Enplas growing 20-year-old U.S. operations
MARIETTA, GA. (April 26, 11 a.m. EDT) -- Enplas (U.S.A.) Inc. of Marietta is boosting in-house tool building and design capabilities for its close-tolerance injection molding of small plastic gears and components. The operation is recruiting four to six more engineers and plans to expand to accommodate the tool work. Representatives of the firm´s Japan-based parent, Enplas Corp., attended activities April 25 in Marietta to observe the U.S. unit´s 20th anniversary.

Equistar named in wrongful-death lawsuit
HOUSTON (April 26, 10:30 a.m. EDT) -- The families of two contractors killed last month at the Equistar Chemicals LP polyethylene plant in Channelview, Texas, have filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against Equistar and two other companies, claiming the firms knowingly allowed the men to work in unsafe conditions. Also named in the suit were Aeriform Corp. of Houston and Greenwade Services of Crosby, Texas.

Oregon molder Puget expanding in Mexico
GUADALAJARA, MEXICO (April 25, 5:10 p.m. EDT) -- Puget Plastics Corp. of Tualatin, Ore., is adding space and equipment and broadening its customer base in Guadalajara to accommodate new business from the computer industry. The company said it plans to add at least 17 presses in Guadalajara -- including six from its Oregon operation.

Ex-Huron execs form injection molder Prism
PORT HURON, MICH. (April 25, 4:45 p.m. EDT) -- Former Huron Plastics executives have created a new injection molding company called Prism Plastics LC. Prism began production in mid-April and focuses on automotive markets, doing tight-tolerance work with engineering resins, according to Jerry Williams, vice president of sales and engineering.

Algonquin making Harley pickup truck cover
MADISON HEIGHTS, MICH. (April 25, 4:40 p.m. EDT) -- Algonquin Automotive Group is taking plastics out to the "Easy Rider" crowd, producing a reaction injection molded tonneau cover for Ford Motor Co.´s new Harley-Davidson F-150 pickup truck. The black truck, built in a joint branding agreement between the automaker and the motorcycle trendsetter, will carry the biggest single Class A painted surface plastic part on a production North American passenger car or light truck, Algonquin said.

Pair will develop equipment, long-fiber technology
GREEN BAY, WIS. (April 25, 11:55 a.m. EDT) -- C.A. Lawton Co. and Composite Technologies Corp. have agreed to collaborate on equipment and technology for molding long-fiber-reinforced thermoplastics, particularly for automotive structural applications. The low-cost process already is used in Europe, typically using glass-reinforced polypropylene or nylon for certain interior parts.

Former SPI president Harding dead at 79
WILMINGTON, N.C. (April 24, 2:50 p.m. EDT) -- Ralph Harding, the second president of the Society of the Plastics Industry Inc., died April 7 in Wilmington, N.C. He was 79. Harding, who led SPI from 1967-1981, was a member of the Plastics Hall of Fame. A memorial service was held April 11.

Dwindling PVC supply putting pipe makers on alert
ATLANTA (April 24, 9:40 a.m. EDT) -- While some observers warn that high demand and low supply have landed the PVC pipe industry in its worst predicament ever, many others say to enjoy these flush market conditions while you can. Pipe makers´ concerns about having enough resin are being spurred by a North American PVC resin market that even the most skeptical of buyers admits is tight. But the consensus seems to be that there´s no cause for alarm, even if pipe makers are starting to feel the pinch.

CSR, Ultraliner settle patent dispute
NEW ORLEANS (April 24, 9:10 a.m. EDT) -- CSR Hydro Conduit Corp. and Ultraliner Inc. finally have agreed to settle all patent infringement and unfair competition litigation between them. CSR and subsidiary Pipe Liners Inc. of New Orleans had claimed Ultraliner and its licensed installer G.B. Cooke Inc. infringed on CSR´s patent for trenchless pipe rehabilitation. Under the settlement, Ultraliner acknowledges the patent and agrees not to challenge it, a news release said.

Environmentalists picket Coke meeting
WILMINGTON, DEL. (April 21, 5:50 p.m. EDT) -- In spite of Coca-Cola Co.´s declaration that it will use 10 percent recycled content in some of its PET bottles, pressure on the soft drink company is not letting up. Environmentalists protested outside Coke´s annual meeting April 19 in Wilmington, saying the firm actually will use less than 5 percent recycled plastic. And a group of "socially responsible" investment firms plans to meet with Coke in early May to ask for details and continue to press Coke to stop opposing bottle bills.

GE Plastics expanding capacity at 3 plants
NEW YORK (April 21, 5:40 p.m. EDT) -- Double-digit sales growth is leading GE Plastics to expand a trio of engineering resin plants. Polyphenylene oxide growth is planned for plants in Selkirk, N.Y., and Bergen-Op-Zoom, the Netherlands, according to Nani Beccalli, vice president and general manager of GE Plastics Americas. He noted that the North American PC market saw growth of 10-14 percent in 1999. In Burkville, Ala., the company will be expanding its polycarbonate facility to about 550 million pounds of annual capacity, according to industry estimates.

Thor offers nearly $290 million for Coachmen
ELKHART, IND. (April 21, 3:45 p.m. EDT) -- A proxy war could break out in the recreational vehicle industry, with the second-largest American RV maker out to buy one of its top competitors. Thor Industries Inc., which makes Airstream, Dutchmen and Four Winds brands, has launched a bid to buy Coachmen Industries Inc. for $289.6 million. Coachmen, which already had rejected a bid of $17 per share from Thor, said its board will review the latest offer next week.

Black Clawson pairs with Brazil´s Rulli-Standard
BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA (April 21, 1:20 p.m. EDT) -- Another Brazilian machinery company has linked up with a U.S. partner, this time for film and sheet equipment. Black Clawson Converting Machinery LLC and Rulli-Standard Indústria e Comércio de Máquinas Ltda. completed their alliance during the Argenplas 2000 show, held April 3-8 in Buenos Aires.

SKM acquires package injection molder Nadel
PORT CHESTER, N.Y. (April 21, 10:45 a.m. EDT) -- SKM Applied Technology Partners has boosted its stake in packaging by acquiring Nadel Industries Inc. of Port Chester. Nadel fits SKM´s health and cosmetics products group, which comprises Tri-Molded Plastics of Bay Shore, N.Y., Apollo Packaging of Bridgeport, Conn., and Sussex Technology of Sparta, N.J. A spokesman estimated Nadel´s annual sales at $25 million.

Geon closing engineered PVC films plant
NEWTON UPPER FALLS, MASS. (April 21, 10:45 a.m. EDT) -- Geon Co. of Avon Lake, Ohio, is closing its engineered PVC films plant in Newton Upper Falls, less than a year after acquiring the plant from O´Sullivan Corp. The 80-employee plant will close by mid-2001 and production will shift to Geon film plants, the firm said. Closing the plant will save Geon $1 million annually beginning in 2002.

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