Equipment and Materials News Tracker

ERJ staff report (PR)

Borealis ... SIBUR ... ABB ... DESMA ... Oz Seams ... Rubber Consultants ... Malaysian Rubber Board ... 

ERJ listing of contract, product-development and technology news announcements from suppliers to the tire and general rubber goods sectors: 

September
Borealis and Borouge have recently launched a thermoplastic olefin (TPO), which is said to offer significant weight-savings on automotive vehicles. The grade, labelled Daplen EE058AI, is said to improve fuel consumption and fulfil stringent CO2 emissions standards, while still meeting requirements in terms of efficient processing and surface aesthetics. Another attribute of the TPO is that it avoids tiger stripes – a periodic change of surface gloss of thermoplastics caused by converting processes.

SIBUR has been named ‘downstream company of the year at the recent annual Petroleum Economist Awards in the UK. The award recognised the Russian petchem group’s business strategy, planning and generally positive results in a difficult business environment. It was also judged to stand out amongst its peers in terms of corporate strategy, operating standards and business innovation. The judges were further impressed by SIBUR’s investments in the expansion of its gas fractionation capacities and in hydrocarbon feedstock supply chain.

ABB has won a $103-million contract from Brazilian mining company Vale for its sustainable mine of the future being developed in the Amazon ABB is to install electrical and automation systems at a modern iron ore mine in the Carajás mountains of northern Brazil as part of a major capacity expansion. ABB is supplying a 230 kilovolt in-feed substation to connect the mine to the electricity grid as well as 42 secondary substations, and also the motors driving the mine’s conveyor belts.

Expansion will be a key theme for DESMA at the International Rubber Expo being staged 14 – 16 Oct in Nashville, Tennessee. In particular, the equipment maker will highlight the facility expansion project now underway at its US headquarters in Hebron, Kentucky. The newly created space is to provide room for the new five-axis milling centre among other capital investments.

Oz Seals has developed an elastomer with resistance to the extreme conditions of chemical industries, refineries and foundries. Based on Aflas by Asahi Glass Co, the Aflas Extreme branded fluorinated rubber compound is said to feature superior strength combined with extreme chemical, temperature and electrical resistance. Formulated with an additional PTFE backbone into the structure, it can be used in extreme temperatures of up to 316°C, the company said. The product is processed under the chemical compounding department of Oz Seals, also known as Prinz Polymers. It is available in the form of semi-finished billets, machined seals, O-rings and gaskets.

US manufacturers of capital equipment for the global tire industry Steelastic and RMS are moving to a new facility at One Vision Lane in Akron, Ohio. The move, which will be conducted in stages, is scheduled to be finalised in January 2015. The new 100,000 square foot facility is currently under construction but will feature a demonstration lab along with R&D space, as well as 15,000 square feet of office space.

Rubber Consultants said it now offers 'Speciation and Adulteration Testing'. This covers molecular marker development and application; natural rubber latex products: allergens monitoring; 2D gel based proteomics; and bioinformatics. It also offers speciation & adulteration testing for meat (including Halal compliance) - including substances of special concern (PAH, nitrosamines and MBT); extractables & leachables or migration testing (eg from packaging to product); and compliance with legislation, including REACH. More information is found in its new information sheet.

Francesco Franceschetti Elastomeri is to present new TPE-TPO compounds for industrial and medical applications at the upcoming Fakuma fair, being held 14-18 Oct. The products will include injection moulding and extrusion TPE graders certified for contact with drinking water and TPEs with low fogging and good compression set. Also featured will be oil-free compounds for over-moulding and co-extrusion on PE and a TPE classified for medical use, in Shore A and Shore D.

The Malaysian Rubber Board (MRB) Europe will be at Alihankinta 2014 at the Tampere Exhibition & Sports Centre, Tampere, Finland from 16-18 September. MRB said it can supply details about Malaysian manufacturers exporting rubber products worldwide and provide advice on transferring manufacturing operations overseas. It will also offer a free 2014 directory of all Malaysian rubber product manufacturers and materials and machinery suppliers from its stand. Alihankinta 2014 is a subcontracting trade fair for the metals, electronics, plastics and rubber industries. 

UK company Aquaseal Rubber Ltd will make its debut at the Durham Oktoberfest Exhibition, 23 Oct, in the northeast of England. The exhibition showcases engineering and manufacturing. Aquaseal's range of products includes rubber extrusions, mouldings, and ship hatch and door seals.

Trelleborg has supplied 60 super cone SCN 1300 fenders to protect berths at Jebel Ali Port (pictured above) in Dubai for DP World. Trelleborg started work on the project with DP World in 2011. Trelleborg said because DP World wanted to ensure high standards of rubber, the UAE-based company randomly selected fenders for testing while visiting Trelleborg’s manufacturing plant in Qingdao, China.

Italian company Rossini will open a new factory in Pune, India in September. Rossini India Printing Rollers PVT LTD will cover a total surface of 8,000 square metres with offices and production plants to manufacture rubber rollers.