Back in 1920, a n n u a l production w a s 1000 tons.
INTERNATIONAL
• Canadian subsidiary of Imperial Paper a n d Color is taking over t h e d r y color operations of Sherwin-Williams Co. of Canada, L t d . In addition t o purchasing of t h e d r y color manufacturing facilities, the agreement covers purchase of S-W goodwill, customer lists, a n d manufacturing processes for dry colors. Imperial will move t h e equipment it h a s purchased to its St. Johns, Que., color plant. • Dominion Tar a n d Chemical has h e gun construction on its $3 million coal tar installation at Hamilton, O n t . Company plans t o b e in production b y the e n d of 1958. • Europe's
φ Not α Creature Stirs Complete r e m o t e control has been established for manufacture of nitroglycerine at ICI's N o b e l Division Ardeer factory, Aryshire. T h e Biazzi-type plant was for a period o p e r a t e d from a control desk i n t h e main nitrating building so that plant experience i n its control methods could be gained. N o w t h e instrument patiel a n d control desk a r e in a concrete building apart from a n d protected from t h e nitrating room. T V cameras observe process vessels t h r o u g h a window, a n d n o m e n a r e present. C a m e r a s scan t h e room, relay w h a t they see b y closed circuit t o t h e remote control room. H e r e t w o TV screens are installed on t h e instrument panel.
More Ti0 2 Plants From G e r m a n y a n d Mexico this week come p l a n s for two n e w titanium dioxide p l a n t s . Farbenfabriken Bayer AG of Leverkusen, W e s t Germany, plans to e r e c t , a $15 million plant in U e r d i n g e n / Krefeld for titanium dioxide manufac ture. T h e n e w Bayer plant will have a n annual p r o d u c t i o n capacity of 50,000 metric tons a n d will make extensive u s e of automation. Research into finding additional uses for titanium dioxide will be c o n d u c t e d b y Bayer at the n e w facilities, a s well as in Leverkusen. According t o Bayer, a special process will be u s e d at Uerdingen to convert ilmenite i n t o t h e pigment. T h e n e w Bayer p l a n t is expected t o come into production b y early 1959. 82
C&EN
D E C . 3 0,
1957
In Mexico, Industrias Quimicas Bâsicas d e Mexico will soon start construction on a titanium dioxide plant, scheduled to cost about $6.5 million. Initial capacity of the p l a n t will b e 8 0 0 0 tons of titanium dioxide p e r year with a reserve for an increase of 12,000 ' tons, T h e plant will use Glidden Co.'s process; Glidden will also furnish technical assistance needed in constructing and installing equipment, a n d in operating the plant. T h e plant will include a 100-ton-per-day-capacity sulfuric acid unit. Ilmenite and isjEilfur will b e of Mexican origin. Plant is&expected to b e in operation b y end of JN&58.
Out-
p u t will both supply Mexican requirements a n d p r o d u c e T i 0 2 for export. In 1957, world production of titanium dioxide h a d risen to 800,000 tons.
pharmaceutical
industry
has grown rapidly since World W a r II to a level in m a n y respects the equal of its American counterpart. This is t h e view of Lakeside Laboratories scientific director, just back from a 10-week tour, w h o also states that t h e European synthetic p r o g r a m is in full swing a n d rivals that of t h e U. S. About 300 important pharmaceutical firms with export facilities exist in Western E u r o p e . Their primary market target—the United States. South America is next in importance. • N e w Vitro operating company, Vitro International, h a s been formed with headquarters i n Switzerland. The company will h a n d l e E u r o p e a n sales, promote licensing of Vitro techniques for Vitro in t h e U. S., a n d handle all other European activities currently associated with Vitro C o r p . of America. • S w e d e n n e e d s t o train more engineers a n d research workers for continued economic progress, says country's Prime Minister T a g e Erlander. For a small country which must rely on quality production, a d e q u a t e technical training is of special significance. Sweden's technical a n d vocational schools have in recent years undergone a rather spectacular development a n d higher technological education has exp a n d e d , b u t efforts must b e intensified. According t o Dagens Nyheter, the great reserve of talent represented b y women must receive more attention. In 1954, Sweden graduated 68 advanced engineers p e r 1 million inhabitants, b u t only 2 % of technological school graduates a r e women; in t h e Soviet Union 25% a r e women.
