2003, to 31 Oct 2006, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The latest regulation defers the...

Proposed standard "cannot be justified".(passenger and light truck tires performance standards)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... [] Washington -- The proposed new performance standard for passenger and light truck tyres "cannot be justified, as no advantage, compared to existing requirements, can be proved for the customer and for the improvement of traffic safety," the...

Bridgestone tyre as OE on BMW.(Turanza EL 42 picked as original equipment for the 2002 BMW 7-series)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... [] Nashville, Tennessee -- The Bridgestone Turanza EL 42 touring tyre has been picked as original equipment for the 2002 BMW 7-series, according to Bridgestone/ Firestone North American Tire LLC. The size 245/50R18 tyre is V-rated, and will be...

Shin-Etsu forms JV in China.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... [] Tokyo -- Shin-Etsu Chemical Co Ltd is investing [yen] 400 million ($3 million) to establish its first silicone products manufacturing unit in China. Located in the Zhejiang Jiashan Economic Development Zone, about 90km south of...

Solutia to keep Flexsys.(no longer seeking to sell its joint venture interest)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Brussels -- Solutia Inc. is no longer seeking to sell its interest in Flexsys, a 50:50 rubber chemicals joint venture with Akzo Nobel NV. "The sale has been terminated. Both Akzo Nobel and Solutia--because of the unsettled economic...

Ameripol Synpol to upgrade.(will close its Akron sales office and upgrade Port Neches, TX, plant)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 1, 2002... Port Neches, Texas -- As part of its plan to streamline operations, Ameripol Synpol Corp. will close its Akron sales office and sign a $35 million finance agreement to provide capital to improve its single remaining styrene butadiene rubber...

ITC rules in Hyosung's favour.(Korean patent on high-tenacity polyester tyre yarn case)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Washington -- Honeywell International Inc's Korean patent on high-tenacity polyester tyre yarn is invalid, meaning Hyosung Corp. may continue to manufacture the cord, said an International Trade Commission ruling.

Silica demand to rise 7%/a.(speciality silicas)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 1, 2002... [] Cleveland, Ohio -- High-performance tyres is one of the newer uses driving up demand for speciality silicas in the US--expected to reach a value of $1300 million by 2006, according to a new study by The Freedonia Group Inc. The market...

Tyre cord makers gain.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 1, 2002... [] Oxford, UK -- European tyre cord manufacturers are encountering market growth, though their margins remain under strong pressure, according to market consultants Frost & Sullivan. Driving growth are the emergence of the run-flat tyre...

Polimeri Europa expands Grangemouth S-SBR unit. (Supplier news).(styrene-butadiene rubbers plant expansion)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Italian polymer group Polimeri Europa recently inaugurated a third distillation column for the production of butadiene and styrene-butadiene rubbers and solution styrene-butadiene copolymers (S-SBR) at Grangemouth, Scotland. The...

How to store your rubber products.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... London -- Advice on good storage of rubber products is available in a revised standard, BS ISO 2230:2002, Rubber products--Guidelines for storage. Many rubber components are stored for long periods before use so the best conditions should...

Bayer details new Polymer structure.(Bayer Polymer AG's new structure)(International Pages)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Leverkusen Germany -- Bayer has named the units that will make up the production side of Bayer Polymer AG. The new subsidiary, which is to replace the group's existing polymer businesses from the start of 2003 will consist of: *...

BP fined by EC.(European Commission fines Deutsche BP AG over acrylonitrile case)(Government Activity)(International Pages)(Legal Beat)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... [] Brussels -- The European Commission has fined Deutsche BP AG for supplying misleading information about its positron in the acrylonitrile market prior to acquiring Erdolchemie GmbH. Imposing a 35 000 [euro] fine, the Commission said the...

RubberNetwork forms link with Elemica. (Supplier news).(RubberNetwork, Elemica hub-to-hub connection aids members)(Internet/Web/Online Service Information)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... RubberNetwork.com, the e-business grouping dominated by tyre makers, intends to form a link from its own e-business hub to that of Elemica, which recently consumed the Elastomer Solutions organisation. The aim is to make it easier for members...

Solvay enters TPV sector through US alliance. (Supplier news).(Solvay Engineered Polymers has sole rights to market, distribute TRS's NexPrene TPVs in global automotive industry)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Leading thermoplastic polyolefin maker Solvay Engineered Polymers has entered the thermoplastic vulcanisate sector via an alliance with Thermoplastic Rubber Systems Inc. The alliance gives Solvay sole rights to market and distribute...

Adam Polymer moves.(Specialist rubber supplier moves to UK's Bredbury, Stockport)(International Pages)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... [] Bredbury, UK -- Small specialist rubber sector supplier Adam Polymer Ltd has moved to new larger premises in Bredbury, Stockport, near Manchester, UK. The firm said the move will allow it to expand its production of dry liquids,...

Sartomer opens new lab.(Speciality chemicals supplier expansion)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... [] Exton, Pennsylvania -- Sartomer Co. has added 25 percent more R&D space by opening a new laboratory in Exton. The speciality chemicals supplier will use the lab for analytical support, synthesis, applications development for all of its...

Russian rubber producer offers EPDM again. (Supplier news).(Elastokam material plant expansion)(International Pages)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 1, 2002... Nizhnekamskneftekhim Inc.--which claims to be the largest independent producer and exporter of synthetic rubber in the Russian Federation--has begun producing EPDM in commercial quantities again. The Russian SR supplier has been revamping...

Chemical sector must change to survive: delegates at the IISRP meeting this year heard differing views of the way forward for the global rubber and chemicals sector (IISRP Report).(Chemical industry forcing major changes among chemical corporations)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 1, 2002... "Some say the chemical industry is in disarray," that it is mature and has lost its way," said Vince Calarco, chairman, president and ceo of Crompton Corp. But, "reports of its death have been greatly exaggerated," Calarco said, paraphrasing...

Pirelli develops aid for silica mixes.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Pirelli SpA has applied to patent a new ingredient designed to aid the processing and properties of silica-filled tyre mixes, according to Maurizio Galimberti, manager for basic research and technologies in innovative materials, at Pirelli's...

Who pays for unchecked growth?(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Global population growth has huge significance for the rich consuming regions of the North, said Franz Rademacher of the German FAW institute based in Ulm. Rademacher argued strongly that the European model of social contracts is a...

ExxonMobil to integrate AES via transition teams. (Supplier News).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... ExxonMobil Chemical Co. has completed its acquisition of Solutia Inc.'s stake in Advanced Elastomer Systems (AES), for an agreed price of "approximately $102 million," according to Solutia's recent results statement. AES was previously a 50:50...

Crompton in silanes JV in China.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... [] Greenwich, Connecticut -- Crompton Corp.'s OSi Specialties unit has formed a joint venture with the Nanjing Shuguang General Chemical Co. the largest maker of silanes in the People's Republic of China. Crompton is the majority...

Degussa buys Raschig's antioxidants business.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... [] Frankfurt, Germany -- Degussa AG has purchased the antioxidant business of Germany's Raschig GmbH, which trades primarily under the trade name Ralox. No financial details were disclosed. According to the terms of the deal, Degussa will...

Cooper-Standard Automotive. (Personnel news).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... [] At COOPER-STANDARD AUTOMOTIVE'S Stratford, Ontario, unit, Rick Van-Schaik has been appointed plant manager. The Canadian plant is part of the company's North American Sealing Systems Division. Another appointment at COOPER STANDARD...

PolymerLatex. (Personnel news).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... [] Tony Johnston has been named as the new manufacturing manager at POLYMERLATEX'S plant at Bromsgrove in the UK.

NV Bekaert SA. (Personnel news).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... [] Steel tyre cord maker NV BEKAERT SA has appointed Julien De Wilde, formerly executive vice president of Alcatel, as its new chief executive officer. The Kortrijk, The Netherlands-based firm has also made Bert de Graeve its chief financial...

Degussa Engineered Carbons. (Personnel news).(New president and general manager at carbon black firm)(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... [] Jack Clem has been named as president and general manager of DEGUSSA ENGINEERED CARBONS, the US carbon black-producing joint venture between Degussa Corp. and Engineered Carbons Inc. in Parsippany, New Jersey.

Bridgestone/Firestone. (Personnel news).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... [] BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE EUROPE, Carlo Palma has been promoted to vice president of corporate purchasing.

BMH Chronos Richardson Ltd. (Personnel news).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... [] BMH CHRONOS RICHARDSON LTD has appointed David Moore director and general manager of its Weighing & Batching Systems Division, based in Nottingham, UK. Also, Chris Emmonds has been made customer services manager for BMH Chronos Asia Pacific...

Eagle-Picher Automotive. (Personnel news).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... [] EAGLE-PICHER AUTOMOTIVE, part of Eagle-Picher Industries Inc., has appointed James Anderson vice president of operations of its Hillsdale Division, in Michigan.

Thyssen-Krupp Elastomertechnik GMBH. (Personnel news).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... [] Tyre and rubber machinery maker THYSSEN-KRUPP ELASTOMERTECHNIK GMBH, of Hamburg, has appointed Claus Biernoth its new global sales director.

Tomkins Plc. (Personnel news).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... [] David Snowdon, who has been a director and chief operating officer of TOMKINS PLC since 1996, is to leave the company 30 June 2002. Day-to-day responsibility for the Industrial & Automotive group has been divided between Tony Reading, an...

Bandag NV. (Personnel news).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... [] Peter De Cabooter has been appointed Sales Director Europe, for tyre retread supplier BANDAG NV, based in Zaventem, Belgium.

Trafford Rubber Products. (Personnel news).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... [] UK compounder, sheet and tape maker TRAFFORD RUBBER PRODUCTS, of Manchester has appointed Chris Mathews as technical sales manager.

The Syndicat National Du Caoutchouc Et Des Polymeres. (Personnel news).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... [] In France, Jean-Pierre Brun has been appointed secretary general of the THE SYNDICAT NATIONAL DU CAOUTCHOUC ET DES POLYMERES.

Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. (Personnel news).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... [] COOPER TIRE & RUBBER Co. has appointed Harold Miller vice president for planning and control.

French analyse factory scrap issue. (Focus on France).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... In the first study of its kind across Europe, the French rubber and plastics industry association has found that scrap rates across the whole of French rubber industry are around 8 to 9 percent. This leads to 100 kt per year of scrapped...

Tough times, but signs of improvement: the French rubber industry is facing a time of consolidation following the boom year of 2000, says the economics specialist of its rubber industry group. Sales volumes in general rubber goods held up well in 2001, with the exception of the final month, but a rebound from a disastrous December is already apparent in the early figures for 2002. (Focus on France).(Production in 2001 fell 5.3% to 1.2 mn tons)(International Pages)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 1, 2002... Seven successive years of growth in volumes and invoicing by the French rubber processing industry ended in 2001. After an outstanding year in 2000, particularly for the industrial rubber branch, 2001 came as a sharp shock and might he...

French rubber industry at a glance. (Focus on France).(France is second-largest producer of rubber products in EU)(International Pages)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 1, 2002... According to the SNCP, the French rubber industry is strong, but suffered a setback in 2001, in common with most other industrial activities in France. [GRAPHICS OMITTED] Overall Volume Value GRG 37 ...

Structure of French rubber industry. (Focus on France).(Michelin is major player in global rubber economy)(International Pages)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 1, 2002... France is becoming more and more part of the global rubber economy, according to Bruno Muret of the SNCP. But, he said the structure of the industry in France is top heavy. At the top there are Michelin and Hutchinson, which are...

Driving up demand in specialities: speciality materials need special marketing, says Eliokem, which bases its approach on understanding of customers' needs. (Focus on France).(France's Eliokem is leader in speciality chemicals sector)(International Pages)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 1, 2002... "I would not be satisfied if we don't reach two-digit growth--ten percent volume growth," over all the product range of Eliokem's speciality chemicals business, said Jacques Collonge, president and chief executive officer of Villejust,...

Rhodia seeks global lead. (Focus on France).(Annual global silica market about 1 mn tons)(International Pages)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 1, 2002... Rhodia has transformed its silica activities over the last few years, and is now committed to providing solutions on a global basis, said Olivier Caix, president of the company's global silica business. Caix said around 70 percent of...

Injection business sees recovery: Rep says smaller firms are already responding to increase demand--some of which is coming from larger processors reluctant to invest in the present uncertain environment. (Focus on France).(Rubber molding companies integrating production operations)(International Pages)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 1, 2002... Rep International is seeing the first signs of recovery in the rubber injection moulding business, according to Gilbert Greco, sales manager of the Lyon, France-based firm. He said Rep is seeing increased orders from smaller companies, adding...

Pirelli process could revolutionise mixing: two years ago, Pirelli unveiled its robotised manufacturing system, dubbed MIRS. Last month, the company unveiled the latest addition to that system, a continuous compounding line. Unlike previous Pirelli innovations, which were limited to the tyre industry, this system has potential across the whole of the rubber industry. (Continuous mixing).(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Pirelli claims it has perfected a large-scale continuous mixing system. It is currently in use at the company's Bicocca development factory, in Milan, Italy, and producing around 250 kg of finished compound per hour, from raw ingredients. That...

Advantages of batch and continuous mixing.(Brief Article)
July 1, 2002... Ali Amash, manager of processing development at the DIK (Deutsches Institut for Kautschuktechnologie ev) contrasted the two systems: batch-based mixing in internal mixers against continuous mixing in a twin-screw extruder: Batch process:...