European Rubber Journal articles from October 2001

European Rubber Journal archives from October 2001

Wennemer takes over at Conti, saves ContiTech. (Rubber news).(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... Continental AG will keep hold of its technical rubber goods unit, ContiTech, and "actively include its various business units in the corporate strategy," the group announced 13 Sept. Two days earlier, former ContiTech boss Manfred Wennemer was...

Toyoda Gosei announces UK expansion. (Rubber news).(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... Further investment will go into Rotherham seals plant as 100 staff are added Automotive components maker Toyoda Gosei Co. Ltd (TG) is to expand its recently opened weatherstrip plant in Rotherham, South Yorkshire. The expansion, announced...

Parker Hannifin completes aeroquip air-con unit purchase.(from Eaton Corp.)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... [] Cleveland, Ohio--Parker Hannifin has completed its purchase of Eaton Corp's Aeroquip Air Conditioning and Refrigeration business, Parker announced. The deal, for an undisclosed amount, gives Parker ownership of the $75-million-per-year AC&R...

EC clears Dow/Reichhold JV. (Rubber news).(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... [] Brussels--The European Commission has cleared a planned joint venture to combine the speciality latex businesses of Dow Chemical Co. and Reichhold Inc. The JV called Dow Reichhold Specialty Latex LLC will be headquartered in Research...

Michelin and Bosch ally in vehicle dynamics. (Rubber news)(Cover Story).(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... Strategic partnership will boost safety and performance by improving communication between tyres and electronic management systems. Groupe Michelin and Robert Bosch GmbH have signed a long-term strategic partnership agreement for the...

Carlisle to buy Dayco power transmission unit. (Rubber news).(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... Sale of Dayco belt unit to Carlisle completes Mark IV's departure from industrial sector. Carlisle Cos Inc. is to acquire the Dayco Industrial Power Transmission business of Mark IV Industries Inc. for about $150 million, in cash and debt...

Saint-Gobain buys Mox-Med. (Rubber news).(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Corp. has purchased silicone products maker Mox-Med Inc. from Actuant Corp. for about $40 million. The deal expands Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics' silicone rubber offerings and marks Milwaukee,...

Delphi wins second E-Steer contract. (Rubber news).(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... [] Frankfurt, Germany--Delphi Automotive Systems Corp.'s supply of `E-Steer' electronic steering units to Fiat SpA has surpassed the million unit mark, and the company has gained a second supply contract, for Volkswagen AG's Lupo minicar. ...

Goodrich to spin off engineered products unit. (Rubber news).(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... Division of US firm into aerospace and industrial units will give better focus and more shareholder value, chairman says. Goodrich Corp. plans to spin off its Engineered Industrial Products business into a separate publicly traded company...

Goodrich buys Dana bearings unit. (Rubber news).(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... [] Charlotte, North Carolina--Dana Corp. has completed the sale of its industrial polymer bearings businesses to Goodrich Corp. Goodrich hopes to become a major force in the global speciality bearings market via the acquisition. Dana's...

Silentbloc wins contract for ball-joints for Hong-Kong's rail system.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... [] Burton-on-Trent, UK--Silentbloc, part of Silvertown UK Ltd, has won a contract to supply anti-roll-bar assemblies for use in new trains for the Hong Kong Mass Transit system. Silvertown will supply a torsion bar, forks, links and fasteners...

Tomkins to use FreeMarkets for procurement.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... [] Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania--FreeMarkets Inc., a provider of software and services to assist in online procurement, said Tomkins plc will use the firm's services to source a variety of goods and services for its global operations. Tomkins is...

ASTM gaskets committee wants international participation.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... [] West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania--The gaskets committee (F03) of the American Society for Testing and Materials has formed a subsidiary unit, the `Standards Coordination and Globalisation Initiative Subcommittee F03.96' with the aim of...

Rubber stamp for concorde to takeoff. (Rubber news).(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... After much work on the tyres and the use of rubber lined fuel tanks, the supersonic aircraft is clear to fly again. The UK's Civil Aviation Authority and the French Direction General de l'Aviation Civile have agreed to restore Certificates...

Tenneco and Tokico in shock-absorber deal. (Rubber news).(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... US and Japanese shock absorber suppliers form alliance to make parts for Japanese vehicles with global platforms. Tenneco Automotive of the US and Tokico Ltd of Japan have formed a strategic alliance to market, engineer and manufacture...

Smooth hardworking seals.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... [] Woking, Surrey--A new rotary lip seal for industrial plant from UK seal specialist James Walker & Co. Ltd offers low maintenance and high efficiency, the firm claims. Trialled extensively on hot bearings in a steel rolling-mill in Germany,...

Report finds high number of latex-sensitive in UK. (Rubber news).(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... Ban cheap latex gloves which cause problems and offer latex-free options to healthcare workers, UK union says. At least 100 000 employees of the UK's National Health Service--some 10 percent of its staff--suffer from natural rubber latex...

Vita to sell Spartech stake, margins recover. (Rubber news).(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... Liquid and plastics compounding activities performed well, but generally margins need improving at UK foam maker. British Vita plc is to sell its shareholding in Spartech Inc, of St Louis, Missouri, Vita announced, alongside first half...

Metso to offer rubber roll covering in China. (Rubber news).(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... New Chinese centre offers rubber roll coverings for local paper sector. Finnish machinery supplier Metso Paper has opened a service technology centre in Wuxi, China, about 100 km west of Shanghai, in Jiangsu Province. The centre will...

Trelleborg spends in UK as integration proceeds. (Rubber news).(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... Swedish group sets up new UK plant as it integrates acquisitions It sees US auto market performing better in the first half of 2001 than predicted last year. The Trelleborg Group's Automotive business unit is to invest a total of SEK 150...

Drug storage closures use TPE.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... [] Brussels--A leading Dutch supplier of drug storage systems is using thermoplastic elastomers for the multi-piercable drug-storage closures in its new TraXis system. Micronic of Lelystad, The Netherlands, is using the TPEs in preference to...

Engaged in Audi A2 parts.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... [] Geneva, Switzerland--Wheel-arch fenders and integral wing panels on the new Audi A2 are made from polypropylene which has been impact-modified with DuPont Dow Elastomers' Engage material. This material, described by DuPont-Dow as a...

Vredestein's bike, car tyre moves paying off. (Type news).(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... Losses continue at Dutch tyre maker Vredestein NV, but it has been reorganising its businesses to produce better results, following the closure of its Dutch bicycle tyre plant and its UK boot factory. Vredestein lost 2.9 million [euro] in...

Goodyear & Siemens to develop monitors. (Type news).(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... Tyre major Goodyear and electronics supplier Siemens VDO Automotive are to jointly develop an advanced tyre-pressure-warning system to enhance tyre and vehicle safety. The firms hope for a rapid entry into the market. The US Transportation...

SmarTire goes solo in tyre monitors. (Type news).(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... TRW and SmarTire Systems Inc. have cancelled an earlier exclusive agreement on joint development and marketing of tyre pressure monitoring devices. The move is designed to allow SmarTire greater market scope with these devices, covering all...

Michelin seeks funding for Romanian operations.(European Bank for Reconstruction and Development)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... [] London--The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is considering a request for $30-million to help develop Groupe Michelin's Romanian tyre operations. The EBRD's board was expected to discuss the proposed funding, which involves...

Goodyear to develop PU tyre with Amerityre. (Type news).(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... Leading tyre maker joins a programme aimed at developing polyurethane-based car tyres. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. has signed on to a development programme for polyurethane-based automotive tyres. The project aims to find a PU replacement...

Cement firm gets green light to burn tyres in UK. (Type news).(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... Up to 24 percent of fuel for cement kilns can be scrap tyres, says UK environment agency. Blue Circle Cement UK has gained approval to burn up to 4 million scrap tyres a year as a partial fuel replacement at its Westbury, Wiltshire, works,...

TDF standard issued.(tyre-derived fuel)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... The American Society for Testing and Materials has issued a standard for tyre-derived fuel. Such a standard should eliminate some of the barriers against acceptance of TDF as a supplemental fuel, according to Michael Blumenthal, vice...

Engstler to use Marangoni tyres.(German car tuner Franz Engstler)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... [] Verona, Italy--German car tuner Franz Engstler of Wiggenbach, Bavaria, is to install Marangoni tyres on the Alfa Romeo cars he tunes. He will also cooperate with Marangoni on development and testing of their future high-performance tyre...

Cordenka advances rayon-spinning process. (Supplier news).(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... Acordis unit invests in state-of-the-art rayon spinning technology. Rayon yarn producer Cordenka is carrying out pilot trials of a new one-step spinning technology at its production facility in Obernburg, Germany, said Acordis Industrial...

Wardwell launches Italian subsidiary. (Supplier news).(Wardwell Braiding Machine Co.)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... Braiding machinery supplier sets up Italian unit, consolidates range of Spirka acquisition made in July. Its German operation has expanded to meet demand for equipment for making interconnect wire and cable for broadband uses. US equipment...

Krupp develops better control for extrusion. (Supplier news).(Krupp Elastomertechnik)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... [] Hamburg Germany--A new multi-stage control system for multi-component lines for extruding tyre tread parts from Krupp Elastomertechnik GmbH allows users to compensate for lack of uniformity in the material fed into the process, claims the...

Tough extrusion cutting possible with heavy duty cutter.(from Gillard)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... [] Tewkesbury, UK--Companies who produce extrusions have a new option for heavy duty cutting jobs: a new extra-heavy-duty rotary cutter from UK machinery supplier Gillard offers more than twice the torque of previous cutters. It can cut...

German machine makers buoyant. (Rubber news).(polymer processing machinery)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 1, 2001... 2000 was a record year for makers of polymer processing machinery in Germany, but the order backlog will be down for 2001, says the VDMA. Germany's plastics and rubber machinery industry gained global market share in 2000, as core machinery...

Berstorff strengthens Far Eastern presence. (Rubber news).(opens Singapore office)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... German firm adds Singapore office as Beijing and Shanghai units take over dealings with the Chinese markets. Berstorff GmbH has opened a sales office in Singapore, following its establishment of a sales and service office in Beijing, China,...

Farrel losses continue.(Farrel Corp.)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 1, 2001... [] Ansonia, Connecticut--Rubber and plastics machinery maker Farrel Corp.'s net loss deepened in the second quarter, rising to $573 000 from $132 000 a year ago, on sales down by 19 percent to $12.4 million. The decline took Farrel's net loss...

ACB improves supply ability. (Rubber news).(Alexandria Carbon Black installs new unloading system)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... The Alexandria Carbon Black company of Alexandria, Egypt, has spent 150 000 [pounds sterling] ($220 000) to install a new system for unloading carbon black from FIBCs (flexible intermediate-bulk containers) and loading the contents into tankers...

Closures as PolyOne rejigs units.(company closes elastomer compounding operation)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... [] Cleveland, Ohio--PolyOne Corp. is closing its elastomer compounding operation at Tillsonburg, Ontario, and moving manufacture to its rubber mixing facilities in Ohio and Wisconsin. The company has also decided to relocate its...

DuPont changing mould release name.(Permacote changed to TraSys)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... [] Wilmington, Delaware--DuPont's coatings and release business is to change the name of its Permacote product line to TraSys (The Release Answer System), said a statement from the firm. The line, purchased from TRA Coatings Corp. at the...

IRSG expands Panel of Associates.(International Rubber Study Group)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... [] London--The International Rubber Study Group has added three new international members--Sogescol SA, the Iran Petrochemical Commercial Co (IPPC) and Associated Management Services Ltd (AMS)--to its Panel of Associates. Sogescol, a...

Noveon emerges from ex-BFG unit.(PMD Group Inc., BF Goodrich Co.)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... [] Brecksville, Ohio--PMD Group Inc., the former Performance Materials business of BF Goodrich Co., is now trading as Noveon Inc. An investors group comprising AEA Investors Inc, DLJ Merchant Banking Partners and DB Capital Partners acquired...

ElastomerSolutions signs on with Elemica. (Rubber news).(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... Not enough room in market for two major elastomers e-commerce sites. Becoming part of Elemica is a cost-effective move for ElastomerSolutions, the Web-based marketplace for the elastomers industry, and will expand what it offers to its...

Rubber producers agree to limit supply. (Rubber news).(natural rubber)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
October 1, 2001... Major NR producing countries hope to boost prices by cutting output and exports. But unofficial data suggests impact will be limited. Ministers from Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia have agreed to restrict supplies of natural rubber to the...

Muehlstein joins Omnexus.(H. Muehlstein and Company)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... [] Atlanta, Georgia--Major polymers distributor Muehlstein has joined Omnexus, the electronic plastics marketplace. The addition of rubber and plastics distributor H. Muehlstein & Company, Inc.--known in Europe as Pegasus Polymers--brings...

Novel nanocomposite TPO used on GM vans. (Rubber news).(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... An exterior part--a `step assist' used on two GM van models--is the first of many automotive uses for a strong, lightweight nanocomposites based on a TPO. Such materials are the future of automotive plastics, GM said. A nanocomposite...

Krug is WdK head.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... [] Frankfurt, Germany--Paul Eberhard Krug, chairman of the management board of Mannesmann Boge GmbH, has been appointed president of the German rubber manufacturers' association, the WdK.

Trelleborg names Caplea executive VP.(George Caplea)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... [] Stockholm, Sweden--Trelleborg AB named George Caplea, president of its automotive division, an executive vice president in the corporation. Last year, Caplea spearheaded the acquisitions of BTR plc's antivibration systems business and Laird...

Goodyear promotes.(Tim Toppen)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... [] Akron. Okio--Tim Toppen, former head of Goodyear Chemical, has been named president of Goodyear Engineered Products, replacing the late Tave Mallamaci. Jonathan Rich, Goodyear's director of chemical research and development, will...

Morgan elected to IISRP committee.(Roger Morgan; International Institute of Synthetic Rubber Producers)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... [] London--Roger Morgan, global director of Kraton D polymers, has been made president of the European section of the International Institute of Synthetic Rubber Producers for 2001-2002.

RubberNetwork names Europe boss.(Philippe Le Bourhis)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... [] Atlanta, Georgia--RubberNetwork.com llc has appointed Philippe Le Bourhis as managing director of its European operations. Based in Amsterdam, he will manage business development at the on-line marketplace for the rubber and tyre industry....

Avon reorganises.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... [] Melksham, UK--Avon Rubber plc has given executive director Steven Stone responsibility for Technical Products activities in the UK, France and North America. He will retain responsibility for the Westbury, UK mixing unit and the...

Michelin's US boss on executive council.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... [] Greenville, South Carolina--James Micali, chairman and president of Michelin North America Inc., will sit on the executive council of the Clermont-Ferrand, France-based Michelin Group, effective 30 July. The council comprises senior...

KSBI appoints.(Kobelco Stewart Bolling Inc.)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... [] Hudson, Ohio--Kobelco Stewart Bolling Inc. has added Richard Jorkasky II as processing manager. Increased demand from the rubber sector for Kobelco equipment means Jorkasky will be responsible for laboratory trials of KSBI's new 6-wing and...

Picked by PICME.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... [] Middlesborough, UK--Michael Glass has been appointed by the UK's Process Industries Centre for Manufacturing Excellence as its first senior manufacturing advisor. Glass has spent most of of career with ICI, most recently ICI Chemicals and...

Davis-Standard's new manager.(Paul Banks)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... [] Pawcatuck, Connecticut--Extruder maker Davis-Standard, part of the Crompton group, has appointed Paul Banks as business manager for its aftermarket barrel and screw sales.

Hose and belting consolidation likely. (Hose and Belting).(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... Consolidation in the automotive hose and belt markets is a strong possibility as manufacturers hone their operations to core competencies. But consolidation could be a long time coming, industry participants believe. "That potential...

Linatex belt covering adds grip for letters. Hose and belting.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... To improve the efficiency of postal sorting operations, belt manufacturers can now select a belt covering made from a new uncured form of Linatex rubber, called LinaCrepe. This exhibits the outstanding wear properties of Linatex rubber, and can...

Gates follows Conti with starter-generator unit ... Hose and belting.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... The Power Transmission Division of Gates Rubber Co. has co-developed a new starter/generator belt-driven system it hopes will keep its accessory drive belts, tensioners and pulleys in the loop as auto makers move to higher voltage systems. ...

... as Denso develops ISG for hybrids with Toyota. Hose and belting.(integrated starter generator)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... DENSO Corp., of Tokyo claims to have introduced the world's first belt-driven integrated starter generator (ISG), which is aimed mainly at hybrid vehicles. The company said it has developed the product in cooperation with Toyota Motor...

Turning PTFE lips around for longer life radial seals: a seemingly simple change in design has produced a radial shaft seal or `simmering' with longer life, better sealing and easier installation. The new PTFE-lipped simmering is ideal for crankshaft seals, says developer Freudenberg. (Seal design).(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... Freudenberg Dichtung- und Schwingungs-technik has developed a new generation of radial engine-sealing rings, using lips made from PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene). And a simple design twist has radically improved the performance, according to...

Performance up, waste down using split cold runners: Short cleaning time and high reliability are claimed for a new system developed in Germany. (Mould making).(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... A new splittable cold-runner system for rubber moulding reduces cleaning time and improves the reliability of these runners, claims developer of the system, German mould maker Peta Formenbau GmbH. Long cleaning time and lack of reliability...

K2001 preview.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... K 2001 At a Glance Organiser: Messe Dusseldorf GmbH Postfach 10 10 06 D-40001 Dusseldorf Staging cycle: Every three years Show venue: Dusseldorf...

Impact aims to allow continuous production: Goodyear kept the details of its impact system quiet until earlier this year, but ERJ has had exclusive access to the system, and here brings you a second report about the objectives and likely future direction of this efficient tyre-building system. (Tyre Manufacturer).(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. executives have a clear vision of what they believe tyre manufacturing will become in the near future, and the word that describes their vision best is "continuous." Continuous, as in no internal mixers. ...

IAA responds to terrorist attacks. (IAA Show).(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... The world's automotive community, gathered in Frankfurt for the biennial Frankfurt International Motor Show, took serious precautions following terrorist attacks in New York and Washingon. General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co., Volkswagen AG and...

BLIC conference set for Warsaw. (Conferences).(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... BLIC (Bureau de Liaison des Industries de Caoutchouc) has announced it is to hold a I conference on the rubber industry in East Europe, on 19-20 November 2001. The event is being co-hosted with the Polish Rubber Industry Association. It...

Tyre manufacturing systems start to make sense. (postcript).(Brief Article)
October 1, 2001... This month, the future of tyre making. It's a big topic, but I think the mists are starting to clear, and we can finally start to put together some of the clues which have been emerging over the last couple of years. The first conclusion I...