Document VxG01bV7EogNj2YRDw38mG5p

6t-` TM( Ctr^ "(** RATIONAL PRODUCTION AUTHORITY ; . , Washington,. D.C.- , 4 ' Meeting of ASBESTOS FIBRE ADD TEXTILE MFRS. INDUSTRY ADVI80RY- COMMIT* July 17, 1951 . Ray H. Coultrap, Mlseellaneoua Metals and Minerals Division MPA . OOVERRMERT PRESIDIBO OFFICES ?.v I, Comalttee Members,,.. a (-!Present^ atMcetlng)jfc-1- -4 'UJ- sbei JifWSft lecki ndfMattison|Ci PenooylVania;S John 0. 8choepfJ; , Asten-Hill Manufacturing Company Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Gustav Valters The Russell Manufacturing Company Middletown, Connecticu' I * $c {-H.^Carlough?*'.;^ , a-':- .George 8;- FsbeV ' Carolina 'Asbestos Compccy ' Southern Asbestos Company Davidson, North Carolina Charlotte, North Carol: R. j. Hinkle The Oarlock. Packing Company Palmyra, Rev York J. A, Bettes, Jr. Rayhestos Manhattan, It}corporated Mankaim, Pennsylvania Frank J. Wakes ' . . Johns Manville Corporation New York, New York < R. B..Cryor ' Union Asbestos and RuMjer Company ; Chicago,. Illinois. H. E. 8unbury United .States Rubber Company New York, New York' Industry Advisory .'Committees are. representative, groups formed for. e purpose of furnishing advice.-snd'Information to the.-National Production AuthorL on matters furthering the defense effort. No action* are taken or decisions madle' in these meetings since they are solely for advisory purposes.' .Suggested * Jects for consideration at future meetings may he sent to the Government ding Officer. ? - ( ................................ . j t%rli .T -f*|:' . . * .Vs*. t." .1,. * *M ' . < .: j.. . _ f| > ,>* 'Ifi-Kf jk3' S; si w* .. CRJ1C-M&S-003242 Government Attendance National Production Authority Henry H. Crowell, Miscellaneous Metala and Mineral* Division William Ollmour, Office of Public Information Rex Oreaves," Office of Industry Advisory Committees * Alexander Jeffries, Miscellaneous Metals and Minerals- Division B. J. Middleton, Rubber Division Rbllllps Trenbath, Office of General Counsel' Z. V. Warner, Industrial Economics Division . #s |piiw;c4Bcwlee|*3^r5TO^of4Interlor ^y'W^li, , * v*w4$' ' Joseph H. Chilcote, Department of Navy ' *- *- * - Paul A. Cooley, Munitions Board Henry D. Lytton, Defense Production Administration Ralph L. Muir, Econnnlc Cooperation Administration LeRoy M. Otis, Munitions 'Board n L. E.Sieffert.Department of Navy Stanley Spaulding, Department'of Navy . Michael G. Van Lear, Department of Navy Jesse M. Weaver, General Services Administration PURPOSE OF THE MEETING The Asbestos Fibre and Textile- Manufacturers Industry Advisory Committee met on July 17, 1951 to consider the possibilities of exploring and developing new sources of fibre supply and to discuss ways of meeting the abnormal demands of both direct defense and defense-supporting activities. Mr. Ray H. Coultrap (Miscellaneous Metals and Minerals Division, NPA) was the Government Presiding Officer. RULES GOVERNING INDUSTRY ADVISORY COMMITTEES Since this was the first meeting of the group, Mr. Rex Greaves (Office of Industry Advisory Coenlttees, NPA) briefly reviewed the rules governing the formation and operation of.Industry advisory committees, and Mr. Phillips Trenbath (Office of the General Counsel,'NPA)-outlined the conditions under which such ccnmlttees may meet without being In violation of the anti-trust lavs. PRESENT- STATUS OP THE INDUSTRY Mr. Coultrap told the committee that the asbestos fibre supply Is not adequate to meet steadily Increasing demands and, therefore, consideration must be given to which of the demands are the most pressing. To complicate the situation further, he said, statistical Information Is not available either on total requirements or on the ability of the Industry to meet present and future demands. He compand the present situation with that obtaining during World War II1 many differences are apparent, Including the fact that fibre, rather than facilities, Is nov: In short supply. ( RMC-M&S-003243 .:'i*.' * $, "K % ..i *-: Asbestos Fibre and Textile Mfrs. IAC Minutes -3- i July 17, 1951' " The primary purpose of the meeting,' he ald,.vae- to examine seme of the defense requirement* In the light Of the total problems of the Industry and to see what action might'be.contemplated to meet demende. Of Immediate end pressing importance, he said, Is a request from the Navy Department that a directive be Issued to enable It to obtain types Aj B, and D asbestos cloth The policy of the Miscellaneous Metals and Minerals Division hag been to issue directives very sparingly; Mr. Coultrap expresiad the oplnlcn that the setter of filling the Navy's requirements could be vorkef/out by asking the industry to voluntarily assume to fill such requlresents as was done when similar problems arose during VPB operations. -Another request pressing for Immediate action, he said, is. for 9-cut two-pl;r .asbestos,yanTfor,molded plastics........... Discussiondlsclosed thatmoat of the; Industry is rlOO percent on rated ; orders /'and - has been for ease; time. As a result; new orders,even Navy bids, cannot be accomodated. All DO's are of equal value, and must be filled In chronological order. Industry .representatives pointed out; as a result, DO 97's have been particularly burdensome. An industry representative asked if it were possible to learn whether the defense program, including the Navy program, will continue to beat intensive as at present. - With such information, he believed, the industry might be in a better position to plan its production to meet requirements.. ASBESTOS FIBRE SUPPLY Imported Fibre.- Dr. Oliver C. Bowles (Bureau of Mines, Department of the InteriorJ provided .the committee with data on Canadian and Rhodesian asbestos fibre Imports.' During the first five months of this year; 9,1*27 long tons of Canadian crudes and spinning fibres were received; on an annual basis, Dr. Bowles pointed out, this Is equivalent to 25,31*0 short tons. The Imports In cluded all groups. During the same five-month period, 1*93 long tons of Rhodesian C & G were received. On the basis of these January to May receipts, total tonnage for the year may be estimated at about 1,325 short tons. Dr. Bowles said. Total receipt^ from that source are expected to be about 1,500 tons less than 1950 receipts. Industry representatives were pleased to learn of the Canadian tonnages, which had been estimated previously at a much lover figure. The estimated ton nages would indicate, they.felt, that Canadian mining production Is running better than had been expected. The Canadian Supply Situation.- Mr. Jesse M. Weaver (Emergency Procurement Service, GSA) told the ccemlttee of action being taken cooperatively with the Canadian asbestos producers to Increase the supply of ore and spinning fibres. Tonnage receipts from Canada can be expected to increase further, but not appreciably within the next year and a half to two years, he said; mining equip ment and priority assletanceto expedite expansion have been furnished. AitMtM Fibre and Textile Mfrs. UC Klautee nr*ly 17, 1951 " Mr. Heaver said thgt'.he" hart.haap,jMfyed, aa .an. official Government fcepreent4tive|tlttt';o.i?ji ifc;vguj^a^^(uaatitlea auffleieat'to'maet the in cVeaeed flaapnrte of 'American lnduatry ijdjiJihe, Joint dafenee- effort. Canadian producere baA "taSSled" planned expaasipp "plans, fearing over-expanelon vould eeuee herdabip ei e iater dateitiik^naaiMd only aeeursnce' that the demand vou id aot i^y eii&tlnueV ^t'vould probablir. l&oreasei Mr. Weaver said. ' Key Domestie 'Sources 6f Supply'.,* it Mae,been learned, Mr., Heaver said, tbit .very/ good chryftotlle; fibre, lsavallablrfj^nthe Northern California and Southi ir Oregon* region.- To confirm the presenceof r*jerva*,a veil ae surface ore, eoore drilling ebould be undertaken] ,onee the: reeeivea<areiieetabllahed>:,the industry i should develop this domestic source, he believed.',,',Recoosendatlons .to thie .effi let IhewlWeBJnaaetahelsaiaMitlielgeherallyibelievedl^ttotfsuch^neygaevelopiiente.-.-vllI afeetlohing|b^aBiitiS|Btta>M|iveSledSli;Jtfii|expl*Cii-oa.i.tilcunif,uoaJibuececnur1s l|0f^e:|^^HaCics|l*vel^#I^B<^e^x^irtdithat|thefDei^Me| sMin'ei^'syXamitlstration"had 'enrBaAed :sufTiciMt*furMl87fof1that purpose ,'and- that several established mining companies had made application to become part of the project. Until funds are voted for this purpose, the exploration and " development of the mines must be held in abeyance, he said. ` An Industry spokesman expressed the opinion that the various plans for' " augmenting the asbestos supply are working at cross purposes. Canadian pro ducers delayed their expansion program, be pointed out, because they vere not convinced that the demand vould continue steady. Nov that the textile industry wishes to consume even those fibres formerly considered not up to standard for spinning purposes (such as the group 3 fibres which have been absorbed in the cement Industry) the establishment of further domestic sources vould work ad versely for the Canadians, since such a new source would become competitive, he felt. No'opportunity has been preeented to test out market requirements in a so-called normal period, he pointed out;. therefore, no one knova whether the increased Canadian production and the increased supply available from nevly developed sources will cause an economic Imbalance in the asbestos market. Mr. Weaver pointed out that the time element Involved in both programs precludes any'major benefits being apparent for about two years; the planning should be done for the future of the aabeatos industry, he said. STOCKPILING PROGRAM In discussing the supply situation, several committee members expressed tl i opinion that asbestos should be diverted from the.stockpile and that the rate c f acquisition should be slowed-down in order to help industry meet the acceleratt Navy program. The stockpiling program and the Navy cable and cloth progrems aie intimately related, a coomlttee spokesman said. Usable asbestos which could ease the immediate supply situation is) be believed,' being earmarked for the stockpile; some of the material la a lov-lror, spinning fibre*satisfactory for the B or D cloth for which the Navy is in Immediate and pressing need. r,r - ^ r CRMC-M&S-003245 V a- July 17, 19,i ; Mr; Paul A. Cooley (Munitions Board) told the cconlttee that, until recently, very little asbestos has gone-Into the stockpile, although It Is one .of, the materials which Congress has. designated to he stockpiled as essential to the national security'. Mr. Weaver pointed out that stockpiling Is not only a matter of policy; .it is a mstteroflaw,. Grades, types, and quantities of materials are v specified, and 'the Munitions Board is designated as the agency to carry out the program, for several years, ha said, no. asbestos vas stockpiled; contrary to the generally held oplnion, therefore, the stockpile actually consists of a very small percehtage pf the aswuat of asbestos that will be,required; Material canibelvlthdravn;only,,throu^JhcecutlveaOrderiheitoldthai^ccBBalttee;i"' Mm^andltha^iheS^i^ccnnTOdatlonsihaTO^heeniactedupongln`^rylfe FHe^xpresI<id1,thefbp'lni'ohl.that%the^rOhlMi|bf^supi>lying|lniiBediate'`^ Navy needs could not he solved through requesting'acessation or curtailment of stockpiling activities. BBQUZR3CllTa AGAINST TOTAL PRODUCTION Wavy Asbestos Cloth Requirements.- Mr. Stanley Spaulding {Aviation Supply OffiEe, Department of the Navy} specified the following immediate firm requirements for the Bureau of Ships: Asbestos Cloth - 36-inches vide* (figures In square yerds) Grade B* Grade A* Grade D* Grade D-bO-ln.vJde Under Procurement Required by January 31, 1952 Total 178,000 18b.000 308,000 191,000 ebo.ooo ~l3i,000 7,100 2b,000 Already under contract 2b,000 82,000 Mr. Spaulding explained that the Aviation Supply Office In Philadelphia is charged with the responsibility of furnishing .the material when,where, and in the quantities needed; . Be described the Inventory control plan which has been established as a check on all requests and the efforts which are being made to control wastage and Inventory build-up at any single yard. "Under procurement," Mr.. Spepldlng said,'means that the ASO has placed requisitions for those quantities; of those amounts, only the yardage specified as "under contract" has been awarded on bids; the balance Is needed by August 31, 1951, to take care of construction new In process. In addition to this backlog, the Bureau of Ships has established the yardage that vill be needed, at the present consumption rate, for this next six months, or by January 31, 1932. 4 A.V , . , t % > ` p ,. . CRMC-M&S-003246 / ,, / Asbestos Fibre and Textile Mfra. IAC Minute* -6- July 17, 195: Industry repreaentatlvea questioned vhether this alx-month reserve atoi seed be taken into consideration immediately. Mr. Spaulding explained that the figures are firm requirement* for construction already under vay or plain and that the six-month period la procurement lead time. So far, he said, tl consumption rate Is ahead of the procurement rate. Navy Cable Program Requirements.- Mr. Michael 0. VanLear (Bureau of Ships, Department of the Navy)told theooomittee that the authorized cable prograii vill; continue at the present;,leveljand vill. require >roughly $20 million worth of {cable a year. Thle estlmate, he said, .Includes new construction.>vln'tevent, of an i`emergencyJ'zequlrementS4ylil|lnc'rease ;Bharplyi`;he'belleyed'<lthem`{to beat`,,ab<(UtiP __ Smt equlments^^^ydnl^iu'|'sald,:'s6me'aarltlae> J-notjformerfeonsumers; of^asbestos /cable;y*ustibe - Included,in .the, requirement] plamiihg^Translated"frw/the1(dollar.;flgurepthe:need'wlil?amoimttb'U''mii; feet of cable a month, it was estimated. A number of weights s.'s In very short supply, Mr. VonLear said. All ce|ble Is being procured for authorized work, not to build up atocks, he stressed. Three companies now using lap would prefer to have tape, since It is more economical, he said. Wavy Asbestos Requirements for Molding Compounds.- Mr. Lorenz Sieffert (Bureau of Ships, Department of the Navy) told the committee that an estimat 960,000 pounds of asbestos per year is needed for molding compounds. The p: he said, has mushroomed during the last six months, primarily because of the Increased number of circuit breakers being built for ships. Manufacturing ponies have told the Navy that they have been unable to procure enough ashes for these circuit breakers. Seme of the- impetus nas come from reconversion of mothballs" and some from new construction, Mr. Sieffert said. The Immediate need is for 8,000 pounds a week, Hr. Sieffert said, some which Is for cloth, some for yarn; about one-third of the requirement must b Iron. Part of this la for the 9-cut, two-ply yarn, on the procurement, of the Miscellaneous Metals and Minerals Division has been asked to assist. ; Packing Industry Requirements.- Mr. B. J. Middleton (Rubber Division, N 'A) told the committee that the production backlog in the packing Industry is approximately 3 or 4 months. He expressed the opinion that no further cuts .should be made In the already scarce supply of asbestos fibre for packing be Tore substitutes for other requirements, Including Navy programs, are considered. The packing Industry need cannot be projected on a six-month reserve supply basi 11 he pointed out, because much of the need cannot be known until a boiler or a chemical plant has been torn down; at the present procurement rate, these *re buildings are being delayed for lack of pecking. Committee members'representing that segment of the Industry concerned wholly or In part with packings reported that v-ubber allocations are not bel completely utilized because of the shortage of asbestos fibre for that purpo and that the production backlog Is increasing weekly. CRMC'M&S-003247 t*. Asbestos Fibre andTextile Mfrs. IAC Minutes -7- July 17, 1951 CONSERVATION; CONSIDERATION OF LIMITATION ORDER Conservation Through Substitutions. An Industry representative asked bov I rich thought had-been given to the utilisation of substitutes, such as the lino- cloth paper produced during the last var, for acme of the Havy cloth requireents. Mr. Coultrap said that he had checked on that matter vlth officials at the Bureau of Ships and had been told that It could he used hut would not be, except as a last resort, in order'to uphold standards;' Mr. Joseph B. Chilcote (Bureau of Ships, Department of the Navy) told the committee that the paper-can be used only in certain applications. For one thing, he reminded the committee. It cannot be uashed, so Is not as economical as> cloth, in the long run. Yards arebelng checked at the present time to see ,, |>*erejlt|can.beiutlli^i|he|sald.^:Asked-lfidevelopmentT/orkj|suchfa<giC(ting^k ithe,|outsidefvlthjglassltciimakeiIt `more - sctff-resistarit^?shouldJbe|;c<mtlnued S Mr`M An Industry representative said that Ms offer of combination glass cloth vas recently rejected by the Navy Department. He pointed out that one pound of asbestos plus glass will replace tvo and one-half pounds of asbestos fibre In type A cloth. The"consensus of the committee vas that often the combination glass cloth Is superior for Navy purposes and that the rejection vas the result of the supply officer's uofemlllarlty vlth the acceptability of the cloth. Mr. Chilcote promlaed to follov through to be sure that the acceptability of the combination cloth Is established. Committee members endorsed the suggestion that every effort should be made to effect the conservation of asbestos fibre through the use of other materials, such as glass, paper, etc.. In combination. Conservation Through Order.- At an informal conference earlier In the year, the matter of an asbestos order, along the lines established by Order M-79 of World War II, had been taken under consideration. At the present time, the committee recommended that any discussion of a conservation order be postponed until a future meeting. METHODS TO MEET PRESENT AND FUTURE REQUIREMENTS Several suggestions were offered and discussed as to how the Navy require ments, which seemed the most Immediate and pressing, could be solved without re course to directives. Discussion revealed that no appreciable orders have been received from the Air Force; during World War II that branch of the Armed Services used asbestos tubing in various applications. Army needs are being met, industry representatives reported; Mr. Coultrap said that no requests have been received from the Army for help In securing its asbestos needs. cm1C-M&S-0032.48 * tj<' - r ,. &, :W*^Wwr>:^ . ' Nf . .! AAsAbeisittfolsl ffiiblmre uantd IThexxUtileli Mfrs. , ZAC Mlnutee 0 '\. 1 .! ' 3vXj 17, 1951* It was generally believed that tbe cutback In automotive production would free son*'asbestos fibre which normally goes into packing. Thli, and tbe pro posed substitutlonsshould, it vai felt, free ease fibre for cloth. Becauie of the present.production backlog! (winy of which were reported ae great as 10 weeks) the yardages. being asked arb crippling, an lnduetry spokesman said; in addition to "the savings :of yarn already considered, he suggested that acme portion of export sales be sent to the Navy. Suggestion was Bade that each segment of the Industry set aside a percentage of asbestos fibre receipts each month to meet Navy needs; this fibre would be produced into cloth or cable, or provided for the nolded<plastics. ; Total Navy i. requirements would absorb aboutilS: percent of the industry's .production,: it was .. iBecause-.tha percentage was so' large, imyiev;:of^tejfhct^tbat^tte^&ustry.^ "'I can be said to be 100 percent on'90'si'the question arose about the ability of the Industry to continue such a proportionate share to the Navy without harm to sene of the other branches,of'the Aimed Services or to essential, defense supporting industries. It was proposed that an effort be made to learn all the requlrenents for the industry's production before attempting to Beet the Navy requirements with a set percentage. The ccmnittee recommended that a questionnaire be circulated to learn the total requirements for the Industry's production, the breakdown to be in terms of end production along the foundations established by Order M-2&3 of World War II. Promises on Immediately Pressing Orders.- Each Industry representative was requested to check production figures and scheduling immediately after returning to his plant to see what Bight be offered through NPA to fill the most pressing of the Navy requirements. The following interim commitments vere made by in dividual companies present: 5,000 square yards a month of type A, starting in September; 4,000 square yards a month of type AG (glass asbestos cloth), pre ferably in 60-inch width, starting August 1. These are over and above any cloth currently being furnished on contract which may be Included in the estimated need. In view of these voluntary ccomltaents, NPA for the present took no directive action to assure Navy requirements. In addition, an Industry representative stated his company would furnish part of the yarn needed for the molded plastics; others promised to check and to see what each individually could do to meet the balance. 01 ipa) ,efotrl MiW' h - , ed rp|| CRV1C-M&S-003249