ECM Sets Up Control over Cartels New regulation bans cartels which might hurt trade within the European Common Market Amid a last minute flurry of bargaining, the European Common Market has created a regulation controlling cartels within its borders (C&EN, Jan. 8, page 2 1 ) . The ordinance forbids all cartels which could detrimentally affect trade among ECM member nations. But it also allows many types of cartels to exist without censure. Agreement on the cartel ordinance was reached before Christmas by the bargainers in Brussels, Belgium. But the move from agreement to binding ordinance was held up until the last possible moment as negotiators wrestled with their thorniest problem yet—harmonizing ECM's agriculture— and withheld judgment on whether ECM would or would not enter the second phase of the planned 12-year transition period during which it will come into being. On Dec. 30, the Council of Ministers decided it could not resolve its agricultural differences in time to pass on to Phase II. So it decided to separate the cartel agreement and settlement of the problem of equalizing wages of men and women from Phase II negotiations. These two agreements thus became law when the clock rang in the new year. Meanwhile, the remaining problems, chiefly that dealing with agriculture, and the decision to enter Phase II were postponed for several days. Solution of these problems will be retroactive to the beginning of the year, once agreement is finally reached. Thus, parliamentary razzle-dazzle has avoided what many in Europe feared— the possibility that this important step toward European unity would be postponed for a full year. Cartel Guides. Basic guidelines for the ECM cartel law are put forward in Article 85 of the Rome Treaty setting up ECM. But these guidelines are principles only. The Common Market High Commission had to frame an ordinance acceptable to all members before the principles could be put into actual practice. This the commission did a little more than a year ago; a draft ordinance has been under discussion ever since. In October, at a meeting of 28
C & E N J A N . 15, 1962
the European Parliament (not a lawmaking body but a discussion body) in Strasbourg, France, the commission's draft received heavy criticism. After two months of talks, a final compromise was reached Dec. 19. Basically, the ordinance states that any agreement on economic cooperation which could influence detrimentally the trade between the member states is forbidden. The ordinance will be binding on every individual, company, or other group anywhere within ECM. The commission can
THE TREATY OF ROME SAYS THIS ABOUT CARTELS: Article 85: 1. Incompatible with the Common Market and thus forbidden are all agreements . . . which affect detrimentally the trade between member states and which cause or aim at a hindering, limitation, or falsification of competition within the Common Market, in particular: a. Direct or indirect fixing of purchase or sales price or other business conditions. b. Limitation or control of production, sales, technical developments, or investments. c. Dividing up markets or sources of supply. d. Use of different business terms for equivalent situations against trade partners through which the latter suffer competitively. e. Conditions . . . that are neither necessary nor according to usual trade practice. 2. All forbidden agreements mentioned herein are void. 3. The definitions of paragraph 1 are not applicable to agreements . . . which under appropriate participation of consumers contribute to the goal of improvement of goods production or distribution or to the furthering of technical or economic progress unless the participating enterprises [misuse their power].
I
impose stiff penalties—up to 10% of annual sales in some cases, plus a charge of $10,000 to $100,000-for violations. It can also issue restraining orders prohibiting the continuance of condemned practices. Exceptions. With the basic principle stated, the ordinance clearly backs off from a dogmatic damning of all agreements by listing several that will not come under its jurisdiction. Among them: • National cartels not affecting trade among the member countries. • Standardization agreements, covering such things as piping dimensions, screw threads, and the like. • Mutual research efforts. • Licensing agreements. • The European version of fair trading—maintaining a minimum price for branded goods. The ordinance foresees, also, that some fields of endeavor (perhaps banking and insurance, for example) will be exempted from the restrictions. The ECM commission will designate these within a year. Cartels in existence when the ordinance came into effect Jan. 1 must register with the High Commission by Aug. 1, 1962. The commission will decide whether they are lawful or whether they violate the ordinance. If it finds them unlawful, it will set a deadline by which cartel agreements must be modified to fit the ordinance's requirements. New cartels—those created after Jan. 1, 1962—must be registered with the commission, also. It will decide, as with the old cartels, whether they are lawful and the date from which they are considered lawful. The High Commission must consult with a committee made up of one member from each of the member countries before it renders its decision. Implications. The new cartel regulation will probably not have much effect on ECM's chemical industry, informed observers feel. National anticartel laws vary widely from country to country, but competition is so keen now that the chemical industry is far down any list of targets for regulation. But the cartel ordinance is the first legally binding "law" created by the supranational ECM High Commission. It thus represents a yielding of sovereignty by member nations. The extent to which this will matter in practice, however, is hard to predict.
Gulf-OCAW Contract May Set Precedent Gulf Oil and the Oil, Chemical, and Atomic Workers International Union may have set a precedent on job security. Their agreement on a new two-year contract covering OCAW members working at Gulfs Port Arthur, Tex., refinery and chemical plants provides that OCAW locals 4-23 and 4-254 will cooperate in ending inefficient work practices and relaxing jurisdictional lines between jobs. In return, Gulf will not exercise its right to reduce work forces by layoff. The agreement, on Jan. 2, ended work stoppages which began Oct. 22, 1961, at Gulf's Port Arthur operations (C&EN, Oct. 30, 1961, page 17). The agreement may settle a major matter of disagreement between OCAW locals and various Gulf Coast refinery and chemical plant managements—contracting for maintenance and other mechanical work that could be done by company employees. Costcutting efforts caused managements to compare closely the economics of using inplant personnel vs. contracting for maintenance and other work. These studies show that union rules which require several company men with different skills to move a small pump or overhaul a valve cost a company more than if it contracted with other companies for having such work done. Some industry observers interpret the agreement as an effort by OCAW to make its members' services more than competitive with contractors' services. How successful the efforts to end inefficient work practices will be won't be known for some time. Gulf isn't saying specifically how the efforts will be made, other than that company-union committees will handle initial discussions. In making the agreement with OCAW, Gulf did not give up any of its rights to determine how work will be performed. Nor did Gulf fully restrict the company's rights to make layoffs. However, if a layoff becomes necessary, then either Gulf or the union may terminate the agreement after giving 60 days' prior notice. During the 60-day period, Gulf and the union will discuss ways and means of avoiding the layoff. The work stoppage at Gulf began with a strike by members of local 823 of the International Association of Machinists. OCAW workers, who did
not have a contract with Gulf, respected the IAM picket line and did not work. The IAM strike was settled Dec. 30, 1961. OCAW then put up its own picket line. The recent agreement ended the OCAW strike.
Paper Output Poised For Sharp Gain in 1962 Both output and consumption are expected to climb by about 8% to new highs Production of paper and paperboard seems set for a sharp rise this year. Both the Business and Defense Services Administration and the American Paper and Pulp Association predict U.S. output will climb at a faster than average clip. Production will hit about 38.5 million tons, BDSA estimates. That's 3 million tons—8.5%—more than made last year. The historic growth rate for the industry's output is 3.8%. Sales of U.S. producers topped $13 billion in 1961. U.S. consumption of paper and board, meanwhile, will rise to 43.5 million tons, a 7.8% gain. The historic average annual growth rate for consumption is 3.5%. Per capita consumption will hit a new high of 468 pounds, compared with 441 pounds last year and 436 pounds in 1960, BDSA predicts. Exports should rise 10% to 1.1 million tons. If these goals are reached, 1962 will stack up favorably against last year. Both production and consumption, although at new peaks, were up only about 3% from 1960. Best production gains were turned in by special paperboards (up 1 0 % ) , sanitary tissue (up 7%), container board and special foodboard (both up between 5 and 6%), and newsprint and fine papers (both up between 3 and 4 % ) . In general, these are the products for which APPA forecasts the sharpest increases this year, too. While output climbed 3 % , industry capacity was 4% higher than in 1960. As a result, operating rates slipped to an average of slightly under 90% for paper makers for the year as a whole, lowest level since 1958. However, production picked up steadily during the year from its first quarter low; operating rates were running ahead of 12 months earlier as the year came to an end.
General Dynamics Halts Resin Project Company to sell pilot plant and know-how for phosphonitrilic chloride polymers General Dynamics' venture into the resin field has ended with a crash. The company's pilot plant, patent position, and technical know-how in its newly developed phosphonitrilic chloride polymers are up for sale. The decision apparently was a sudden one. Early last month, General Dynamics News carried word of the "rapidly expanding" advanced products department in San Diego, Calif., and of the great potential of the chemical section's resins. The end came shortly after Christmas. Of the 26 employees in the section, only its head, Dr. Rip G. Rice, remains. The mechanical section of the department, which makes metal forming machines and shock test equipment, is unaffected. General Dynamics' decision to end the project is not based on the technical merits of the products or the process, industry observers believe. The most likely explanation, they say, is the financial pressure on the company during the past couple of years. Part of this pressure is being translated into moves to sell off operations that do not fit well into other General Dynamics work. The chemical project was just getting off the ground and offered no hope of turning a profit for at least another year. Work on the resins started about three years ago in the Convair division and was shifted last summer to the new advanced products department. Before General Dynamics disclosed development of the resins (C&EN, Oct. 16, 1961, page 63), it was already operating a $350,000 pilot plant with a capacity of 500 to 1000 pounds of resin a month. The resins, condensation products of phosphonitrilic chloride with polyhydroxy aromatic compounds, are hydrolytically stable and resistant to high temperatures. Discussions between General Dynamics and companies interested in buying the facilities were scheduled to take place last week in New York. Meanwhile, there is also talk in the industry that General Dynamics may be considering the sale of its Liquid Carbonic division. JAN.
15, 1 9 6 2
C&EN
29
Courtaulds Resists ICI's Takeover Bid Imperial Chemical Industries' attempt to take over Courtaulds has been thwarted. Courtaulds' board has rejected the terms of ICI's bid. Thus starts round two in what may become the sharpest merger battle in British chemical history (C&EN, Dec. 25, 1961, page 19). In a published statement, Courtaulds' directors say they appreciate "the necessity for taking steps for the further strengthening of (Britain's) manmade fiber industry" and put "certain proposals to ICI for discussion." Reacting to Courtaulds' statement, ICI called a press conference. The press conference, however, was cancelled and a joint ICI-Courtaulds statement was issued. According to the statement, "ICI
which are considerable, for ICI's fiber interests, particularly ICI's share in British Nylon Spinners—a joint ICICourtaulds company. But if such a swap is the basis of Courtaulds' proposals, I C I will probably reject them. As Paul Chambers, ICI chairman, stressed earlier, the whole idea of ICI's bid is to get the British manmade fiber industry into the hands of a single company, and that company presumably is ICI. Courtaulds has updated its financial reports to show that its current trading position has improved. Further, its directors "have great confidence in the future prospects" of Courtaulds. But slightly improved business and "great confidence" may still not prevent Courtaulds' stockholders from accepting ICI's merger terms of three ICI ordinary shares for every four of Courtaulds' ordinary shares—Mr. Chambers' "final, final" offer. If Courtaulds' board continues to resist the ICI bid, there is no reason why ICI, if it is determined to control Britain's synthetic fiber industry, could not offer a one-for-one stock swap.
Eastman Chemical Introduces Polyallomers
Paul Chambers One fiber company for Britain has received further proposals from Courtaulds designed to solve problems of the manmade fiber industry other than by a complete merger of the two companies." ICI says it is prepared to discuss Courtaulds' new proposals and will issue a statement soon indicating "whether the discussions are proving fruitful or, if not, whether ICI will proceed with its offer to Courtaulds' stockholders." Fibers for Chemicals. Financial and chemical circles in London believe that Courtaulds' proposals involve an offer to ICI to swap Courtaulds' chemical and paint interests, 30
C & E N J A N . 15, 1962
Latest addition to Eastman Chemical's Tenite family is a group of stereoregular crystalline plastics which will be known generally as "polyallomers." Texas Eastman will make the new materials at its Longview, Tex., plant. Polyallomers can be made with mono- or diolefinic hydrocarbons, acetylenic hydrocarbons, or vinyl monomers. They are suitable for all standard types of thermoplastic processing, according to Eastman. The plastics are different from blends of polymers of the monomers involved and also distinctly different from homopolymers or copolymers of these monomers made by standard polymerization, Eastman says. Improved impact strengths and greater resistance to low temperature brittleness over polypropylene are claimed for polyallomer formulations containing ethylene. These polyallomers are similar to those of rubbermodified polypropylene in some physical properties but superior in color, clarity, moldability, and resistance to blushing when bent or stretched, Eastman adds. The company has applied for patents to cover polyallomers. Reaction of other companies in-
volved in olefinic copolymer research can be summed up as "wait and see." "We haven't seen or tested polyallomers yet, and can't evaluate the significance of the materials until we do," several industry experts told C&EN. Companies involved point out that they are investigating copolymers and blends and the Eastman work appears to fall right in the same area. However, as one company official points out, properties of these products depend on exactly how the materials are made and each company has its own tricks of blending and copolymerizing. Eastman's polyallomer news comes as the hassle over Eastman's "stereosymmetric" polypropylene continues. Dr. Giulio Natta questions the uniqueness of the stereosymmetric polymer and says it appears to be an isotactic polypropylene (C&EN, Dec. 25, 1961, page 2 1 ) .
Recruiters Start Early Recruiters are starting early this year. As of last Dec. 16, the 82 colleges and universities reporting to the College Placement Council, Bethlehem, Pa., say 1969 job offers had already been made to men who'll receive bachelor degrees in the 1961-62 year. That is 40% more offers than had been made as of the same date in the previous year. According to CPC, the salaries offered in December were higher than those a year ago. Chemical engineering graduates were being offered an average of $554 a month, compared with an average of about $540 a month in the previous year. Graduates in physical sciences (including chemistry) and mathematics were getting average offers of about $541 a month, compared with an average of $537 for the 1960-61 year. Most active in early recruiting efforts was the aircraft and space vehicle industry—companies in that field had made a total of 786 offers as of Dec. 16. They were making the biggest offers—an average of $568 a month. Well over half of their offers had gone to prospective mechanical and electrical engineers. Of chemical companies' 108 job offers, 40 were made to seniors in chemical engineering, to whom they were offering an average of $557 a month. Oil companies, also active in bidding for chemical engineers, were offering an average of $552 a month.
Unique keto-ether structure of Shell Chemical's new PENToXONE high boiling solvent. COC of ethers and double bond O of ketones unite in this single PENToXONE solvent molecule to give you double solvent action.
VINYL SOLVENT: Vinyl lacquers made with Shell Chemical's new PENToXONE* high boiling solvent cost less and smell better PENToXONE solvent costs 17.54 per pound delivered in tank cars. It is mildly camphor-like in odor. It is a good solvent for vinyl resins and displays a high tolerance for hydrocarbon diluents. Read h o w this remarkable Shell Chemical k e t o - e t h e r compares with other high boiling vinyl solvents in evaporation and solution viscosity. And where to send for n e w l y issued PENToXONE solvent technical bulletins. P E N T o X O N E is the only commercially *■ available solvent which gives you both ketone and ether functional groups in a single molecule. It is a true high boiler with an even evaporation rate m i d w a y b e t w e e n the evaporation rates of EGMEE acetate and cyclohexanone.
ride/vinyl acetate copolymer solutions. T h i r d , P E N T o X O N E is an excellent high boiling solvent for vinyl resins. I n a d d i t i o n , P E N T o X O N E solvent's mildly camphor-like odor is more agreeable than the odors of other high boiling vinyl resin solvents.
High boiler comparison Low cost, high dilution, excellent solvent T h r e e qualities of this u n i q u e Shell solvent contribute to its lowering your costs on vinyl lacquers: First, P E N T o X O N E solvent has a comparatively low cost of 17 50 per pound, or $1,325 per gallon, delivered in tank CarS
'
Second, P E N T o X O N E can tolerate any amount of aromatic diluent within the practical formulating range in vinyl chlo-
A s y o u m i g h t e x p e c t ? PEN ToXONE's
remarkable keto-ether structure gives it excellent solvent properties, H e r e are viscosity c o m p a r i s o n s w i t h cyclohexanone on three week-old Vinyljte** resin solutions: 1 ? % V Y H H
15%
PENToXONE/MEK
43
cyciohexanone/MEK
44 c P s.
PENToXONE/MEK
4 4 cpS.
V M C H cyclohexanone/MEK 15% PENTOXONE/MEK V A G H cyclohexanone/MEK
46-cps. 62 cps. 55 cps.
Both solvents w e r e m i x e d 5 0 / 5 0 w i t h Shell's M E K to reflect more accurately finished formulations, then diluted 5 0 / 5 0 with toluene.
New technical bulletins N e w technical bulletins are now available from Shell on a variety of P E N T oXONE solvent applications. O n e deals with P E N T o X O N E solvent in vinyl l a c q u e r s . A n o t h e r deals w i t h P E N T o X O N E and its twin, PENToXOL* glycol ether, in acrylic formulations. A third gives property data on both these solvents. For copies of t h e s e b u l l e t i n s , p l u s samples, contact any of Shell's n i n e Industrial Chemicals Division offices, or write Shell Chemical directly at 110 W e s t 51 Street, N e w York 20, N e w York. *Trade mark, Shell Chemical Company **Trade mark, Union Carbide Corp.
Shell X\\-\ I i/X ChemicalpHEtLS Company Industrial Chemicals Division
BRIEFS Thiokol Chemical has acquired the business and facilities of the industrial laminates plant of St. Regis Paper's Panelyte division, in exchange for 116,000 shares of Thiokol stock (about $4.5 million worth). Thiokol plans to maintain and expand the present operations of the plant, which will operate as a Thiokol division.
LIQUID
ill
U.S. Beryllium has doubled its holdings on Badger Flats, Colo., by buying beryllium claims on 2.5 square miles near its Boomer mine. The company is now ready to ship up to
several thousand tons of ore per month to the concentrating plant recently completed on Badger Flats by Mineral Concentrates and Chemical Co. The new plant uses a water flotation process developed by Mineral Concentrates and is capable of producing concentrates containing as much as 3 3 % beryllium oxide.
Hooker Chemical and Parker Rust Proof stockholders will vote on a proposed merger of the two companies in March. Directors of both firms have approved the plan, which calls for trading 15 shares of Hooker common and one share of a new 5%
H o w i m p o r t a n t is reliability to you in selecting your sulfur dioxide supplier? If it is very important, then you will certainly be interested in Tennessee Corporation's unique basic position. W e are miners of Sulfur bearing ore, which is processed in our integrated plant at Copperhill, Tennessee. T h i s basic position assures our customers of a dependable supply of high p u r i t y sulfur dioxide.
Tank Cars Tank Trucks
For further
Ton Drums Cylinders
information
Phone JAckson 3-5024
or
write.
TENNESSEE BEDSBBBSBI CORPORATION 6 1 2 - 6 2 9 Grant Building, A t l a n t a 3, Georgia
32
C&EN
JAN.
15,
1962
Celanese Starts Making Acetal Resin at Bishop, Tex. Two operators check on the copolymerization process at Celanese Polymer's new plant, now on stream at Bishop, Tex., for making its high-strength Celcon acetal resin. The plant's trioxane tower rises above them. Celcon is made by copolymerization of trioxane, a formaldehyde derivative, with a few per cent of an undisclosed monomer, which industry observers figure may be ethylene oxide. The plant, which trade sources estimate cost between $15 and $20 million and can make between 12 and 15 million pounds of resin a year, is designed so that it can be quickly expanded to a capacity of more than 30 million pounds. It is now producing two neutral color grades of Celcon—for injection molding and for extrusion—but will start making color grades and an ultraviolet-stabilized grade sometime this year. Celanese has test molded resin from its pilot plant into more than 300 products/ It expects Celcon to find markets in machinery, pumps and plumbing equipment, appliances, automobiles, and business machines as a replacement for metals or other plastics (C&EN, Feb. 27, 1961, page 23).
preferred for each 20 shares of Parker.
Diamond Alkali Co. has set up a new western division at Redwood City, Calif., as a result of its recent acquisition of Chemical Process Co., Redwood City. The division will handle Diamond's sales on the West Coast.
Hercules Powder has purchased Reasor-Hill Corp., Jacksonville, Ark, producer of 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T herbicides. Hercules' product line previously had included insecticides, miticides, and plant foods.
Eastman Kodak has decided to exercise its options on 2000 acres near Columbia, S.C. (C&EN, Aug. 14, 1961, page 29). The site, on the Congaree River, is to be used for a chemical products plant. A new company, Carolina Eastman, has been organized to take title to the property.
FROM JELLY JARS
TO EPITAXIAL
LAYERS...
new I R - 5 A spectrophotometer offers precise infrared analysis at low cost!
Intercontinental Chemical Corp. has
changed its name to American Hoechst Corp. The change was made in order to identify the company more closely with its West German parent, Farbwerke Hoechst A.G. American Hoechst is a consulting organization, U.S. purchasing agent for its parent, and holding company for the parent company's three manufacturing units in the U.S. (Hoechst Chemical Corp., Azoplate Corp., and Lloyd Bros., Inc.) and two sales organizations (CarbicHoechst Corp. and Hostachem Corp.).
NEW FACILITIES Philadelphia Laboratories plans to build new pharmaceutical production and research facilities at an industrial park in northeastern Philadelphia to provide more space for these activities.
American Enka will expand its nylon plant at Enka, N.C., by 10% to about 45 million pounds a year. Construction will begin early this spring, and the expansion should be completed about a year later. The new facilities will make fine denier yarns for textiles. The latest expansion plan is in addition to a nylon expansion now under way at Enka which is due for completion before midyear.
To check composition of lining material in jar lids, a jelly manufacturer uses the IR-5A to identify material as vinyl chloride-acetate copolymer.
Precision analysis and sampling versatility are now combined in one low-cost infrared spectrophotometer-the Beckman® IR-5A. This rugged laboratory workhorse is used in an ever-increasing number of applications r a n g i n g from the food quality control analysis above to thickness measurements of epitaxial semi-conductor layers. In the chemical and petroleum industries and in nearly every other field, the Beckman IR-5A is relied upon for widely diverse studies and applications. A few examples: FOOD RESEARCH: Identification and study of flavor components, packaging materials, and insecticide residues MEDICINE: Identification of drugs, characterization of renal calculi, analysis of DuO in body fluid EDUCATION: Instruction in instrumentation; identification of unknowns in organic chemistry courses; laboratory studies in graduate research programs AERO-SPACE TECHNOLOGY: Measurement of trace contaminants in breathing and propellant oxygen PHARMACEUTICALS: Quality control of formulations; research into new chemical structures AGRICULTURE: Research on new compounds that show promise as herbicides, weedicides, or pesticides MINERALS: Identification of precious and semi-precious gems; hydration studies in ores and cements PAPER: Identification and measurement of polymer coatings on papers PAINT: Identification of constituents of paints and coatings
These are only a few of countless applications in many fields. F o r details about your own needs, contact your nearest Beckman sales office. Ask about the IR-5A with NaCl optics for the 2-16 micron range, or the CsBr version for the' 11-35 micron region. Both feature dual speeds, single- or double-beam operation, and integral plug for external recorder. Or write Beckman for Data File 13-3-02.
Beckman
INSTRUMENTS, INC. SCIENTIFIC AND PROCESS INSTRUMENTS DIVISION Fullerton, California
JAN.
15,
1962
C&EN
33
International Market Place for World Trade . . .
Average 1962 Car Contains 66.5 Pounds of Aluminum Pounds per Car Average
Hanover Fair 1962 . . . Focal Point of the European Common Market The Hanover Fair is Europe's most dynamic and effective instrument for firsthand examination and evaluation of new products, ideas, and markets—all international in scope. Foremost manufacturers will present a complete range of industrial equipment for all phases of chemical processing and engineering as well as a wide variety of basic chemical materials for industrial and consumer goods application. Statistics on the entire Hanover Fair 1 962: More than 5400 exhibitors from 25 countries. Over a million trade visitors from 1 00 countries. 23 exhibition halls and open-air grounds totaling 6,000,000 sq. ft. display area. All exhibits arranged strictly according to product category for convenient and thorough comparison.
The world buys in Hanover, G e r m a n y April 2 9 — M a y 8, 1 9 6 2 For free brochures, room reservation forms, and tickets, write or phone:
Source: Aluminum Co. of America
U.S. auto makers will use 216,000 tons of aluminum in the 1962 model year, according to a new survey by Aluminum Co. of America. The figure is 2 7 % higher than the 170,000 tons of aluminum that auto makers used in 1961 cars. The estimate is based on production of 6.5 million new cars, compared with a 1961 production of 5.4 million autos. According to Alcoa, General Motors will use 112,000 tons of aluminum (over half the auto industry's total requirement) before the 1962 model year has expired. More than 1 0 % of all 1962 cars will have aluminum engines. Per car use of aluminum has grown steadily over the past decade. In 1954, the average was 25 pounds. In 1948, the average automobile used only 6 pounds of aluminum, adding up to an annual use of only 12,000 tons.
Mansfield Tire & Rubber Co., Mansfield, Ohio, will build a $1 million plant to make molded cellulose-based products at Springfield, Tenn. The products, trade-named Fibrit, will be made under a process patented by Deutsche Fibrit Gesellschaft, Krefeld, West Germany. Mansfield says Fibrit's properties are similar to those of wood, making it suitable for such products as automobile instrument panels, luggage, and furniture.
Shell Chemicars Houston, Tex., plant has expanded its research facilities by adding a nuclear laboratory equipped to perform neutron activation analyses.
GERMAN AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE INTERNATIONAL 666 Fifth Avenue New York 19, N. Y. JU 2-7788
American Cyanamid and Alex Lipworth, Ltd., have formed a jointly owned corporation, Led lab Pty., Ltd.,
to make and sell Lederle drug prod34
C&EN
JAN.
15,
1962
ucts in the Union of South Africa. A plant to blend, tablet, and package Lederle products is being built at Isando and is expected to be operating early this year. Since 1937, Cyanamid has had an affiliate in South Africa, South African Cyanamid, Ltd., which has headquarters in Johannesburg and a plant in Witbank. It will continue to make and sell Cyanamid\s mining and agricultural chemicals in South Africa.
Firestone will begin production at its polybutadiene and synthetic latex plant in Port Jerome, France, this month. It will have an initial capacity for 15,000 metric tons a year of Diene (Firestone's polybutadiene rubber) or Coral (its polyisoprene rubber). Diene will be produced initially. The plant will also be able to produce up to 4000 metric tons per year of standard and specialty styrenebutadiene latices.
