European Rubber Journal articles from June 2004

European Rubber Journal archives from June 2004

Freudenberg sets up seals JV in Turkey; FDS deepens ties with Beltan AS, adding JV to shareholding and Vibracoustic arrangements.(News)
June 1, 2004... Byline: Liz White German seals producer Freudenberg Dichtungs- und Schwingungstechnik has set up a new joint venture in Turkey called Betaseals with local partner Beltan AS. The partners will invest [euro]2 million in technology and...

Autonomous mini-factory.(News)(Modular Integrated Robotized System)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... MIRS is based on a novel 'mini-factory' concept with extremely high flexibility. A unit can "be set up on the spot to meet the needs of any reference market," Pirelli claims. An integral part of MIRS is a unique compound production process,...

ERJ newsbrief: New owners take Metflex independent.(Briefs)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Metflex Ltd, the UK's only manufacturer of gas-meter diaphragms, is now privately-owned following a management buyout from Actaris, a gas meter manufacturer. No financial details of the deal were released. Metflex has a turnover of about...

French tyre sales surge, rest of Europe grows too; A new scrap-tyre surcharge in France triggered a short-term boom there, with replacement tyre sales up 11 percent on the year prior to its introduction.(News)(Syndicat National du Caoutchouc et des Polymeres)
June 1, 2004... Byline: Patrick Raleigh The arrival of a tyre-disposal surcharge in France caused a spike in the replacement market during the first two months of 2004, according to the national polymer industry group SNCP (Syndicat National du Caoutchouc...

ERJ newsbriefs.(Briefs)
June 1, 2004... Michelin adds in Hungary * Paris-Groupe Michelin is investing [euro]50 million to establish a car tyre plant in Hungary, creating up to 300 new jobs. The operation will be based at Michelin's Nyireghaza plant, which currently makes...

Conti in truck tyre deal with DaimlerChrysler; From 2005, Conti will supply around 30 percent of DaimlerChrysler's European truck tyre needs. The contract runs for two years with an option for 2008.(News)
June 1, 2004... Byline: David Shaw Continental AG has won a major contract to supply tyres to DaimlerChrysler's European truck division. According to a Conti spokesman, DaimlerChrysler is the world's largest supplier of light and heavy trucks and Conti...

Toyo signs up for Michelin PAX technology; Toyo becomes fourth licensee of proprietary runflat technology.(News)(Toyo Tire & Rubber Co. Ltd)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Byline: Patrick Raleigh Groupe Michelin is to licence its PAX runflat tyre system to Toyo Tire & Rubber Co. Ltd of Osaka, Japan. The Japanese firm becomes the fourth PAX licensee after Pirelli SpA, Goodyear and Sumitomo Rubber Industries...

ERJ newsbrief: Bridgestone buoyed by overseas sales, weaker Yen.(Briefs)(Bridgestone Europe )(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Better-than-expected overseas sales and a weakening of the Yen have prompted Bridgestone Corp. to raise its first-half earnings projection. For the six months to 30 June, the tyre and rubber parts maker expects an operating profit of around...

Bekaert warns of steel cord price hikes; Some tyre makers are facing limited availability of steel cord as cost increases for raw materials drive prices sharply higher.(Suppliers)
June 1, 2004... Byline: Patrick Raleigh Tyre makers are facing further "significant" rises in steel cord prices due to supply issues and rising prices for wire rod feedstock, a spokesman for SA Bekaert NV has warned. The Kortrijk, Belgium-based company is...

ERJ newsbriefs.(Briefs)(Sumitomo Chemical Belgium SA/NV )
June 1, 2004... Yokohama sees costs rising * Tokyo-Profits at Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd were hit by higher raw material and shipping costs last year, and the company expects more of the same over the next 12 months. For fiscal year, ended 31 March 2005,...

High NR prices to last to 2008 at least-EIU; EIU expects rubber prices to remain high, with no significant decline in prices before 2008, and further price increases likely beyond that, as demand increases in China, India and South America.(News)(natural rubber)(Economist Intelligence Unit.)
June 1, 2004... Byline: Patrick Raleigh The dramatic surge in natural rubber (NR) prices of the last few years may be over, but buyers will have to live with current price levels for the foreseeable future, according to Matt Parry of the Economist...

ERJ newsbriefs.(Continental AG's takeover of Phoenix AG)(Inflatable Survival Systems Inc. to RFD Beaufort Inc.)(Trelleborg Corp.'s acquisiton of remaining shares of Eika Corp)
June 1, 2004... Conti bid for Phoenix public * Hannover, Germany-Continental AG has been given the go-ahead by the German federal financial supervisory authority (BaFin) to continue with its offer to take over rubber parts maker Phoenix AG. ...

ERJ newsbriefs.(Briefs)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Kraton hikes prices for SBS * London-Kraton Polymers is raising prices for its clear and oil-extended SBS (styrene-butadiene block copolymers) in Europe by [euro]100/tonne, from 1 May. The move is intended "to re-establish our...

Goodyear joins firms suing EPDM makers; Increasing numbers of EPDM convertors are suing EPDM makers in the civil courts for damages to their business. The costs will run into millions of dollars.(Suppliers)
June 1, 2004... Byline: Bruce Davis ERJ Akron Bureau Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. has added its name to the list of rubber product makers suing suppliers of EPDM rubber over alleged price-fixing. Goodyear filed a suit 7 May in Akron, Ohio, seeking...

DuPont takes lead in price-fixing probes; DuPont Co is taking responsibility for handling anti-trust claims arising out of DuPont Dow's alleged participation in price-fixing of EPDM materials.(Suppliers)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Byline: Bruce Davis ERJ Akron Bureau DuPont Co. will take a charge of about $150 million against first-quarter earnings to cover anticipated liability related to antitrust investigations and price-fixing litigation directed at its DuPont...

Koch completes Invista fibres acquisition; Acquisition of former DuPont fibres business adds polyamide to polyester.(News)
June 1, 2004... Byline: Patrick Raleigh Koch Industries, Inc. has completed its $4200-million purchase of Invista, from DuPont. The purchase includes the assumption of debt and certain joint venture and equity interests covered under a non-binding letter...

DuPont Dow Elastomers to split? Shareholders in elastomer JV discuss options for the future. One option is for Dow to sell out for DuPont.(News)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Byline: Bruce Davis ERJ Akron Bureau Dow Chemical Co. and DuPont Co. are reviewing the business prospects for their DuPont Dow Elastomers LLC joint venture. Splitting the assets and dissolving the venture is one possibility. In...

ERJ people.(People)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Change at the top for Forbo * Forbo Group's board has appointed This Schneider as president, replacing Werner Kummer, who is stepping down. Schneider was previously head of Selecta Group. Forbo's chairman Karl Janjori is also stepping down...

Rubber silicas market to cool, says Notch; Tyre applications of silica to grow, but a lot depends on sales of 'green' tyres in North America.(News)(Notch Consulting Group)
June 1, 2004... Byline: Patrick Raleigh Growth in rubber industry demand for precipitated silica fillers is slowing down, particularly in Europe, according to a new report from Notch Consulting Group. Nevertheless, the firm believes the market is...

PKN Orlen set to buy Unipetrol; Czech oil refiner set to gain 63-percent share of petrochemical supplier.(News)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Byline: Patrick Raleigh PKN Orlen SA has submitted the only binding offer for a 63-percent stake in Czech petrochemicals group Unipetrol AS, the Czech government's privatisation committee has announced. The Polish group's offer of around...

ERJ newsbriefs.(Briefs)
June 1, 2004... PolyOne in more optimistic mood * PolyOne Corp.'s 'for sale' elastomers & performance additives business posted a 1-percent increase in first quarter sales to $95 million, including a 16-percent rise in volumes. The unit's profitability...

TPE/rubber processing machine in demand.(News)
June 1, 2004... Byline: Patrick Raleigh LWB Steinl GmbH & Co. KG achieved record sales last year, thanks largely to demand for its latest C class injection moulding machine, which can process both thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) and rubber compounds, said...

Roulunds divests conveyor belt, boom unit; Transmission belt and hose maker will focus on core business, following sale of unit making booms for pollution control and conveyor belts.(News)
June 1, 2004... Byline: David Shaw Danish transmission belt specialist Roulunds Group has sold its Roulunds Tech A/S unit and two subsidiaries to 'green' investment unit Invest Milj[degrees] A/S. Roulunds Tech has annual turnover of some DKr 300...

Outsourcing a major trend in medical rubber uses: Part 1 of 2; Medical supply is characterised by extremely tight regulations, the need for strict documentation, and lengthy and expensive testing. But these factors do not deter new entrants to the business, especially in the current climate where device makers are increasingly outsourcing part supply.(News)
June 1, 2004... Byline: Liz White Medical and pharmaceutical part making is highly regulated. Material producers and rubber component makers supplying the sector have to comply with very strict standards, and the more contact the parts have with the human...

Nolato growing medical side.(News)
June 1, 2004... Nolato's medical business, Nolato Medevo AB, makes injection-moulded components at two production sites,Torekov and Lomma, both in southern Sweden. The polymer specialist moulds a range of soft rubber and thermoplastic elastomer parts at...

Sealing syringes.(News)
June 1, 2004... West Pharmaceutical Services makes polymeric parts for syringes and other devices for drug delivery. Reynolds quoted a figure he said never fails to startle him: "Every day 74 million of our components are used around the world," in healthcare...

Silicone use still growing.(News)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Dow Corning Corp. sees steadily rising demand for silicone elastomers in the medical device market. "This is still an important technology in the medical device market," said Brian Jones, healthcare global marketing manager for the firm. ...

Aiming for US.(News)(Medical Rubber AB)
June 1, 2004... Swedish firm Medical Rubber AB "specialises in the elastomer field, making small, high-precision, customised components," said Matthias Persson, the firm's marketing manager. As well as making medical parts at its two Swedish plants,...

Catheter maker sues.(News)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Byline: Justin Boyd ERJ Akron Bureau Rochester Medical Corp. Inc.is suing a group of large medical device makers and distributors, charging them with anti-competitive practices related to the market for anti-infection Foley catheters in...

Device market studied.(News)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... A recent report by market research firm Frost & Sullivan on the $55 000-million value US medical devices market identified continuing growth in this sector, "thanks to an ageing population and technological advances that help improve health and...

Condom tests & latex prices debated; High NR latex prices are not being matched by high prices for products-especially medical gloves, leading to calls for the material to be treated as a speciality, not a commodity. In the condom sector, burst tests to predict shelf life are under attack.(News)
June 1, 2004... Byline: Liz White Natural rubber latex suppliers and users are facing a dilemma: high prices for NR latex are not being matched by rising prices for products-specifically disposable medical gloves. This situation was summed up by...

Gates to build hose centre in Denver; Tech centre to be occupied by year-end.(News)
June 1, 2004... Byline: Liz White Gates Corp. plans to invest $14 million to build a 6500-m[sup.2] customer solutions centre in the Douglas County region of Denver, Colorado. The hose and belting firm's headquarters are in downtown Denver and the two...

Pressure is on to revise burst test.(test to estimate the shelflife of condoms)
June 1, 2004... Discussing ageing tests used to estimate shelf life for condoms, Steffen Bodemeier of condom maker CPR Produktions- und Vetriebs GmbH of Sarstedt, Germany, said the current method in European condom standard EN 600/ISO 4074 needs revising. ...

Protein in condoms.(News)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Ong Eng Long reported the results of a survey of protein levels in condoms made by ten manufacturers in Malaysia. The survey looked at extractable protein (EP) and allergenic protein (AP) levels, since not all the EPs are also allergenic, Ong...

Making good condoms.(News)
June 1, 2004... "In principle, a condom is simple to make-it is just a shaped tube dipped into latex and dried," said Hill. In today's global market of 8-10 billion condoms annually, however, the challenge "is to make millions, consistently, reliably and of a...

Diary.(Calendar)(Calendar)
June 1, 2004... June IRC '04. 1-4 June: Moscow. Contact Secretariat. Tel +7 095 242 53 42, fax +7 095 245 62 29. Medical Polymers. 3-4 June. Contact Rapra Technology. Tel +44 1939 250383, fax +44 1939 251118. Elastomers in medical applications....

Oil price of $40/barrel leads to higher prices.(News)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Information We present here a series of charts and tables which are meant to give a snapshot of how the rubber industry is performing. The price of rubber on the Singapore commodity exchange is possibly the most important price in the...

'Rubber' is a dirty word.(Column)(Column)
June 1, 2004... Byline: David Shaw This is not a facetious column about how Americans and Europeans differ in their use of the world 'rubber'. It is much more fundamental than that. I think the word 'rubber' detracts significantly from the value of what...

TI Automotive to build new plant in Mexico; Fuel lines and brake hoses from new Mexican unit will go to North America. Meanwhile, in Europe, the firm has gained contracts worth $240 million.(News)
June 1, 2004... Byline: Liz White TI Automotive is building a seventh manufacturing plant in Mexico for automotive brake and fuel lines. And the supplier of automotive fluid handling systems has also recently gained new automotive business worth $240...

Tenneco to expand Chinese base; Auto supplier to invest 'several million dollars' over next two years to support engineering activities in the People's Republic.(News)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... Byline: Mike McNulty ERJ Akron Bureau Tenneco Automotive Inc. plans to open an engineering centre in China within the next 18 to 24 months to boost its base in the country, where it already has five joint ventures. The location of the...

ERJ newsbriefs.(Sovereign Rubber Ltd. fined for death of employees)(Societe du Caoutchouc Technique et Industriel wins supplier award)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2004... UK firm fined for death at work * Manchester, UK-Sovereign Rubber Ltd of Stockport, UK, has been fined a total of [pounds sterling]175000 ([euro]260 million) plus [pounds sterling]20 000 costs after pleading guilty at Manchester Crown...

Michelin, Apollo advance Indian JV plans; New plant will be on stream next year, building to capacity of 300 000 units/year.(News)
June 1, 2004... Byline: Patrick Raleigh Michelin Apollo Tyres Pvt Ltd (MAT)-the new 51:49 joint venture between Groupe Michelin and Apollo Tyres Ltd of India-has launched its plan to establish tyre production in India. "We want to produce Michelin...

Pirelli to invest [euro]100 million in truck tyres; Pirelli to start mini truck tyre factories based on latest MIRS technology.(News)
June 1, 2004... Byline: Liz White Pirelli SpA launched a new generation of truck tyres in Naples, Italy, in April, made using its automated tyre-production technology, and announced plans to invest [euro]100 million to raise its truck tyre capacity. ...

Outsourcing a major trend in medical rubber uses: Part 2 of 2; Medical supply is characterised by extremely tight regulations, the need for strict documentation, and lengthy and expensive testing. But these factors do not deter new entrants to the business, especially in the current climate where device makers are increasingly outsourcing part supply.(News)(Interview)
June 1, 2004... Byline: Liz White Latex on the way out? And natural latex does not seem to have a promising future in Nolato's scheme of things. Many years ago the firm was a major user of NR latex, with one of the biggest dipping plants in...