INDUSTRY THIS WEEK IN BRIEF
Markets Equity Research Associates, New York City, says in a new industry study that noncellulosic fiber makers in the U.S. can look for a total 10 to 2 0 % increase in profits and a 6 0 % increase in domestic consumption over the next five years. The study claims that the good old days of fabulous profits in noncellulosic fibers are gone, never to return. But, on the other hand, most of the profit decline has already occurred. Upward pressures on profits will include lower costs resulting from fuller use of capacity and improving technology. Downward pressures will include some loss of markets to imports and the relatively unprofitable penetration of new fibers and smaller producers. Rubber Manufacturers Association reports that U.S. producers of tires and other rubber products used 626,650 long tons of new rubber in the first quarter of 1968, 11.7% higher than that of a year ago. March consumption totaled 212,750 long tons, up 5.4% from February. Synthetic rubber accounted for 479,000 long tons of that used during the first quarter—almost 1 3 % more than in the first quarter of 1967, RMA says. Consumption of natural rubber in the first quarter of this year was 147,500 long tons—an increase of about 9 % over the like period of last year. RMA also says that first-quarter shipments of passenger-car tires amounted to 39.5 million units, up about 1 7 % from the comparable 1967 period. Corporate Carboline Co., St. Louis, Mo., has licensed Montecatini Edison, Milan, Italy, to use Carboline's inorganic zinccoating technology exclusively in Italy and on a nonexclusive basis in eastern Europe. Both existing and future inorganic zinc developments are included in the agreement. Carboline makes and markets organic and inorganic corrosion-resistant protective coatings, seamless flooring, and specialty products. Abbott Laboratories, North Chicago, ML, has purchased Reference Laboratory, North Hollywood, Calif., for an undisclosed amount of Abbott common stock. Reference Laboratory conducts diagnostic tests in clinical chemistry, bacteriology, hematology, serology, microbiology, and endocrinology for other laboratories. Reference Laboratory's 1967 earnings were more than $1 million. Reichhold Chemicals has completed negotiations for the acquisition of Chemico, Inc., and Rubber Latex Products, Inc., for an undisclosed amount of Reichhold stock. Chemico, based in Akron, Ohio, makes antioxidants and other specialty organic chemicals for the rubber industry. Rubber Latex Products makes rubber tubing and other products for surgical and industrial applications. Reich28 C&EN JUNE 3, 1968
hold has a strong interest in rubber through its Delta division, which produces and markets hydrocarbon resins used in making tires and rubber adhesives. Harshaw Chemical Co., a division of Kewanee Oil Co., has purchased Belle Chemical Co., Inc., Lowell, N.C. Belle produces dye for dyeing and printing both natural and synthetic fibers. Harshaw produces a complementary line of dyes at its Louisville, Ky., plant. Harshaw says that the acquisition will not only broaden its line of textile dyes now available, but it will also allow the company to offer better service because of Belle's location in the heart of textile territory. Ceramic Finishing Co. is a new company formed to develop finishing processes to chemically machine, strengthen, and join ceramic materials. Formation of the new company is a result of technology developed through government-sponsored research at Linden Laboratories, Inc., a manufacturer of piezoelectric transducers. The research department of Linden makes up the core of Ceramic Finishing. The new firm will remain initially at the site of Linden Laboratories at State College, Pa., where it will continue its sponsored research programs and will develop products based on this research. U.S. Gypsum Co. plans to build a multimillion-dollar gypsum products plant near Puebla, Mexico. Yeso Mexicano, S.A., a USG subsidiary, which has been quarrying and exporting rock from Mexico since 1956, will supply gypsum for the new plant. Du Pont will be the operating contractor for a new trinitrotoluene plant to be built at the Newport Army Ammunition Plant, Newport, Ind. The new facility, which will cost $60 million, is scheduled to be in operation by mid-1970. Du Pont was the operating contractor for the plant during both World War II and the Korean conflict. International Roan Selection Trust group of companies reports that capacity of the Mulfulira mine at Lusaka, Zambia, the second largest underground copper mine in the world, will be increased by 25,000 long tons of copper a year, bringing total yearly production to 187,000 long tons. The expansion, which will cost about $12.8 million, is expected to be completed by January 1971. Farbwerke Hoechst, A.G., has started producing elemental phosphorus from a 60-Mw. electric furnace at its new plant at Vlissingen, Holland. The plant is designed for two additional furnaces, which, when built, will bring total capacity of the plant to 200 to 220 Mw. The plant was designed and built by Friedrich Uhde, GmbH, Dortmund, West Germany. It uses the technology of Knapsack, A.G., Cologne, West Germany.
