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AFI furnace more than meets SA's reinforcement needs
INDUS
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Shakespeare emands I
NORTHERN Ireland-based Polystar Ltd is to become the largest manufacturer of fibreglass reinforced composite (FRC) poles in Europe thanks to a technology transfer licence from Shakespeare Electronic and Fiberglass. The agreement, which is Shakespeare’s first overseas technology transfer licence, is part of the Newberry, South Carolina firm’s commitment to global expansion. “We searched for an international licensee for some time”, says G. Lynn Derrick, vice-president of sales and marketing. “Based on Polystar’s size, distribution channels and knowledge of fibreglass, it became obvious that Polystar would be the natural partner”. To accommodate the expansion in production, Polystar plans to add 6500 m2 to its existing FRC manufacturing plant
technology
in Omagh. It will also double its workforce over two years. With these additions, Polystar’s FRC pole production is expected to quadruple by the end of 1998. Shakespeare wound its first composite light poles 30 years ago, but demand didn’t start to soar until a few years ago. Utilities are driving the growth. More than 5000 utility poles have been sold since their introduction in 1993. “Many of the best technological advancements in the fibreglass business have come from the USA”, says Michael McGurk, operations director for Polystar. “The technology and expertise that Shakespeare brings to the table will not only help us create inroads in Ireland and Great Britain, but in all of Europe.” Shakespeare will provide technical support to Polystar in the production of
base
FRC poles that meet British and European standards, and will also assist in marketing them. “We have already seen overwhelming interest in the UK market”, says Derrick. “We expect it to carry over into Europe.” In a related expansion plan, Shakespeare has finally found a California location for the filament winding of its composite poles after five years of searching. In an unusual arrangement the company has joined up with Fluid Containment Inc, a plant that makes underground composite tanks. Shakespeare has built four filament winding machines which Fluid Containment will use to manufacture the poles. These will then be shipped to Shakespeare’s west coast customers. G. Lynn Derrick, Shakespeare Co; tel: + l803-276-5504; fax: + l803-2 76-8940.
Record fourth quarter for Owens-Corning OWENS-CORNING reports record sales and near-record earnings for the fourth quarter, and record sales and earnings for the full year ended 31 December 1995. Net income in the fourth quarter rose to $66 million from $43 million the previous year. For the year, the glass maker reports net income of $231 million, up 45% from 1994. The firm’s Composite Materials division’s income from ongoing operations grew 97% in the fourth quarter and was up 72% for the year over 1994 levels. “During the fourth quarter, de-
Reinforced
Plastics March
1996
mand for composite materials remained strong worldwide”, says Glen H. Hiner, Owens-Corning chairman and chief executive officer. “Margins continued to improve significantly, led by an extremely strong performance in Europe”. Composite Materials sales increased 2 1% worldwide in the fourth quarter and 12% worldwide for 1995. Sales for the year increased 21% when the polyester resin joint venture Alpha/ Owens-Corning is taken into account. “In 1995, we continued to deliver against our
objectives of sales growth, earnings growth and cash flow generation”, says Hiner. “We also undertook and completed a number of initiatives which position us to continue our momentum in 1996.” These developments included the announcement of a joint venture in India to produce composites, scheduled to be operational in 1998. The company also continued to invest in global composites with capacity scheduled to increase by 30% over two years. William R Hamilton, Owens-Corning; tel: + l419-248-6190.
AFI furnace more than meets SA’s reinforcement needs ACOUSTICAL Fibreglass Insulation (AFI) has completed the rebuild of its fibreglass furnace 11 days ahead of schedule. This new furnace means that South African fibreglass users now have abundant material available to them during a severe international shortage, says AFI. The combination of increased local demand combined with the world shortage made it difficult for all South African needs to be met. Fibreglass was imported to supply the local market whilst the furnace was being built. Now, thanks to the R20 million project, the new furnace has increased AFI’s production capacity by 40%. “South Africa is now in a unique position of having a surplus of fibreglass at a time when the world’s manufacturers are unable to cope with the sharply increased demand”, says Hennie Steyn, executive chairman of AFI. The company has already received numerous enquiries from foreign purchasers desperate to buy fibreglass. “Our long term aim is not just to export raw fibreglass”, says Steyn, “but rather to work with local manufacturers to produce more finished fibreglass products for export.” API Fibreglass; tel: + 27- 1 l-813- 1226; fax: + 27-11-813-4414.
&J iv
Shakespeare emands I
NORTHERN Ireland-based Polystar Ltd is to become the largest manufacturer of fibreglass reinforced composite (FRC) poles in Europe thanks to a technology transfer licence from Shakespeare Electronic and Fiberglass. The agreement, which is Shakespeare’s first overseas technology transfer licence, is part of the Newberry, South Carolina firm’s commitment to global expansion. “We searched for an international licensee for some time”, says G. Lynn Derrick, vice-president of sales and marketing. “Based on Polystar’s size, distribution channels and knowledge of fibreglass, it became obvious that Polystar would be the natural partner”. To accommodate the expansion in production, Polystar plans to add 6500 m2 to its existing FRC manufacturing plant
technology
in Omagh. It will also double its workforce over two years. With these additions, Polystar’s FRC pole production is expected to quadruple by the end of 1998. Shakespeare wound its first composite light poles 30 years ago, but demand didn’t start to soar until a few years ago. Utilities are driving the growth. More than 5000 utility poles have been sold since their introduction in 1993. “Many of the best technological advancements in the fibreglass business have come from the USA”, says Michael McGurk, operations director for Polystar. “The technology and expertise that Shakespeare brings to the table will not only help us create inroads in Ireland and Great Britain, but in all of Europe.” Shakespeare will provide technical support to Polystar in the production of
base
FRC poles that meet British and European standards, and will also assist in marketing them. “We have already seen overwhelming interest in the UK market”, says Derrick. “We expect it to carry over into Europe.” In a related expansion plan, Shakespeare has finally found a California location for the filament winding of its composite poles after five years of searching. In an unusual arrangement the company has joined up with Fluid Containment Inc, a plant that makes underground composite tanks. Shakespeare has built four filament winding machines which Fluid Containment will use to manufacture the poles. These will then be shipped to Shakespeare’s west coast customers. G. Lynn Derrick, Shakespeare Co; tel: + l803-276-5504; fax: + l803-2 76-8940.
Record fourth quarter for Owens-Corning OWENS-CORNING reports record sales and near-record earnings for the fourth quarter, and record sales and earnings for the full year ended 31 December 1995. Net income in the fourth quarter rose to $66 million from $43 million the previous year. For the year, the glass maker reports net income of $231 million, up 45% from 1994. The firm’s Composite Materials division’s income from ongoing operations grew 97% in the fourth quarter and was up 72% for the year over 1994 levels. “During the fourth quarter, de-
Reinforced
Plastics March
1996
mand for composite materials remained strong worldwide”, says Glen H. Hiner, Owens-Corning chairman and chief executive officer. “Margins continued to improve significantly, led by an extremely strong performance in Europe”. Composite Materials sales increased 2 1% worldwide in the fourth quarter and 12% worldwide for 1995. Sales for the year increased 21% when the polyester resin joint venture Alpha/ Owens-Corning is taken into account. “In 1995, we continued to deliver against our
objectives of sales growth, earnings growth and cash flow generation”, says Hiner. “We also undertook and completed a number of initiatives which position us to continue our momentum in 1996.” These developments included the announcement of a joint venture in India to produce composites, scheduled to be operational in 1998. The company also continued to invest in global composites with capacity scheduled to increase by 30% over two years. William R Hamilton, Owens-Corning; tel: + l419-248-6190.
AFI furnace more than meets SA’s reinforcement needs ACOUSTICAL Fibreglass Insulation (AFI) has completed the rebuild of its fibreglass furnace 11 days ahead of schedule. This new furnace means that South African fibreglass users now have abundant material available to them during a severe international shortage, says AFI. The combination of increased local demand combined with the world shortage made it difficult for all South African needs to be met. Fibreglass was imported to supply the local market whilst the furnace was being built. Now, thanks to the R20 million project, the new furnace has increased AFI’s production capacity by 40%. “South Africa is now in a unique position of having a surplus of fibreglass at a time when the world’s manufacturers are unable to cope with the sharply increased demand”, says Hennie Steyn, executive chairman of AFI. The company has already received numerous enquiries from foreign purchasers desperate to buy fibreglass. “Our long term aim is not just to export raw fibreglass”, says Steyn, “but rather to work with local manufacturers to produce more finished fibreglass products for export.” API Fibreglass; tel: + 27- 1 l-813- 1226; fax: + 27-11-813-4414.