European Rubber Journal articles from September 2006

European Rubber Journal archives from September 2006

Correction.(Correction notice)
September 1, 2006... In the May/June issue of ERJ, we used a picture from Rubber Resources on the front cover of the magazine. Rubber Resources processes scrap tyres and rubber to make commercial crumb used in many applications. Unfortunately, due to an...

Goodyear sells tyre cord business to Hyosung for $80 m; Hyosung expands tyre cord business with purchase and supply deal as Goodyear outsources all its tyre cord operations.(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Byline: David Shaw Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. has agreed to sell its global tyre cord weaving and converting operations in Luxembourg, Brazil and the US to Hyosung Corp. The Korean company will pay Goodyear and its affiliates $80...

GM sues Goodyear over supply dispute.(News)
September 1, 2006... A lawsuit General Motors Corp. filed against Goodyear has moved to the US District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan from the Macomb County (Michigan) Circuit Court. GM claims Goodyear violated its contract with the auto maker in...

Ansell's profits surge on sale of SPT as latex prices rise; Ansell profits more than double on sale of South Pacific Tyre, but company remains concerned about huge increases in raw materials prices.(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Byline: Kate Tilley Condom and rubber glove maker Ansell posted a strong net profit result for the 2006 fiscal year despite pressure from rising latex prices. The Australian manufacturer reported a 113 percent surge in net profit to...

briefs.
September 1, 2006... Cardinal Health earnings rose in '06 Dublin, Ohio - Cardinal Health has reported fourth-quarter and fiscal 2006 results, with full-year revenue rising 10 percent to $81 364 million and operating earnings improving 8 percent to $1967...

Tomkins' outlook good for next year: Morgan Stanley; UK-based parent of Gates Rubber looks set for growth as rubber and TPMS markets start to take off.(News)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... The operational outlook of Tomkins plc will improve in the next 12 months and the company's earnings per share (EPS) will grow by 14 percent in 2008, according to predictions by investment bank Morgan Stanley & Co International. The bank...

Car makers rescue Australian parts suppliers.(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Seven auto manufacturers, including Ford, GM Holden and Toyota, have agreed to a A$10 million (US$7.56 million) rescue deal to keep three Australian automotive parts businesses afloat. Melbourne-based Huon Corp had bought the three...

briefs.(appointment of Bruno Humblet)(appointment of Julian Baldwin )(appointment of Gustavo Lima )(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Bekaert appoints new CFO Brussels - Steel cord manufacturer Bekaert has brought in former Procter & Gamble director Bruno Humblet as its new chief financial officer. Humblet will succeed Bert De Graeve, who was promoted to chief...

Sales, profits up at Tomkins in first half.(News)
September 1, 2006... Tomkins PLC, owner of Gates Corp, has reported increased sales and profits for the six months ended June 2006. Sales for the first half increased by 13.2 per cent to [pounds sterling]1750 million ([euro] 2588 million) (H1 2005: [pounds...

Handbags made from recycled inner tubes.(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... A US company is buying up old inner tubes and turning them into women's handbags. The company, Passchal, says it is experiencing high volume sales and cannot deliver finished products until October. Passchal is owned and operated by former...

briefs.(Chinese tyre exports grow)(Research and Markets ltd. offers a report on global automotive parts industry)(Silica market and industry forecast)
September 1, 2006... Market report into TPMS systems Dublin, Ireland - Information broker Research and Markets is selling a report into the tyre pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) business. The report, by Just-Auto is 42 pages long and costs [euro]743.00 ...

Trelleborg's Q2 operating profit down as sales rise; Trelleborg continues expansion through acquisition and growth.(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Swedish polymer group Trelleborg AB posted a 5.8 per cent drop in second quarter operating profit for continuing operations from the same period last year, putting the setback down to increased costs of raw materials. The company reported...

briefs.(Trelleborg AB accquires Mehren Rubber A/S)(Trelleborg Building Systems to acquire Hetag Tagmaterialer A/S)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Mehren Rubber goes to Trelleborg Stockholm, Sweden - Trelleborg's acquisition of Mehren Rubber A/S through its Engineered Systems business area has now been completed. The company has annual sales of about SEK 65 M ([euro]7 million),...

Apollo Tyres to build radial tyre plant in southern India; Indian firm continues global expansion with passenger car tyre factory in southern India, close to NR supplies.(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Apollo Tyres Ltd. has picked a site in India's Tamil Nadu state for a new radial passenger, light and medium truck tyre plant, to be built at a cost of $112 million ([euro]87.2 million) over five years. Apollo plans to acquire 135 acres...

briefs.(Michelin Tyre PLC fined for violating Work Equipment Regulations)(Bridgestone Firestone Chile SA to close a tire plant)(Michelin North America (Canada) Inc. plans investments to expand manufacturing facility)
September 1, 2006... Michelin ordered to pay [pounds sterling]112 500 for industrial accident Trent-on-Stoke, United Kingdom - Michelin Tyres plc was fined [pounds sterling]100 000 ([euro]146 300) and ordered to pay costs of [pounds sterling]12 500 by the UK...

Pirelli announces new truck tyre policy in UK; UK-based policy may be extended to rest of the world.(Pirelli UK PL, marketing strategy)
September 1, 2006... Byline: David Shaw Pirelli UK has announced a new strategy in the truck tyre sector. The approach will be rolled out to the rest of the Pirelli organisation over time. Pirelli chose the UK to introduce the new strategy because it is...

Pirelli sells 39 percent of Tyre unit to banks; Pirelli raises [euro]1897 million through sale of minority stake in tyre unit to banking consortium.(News)
September 1, 2006... Following the failed IPO launch of Pirelli Tyre last month, Pirelli SpA has agreed with a consortium of banks to sell a 39 percent stake in Pirelli Tyre for [euro]740 million. This values the company at around [euro]1897 million. This valuation...

briefs.(Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. launches new truck tires, and plans to expand use of self-sealing technology in tires)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Goodyear rolls out fuel-efficient tyres based on new technology San Angelo, Texas - Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. has launched three fuel-efficient line-haul tyres based on new technology it said could deliver up to 4-percent better truck...

Degussa to reduce Black capacity at Belpre by half; Continuing trend to low-cost production regions means another carbon black line will close in the US.(Degussa Engineered Carbons Inc. plans to stop production at its Ohio plant)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Degussa Engineered Carbons LP (DEC) will close one of two rubber black production lines at its Belpre, Ohio, carbon black plant on 30 Sep. About 15 employees will be laid off, the company said. The company added that the closure will not...

Suppliers raise raw materials prices.(Suppliers)
September 1, 2006... Dow Reichhold: NBR latex Research Triangle Park, North Carolina - Dow Reichhold Speciality Latex has raised the price of its nitrile butadiene latex, used in glove manufacture, by five percent worldwide. The company blamed the price...

Farrel buys assets of Spanish machinery maker, Gumix; Farrel reaffirms its commitment to the rubber industry by rescuing Gumix from two years of financial difficulties.(Suppliers)
September 1, 2006... The future of troubled machinery maker Gumix SA is now secure. US-based Farrel Corp has purchased the technology and related assets of Gumix, located in Barcelona, Spain. The newly formed Farrel Spain SL will continue to offer the full line of...

On the ERJ web site ... www.europeanrubberjournal.com.(News)
September 1, 2006... You can find all the news we can't fit into the magazine, including... Trelleborg finalises Kawneer Rubber and Plastics takeover... Amtel-Vredestein denies share buy-back plans... West Pharmaceutical posts record quarterly sales, EPS...

briefs.(Safic-Alcan et Cie acquires Hubron Speciality Products)(DSM N.V. cleared in European Commission investigations)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... DSM escapes EC anti-trust charges Heerlen, Netherlands - The DSM group will not face anti-trust charges in Europe relating to the EPDM sector after the European Commission (EC) closed its investigation into alleged violations of the laws....

Malaysian firm to produce Vystar's non-allergic latex; Low allergen latex to be made by Revertex in Malaysia.(Revertex Malaysia Sdn. Bhd.)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... A Malaysian rubber manufacturer has agreed to produce Vystar Corp's "safe" latex, Vytex. Revertex Malaysia, a division of British speciality chemical producer Yule Catto, is one of the world's largest producers of pre-vulcanised rubber...

briefs.(E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Co. starts production of Kevlar-rubber composites)(Hartest Precision Instruments restructures operations)(Hexion Specialty Chemicals to market its polymer dispersions under new brand name Axilat)
September 1, 2006... Dyneon launches biodiesel-resistant fluoroelastomer Oakdale, Minnesota - 3M subsidiary Dyneon has launched a new fluoroelastomer product which it claims offers resistance to biodiesel at higher service temperatures. Dyneon said the FPO...

Bolstered by tyre sales gains, Bridgestone Corp ranks No. 1; Bridgestone edges out Michelin as the world's biggest tyre maker. Total market passes $100 000 million for the first time.(Company rankings)
September 1, 2006... Byline: Bruce Davis Reflecting the shifting currency values and various growth strategies globally, European Rubber Journal's top 75 tyre makers saw a number of changes this year, including Bridgestone Corp jumping to the top spot to...

Michelin leads in popularity stakes; Michelin is by far the most popular tyre brand name that Google users choose to search. Continental is second and Pirelli a very poor third.
September 1, 2006... Byline: David Shaw Michelin has remained in the public's mind, despite some unfortunate events, while Bridgestone, the world's top tyre maker barely shows on the same scale as Michelin. Google's trends tool shows that people use Google...

Tyre plant data.(News)
September 1, 2006... 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...

Michelin eyes developing countries.(Compagnie Generale des Etablissement Michelin)
September 1, 2006... Byline: David Zielasko Groupe Michelin has its eye on grabbing a larger slice of tyre sales from emerging markets in the world, but it's not overlooking opportunities in western Europe, North America and Japan. By 2009, the French tyre...

RFID to be in commercial truck tyres within five years; The business case for RFID in car tyres is weak, says Michelin, but tyre companies are working hard to make the system work.(using radio frequency identification chips in tires)
September 1, 2006... Byline: David Shaw RFID - for radio frequency identification - is a new technology that is generating a great deal of hype. Beyond the hype, however, the system can provide some interesting commercial benefits to the tyre industry. In...

Central Europe an option for plants, start-ups; Central Europe has faster growth, a more wealthy population similar wage rates and is much closer to West European markets than China, so where is the obvious place to invest?(tire plants)
September 1, 2006... Byline: Dave Zielasko If you ask most business people where the most exciting place for a startup or a new plant is, the answer probably would be China. Media reports reinforce this point. "It's China, China, China, China, China, China...

CF Gomma refinances following Fiat dispute; Following a difficult summer, Italian auto goods maker gets an injection of cash and sells a stake to the bank.(News)
September 1, 2006... Byline: David Shaw CF Gomma, the Italian automotive supplier has completed a re-structuring of its finances with a cash injection of [pounds sterling]83.9 million. The cash comes from a new company, CF Holding Rubber SpA, a company created...

Flexsys-KKPC patent battle has a history - part 1 of 2; Flexsys is involved in an increasingly public battle over patent rights for its manufacturing process. But not all is as obvious as it might seem.(News)
September 1, 2006... Byline: David Shaw In business, you do well to keep your promises. Back in the early 1990s, Monsanto's rubber chemicals business made some promises to its Korean partner, Korea Kumho Petrochemical Corp (KKPC). Unfortunately, according to...

Tyre companies start talking about pressure management; While pressure management can deliver better fuel economy, longer tyre life and thus reduce consumption of fossil fuels and reduce CO2 emissions, it is proving difficult to get the public interested.
September 1, 2006... Byline: David Shaw The tyre industry is gradually coming to a consensus that tyre pressure management is going to be one of the next big issues. The trouble is, while everyone agrees it is important, no-one knows how to get the public...

VMI-AZ introduces fast-change gearpump; Gear pump can be changed in a few minutes by unskilled staff. Ideal for different compounds or for coloured compounds.(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Byline: David Shaw At DKT in Nuremberg in July, VMI-AZ Extrusion GmbH showed a quick-change gear pump system, in which an untrained person can easily swap the pump unit in just a few minutes. The system is aimed at companies who run...

Alpha upgrades RPA unit; sells global laboratory package; Alpha is finding that automation and fast cycle times are attractive to customers in the rubber industry and also in plastics processing.(News)
September 1, 2006... Byline: David Shaw Alpha Technologies is introducing a global laboratory package that can manage recipes, tests and results across multiple laboratories in different countries. In another development, the company has upgraded its...

Troester launches compact extruder at DKT.(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Under the motto "Innovations for the Rubber Industry", the advanced design of the Troester stand was only one of the many things worth seeing at the DKT this year. The German extruder specialists showed an innovative design of vacuum extruder...

NR prices fall to 2005 levels as oil prices ease a little.(rubber prices)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... 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...

Business is about relationships.(Column)
September 1, 2006... Byline: David Shaw It's not often we get a big legal case in this business, but when we do, there's usually a lot more to the issues than immediately meets the eye. The case reported on earlier in the magazine (pp32 -35) is a good example...

Trelleborg opens sealing plant in China: more to follow.(Trelleborg AB)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Trelleborg Group has opened a new manufacturing plant in China's Shanghai region for its Sealing Solutions division. The 10 000-square-metre facility will produce sealing products for the aerospace, chemical processing, semiconductor and...

briefs.(Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. divests its Goodyear Engineered Products)(Gates Corp and Winhere Auto-Part Manufacturing Company Ltd. establishes a joint venture company in China)(Teknor Apex Co. plans to shut down its rubber division)
September 1, 2006... Goodyear begins sale of EP unit Akron, Ohio - Goodyear began marketing its Engineered Products business unit to potential buyers in the second quarter, though executives expect the sale to take "considerable" time. In a conference call...

Skellerup full-year revenues boosted by acquisitions; New Zealand-based company expands with big acquisitions in Australia.(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Skellerup Holdings reported group revenues up by 34 percent, to NZ$159 million ([euro]79 million) for the 12 months ended June 2006. The increase was boosted by acquisitions. Organic growth at the company showed 8.3 percent growth. Operating...

briefs.(GPX International Tire Corp. acquires factory in China)(Avon Rubber PLC sells its plant to Clerical Medical Managed Fund)(European Rubber Journal relaunches its web site)
September 1, 2006... ERJ re-launches website London - ERJ has re-launched its website. The new site adds more features, such as a regular poll for readers to vote on and a forum where readers can pose questions, leave tips for news stories, or simply make a...

Freudenberg-NOK acquires Imperial Rubber of Canada; German-Japanese JV acquires supplier to oil and gas business. Will distribute products through its Simrit network.(News)
September 1, 2006... Freudenberg-NOK General Partnership has acquired the assets of Imperial Rubber and Urethane Corporation of Nisku, Alberta, Canada, to expand its business of elastomer products for the oil and gas market. Terms of the agreement were not...

IISRP, IRSG release joint forecasts.(News)
September 1, 2006... The International Rubber Study Group (IRSG) and the International Institute of Synthetic Rubber Producers (IISRP) have release their first combined forecast of natural and synthetic rubber consumption. The report, Demand for Natural Rubber...

Flexsys-KKPC patent battle has a history - part 2 of 2; Flexsys is involved in an increasingly public battle over patent rights for its manufacturing process. But not all is as obvious as it might seem.(News)
September 1, 2006... Byline: David Shaw Implications of the case. In legal terms, said Chambers, the case is exploring to what extent a US patent regulates processes in other countries. Normally, he said, to regulate the industry in the UK you need a UK...