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Shell and BASF form joint venture company
INDUS ~I
Pipe business diversifies from GRP base OWENS Corning is expanding its pipe business with the acquisition of a fittings company, and possible diversification into non-composite pipes. On 1 September Owens Corning Engineered Pipe Systems acquired the activities of Matherso, a French producer of fittings for glass reinforced plastic (GRP) pipes. Matherso, which will in future be called Owens Corning Fittings, is based in southwestern France. In 1995 it had sales of about FF6 million. It will make small fittings for all Owens Corning's European pipe plants, while the individual pipe factories will continue to make their own large diameter fittings. Bob Morrison, of Owens Corning Engineered Pipe Systems, says that the large diameter
GRP pipe sector in which the company is active currently accounts for around 1.5% of the global pipe market. Owens Corning's aim is to help raise this share to over 3%. The fmn estimates that it currently has 50% of the global market for GRP pipe. Composite pipe is very competitive with iron and concrete pipe in 500900 mm diameter pipes operating at between 6 and 16 bar pressure, says Morrison. For instance a ductile iron pipe has a minimum diameter because of its manufacturing process, meaning that at relatively low pressures such as these it is overdesigned and expensive. However, GRP continues to be restricted to relatively niche markets and Owens Corning is considering diversification into engineered pipe sys-
terns made from other materials. "We will not enter the highly competitive small diameter PVC pipe market," says Morrison. "But we believe that by using other engineered materials we can move into markets other the water and sewerage transportation." He adds that Owens Coming will move into the new technology through acquisition and expects an announcement, possibly relating to a thermoplastic pipe acquisition, to be made in the near future. Diversificationwill also help the firm meet its ambitious growth targets. It aims to have sales of $0.5 billion by the end of the decade, a trebling of currentperformance. David Murrow, Owens Corning Engineered Pipe Systems; tel: + 32-2-674-8225.
Companies unite to produce composite lighting systems Two UK companies, Euro-Projects(LTTC) Ltd (EPL) of Loughborough, and Techbuild Composites Ltd (TCL) of Accrington have formed a joint venture company, called Safecomp Lighting Systems Ltd, to manufacture and supply a range of highway lighting systems made from composite materials. Following two years of research and development, the first phase of which was panly funded under the Department of Transport'sLink Transport Infrastructureand Operations Programme, the two
companies have designed a range of pultruded composite columns. These structures weigh approximately 50% less than an equivalent steel unit and they ate said to be easier to install. Thanks to their corrosion and fatigue resistance the new units offer· a maintenance-free design life of up to 40 years, says Safecompo Furthermore, the nature of the design results in a structure which is tolerant of freak weather conditions, and also provides passive safety in the event of a vehicular collision.
Reinforced Plastics December 1996
The company is currently supplying its first order for over 200, 10 m columns and bracket arms to Lancashire County Council, and is extending its range of products to supply units from 5 m upwards from January next year. Safecomp anticipates exporting to mainland Europe during 1997, and is also keen to license the technology to suitably positioned manufacturing companies worldwide. Dr Peter Sheard, Safecomp Lighting Systems Ltd; tel: + 44-1509890404; fax: + 441509-890807.
Shell and BASF form joint venture company Shell Chemicals Europe and BASF have announced plans for a new SO/SO manufacturing joint venture for the productionof styrene monomer (SM) and propylene oxide (PO). The joint venture, called Basell, will involve the construction of a new SM/PO manufacturing plantwhich will be located at Shell's manufacturing complex at Moerdijk in The Netherlands. The plant, will use Shell's proprietary SM/PO technology along with the existing infrastructure at Moerdijk. It is expected to have a capacity of at le:ist 550 000 tonnes of SM and 250 000 tonnes of PO/year.
Hexcel reports third quarter results HEXCEL Corp has reported results for the third quarter. The company says that net income of $0.3 million on sales of $1895 million reflects seasonal factors and the impact of recent business acquisition and consolidation activities. For 1995 net income was $1.4 million on sales of $81.4 million. Gross margin for the 1996 quarter was $35.8 million or 18.9% of sales, compared with a figure of $15.9 million or 19.5% of sales for 1995. Excluding the business operations acquired from Ciba-Geigy Ltd and Hercules Inc, sales were approximately $92 million - a 13% increase over the third quarter of 1995 - and gross margin was around $22 million.
Pipe business diversifies from GRP base OWENS Corning is expanding its pipe business with the acquisition of a fittings company, and possible diversification into non-composite pipes. On 1 September Owens Corning Engineered Pipe Systems acquired the activities of Matherso, a French producer of fittings for glass reinforced plastic (GRP) pipes. Matherso, which will in future be called Owens Corning Fittings, is based in southwestern France. In 1995 it had sales of about FF6 million. It will make small fittings for all Owens Corning's European pipe plants, while the individual pipe factories will continue to make their own large diameter fittings. Bob Morrison, of Owens Corning Engineered Pipe Systems, says that the large diameter
GRP pipe sector in which the company is active currently accounts for around 1.5% of the global pipe market. Owens Corning's aim is to help raise this share to over 3%. The fmn estimates that it currently has 50% of the global market for GRP pipe. Composite pipe is very competitive with iron and concrete pipe in 500900 mm diameter pipes operating at between 6 and 16 bar pressure, says Morrison. For instance a ductile iron pipe has a minimum diameter because of its manufacturing process, meaning that at relatively low pressures such as these it is overdesigned and expensive. However, GRP continues to be restricted to relatively niche markets and Owens Corning is considering diversification into engineered pipe sys-
terns made from other materials. "We will not enter the highly competitive small diameter PVC pipe market," says Morrison. "But we believe that by using other engineered materials we can move into markets other the water and sewerage transportation." He adds that Owens Coming will move into the new technology through acquisition and expects an announcement, possibly relating to a thermoplastic pipe acquisition, to be made in the near future. Diversificationwill also help the firm meet its ambitious growth targets. It aims to have sales of $0.5 billion by the end of the decade, a trebling of currentperformance. David Murrow, Owens Corning Engineered Pipe Systems; tel: + 32-2-674-8225.
Companies unite to produce composite lighting systems Two UK companies, Euro-Projects(LTTC) Ltd (EPL) of Loughborough, and Techbuild Composites Ltd (TCL) of Accrington have formed a joint venture company, called Safecomp Lighting Systems Ltd, to manufacture and supply a range of highway lighting systems made from composite materials. Following two years of research and development, the first phase of which was panly funded under the Department of Transport'sLink Transport Infrastructureand Operations Programme, the two
companies have designed a range of pultruded composite columns. These structures weigh approximately 50% less than an equivalent steel unit and they ate said to be easier to install. Thanks to their corrosion and fatigue resistance the new units offer· a maintenance-free design life of up to 40 years, says Safecompo Furthermore, the nature of the design results in a structure which is tolerant of freak weather conditions, and also provides passive safety in the event of a vehicular collision.
Reinforced Plastics December 1996
The company is currently supplying its first order for over 200, 10 m columns and bracket arms to Lancashire County Council, and is extending its range of products to supply units from 5 m upwards from January next year. Safecomp anticipates exporting to mainland Europe during 1997, and is also keen to license the technology to suitably positioned manufacturing companies worldwide. Dr Peter Sheard, Safecomp Lighting Systems Ltd; tel: + 44-1509890404; fax: + 441509-890807.
Shell and BASF form joint venture company Shell Chemicals Europe and BASF have announced plans for a new SO/SO manufacturing joint venture for the productionof styrene monomer (SM) and propylene oxide (PO). The joint venture, called Basell, will involve the construction of a new SM/PO manufacturing plantwhich will be located at Shell's manufacturing complex at Moerdijk in The Netherlands. The plant, will use Shell's proprietary SM/PO technology along with the existing infrastructure at Moerdijk. It is expected to have a capacity of at le:ist 550 000 tonnes of SM and 250 000 tonnes of PO/year.
Hexcel reports third quarter results HEXCEL Corp has reported results for the third quarter. The company says that net income of $0.3 million on sales of $1895 million reflects seasonal factors and the impact of recent business acquisition and consolidation activities. For 1995 net income was $1.4 million on sales of $81.4 million. Gross margin for the 1996 quarter was $35.8 million or 18.9% of sales, compared with a figure of $15.9 million or 19.5% of sales for 1995. Excluding the business operations acquired from Ciba-Geigy Ltd and Hercules Inc, sales were approximately $92 million - a 13% increase over the third quarter of 1995 - and gross margin was around $22 million.