- Email: [email protected]
STLE Tribology Frontiers Conference takes place next month
NEWS
Arefco makes strategic acquisition
I
n the UK, Arefco Special Products Ltd has acquired Stephenson Precision Components (SPC) of Blyth, Northumberland, as the next key stage in its continued growth strategy. Arefco, a designer and manufacturer of components made from elastomer and plastic materials, says SPC is a specialist engineering company that offers CNC machining services to a range of industries including the oil and gas, and construction sectors. Gary Burton, Managing Director, Arefco, commented: ‘We have worked with SPC as a subcontractor to Arefco for over two years and in that time the firm’s technical strength and best practice operations have been invaluable in establishing the “Arefco Engineered Products” business stream in advance machined metallic and plastic components. It is almost a natural progression that the two businesses come together as the synergies between us are so strong and obvious.’ This is the first in a series of step changes in growth planned for the Arefco business, backed by parent company UTEX Industries Inc of Houston, Texas, USA. The integration plan will result in the SPC business moving to a new “showcase” location adjacent to the Arefco main facility in Ashington, Northumberland, by the end of October this year.
Contacts: Arefco Special Products Ltd, Jubilee Industrial Estate, Ashington, Northumberland NE63 8UA, UK. Tel: +44 1670 819513, Fax: +44 1670 816132, Web: www.arefco.co.uk Arefco Seals Inc, 10810 Katy Freeway, Suite 100, Houston, TX 77043, USA. Tel: +1 713 683 9600, Fax: +1 713 683 9601 Stephenson Precision Components, 11 Ennerdale Road, Riverside Business Park, Blyth, Northumberland NE24 4RT, UK. Tel: +44 1670 545000, Web: www.spc-cnc.co.uk
Conferences and Meetings News Call for papers issued for Oil & Gas Polymer Engineering Texas 2016
A
pplied Market Information Llc (AMI) has announced that following a
6
Sealing Technology
successful first edition of the Oil & Gas Polymer Engineering Texas conference and exhibition in 2015, this event will return to Houston during June 2016. Scheduled to be held on 14–15 June it focuses on qualifying and using elastomers, thermoplastics, composites and coating materials in oilfield applications. The two-day technical and market programme will run alongside an exhibition, with numerous networking opportunities, including refreshment breaks, lunches and a cocktail reception on 14 June. AMI is currently recruiting speakers for the conference on all aspects of using polymers in oil and gas applications. Authors who are interested in giving a presentation are invited to send a oneparagraph summary of their chosen topic to Becca Utteridge at the address given below, before the deadline of 27 November 2015. A full list of topics to be covered can be found on AMI’s Web-site. Speakers have a 30 minute slot, including five minutes for questions, and attend the conference free of charge. Contact: Becca Utteridge, Applied Market Information Llc, 1210 Broadcasting Road, Suite 103, Wyomissing, PA 19610, USA. Tel: +1 610 478 0800, Fax: +1 610 478 0900, Email: [email protected], Web: www.amiplastics-na.com
STLE Tribology Frontiers Conference takes place next month
H
ow tribology will influence energy and environmental sustainability in the future is the focus of one of the technical tracks at the Tribology Frontiers Conference (TFC), sponsored by the Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers (STLE). Scheduled to be held on 25–27 October 2015 in Denver, Colorado, USA, STLE’s second annual TFC unites the international tribology community for an event focusing on the technical issues that will most impact society in the future. Details on the entire conference schedule, including abstracts and speakers, can be found in the digital programme on the STLE Web-site at the address given below.
Contact: Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers, 840 Busse Highway, Park Ridge, IL 60068-2302, USA. Tel: +1 630 428 3400, Fax: +1 847 825 1456, Web: http://www.stle.org/images/pdf/STLE_ ORG/2015TFC_P_Program.pdf
Publications of Interest Vehicle lightweighting strengthens global automotive sealants market
S
tringent fuel efficiency norms are compelling automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to reduce the weight of their vehicles, thus spurring the use of lightweight materials such as plastics, composites and aluminium. This, along with surging automotive sales in Asia–Pacific and Latin America, is fuelling the global demand for automotive adhesives and sealants, says market research company Frost & Sullivan. Currently, Europe and North America continue to use the highest average volume of adhesives and sealants per vehicle. Analysis from the company, entitled ‘Analysis of the Global Automotive Adhesives and Sealants Market’, finds the market earned revenues of $3.61 billion in 2014, and estimates this will reach $6.88 billion in 2021. ‘Adhesives and sealants are gaining traction with the assembly applications and in the “body in white” stage, as the rapid adoption of aluminium and composites in these segments increases the need for bonding and sealing capabilities,’ said Ankit Mittal, an analyst at Frost & Sullivan, covering chemicals, materials and food research. ‘These products are hugely sought after because of their ease of handling, ability to bond dissimilar substrates, and lower costs, compared with traditional welding methods.’ However, comfort and expertise in traditional joining methods, such as welding, nuts, bolts and mechanical fasteners, have led certain OEMs to disregard the performance attributes of adhesives and sealants. Some OEMs remain unaware of the cost performance implications of adhesive and sealant products. Economic instability in Europe is another factor affecting adoption. Offering products with unique features and strengthening customer support mechanisms will enable manufacturers to sustain profits in the highly competitive automotive adhesives and sealants market. It is critical to establish a strong product portfolio aligned with regulatory standards and OEM specifications, says the company. Contact: Frost & Sullivan, 331 E. Evelyn Avenue, Suite 100, Mountain View, CA 94041, USA. Tel: +1.877.463.7678, Email: [email protected], Web: www.frost.com
September 2015
Arefco makes strategic acquisition
I
n the UK, Arefco Special Products Ltd has acquired Stephenson Precision Components (SPC) of Blyth, Northumberland, as the next key stage in its continued growth strategy. Arefco, a designer and manufacturer of components made from elastomer and plastic materials, says SPC is a specialist engineering company that offers CNC machining services to a range of industries including the oil and gas, and construction sectors. Gary Burton, Managing Director, Arefco, commented: ‘We have worked with SPC as a subcontractor to Arefco for over two years and in that time the firm’s technical strength and best practice operations have been invaluable in establishing the “Arefco Engineered Products” business stream in advance machined metallic and plastic components. It is almost a natural progression that the two businesses come together as the synergies between us are so strong and obvious.’ This is the first in a series of step changes in growth planned for the Arefco business, backed by parent company UTEX Industries Inc of Houston, Texas, USA. The integration plan will result in the SPC business moving to a new “showcase” location adjacent to the Arefco main facility in Ashington, Northumberland, by the end of October this year.
Contacts: Arefco Special Products Ltd, Jubilee Industrial Estate, Ashington, Northumberland NE63 8UA, UK. Tel: +44 1670 819513, Fax: +44 1670 816132, Web: www.arefco.co.uk Arefco Seals Inc, 10810 Katy Freeway, Suite 100, Houston, TX 77043, USA. Tel: +1 713 683 9600, Fax: +1 713 683 9601 Stephenson Precision Components, 11 Ennerdale Road, Riverside Business Park, Blyth, Northumberland NE24 4RT, UK. Tel: +44 1670 545000, Web: www.spc-cnc.co.uk
Conferences and Meetings News Call for papers issued for Oil & Gas Polymer Engineering Texas 2016
A
pplied Market Information Llc (AMI) has announced that following a
6
Sealing Technology
successful first edition of the Oil & Gas Polymer Engineering Texas conference and exhibition in 2015, this event will return to Houston during June 2016. Scheduled to be held on 14–15 June it focuses on qualifying and using elastomers, thermoplastics, composites and coating materials in oilfield applications. The two-day technical and market programme will run alongside an exhibition, with numerous networking opportunities, including refreshment breaks, lunches and a cocktail reception on 14 June. AMI is currently recruiting speakers for the conference on all aspects of using polymers in oil and gas applications. Authors who are interested in giving a presentation are invited to send a oneparagraph summary of their chosen topic to Becca Utteridge at the address given below, before the deadline of 27 November 2015. A full list of topics to be covered can be found on AMI’s Web-site. Speakers have a 30 minute slot, including five minutes for questions, and attend the conference free of charge. Contact: Becca Utteridge, Applied Market Information Llc, 1210 Broadcasting Road, Suite 103, Wyomissing, PA 19610, USA. Tel: +1 610 478 0800, Fax: +1 610 478 0900, Email: [email protected], Web: www.amiplastics-na.com
STLE Tribology Frontiers Conference takes place next month
H
ow tribology will influence energy and environmental sustainability in the future is the focus of one of the technical tracks at the Tribology Frontiers Conference (TFC), sponsored by the Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers (STLE). Scheduled to be held on 25–27 October 2015 in Denver, Colorado, USA, STLE’s second annual TFC unites the international tribology community for an event focusing on the technical issues that will most impact society in the future. Details on the entire conference schedule, including abstracts and speakers, can be found in the digital programme on the STLE Web-site at the address given below.
Contact: Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers, 840 Busse Highway, Park Ridge, IL 60068-2302, USA. Tel: +1 630 428 3400, Fax: +1 847 825 1456, Web: http://www.stle.org/images/pdf/STLE_ ORG/2015TFC_P_Program.pdf
Publications of Interest Vehicle lightweighting strengthens global automotive sealants market
S
tringent fuel efficiency norms are compelling automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to reduce the weight of their vehicles, thus spurring the use of lightweight materials such as plastics, composites and aluminium. This, along with surging automotive sales in Asia–Pacific and Latin America, is fuelling the global demand for automotive adhesives and sealants, says market research company Frost & Sullivan. Currently, Europe and North America continue to use the highest average volume of adhesives and sealants per vehicle. Analysis from the company, entitled ‘Analysis of the Global Automotive Adhesives and Sealants Market’, finds the market earned revenues of $3.61 billion in 2014, and estimates this will reach $6.88 billion in 2021. ‘Adhesives and sealants are gaining traction with the assembly applications and in the “body in white” stage, as the rapid adoption of aluminium and composites in these segments increases the need for bonding and sealing capabilities,’ said Ankit Mittal, an analyst at Frost & Sullivan, covering chemicals, materials and food research. ‘These products are hugely sought after because of their ease of handling, ability to bond dissimilar substrates, and lower costs, compared with traditional welding methods.’ However, comfort and expertise in traditional joining methods, such as welding, nuts, bolts and mechanical fasteners, have led certain OEMs to disregard the performance attributes of adhesives and sealants. Some OEMs remain unaware of the cost performance implications of adhesive and sealant products. Economic instability in Europe is another factor affecting adoption. Offering products with unique features and strengthening customer support mechanisms will enable manufacturers to sustain profits in the highly competitive automotive adhesives and sealants market. It is critical to establish a strong product portfolio aligned with regulatory standards and OEM specifications, says the company. Contact: Frost & Sullivan, 331 E. Evelyn Avenue, Suite 100, Mountain View, CA 94041, USA. Tel: +1.877.463.7678, Email: [email protected], Web: www.frost.com
September 2015