European Rubber Journal articles from May 2007

European Rubber Journal archives from May 2007

On the ERJ web site ...(News)
May 1, 2007... On the ERJ web site... www.europeanrubberjournal.com You can find all the news we can't fit into the magazine, including... Rosehill Polymers boosts TPV sales into US sports surface market... Analysis of global rubber goods to 2010...

briefs.
May 1, 2007... Russians explores regulation of raw materials prices Moscow - A 4 May meeting of the Russian subcommittee on development of tyre and rubber industry considered whether regulating prices in the petrochemical sector might be possible. ...

JK Tyre sales, profits jump in first half; Indian tyre maker in major expansion of OTR and other tyre capacity.(News)
May 1, 2007... Byline: David Shaw J K Tyre & Industries Ltd., recorded a turnover of Rs 15 920 million ([euro]287 million) in the six months to 31 March, 2007, up from Rs 13 591 million a year ago. Operating profit for the period was Rs 1144 million, up...

briefs.
May 1, 2007... Apollo sales jump 63% in year to Mar. Gurgaon, India - Apollo Tyres has reported net sales of of Rs 42 900 million ([euro]765.5 million) or just over $1000 million for the 12 months to 31 March, 2007. This is a 63 percent increase on last...

USW aims to form transatlantic 'super union'; USW aims to combine with ICEM affiliates to create the world's biggest union.(News)(United Steelworkers of America, International Federation of Chemical, Energy and General Workers' Union)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... Byline: David Shaw The United Steelworkers union has entered into a formal exploration process that could result in the formation of the world's biggest union and the first Trans-Atlantic trade organisation. At a ceremony held on 18...

briefs.
May 1, 2007... Michelin to close Ohio tyre plant Mogadore, Ohio - Michelin North America Inc. plans to consolidate tyre production from its facility in Mogadore, Ohio to its BFGoodrich tyre manufacturing factory in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, the company...

European carbon black market worth [euro]1180 million; Big three suppliers are signing long-term contracts with tyre makers according to Frost & Sullivan researcher.(Suppliers)
May 1, 2007... Byline: David Shaw The European market for carbon black was worth approximately [euro]1179 million in 2006, growing to just under [euro]2000 million by 2013. This represents a volume of 2.05 million tonnes in 2006, growing to 2500 million...

briefs.(financial reports of Cabot Corp.)(demand of carbon black)(United States sells carbon black worth $1250 million )
May 1, 2007... US production of carbon black worth $1250m Dublin, Ireland - The US sold carbon black worth $1250 million ([euro]920 million) in 2006 according to a new report available from information broker, Research & Markets. The 139-page report...

IISRP to permit affiliate member status from July; Synthetic rubber organisation to allow other interested parties to have limited membership rights.(Suppliers)
May 1, 2007... Byline: David Shaw From 1 July, the International Institute of Synthetic Rubber Producers (IISRP) is to offer an additional class of membership, known as Affiliate member. James McGraw (pictured), the IISRP managing director and CEO,...

briefs.
May 1, 2007... Solutia now owns all Flexsys equity St Louis, Missouri - Solutia Inc. has completed its purchase of Akzo Nobel NV's 50 percent interest in Flexsys; effective from 2 May it has become a wholly owned subsidiary of Solutia. James Voss has...

Compounding business divides into segments; A broad survey of European compounders reveals the emergence of a profitable niche: small lots of high-tech compound delivered on short time scales.(News)
May 1, 2007... Byline: David Shaw The European compounding business is dividing into three sub-sectors. The most interesting sector is small in volume, but high in value - and interesting from a profitability standpoint. That sector is dominated by...

EC investigates alleged polychloroprene cartel; EC investigation into polychloroprene covers different time period from US probe two years ago. DuPont Performance Elastomers is in the spotlight.(News)
May 1, 2007... Byline: David Shaw The European Commission has recently sent a Statement of Objections to, "a number of companies" regarding their alleged role in a cartel for chloroprene rubber (CR). The EU did not add any further details and did not...

Clwyd Compounders for FKM.(News)
May 1, 2007... Clwyd is one of the top-flight compounders aiming to serve demanding customers with small quantities of high-value product on a very short turn-around. Martin Lee, sales, director, said business is good and expects 2007 to be a good year. Clwyd...

Polycomp adds fifth mixer for FKM.(News)(fluoroelastomer)
May 1, 2007... Polycomp, based in the Netherlands is another company focussing on high-specification, low volume business. Kees Scherer, technical director at Polycomp said the company is doing well and is thinking of adding a new mixer to cope with growing...

Hercorub expands in Czech Rep.(News)
May 1, 2007... Hercorub, based in Belgium specialises in compounds for boots and similar applications. Last year the company took advantage of an opportunity in the Czech town of Zlin, and the risk is paying off handsomely. According to Patrick Lenaerts,...

Hexagon expands in China, Mexico.(News)
May 1, 2007... Hexagon is, by far, Europe's largest independent compounding group, comprising Thona, GFD and others. According to Lars Olafsson, chief executive, business is currently good, but margins remain under pressure following the raw materials price...

Radiant wants to sell from India.(News)(Radiant Composites)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... Radiant Composites is an export-oriented subsidiary of the Radiant Corp. Pvte Ltd, based in India. Executive director Chandra Shekhar Jain said the company exports around 95 percent of output to North America. The company would like to...

PTE sets up mixing unit in China.(News)(Polymer-Technik Elbe)
May 1, 2007... Polymer-Technik Elbe is one of the younger compounders in Europe, but it supplies some of the top companies in the automotive business and others with advanced compounds. PTE is unusual in that it delivers compound around the world from its...

Tecno compounds.(News)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... As part of the Parker group, Italy-based Tecno mixes roughly a quarter of its total throughput for internal customers, but it is expanding its external business as well, while thinking about adding another line for black-filled compounds. ...

C F Gomma recovers after 2006.(News)(C.F. Gomma USA)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... C F Gomma's compounding unit is recovering after a difficult year. The parent company suffered a major crisis as a French court ruled that it was not allowed to keep its French subsidiary, and that, in turn caused difficulties for its low-cost...

Hot-feed extrusion can be better for stiff compounds; Harburg Freudenberger claims that its new hot-feed extruder can deliver high throughput even with the stiff compounds used in truck treads.(News)
May 1, 2007... Byline: David Shaw As truck tyre designers call for stiffer, more viscous natural rubber-based tread compounds, standard cold-feed extruders are beginning to have problems with throughput, according to a leading machinery maker. Much...

Avon looks to respirators for growth; dairy for cashflow; Avon Rubber has changed many times in its 120-year history. Now, a new strategy is emerging at the UK-based company.(News)(Company overview)
May 1, 2007... Byline: David Shaw Eight years ago, Avon Rubber plc won a tender to design a new gas mask for the US armed forces. That contract was the beginning of a new chapter in the 120-year Avon Rubber story. Technically, the device is not just...

DoJ says marine hose market 'was rigged' - eight arrested; Senior executives at Trelleborg, Dunlop Oil & Marine, Manuli and Parker arrested in blatant price-fixing scam. Consultant was paid [euro]230k per year to run the cartel.(News)
May 1, 2007... Byline: Miles Moore Eight executives of international corporations that make rubber marine hose have been arrested and charged with conspiracy, the US Department of Justice (DoJ) said. The men conspired to rig bids, fix prices and...

Sibur Russian Tyres has ambitious restructuring plan; Russian tyre maker's strategy depends on making a wide range of truck and off-road tyres for Russian roads.(News)(Company overview)
May 1, 2007... Byline: David Shaw Since gaining financial independence from its petrochemical parent in 2006, Sibur Russian Tyres (SRT) has put in place an ambitious restructuring plan. The [euro]500-million plan involves a number of steps including a...

Pushing NVH performance of rubber components; Tokai Rubber Industries uses test and simulation solutions provided by LMS, to help shape its new role of total solution provider.(News)
May 1, 2007... Byline: Rob Snoeijs Engineering a vehicle's NVH performance is one of the most demanding and nerve-wracking challenges in automotive design, especially when it comes to deciding which materials and parts to use, how to shape the components...

DSM Elastomers relaunches as innovation-focussed company; DSM Elastomers is now on a growth phase, following years of consolidation.(News)
May 1, 2007... Byline: David Shaw DSM Elastomers is on a charm offensive with customers and journalists. The aim is to re-launch itself as an innovation-focussed company, offering to work with customers to help deliver added value and improved...

People news.(People)
May 1, 2007... Pace to head Pirelli Tire North America Rome, Georgia - Pirelli Tyre SpA has named Hugh Pace, formerly president of Goodyear's Asia Pacific region, to be chairman and CEO of Pirelli Tire North America Inc., effective 4 June. Pace, 56,...

Little change in prices as stock markets show healthy gains.(News)
May 1, 2007... 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...

Niche business is one route to success in rubber.(Column)
May 1, 2007... Byline: David Shaw If there is one thing you can say about the rubber industry, it is that you have to understand the market before you can make a profit. In all the stories I have followed up this month, there seems to be a single theme:...

Conti to buy controlling stake in Matador Rubber; Conti to take control of Matador rubber and machinery operations - EC decision on 8 June.(News)
May 1, 2007... Byline: David Shaw Continental AG is set to acquire a 51 percent stake in the tyre, rubber and machinery business of Matador Group, based in Puchov, Slovakia, subject to the approval of antitrust authorities. The EC has said it will...

briefs.
May 1, 2007... Skellerup to buy Italy's Tumedei Christchurch, New Zealand - Skellerup Holdings Ltd has agreed to purchase Tumedei SpA, an Italian manufacturer of custom-designed technical rubber products for the automotive, petrochemical, gas, water and...

Freudenberg continues to increase sales and profit; Freudenberg continues steady growth, with investment in Czech Republic, Germany and elsewhere.(News)
May 1, 2007... Byline: David Shaw The Freudenberg Group reported sales over [euro]5000 million for the year to December 2006. Adjusted to allow for exchange rate influences as well as acquisition and divestment effects, the rise in sales is roughly 6...

Vibracoustic opens third JV plant with Sigma in India; Indian - German joint venture now has three plants in India, aimed at exports to Europe.(News)(Sigma Vibracoustic India Pvt Ltd)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... Byline: David Shaw Sigma Vibracoustic India Pvt Ltd has opened a third factory in India to make anti-vibration components. The new unit has an area of around 12 500 m[sup.2]. The Rs 750 million ([euro]13.6 million) plant will make...

Goodyear's EP unit goes to Carlyle.(News)(Company overview)
May 1, 2007... Global private equity firm The Carlyle Group has signed a definitive agreement to acquire The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company's Engineered Products Division in an all-cash transaction valued at $1475 million ([euro]1095 million). The transaction...

Metflex grows fast in small niche; seeks US markets; Fast-growing UK firm, wants to export to United States using dispersed fibre materials.(News)(Metflex Precision Rubber Mouldings Ltd.)
May 1, 2007... Byline: Simona Stankovska Metflex Precision Rubber Mouldings Ltd, which has seen its sales increase by 20 percent to [pounds sterling]6 million ([euro]8.8 million) this year, has invested in a 250-tonne Maplan injection moulding press, to...