Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • Sustainable Plastics
  • Rubber News
Subscribe
  • Sign Up Free
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • News
    • Processor News
    • Suppliers
    • More News
    • Digital Edition
    • End Markets
    • Special Reports
    • Newsletters
    • Resin pricing news
    • Videos
    • Injection Molding
    • Blow Molding
    • Film & Sheet
    • Pipe/Profile/Tubing
    • Rotomolding
    • Thermoforming
    • Recycling
    • Machinery
    • Materials
    • Molds/Tooling
    • Product news
    • Design
    • K Show
    • Mergers & Acquisitions
    • Sustainability
    • Public Policy
    • Material Insights Videos
    • Numbers that Matter
    • Automotive
    • Packaging
    • Medical
    • Consumer Products
    • Construction
    • Processor of the Year
    • Best Places to Work
    • Women Breaking the Mold
    • Rising Stars
    • Diversity
    • Most Interesting Social Media Accounts in Plastics
  • Opinion
    • The Plastics Blog
    • Kickstart
    • One Good Resin
    • Pellets and Politics
    • All Things Data
    • Viewpoint
    • From Pillar to Post
    • Perspective
    • Mailbag
    • Fake Plastic Trees
  • Shop Floor
    • Blending
    • Compounding
    • Drying
    • Injection Molding
    • Purging
    • Robotics
    • Size Reduction
    • Structural Foam
    • Tooling
    • Training
  • Events
    • K Show Livestream
    • Plastics News Events
    • Industry Events
    • Injection Molding & Design Expo
    • Livestreams/Webinars
    • Editorial Livestreams
    • Ask the Expert
    • Plastics News Events Library
    • Processor of the Year submissions
    • Plastics News Executive Forum
    • Injection Molding & Design Expo
    • Plastics News Caps & Closures
    • Women Breaking the Mold Networking Forum
    • Plastics in Automotive
    • PN Live: Mergers and Acquisitions
    • Polymer Points Live
    • Numbers that Matter Live
    • Plastics in Politics Live
    • Sustainable Plastics Live
    • Plastics Caps & Closures Library
    • Plastics in Healthcare Library
    • Women Breaking the Mold Networking Forum Library
  • Rankings & Data
    • Injection Molders
    • Blow Molders
    • Film Sheet
    • Thermoformers
    • Pipe Profile Tubing
    • Rotomolders
    • Mold/Toolmakers
    • LSR Processors
    • Recyclers
    • Compounders - List
    • Association - List
    • Plastic Lumber - List
    • All
  • Directory
  • Resin Prices
    • Commodity TPs
    • High Temp TPs
    • ETPs
    • Thermosets
    • Recycled Plastics
    • Historic Commodity Thermoplastics
    • Historic High Temp Thermoplastics
    • Historic Engineering Thermoplastics
    • Historic Thermosets
    • Historic Recycled Plastics
  • Custom
    • Sponsored Content
    • LS Mtron Sponsored Content
    • Conair Sponsored Content
    • KraussMaffei Sponsored Content
    • ENGEL Sponsored Content
    • White Papers
    • Classifieds
    • Place an Ad
    • Sign up for Early Classified
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. News
News
December 23, 2002 01:00 AM

Newsclips

  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Reprints Print

    Kamkorp to buy Ford's Think car unit

    AURSKOG, NORWAY - Ford Motor Co.'s plastic-body electric car, the Think, may have a new lease on life.

    The carmaker has inked an agreement to sell the unit, including its Norwegian production plant, to Kamkorp Microelectronics Ltd., according to Dec. 19 wire service reports in the United States and Europe. Kamkorp has offices in Singapore, Britain and Switzerland.

    Ford announced in August that it would close the Think division - including the plant in Aurskog that rotational molds the Think City's body - and instead concentrate on fuel cells.

    Kamkorp has extensive holdings in electric-powered vehicles, including the Frazer-Nash, which was used during the 2000 Olympics. The companies have not disclosed a purchase price. Norway's news agency NTB reported Ford has told government officials there that the new owner plans to continue production and development and will retain the rights to the vehicle name.

    Supplier Hayes emerging from Chapter 11

    NORTHVILLE, MICH.-Hayes Lemmerz International Inc. is preparing to emerge from Chapter 11, trading some of its debt for new stock.

    The automotive supplier, which includes a unit in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, injection molds air-intake manifolds. The company filed a year ago for protection from creditors in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Wilmington, Del., citing $1.7 billion in debts.

    On Dec. 16, the Northville company announced plans to emerge by mid-2003. Creditors and the bank still must approve the plan, which involves reducing fixed costs and divesting some noncore assets. The firm is best known as a wheel supplier to the auto industry, with annual sales of more than $2 billion.

    Thermoformed Products gets new name

    MUSKEGON, MICH. - Thermoformed Products Inc. has changed its name to Ameriform Inc. The Muskegon company, a custom thermoformer and sheet extruder, decided the new moniker better identifies its capabilities, said President Daniel Harris.

    The family-owned company, which makes parts for automotive and outdoor-recreation markets, operates a 165,000-square-foot plant in Muskegon and an adjacent warehouse.

    Criminal queries over in MBA death

    MARTINEZ, CALIF. - The Contra Costa County district attorney's office has closed a criminal review of an October 2000 fatality at MBA Polymers Inc. in Richmond, Calif. The death of forklift operator Jeremiah Spritz, 26, from smoke inhalation after a fire and explosion prompted the routine investigation.

    ``I did not feel we had sufficient evidence to go forward with a criminal prosecution,'' said Lon Wixson, deputy district attorney in Martinez.

    An administrative law judge now will consider 11 serious citations and an eight-item general citation stemming from the fire. The judge's findings will go to an appeals board of the state Industrial Relations Department. The citations were issued in April 2001 and appealed by MBA, a durable-goods recycler.

    OSHA probes Thermal Care after death

    NILES, ILL. - The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating Thermal Care Inc. after the death of an employee earlier this month. James Plante, 31, died Dec. 5 or Dec. 6 from closed-space asphyxia, said Cmdr. Dan Halley with the Niles Police Department.

    Officials have ruled the death an accident, but cannot determine the exact date of death. Plante was cleaning up after hours Dec. 5, a regular routine for the seven-year employee. Another employee found Plante's body Dec. 6. Plante apparently had been cleaning the inside of a water tank for the Niles-based auxiliary equipment maker.

    ``He was very meticulous,'' Halley said.

    OSHA has six months to conduct its investigation, said Diane Turek, area director with OSHA's office in Des Plaines, Ill.

    ``We're still looking at the evidence: company programs, training records, injury and illness reports, and interviewing employees,'' Turek said in a Dec. 20 telephone interview.

    Thermal Care Inc. employs 110 at the facility, where it makes industrial water-cooling equipment. It is owned by publicly held MFRI Inc., also based in Niles.

    Callahan resigns from Pixley Richards

    PLYMOUTH, MASS. - Joseph Callahan has stepped down as president and chief executive officer of Pixley Richards Inc., a post he had held for 18 years. Callahan resigned Dec. 11, citing personal reasons, said Richard LaViolette, director of sales and marketing for the Plymouth injection molder.

    Callahan had been with the company since 1978, LaViolette said. Pixley Richards expects to have a replacement named during the first few months of 2003.

    RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
    Thermoformer Genpak closing Ohio facility, cutting 67 jobs
    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Do you have an opinion about this story? Do you have some thoughts you'd like to share with our readers? Plastics News would love to hear from you. Email your letter to Editor at [email protected]

    Most Popular
    1
    Asahi Kasei settles Michigan PFAS lawsuit, agrees to clean up pollution
    2
    Numbers That Matter Live January 2023: Expect short-term pain, strong rebound in 2024
    3
    Berry, Coca-Cola launch tethered caps in EU markets
    4
    Berry sees growing health care demand in India; new plant to open soon
    5
    Top-dollar deals, repeat buyers highlight 2022 M&A
    SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE NEWSLETTERS
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    Get our newsletters

    Staying current is easy with Plastics News delivered straight to your inbox, free of charge.

    Subscribe today

    Subscribe to Plastics News

    Subscribe now
    Connect with Us
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram

    Plastics News covers the business of the global plastics industry. We report news, gather data and deliver timely information that provides our readers with a competitive advantage.

    Contact Us

    1155 Gratiot Avenue
    Detroit MI 48207-2997

    Customer Service:
    877-320-1723

    Resources
    • About
    • Staff
    • Editorial Calendar
    • Media Kit
    • Data Store
    • Digital Edition
    • Custom Content
    • People
    • Contact
    • Careers
    • Sitemap
    Related Crain Publications
    • Sustainable Plastics
    • Rubber News
    • Tire Business
    • Urethanes Technology
    Legal
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    Copyright © 1996-2023. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • News
      • Processor News
        • Injection Molding
        • Blow Molding
        • Film & Sheet
        • Pipe/Profile/Tubing
        • Rotomolding
        • Thermoforming
        • Recycling
      • Suppliers
        • Machinery
        • Materials
        • Molds/Tooling
        • Product news
        • Design
      • More News
        • K Show
        • Mergers & Acquisitions
        • Sustainability
        • Public Policy
        • Material Insights Videos
        • Numbers that Matter
      • Digital Edition
      • End Markets
        • Automotive
        • Packaging
        • Medical
        • Consumer Products
        • Construction
      • Special Reports
        • Processor of the Year
        • Best Places to Work
        • Women Breaking the Mold
        • Rising Stars
        • Diversity
        • Most Interesting Social Media Accounts in Plastics
      • Newsletters
      • Resin pricing news
      • Videos
    • Opinion
      • The Plastics Blog
      • Kickstart
      • One Good Resin
      • Pellets and Politics
      • All Things Data
      • Viewpoint
      • From Pillar to Post
      • Perspective
      • Mailbag
      • Fake Plastic Trees
    • Shop Floor
      • Blending
      • Compounding
      • Drying
      • Injection Molding
      • Purging
      • Robotics
      • Size Reduction
      • Structural Foam
      • Tooling
      • Training
    • Events
      • K Show Livestream
      • Plastics News Events
        • Plastics News Executive Forum
        • Injection Molding & Design Expo
        • Plastics News Caps & Closures
        • Women Breaking the Mold Networking Forum
        • Plastics in Automotive
      • Industry Events
      • Injection Molding & Design Expo
      • Livestreams/Webinars
        • PN Live: Mergers and Acquisitions
      • Editorial Livestreams
        • Polymer Points Live
        • Numbers that Matter Live
        • Plastics in Politics Live
        • Sustainable Plastics Live
      • Ask the Expert
      • Plastics News Events Library
        • Plastics Caps & Closures Library
        • Plastics in Healthcare Library
        • Women Breaking the Mold Networking Forum Library
      • Processor of the Year submissions
    • Rankings & Data
      • Injection Molders
      • Blow Molders
      • Film Sheet
      • Thermoformers
      • Pipe Profile Tubing
      • Rotomolders
      • Mold/Toolmakers
      • LSR Processors
      • Recyclers
      • Compounders - List
      • Association - List
      • Plastic Lumber - List
      • All
    • Directory
    • Resin Prices
      • Commodity TPs
        • Historic Commodity Thermoplastics
      • High Temp TPs
        • Historic High Temp Thermoplastics
      • ETPs
        • Historic Engineering Thermoplastics
      • Thermosets
        • Historic Thermosets
      • Recycled Plastics
        • Historic Recycled Plastics
    • Custom
      • Sponsored Content
      • LS Mtron Sponsored Content
      • Conair Sponsored Content
      • KraussMaffei Sponsored Content
      • ENGEL Sponsored Content
      • White Papers
      • Classifieds
        • Place an Ad
        • Sign up for Early Classified