European Rubber Journal articles from November 2002

European Rubber Journal archives from November 2002

Europeans, US ask about rubber chemicals cartel: Bayer, Crompton and Flexsys all cooperating with European and US antitrust authorities over "collusive dealings" in rubber chemicals. No suggestion of wrongdoing is attached at this stage. (Rubber news).
November 1, 2002... As part of a larger investigation into cartels in the chemicals sector, the US and European authorities are investigating prices of rubber chemicals. As ERJ went to press, Bayer AG, Crompton Corp. and Flexsys NV/SA all confirmed they were...

Smiths Group to rejig polymer seals operations: seals unit aims for better profitability--via outsourcing and moves to low-cost labour regions. (Rubber news).(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... Smiths Group plc aims to improve margins in its Polymer Sealing Solutions business by shifting production to lower-cost countries and outsourcing component manufacture. During the fiscal year ended 31 July 2002, the seals unit, which...

Gislaved's gasket sales to Alfa Laval on the up.(to supply more heat exchanger gaskets )(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... [] Gislaved, Sweden -- Swedish rubber manufacturer Gislaved Gummi AB will be supply more heat exchanger gaskets to machinery maker Alfa Laval, starting in September 2002. The deal is worth about SKr 25 million ($2.62 million) a year, Alfa...

Michelin, Bosch in JV as tyre firm advances TPM.(Groupe Michelin, Robert Bosch GmbH form ISS Integrated Safety Systems)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... [] Paris -- Groupe Michelin and Robert Bosch GmbH are setting up a joint venture to develop vehicle dynamics and stability assistance systems, Michelin announced 27 Sept. The venture, called ISS Integrated Safety Systems, is under a...

Minnesota Rubber sets up new French facility: French moulder moves part making to new plant, leaves mixing, rail-parts units at existing site. (Rubber news).(Minnesota Rubber Europe)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... French rubber processor Minnesota Rubber Europe (MRE) has moved into a new facilities in Pacy-sur-Eure, 20 km east of its current plant in Evreux, France. The new 3700 [m.sup.2] factory has "state-of the-art compression, transfer, vertical...

Bayer to sell Rhein Chemie to equity group: rubber chemicals firm sold for 215 million [euro]. (Rubber news).(Bayer AG, Rhein Chemi Rheninau GmbH, Advent International Corp.)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... Bayer AG is to sell its Rhein Chemie Rheinau GmbH subsidiary to Advent International Corp. of Boston, Massachusetts. The private equity group is to pay 215 million [euro] ($210 million) for the business and assumed debt. Bayer expects to...

ZF Passau signs with DAF.(DAF Bus International BV, contract for independent wheel suspensions for city buses and coaches)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... [] Hanover, Germany -- DAF Bus International BV and ZF Passau GmbH have signed a multi-year contract for independent wheel suspensions for city buses and coaches. Volume production of the suspensions, which feature a double wishbone design...

Gates, Nitta to open belt unit.(Gates Group (Gates Rubber Co.), Nitta Corp., to set up joint power transmission belt venture plant in India)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... [] Denver, Ohio -- Gates Rubber Co and Nitta Corp. are to set up a joint venture power transmission belt plant in India Gates Unitta India Co. Pvt Ltd will be owned 51 percent by Gates and 49 percent by Nitta, and operated by the firms' joint...

UK plastics and rubber group comes out fighting: six regional units plus a national board hope to ensure the polymer sector's views are heard. (Rubber news).(Plastics & Rubber Division of the Institute of Materials, Minerals & Mining)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... The new Plastics & Rubber Division of the Institute of Materials, Minerals & Mining (IO[M.sup.3]) stepped out at Interplas with a stinging attack on those at the top of the UK polymer industry. Many boardrooms suffer from "a poverty of...

Rapra starts refocussing, moves into Ireland: staff cuts are part of restructure, as new markets gain importance. (Rubber news).(Rapra Technology Ltd. restructuring)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... Rapra Technology Ltd has started to restructure, in-line with the management buy-out plan approved by its membership in July. The plan includes a 7-percent cut in the company's 176-workforce by the end of the year. Some 24 staff have...

Toyo opens US unit.(Toyo Tire & Rubber Company Ltd.'s new antivibration components plant)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... [] Franklin, Kentucky -- Toyo Tire & Rubber Co. Ltd held an opening ceremony for its first US plant 16 Sept after beginning production of antivibration components there in July for an undisclosed 2003 model year vehicle. Production at the...

Tomkins Q1 is "encouraging".(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... [] London -- Tomkins plc has reported improving margins in all businesses compared to the first quarter of its last financial year. For the three months to 31 July, operating profit before exceptional items improved by 4.6 per cent on sales...

Dunlop Greengate to grow with new owner.(thermoplastics coatings unit to move to site of John Holden & Sons)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... [] Salford, UK -- The thermoplastic coatings unit of Dunlop Greengate is moving to the Bolton site of new owner John Holden & Sons by the end of November and is seeking new business. The new owner is keen to invest in the business and "would be...

Conti moves into two-wheeler tyres in India: expanding motorbike tyre market in India provides opportunities for Conti and Indian partner Metro. (Tyre news).(Continental AG, Metro Tyres)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... Continental AG is to provide technological support to Metro Tyres of New Delhi, India, for the Indian firm to make and market, Continental-Metro brand two-wheeler tyres in India. Continental and Metro Tyres have also signed a long-term...

Yokohama joins Conti/ B'stone runflat project. (Tyre news).(Yokohama Rubber Company Ltd., Bridgestone Corp. nad Continental AG joint project)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd is to join Bridgestone Corp. and Continental AG in their joint project to establish runflat tyre systems based on Conti Support Ring technology. Yokohama will initially licence support ring technology from...

Goodyear to cut up to 500 jobs in Tennessee: poor economy causes 500 jobs cuts at US tyre maker's largest factory. (Tyre news).(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. plans to lay off 400 to 500 employees at its Union City plant in Tennessee, which makes radial passenger and light truck tyres. The move is in response to weak economic conditions. The layoffs, which include both...

Audi opts for Michelin's PAX runflat system.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... [] Paris -- Groupe Michelins runflat tyre system PAX will be available as an option on the new Audi A8, which is to be launched in Europe in November, Michelin has announced The German car maker is the second customer for PAX, since its...

Kumho UK wins OEM van tyre contract: first UK original equipment contract a breakthrough for Korean tyre maker. (Tyre news).(from LDV )(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... Kumho UK has won a contract to supply original equipment tyres to European van manufacturer, LDV. The OE contract is Kumho's first with a UK-based company. Under the deal Kumho will equip around 70 percent of LDV's annual production of...

Goodyear facing renewed pressure on profits.(debt ratings downgraded by Fitch Ratings)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... [] Chicago, Illinois -- Fitch Ratings has downgraded its debt ratings for Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. due to industry developments, which, it said, will significantly challenge the tyre firm's bid to restore profitability. A weaker than...

Kumho to increase US tyre prices.(Kumho Tire USA)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... [] Fontana, California -- Kumho Tire USA is raising the price of its passenger and light truck tyres between 3 percent and 5 percent, depending on the tyre model. The increases are set to take effect 1 Nov, the company said. David Hudrlik,...

Gibara urges colleagues to boost industry's image.(Samir Gibara)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... [] Akron, Ohio -- The tyre industry needs to make more effort to improve the value of its products in the consumers' eyes, Samir Gibara, Goodyear chairman and chief executive officer, told delegates to the 21st annual meeting of the Tire...

NYSE plans to drop China Enterprises.(delisting of holding company after shares drop below $1)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... [] New York -- The New York Stock Exchange has suspended trading in common shares in China Enterprises Ltd. The decision was taken after the tyre maker's price per share fell below $1 during 30 consecutive days of trading. China...

Bidding period extended for farm tyre maker Rumaguma.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... [] Belgrade, Yugoslavia -- The closing date for bids to acquire a 67.6 percent stake in tyre maker Rumaguma AD has been extended by one month to 15 Nov. Serbia's Privatisation Agency has announced. Based in Ruma in northwest Serbia,...

Honda Accord to use TPO IP cover. (ERJ automotive briefing).(Canadian General-Tower Ltd. to supply thermoplastic polyolefin coverstock to Honda of America Manufacturing)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... [] Cambridge, Ontario -- Canadian General-Tower Limited (CGT) is to supply Honda of America Mfg with a thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) coverstock for the top-skin for the instrument panel of Honda's all-new 2003 Accord. Honda expects sales...

Delphi's brake-by-wire for Ellypse. (ERJ automotive briefing).(Renault selects Delphi Automotive Systems' Electro Mechanical Brakign system for concept car)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... [] Paris -- Renault has selected automotive supplier Delphi to implement an advanced brake-by-wire system on the Ellypse concept car, shown at the 2002 Paris Auto Show, according to a Delphi statement. Delphi's Electro Mechanical Braking...

Ford aims to repair relationships. (ERJ automotive briefing).(with dealers, employers, suppliers)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... [] Paris -- As Ford Motor Co. nears next year's 100th anniversary, Bill Ford, the great grandson of the founder, said much is left to do to restore the automaker's lustre. "There's no question we really shot ourselves in the foot in...

Wacker progresses silicones expansion: EIB paying half the cost of more than doubling silicones capacity. (Supplier news).(Wacker-Chemie GmbH expanding Wacker Silicones plant in Nunchritz, Germany; European Investment Bank)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... Wacker-Chemie GmbH has completed the latest stage of a four year, 500-million [euro] ($488 million) programme to expand the Wacker Silicones facility in Nunchritz, Germany. Started in 2000, the project aims to raise the siloxanes capacity of...

Chemical leak at Flexsys site in Wales: damage from effluent limited, says agency. (Supplier news).(Flexsys Rubber Chemicals Ltd., diluted industrial effluent leak at Ruabon plant)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... The Environment Agency Wales is investigating a leak of around 225 000 litres of diluted industrial effluent from the Flexsys Rubber Chemicals Ltd plant at Ruabon near Wrexham on 22 Sept. The incident involved a waste treatment storage tank...

Rubber chemicals forecast to grow, especially in Asia.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... [] Cleveland, Ohio -- Global demand for rubber processing chemicals is forecast to rise 4.2 percent annually through 2006 to 842 kilotonnes, according to a new Freedonia Group Inc. study. Growth will be driven by the non-tyre rubber sector...

Schroder departs MPM as KKR takes over: deal for KKR to take over largest plastics machinery business will be finalised soon. (Supplier news).(Wilhelm Schroder, Krauss-Maffei Kunststofftechnik GmbH)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... Wilhelm Schroder, boss of Krauss-Maffei Kunststofftechnik GmbH, has left the MPM group, in a dispute over the future direction of the world's largest plastics equipment maker. Schroder has managed Krauss-Maffei for eight years, and chaired...

JBT now operating JR Dare machinery business: mill and mixer making and refurbishing are to be taken over by local engineering firm. (Supplier news).(JBT Engineering to take over JR Dare Group's rubber machinery facilities)
November 1, 2002... Troubled rubber machinery firm JR Dare Group has ceased trading at its site in Trafford Park in central Manchester, UK, following heavy losses. But its activities in manufacturing new machinery for the rubber sector and refurbishing...

Vita firm launches transparent TPE. (Supplier news).(British Vita PLC's VTC Elastoteknik AB introduces Dryflex T thermoplastic elastomer compounds)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... VTC Elastoteknik AB has launched a range of transparent thermoplastic elastomer compounds, according to British Vita plc, which acquired the Amal, Sweden-based firm at the start of 2002. Labelled Dryflex T, the materials provide products...

DuPont Dow to shut US chloroprene rubber unit: rationalisation reflects lower demand in polychloroprene sector. (Supplier news).(DuPont Dow Elastomers, Louisville, Kentucky, plant)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... DuPont Dow Elastomers is to shut its chloroprene rubber plant in Louisville, Kentucky in 2005 and is investing in its other CR facility in LaPlace, Louisiana. The consolidation will raise operational efficiency and environmental performance,...

Takeda selling SR latex business to Nippon A&L: integration as Sumitomo/Mitsui JV acquires competitor. (Supplier news).(Takeda Chemical Industries Ltd.)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... Takeda Chemical Industries Ltd sold synthetic rubber latex business to Nippon A&L on 1 Oct under a recently signed agreement between the two Osaka-based firms. The deal completes a process started in June 2001 when Takeda transferred the...

JSR upgrades profits outlook.(operating profits forecast)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... [] Tokyo--Rising demand for elastomers has prompted JSR Corp. (formerly Japan Synthetic Rubber Co. Ltd) to upgrade its interim operating profit forecast to [yen] 8000 million ($66 million). The first-half estimate is 60 percent higher than JSR...

Theatre floats on rubber.(Trelleborg Queensland Rubber Co.'s rubber bearings used for sound proofing)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... [] Singapore--A new futuristic Esplanade theatre complex on the bay in Singapore contains a concert hall and theatre, both with demanding sound-proofing requirements. To meet them the vaulted structures were designed to float on 1400...

Midi Caoutchouc pioneers e-business: small Toulouse based French rubber firm is one of the first in e-sales. (Rubber news).(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... Small French rubber processor Midi Caoutchouc of Toulouse is aiming to be at the forefront of electronic business, despite its size. Its efforts have seen it listed as a candidate for a prize (a `Trophy E-SME') for small-to-medium French firms,...

Eaton to purchase Boston Weatherhead from Dana.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... [] Cleveland--Eaton Corp. has signed an agreement to purchase substantially all of the assets of the Boston Weatherhead division of Dana Corp. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed, and the transaction is expected to be completed...

Silicone-based TPEs threaten auto rubbers: silky feel is one bonus of TPSiV, but good performance at extremes of temperature is the major advantage. (Rubber news).(Multibase Inc. launches TPSiV thermplastic elastomers )
November 1, 2002... A new range of high-performance thermoplastic elastomers launched by Dow Corning company Multibase has the potential to replace thermoset rubbers, including nitrile and hydrogenated nitrile, in automotive uses such as under-the-bonnet seals,...

Grades on offer.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... The 1100 series is based on polyamide, the 3000 series on an undisclosed thermoplastic. TPSiV 1180-50D, a "flexible" nylon with a continuous use temperature (CUT) of 140[degrees]C. TPSiV3010-50A, hardness 50 Shore A, excellent tensile...

Alcan to close UK unit.(Burntisland, Scotland, specialty chemicals unit)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... [] Burntisland, Scotland--Alcan intends to shut its Burntisland, Scotland, facility and has begun consultations with employees and union representatives on the proposed closure. Among the products made at Burntisland is aluminium...

Cabot expanding in Shanghai.(Shanghai Cabot Chemical Company Ltd. boosting carbon black capacity)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... [] Shanghai, China -- Shanghai Cabot Chemical Co Ltd will invest about $25 million to expand its carbon black capacity in Shanghai, China by over 50 kilotonnes per annum. The expansion--to use advanced technology developed by Cabot Corp. in the...

Minerals Technologies acquires Polar Minerals.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... [] New York--Minerals Technologies Inc.'s subsidiary Barretts Minerals Inc. (BMI), has acquired Polar Minerals Inc., a privately owned producer of industrial minerals in the US Midwest, for $225 million. Polar Minerals has two mineral...

BASF to expand dispersions unit in Indonesia.(BASF AG to boost polymer dispersion plant )(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... [] Ludwigshafen, Germany--BASF AG is to raise the capacity of its polymer dispersion plant in Cengkareng, Indonesia, to 95 kilotonnes per annum (ktpa), from 50 ktpa. The $10-million project is due for completion in early 2004, BASF...

Kraton to expand SEBS production in US, France: rising demand for hydrogenated SBCs stimulates major debottlenecking. (Rubber news).(styrene ethylbutylene styrene plants in Belpre, Ohio, and Berre, France)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... Kraton Polymers is raising capacity for its Kraton G polymers by nearly 20 percent via debottlenecking at its Belpre, Ohio, and Berre, France, plants. The move is a, "response to rising demand from customers in the adhesives, compounding,...

Equistar, P&G to produce elastomeric PP: another competitor enters the soft elastomer market, as P&G/Equistar alliance goes for soft-touch with resilience. (Rubber news).(elastomeric grades of homopolymer polypropylene)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... Polyolefins maker Equistar Chemicals LP is linking with consumer products giant Procter & Gamble Co. to develop elastomeric grades of homopolymer polypropylene. The materials will be made with a metallocene catalyst that P&G acquired...

Dow launches new class of elastic fibre. (Rubber news).(dubbed Dow XLA)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... Dow Chemical Co. has developed what it claims is a new class of elastic fibre, Dow XLA, for the stretch fibres market. This extensive and expanding market is currently dominated by rubber- and polyurethane-based products. Dow Chemical has...

Rapra, Eatec to predict rubber properties.(aims to develop Neural network modelling tool to predict coefficients)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... [] Shawbury, UK--Polymer consultancy Rapra Technology Ltd and engineering consultancy Eatec Ltd are collaborating on a project aimed at better prediction of the mechanical properties of rubber compounds. Rapra is inviting anyone interested in...

Noveon ups rubber chemicals prices.(for all TMQ antioxidant grades)
November 1, 2002... [] Cleveland, Ohio -- Noveon, Inc. has increased global prices on all TMQ antioxidant grades by $0.045/lb ($0.10kg) with effect from 16 Sept. The Cleveland-based company has also lifted prices for its TBBS sulfenamide-based rubber accelerator...

Brabantia uses TPE handles.(uses Santoprene thermoplastic vulcanisate for kitchen tool handles)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... [] Brussels -- Dutch household product maker Brabantia bv is using Santoprene thermoplastic vulcanisate from Advanced Elastomer Systems NV/SA to cover the handles of its new range of Fusion Grip kitchen tools. "The strikingly distinctive...

Forbo acquires Balco Chemie. (Rubber news).(Forbo Holding AG, Balco Chemie Benelux BVBA)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... Forbo Holding AG has acquired 100 percent of distributor Balco Chemie Benelux BVBA. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The two-person Balco operation, which has annual sales of approximately 1 million [euro] ($1.025 million), has been...

Testing grows. (Rubber news).(Smithers Scientific Services Inc.)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... Smithers Scientific Services Inc. has expanded its materials testing capabilities at Akron by 30 percent, largely as a result of last year's acquisition of Noveon Inc. s rubber testing business unit. "We now have the most extensive rubber...

Parker ITR. (ERJ people).(Eva Testa)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... [] Eva Testa is moving from the TECNO COMPOUNDS business of PARKER ITR SRL to become responsible for Parker ITR's industrial hose unit. Her role as commercial and marketing manager at compounder Tecno in Siziano, Italy, will be taken over by...

Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire LLC. (ERJ people).(Mark Emkes, Isao Togashi)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... Mark Emkes, president of BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE'S Latin American operations, has been named chairman, ceo and president of BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE NORTH AMERICAN TIRE LLC. He replaces Isao Togashi, who has returned to Japan to head BRIDGESTONE...

Federal-Mogul Corp. (ERJ people).(Shirley Peterson)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... The board of directors of FEDERAL-MOGUL CORP. of Southfield, Michigan, has added attorney Shirley Peterson as a director.

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. (ERJ people).(Robert Keegan)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... Robert Keegan, GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER CO.'s president and chief operating officer, is to take over from Samir Gibara as chief executive officer at the start of 2003. Gibara, who has been ceo and chairman since 1996, will remain as chairman

Modelling injection moulding processes. (Injection moulding).(SigmaSoft from Sigma Engineering GmbH)
November 1, 2002... Injection mouldings software has--up to now--been somewhat limited in its ability to accurately model three-dimensional rubber flows and in-mould curing behaviour. However, a new package has recently been launched which appears to offer the...

How much does the package cost.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... A basic package costs 56 000 [euro] ($50 000). Training and maintenance comes on top of that. Maintenance currently costs 12 percent of the purchase price per year. In addition a powerful PC from a supplier such as Dell will cost around 8000...

Signs of recovery in the injection moulding sector.(Industry Overview)
November 1, 2002... All suppliers of injection moulding equipment to the rubber industry report that the year following September 2001 has been very difficult indeed. Orders fell by 50 percent or more, and only now is there any sign of recovery. According to...

What materials data is needed?(Rapra Technology Ltd.)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... According to Jenny Cooper, speaking on behalf of Rapra, much of the data relating to tool steels and other metals is already contained in a library that comes with the package. However, many companies use specific rubber compounds for their...

Fuel emission legislation leads to new process. (Injection moulding).(Roulunds Codan)
November 1, 2002... A collaborative project between Roulunds Codan and its regular suppliers of materials and injection moulding machinery has led to a new two material injection moulding process which allows Roulunds to make products in which a thin skin of...

Applications.
November 1, 2002... Current production components are fitted to the MG Rover 25 and 45 vehicles, Land Rover Discovery, and more recently to the fuel tank breather system on the Jaguar X Type

Savings.
November 1, 2002... The fluoropolymer barrier layer reduces VOC omissions by 90 percent from the filler hose. However, the hose is still only half the cost of an equivalent hose made entirely from fluoroelastomers. According to Rees, the process is marginally...

TPEs gaining ground steadily. (TPE conference).(thermoplastic clastomers)
November 1, 2002... Thermoplastic clastomers are gaining more acceptance among rubber processing companies as the performance increases and intelligent design exploits the different strengths of TPEs to deliver improved cost-benefit performance. This was the...

Multi-material moulding techniques.
November 1, 2002... Injection mould machine supplier, Engel Vertriebsgesellschaft has a great deal of experience in multi-material moulding techniques, according to technical sales representative, Georg Steinbichler. He said thermoset rubber and thermoplastic...

TPEs used in wine stoppers: TPEs are gaining share in the wine closure market as conventional corks suffer from contamination. (TPE conference).
November 1, 2002... Around 800 million wine bottles each year are plugged with stoppers made from synthetic materials. That leaves around 16 000 million which use natural cork. Each synthetic stopper is a nominal 18.5mm in diameter, around 30 mm long and...

Flexsys aims to cut costs as prices rise: global uncertainty is leading to increases in oil prices, which is putting pressure on commodity chemicals. This in turn, is placing pressure on the costs of rubber chemicals, according to Flexsys NV. (Cost control).
November 1, 2002... Rubber chemicals supplier, Flexsys NV is facing a squeeze on prices. On the one hand its suppliers are seeking price increases, following a steady increase in crude oil prices. On the other, customers are reluctant to pay more for their rubber...

DDE expands Viton grade slate: new polymerisation processes dubbed `APA' or `Advanced Polymer Architecture', should improve the processability and performance of Viton-brand fluoroelastomers, according to the manufacturers. DDE acids that there will be a steady rationalisation of existing grades as APA grades are introduced. (Fluoroelastomers).
November 1, 2002... DuPont Dow Elastomers has launched a new range of fluoroelastomers. The new products come as a result of a $50-million investment in polymerisation and curing technology at DDE's site in Dordrecht, the Netherlands. Labelled `Advanced...

AFICEP, DKG in Strasbourg: around 60 delegates heard a series of detailed technical presentations at the 5th German-French rubber days in Strasbourg from 20-21 September. (German-French Rubber days).(Brief Article)
November 1, 2002... Around 60 delegates and a further 20 speakers and officials from France and Germany attended the 5th French-German Rubber days in Strasbourg over the weekend of 20-21 September. The meeting was officially opened jointly by Gerard Flauraud,...

Diary.
November 1, 2002... 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/ OCTOBER * Addcon World 2002, 8th...

Price pressure and cooperation. (postscript).
November 1, 2002... Oil prices are over $30/barrel again. If the USA begins bombing Iraq, then prices are likely to rise further as the money markets react to uncertainty over the future of oil exports. This puts pressure on the price of all polymers, but...