Document Ra32a1M645awgGrJr9orzXgKz

December 1989, Volume 9. No 12 | In Brief... '89 Resin Production Steady, Sales Edge Up for 7th Year New Lockout/Tagout Regulations created by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) become effective January 2,1990. Among other items... plastics manufacturers must de-energize equipment, isolating it from energy sources and verify stored energy has been dissipated... Locks will be mandatory when equipment can be locked out... Will require training employees in new procedures. For copies of the standard, summary notice and appendix with sug gested written procedures, contact: Dick LaLumondier at (202) 3715223. Also see OSHA Alert bulletin with this Plastics NewsBriefs. Christmas Message Resin production held steady in 1989, with sales and captive use projected to chalk up a seventh consecutive year of record growth. Year-end estimates indicate that U.S. production will total about 59.3 billion pounds for 1989, represent ing a 0.8-percent decrease from the previous year. Sales and captive use are expected to total 59.2 billion pounds, a 1.1-percent increase over 1988 figures. Thus it appears the industry will end the year with inventory levels well in line, said Richard H. Roman, manager of marketing research for the Geon Vinyl Division of The BFGoodrich Company and chair man of SPI's Committee on Resin Statistics (CRS). Roman released the statistics for 1989 on behalf of the CRS at a press briefing held at SPI headquarters in Washington. Many resins showed strong export volumes, Roman said, including PVC (up 59 percent), HDPE (up 20 percent), polystyrene (up 27 percent), LDPE (up 4 percent), unsaturated polyester (up 79 percent) and thermoplastic poly ester (up 25 percent). Projected sales and captive use totals indicate that polypropylene, which last year experienced a growth rate of 5.5 percent, tallied only a 1.8-percent increase in 1989. Most of the other thermoplastic resins showed slight increases in sales, with polystyrene leading with a 3.5-percent hike. Showing continued on page four ^rbiiappy Holidays Beit Withes for the Newyear 5PI Holiday Schedule SPI offices will he closed at noon on Dec. 22nd atutrcrmin closed until Tuesday, December 26th. In observance of New Year's Day, SP/'s offices will be closed on January 1,1990. ___ j j j I ii 100 0004047 in This Issue_____ News From the States Federal Update3 Publications & Events___ 2 ___ 4 Vernon Wallers, right, US. Ambassador to West Germany, meets with SPt Board member G. WattsHumphrey Jr., left, (Conair Group;) andSPIPresident Larry Thomas, center, during a visit to the US. Pavilion at the K'89 Show in Dussetdorf. WtPFODuD QUO Q&U@ "State Bulletin" & "State Reporter" Highlights Massachusetts Committeeformed to oppose packaging ban initiative... The Massachusetts Committee for Responsible Waste Management was formed last month to work for voter rejection of a ballot initiative filed by the Mas sachusetts Public Interest Research Group (MASSPIRG) that would impose unrealistic environmental standards on packaging. MASS PIRG has obtained more than enough signatures for the anti plastics initiative to appear on the November 1990 ballot. The com mittee was formed to promote acceptable alternatives and respon sible public policy regarding the manufacture, use and disposal of packaging. Its tiered membership structure includes support from The Council for Solid Waste Solutions, state restaurant associa tions, food dealers. The Associated Industries of Massachusetts, product manufacturers and other material trade associations. It is chaired by the Massachusetts Restaurant Association. ! Wisconsin Senate recycling bill to be heard in joint Finance Committee... The Council for Solid Waste Solutions and other business groups are supporting an amendment calling for the removal of all product bans, new General Purpose Revenue funding totalling 24 million, revised language regarding landfill bans variance, and statewide uni formity/preemption prohibiting , communities from using product bans or local recycling taxes if they accept state recycling funds. The Assembly Natural Resources Committee recently voted to i introduce a separate Assembly S recycling bill that includes product bans on polyvinyl chloride and polystyrene foam. Industry is working to see the Senate version pass with industry amendments. California Air panel adopts industry amendments ... Amendments to proposed rule 1175 to limit emissions of volatile organic compounds such as pen- continued on page four SPI Testifies, Files Comments On California Pipe Deregulation Refund on VAT Available for K-Show Participants SPI's 10-year-old effort in Califor nia to expand permitted uses of plastic plumbing pipe in residential construction soon may advance to the code-writing stage. Currently, plastic plumbing pipe is permitted only for drain, waste and vent (DWV) in structures of two stories or less and for water distribution outside the house. Changes proposed in a draft envi ronmental impact report (DEIR) released in August include permit ting water distribution in plastic pipe inside the house and expand ing permitted uses for DWV. The DEIR concluded that "no unavoidable significant adverse effects.. .would result from the proposed expanded use of plastic plumbing pipe." In written comments filed No vember 13, SPI echoed the views it expressed at public hearings in late September in Los Angeles and Oakland, calling the DEIR a thor ough and fair examination of all questions raised about plastic pipe. The preparation of the DEIR has been prolonged due to persistent objections by the California Pipe Trades Council, a union organiza tion. The group has claimed that plastic pipe is unsafe for workers due to dangers from solvents used in installation, is a threat to homeowners because of chemicals allegedly leaching from the pipe into the water supply, has suffered product failures due to poor quality and presents dangers from combus tibility. The DEIR essentially has rejected these arguments. A final environmental impact report could be issued as early as March. Assuming it is favorable, consideration of code changes would begin later in 1990. Visitor* to and exhibitors at the K- '89 trade show in Dusseldorf, West Germany, are entitled to a refund on the value added tax (VAT) paid on all goods and services paid from German invoices, sudi as furniture rental, translators, food and beverages, ho tels, restaurants and booth space (if not in U.S. pavilion). All vendors automatically add the VAT (14 per cent) to the price of purchases, and it maynotappearseparatelyon receipts. The procedure for obtaining a re fund is strictly regulated and con trolled by Germany. For those who did not take advantage of receiving VAT refunds before leaving Ger many, there is a service that, fora fee, will handle this complicated proce dure. For a VAT brochure and re sponse card please write: The Ger man Value Added Tax Refund Serv ice do Dusseldorf Trade Shows, Inc., TheEmpire State Building, Suite4621, New York, NY 10118. BOR 0 0 7 2 8 3 2 Plastics NewsBriefs * SPI, EUROMAP Working Toward International Machinery Protocol SPI has joined with a group of European plastics machinery manu facturers to begin development of a worldwide communication protocol linking molding machines with auxiliary equipment. Meeting in Dusseldorf on Novem ber 9,5PI and EUROMAP, the European association of plastic and rubber machinery manufacturers, formed a working committee to create international standards for the communication of data between the machines. SPI's Machinery Division recently announced the availability of licens ing agreements for the SPI Communi cation Protocol Development Kit, Phase I, which was produced in a joint effort with the Machinery Component Manufacturers Division. European machinery makers also have been working on a protocol in preparation for the European Community's unifying of markets in 1992. Knowing of each other's plans, the two groups have been in contact since spring, hoping to blend the two protocol systems, according to Bob Sherman, SPI vice president of divisions, regions and membership. Sherman said SPI's protocol was well received by the Europeans, although work remains to intro duce metrics into it. That conver sion project already is under way. Following meetings with their own associations, Sherman said, SPI and EUROMAP representa tives plan to meet again early in 1990. Senate Committee Acts on Clean Air... The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on November 17 reported a package of bills to reau thorize and amend the Clear Air Act. .. The package consists of several bills and amendments dealing with toxic air emissions, ozone and carbon monoxide non-attainment areas and motor vehicle pollution, acid rain, a ban on CFCs, stationary source permitting, and air emissions and ash from municipal waste incinerators... The Committee adopted an amend ment offered by Sen. John Chafee (RRI) that would ban CFCs by the year 2000 and mandate new recapture and recycling programs and other restric tions, including some on foam, for CFCs... The amendment also provides for the regulation of HCFCs, EPA Proposes Restrictions on ThirdThird' Wastes... Restrictions on the land disposal of nearly 350 hazard ous wastes, including a controver sial requirement to treat some of those wastes beyond what the law requires, were proposed Novem ber 13 by the EPA ... Final restric tions must be in place by May 8, 1990, ending decades of disposing of untreated wastes in landfills ... Proposed rule is the third of three rule-makings to set treatment standards for some 450 wastes listed under the Resource Conser vation and Recovery Act (RCRA) ... Proposal affects 24 million tons of a wide variety of hazardous wastes listed under RCRA ... It is estimated to cost industry more than $300 million annually. SPI Forms Fund To Aid Condit j In Wake of Hugo Hurricane Hugo spared Charles Condit his life - but little else. So SPI is setting up a recovery ! fund to help its former employee ! and old friend. i Condit, who worked at SPI for more than 30 years, was the Soci-! ety's second professional staff per-1 son. Over the years, he served in a j number of capacities, including j staff manager for the Reinforced i Plastics and Composites Institute. He separated from SPI as staff vice presidentin 1975 and moved to the island of Montserrat, looking for ward to a peaceful retirement. Now he's just trying to survive. ` When Hugo hit the tropical is- i land, it did so with a force that lit- j eially blew the paint off Condit's I jhouse. Though the structure re-1 mained standing, Condit said in a letter, it suffered extensive dam- j age .to its roof and windows and j the contents were destroyed. In ; addition, utilities have been dis-1 rupted, and Condit is without a 1 generator. As a result, he has no j phone orelectricityand only a lim-1 ited water supply. As his insur ance has proven inadequate to cover all the damage, he expects his situation to continue forweeks, maybe even months, he said. Though Condit's letter asked nothing, coming as it did only in response to communications from ! Jconcerned friends, his former col- leagues at SPI want to help him re-1 cover fromhisdevastatinglosses-1 Jand believe others will, also. j Thosewishing to contribute may do so by sending a check (made { ! payable to "The Charles Condit ! Fund c/o SPI"), to The Society of ! the Plastics Industry, Attention, RobertSherman, 1275 K Street NW,' Suite400, Washington, D.C. 20005.j Please note the Fund's name on j the envelope. j Plastics IMewsBriefs 3 BOR 0 0 7 2 8 4 SPI Publications & Events SFI's Operator's Handbook for Plastic Injection Molding.,,For use as an introduction to injection molding operations and as a in relation to expected progress. Purchased in quantity: Member $25/100, Non-member $35/100. (Pub No. AR-107) reference "handbook" for later use, this 22 page-booklet covers the Also from the Moldmaker's Divi injection molding process from sion, newly revised editions ...Clas materials handling to mold ! sification of Injection Molds for care...Member $150; Non-members | Thermoplastic Materials/Custom $3.00...Order form enclosed with Practices of the Moldmaking this issue of Plastics News Briefs. Industry.-Members $10, Non (Pub. No. AQ-101) member $20, special discounts for volume pricing...(Pub. No. AR- SPI's 1988 Salary and Sales Policy 101)...Directory of Moldmakers Survey...A detailed survey of 210 Services... Member $10, Non- processing members conducted by member $10. (Pub No. AR-103)... SPI's Financial Management 1989 Labor Survey of Plastic Committee, this valuable tool gives Moldmaking Companies-.Mcmber current salary information on more $25, Non-member $50...(Pub No. than 34 positions. Also included, AR-104). Mold Data and Quota the average number of people tion Foim...sold in quantity. Mem supervised. The Sales Policy ber $40/100, Non-member $50/ Section of the survey tells you what 100...(Pub No. AR-1Q5). Mold you need to know to set sales force Finish Guide-.provides material management and commission supplier companies the opportunity policies with statistics on bonus j to present a more accurate visual and expense policies...Member $75., j comparison of final molded prod Non-member $150...Order form j uct... Member $5, Non-member enclosed with this issue of Plastics $10...(Pub No. AR-106). News Briefs. (Pub. No. BA-118) j I And, coming soon...The Medical Report on State Laws-Plastic j Products Directory will become Container Material Coding...A available early 1990...Members $35, guide to complying with state laws Non-member $50. Also scheduled and regulations on container to appear early 1990, The Plastic coding requirements offered by the Drum Institute's Real World Test Plastic Bottle Institute. Member January 29-30,1990 $50., Non-member $100... (Pub. No. SPI/SPE RETEC, The Grand Hotel, AU-163) Anaheim, Calif...Contact: Walt I Bishop, (202) 371-5231. New publication from SPI's j Moldmaker Division... Progress i February 5 -7,1990 Report..A convenient form detail 1990 Winter Meeting of the Coordi ing the status of mold production* I nating Committee on Fire Safety... | To Order: All items listed with a ! i publication number may be ordered ; I by calling 1-800-541-0736 (only Orangetree Golf and Conference Resort, Scottsdale, Ariz...Contact: Rich Gottwald, (202) 371-5201. ! MasterCard or Visa accepted as payment) or by sending a check pay able to SPI to: Literature Sales De- i partment, SPI, 1275 K Street, N.W., j Suite 400, Washington, DC 20005. ! February 21-24,1990 SPI Molder Division XIII Annual Meeting...LaCosta Spa & Resort, San Diego, Calif.-Contact: Drew Fleming, (202) 371-5246. '89 Resin Production Steady Continued from page one decreases were ABS and vinyls other than PVC, both with a 3.1percent decline, and SAN, which reflected a 11.5-percent decrease from 1988. Following two strong years, LDPE sales slowed in 1989. Although yearend figures indicate a 2.6-percent increase, Roman said, 1989 report ing methods included Canadian imports. Adjusting for this, he explained, LDPE sales showed a decline of about 4.4 percent. Following weakness earlier in the year, sales of HDPE experienced improvement late in 1989 as buyers reacted to the impact of lost capac ity, Roman said. The year ended with sales of HDPE up 0.2 percent. Total production figures for thermoplastic resins showed a 1.1percent decrease from 1988; thermo sets were down 2.4 percent. Engineering resins registered significant increases, with produc tion up 93 percent and sales and captive use showing a 9.9-percent gain. News From the States Continued from page two tane will exempt molders from controlling pentane emissions after products are manufactured (pro viding they can show a residual amount of pentane of 1.8 percent or less). The board of the South Coast Air Quality District adopted these amendments at its Nov. 3 meeting in response to SPI testimony on October 6. For More Information... { Additional Information about any | Item In this Issue of the newslet- ! ter may be obtained by contact ing Marian Green, Editor, SPt, 1275 K Street, N.W., Suite 400, | Washington, DC 20005, (202) j 371-5209. Direct Inquiries f rthe 1 New York office to: 355 Lexing ton Avenue, New York, NY 10017, j (212)351-5410. 4 Plastics NewsBriefs BOR 007285