- Email: [email protected]
Momentive expands manufacturing operations in India
NEWS ers/isolators; the original LinkSeal modular sealing system for piping penetrations through walls, floors, ceilings and bulkheads; Riser-Wrap manhole infiltration sealing systems; hole-forming products; and safety-related pipeline signage. In addition to its headquarters in Wheat Ridge, Colorado, and its production plant, GPT has manufacturing and distribution facilities in Houston, Texas; Moessingen, Nehren and Furth, Germany; and St Neots, UK. It also has field offices in Dubai and Singapore. Contact: EnPro Industries Inc, 5605 Carnegie Boulevard, Charlotte, NC 28209-4674, USA. Tel: +1 704 731 1500, Fax: +1 704 731 1511, Web: www.enproindustries.com
Trelleborg continues to invest in Brazil
I
nternational engineering group Trelleborg Sealing Solutions Germany GmbH is continuing to invest in Brazil, creating a platform for local presence and growth across a wide selection of industries. Existing, recently established and acquired facilities will be joined by Trelleborg’s latest investments in new manufacturing facilities for offshore equipment and printing blankets. The company says that the region is of high priority and will be the focus for future growth initiatives. Peter Nilsson, President and Chief Executive Officer, Trelleborg, commented: ‘With markets such as oil and gas, infrastructure, agriculture, mining and graphics all growing at a rapid rate, Brazil has quickly become a hotbed of activity for a number of our business areas. As such, we have made a group commitment to increase our presence and customer support in this key region.’ ‘Our investments, which include opening new manufacturing facilities across the county, will continue to bring us closer to the action in our chosen market sectors, as well as to our existing customer-base and prospects. On-the-ground production and technical support – something our customers have come to know and expect from the Trelleborg brand – will expand.’ Located in Brazil’s major oil hub, the coastal city of Macaé – approximately 200 km (112 miles) north of Rio de Janeiro – Trelleborg Offshore’s new facility will manufacture the firm’s complete portfolio, including a wide range of polymer-based products for offshore top-side and sub-sea oil and gas exploration. Over the next two years Brazil is set to become one of the world’s largest sub-sea offshore oil/gas markets, says Trelleborg. The com4
Sealing Technology
pany is moving ahead to be in pole position to take advantage of this growth. Last year, through its Trelleborg Engineered Systems business area, the firm acquired a business located in Santana de Parnaiba that focuses on specially designed oil hoses for surface and deep-sea applications. It also anticipates further growth in the automotive sector in South America. Trelleborg Automotive has a major facility in the strategic location of Guarulhos and is well positioned to meet increasing demand in Brazil. Looking to the future, this facility will belong to a joint venture Trelleborg is planning to set up with another company. Nilsson continued: ‘We have strong growth ambitions for Brazil, and the country is quickly becoming an increasingly important market for our business. We will soon have more than 1000 employees across our various businesses in the region, and through continued and dedicated investment that is being made by the organisation, the outlook is excellent.’ Contacts: Trelleborg Sealing Solutions Germany GmbH, Handwerkstrasse 5–7, DE-70565 Stuttgart, Germany. Tel: +49 711 78640, Fax: +49 711 780 3171, Web: www.tss.trelleborg.com/de Trelleborg Sealing Solutions Brazil, Dr Sebastião Henrique da Cunha Pontes 4710 – Parque Industrial São Jose dos Campos, SP 12237-823, Brazil. Tel: +55 12 3932 7600, Fax: +55 12 3932 7710
Hydratight launches updated EPRS
J
oint integrity services company Hydratight Ltd has launched an updated emergency pipeline repair system (EPRS) to offer better disaster planning and contingency services to operators and contractors. Following the dramatic reaction to the Gulf disaster in early 2011, ever-increasing demands are being placed on oil and gas operators to provide safer, faster and more effective contingency plans to react to major accidents. The potential for environmental damage of sub-sea pipelines requires a critical level of risk management and repair planning. Hydratight says that for over 20 years its Morgrip mechanical connector has provided the world standard for weld-less pipeline tie-in, repair and emergency contingencies – in both top-side and sub-sea applications. The tailored EPRS provides a way for operators and installation contractors to meet their pipeline contingency needs with greater urgency.
According to the firm, by joining the EPRS “club”, operators and contractors gain guaranteed highest-priority treatment and fast delivery of the required Morgrip device and expert installation assistance, if required. Hydratight joins member-companies in preparing a full list of Morgrip and associated engineering needs, offers designs for type approval and regularly updates this information. Members also receive advance knowledge of the likely cost of instituting the full repair. Paul Hughes, Hydratight’s connector product manager, commented: ‘This means much of the delay at the front end of the repair – the design specification, the approvals procedure, costings and all the other associated advance work – is largely eradicated.’ Once assessment of the member’s needs is completed, Hydratight ensures the steel stock, machining and engineering teams are allocated and always in readiness. To prove system readiness, the EPRS team provides regular paper exercises with the client to ensure the service will run exactly as intended should a genuine emergency arise. The service already numbers several large operators among its club members and even companies offering complementary emergency services, where Morgrip is an integral part of a larger repair. Hughes continued: ‘Even as few as five years ago Hydratight would need to quote up to two months to deliver one of the larger Morgrip connectors – even in an emergency – because of the need to obtain approvals and costings, and to assemble the many parts and order the machining necessary.’ Contact: Hydratight Ltd, Bentley Road South, Darlaston, West Midlands WS10 8LQ, UK. Tel: +44 121 5050600, Fax: +44 121 5050800, Web: www.hydratight.com
Momentive expands manufacturing operations in India
M
omentive Performance Materials Inc, a US-based provider of silicones and advanced materials, is expanding its manufacturing facility and application development centre in Chennai, India. Spanning more than 15 acres (6 ha), the facility, which opened in 2009, focuses on manufacturing high-end speciality silicones to serve the growing needs of customers in India, the Middle East and South Asia.
May 2012
NEWS ‘This investment represents a major step forward in our ability to grow the silicones business in India,’ explained Craig Morrison, Chief Executive Officer, Momentive. ‘India is one of the world’s fastest growing regions for automotive, construction, telecommunications and energy. Chennai, in particular, is developing into a significant centre for multiple industries.’ V.P. Nalian, Managing Director, Momentive Performance Materials India, added: ‘Over the years we have stayed on course in realising our vision of building Momentive into a best-in-class speciality chemicals and materials company in the region by combining global technology, application development, manufacturing and service capabilities with outstanding products and services.’ ‘This expansion will bring some of the most sophisticated technology and manufacturing processes that Momentive has developed worldwide to the Chennai facility and considerably enhance its ability to serve customers across the region.’ The expansion of the facility, along with the opening of a regional headquarters, and global research and development centre in Bangalore later this year, is part of Momentive’s longstanding commitment to India and the surrounding region. In addition, the Chennai facility has been designated to become a zero-discharge plant, underscoring Momentive’s commitment to sustainability. Local Momentive employees will participate in training programmes on running the plant efficiently and in compliance with the highest safety standards.
equipment segment recorded revenue growth of 36.3% – taking sales to E827.2 million. The buoyant growth in sales was also fuelled by acquisitions transacted in 2011, whose business activities were almost entirely attributable to the original equipment segment. The aftermarket segment generated forward momentum mainly within the international markets, thereby lifting sales revenue by 5.4% to E112.9 million. In total, first-time inclusion of the metal flat gaskets business acquired from the Freudenberg Group, the Swiss exhaust treatment specialist Hug Engineering Ag and the Hummel-Formen Group contributed E83.7 million to group revenue. At minus E5.0 million earnings before taxes contributed by the acquired entities were as yet in negative territory. During August 2011 ElringKlinger disposed of its Ludwigsburg industrial park, as it no longer formed an integral part of the automotive supplier’s core business. The sale resulted in a onetime gain of E22.7 million for the group, which was accounted for in other operating income. The company anticipates that global vehicle production will expand slightly in 2012. Against this backdrop, it plans to raise sales revenue by 5% to 7% in 2012 in terms of organic growth. Within this context it notes that the level of revenue growth achieved in fiscal 2011 was significantly higher than originally forecast. An additional revenue contribution of around E20 million is expected from the consolidation of recently acquired Hug Engineering and Hummel-Formen, which for the very first time will be included in the consolidated group for a full annual period in 2012.
Contact: Momentive Performance Materials Inc, 180 East Broad Street, Columbus, OH 43215, USA. Tel: +1 607 786 8131, Web: www.momentive.com
Contact: ElringKlinger Ag, Max-Eyth-Strasse 2, 72581 Dettingen/ Erms, Germany. Tel: +49 7123 7240, Fax: +49 7123 724 9006, Email: [email protected], Web: www.elringklinger.de
ElringKlinger’s sales exceed E1 billion
G
ermany’s ElringKlinger Group reports that in 2011 it yet again outpaced global vehicle production in terms of percentage growth. The group saw its sales revenue expand by 29.8% to E1032.8 million, from 795.7 million recorded a year earlier. Earnings before interest and taxes exceeded the previous year’s figure by 39.4%, rising to E148.7 million. Net income, after minority interests, increased at a more pronounced rate – up 44.7% to E94.9 million. Benefiting from the rise in global car production by around 4% in 2011 and the introduction of a number of new products, the firm’s original
Eriks’ expansion in North America continues
E
riks Bv is continuing to strengthen its hand in North America with the acquisition of Quantum Supply Ltd, a manufacturer and distributor of engineering equipment. Eriks says that this acquisition, through its wholly-owned operating company Newdell Co of Houston, Texas, firmly underlines its status as a global industrial service provider. The purchase of Quantum Supply follows close on the heels of two previous additions
IN BRIEF Federal-Mogul’s CEO retires José Maria Alapont, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Federal-Mogul Corp, has retired. Alapont will remain with the company in a consulting role to assist with the transition, and will also remain on the company’s board of directors until the 2013 annual meeting of shareholders. Rainer Jueckstock, who is the senior vice president of the company’s Powertrain Energy business unit has been elected CEO. Jueckstock will also join the firm’s board of directors. Smithers Rapra now incorporates iSmithers To reinforce the important link between iSmithers and Smithers Rapra, the plastics, rubber and composites-related products and services that have been offered by iSmithers can be now accessed through a new Website (at the address given below). According to Smithers Rapra, there has always been a strong link between its testing and contract research services and the broad range of information products and services, as all of these are built around a core expertise in polymers and polymer-related materials. More information: Web: info.smithersrapra.com Flexitallic launches mobile service unit Manufacturer and supplier of industrial static sealing products Flexitallic Ltd can now provide a rapid response service by using its new mobile, site-based manufacturing unit. It says that this blast-proof, self-contained unit is equipped with production systems and carries an extensive stock of raw materials and finished gaskets to ensure start-up delays are a thing of the past. More information: Web: www.flexitallic.eu Ceetak appoints engineering manager Ceetak Ltd has announced that it recently appointed Andy Cleaver as its manager to oversee the engineering and design department for both sealing and packaging products and technology. Cleaver joins Ceetak after working for Handtmann Ltd, which specialises in the manufacture of filling and portioning machinery for the food-processing industry. David Lines, Managing Director, Ceetak, commented: ‘We are pleased to welcome Andy to our technical team. It is rare to find someone with over 20 years of combined experience and knowledge within our core industries of sealing technology and packaging machinery – we believe he will be an asset to the company and in further developing our engineering department.’
5 May 2012
Sealing Technology
Trelleborg continues to invest in Brazil
I
nternational engineering group Trelleborg Sealing Solutions Germany GmbH is continuing to invest in Brazil, creating a platform for local presence and growth across a wide selection of industries. Existing, recently established and acquired facilities will be joined by Trelleborg’s latest investments in new manufacturing facilities for offshore equipment and printing blankets. The company says that the region is of high priority and will be the focus for future growth initiatives. Peter Nilsson, President and Chief Executive Officer, Trelleborg, commented: ‘With markets such as oil and gas, infrastructure, agriculture, mining and graphics all growing at a rapid rate, Brazil has quickly become a hotbed of activity for a number of our business areas. As such, we have made a group commitment to increase our presence and customer support in this key region.’ ‘Our investments, which include opening new manufacturing facilities across the county, will continue to bring us closer to the action in our chosen market sectors, as well as to our existing customer-base and prospects. On-the-ground production and technical support – something our customers have come to know and expect from the Trelleborg brand – will expand.’ Located in Brazil’s major oil hub, the coastal city of Macaé – approximately 200 km (112 miles) north of Rio de Janeiro – Trelleborg Offshore’s new facility will manufacture the firm’s complete portfolio, including a wide range of polymer-based products for offshore top-side and sub-sea oil and gas exploration. Over the next two years Brazil is set to become one of the world’s largest sub-sea offshore oil/gas markets, says Trelleborg. The com4
Sealing Technology
pany is moving ahead to be in pole position to take advantage of this growth. Last year, through its Trelleborg Engineered Systems business area, the firm acquired a business located in Santana de Parnaiba that focuses on specially designed oil hoses for surface and deep-sea applications. It also anticipates further growth in the automotive sector in South America. Trelleborg Automotive has a major facility in the strategic location of Guarulhos and is well positioned to meet increasing demand in Brazil. Looking to the future, this facility will belong to a joint venture Trelleborg is planning to set up with another company. Nilsson continued: ‘We have strong growth ambitions for Brazil, and the country is quickly becoming an increasingly important market for our business. We will soon have more than 1000 employees across our various businesses in the region, and through continued and dedicated investment that is being made by the organisation, the outlook is excellent.’ Contacts: Trelleborg Sealing Solutions Germany GmbH, Handwerkstrasse 5–7, DE-70565 Stuttgart, Germany. Tel: +49 711 78640, Fax: +49 711 780 3171, Web: www.tss.trelleborg.com/de Trelleborg Sealing Solutions Brazil, Dr Sebastião Henrique da Cunha Pontes 4710 – Parque Industrial São Jose dos Campos, SP 12237-823, Brazil. Tel: +55 12 3932 7600, Fax: +55 12 3932 7710
Hydratight launches updated EPRS
J
oint integrity services company Hydratight Ltd has launched an updated emergency pipeline repair system (EPRS) to offer better disaster planning and contingency services to operators and contractors. Following the dramatic reaction to the Gulf disaster in early 2011, ever-increasing demands are being placed on oil and gas operators to provide safer, faster and more effective contingency plans to react to major accidents. The potential for environmental damage of sub-sea pipelines requires a critical level of risk management and repair planning. Hydratight says that for over 20 years its Morgrip mechanical connector has provided the world standard for weld-less pipeline tie-in, repair and emergency contingencies – in both top-side and sub-sea applications. The tailored EPRS provides a way for operators and installation contractors to meet their pipeline contingency needs with greater urgency.
According to the firm, by joining the EPRS “club”, operators and contractors gain guaranteed highest-priority treatment and fast delivery of the required Morgrip device and expert installation assistance, if required. Hydratight joins member-companies in preparing a full list of Morgrip and associated engineering needs, offers designs for type approval and regularly updates this information. Members also receive advance knowledge of the likely cost of instituting the full repair. Paul Hughes, Hydratight’s connector product manager, commented: ‘This means much of the delay at the front end of the repair – the design specification, the approvals procedure, costings and all the other associated advance work – is largely eradicated.’ Once assessment of the member’s needs is completed, Hydratight ensures the steel stock, machining and engineering teams are allocated and always in readiness. To prove system readiness, the EPRS team provides regular paper exercises with the client to ensure the service will run exactly as intended should a genuine emergency arise. The service already numbers several large operators among its club members and even companies offering complementary emergency services, where Morgrip is an integral part of a larger repair. Hughes continued: ‘Even as few as five years ago Hydratight would need to quote up to two months to deliver one of the larger Morgrip connectors – even in an emergency – because of the need to obtain approvals and costings, and to assemble the many parts and order the machining necessary.’ Contact: Hydratight Ltd, Bentley Road South, Darlaston, West Midlands WS10 8LQ, UK. Tel: +44 121 5050600, Fax: +44 121 5050800, Web: www.hydratight.com
Momentive expands manufacturing operations in India
M
omentive Performance Materials Inc, a US-based provider of silicones and advanced materials, is expanding its manufacturing facility and application development centre in Chennai, India. Spanning more than 15 acres (6 ha), the facility, which opened in 2009, focuses on manufacturing high-end speciality silicones to serve the growing needs of customers in India, the Middle East and South Asia.
May 2012
NEWS ‘This investment represents a major step forward in our ability to grow the silicones business in India,’ explained Craig Morrison, Chief Executive Officer, Momentive. ‘India is one of the world’s fastest growing regions for automotive, construction, telecommunications and energy. Chennai, in particular, is developing into a significant centre for multiple industries.’ V.P. Nalian, Managing Director, Momentive Performance Materials India, added: ‘Over the years we have stayed on course in realising our vision of building Momentive into a best-in-class speciality chemicals and materials company in the region by combining global technology, application development, manufacturing and service capabilities with outstanding products and services.’ ‘This expansion will bring some of the most sophisticated technology and manufacturing processes that Momentive has developed worldwide to the Chennai facility and considerably enhance its ability to serve customers across the region.’ The expansion of the facility, along with the opening of a regional headquarters, and global research and development centre in Bangalore later this year, is part of Momentive’s longstanding commitment to India and the surrounding region. In addition, the Chennai facility has been designated to become a zero-discharge plant, underscoring Momentive’s commitment to sustainability. Local Momentive employees will participate in training programmes on running the plant efficiently and in compliance with the highest safety standards.
equipment segment recorded revenue growth of 36.3% – taking sales to E827.2 million. The buoyant growth in sales was also fuelled by acquisitions transacted in 2011, whose business activities were almost entirely attributable to the original equipment segment. The aftermarket segment generated forward momentum mainly within the international markets, thereby lifting sales revenue by 5.4% to E112.9 million. In total, first-time inclusion of the metal flat gaskets business acquired from the Freudenberg Group, the Swiss exhaust treatment specialist Hug Engineering Ag and the Hummel-Formen Group contributed E83.7 million to group revenue. At minus E5.0 million earnings before taxes contributed by the acquired entities were as yet in negative territory. During August 2011 ElringKlinger disposed of its Ludwigsburg industrial park, as it no longer formed an integral part of the automotive supplier’s core business. The sale resulted in a onetime gain of E22.7 million for the group, which was accounted for in other operating income. The company anticipates that global vehicle production will expand slightly in 2012. Against this backdrop, it plans to raise sales revenue by 5% to 7% in 2012 in terms of organic growth. Within this context it notes that the level of revenue growth achieved in fiscal 2011 was significantly higher than originally forecast. An additional revenue contribution of around E20 million is expected from the consolidation of recently acquired Hug Engineering and Hummel-Formen, which for the very first time will be included in the consolidated group for a full annual period in 2012.
Contact: Momentive Performance Materials Inc, 180 East Broad Street, Columbus, OH 43215, USA. Tel: +1 607 786 8131, Web: www.momentive.com
Contact: ElringKlinger Ag, Max-Eyth-Strasse 2, 72581 Dettingen/ Erms, Germany. Tel: +49 7123 7240, Fax: +49 7123 724 9006, Email: [email protected], Web: www.elringklinger.de
ElringKlinger’s sales exceed E1 billion
G
ermany’s ElringKlinger Group reports that in 2011 it yet again outpaced global vehicle production in terms of percentage growth. The group saw its sales revenue expand by 29.8% to E1032.8 million, from 795.7 million recorded a year earlier. Earnings before interest and taxes exceeded the previous year’s figure by 39.4%, rising to E148.7 million. Net income, after minority interests, increased at a more pronounced rate – up 44.7% to E94.9 million. Benefiting from the rise in global car production by around 4% in 2011 and the introduction of a number of new products, the firm’s original
Eriks’ expansion in North America continues
E
riks Bv is continuing to strengthen its hand in North America with the acquisition of Quantum Supply Ltd, a manufacturer and distributor of engineering equipment. Eriks says that this acquisition, through its wholly-owned operating company Newdell Co of Houston, Texas, firmly underlines its status as a global industrial service provider. The purchase of Quantum Supply follows close on the heels of two previous additions
IN BRIEF Federal-Mogul’s CEO retires José Maria Alapont, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Federal-Mogul Corp, has retired. Alapont will remain with the company in a consulting role to assist with the transition, and will also remain on the company’s board of directors until the 2013 annual meeting of shareholders. Rainer Jueckstock, who is the senior vice president of the company’s Powertrain Energy business unit has been elected CEO. Jueckstock will also join the firm’s board of directors. Smithers Rapra now incorporates iSmithers To reinforce the important link between iSmithers and Smithers Rapra, the plastics, rubber and composites-related products and services that have been offered by iSmithers can be now accessed through a new Website (at the address given below). According to Smithers Rapra, there has always been a strong link between its testing and contract research services and the broad range of information products and services, as all of these are built around a core expertise in polymers and polymer-related materials. More information: Web: info.smithersrapra.com Flexitallic launches mobile service unit Manufacturer and supplier of industrial static sealing products Flexitallic Ltd can now provide a rapid response service by using its new mobile, site-based manufacturing unit. It says that this blast-proof, self-contained unit is equipped with production systems and carries an extensive stock of raw materials and finished gaskets to ensure start-up delays are a thing of the past. More information: Web: www.flexitallic.eu Ceetak appoints engineering manager Ceetak Ltd has announced that it recently appointed Andy Cleaver as its manager to oversee the engineering and design department for both sealing and packaging products and technology. Cleaver joins Ceetak after working for Handtmann Ltd, which specialises in the manufacture of filling and portioning machinery for the food-processing industry. David Lines, Managing Director, Ceetak, commented: ‘We are pleased to welcome Andy to our technical team. It is rare to find someone with over 20 years of combined experience and knowledge within our core industries of sealing technology and packaging machinery – we believe he will be an asset to the company and in further developing our engineering department.’
5 May 2012
Sealing Technology