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Hutchinson launches seventh components plant in Poland

PARIS—French-owned automotive parts maker Hutchinson is set to launch full production at its seventh plant in Poland by the end of this year.

The group’s latest facility, constructed at Zawada, near Debica in south western Poland, will produce Hutchinson’s car body seal systems for customers including the PSA Group and Volvo Cars.

This 226,000-sq.-ft. production and warehouse unit, constructed in just six months, is at the heart of the firm’s newest expansion project worth about $44 million.

Inauguration of the facility on July 19 was symbolic as it was not immediately operating, though component-assembly was expected to begin within days, Piotr Gaska head of Hutchinson’s European body sealing system division said at the ceremony.

Gaska stressed that the unit was intended to ease production pressure on the company’s existing Polish sealing systems and transmission belts plant at Lodz.

The Zawada plant will be equipped with three extrusion lines by the year-end and is set to employ an initial workforce of 240 by then. The employee total eventually will increase to 700, according to the company, part of the Total energy group.

Hutchinson Poland’s original plant was a 151,000-sq.-ft. unit making fluid transmission fuel lines, established in the south central town of Zywiec in 1997. A second plant to produce water pipes for vehicle cooling liquids and ventilation and heating systems opened there in 2000.

The first Lodz facility was launched with an area of almost 193,750 sqaure feet in 2003, while Hutchinson went on to add a second unit of 215,000 square feet there in 2007 making precision and aerial seals and antivibration systems.

A fifth production unit appeared at Bielsko-Bialain 2005 serving the automotive air conditioning and power steering systems segment. Hutchinson built its sixth unit in the country at Zywiec last year to turn out rubber compound used by the other plants.

During the recent launch, Hutchinson group CEO Jacques Maigne pointed out that Poland is the group’s “number one” location in terms of production and employment. “In 2018, we plan to exceed the level of employment to over 10,000 employees in Poland,” he said.

Last year, the group, which has an international workforce of 45,000 in 25 countries around the world, reported annual sales of more than $4.7 billion.

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Physical Properties of Rubber – Second Part

Second Part covers Tear Resistance, Ozone Resistance, Low Temperature Resistance.

Tear Resistance

The tearing of rubber is a mechanical rupture process started where forces are concentrated in an area usually caused by a cut, defect or deformation. 

How to Test Tear Resistance

Tear resistance is tested on a tensometer in the same manner as the tensile strength test except the specimen is one of 5 specific shapes: Type A, B, C, T or CP. A graph is produced in the same manner as the stress-strain curve except the Tear Strength graph is force over jaw separation length. Tear strength is calculated by taking the maximum force divided by the median thickness of the specimen (Ts = F/d).
Type A – Crescent shaped specimen with a nick or cut
Type B – Tab End specimen with a nick or cut
Type C – Right Angle specimen with a nick or cut
Type T (Trouser)– Molded block, 150 X 15 X 2mm, with a 40mm cut
Type CP (Constrained path)– Molded specimen 125 X 28.5 X 5.33mm. This is a special molded shape with fabric reinforcement molded in the mid-plane of the sample. The specimen has a narrows groove down the length in the center. 

Ozone Resistance

Ozone (O3), resistance is used to test the relative ability of the rubber compound to resist outdoor weathering or ozone chamber testing. Some applications like door and window trim would be subject to weathering so testing would give an estimation of how the rubber compound will react to weathering. Other sources of ozone exposure include air purifiers and ozone generators used to purify, deodorize, disinfect and kill bacteria in just about everything from air to food. 

How to Test Weathering/Ozone Resistance

ASTM Method D1171 addresses how to test weathering and ozone resistance. In D1171, rectangular cross section samples are wrapped around a wooden mandrel and left in the sun or placed in an ozone chamber. After a period of time either method A or method B is used to grade the samples. In method A no cracking is permitted under 2X magnification and in method B, three samples are checked and graded depending on the severity of cracking and given a quality retention value (expressed as a percentage) derived from Table 1 in ASTM D1171.
 
ASTM Method D1149 is used to test the effects of specific levels of ozone concentration on specimens that are under dynamic or static surface strain conditions. 

Low Temperature Resistance

There are two low temperature tests that are used in testing low temperature properties of elastomers, ASTM D2137, Low Temperature Brittleness, and ASTM D1379, TR-10/TR-70 Temperature Retraction test. Low Temperature Brittleness is the most common low temperature test you will see on a physical properties data sheet. The temperature retraction test is not as common but will give you more accurate continuous operating low temperature results and a better indication of the viscoelastic and crystallization effects at low temperature.

ASTM D2137 – Low Temperature Brittleness 

The Low Temperature Brittleness test is use to determine the lowest temperature at which a rubber specimen will not exhibit fractures or cracks when subject to a specific impact condition. There are two tests methods, A and B. Test Method A is for rubber volcanizates and Test Method B is for rubber coated fabrics. This test is useful for development purposes but may not necessarily indicate the lowest temperature at which the compound will operate. The TR-10/TR-70 Temperature Retraction Test is more effective in determining the lowest temperature at which a compound will continue to operate.

How to Test Low Temperature Brittleness

Specimens are cut from a die and placed into a fixture. The specimens are immersed into a liquid bath at the specified test temperature for a determined length of time. After immersion deliver a single impact to the specimen and note any cracks, fissures or holes visible to the naked eye. Repeat the test at the next highest temperature (usually 10°C increments) until the specimen passes with no cracks, fissures or holes. 

ASTM D1379 – TR-10/TR-70 Temperature Retraction

The TR-10/TR-70 Temperature Retraction test is used to evaluate the crystallization effects and viscoelastic properties of the rubber specimen at low temperature. This test will give you a better indication of compounds lowest temperature at which it will continuously operate. 

How to Test TR-10/TR-70 Temperature Retraction

This test is performed by stretching a die cut specimen in a special fixture to 250% elongation or 50% of the ultimate elongation if 250% can not be obtained. The stretched specimens are immersed in in a liquid at -70°C for 10 minutes freezing the sample to a state of reduced elasticity. Now, after releasing the specimens, slowly raise the temperature of the samples and measure the temperature and length of the specimens at 2 minute intervals. Report the temperature at which the sample retracted 10% (TR10), 30% (TR30), 50% (TR50) and 70% (TR70). 
 
The TR10 value can be used to indicate the low temperature at which it will continuously operate, and it also correlates with the brittle point. The greater the temperature difference between the TR10 and TR70 the greater the tendency of the rubber to crystallize. TR70 also correlates with low-temperature compression set.
 
Understanding the physical properties of rubber will help you determine what properties are important to your application.

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Physical Properties of Rubber – First Part

First part covers Hardness, Ultimate Tensile Strength, Elongation, Tensile Set.

Hardness

Hardness is the measure of how resistant solid material is when a force is applied. There are 3 main type of hardness measurements, scratch, indentation and rebound. We will only be talking about the indentation hardness for elastomers. Indentation hardness is the materials resistance to indentation by an indentor. 
 
Rubber is made in different hardness’ for several reasons. Some sealing surfaces may not be totally smooth. The little voids, pits and scratches allow a pathway for fluid or air to escape through. Softer materials tend to flow better into these voids and imperfections on the sealing surface creating a better seal. On the other hand, harder rubbers will not do this as well but they do resist extrusion cause by high pressures. Also, coefficient of friction is also affected by the hardness of the rubber. Softer rubber has a higher coefficient of friction and harder rubber has a lower coefficient of friction. Coefficient of friction plays a factor when the rubber seal is sealing a part that moves. 

Measuring Hardness

The durometer gauge is used to test the hardness of elastomers. The 3 most common durometer gauges used to measure rubber are Type A, Type M and Type D. Type A is used to test soft rubber materials while Type D is used to test hard rubber and plastic materials. Type M, also for soft materials, was developed to test small specimens, typically O-rings, that do not meet the physical size requirements specified in ASTM D2240. Is is important to know that although each of the hardness scales are graduated from 1-100, these scales are not the same. 90 Shore A is not the same as 90 Shore D or 90 Shore M. A piece of rubber measuring 90 on a Shore A gauge will read around 42-43 on a Shore D gauge. 

Tensile Strength

Ultimate tensile strength, or just tensile strength, is the maximum force a material can withstand without fracturing when stretched. It is the opposite of compressive strength. Have you ever purchased a pair of shoes and they came joined together with a piece of string? Instead of getting a pair of scissors, did you opted to test your physical strength against the tensile strength of the string and try to break it by pulling on it? If the string has a low tensile strength you should be able to pull and break the string easily. You can apply more tensional force than the string can withstand. If it has a high tensile strength it will be much harder to break by pulling. Are you starting to understand what tensile strength is? 
 
Tensile strength is an indication of how strong a compound is. Any time you have an application where you are pulling on the part, tensile strength is important to know. Whether your product is designed to break easily or not at all the tensile strength will let you know how the object will react to the tensional forces. A few rubber products that tensile strength are important would be bungee cords, rubber tie downs, drive belts. Some elastomeric compounds, like Silicone, have a low tensile strength making them unsuitable for a dynamic types of seal because they can fracture easily. 

Measuring Tensile Strength

Tensile strength is measured with a tensometer. A tensometer is special machine that is designed to apply a tensional or compressive force to a specimen, in our case a die cut dumbbell shape, and measure how much force it takes to deform and fracture the specimen. The force is typically displayed on a stress-strain curve that shows how much force was required to stretch the specimen to deformation and ultimately break. 

Elongation

Maximum elongation, with respect to tensile testing, is the measure of how much a specimen stretches before it breaks. Elongation is usually expressed as a percentage. I had an application where a very small O-ring with an inside diameter of .056 inches had to stretch over a rod with a diameter of .170 inches. A Nitrile O-ring worked fine since it’s ultimate elongation was well over 400% and the O-ring was able to withstand the 200% stretch during installation. But when we tried to use a fluorocarbon compound several of the O-rings were breaking during installation. This fluorocarbon compound had an ultimate elongation of 150% and could not withstand being stretched to over 200% during the installation and the o-ring would break. 

Measuring Elongation

Elongation is measured with a ruler or an extensometer. An extensometer is an electronic ruler that is attached to the tensometer and will measure the extension of the specimen while torsional force is being applied. Another way of measuring elongation is with a regular ruler. To measure the elongation with a ruler, make two bench marks 1 inch a part on the specimen. This is the Initial Gage Length (Lo) and then measure the distance between the marks just before the specimen breaks. This is the Final Gage Length ( Lx). Calculate the elongation with the following equation: elongation % = 100( Lx – Lo ) / Lo. 

Tensile Set

While we are using bench marks, let quickly talk about Tensile Set. Tensile Set is the extension remaining after a specimen has been stretched and allowed to relax for a predefined period of time. Tensile Set is expressed as a percentage of the original length. Tensile set results are not found on the stress-strain curve. It’s a measurement that can be performed after the tensile strength test. Do not mistake Tensile Set with Elasticity. Elasticity is the mechanical property of a material to return to its original shape where Tensile Set is the amount on extension remaining after being stretched. 
 
A rubber band would have a low Tensile Set percentage. After stretched it relaxes close to, if not exactly to, its original length. Now take a piece of Teflon and stretch it. It does not return to its original length and it stays in its stretched state. This would have a high Tensile Set percentage. 
 
One test we perform in our Q.C. inspection is to pull on the O-ring and see how fast and how close it returns to its original diameter. The O-ring should fairly quickly return close to its original diameter. Often times a seal has to be stretched during installation and the last thing you want to happen is the O-ring stay stretched and not fit which could cause problems during assembly.

Measuring Tensile Set

Remember the 2 bench marks 1 inch apart on the specimen in the elongation test? To determine Tensile Set after break, wait 10 minutes after the specimen breaks and then fit the two halves of the specimen back together so there is good contact along the full length of the break. Measure the distance between the bench marks. Use the same equation used in the elongation test except the Final Gage Length (Lx) is the final measured distance between the bench marks. Another way to test without breaking is to stretch the specimen to a specified elongation and hold for 10 minutes. Release the specimen as quickly as possible, making sure not to allow it to snap back, and let sit for 10 minutes. Measure the distance between the bench marks. Again, use the same equation used in the elongation test except the Final Gage Length (Lx) is the final measured distance between the bench marks.

Compression Set

The purpose of the compression set test is to measure the ability of the rubber specimen to retain its elastic properties after compressive forces have been applied for a prolonged period of time at elevated temperatures. 
 
Compression set results can be useful to know when rubber seals, mounts or dampeners are subject to compressive forces in the application. This is particularly important when the seal is in a prolonged compressed state and even more so when simultaneously being exposed to elevated temperatures. When an O-ring is squeezed the rubber has elasticity. It wants to go back to its original shape. This elasticity is how the O-rings seals, especially under low or no pressure. When pressure is applied to the system the O-ring seal pushes against the groove wall opposite the direction of the pressure, forcing it to expand perpendicular to the direction it is being squeezed. This expansion provides additional sealing capability. 
 
When an O-ring is squeezed and subjected to excessive heat it can loose some or all of its elasticity and take a permanent set. Then, when you pull the o-ring out it no longer has a nice round cross section but instead has flat spots were it was squeezed in the application. This permanent set will reduce the sealing ability of the O-ring. The compression set test is a great way to see how the compound will react to compressive forces while subjected to heat. Also, poor compression set along with poor tensile strength can be an indication of the state of cure of the specimen. If you don’t cure the compound enough these properties will diminish.

How to Test Compression Set

The specimen, usually a molded rubber disk, is squeezed between two metal plates to about 75% of its original thickness and then placed in an oven at elevated temperatures for a period of time. After the specimen comes out of the oven and is allowed to cool, measurements can be taken and the percentage of original deflection is calculated. 
 
The original deflection is the amount you compressed the specimen in the fixture. If you have a 1 inch thick specimen and compress it to 0.750” thickness, the original deflection is 0.250”. Now lets say the 1 inch thick sample measured 0.875” thick after the test. It took a 0.125” set. 0.125 is 50% of the original deflection of 0.250” or a compression set of 50%. The higher the percentage the poorer the results. 
 
You may see “Method A” or “Method B”. Method A is compression set under a constant force and Method B is compression set under constant deflection. Method B is the primary method used throughout the ASTM D2000 specification. 

Compression-Deflection

The purpose of the compression-deflection test is to compare the stiffness of the rubber materials under a compressive force. This test can tell you how much a part will deflect under a given load or, alternatively, how much load it will take to deflect a part a given distance. Rubber mounts and dampeners are some examples of parts that are subject to compressive forces and knowing the relationship between compressive forces and deflection can be important.

How to Test Compression-Deflection

Compression-Deflection is measured on a compression testing machine or can be measured on any other type of machine that can apply a measurable force to a specimen at a given rate and be able to measure the deflection to one thousandths of an inch. At Hebei Shida Seal Group, our tensometer can apply compressive force at the specified rate and also measure the deflection. The test is performed by compressing the specimen to a specified compressive force and measuring the deflection results or compressing to a specified deflection and measuring the compression force results. 

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Medron adds extrusion capabilities

SALT LAKE CITY—Medron L.L.C. is expanding its thermoplastic capabilities by adding both equipment and personnel.

The subsidiary of Flexan L.L.C. has hired Clarence Williams as its vice president of thermoplastics extrusion services and, in a joint move, is investing to add two new extrusion lines at its Salt Lake City site to rehouse thermoplastic extrusion production.

The project is forecast to be complete in the coming months and is expected to add 3-4 new jobs at the site. Investment figures were not disclosed.

Flexan said the new equipment and capability will result in significant savings and inventory control in addition to providing the firm with new opportunities for extrusion projects and prototyping. Speed to market is one of the biggest benefits to adding these new extrusion capabilities. Williams said.

“We’ll be able to go after some of the other OEM catheter operations that we haven’t been able to in the past,” Williams said.

“We’ll be able to help customers with whatever issue they’re facing and be able to turn things around faster than it would normally take. When you have extrusion right there, you can get them in less than a week. Those things are huge when it comes to getting the R&D developers their parts in their hands. Anytime you can turn things around quicker, it’s always in your favor.”

The new business will utilize a wide variety of thermoplastics, including polyvinyl chloride, polyurethanes, thermoplastic elastomers and nylon. Williams said Medron is aiming to have production validated and operational.

“I’m really excited about this,” Williams said. “Between Medron, FMI, Flexan and now bringing in the thermoplastics extrusion, we will be able to do basically everything there is with a catheter shaft.

With Medron’s ability to do the secondary operations we can now be a one-stop shop when it comes to extrusions. We will be able to do what most people can’t do.”

Williams brings more than 30 years of experience in thermoplastics extrusions, most recently serving as president of InnoTech Extrusion, a company he founded in 2015. He’s also spent time with Vesta, Interface Catheter Solution and Innovative Extrusion, another company he co-founded.

During his time at Vesta, he met Flexan CEO Jim Fitzgerald, who was an executive vice president with Vesta from 2008-12.

“Jim Fitzgerald contacted me while they were in the process of acquiring Medron,” Williams said. “All he could tell me at that point was that they were acquiring a company that was heavily reliant on extrusions. Once the acquisition cleared, we talked in more detail.”

Chicago-based Flexan, a global manufacturer of high-precision elastomer parts, operates under two business units—Flexan for industrial applications and FMI for silicone-rubber molded components for Class II and Class III medical device—with more than 600 employees and five global manufacturing facilities.

Medron is a medical device contract manufacturing services company that offers a range of outsourcing services, including high volume manufacturing, customer private label capability, design engineering, product development and prototyping.

It works with a variety of materials, primarily urethanes, silicones and thermoplastics at its two facilities in Salt Lake City.

Flexan acquired Medron in December of 2016.

“We have the backing and the resources to help out in the capital portion more than anything else,” Williams said. “With Medron already doing most of the secondary operations, with that already in their repertoire, and then bringing on the thermoplastic extrusions distinguishes it right away. We will immediately be able to offer things that other companies can’t.”

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What is rubber blooming?

What is rubber blooming?

You may often ask “What is that white stuff on the surface of rubber parts.

Most EPDM and NBR rubber materials undergo a process called “blooming” when they are stored. “Bloom” is a milky dusting of dry powder on the surface of the rubber. Typically, this is caused by unused vulcanizing agent(s) migrating to the surface of the rubber part.

Will it affect my rubber part’s function?

Bloom is entirely superficial. If the gray color is not acceptable, wash the rubber part in water or light mineral oil to remove it. Since blooming is entirely normal and does not affect the function of a rubber part, it is not considered a defect. Likewise, it is not considered a contaminant in the rubber material.

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Quilvest buys Ohio auto extruder

Creative Extruded Products Inc., which makes plastic and rubber moldings for the automotive-glass market, was acquired by the private equity arm of Quilvest Group.

The transaction was announced March 1 but no terms were disclosed except that ownership transferred from Brian Wenrick, who founded Creative, based in Tipp City, Ohio, in 1979, to Quilvest Private Equity on Feb. 24.

Quilvest is a Luxembourg-based financial firm held by the same family for seven generations. The firm invests in small- and medium-sized privately held companies and assists with long-term development strategies. Creative has estimated sales of $27 million and ranks 90th among North American pipe, profile and tubing extruders, according to Plastics News’ latest ranking.

Creative’s management and employees will stay on to maintain customer relationships and roll out growth initiatives developed in the last year, including the introduction of an EPDM rubber product line.

A custom profile extruder, Creative uses EPDM and thermoplastic materials for parts and assemblies to serve automotive OEMs with moldings for windshields, sun roofs and wheel wells; the automotive aftermarket with moldings trademarked as FlexiTrim, RightTrim and GripFlex; and industrial customers needing moldings, seals and trim for garage doors and marine and other applications. The business has 36 patents, 250 employees, 100,000 square feet of office and manufacturing space, and engineering and sales staff in Detroit.

Creative President and CEO Timothy Mach said the acquisition marks an exciting new chapter for the company, which sells its products in North America and overseas and also offers engineering support and fabrication. He called Quilvest “the right partner for us” in terms of quality products and customer service as well as growth.

“Our growth strategy is to serve adjacent products and markets,” Mach said in a telephone interview. “They’re helping us go after and capture some new customers and new markets that we don’t serve today.”

Quilvest says it manages about $5 billion of assets with a team of about 100 professionals all over the world who bring global expertise and “the patience and values of a family office.”

“We are pleased to announce our investment in Creative Extruded Products, a business with a strong track record of producing high quality products for the automotive and industrial sectors. We look forward to working with the management team to execute the company’s future growth plans,” Lawrence Neubauer, a Quilvest partner, said in a news release.

The Quilvest Group is held by the Bemberg family, which traces its business success back to a beer brewery in Argentina in 1888 and has 13 offices of investment professionals worldwide.

Source: 

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German auto supplier Boge expanding into Mexico

German automotive industry supplier Boge Rubber & Plastics Group is building its first production plant in Mexico, it said December 13.

The 54,000-square-foot facility in San Luis Potosí, 270 miles northwest of Mexico City, is scheduled to come on stream in mid-2017.

Boge Rubber & Plastics specializes in vibration technology and plastics component production. It created a local subsidiary, Boge Rubber & Plastics México SA de CV, in early 2016. It is investing about 5 million euros ($5.3 million) at the site.

It expects to employ 30 when production begins, and up to 200 in the medium term.

“As a global player we are thus supporting our customers who, for the most part, already have their own production facilities in Mexico or are in the process of creating further [production] capacity,” CEO Torsten Bremer said in a news release.

The company’s headquarters are in Damme. It did not specify what components it would manufacture in Mexico. Its initial customers will be German automakers with plants in Mexico along with Tier 1 suppliers. It is seeking business with U.S.-based automakers.

Through November, auto plants in Mexico had assembled 3.2 million light vehicles, 1.5 percent more than in the same period in 2015. Mexico ranks seventh among the world’s largest producers of light vehicles.

The Mexican automotive industry has grown at an average of 8 percent a year over the past five years, Boge pointed out. By 2020, experts expect it to assemble 5 million light vehicles annually for local and global markets.

“With its location in Mexico, Boge Rubber & Plastics is closing a gap in its production network and also increasing its attractiveness among customers when it comes to awarding global platforms,” Boge added.

Once the new plant is up and running, the group will have 11 production sites in eight countries on four continents, Boge said. It employs 4,000 and has annual sales of about 740 million euros ($787.2 million).

Source: Plastic News

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Toyoda Gosei to expand sealing plant in Mexico

Toyoda Gosei Co. Ltd. plans to expand its facility in Mexico with a $35.5 million investment in response to increased automotive demand in North America.

The firm said in an Aug. 25 news release that its subsidiary, Toyoda Gosei Automotive Sealing Mexico S.A. de C.V. in San Luis Potosí, Mexico, will increase weatherstrip production about 50 percent by 2020.

When the expansion is complete, Toyoda Gosei projects its work force will increase by 540. Employment currently sits at 910 as of March 31, and the company’s sales likely will grow to $124 million annually, up from $60 million, by 2020.

“The expansion is really just to help handle orders from our customers in Mexico who are increasing production,” a spokeswoman said. “There have been a lot of increases from the OEMs which has led to us needing to expand.”

In addition to adding capacity, the firm has acquired land adjacent to the building to add about 20 percent — or 82,000 square feet — to its current footprint, bringing the building to 523,100 square feet by 2020. Toyoda Gosei said this addition will be used to add trial manufacturing equipment to the facility, improving the pre-production processes. It also will provide additional team member training.

The San Luis Potosí plant produces opening trim weatherstrips, door weatherstrips and glass runs, among other weatherstrips, using both EPDM rubber and thermoplastic vulcanizate. The spokeswoman said the expansion will help serve Toyota, Ford and Honda, with more than half of the new production being exported to the U.S. market. New equipment will be installed at the site in phases as business dictates.

Construction is projected to be finished by November, the spokeswoman said. The trial manufacturing center will build prototypes, improve pre-production and help train new employees.

This is the second weatherstrip-related expansion the firm has made in the last four months. Toyoda Gosei revealed plans to establish a new facility in Bawal, India, projected to be operational in March 2017.

The new plant represents an $8.2 million investment, which includes constructing a 26,250-square-foot building, populating it with equipment and a 65,600-square-foot plot of land. The factory will produce air bags and rubber weatherstrips for Toyota, Honda and Maruti—a subsidiary of Suzuki Motor Corp.

It has been an active time for Toyoda Gosei in Mexico, where part of its goal is to triple its sales in the country by 2020. The spokeswoman said the firm reported about $98.4 million in Mexican sales for fiscal year 2015.

Recently, Toyoda Gosei opened a facility in Irapuato, Mexico. The plant represents a $53.2 million investment and will focus on the company’s interior/exterior business such as radiator grilles, console boxes and plastic parts in addition to its functional components business.

The firm said production of plated products is scheduled to start in the summer of 2017. It projects $110 million in sales for fiscal 2020, and the plant employs about 135. The building is nearly 400,000 square feet and rests on a 1.65 million-square-foot plot of land.

Toyoda Gosei operates two facilities in Matamoros City, Mexico—one for safety systems and the other for fuel components. Manufacturing for all four of the firm’s product lines are localized in Mexico.

Headquartered in Kiysou, Japan, Toyoda Gosei produces rubber and plastic automotive parts with 100 plants and offices in 18 countries.

About Toyoda Gosei

Established in 1949 and headquartered in Kiyosu, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, Toyoda Gosei is a leading specialty manufacturer of rubber and plastic automotive parts and LEDs. Today, the Toyoda Gosei group provides a variety of high-quality products internationally, with a network of approximately 100 plants and offices in 18 countries and regions. Through its flexible, integrated global supply system and leading-edge technologies for automotive safety, comfort, and environmental preservation, Toyoda Gosei is a global supplier that aims to deliver the highest levels of quality, innovation, and satisfaction to customers worldwide.

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Cabot Corporation to Introduce Reinforcing Materials for Weather Stripping Applications in Asia

Cabot expands current portfolio with high performance carbon blacks for automotive weather stripping

SHANGHAI & BOSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Aug. 29, 2016– Cabot Corporation (NYSE: CBT) recognizes that the continued development of the automotive market in China has driven increased sophistication in automotive rubber part applications. As a result, Cabot is introducing three carbon black products that are specifically designed for demanding weather stripping applications. SPHERON® 5000A carbon black, SPHERON® VHA carbon black and STERLING® SO-1 carbon black are now available immediately for all customers in China and the rest of Asia. These products supplement Cabot’s current portfolio to provide a full range of carbon blacks for weather stripping applications to meet high and standard surface quality requirements.

The rubber weather stripping on vehicles operates to keep a vehicle safe and secure. It lines the doors and windows to ensure they seal properly when closed, prevents water from leaking inside, protects the vehicle from the elements and reduces noise to improve ride quality. Weather stripping is a key consideration for car manufacturers when it comes to the overall aesthetics of a vehicle. In understanding the key requirements and complexities of rubber fabrication for weather stripping applications, Cabot offers a variety of carbon blacks to meet the needs of customers around the world.

Class A automotive weather stripping surface finishes demand a very low level of defects that could cause visible surface imperfections leading to rejected or scrap materials. In response to this market requirement, Cabot’s SPHERON®A carbon black series is engineered to deliver a very high purity level that results in excellent dispersion and reduced scrap rates for automotive parts manufacturers.

Cabot now offers two Class A carbon black products that combine the cleanliness of the SPHERON A series with optimized morphologies that reduce the visual imperfections on the surface of extruded rubber parts.

Cabot’s flagship SPHERON 5000A carbon black offers very good dispersion and allows excellent high speed processing, smooth extruded or calendered surfaces, and good dimensional stability. It is the product of choice for automotive weather stripping applications that require very high surface finish requirements.

SPHERON VHA carbon black is a newly developed, cost-effective product for very high surface finish requirements. It is ideally suited for applications that require both very low surface defects, without compromising reinforcement, and ultra-high frequency /microwave activity.

For extruded rubber product applications without Class A very high surface-critical requirements, Cabot provides a variety of products to fit customers’ needs. For automotive weather stripping parts with less stringent surface quality requirements, STERLING SO-1 carbon black is now available and offers fast compound processing and high extrusion speeds.

“China is one of the largest markets for industrial rubber products due to advanced technological developments in the automotive industry,” said Bart Kalkstein, president, Reinforcement Materials Segment. “We continually strive to not only meet but stay ahead of market demands. With the introduction of these carbon black products, we offer a full range of solutions that will improve the performance and aesthetics of our customers’ weather stripping products.”

Cabot’s full portfolio of high performance carbon blacks for automotive weather stripping available in China includes SPHERON® 5000A, SPHERON® VHA, SPHERON® SO, STERLING® SO-1 and SPHERON® 6400A carbon blacks. To learn more about Cabot’s products for weather stripping applications, please download the brochure.

ABOUT CABOT CORPORATION
Cabot Corporation (NYSE: CBT) is a global specialty chemicals and performance materials company, headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. The company is a leading provider of rubber and specialty carbons, activated carbon, inkjet colorants, cesium formate drilling fluids, fumed silica and aerogel. For more information on Cabot, please visit the company’s website at: http://www.cabotcorp.com.

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements in the press release regarding Cabot’s business that are not historical facts are forward looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward looking statements, see “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K.

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Mantaline Corporation Adds New Facility for Injection Molding and Thermoplastic Extrusion

New 30k Sq. Ft. Facility in Hiram Increases Capacity for High Tech Material Products

HIRAM, Ohio, Aug. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — Mantaline Corporation has expanded its manufacturing capabilities by adding a new facility in Hiram, OH.  This addition, aptly named the Thermoplastic Extrusion and Injection Molding Innovation Center, enables the company to address a new set of requirements residing within the current customer base as well as creating a platform for growth.

“This facility permits us to blend a whole new set of materials with state-of-the-art processing,” said Tom Mlinar, Vice President of Business Development for Mantaline Corporation. “We are pleased to offer our customers new advances in thermoplastic injection molding and thermoplastic extrusion which will assist them as they compete in their served markets.”

The building is air conditioned building which assists in keeping materials and equipment moisture free. On the extrusion line a separate drying system to completely eliminate moisture from the raw materials is part of the overall manufacturing plan. The first of what will be several extrusion lines is outfitted with two new state-of-the-art quality assurance digital comparators. This permits associates the ability to monitor product being formed by three extruders in-line, in-process so that real time quality is “baked-into” the product.

The thermoplastic materials (TPE, TPV, and TPO) have many benefits including the ability to be formed economically in a wide variety of processes, color-matching, and re-cyclability. This material group is extremely environmentally friendly, which helps customers, such as auto-makers, reach their long term goals.

“With this facility we harness “best available” technology.  Our goal to deliver strategic componentry that enhances automotive safety and as well as improve the esthetic beauty to the end product,” explained Mlinar. “This facility allows us to work around the clock with new capacities and capabilities and add new products to our portfolio.”

The company expects to run two shifts immediately at the 30,000 square foot facility.  In addition, the site provides the venue for longer-term expansion; the building sits on an eight acre site.  The Hiram Plant is about 15 minutes from the company headquarters in Mantua, OH.

The mayor and council president were among the large group of attendees of local residents and associates on hand to celebrate the grand opening on August 17.

ABOUT MANTALINE CORPORATION

Founded in 1964, Mantaline is headquartered in Mantua, Ohio and currently employs about 175 associates. The company is a Tier 1 supplier to the global commercial vehicle market, especially heavy trucks, and a Tier 2 supplier to the automotive industry.

Mantaline Corporation is an employee-owned, world-class leader known for its engineering competence, quality and precision in the design, development, and production of precision molded and extruded components for a variety of industrial markets.  Recently this expertise has come to include materials of sophisticated thermoplastic formulations as well as an extensive variety of rubber and silicon materials.

For more information about Mantaline, visit their website at www.mantaline.com, call (800) 321-0948, or email[email protected].

Media contact: Chris Brown
Email
Phone: 330-656-9793

SOURCE Mantaline Corporation

Related Links

http://www.mantaline.com