B.C. Blowmolder Goes Shopping at NPE

Increased demand form the U.S. market led Century Packaging Ltd. (Kelowna, B.C.) to buy an additional extrusion blow molding machine while at NPE a few weeks ago. The company now has four machines and 12 employees.

The new Heins PCM CM2000D will be used to produce polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyethylene containers, from four ounces to one litre in volume. Century already owns two Heins PCM machines, and general manager Don Leyland considers the Canadian-built machines “the best deal out there for the money.”

TARXIEN CLOSES, PARENT UNDER CREDITOR PROTECTION

Tarxien Corp.’s large injection molding facility in Ajax, Ont. is one casualty of the financial difficulties at its parent company, Versatech Group Inc. (Mississauga, Ont.). The Versatech Group was under creditor protection as we went to press in July.

The Tarxien facility closed on June 30, shutting down 40 injection presses ranging in size from 80 to 2450 tons. The plant’s assets were to be sold off in August.

Earlier this year, Versatech sold its PaintPlas subsidiary, also located in Ajax, back to a group of the original owners. The sale netted Versatech $24 million. PaintPlas is a painting facility for plastic automotive parts with over 300 employees.

GET READY FOR PLAST-EX 2001

Several new features will be added to Plast-Ex 2001 to broaden the appeal of Canada’s largest plastics show. Held April 30 to May 3 at the International Centre, Mississauga, Ont., the exhibition will also include the Mould Source show, focused on the needs of moldmakers, and an emphasis on the automotive industry. A number of areas within Plast-Ex will be dedicated to showcasing Canada’s achievements in the automotive sector, and networking and learning events are planned.

The space draw for exhibitors will be held October 10, 2000 at the International Centre. For more details, contact Tom Sockett of the Canadian Plastics Industry Association at 905/678-7748, ex. 283.

ADDED CAPACITY FOR HIGH-END RESINS

Ticona (Summit, N.J.) plans to increase its capacity for both Vectra liquid crystal polymer (LCP) and Fortron polyphenylene sulfide (PPS). New production lines slated for Ticona’s Shelby, N.C. plant will more than double the production of LCP. The company states that more than 80 percent of Vectra LCP is used in electrical/electronic components such as connectors, sockets, bobbins, switches and printed circuit boards.

For PPS, a debottlenecking of the Fortron plant in Wilmington, N.C. will increase capacity by four million pounds by the end of 2000. PPS demand is growing at double-digit rates.

HOSE MAKERS MERGE

The acquisition of a Quebec hose manufacturer will significantly broaden the market penetration of U-Nova Hose & Duct Group, based in Richmond Hill, Ont. U-Nova has acquired Techose (St-Csaire, Que.) and its two U.S. subsidiaries, Associated Hose of Texas and Associated Rubber of Indiana.

The merger makes U-Nova one of North America’s largest privately-held hose and duct manufacturers, with combined annual sales of $60 million.

U-Nova’s 11 North American locations manufacture flexible hose and ducting for industrial and commercial applications. Techose adds significant volume in food, beverage and potable water markets, and also produces cable hose for robotic equipment. Techose’s St-Csaire facility is ISO 9001 certified.

BIGGER AND BETTER…

Peter Davidson has formed Davidson Sales as a manufacturers’ representative specializing in bringing unique technology to Canada’s plastics processors. His company is representing American MSI Corp. (Moorpark, CA), which manufactures hot runner systems and QPC (Holland, MI), which makes water and oil temperature controllers and portable chillers. Davidson Sales is located at 1793 Stevington Cres., Mississauga, Ont. L5N 7S4, tel. 905/567-4661.

Temperature Corporation has moved to larger facilities at 111 Esna Park Dr., Unit 7, Markham, Ont. L3R 1H2. The telephone and fax numbers remain the same. Temperature Corporation manufactures central and portable chillers, and is the Canadian representative for Foremost materials handling equipment and granulators.

Dominion Colour Corp. has doubled the size of its Toronto-based technical services laboratory. DCC provides organic and inorganic pigments to the plastics, ink and coatings industries. Sandra Noble has joined the company as customer service manager.

SUPPLIER NOTES…

Atofina Canada Inc. is the new name of Elf Atochem Canada (Oakville, Ont.) following the merger between Elf Atochem’s parent company and TotalFina of France. Oakville will remain the corporate head office for Canadian operations, which includes the distribution of Atofina’s performance chemicals and polymers, and the manufacture of industrial lubricants and hydrogen peroxide.

Milacron Inc. (Batavia, OH) has reached an agreement with Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd. (Bolton, Ont.) concerning a lawsuit Milacron filed charging patent infringement. The lawsuit related to a technology that integrates personal computers and machinery control systems. In consideration of an undisclosed monetary payment Milacron will grant Husky a non-exclusive license to use this technology. (See Canadian Plastics, July 2000, page 8, for details on Milacron’s version of the technology in question.)

Can cut

The merger of M.A. Hanna and Geon Co. will be called PolyOne Corp. and should be completed in the third quarter, pending regulatory and shareholder approval.

Can cut

Beringer LLC (Marblehead, MA) has added single- and dual-piston screen changers to its product line through a co-marketing agreement with Kreyenborg GmbH of Germany. Beringer will provide sales and service on its own line of piston-style screen changers built using Kreyenborg technology.