Plastics Engineering articles from January 2002

Plastics Engineering archives from January 2002

SPE celebrates 60 years. (From SPE).(Society of Plastics Engineers conference)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... The Society of Plastics Engineers invites you to join us in celebrating 60 years of service to the plastics industry. On December 2, 1941, a select group of plastics sales engineers met in Detroit; and at this meeting, Fred O. Conley, later...

Ultrasonic boon. (Applications in Plastics).(Nishiba Industries,)(Sonobond Ultrasonics, ultrasonic welder)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Nishiba Industries of Tijuana, B.C., Mexico, uses the SureWeld ultrasonic plastic welder from Sonobond Ultrasonics to assemble its speakers. Ultrasonic welding works by transmitting high-frequency vibrations to the interface of the plastic...

"Hands-off' medical analysis. (Applications in Plastics).(Dade Behring, Immunoassay Analyzers)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
January 1, 2002... The Opus and Opus Plus Immunoassay Analyzers produced by Dade Behring (Deerfield, Ill.) perform automated analysis of blood and other body fluids--including the adding of reagents--with the sample remaining "untouched by human hands," the...

TPO is deployed for airbag duty. (Applications in Plastics).(Ford Motor Co., Solvay, thermoplastic polyolefin)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... The Ford Motor Co. has selected Sequel 2321 thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) from Solvay Engineered Polymers for use in the interior parts that cover the B-pillars of the 2002. Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable sedans. The latest addition to the...

Plastics Learning Network announces spring session. (SPI News).(distance-learning educational network, plastics industry)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... The Plastics Learning Network (PLN) is preparing for its spring 2002 term while drawing kudos for its efforts in 2001. PLN, the only distance-learning educational network dedicated exclusively to the needs of the plastics industry, is a...

SPI adopts energy policy. (SPI News).(Society of the Plastics Industry, Energy Task Force)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... The Executive Board of The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc. (SPI), has approved the energy policy created by the association's Energy Task Force to guide the organization's efforts on this issue. Under the policy, SPI supports energy...

Design collaboration made simpler. (Computers & Plastics).(IX SPeeD Suite, CAD software, ImpactXoft Corp.)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... IX SPeeD Suite of software for product development has been created to allow project members to create, revise, and give final approval to product models simultaneously. According to ImpactXoft Corp., the creator of the software, design...

Extrusion control, on screen. (Computers & Plastics).(AEC/HydReclaim, extrusion machinery for plastics)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... AEC/HydReclaim says that its CoExpert system provides layer thickness control for processors of film, wire, cable, pipe, tube, and profile extrusions. CoExpert is described as an industrially hardened Pentium PC-based controller with software...

Heating-cooling mixers for compounding PVC. (Equipment & Processing).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... The Mixing Technology Division of Thyssen Henschel Industrietechnik GmbH announces that it has made significant improvements in its heating-cooling mixers for the compounding of PVC. The system is now equipped with a Siemens WIN CC control,...

Extrusion tooling for wood and polymer composites. (Equipment & Processing).(Guill Tool, Equaflow Series)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Guill Tool's new Equaflow Series extrusion tooling has been designed to overcome the problems commonly encountered by extrusion manufacturers of wood and polymer composites. These include warping, twisting, voids, sagging at the product's...

Fuel cell plate manufacturing process evolves. (Equipment & Processing).(Hull/finmac, compression moulding machines)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... A new development in the production of thermoset fuel cell plates has been announced by Hull/finmac. Challenged to design a high-yield system for repeatable molding of a thermoset compound with high density, high conductivity, and low weight,...

Pellet screener is very exclusive. (Equipment & Processing).(Rotex Inc.)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... The new Plastic Pellet Screener from Rotex features a new design that offers compounders extremely accurate removal of off-size material, the manufacturer announces. The screener design has two main components: a horizontal,...

Seals resist hostile conditions. (Equipment & Processing).(Meco Systems, seals for conveyors and agitation shafts)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... The Ex-Pac from Meco Systems combines features of the company's EAS and Meco-Pac seals into a product that is said to excel in "some of the least hospitable process environments." Ex-Pac seals are used on conveyors and agitator shafts in...

Compounding.(Husky Injection Molding Systems and Coperion Corp. developed a long-fiber thermoplastics manufacturing process)
January 1, 2002... In its developments in equipment and formulations, the business of compounding is keeping step with the demands of innovative plastic products. Also in the mix are the pressures for increased global capabilities in both supply and local...

NPE 2003 exhibitors: Application deadline nears. (Industry News).(Society of the Plastics Industry exhibition in Chicago)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... The Exhibitor Prospectus for NPE 2003 has been published and mailed out, and the deadline for submitting exhibit applications draws near. So notes the Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc. (SPI), the exposition sponsor, urging all companies...

PE Fiber is enlisted for fortifying cockpits. (Industry News).(Honeywell International, C and D Aerospace,)(polyethylene fiber for airplane cockpits)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... On October 29, 2001, Honeywell (Morris Township, N.J.) announced the selection of its Spectra polyethylene (PE) fiber by C&D Aerospace (Huntington Beach, Calif.) as the primary ballistic protection material for C&D's new strengthened cockpit...

Biomedical firm "eyes" corneal-implant business. (Industry News).(Argus Biomedical Pty Ltd. acquires artificial cornea)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Argus Biomedical Pty Ltd., a private company based in Perth, Western Australia, has acquired from the Lions Eye Institute (LEI) of Western Australia the exclusive rights to commercialize the AlphaCor, an artificial cornea developed by the...

Cleveland-based PolyOne Corp. announces that it has begun a process to acquire 100% of the shares of Transcolor S.A. (Acquisitions).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Cleveland-based PolyOne Corp. announces that it has begun a process to acquire 100% of the shares of Transcolor S.A., a color-concentrate producer operating in northern Spain, near Pamplona. The transaction is expected to be completed in the...

Chemcentral Corp., headquartered in Bedford Park, Ill., has confirmed the completed acquisition of virtually all the assets of Southwest Solvents & Chemicals. (Acquisitions).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Chemcentral Corp., headquartered in Bedford Park, Ill., has confirmed the completed acquisition of virtually all the assets of Southwest Solvents & Chemicals and certain of its affiliates. The acquired company operates facilities in Houston,...

Solvay S.A. (Acquisitions).(received government approval to buy British Petroleum's engineering polymers plants in the U.S.)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Solvay S.A. (Brussels, Belgium) announces that it has received regulatory approval for the acquisition of BP's engineering polymers business-including plants in Atlanta and Augusta, Ga.; Marietta, Ohio; and Greenville, S.C. (effective Nov. 1,...

Jan & Schuyler Co., Inc., of Elmonte, Cal., has been purchased by Builders Hardware, Inc. (Acquisitions).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Jan & Schuyler Co., Inc., of Elmonte, Cal., has been purchased by Builders Hardware, Inc. The company's name is now J&S Co.; the address and phone numbers remain the same.

Having expanded operations to Europe, Shirley, Mass.-based Thermoplastic Rubbers Systems, Inc. (Distributors).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Having expanded operations to Europe, Shirley, Mass.-based Thermoplastic Rubbers Systems, Inc. (TRS), announces that Harvest Polymers Limited of Farnham, Surrey, U.K., will serve as its agent/distributor in the United Kingdom and in Ireland.

Acrolab Group. (Distributors).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Based in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, the Acrolab Group of companies announces that Acrolab has been named as a distributor for Honeywell (Morristown, N.J.).

Alltrista Corp. (Divestiture).(Wilbert Inc. buys plastic thermoforming operations)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Alltrista Corp. (Rye, N.Y.) announces that it has completed the sale of the assets of its Triangle, TriEnda, and Synergy World plastic thermoforming operations to Wilbert, Inc.

Bayer Plastics. (Expansions).(adds production line to Connecticut extruded film factory)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Bayer Plastics has added a production line at its Berlin, Conn., facility to manufacture Bayfol CR, an extruded film designed for printed overlays, nameplates, and front panels in the telecommunications and hand-held electronics market....

Pittsfield Plastics Engineering, Inc., and Precision Spools, Inc. (Expansions).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Pittsfield Plastics Engineering, Inc., and Precision Spools, Inc., announces that it has added a Hoppmann high-speed labeling machine and another Van Dorn 500-ton press to its recently expanded (by 40%) moldmaking and production facility in...

PolyOne Corp. (Expansions).(Glendale, Arizona factory to more than double in size)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... PolyOne Corp. (Cleveland) announces that its color compounding plant in Glendale, Ariz., will be expanded from 25,000 [ft.sup.2] to almost 60,000 [ft.sup.2]. The expansion is expected to almost double production output while enhancing customer...

Univation Technologies, the Houston-based joint venture of ExxonMobil Chemical Co. and The Dow Chemical Co. (Expansions).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Univation Technologies, the Houston-based joint venture of ExxonMobil Chemical Co. and The Dow Chemical Co., has begun expansion of the Exxpol metallocene catalyst manufacturing plant at its Mont Belvieu, Tex., facility, with the goal of...

Mold-Masters. (Expansions).(expands factory in Baden-Baden)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Mold-Masters, based in Georgetown, Ontario, Canada, has announced a 33% expansion in manufacturing space at it facilities in Baden-Baden, Germany. The expansion project was expected to be complete in Dec. 2001.

Risdon-AMS. (ISO/QS Certification).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... The following have received ISO, QS, or other Certification: Risdon-AMS, Watertown, Conn., ISO 9001, for its Danbury, Conn., plant. Maag Pump Systems Textron AG, Zurich, Switzerland, ISO 9001, for its American facility, Maag Pump...

Albemarle Corp. (Baton Rouge, La.) has announced that it is forming a worldwide joint venture with Atofina Chemicals, Inc. (Joint Ventures).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Albemarle Corp. (Baton Rouge, La.) has announced that it is forming a worldwide joint venture with Atofina Chemicals, Inc. (Paris), for the production and sale of organotin intermediates. Expected to be operational by Jan. 1, 2002, the venture...

Headquartered in Pulaski, Va., Xaloy, Inc., has announced an alliance with R.F. Dray and his company R.F. Dray Mtg., Inc. (Joint Ventures).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Headquartered in Pulaski, Va., Xaloy, Inc., has announced an alliance with R.F. Dray and his company R.F. Dray Mtg., Inc. Mr. Dray, who patented one of the first U.S. barrier screw designs, will provide a combination of design, consulting,...

The Dow Chemical Company of Midland, Mich., and Odessa, Fla.-based fuel cell developer Dais-Analytic Corp. (Joint Ventures).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... The Dow Chemical Company of Midland, Mich., and Odessa, Fla.-based fuel cell developer Dais-Analytic Corp. have announced an agreement to jointly develop Membrane Energy Recovery Ventilators (MERV) and membranes for hydrogen and direct...

GW Plastics, Inc. (Joint Ventures).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Bethel, Vt.-based custom molder GW Plastics, Inc., has announced a strategic partnership with RefacDesign, a product-development firm located in Edgewood, N.J.

Society of the Plastics Industry. (Joint Ventures).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... The Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI), based in Washington, D.C., and plastics e-marketplace Omnexus have announced that they are forming a strategic alliance providing each with a platform from which to promote its services. Omnexus is...

DuPont Display (Wilmington, Del.) and Cambridge Display Technology (CDT). (Joint Ventures).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... DuPont Display (Wilmington, Del.) and Cambridge Display Technology (CDT) (Cambridge, U.K.) have announced a strategic agreement to advance commercialization of light-emitting polymer (LEP) displays, also known as polymer organic light-emissive...

Nanocor, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Amcol International Corp. (Arlington Heights, Va.), and Polymeric Supply, Inc. (Ft. Pierce, Fla.), have entered into a marketing and distribution alliance. (Joint Ventures).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Nanocor, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Amcol International Corp. (Arlington Heights, Va.), and Polymeric Supply, Inc. (Ft. Pierce, Fla.), have entered into a marketing and distribution alliance. Per their agreement, Polymeric Supply will...

Halstab, a division of Hammond Group (Hammond, Ind.), and Demosa, a subsidiary of Grupo Industrial Trebol S.A. de C.V. (Monterrey, Mexico) have announced a joint marketing and manufacturing agreement. (Joint Ventures).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Halstab, a division of Hammond Group (Hammond, Ind.), and Demosa, a subsidiary of Grupo Industrial Trebol S.A. de C.V. (Monterrey, Mexico) have announced a joint marketing and manufacturing agreement. Halstab will represent the venture's...

Trend Technologies, Inc., of San Jose, Calif., has announced the formation of a "Northeast Alliance" with Salmon Falls Precision Fabricators, Inc. (SFPF). (Joint Ventures).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Trend Technologies, Inc., of San Jose, Calif., has announced the formation of a "Northeast Alliance" with Salmon Falls Precision Fabricators, Inc. (SFPF), based in Rochester, N.H., whereby the two companies will operate independently, yet...

Degussa Corp. of Parsippany, N.J., and Engineered Carbons Inc. (ECI), with plants in Orange, Borger, and Baytown, Tex., have announced an agreement to combine their North American carbon black businesses. (Joint Ventures).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Degussa Corp. of Parsippany, N.J., and Engineered Carbons Inc. (ECI), with plants in Orange, Borger, and Baytown, Tex., have announced an agreement to combine their North American carbon black businesses. The resulting 50/50 joint company is...

DSM Elastomers, based in Heerlen, the Netherlands, and GLS, located in Arlington Heights, Ill., have formed Alliance Alloys as a partnership to develop and market new thermoplastic elastomer alloys. (Joint Ventures).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... DSM Elastomers, based in Heerlen, The Netherlands, and GLS, located in Arlington Heights, Ill., have formed Alliance Alloys as a partnership to develop and market new thermoplastic elastomer alloys. The new company is headquartered in...

Hull/finmac, Inc., of Warminster, Pa., has announced that Murray, Inc. (Licenses).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Hull/finmac, Inc., of Warminster, Pa., has announced that Murray, Inc., of Buffalo Grove, Ill., has granted it an exclusive license to manufacture the patented Sesame Nanomolding injection molding machine.

GE Plastics and Film Specialties, Inc. (FSI). (Licenses).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Pittsfield, Mass.-based GE Plastics and Film Specialties, Inc. (FSI), of Hillsborough, N.J., announce that FSI has granted GE an exclusive worldwide license to make, use, and sell Visgard coated film and sheet products, manufactured from GE...

Antek Industrial Instruments, located in Marble Falls, Texas, will be combined with Antek Instruments L.P.'s Houston operation. (Mergers).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Antek Industrial Instruments, located in Marble Falls, Texas, will be combined with Antek Instruments L.P.'s Houston operation. Described as a "synergistic" move, the merger increases space for instrument development, production, and customer...

Osprey Corp. of Atlanta announces that it has completed its merger with Barron, Inc. (Mergers).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Osprey Corp. of Atlanta announces that it has completed its merger with Barron, Inc., commenting that the transaction will strengthen Osprey's design and manufacturing capabilities within the nonwovens and plastics industries.

Teknor Specialty Compounding has been established as a separate division of Pawtucket, R.I.-based Teknor Apex Company. (New Division).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Teknor Specialty Compounding has been established as a separate division of Pawtucket, R.I.-based Teknor Apex Company. The new division operates two facilities, in Lodi, Ohio, and Jacksonville, Tex., and "regularly accesses the capacity of its...

Gruppo M&G. (New Facilities).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Headquartered in Milan, Italy, Gruppo M&G announces that it has made a "significant investment" in construction of new melt and solid-state polymerization facilities at the company's site in Altamira, Mexico. According to M&G, the new units,...

SAS Automation, Ltd. (New Facilities).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... SAS Automation, Ltd., a Dayton, Ohio-based supplier of modular robotic end-of-arm tooling, has expanded its operation to Europe, opening a sales and distribution office in Germany. The address is SAS Automation Robotergreifsysteme GmbH, Im...

Chevron Phillips Chemical Co., LP (CPChem). (New Facilities).(Will build new 7000 MT/yr compounding plant)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Chevron Phillips Chemical Co., LP (CPChem), is building a new 7000 MT/yr compounding plant near Houston, where the company is headquartered, to manufacture Ryton polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) resins and compounds. With a target start-up date of...

Dyneon LLC. (New Facilities).(New Shanghai, China-based fluoropolymer facility)(International Pages)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Dyneon LLC (Oakdale, Minn.), a 3M company, is building a new technology center in Shanghai, China. The new fluoropolymer-development facility, said to be among the few serving the Asia-Pacific region, will also supplement services provided at...

"Uni-chains" Manufacturing, Inc., the U.S. division of the Denmark-headquartered conveyor manufacturer uni-chains group. (New Facilities).(Conveyor firm builds manufacturing and office buildings)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... "uni-chains" Manufacturing, Inc., the U.S. division of the Denmark-headquartered conveyor manufacturer uni-chains Group, has broken ground on a new 60,000-[ft.sup.2] manufacturing and office building in the Keystone Opportunity Zone on...

Q-Panel Lab Products. (New Facilities).(Opens international headquarters in Cleveland, Ohio)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Q-Panel Lab Products has opened a new, 53,000-[ft.sup.2] international headquarters facility in Cleveland, just a few hundred yards from its former headquarters. Q-Panel has European headquarters in Manchester, England.

Motion Industries, Inc. (New Facilities).(Opens new branch in Greenwood, SC)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Motion Industries, Inc.-a Birmingham, Ala.-based distributor of bearings; mechanical, electrical, and fluid power transmission replacement parts; and hose products-has opened a new branch in Greenwood, S.C., at 105 Community Court.

Meese Orbitron Dunne Co. (MOD). (New Facilities).(New West Coast headquarters)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Plastics rotomolder Meese Orbitron Dunne Co. (MOD), based in Saddle Brook, N.J., has announced the completion of its West Coast headquarters, a 55,000-[ft.sup.2] manufacturing facility in La Mirada, Cal. The new facility will increase the...

Daikin America, a subsidiary of Daikin Industries Ltd. (New Facilities).(Orangeburg, NY-based fluoroelastomer applications laboratory)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Daikin America, a subsidiary of Daikin Industries Ltd. of Osaka, Japan, has commissioned a full-service fluoroelastomer applications laboratory at its headquarters in Orangeburg, N.Y.

Parker Hannifin Corp.'s Hose Products Division announces the opening of its Tube Fabrication Unit located in Cleburne, Tex. (New Facilities).(unit of Parker Hannifin's Fluid Connectors Group )
January 1, 2002... Parker Hannifin Corp.'s Hose Products Division announces the opening of its Tube Fabrication Unit located in Cleburne, Tex. The Hose Products Division is a unit of Parker Hannifin's Fluid Connectors Group headquartered in Cleveland.

Clariant Masterbatches. (New Facilities).(New facility located at Lone Oak Court, Etobicoke)(International Pages)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Clariant Masterbatches announces that its Mississauga, Ontario, operation in Canada is being relocated to a new facility at Lone Oak Court, Etobicoke, five minutes from its current location. The company's move scheduled for late summer 2002,...

Headquartered in Fullerton, Calif., Linpac Group member Ropak Packaging has announced the opening of a new, 206,000-[ft.sup.2] manufacturing plant and sales office in Langley, British Columbia, Canada. (New Facilities).(Plastic containers maker)(International Pages)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Headquartered in Fullerton, Calif., Linpac Group member Ropak Packaging has announced the opening of a new, 206,000-[ft.sup.2] manufacturing plant and sales office in Langley, British Columbia, Canada. Ropak is also locating a warehouse and...

Sustatec LLC, a member of the Sustaplast group of companies in Mannheim, Germany, has announced the opening of its first U.S. manufacturing facility in Exton, Pa. (New Facilities).(machined plastic parts)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Sustatec LLC, a member of the Sustaplast group of companies in Mannheim, Germany, has announced the opening of its first U.S. manufacturing facility in Exton, Pa. The new, 25,000-[ft.sup.2] plant is designed specifically for the production of...

The Acrolab Group of companies, headquartered in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, announces two new sales agents. (Representatives).(Patrick McNamara, Brian Davidson)(International Pages)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... The Acrolab Group of companies, headquartered in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, announces two new sales agents. Patrick McNamara will represent Acrolab in the United States, and Brian Davidson will represent Isolab in southwestern Ontario.

Based in Billerica, Mass., Teca-Print USA has appointed three new representatives. (Representatives).(LaBelle Industrial Sales, Navratil Associates, BEK Marketing)
January 1, 2002... Based in Billerica, Mass., Teca-Print USA has appointed three new representatives: LaBelle Industrial Sales of El Paso, Tex., for sales and service in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mexico/borderlands; Navratil...

Van Dorn Demag Corp. (Websites).(Plastics molding machines maker)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Van Dorn Demag Corp., Strongsville, Ohio, www.molderactionnetwork.com, online store.

www.airproducts.com/polymers. (Websites).(Air Products Polymers, L.P.)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Air Products Polymers, L.P. [joint venture of Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (Allentown, Pa.) and Wacker-Chemie GmbH (Munich, Germany)], www.airproducts.com/polymers, emulsions website.

Atofina Chemicals, Inc. (Websites).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Atofina Chemicals, Inc., Philadelphia, www.specialchem.com, additives website.

Mold-Masters Limited. (Websites).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Mold-Masters Limited, Georgetown, Ontario, Canada, www.moldmasters.com, new site.

Verdex. (Websites).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Verdex, New York, www.plasticshq.com, new site, provides plastics supplier information based on Thomas Publishing's database.

Eastman Chemical Co. has announced its donation of intellectual property covering thermosetting coating compositions to Eastern Michigan University's (EMU) Coating Research Institute. (Other Briefs).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Eastman Chemical Co. has announced its donation of intellectual property covering thermosetting coating compositions to Eastern Michigan University's (EMU) Coating Research Institute. EMU will further develop the technology for commercial...

Mearthane Products Corp. (Other Briefs).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Under a new joint agreement, Mearthane Products Corp. of Cranston, R.I., has become the sole worldwide source of critical solid and foam cast-urethane parts for Pitney Bowes' postage-metering and mail-handling systems. The new four-year...

Witts Plastics, Inc., of Lakeland, Fla., has changed its name to Coral Plastics, Inc., to reflect its divergence from the Greenville, Ohio-based Witt Plastics, Inc. (both companies are owned and operated by John Witt). (Other Briefs).
January 1, 2002... Witts Plastics, Inc., of Lakeland, Fla., has changed its name to Coral Plastics, Inc., to reflect its divergence from the Greenville, Ohio-based Witt Plastics, Inc. (both companies are owned and operated by John Witt). Coral Plastics has...

ExxonMobil Chemical Co. and Chevron Phillips Chemical Co. LP. (Other Briefs).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... ExxonMobil Chemical Co. and Chevron Phillips Chemical Co. LP (both based in Houston) have settled intellectual property disputes relating to metallocene catalyst technology and polymer composition. Their confidential agreement includes a cross...

Clariant Masterbatches. (Other Briefs).(has created three global Centers of Excellence)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Headquartered in Muttenz, Switzerland, Clariant Masterbatches has created three global Centers of Excellence (COEs) for Additive Masterbatches in Europe. Clariant's Ahrensburg, Germany, facility will host two centers: COE Chemical Foaming...

Annual SPE Automotive Division Innovation Awards: Survivor is the word.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... What defines a survivor in the automotive industry's uncertain business environment? As illustrated by winners at the SPE Automotive Division's 31st Annual Innovation Awards Program including six Category Awards for the most innovative use of...

PTFEs "Compound" their capabilities. (Materials).(from Dyneon L.L.C.)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Dyneon's range of more than 2200 standard and specialty PTFE (poly-tetrafluoroethylene) compounds are made by mixing PTFE with fillers of inorganic or organic materials, which help modify the material's properties to suit a broad range of...

Precolored compounds promise savings. (Materials).(from Global Plastics Corp.)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Seat handles in the Ford Explorer (see photo) are molded from RTP 200 Series nylon 6/6, a specialty compound reinforced with glass fiber. The precolored compound is said to enhance aesthetics while cutting production costs associated with...

Acrylic capstock resin protects, enhances HIPS. (Materials).(from Atoglas)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... New from Atoglas of Atofina Chemicals is Solarkote H acrylic capstock resin, which is said to offer an economic alternative to laminated films for certain less demanding applications, such as tub/shower surrounds, patio furniture, building trim...

New CPEs are geared to Northern climes. (Materials).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Tyrin 3600P from DuPont Dow Elastomers, the newest commercial grade of chlorinated polyethylene (CPE) available in North America, is said to offer performance enhancements and cost savings for both processors and end-users. According to...

Streamlining polymer selection for E/E applications.(electrical/electronic)
January 1, 2002... Timely selection of the best polymer for an electrical/electronic application is essential in speeding the product to market, containing development costs, and, ultimately, determining the commercial success of the product. Polymers are...

Personnel.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... TRI-SEAL Tri-Seal, a Tekni-Plex company, with plants in Flemington, N.J., and Blauvelt, N.Y. has announced the appointment of two new operations managers. Randy Rounsaville has been appointed operations manager for the Flemington, N.J....

Obituaries. (Personnel).(Harold F. Giles, Jr.)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... SPE mourns the passing of Floyd Cotton of the Kansas City Section. SPE notes with sorrow the death of Harold F. Giles, Jr., a senior member of the Carolinas Section, and a member of the Composites Division. He was the holder of 28 patents...

Bioactive fibers and polymers. (Books).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Edited by J. Vincent Edwards and Tyrone L. Vigo Oxford University Press, 2001 Evans Road, Cary, NC 27513; (800) 451-7556; Fax (919) 677-1303; www.oup-usa.org. Hardcover, 332 pages; $125. Developed from the American Chemical...

Current statistics on scientists, engineers, and technical workers: 2000 edition. (Books).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO, 815 16th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20006; (202) 638-5670; Fax (202) 628-4379; e-mail: Pmckenzi@aflcio.org. $7.50. This report from the Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO, offers...

New dimensions in multidisciplinary thinking. (Special Reports).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... ASME International, Three Park Ave., New York, NY 10016-5990; (800) 843-2763 or (212) 591-8157; e-mail: torrem@asme.org; www.asme.org. $20. (Order #AF0201) According to this study by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, engineers...

World pharmaceutical packaging. (Special Reports).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... The Freedonia Group, Inc., 767 Beta Drive, Cleveland, OH 44143-2326; (440) 684-9600; Fax (440) 646-0484; e-mail: pr@freedoniagroup.com; www.freedoniagroup.com. 396 pages, $4500 (2001). The world pharmaceutical packaging market will increase...

TM&F best paper award. (SPE News).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Dr. Chung P. Park of Dow Chemical Company (at center in photo below) has won the Thermoplastic Materials & Foams Division's ANTEC 2001 Best Paper Award in the Foams category. The paper is titled "Foam Extrusion of Syndiotactic...