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Dow unveils composites opportunity at BSL
INDUS#RJ Dow unveils composites opportunity at BSL THE FIRST stage of refurbishment at former state owned East Germany chemical company BSL will offer a &35 million opportunity for composites. The plant is now 80% owned by Dow and the firm is investing some f6 billion to upgrade the facilities. The opportunities for composites in the first stage include corrosion resistant equipment for use in the chlor alkali and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plants
as well as piping and sewage systems. To introduce fabricators to BSL, and the potential for composites in this market as whole, Dow is holding a conference in Leipzig, Germany, 25-27 November 1996. Reinforced Plastics will be supporting the event. Anyone interested in attending should contact Dow.
Marielle Jaeger, Dow Europe; fax: + 41-l- 7283026.
Hexcel finalizes Hercules acquisition THE ACQUISITION of the Composites Products Division (CPD) of Hercules Inc, by Hexcel Corp is now complete (Reinforced Plastics, June 1996). The $155 million in cash Hexcel paid for CPD will be financed through a $310 million credit facility arranged with Credit Suisse. John J. Lee, chairman and chief executive officer of Hexcel says the CPD acquisition expands the company’s technologies and provides new customer qualifications. It is also consistent with Hexcel’s long term strategy of adding complementary product lines to its core businesses. In particular the acquisition of the CPD carbon fibre business will enable Hexcel to extend its integration capabilities. The firm says it plans to upgrade the polyacrylonitrile (PAN) pre-
cursor, enhance the fibre quality and improve the fibre output. CPD’s production capacity should also aid Hexcel in implementing its restructuring programme in the USA and Europe. James N. Burns will be the president of the new Fibers Business Unit, consisting of the existing CPD facilities in Salt Lake City, Utah, and Decatur, Alabama. Previously Burns was the business director of the CPD Materials Business. The CPD prepreg operation in Salt Lake City will become part of Hexccl’s US Materials Business Unit and the CPD prepreg facility in Madrid, Spain, will become part of the EuroMaterials Business Unit.
William P. Meehan, Hexcel; tel: + l-510-8473500; E-mail: wpensky@ hexcel,attmail.com.
PPG sets sales record thanks to fibre glass HIGHER prices for fibre glass helped glass maker PPG Industries report record sales for the first quarter of 1996. The firm says that net income was $172.3 million on sales of $1.75 billion. Sales were a record for any first quarter, despite weaknesses in North American automotive production
and several European markets, says PPG. Operating earnings were PPG’s second-highest for a first quarter. “Despite a difficult first-quarter we are pleased with all-time records in the fibre glass portion of our glass business,” says chief executive officer Jerry Dempsey.
Interplastic adds SMC capacity US-based resin and compound maker Interplastic Corp is upgrading its moulding products division in South Bend, Indiana. The firm will install a 1.2 m sheet moulding compound (SMC) line that will more than double its current capacity. It will also allow fast changes of formulations and eliminate cross-contamination. The new line will include charging and batching equipment and auxiliary machinery, such as automated maturation and bulk fibre handling systems. The project also includes laboratory and office expansion and the implementation of environmental controls. Jack Alessandra, president of the Molding Products Division, says: “This expansion will provide us not only with a significant volume increase to allow us to satisfy the future needs of our customers, but will enable us to con-
tinue to improve product quality to meet the demands of our increasingly sophisticated customer base.” The Division produces SMC using resins from all the major US producers. The plant upgrade will enable it to produce the low pressure SMC materials developed by these suppliers, as well as standard compounds. Interplastic’s Robert DeRoma told Reinforced Plastics that the division is the only US moulding compound producer dedicated to serving the merchant market. It is also the country’s second largest supplier to this market. He added that the expansion, which is costing $3.5~$4 million, will strengthen this position. When it is complete in late 1997 the plant will have a capacity of 27 OOO32 000 tonnes.
Robert DeRoma, Interplastic Corp; tel: + l612-481-6860; fax: t I612-481-9834.
Reinforced Plastics September 1996
as well as piping and sewage systems. To introduce fabricators to BSL, and the potential for composites in this market as whole, Dow is holding a conference in Leipzig, Germany, 25-27 November 1996. Reinforced Plastics will be supporting the event. Anyone interested in attending should contact Dow.
Marielle Jaeger, Dow Europe; fax: + 41-l- 7283026.
Hexcel finalizes Hercules acquisition THE ACQUISITION of the Composites Products Division (CPD) of Hercules Inc, by Hexcel Corp is now complete (Reinforced Plastics, June 1996). The $155 million in cash Hexcel paid for CPD will be financed through a $310 million credit facility arranged with Credit Suisse. John J. Lee, chairman and chief executive officer of Hexcel says the CPD acquisition expands the company’s technologies and provides new customer qualifications. It is also consistent with Hexcel’s long term strategy of adding complementary product lines to its core businesses. In particular the acquisition of the CPD carbon fibre business will enable Hexcel to extend its integration capabilities. The firm says it plans to upgrade the polyacrylonitrile (PAN) pre-
cursor, enhance the fibre quality and improve the fibre output. CPD’s production capacity should also aid Hexcel in implementing its restructuring programme in the USA and Europe. James N. Burns will be the president of the new Fibers Business Unit, consisting of the existing CPD facilities in Salt Lake City, Utah, and Decatur, Alabama. Previously Burns was the business director of the CPD Materials Business. The CPD prepreg operation in Salt Lake City will become part of Hexccl’s US Materials Business Unit and the CPD prepreg facility in Madrid, Spain, will become part of the EuroMaterials Business Unit.
William P. Meehan, Hexcel; tel: + l-510-8473500; E-mail: wpensky@ hexcel,attmail.com.
PPG sets sales record thanks to fibre glass HIGHER prices for fibre glass helped glass maker PPG Industries report record sales for the first quarter of 1996. The firm says that net income was $172.3 million on sales of $1.75 billion. Sales were a record for any first quarter, despite weaknesses in North American automotive production
and several European markets, says PPG. Operating earnings were PPG’s second-highest for a first quarter. “Despite a difficult first-quarter we are pleased with all-time records in the fibre glass portion of our glass business,” says chief executive officer Jerry Dempsey.
Interplastic adds SMC capacity US-based resin and compound maker Interplastic Corp is upgrading its moulding products division in South Bend, Indiana. The firm will install a 1.2 m sheet moulding compound (SMC) line that will more than double its current capacity. It will also allow fast changes of formulations and eliminate cross-contamination. The new line will include charging and batching equipment and auxiliary machinery, such as automated maturation and bulk fibre handling systems. The project also includes laboratory and office expansion and the implementation of environmental controls. Jack Alessandra, president of the Molding Products Division, says: “This expansion will provide us not only with a significant volume increase to allow us to satisfy the future needs of our customers, but will enable us to con-
tinue to improve product quality to meet the demands of our increasingly sophisticated customer base.” The Division produces SMC using resins from all the major US producers. The plant upgrade will enable it to produce the low pressure SMC materials developed by these suppliers, as well as standard compounds. Interplastic’s Robert DeRoma told Reinforced Plastics that the division is the only US moulding compound producer dedicated to serving the merchant market. It is also the country’s second largest supplier to this market. He added that the expansion, which is costing $3.5~$4 million, will strengthen this position. When it is complete in late 1997 the plant will have a capacity of 27 OOO32 000 tonnes.
Robert DeRoma, Interplastic Corp; tel: + l612-481-6860; fax: t I612-481-9834.
Reinforced Plastics September 1996