Davis-Standard license with JSW expires
CHICAGO — Davis-Standard Corp. (Booth N6107) will continue in the compounding extruder market even though a licensing agreement it had with JSW Plastics Machinery Inc. recently expired.
The license expiration "is a nonevent in the market," Davis-Standard President Robert Ackley said in an interview at the firm's booth.
"Now we are free to operate around the world," Ackley said. "Before we were limited to just North America."
Ackley said that after making compounding extruders for several years under license, Davis-Standard gained expertise in the machinery. It already is making some compounding extruders.
Davis-Standard is in discussions with JSW of Tokyo about the possibility of renewing the licensing agreement, but Ackley had no progress to report.
CMA renamed American Chemistry Council
ARLINGTON, VA. — The Chemical Manufacturers Association's membership has voted to change its name to the American Chemistry Council.
According to the Arlington-based trade group, the new name reflects significant business changes occurring in the industry; the desire for a more positive reputation; and the group's expanded commitments to research, testing and improved environmental, health and safety performance.
Diamond Polymers launches ASA-TWT line
CHICAGO — Styrenic resin maker and compounder Diamond Polymers Inc. (Booth S839) recently launched its ASA-TWT product line, a transparent weatherable polymer based on acrylic styrene acrylonitrile.
It touts the new materials as more weatherable than transparent ABS, according to President Bruce Petersen. Early applications include uses in marine products and office furniture.
"The markets [for ASA-TWT] are anywhere you need clarity, weatherability and impact," Petersen said. "The technology really sets it apart from acrylic, [styrene acrylonitrile] and polystyrenes."
Diamond currently offers five grades of ASA-TWT but expects to add a dozen more in the next year. The materials sell for between $1.80 and $2 per pound.
The market for the material eventually could reach 10 million to 20 million pounds per year, Petersen said.
ASA accounts for about 20 percent of sales at Akron, Ohio-based Diamond, but is one of the firm's fastest-growing products, Petersen added.
NPE 2000 Tuesday attendance at 83,451
CHICAGO — NPE 2000 attendance by June 20 already has exceeded attendance for all five days of the show in 1997.
Registered attendees totaled 83,451 by 4 p.m., surpassing the 82,600 total in 1997, said Vince Witherup, chairman of the NPE Committee for the Washington-based Society of the Plastics Industry Inc.
He said on June 20 that he was confident the show attendance will break 90,000
Witherup predicted final numbers of 95,000-98,000 people. The show saw a big increase in pre-registration this year, particularly on the Internet, he said.
P.E.T.S. opening first plant in Europe
CHICAGO — Plastic Engineering & Technical Services Inc. (Booth N6775), a hot-runner manifold producer, plans to open its first European facility by Oct. 1.
The company, known as P.E.T.S., has formed a strategic alliance with Textron Automotive Co. Inc. to supply manifolds and related components to the automotive supplier in Europe, said Richard May, P.E.T.S.'s vice president of operations for Europe.
P.E.T.S. plans to build a 10,000- to 12,000-square-foot plant in Europe and invest about $2 million in building and equipment, May said.
The manifold supplier plans to hire about a dozen people at first and eventually hire as many as 25 employees for the facility, May said.
P.E.T.S. also has launched a sales and engineering office in Whitely, England.
The facility, with four people and several seats of computer-aided software, opened June 15.
P.E.T.S. currently operates a single manufacturing plant in Auburn Hills, Mich., that makes manifolds and controllers. The company has 55 employees and recorded sales of $15 million last year, May said.
