European Rubber Journal articles from May 2003

European Rubber Journal archives from May 2003

Tyre sector scuppers EC carbon black duties: no proven link between cheap carbon black imports and plant closures--claims BLIC. (Rubber news).(Bureau de Liaison des Industries Caoutchouc)
May 1, 2003... Europe's tyre makers have effectively killed off a European Commission proposal to impose anti-dumping duties on Egyptian an Russian carbon black producers. In November 2001, Cefic (the European Chemical Industry Council) brought an...

Toyoda Gosei expanding.(TG North America Corp.)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... [] Troy, Michigan -- TG North America Corp. bought out its body sealing joint venture with Metzeler Automotive Profile Systems North America Inc. in November and began production at its new Kentucky plant in January. TGNA began producing...

Advanced HNBR ideal for O-rings.(Simrit)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... [] Weinheim, Germany -- A new a HNBR elastomer compound developed by Freudenberg's Simrit unit is aimed at gas and water uses. Not only does the yellow HNBR231127 stay impervious to attack over long periods, it also prevents explosions if fire...

Paulstra's Polish unit starts up.(Paulstra Antivibration)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... [] Lodz, Poland -- Paulstra Antivibration has started up its Polish subsidiary in Lodz, which specialises in manufacturing rubber-to-metal bonded engine suspension and chassis parts The new facility, with a 3500 [m.sup.2] factory floor,...

Smiths selling polymer seals?(Smiths Group may sell Polymer Sealing Solutions)
May 1, 2003... UK-headquartered engineering conglomerate Smiths Group is "weighing up offers," for its 400-million [pounds sterling] ($629-million) turnover polymer seals business, a spokesman for the group confirmed 4 April. Smiths Group has had,...

Long tube conveyor used in Caribbean.(ContiTech tube belt )(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... [] Hanover, Germany -- The largest tube conveyor in the world takes petrol coke to a platform over a kilometre out to sea from the harbour at Barcelona, says belt developer ContiTech. This is not Barcelona in Spain, but another port, on the...

RAG changes do not worry SaarGummi boss: owner RAG's plan to divest non-core units will not affect SaarGummi's profiles business, says Trommershausen. (Rubber news).(Jan Trommershausen)
May 1, 2003... Germany's RAG Group, the ultimate owner of the SaarGummi GmbH business, is to sell its interest in the rubber profiles unit, as part of its plan to divest various power generation/gas and the plastics units, following its acquisition of a...

RAG buys Degussa stake. (Rubber news).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... RAG's divestment strategy follows its mid February purchase of a 47-percent stake in speciality chemicals company Degussa AG. It intends to increase this stake to a majority holding in spring 2004, when it acquires further Degussa shares...

Trelleborg purchases German profiles maker: small technical extrusion maker adds flexibility, says buyer. (Rubber news).(ETU GmbH)
May 1, 2003... Swedish rubber major Trelleborg AB is to buy ETU GmbH of Grossheubach, a small German producer of profiles for construction and industrial uses. The 18-employee concern, with annual turnover of some *SKr 50 million ($5.9 million), makes...

UP moving AP unit to Wales. (Rubber news).(United Polymers, AP Elastomers)
May 1, 2003... Following its Sept 2002 purchase of AP Elastomers, United Polymers has decided to close the unit's Birmimgham, UK, plant, and move production to UP's site in Maerdy, South Wales. The move is needed to keep the AP Elastomers business...

Mining slump hits Linatex.(operating losses posted)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... London -- Elementis plc's rubber business Linatex posted operating losses of 2 million [pounds sterling] ($3.1 million) for 2002, on sales down 18 percent, to 37.8 million [pounds sterling]. The loss, which follows a 2001 loss of 0.9 million...

SSL puts Regent gloves unit up for sale: medical gloves business does not fit with Dr Scholl consumer footcare and Durex condom brands, SSL management decides. (Rubber news).(SSL International PLC)
May 1, 2003... SSL International plc wants to sell its medical division, which includes the Regent business, a major producer of latex and synthetic gloves for surgeons and dentists, with two major plants in Malaysia. The Cheshire, UK-based group said 31...

Coating helps Maglev to hover.(coating from Whitford Plastics Ltd. used on super train cables in China)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Runcorn, UK -- A coating more normally used for automotive EPDM extrusions is being used to coat cables for the new Maglev super train, currently being tested in Shanghai, China, where it will connect the airport to the city's financial...

UK condom unit to close.(SSL to close Avanti unit)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... In April, SSL will close its testing and packaging unit for the Avanti condom at Sawston, UK, with the loss of 51 jobs. The firm will continue to make the polyurethane condoms at its nearby Cambridge Science Park unit, next to to its...

Czech firm sends useless gas masks to Kuwait: gas mask debacle may damage Gumarny's reputation. (Rubber news).(Gumarny Zubri)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Czech rubber manufacturer Gumarny Zubri has sent 5000 supposedly unusable gas masks to Kuwait. The Kuwaiti government, whose people have lived for years under threat of chemical attack from Iraq, placed an order with Gumarny for 13 000 new...

Rubena aims to raise flood rubber barriers: water-filled rubber pouches may be winning idea for Rubena. (Rubber news).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Czech rubber goods maker Rubena, based in Hradec Kralove, wants to increase production of mobile anti-flood barriers. The company specifically wants to sell the walls to Czech local governments, who are responsible for preventing flood damage....

Semperit Optimit sees profits jump.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Odry, Czech Republic -- Semperflex Optimit last year had net profit of CKr 85.9 million ($2.92 millon), up from CKr 16 million in 2001, on a turnover of CKr1300 million, said Optimit spokesman Mario Loja. Optimit, based in Odry, Czech Republic,...

Federal-Mogul forms gasket kit alliance.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Southfield, Michigan -- Federal-Mogul Corp. has formed a strategic alliance with Paper Plas Inc., a Detroit-based paper packaging and conversion services supplier At its Milwaukee plant, the minority-owned supplier will assemble and package...

Huber+Suhner is to focus on core cables business: falling sales in hard-hit telecoms sector forces reorganisation at Swiss cables supplier. (Rubber news).
May 1, 2003... Swiss cables group Huber+Suhner, which has a sizeable polymer processing operation, will in future focus on its core electrical and optical cabling businesses, according to the group's 2002 results statement. The firm's earlier business...

Rubber interest dwindling as moulded goods unit goes ... (Rubber news).(Huber+Suhner sells Swiss unit to Gummi Metall Technik GmbH)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... At the end of 2001, Huber+Suhner sold its moulded rubber goods business and know-how, based at Pfaftikon, Switzerland, to German rubber processor Gummi Metall Technik GmbH. GMT, headquartered in B0hl, Germany, undertook to continue...

... And bridge parts unit sold. (Rubber news).(Huber+Suhner sells Mageba to Metall+Stahlbau AG)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... In March 2001, Huber+Suhner sold its mageba operation, making bridge bearings, pot bearings and elastomeric expansion joints, to Metall+Stahlbau AG of Endingen, Switzerland, and two former members el management, Thomas Spuler and Gianni Moor...

Yokohama to build tyre factory at Shinshiro: Japanese tyre maker plans to expand capacities for HP/SUV tyres. (Tyre news).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd plans to spend $41 million through to early 2005 to add capacity for larger-diameter performance passenger and sport-utility vehicle tyres at its Shinshire Ninami, Japan, plant. The company also said it may...

Beru widens TPM customers.(buys BeruAG tire pressure monitoring systems)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... [] Ludwigsburg, German -- BeruAG is to supply tyre pressure monitoring (TPM) systems for Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicles and trailer manufacturer Schmitz Cargobull. Ludwigsburg-based Beru will begin supplying parts for the Mercedes-Benz...

Solideal joins IRSG associates.(International Rubber Study Group)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... [] London -- Tyre maker Solideal has joined the International Rubber Study Group's panel of associates. Solideal specialises in tyres for industrial, construction and agricultural equipment, making solid, pneumatic, and press-on tyres,...

RMA wants electronic tyre registration.(Rubber Manufacturers Association)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... [] Washington -- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration needs systems for accepting electronic tyre registration it the registration rate is to increase above its current 10 percent, the US Rubber Manufacturers Association has told...

Cooper revises Q1 forecast.(Cooper Tire & Rubber Co.)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... [] Findlay, Ohio -- Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. has revised its first-quarter earnings forecast downward to 17-21 cents per share down from analyst consensus estimates of 25 cents per share. The lion attributed the lower expectations to...

Credit line improves as Goodyear loss grows: US tyre maker suffer record $1100 million loss--but it has reorganised its debt. (Tyre news).
May 1, 2003... Goodyear successfully completed negotiations on a new credit line with bankers in early April, but suffered a net loss of $1100 million for both the fourth quarter and fiscal 2002. The company now faces tight restrictions on cap ital...

Goodyear Chemicals unit put on selling block: profitable chemicals business may raise needed cash for troubled tyre maker. (Tyre news).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Goodyear has confirmed it is exploring the possible sale of its Goodyear Chemical operation as it looks to enhance its financial flexibility. The company has officially retained Credit Suisse First Boston llc to advise on the possible...

Goodyear cuts ownership in Japan's Sumitomo.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... [] Akron, Ohio -- Goodyear has sold the majority of its 10 percent holding in Japanese tyre make Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd for about $83., million. The sale was made to improve Goodyear's financial flexibility and most of the proceeds will...

Forbo's Swift buy proves its value: adhesives acquisition doubles sales in this sector for Swiss company. (Rubber news).
May 1, 2003... For Swiss adhesives, belting and flooring group Forbo, last year was characterised by continued difficult economic conditions and its major acquisition--of the Swift adhesive activities. The latter nearly doubled Forbo's adhesives sales, to...

Gains for Degussa's filler units.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... [] Frankfurt, Germany -- Degussa's Coatings and Advanced Fillers division reported an 8-percent rise in earnings (EBITDA) on sales of 2126 million [euro] ($2289 million), 7 percent lower than in 2001. The higher earnings reflected cost-cutting...

Mitsui merger with Sumitomo called off: Japanese companies could not agree on value of assets to be put into merged units. (Supplier news).(Sumitomo Chemical Co. Ltd, Mitsui Chemicals Inc. cancel merger )(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Sumitomo Chemical Co. Ltd and Mitsui Chemicals Inc. have called off their merger, which was to have created the world's fifth largest chemicals company. The groups could not agree a consolidation ratio for their various assets, said a 31 March...

Asahi bids for Atofina block copolymers unit: Atofina's copolymers unit may be sold to Japanese supplier. (Supplier news).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Atofina is negotiating over the possible sale at least part of its styrenic block copolymer business to Asahi Kasei Corp. of Japan. "There are negotiations, but there are no conclusions to these yet," an Atofina spokeswoman said in a telephone...

Vita installs $1.6-m TPE line.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... [] Middleton, UK -- Vita Thermoplastic Compounds Ltd, a British Vita plc subsidiary, has commissioned a new 1 million [pounds sterling] ($1 6-million) thermoplastic elastomer compounding line. Sited at VTP's plant in Middleton, the line has...

Berstorff automates winder.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... [] Hanover, Germany -- Extruder manufacturer Berstorff GmbH of Hanover has developed a strip winding system, which it claims."offers full automation of the whole roll covering process." Strip winding equipment is widely used for repeated...

Two IRC countries plan to increase output of NR: higher NR prices mean less need for price support mechanisms by producing nations. (Supplier news).(Thai, Malaysian natural rubber industry)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Thailand and Malaysia plan to increase their output of natural rubber, an apparent contradiction of the 4 percent cutbacks they pledged as two of the three members of the International Rubber Co. Ltd. Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra...

China eyes ways to lower domestic NR prices: lower supplies and stronger demand keeping NR prices high in China. (Supplier news).(natural rubber)
May 1, 2003... The Chinese government will take extraordinary measures to reduce natural rubber prices domestically, according to rubber traders and news reports. An official of the State Development Planning Commission announced the plan 8 March at the...

PolyOne restructures Elastomers, Perf Additives.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... [] Solon, Ohio -- PolyOne Corp.'s Elastomers & Performance Additives group, hoping to improve service to a portion of its specialised customer base, has created a Specialty Product Division, which incorporates three of the group's business...

GE Toshiba Silicones adds Australian business.(acquires Parfix consumer sealants and adhesives)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... [] Sydney, Australia -- GE Toshiba Silicones has acquired the Parfix consumer sealant and adhesive business from Australian chemical firm Parchem Construction Products Pty Ltd. Parfix consumer sealant and adhesive products are now being...

Polychloroprene market and China misunderstood: rubber suppliers need to watch China, with its huge growth potential--and Asian suppliers already active. (Rubber news).
May 1, 2003... There. has,, been, "some very bad misinterpretation," of the polychloroprene market," according to Stephen Pask, the new global product manager for technical rubber products, within the new Bayer Polymers AG grouping. Bayer has seen an...

China set for growth. (Rubber news).(Industry Overview)
May 1, 2003... Currently, China's per capita rubber use is 1.6 kg a year, Europe's is 12 kg and North America's is 13 kg China's use consists of 60:40 NR:SR, while in North America and Europe these proportions are reversed, Pask said. "I believe we will...

Rubber's 3 units. (Rubber news).(Bayer Polymers AG)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... The new Bayer Polymers group has three marketing regions--Asia Pacific, Europe the Middle East and Africa, and the Americas--which are also oriented to various market-segments. Bayer has extracted three global production groups from its old...

Eliokem plans China AO plant.(L phenolic antioxidant plant)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... Speciality chemicals supplier Eliokem is to build a new plant for its Wingstay L phenolic antioxidant in the Ningbo economic and technical zone, on the outskirts of Shanghai, China. The Villejust, France-headquartered firm said the plant,...

Degussa forms nanomaterials unit.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... [] Dusseldorf, Germany -- Degussa AG has set up a nanomaterials unit Degussa Advanced Nanomaterials, to create new business in this area, The 20-employee venture is expected to become self-financing by 2006. Degussa's corporate venture...

Rhein Chemie sales down in 2002.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... [] Mannheim, Germany -- Rhein Chemie Rheinau GmbH posted global sales of 326 million [euro] for 2002, about 6 percent lower than the previous year's total. The company cited the continued economic downturn in the US as a significant factor in...

IKT set for Nuremberg at end of June. (IKT Preview).
May 1, 2003... The Internationale Kautschuk-Tagung this year combines with the International Rubber Conference. The combined event is the biggest and most important event in the European rubber calendar for some years. The event opens on Monday 30 June,...

At-a-glance guide to the IKT event.(Illustration)(Calendar)
May 1, 2003... Monday, 30 June 2003 12:00 Exhibition opens (Hall 1, Exhibition Centre Nuremberg) 13:30 - 15.30 Meeting for ordinary members of the DKG Saal Munchen, Congress...

Exhibition space fully booked at Nuremberg. (IKT Exhibition).(Illustration)(Calendar)
May 1, 2003... Over 126 unique companies, from over 15 countries have booked space at the IKT. At least 40 more have representatives available for consultation on a partner stand (see listing below). These companies have booked a combined space of over...

IKT conference.(Calendar)
May 1, 2003... Tuesday, 1 July 2003 Session A Rubber in biological and medical applications 8:30 Biological Test Systems for Testing of Elastomeric Materials H-P Schmauder, Forschungszentrum fur Medizintechnik und Biotechnologie eV, Bad...

IKT Exhibition.(rubber industry trade show product previews)
May 1, 2003... Alpha Technologies 1-409 Alpha Technologies is promoting its comprehensive range of dynamic testing analysers for the rubber & polymer industry comprising two machines, First is the RPA 2000 rubber processability analyser, Second is...

Polymer majors rethink TPO compounding role: custom compounders of reactor-made TPOs, not a profitable operation for the big resin makers. (TPOs in transition).(Industry Overview)
May 1, 2003... The TPO (thermoplastic polyolefin) elastomer sector is in transition as resin makers back away from compounds markets, which they had previously targeted, according to Faisal Syed, project manager, plastics & technology industry, at Chemical...

Tough to enter TPVs. (TPOs in transition).(thermoplastic vulcanisates production technology limits entry into industry)(Brief Article)(Industry Overview)
May 1, 2003... Houston, Texas -- The technical demands of producing thermoplastic vulcanisates will bar new entrants from the sector for the next 5-10 years at least, believes Faisal Syed, project manager, plastics & technology industry, at Chemical Market...

EPDM price moves in US.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2003... [] Akron, Ohio -- EDPM rubber producers in the US are trying to boost prices from 5 to 20 cents a pound to offset cost increases, according to their customers Executives at rubber product companies said DSM Elastomers announced 20 cents per...

Oil prices fall sharply as supply recovers after war. (ERJ dataflow).(Illustration)
May 1, 2003... Information We present here a series of charts and tables which are meant to give a snapshot how the rubber industry performing. The price of rubber on the Singapore commodity exchange is possibly the most important price in the...

Diary.(rubber industry events)(Calendar)
May 1, 2003... Readers are strongly advised to confirm details with organisers before making any travel arrangements. An updated list of industry events is available on the ERJ website at http://www.crain.co.uk/ * ITRA Expo 2003. Date tba: Louisville,...

Dirty tricks, anti-trust and-hidden taxes. (postscript).(European Union, US to investigate price fixing in carbon black industry)(Editorial)
May 1, 2003... A few months ago, the EU and US authorities announced an investigation into possible price collaboration in carbon black. Prior to that, the EU was investigating a complaint brought by the big three carbon black manufacturers, Cabot, Columbian...