Kickstart: Saving lives in Turkey, Syria

When the earthquake that has now claimed more than 40,000 lives in Turkey and Syria hit on Feb. 6, Turkish appliance maker Arçelik A.S. was quick to respond, sending its own search and rescue team into action. The team of 77 has been able to save more than 20 people, the company said.

The Istanbul-based company — with products sold globally under brands such as Grundig, Arçelik and Beko and a recent agreement to buy Whirlpool's large appliance business in Europe — has also provided more than 600,000 items to aid the region. That includes tents, food, blankets, clothing, heaters and stoves that it created quickly using old washing machine drums.

It placed its refrigerators at medical stations to store vital medications requiring controlled temperatures.

"As the Arçelik family, we have established coordination and operation centers in eight locations … and started delivering humanitarian aid to the region," it said in a news release.

It has now created Arçelik Fixed Support Points with food, hygiene and clean clothing needs. Its kitchens at those sites will serve hot meals.

"We are aware that the process is long and the needs will increase and change in the coming days and weeks," the company said.

Other companies providing aid to the region, German mold components supplier Hasco is working with the aid organization ShelterBox to provide funding for emergency operations in the area. PN's Frank Esposito also writes in his blog about materials maker Solvay and its donations.

Injection molder and mold maker Tessy Plastics Corp. has signed on its first four apprentices in tooling as part of a New York State Department of Labor program that offers assistance for apprentices and companies.

With a nationally recognized shortage of trained and certified skilled tradespeople for jobs such as toolmakers, electricians, plumbers and HVAC specialists, the state program helps companies train people for those jobs.

"Skilled trade preparation has languished as the ranks of certified journeymen, who are the trainers for the next generation, are aging and retiring, leaving a gap in the manufacturing and fabrication pipelines," Jim Weishaar, apprenticeship mentor for Skaneateles, N.Y.-based company, said in a news release.

The first four to sign up for Tessy's program — Brett Schmutzler, Matthew Somes, David Costa and Tyler Perkins — are familiar with the company and with tooling, but the apprenticeship gives them the chance to earn certification that will be recognized by the state and federal governments.

Calgary-based Nova Chemicals has created a new business line for recycled resins.

Karen Laird from our sister paper Sustainable Plastics has the story on Nova Circular Solutions that will sell a portfolio of mechanically recycled polyethylene under the brand name Syndigo.

The first products will feature PE recovered from agricultural film, back-of-the-store distribution film and material sourced from high density PE jugs, bags and bottles.

Just a short logistics note: Plastics News will be off Feb. 20 for Presidents' Day. (I believe I've mentioned before that I don't know why our parent company Crain Communications has it as a holiday, but I'm not about to turn it down.)

Expect regular coverage, including Kickstart, to resume Feb. 21.