Document jmVnJKZEve6wx6VdZy6gvVrJ5

ntVHOMI NATIONAL 2583 IL t. CJLASS, JL ncuTAXr Manufacturing Chemists' Association, Inc (fOUNDSD U72) 246 Woodvaxd Building Washington 3, D. C MINUTES OF MEETING PLASTICS GROUP MANHATTAN CLUB, NEW YORK CITY NOVEMBER'9. 1950________ PRESENT: American Cyanamid Co. Bakelite Division, U.C.C.C. Barrett Division, A.C.D.C. Catalin Corp. of America Celanese Corp. of America Columbia Chemical Div,, P.O.G. Co. Dow Chemical Co, E, I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. Firestone Plastics Co. B. F, Goodrich Chemical Co, Hercules Powder Co, Interchemical Corporation Hoppers Company Monsanto Chemical Co, Naugatuck Chemical Nixon Nitration Works Plaskon Div., L-O-F. Glass Co. Reilly Tar & Chemical Corp. Rohm & Haas Company Sylvan Plastics, Inc, Tennessee Eastman Corporation M.C.A. J. L. Rodgers, Jr.; C. J. Romieux H. S. Bunn, Clinton Blount R. L. Cammann, A. H. Dean L. T. Sutherland Harry Krehbiel, Alan Mann W. S. Landes, E. W. Ward W. F, Newton Arthur E. Young J. A. Almquist, W. W. Beck Frank Groten J. R. Hoover, G. A. Fowles M. G. Milliken John P. Duane Dan M. Rugg, B. J. C. van der Hoeven F. A. Abbiati, R. K. Mueller, F. N. Williams, E. E. Graham J. P. Coe, H. M. Parsekian, G. R. Vila, E. S. Ebber Morris Breitkopf Horton Spitzer P. C. Reilly, Jr. D. S. Frederick Edwin F. James S. E, Palmer, Dennis Guthrie R. L. Taylor, F. H. Carman The meeting was called to order at 10i45 A.M. with Dr. Frederick in the Chair, The minutes of the meeting of September 14, 1950 were approved without reading. RULES & REGULATIONS Chairman Frederick stated there was no further progress to report since a final opinion had not yet been received from the Legal Advisory Committee. For policy reasons it would be desirable to have all committees formally appointed by the Board and that the term "Plastics Committee" be used. Other than these changes, it was the consensus that the Rules & Regulations would be acceptable to the Chairman of the Board, Plastics Group -2- Nov. 9, 1950 SAFETY PROGRAM Mr. Everett E. Graham of Monsanto Chemical Co., substituting for T. J. Diviney, and Mr. A. H. Oak of Bakelite attended the recent meeting of the M.C.A. Safety Committee. That portion of the meeting devoted to plastics activities was reported in detail by Mr. Graham. As to future activities with respect to plastics, it was the recommendation of Messrs. Graham and Oak that the Plastics Group continue annual safety conferences concerned with matters pertaining to safety in plastic materials manufacture. Motion was then made from the floor that the recommendation of this group to hold such annual safety conferences be approved. On being duly seconded, this was passed unanimously. This recommenda tion of the Plastics Group will be cleared to the Safety Committee and the Di rectors for whatever action may be appropriate. PUBLIC RELATIONS The Chairman then called on Mr. R. L. Taylor, Executive Vice President of M.C.A. to discuss the public relations program of the Association and to receive any appropriate suggestions from the plastics manufacturers on public relations activities that may be warranted. Following short discussion of the scope of public relations activities and the long range program desired by the M.C.A., Mr. Taylor stated that the program might be covered by three main objectives: 1. The Association should provide an accurate up-to-date and easily accessible source of information on the broad as pects of the chemical industry as a whole. 2. The Association should report to the public on activities of the group particularly as to what is being done with respect to problems of vital interest to the public and in the public interest. 3. The M.C.A. should be in a position to speak for the in dustry on important questions concerning policy, parti cularly when a stand on a controversial subject is ap propriate and can be agreed upon. In open discussion the matter of cautioning the trade and the general public on substitutes was brought up as a problem during the period of critical short ages nov; facing the industry. The group concluded that any statement on ar in dustry basis should be very carefully prepared since it could easily be misin terpreted that plastics are substitutes and possibly could lead the consuming public to becoming wary of plastic articles. It was the consensus that no ac tion should be taken on this at the present time. Mention was made from the floor that the plastics industry is dependent upon a large number of small consumers or customers and that the importance of this segment of the industrial economy could be stressed in any public statements. As regards material supply, comment was also made that a statement in the name of the Association givingnthe facts on the relative proportion of materials being exported would be desiraole since many of the smaller units have a miscon ception of the amounts exported in relation to domestic consumption. CMA 078217 Plastics Group -3- Nov, 9, 1950 The Plastics Group was appreciative of Mr. Taylor's explanation of the long range program on public relations and indicated interest in cooperating in every way possible in these activities, NEW COMMITTEE MEMBER The Chairman announced that Mr. F, N. Williams, having been assigned other duties in Monsanto Chemical Co., was resigning from the Plastics Committee. He called upon Mr. Hoover to report on suggestions for a replacement. Messrs, Hoover, Landes and Rodgers had recommended that Mr. M. G, Milliken be designated Vice Chairman of the Committee and that Mr. F, A. Abbiati of Monsanto Chemical Co. be appointed a member to replace Mr. Milliken. Motion was made that this recom mendation be accepted and on being duly seconded was passed unanimously. Said r commendations will be referred to the Board in due course. MATERIALS SUPPLY PROSPECTS FOR 1951 The S.P.E. has requested Mr. Carman to speak to their group in their Annual Meeting in January, 1951, regarding materials supply prospects particularly from the standpoint of the effects of mobilization. During discussion of materials supplies, it was brought out that basic chemicals generally are now the control ling factors, that there is a high level of production at the present time, and probably ample capacity for most materials. Several representatives indicated expansion programs were underway. Following consideration of the best means of submitting a factual report to the industry and in view of the fact that this subject is of considerable impor tance, it was agreed that the Washington office should request further informa tion from each member particularly as to the expansion programs and other aspects of the supply situation that are to be reported on behalf of the industry. Sev eral commented on the need to dispel the idea that any sizable exports are being made, especially in the case of the critical materials, and the fact that a very large percentage of many basic chemicals are now required for plastics production. On further study and if found appropriate, these aspects will be incorporated in the industry report, MOBILIZATION PROGRAMS A general report was made to the members regarding N.P.A. and other agency activities on mobilization and controls. These included: 1. The N.S.U.B, recommendations for allocation procedures for chemicals, particularly to use the M-300 procedure and the inclusion of a cross-hauling provision as developed during the last war. t i 2, The threat for use of a controlled materials plan (GIF) for many basic materials. 3. The imminence of end use limitation orders on certain stra tegic materials, such as aluminum. 1 CMA 078218 Jt Plastics Group -4- Nov. 9, 1950 4. The confusion in the distribution of "DO" orders and the general tightening up of controls in several industries. 5. The recent "delegations" to permit assignment of priority ratings for equipment, such as machine tools, to assist contractors in obtaining bottleneck items for defense production. 6. The importance of benzene supply to a large cross-section of the chemical industry and the need for consumers to present requirements to N.P.A. or Interior and urge appro priate action to obtain additional sources. NET! MEMBERS The Chairman expressed appreciation to all members for the splendid attend ance by all representatives. On behalf of the Plastics Group he welcomed Messrs. L. T. Sutherland of Barrett Division, A. E. Young of Dow Chemical Co., E, S. Ebber of Naupatuck Chemical, Edwin F. James of Sylvan Plajtics, John P. Duane of Intfc'.-chemical Corporation, and X.. F, Newton of Columbia Chemical Division, Pitts burgh Plate Glass Co. NEXT MEETING The next meeting of the Plastics Group will be held January 11, 1951 at the Manhattan Club, New York City at ten-thirty in the morning. WHEREUPON, adjournment was taken at twelve noon. Respectfully submitted FHC/mw F, H. Carman SPECIAL NOTE: Messrs. V. Blakey and F. C, Rowsell of British Industrial Plastics were guests at luncheon. Distribution: All Present Plastics Group Executive Representatives and Alternates M. F. Crass, Jr. November 13, 1950 CMA 078219