tual possibility of domestic manufacture. Most likely location: Bishop, Tex., where it now has T M P a n d other polyol units. Probable timing of the move: when the Canadian plant gets its market pattern in Canada and in non-U. S. exports to a more favorable level. Heyden also has Canadian tie-ins. It owns a half interest (with Shawinigan) in St. Maurice Chemicals, Ltd., which has a 3 million pound-per-year PE facility at Varennes (near Montreal, Q u e . ) . • Price Picture Soft. Historically, P E prices have been tied to glycerol's, since both compete in t h e coating resin field. More recently, however, PE has shown price stability, and a relative independence from glycerol. Today's figure is 32 cents per pound, delivered, except in the Far West, -where a 2-eent premium is imposed. W i t h t h e current overcapacity situation, some market price "softness" exists. By a n d large, the 32-cent figure is maintained, b u t there are some reports of 1- t o 3-cent discounts for "off-batches." These are relatively isolated, and there is little talk of price cutting. Main PE outlet is in resin manufacturing for protective coatings. This outlet has grown steadily, b u t as one manufacturer points out, "it's ridiculous to expand P E capacity so much if it's just based on alkyd business." N e w uses are coming along—water-based paint resins, plasticizers, molding compounds, high temperature lubricants, and oil additives are a few. The use of pentaerythritol tetranitrate (now over 2 million pounds annually) could expand in explosive applications, and provide a significant P E outlet.
NCG Realigns Sets up n e w division to h a n d l e product lines a n d clear p a t h f o r expansion (OHEMICAL
ACTIVITIES
at
National
Cylinder Gas have a n e w look. Last week, Chicago based N C G announced a new corporate structure that includes chemical, construction, and process equipment divisions formed by reorganizing what was formerly t h e Girdler Co. Division. Another new d i v i s i o n National Cylinder Gas Division—was also set up to produce industrial and medical gases, and welding, cutting, and medical equipment. A new foreign subsidiary called N C G Interna-
tional will handle all overseas activities. With the four n e w divisions, NCG has a total of seven (three existing divisions stay u n c h a n g e d ) . President Charles J. Haines says that the change springs from increased volume and importance of NCG's product lines and services. And, he adds, it "lays the foundation for further expansion of t h e company." T h e biggest change, and t h e one affecting the chemical process industries most, involves operations of the old Girdler Co. Division (Girdler Corp. was merged with N C G in 1 9 5 3 ) . Girdler now breaks u p into: • Chemical Products Division. • Girdler Construction Division. • Girdler Process E q u i p m e n t Division. T h e chemical division's role is making catalysts, organic pigments, flushed colors, drug intermediates, a marine boiler combustion catalyst, and distributing a marine detergent. Chemical research gets stepped u p now, too, says Haines. The catalysts go into synthesis gases a n d hydrogen production, hydrogenation, hydrogen treating, selective acetylene removal, oxygen removal, a n d desulfurization. Marine chemicals include P D , a slag formation inhibitor, and Planisol—a detergent that permits a tanker to be cleaned u p after carrying a crude oil cargo and switched to edible oil or grain. • Construction and Equipment. Girdler Construction Division used to b e Girdler's Gas Process D e p a r t m e n t . I t engineers a n d makes equipment for petroleum, chemical, and other industries. Examples of construction are COo and H 2 S plants and processes for removing these gases, and plants for steam-hydrocarbon process hydrogen, ammonia and derivatives, C O and CO-Ho mixtures, poly (vinyl chloride), polyethylene, calcium carbide, synthetic rubber, acetylene, HC1, and H C N . Two of Girdler Process E q u i p m e n t Division's big items are Votator heat exchangers, and Thermex high-frequency dielectric heaters. • Three Stay the Same. Three of NCG's divisions remain as they were: T u b e Turns, which makes welding pipe fittings and custom forgings used for chemical piping systems; Pennsylvania F o r g e Co., maker of various types of flanges and custom forgings; a n d Perforating Guns Atlas Corp. T u b e Turns Plastics, an NCG affiliate, manufactures poly (vinyl chloride) fittings.
Dixon Charts Expansion Financing will p a v e w a y f o r n e w a c i d a n d alum plants, acquisition of Pennsalt's f e r tilizer o p e r a t i o n JLN A TWO-PRONGED FINANCIAL
MOVE,
slated for the next m o n t h or two, Dixon Chemical & Research is laying the groundwork for a major expansion in basic chemicals. O n the one hand, it is turning to present stockholders for money to build an aluminum sulfate unit and to improve its present sulfuric acid plant at Newark, N. J. Also in the works are plans to raise $13 million for its n e w affiliate, Dixon Chemical Industries. Industries will use p a r t of its funds to buy Pennsalt's fertilizer plant at Paulsboro, N. J. It will use some of the money also to build sulfuric (300,000 tons a year) and hydrofluoric (10,000 tons a year) acid plants there. • N e w Plant. Dixon Chemical expects to offer 165,625 shares of common stock—current market value, about $700,000—to its present stockholders (C&EN, Jan. 13, p a g e 3 1 ) . They will be given rights to b u y one new share for each four t h e y n o w own. Money raised in t h e offering will be used largely t o build a 20,000 ton-peryear aluminum sulfate plant, with capacity expandable to 40,000 tons later. Cost: about $640,000. The plant is expected to b e running by the end of the year. T h e c o m p a n y also plans to spend $100,000 to enlarge its docking facilities a t Newark for handling ocean-going ships, as well as for other plant improvements at its present site. • New Company. Last month, Dixon Chemical organized Dixon Chemical Industries, Inc. Purpose: to build the sulfuric and hydrofluoric acid plants at Paulsboro. Industries has an option on Pennsalt's I. P. Thomas division plant there, which it plans to exercise when it completes financing for the new venture. U n d e r the option's terms, Dixon Chemical Industries can buy the plant, equipment, inventories, and other assets of the Thomas division for $1.4 million and lease the 70-acre plant site from Pennsalt. Eventually, the land can b e b o u g h t for an additional $700,000. At present, Pennsalt produces fertilizers at Paulsboro, also operates phosphoric and sulfuric acid plants there. JAN.
2 7,
! 9 58
C&EN
21
