European Rubber Journal articles from November 2005

European Rubber Journal archives from November 2005

Cover shot:.(News)
November 1, 2005... Tunnel construction using lining seals from Daetwyler Rubber+Plastics. Behind the tunnel drilling machine, lining elements - assembled into rings - are installed with lining seals from Daetwyler Rubber+Plastics. This picture shows the PTS...

New offshore oil hose plant.(Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co.)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... Goodyear Engineered Products opened a new offshore oil hose plant at Santana de Parnaiba northwest of Sao Paulo. The $13-million facility creates 150 jobs and is the company's fifth plant in Brazil. It will produce Goodyear Seawing floating...

FDA puts Ansell condom plant in Thailand on detention.(News)
November 1, 2005... The US Food & Drug Administration has placed Ansell Ltd's Surat Thani, Thailand, plant under 'Level 2' detention, meaning all shipments from that facility will have to undergo testing until at least 10 successive shipments pass inspection. ...

Parker Hannifin buys tubing and hose operation; More expansions at major hose and seal producer.(Filtran Div. acquired)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... Byline: Liz White Parker Hannifin has made two acquisitions recently, buying seals and gaskets supplier Filtran Aftermarket Products and hose and tubing producer Texloc & Page International, of Fort Worth, Texas. Parker bought the...

Nitrile Female Condom will cost 'significantly less'; @@Byline: Liz White.(News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... Byline: Liz White Leeper presented findings of a study by Dr David Holtgrave, of the Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University which indicated that even at low levels of use, more than 2000 HIV infections would be...

newsbriefs.(ContiTech supplies timing belts for Volkswagen AG)(Dana Corp. to supply automotive parts for Ford Motor Co.)(Matador A.S. signs agreement with Triangle Huasheng Tyre Co. Ltd)
November 1, 2005... Conti 's long-life timing belts Frankfurt, Germany-"With a whole series of innovations, in the last two years ContiTech has significantly improved the performance of timing belts", said Hermann Schulte, head of development for timing belt...

Bottcher sets up roller-covering plant in China; Roller coverer's Suzhou plant will serve China's growing printing sector.(Felix Bottcher GmbH & Co. KG)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... Byline: Liz White German roller-covering specialist Felix Bottcher GmbH & Co. KG has set up its sixteenth roller-covering operation, in Wujiang in the Suzhou region, near Shanghai, China. Bottcher, which sees itself as a market leader...

Goodyear plans to close plants, restructure.(News)
November 1, 2005... Goodyear has unveiled a plan that includes the closure of plants and addresses in on the tyre maker's current and future turnaround strategy. The company intends to close an undisclosed number of factories, reduce its cost structure,...

Kumho Tire confirms plan to build factory in China.(News)
November 1, 2005... Kumho Tire Co. Inc. has confirmed that it intends to build a passenger tyre plant in Changchung-its third in China-over the coming 18 to 24 months at a cost of $150 million ([euro]124 million). Kumho will partner with Chinese car maker FAW...

newsbriefs.(Bridgestone Corp. to increase capacity in India and also brings out a support ring)(Trelleborg Corp. acquires Cimap Roues Industrielles SAS)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... Bridgestone plans to expand tyre capacity in India New Delhi, India-Bridgestone Corp is reported to be planning to expand capacity at its tyre factory in Pithampur, Uttar Pradesh, India. When ERJ asked Bridgestone for confirmation, the...

On the ERJ web site ... www.europeanrubberjournal.com.(News)
November 1, 2005... You can find all the news we can't fit into the magazine, including... Cooper setting up joint ventures with China's Shandong Chengshan... Trelleborg finalises acquisition of Chase-Walton... Dow chemical announces record Q3 sales......

More stories on the web.
November 1, 2005... Don't miss out on the news. We don't have room in the magazine for all the news that goes on the ERJ website, day in, day out. So make sure you get full value out of your subscription. Go to www.europeanrubberjournal.com to see these stories....

Michelin to buy Apollo's share of Indian truck tyre venture.(Compagnie Generale des Etablissement Michelin, Apollo Tyres Ltd.)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... Groupe Michelin is buying out Apollo Tyres Ltd's share of their Michelin Apollo Tyres Pvt. Ltd joint venture and will take full control of the JV's project to make radial truck and bus tyres in India. At the same time, Michelin said it is...

Bridgestone plans proving ground in China.(facility open)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... Bridgestone Corp. has been given permission to build a new proving ground in Yixing, Jiangsu Province, China. The facility is due west of Shanghai, about 200 km inland, and will cover about 84 hectares. It is due to open, said Bridgestone, in...

newsbriefs.(A.S.V. Inc. signs agreement with Vermeer Manufacturing Co.)(Balkrishna Industries to double output)(Pirelli Tire North America L.L.C. makes profit)
November 1, 2005... ASV to supply Vermeer with rubber tracks Grand Rapids, Minnesota-ASV Inc, a maker of rubber tracks for vehicles, has signed an agreement with Vermeer Manufacturing Co. which designates ASV as the exclusive rubber track undercarriage...

Mitsui to build huge metallocene-EPDM factory; New plant in Japan will have capacity for 75kt per year of a new metallocene-caltalyused EPDM. It is due on stream in October 2007.(Mitsui Chemical Co., Ethylene-Propylene-Diene-Monomer)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... Byline: David Shaw Mitsui Chemicals has announced plans to build a 75000-tonne per year EPDM factory at its Ichihara (Chiba Province) chemical plant. The investment is likely to be around [yen]20000 million ([euro]150 million). The...

Lion Chemical Capital to buy DSM's SBR business.(DSM Copolymer Inc., styrene-butadiene business )(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... Lion Chemical Capital llc has agreed to buy DSM Copolymer Inc.'s styrene-butadiene business from DSM NV, Lion's second major purchase in the rubber industry. In the deal, expected to close in the fourth quarter, will give Lion a plant and...

newsbriefs.(Kraton Polymers increases capacity)(Farrel Corp. signs agreement with Qingdao Mesnac Co. Ltd.)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... Farrel signs with Chinese equipment maker Ansonia, Connecticut-Farrel Corp. has signed a 10-year manufacturing and distribution agreement with Qingdao Mesnac Co. Ltd, giving the Chinese firm exclusive right to assemble, distribute and...

More stories on the web.(Suppliers)
November 1, 2005... Don't miss out on the news. We don't have room in the magazine for all the news that goes on the ERJ website, day in, day out. So make sure you get full value out of your subscription. Go to www.europeanrubberjournal.com to see these stories....

Kraiburg sets up Chinese mixing subsidiary; German rubber compounder says customers need a global presence.(NewsGummiwerk Kraiburg GmbH und Co.)
November 1, 2005... Byline: Liz White German rubber compounder Gummiwerk Kraiburg GmbH & Co. KG has set up a mixing operation in Suzhou, 80 km from Shanghai, in China. Kraiburg Rubber (Suzhou) Co. Ltd will start up its first mixing line in the first...

Polymer-Technik Elbe goes to China, invests in technology.(News)
November 1, 2005... Polymer-Technik Elbe GmbH, one of the most progressive and active companies in the compounding business is continuing its programme of rapid development Dr Wolfgang Keil, managing director, told ERJ about some developments at PTE. * PTE...

Hutchinson to close auto profiles plant in UK; French giant Hutchinson will move production of car body seals from the UK to Poland and France.(News)
November 1, 2005... Byline: David Shaw Hutchinson SA has announced the closure of its automotive profiles factory in Telford, UK, with the loss of 130 jobs. In a statement, the company said, "In light of current and anticipated continued future adverse...

Compounders seek to differentiate; Custom compounders offer the best mixing technology, as well as a high level of customer service.
November 1, 2005... Byline: David Shaw The European custom compounding business is thriving-if volumes are anything to go by. Margins are a different matter, however. Every compounder ERJ spoke to was enjoying healthy order books and full mixers. There...

Automotive compounds and management of change.(market condition in analysis)
November 1, 2005... One of the most difficult areas for the rubber industry to today is in winning a profit in the supply of automotive components. The auto industry is always very interested in cost-down, but in the current environment, where raw materials prices...

Comet offers traditional values.(Co.Me.T)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... A traditional compounder, based in Adrara San Martino, Italy, Co.Me.T offers all the traditional values of compounding. The company supplies over 90 percent of its volume to other italian companies, but it aims to ensure it delivers good,...

Polycomp aims for top slot in fluoroelastomer compounds.(Polycomp Technologies)
November 1, 2005... Polycomp is one of the new style of specialised compounding companies. It has found a niche-fluoroelastomers-and is aiming to be the best in that niche. The company aims to excel at service and in anticipating the needs and requirements of its...

Hexagon seeks global base.(Hexagon Polymers growing fast)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... Hexagon is one of the biggest and fastest-growing custom compounding operations in Europe. While Hexagon itself may not be readily recognised, its brand names: Thona, GFD and others, certainly are. The company is probably the most global of all...

Bekina specialises in coloured compounds.(Indurub group 's division)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... Bekina, part of the Indurub group is another small, fast, flexible compounder based in the Benelux region. The company only makes coloured compounds, albeit in relatively mundane polymers. In addition to producing compounds with clean, bright...

Conference reveals secrets of good mixing.
November 1, 2005... Earlier this year the Institute of Plastics Engineering (KTP) at the University of Paderborn in Germany conducted its second international conference in the field of rubber processing.The results of three major research projects were presented...

Polimeri Europa closes French polychloroprene factory; Polychloroprene unit hit by supply difficulties has ceased manufacturing.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... Byline: David Shaw Polimeri Europa has informed employees at its polychloroprene factory in Champagnier, France that the factory is to close, following a three-month interruption in supply of chlorine products. On 30 Sept, the...

Effbe moves to Woco HQ, closes Raunheim site; Woco integrates diaphragm maker Effbe into its German headquarters site and reorganises its divisions.(head quarters, Woco Group)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... Byline: Liz White Rubber diaphragm manufacturer Effbe GmbH, a subsidiary of Woco Group since 2000, has closed shop at its Raunheim, Germany, site and relocated to Woco's headquarters in Bad Soden-Salmunster, Germany. The move completes...

Continental-Sime adds tyre capacity in Malaysia; Investments mark the accession of the Malaysian units into Conti's global logistics network and signifies world-class quality.(News)
November 1, 2005... Byline: David Shaw Conti-Sime plans to spend RM 200 million ([euro]44 million) to expand its two tyre factories in Malaysia. One plant is in Petaling Jaya, making heavy truck tyres; the other in Alor Star makes car and light truck tyres,...

newsbriefs.(Effanbee Doll Corp. develops an injection moulding process)(Mitsui Chemical Co. introduces EPDM rubber)(Performance Fibers Holdings to increase capacity)
November 1, 2005... Ariane parts made at Effbe Effbe's plant in Habsheim, France, has recently developed an injection-moulding process for heat shield sleeves and O rings for the Ariane 5 booster rocket used in the European space programme. Effbe made a...

Nokian signs for new mixing room at Russian plant.(News)
November 1, 2005... Nokian Tyres plc signed a contract with YIT Construction Ltd on 23 Sept for a new mixing room to expand its new Vsevolozhsk tyre plant near St Petersburg in Russia. The contract covers construction of a mixing department and warehouse and...

Nokian buys US wholesalers.(University Wholesalers Inc. and University Wholesalers of New York acquired by Nokian Tyres PLC)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... Nokian Tyres has purchased University Wholesalers Inc and University Wholesalers of New York in North America. The company said the two acquisitions are designed to strengthen its wholesales and logistics in the strategically important North...

Dow plans to offer 'value propositions' to customers; The company brings together Dow's former elastomer businesses, including plastomers and the former Schkopau activities with many of the employees and products from the former DuPont-Dow elastomers business.(Dow Chemical Co.)
November 1, 2005... Byline: David Shaw Dow's elastomers business has one of the broadest range of elastomers of any supplier. Following the re-organisation of Dow's elastomer unit, into Dow's speciality plastics and elastomers unit, and the de-merger of...

EIU predicts 5% growth for NR as China tyre boom continues; High NR growth will continue-mostly because of Asia, where use will "exceed a massive three fifths" of global NR use by 2007, says forecast group.(Economist Intelligence Unit, natural rubber)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... Byline: Liz White The UK's Economist Intelligence Unit has revised its forecasts for global natural rubber demand upwards. China's current prospects of "sustained high level of demand for natural rubber have strengthened," the EIU said,...

'Great promise for NR' as oil prices rocket, SR tightens; Will NR's 'green' potential widen its use as oil prices continue upwards? The Indian Rubber Board hopes so.(natural rubber)(synthetic rubber)
November 1, 2005... Byline: Liz White There is great "future promise for NR," globally, as a non-polluting raw material with excellent environmental credentials, according to Dr KT Mani, deputy director of the Rubber Board of India. Not only is NR...

Distributorships expanding.(Velox GmbH)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... Germany-based Velox GmbH is a distributor for a wide range of materials for the polymer sector.and the sector is growing, said Bobby Basra UK sales manager with Velox UK Ltd (below). This expansion is occurring because the large...

untitled.(News)
November 1, 2005... Interplas exhibitors Dr Chris Stevens (below right) , technical manager for glass cord maker NGF Europe Ltd with David Mason, business development manager for glass flake at the St Helens, UK -based glass products unit. Glass cord is used to...

FDS looks at hybrid progress.(Freudenberg Dichtungs und Schwingungstechnik)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... Freudenberg Dichtungs- und Schwingungstechnik is developing elastomer encoder technology specifically for use with hybrid propulsion systems. "Such encoders have been used for engine management or ABS systems in major car series for several...

Technical elastomer foam growing rapidly, says Armacell; Armacell has added a US elastomer foamer and a Belgian plastic foam unit this year.(Company Profile)
November 1, 2005... Byline: Liz White Demand for Armacell International GmbH's elastomeric foam products is increasing rapidly. "The business area of technical foams has great growth potential," said Ulrich Weimer, president of Armacell International. ...

Akzo Nobel to set up new polysulphide plant in China; Akzo Nobel boosting sulphide sealant precursors by 10 ktpa. Research continues on these materials (below).(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... Byline: Liz White Akzo Nobel is expanding its polysulphide and paper chemicals activities in China, investing about [euro]15 million in two new production facilities. The group is building a new polysulphides plant in Taixing, and a...

Kraiburg adds TPE building.(Suppliers)
November 1, 2005... Kraiburg TPE has broken ground for construction of an administration building at its Waldkraiburg home. Franz Hinterecker, chief executive officer of the styrenic thermoplastic elastomer producer, presided over the 15 Sept ceremony...

newsbriefs.(GE Bayer Silicones GmbH to invest to increase capacity)(Columbian Chemicals Co. to open in Brazil)(Kuraray Chemical Company Ltd. invests for better production of thermoplastic elastomers)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... GE Bayer Silicones to add LSR capacity in Germany Leverkusen, Germany-GE Bayer Silicones plans to invest in additional capacity for liquid silicone rubber at its facility in Leverkusen, Germany to help meet expanding European and global...

Australian researchers develop 'near-perfect rubber'; Rubber developed from natural protein resilin may be perfect for spinal disc implants.(News)
November 1, 2005... Byline: Liz White Scientists at Australian research institute CSIRO have developed what they describe as "a near-perfect rubber" from a natural protein. The material, resilin, is the muscle protein which gives fleas their ability to leap...

Pirelli inaugurates Chinese joint venture. Factory produced first truck tyre in 2004, but Pirelli acquisition breaks speed records in China.(News)
November 1, 2005... Byline: David Shaw Italy came to China in mid-October, as Pirelli celebrated the acquisition of a controlling share in a year-old truck tyre factory tyres in Yanzhou, Shandong province, China. In April last year, China's largest...

Tyre market in China.($8 million or 9% of total global market)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... According to Pirelli data, the global tyre market is worth some $90 000 million. The Chinese market is around $8 million-or 9 percent. Within the truck sector, China makes up about 20 percent of the 133 million units made in the world each...

Oil, rubber may have peaked as truck registrations climb.(ews)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... 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...

Finnish company sets up auto components plant in Russia; New Russian rubber part making unit will supply automotive, white goods sectors.(Reka Oy)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... Byline: David Shaw Finnish rubber processor, Reka Rubber is planning to set up a factory in Vyborg, Russia, to make rubber goods for the automotive and the white goods sectors. Currently the Aura-based company makes moulded rubber...

Diary.(Brief Article)(Calendar)
November 1, 2005... 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/ * Introduction to rubber technology,...

Price fixing - the plot thickens.(bittersweet tough world)(Column)
November 1, 2005... Byline: David Shaw A while back, I was talking to someone who took part in price-fixing activities in the rubber chemicals sector. In a strictly off-the-record conversation, he (I use the term "he" for convenience. To preserve the person's...

Michelin remains the world's biggest tyre maker; Our annual listing of the world's top tyre makers reveals small, but subtle changes.(Compagnie Generale des Etablissement Michelin)
November 1, 2005... Byline: Bruce Davis After years of steady but unspectacular growth, the global tyre industry's sales revenues shot up nearly 15 percent in 2004, on a combination of higher volume, higher prices and currency exchange changes. The...

You can use your iPod underwater-with Otter's rubber lined case.(iPod for music fans)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... Otter Products llc has extended its OtterBox for iPod line-for music fans who need "rugged protection," the firm says. The new OtterBox for iPod is a group of waterproof, interactive cases for Apple iPod 20GB, 30/40/60GB, mini and the iPod...

Tyre makers show sales gains in first half, but costs are rising; In the first half, the tyre makers saw strong growth in sales, but margins were under pressure as raw materials costs soared. The same pattern was shown in the third quarter, as companies revised downwards their profit forecasts.(Special Report)
November 1, 2005... Byline: Lisa Hockensmith Escalating raw material costs continue to plague global tyre makers' bottom lines, but a host of individual factors also have been tipping the scales for better or worse so far this year. Though profitability...

African tyre manufacturers change names, partners; The former Firestone East Africa has severed technical links with Bridgestone, and intends to go its own way, while Matador is investing in Ethiopia.(Sameer Africa Ltd)(Matador-Addis Tyre)
November 1, 2005... Byline: Vera Fedchenko, Bruce Davis Two of Africa's longer surviving tyre makers-Firestone East Africa Ltd. in Kenya and Addis Tire Co. in Ethiopia-have changed identities and technical partners in the last year. Firestone East Africa,...

Sumitomo lays plans for steady growth in Asia; Sumitomo Rubber Industries retained the use of the Dunlop brand in Asia when it sold its share of Dunlop's European operations to Goodyear. Since then, the company has calmly built up brand and capacity in the Asian region, home of the world's fastest-growing tyre markets.(Special Report)
November 1, 2005... Byline: Bruce Davis While Group Michelin, Bridgestone Corp. and Goodyear battle for market share around the globe and Continental AG seeks its fortunes in the integrated automotive supply business, Japan's Sumitomo Rubber Industries (SRI)...

Michelin reinvents truck tyre, delivers 50 percent longer life; Michelin will invest [euro]400 million over the coming years to deploy its new truck-tyre manufacturing technologies. The company has adapted designs first introduced on passenger car tyres for use in truck tyres to deliver longer life and smaller tyres.
November 1, 2005... Byline: David Shaw Michelin claims it has re-written the rule book on truck tyres. The company claims it can improve life and grip by up to 50 percent based on two technologies that it intends to bring to other tyres in its portfolio over...

New Toyo plant begins trial production using ATOM in US; Toyo has started production at its Georgia plant, using the ATOM manufacturing technique. This reduces the labour input by 66 percent, making the factory competitive in an expensive region.(Toyo Tire and Rubber Company Ltd., automated tire operation module, Toyo Tire and Rubber Company Ltd)
November 1, 2005... Byline: Vera Fedchenko, Bruce Davis Toyo Tire North America Inc. has completed construction of its $150 million passenger and light truck tyre plant in White, Georgia, and had just started trial production at the end of 2005. Commercial...

Tyre companies on a capital investment spending spree; Last year saw over $5000 million in investment in the tyre industry. Bridgestone invested most in increased capacity, with Goodyear trailing far behind the other manufacturers. Next year looks as though it will go the same way.(market share )
November 1, 2005... Byline: Bruce Davis The world's major tyre makers, led by Bridgestone Corp.'s unprecedented $2000 million in announced capacity expansion projects, have committed nearly $4300 million in tyre plant capital expenditures in the past 12...

Global tyre plants 2004 data.(Special Report)
November 1, 2005... The following table lists tyre-making facilities throughout the world. Plant information shows: the year a factory opened; whether some of the workers are represented in a union*; the number of employees at the facility; the types of tyre made...

Tyre plant cross-reference.(locations)
November 1, 2005... Amtel Europe Enschede: Netherlands Kirov: Russia Krasnoyarsk: Russia Voronezh: Russia Bila Tserkva, Kiev: Ukraine Bridgestone Africa Brits: South Africa Port Elizabeth: South Africa Asia ...

Finnish profiles firm expands silicone extrusion.(FinnProfiles Oy increases production capacity)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... Byline: Liz White Profiles producer FinnProfiles Oy started up a fourth silicone rubber extruder line at its plant in Ii, Finland, this year-raising its total silicone extrusion capacity to 250 tonnes a year. The plant at Ii...

Goodyear explores sale of Engineered Products business.(Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co.)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2005... Goodyear is looking into the possible sale of the company's Engineered Products business because it's considered a non-core operation by the company. Goodyear's Engineered Products division makes airsprings, industrial hose, hydraulic...