UK firm set to build plastics group

industry news

Core Materials to work with Volvo

AOC ups prices

SHEET moulding

have significantly

(SMC) moulder

compound

Core Materials

Corp (CMC), Columbus,

Ohio,

revenues

IN A MOVE to offset competitive

to CMC and repre-

sents the company’s major

truck

first new

pricing

which

impacted

on

operating margins over the past few years,

manufacturing

pressures,

AOC says that competitive

resins,

low

AOC’s prices profile

for

additives,

pressures have reduced its average selling price by more than $O.O4/lb since 1996. While raw material

costs

have decreased

in that time, they have fallen

USA, has entered into an agree-

opportunity

ment with Volvo Trucks North

workbase. The Volvo agreement

gel-coats, colorants and special-

short

America to begin manufactur-

continues

ity adhesives

freight, packaging, manufactur-

ing products for one of Volvo’s

efforts to diversify its customer

heavy-duty

base

The

truck models. agreement

manufacturing

includes

(see

outside its current the

company’s

Reinforced

cites

several SMC parts for Volvo’s

the

VN Series truck. The reinforced

compression

plastic parts will be used in the

assembly

truck’s bumpers,

SMC parts as an important

air deflectors

and a number of other parts of the truck assembly. The deal is worth approximately US$S million in annual

experience moulding

of

large,

Close

Investment, UK, is to back Integ-

current

to purchase

into additional

complex part

of Volvo’s decision. The location of the company’s two manufacturing facilities also fit well with Volvo’s Virginia plant.

the year 2000 with a new man-

European composites industry,” says Reichhold’s new managing director in Norway, Hans Peter Arnestad. Arnestad says the EPLT will base its work on two principles: first and foremost on the belief that evolution not revolution

two businesses

Kestrel Injection

-

ness is the manufacture supply of fibre reinforced

and plas-

tic (FRP) domestic meter boxes for the UK’s gas and electricity

CYTEC Industries,

New Jersey,

USA, says its Advanced Thermoplastic Composite (APC) mate-

strategic and tactical decisions. “Reichhold’s unique global

cept has proved itself to be strong and sustainable.

June

1999

to move

markets, offer-

with key customers including Toshiba, Sony and Panasonic. In the last financial year both companies had combined pre-tax profits of t1.7 million.

Cytec’s materials find military use

manufacturing the next generation 120 mm armour-piercing

REINFORCEDplastics

capabilities

UK commercial automotive and off-road equipment manufacturers. Kestrel’s main market is the UK teletronic industry

resenting the fact that the company’s existing business con-

enhanced volume in the Building Materials businesses. Composite Materials income from operations was $31 million, down from $52 million in the first quarter of 1998. This is largely a result of the transfer of Owens Coming’s Yarns business into a joint venture in the third quarter of last year.

tion Integral will use the firm’s

ing a range of plastic services to

regions who will cooperate on formulating and implementing

Restructure reaps rewards for OC

this acquisi-

Moulders and

will help the company grow and expand within Europe, rep-

10

costs.

Hampton Mouldings - from Money Controls, UK. Based in Tetbury, Gloucestershire, UK, composites moulder Hampton’s core busi-

rial has been selected by Alliant Techsystems and the US Army Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM) for use in

NET INCOME for glass fibre producer Owens Coming reached US$44 million in the first quarter of 1999. This represents an increase of $36 million over 1998 first quarter results. However, in spite of much activity within the company’s Composites Materials division this increase was driven by

Through

ral Plastics in an c8 million deal

presence makes us an attractive choice for all parts of the

The European Polyester Leadership Team (EPLT) comprises managers from six

utilities.

in

POLYESTER UNSATURATED producer Reichhold is to enter which it says focus on its as a whole between the of the USA

INVESTMENT business

and

Reichhold structures key team

agement structure will enable it to European market and build bridges corporate cultures and Japan.

ing and development

increased

UK firm set to build plastics group

CMC’s management company’s

between US$O.OZ/lb-$O.O4/lb.

of offsetting

Plastics,

February 1999).

and assembly of

are to increase

tank ammunition M829E3.

round,

the

Cytec Fiberite’s APC line of prepreg is a carbon fibre reinforced resin system. It is said to have been chosen by Alliant and the Army for its high temperature and toughness properties and ease of processing.

US firm expands in Europe COMPOSITE additives supplier R.J Marshall is expanding its European operation. Guy Bordu has been appointed European district manager and been given the responsibility of managing the Belgium warehouse and the distribution network in Europe. The company says that the rapidly growing market for

solid surface raw materials and and a variety of other speciality fillers for the composites industry has been the catalyst behind the move. The company is also involved in composites recycling in the USA though it says that it has no immediate plans for developing a European recycling facility.