Document oezwgpD15JRYyp5ojJ6EJ2QYw

TELEPHONE NATIONAL 8 - 2388 Manufacturing Chemists' Association, Inc (FOUNDED 1872) 1625 Eye Street, N.W. Washington 6, D. C. MINUTES OF MEETING PLASTICS COMMITTEE May 9, 1957 Baltusrol Club, Springfield, N, J# Presents Messrs, Absent! Messrso R, A, Hoekelman, American Cyanamid Company Do S0 Frederick, Rohm & Haas Company A. Wo Hanraer, Jr,, Hooker ELectrochemical Company Go Co Miller, Bakelite Company So Eo Palmer, Eastman Chemical Products, Inc* Go Ao Fowles (for J. C, Richards), B. F Goodrich Chemical CoD Ho Mo Parsekian (for Go Ro Vila), Naugatuck Chemical Do Lo Gibb (for Co 3, Branch), Dow Chemical Company Jo Co Garrels (for R, K, Mueller), Monsanto Chemical Company Co Wo Blount, Bakelite Company So Lo Brous, General Electric Company F,, Jo Groten, Firestone Plastics Company Eo To Handley, Firestone Plastics Company George Wash, Phillips Chemical Company Ro Lo Cammann, Allied Chemical & Dye Corporation Co Eo Hobbs, Manufacturing Chemists' Association Fo Ho Carman, Manufacturing Chemists' Association J Do Wright, Canadian Industries Limited Ao Ro Marusi, The Borden Company The meeting was called to order at 10;l5 A, M,, with Mr,, Hoekelman in the Chair* Plastics in Building Program The chairman reviewed MCA's Plastics in Building Program over the past three years which has just, culminated in employment of a full-time staff man for the Washington Office* He then reported on a special meeting he and Mr* R. K, Mueller had with some of the SPI officers and the plan for MCA member representatives who are on the SPI board to maintain liaison on this subject* The Washington office had prepared a memorandum detailing MCA's position and program in the building field which was used by Messrs, C. B, Branch and C, W* Blount in discussing this subject in a recent SPI Board Meeting# The chairman then called on Mr# Blount for a report of the discussion on this in the SPI Board Meeting last month. His report is attached hereto as Appendix Aj also attached is a brief resort from Mr. C, B, Branch supplementing that of Mr, Blount (Appendix B)# >i In discussing the building program, the Plastic Committee members stressed the importance of! (1) maintaining liaison with the SPI committee? (2) presentation correlated industry position to the public? and (3) development of a program the new staff representative o It was then pointed out-* that the procedure for 8 operation in this field was contained in job description for the staff man, (Appendix C), that material manufacturers' representatives have carried the major load of technical work in the SPI Cod Advisory Committee, that the MCA Plastics CMA 078287 Page 2 8rbup through employment of a full-time staff man was endeavoring to carry the load which has been borne by a few member representatives in the past, and that there was no intention on the part of MCA staff or MCA's Plastics in Building Code Committee to change the method of operation or of cooperation with the SPI group, Mr. Hoekelman stated that the Plastics Committee would carefully consider the recommendations made by Mr, Blount, Palletizing and Bulk Handling A special report covering nominal size and types of expendable pallets believed satisfactory for handling all types of plastic materials in bags had Just been cleared to all Plastics Group Representatives and Alternates. This resulted from a series of experimental shipments carried on by a seven-man task group on pallet izing. Their recommendations are to be considered by the Chemical Packaging Committee and it is hoped that this information can be supplied to interested producers of pallets through their association, and to the ASA,* it may be proposed that the latter consider this for development of a commercial standard. This same task group has studied bulk handling procedures in expendable con tainers for quantities up to 2000 lbs. and will meet later in May to consider various procedures used for large bulk handling of plastics materials with the view of deter mining economical procedures. Plastics Institute W Through correspondence to one or more members and verbal reports, it was learned the Society of the Plastics Engineers is studying the feasibility of establishing a Plastics Institute, A special Institute Executive Committee of the SPE has been established with a number of sub-committees proposed to study the problem and come up with a firm report for the society to consider and act upon. One or more MCA members have been asked to serve on such committees. Generally, the SPE is considering the type of group interest there would be for an Institute to handle primary research, for research and development, for educa tion, as a center of information, etc. It was the general consensus of those present that there is little need for such an Institute at this time, the plastics industry as individual companies carries on such fundamental research, and that activities of this nature have been carefully avoided in any of the research sponsored by the group. Technical Data Book Complimentary distribution of about 3000 copies of the new edition has now been completed to a consolidated mailing list compiled frcm lists supplied by the members A section on the forthcoming MCA annual report covering this program was read to those present. International Standards Organization/TC 6l This ISO group, an affiliate of the ASTM and the ASA, is planning a meeting in fche U. S. in 1958 and has asked for financial support from SPI, ASTM, NEMA, SPE and KCA to cover expense of entertaining foreign visitors*. Wie have been assured there will be a limited number of American delegates to this meeting and it is anticipated that, of the total funds, less than 2$% will be for these delegates. CMA 078288 Page 3 Funds are required for a dinner, reception, one luncheon, and bus transportation for the foreign guests. The committee has asked for funds up to $2500. from MCA, Ibis, together with contributions fro* other associations, seemed quite high and it was the general consensus that $1000. from MCA should be [Sufficient, Following a discussion, it was agreed that the plastics group would tie disposed to go along with support necessary to carry on this program and that the ISO committee be re quested to advise the Association the actual amount of fu,nds required. Since this meeting will not be held until November 1958, this financing will not be included in next year's financial package. i, Financial Package Estimated expenses and tentative budget for 1957-58'r reported as followst Budget 1956-57 Actual 1956-57 Proposed 1957-58 MIT Research Project............ Plastics in Buxlding Memberships-Bldg. Conferences.,, Technical Data Book.................. Miscellaneous............. . ISO/TC 61 Fund.................. $25,000. 25,000. 750. 3,000. -- $53,750." $25,000. 200. 250. 3,500. 80. - $29,030. $25,000, 25,000, 750, 1,000, - 2,500 $5U,25o" Income............... Surplus 6/l/56oo,,ooo.ooo....... Total Plastics Pkg. Less Estimated Costs..o.oe.oo... Surplus 6/l/57. $50,1*03. U,6o6. $55/6097 29,030. $25,979. Assessments in 1956-57 were -- $350. minimum and $U0O0. maximum. Same assessirents in 1957-58 should provide $50,000. and surplus should be* June 1, 1958 - $25,979. 50,000. $75,57$. 5U,250. $21,7$9. If assessments are 75$ of last year, colledtions should be $37,500., and this should leave a surplus of $9,229* as of June 1, 1958. Only limited expenses for plastics in building were incurred during this fiscal year. Since this program is just getting under way, it is very difficult to estimate the funds required and the Committee was therefore asked to consider a financial pack- age and assessments similar to that for the current year. It was agreed this subject should be acted upon by the Committee immediately prior to the annual meeting of the Association, June 6th. No final decision was made on funds that should be recommended for the building program although it was gested that all such activites be reported as one figure in the new budget. l i. * r* -j i j : CMA 078289 Nominating Committee U The chairman then called attention to the rotation plan for Committee Manbers And that the two-year terms of Messrs. A. W. Hanmer, Jr., S. E. Palmer, J. C. Richards and J. D. Wright will have been completed June 1st, 1957. He also reported Mr. H. R. Hinges has resigned from the committee since he is no longer in this field for Spencer Chemical. For nominations for five new members (one of whom should be a representative from a Canadian company), the chairman appointed a nominating committee consisting of D. S. Frederick, Chairman, J. C. Richards and A. W. Hanmer, Jr. The Washington Office will supply this committee with information on committee membership over the past five years and other pertinent information regarding plastic group repre sentatives. The meeting adjourned at 11:30 A. M. Respectfully submitted, :C:cbm F. H. Caiman t CMA 078290 Appendix A The President of SPI, Mr. N. Anderson, asked for a report from Mr. Cruse on his meeting with representatives of MCA which consisted of Boh Hoekelman art Bob Mueller. Mr. Cruse reported that he had a very nice discussion with tie above two gentlemen and it was agreed to maintain close liaison between the oork MCA is doing and SPI. The opinion was expressed in comments from other wbers of the Board that it seemed a shame to duplicate the expense and effort. However, it appeared to be the consensus that the fabricating division, which ia tie SPI, must work very closely on any housing uses of plastics since fabrica ting is just as important as the materials themselves. The MCA members present were then asked for their comments. Mr. Branch of the Dow Chemical Coupany stated in substance that MCA's problems are some what different from SPI and that in such an important potential business as ^presented by the building industry, MCA felt it must have its own represen tation to the various sectors. . He pointed out that not only plastics are imolved in building but also chemicals as such in many of the components of the building structure. He emphasized the desire of MCA to maintain active liaison with SPI and that certainly we should present matters concerning plas tics to the various housing authorities including those who prepared codes orly after consulting each other. Mr. Blount pointed out that even on plastics were was a need for a committee within MCA because at times there have been disagreements concerning the suitability of specific families of plastics for certain end uses. Further, that whether it is a fabricator or raw material producer there is a great tendency from a point of view of selfishness to sug- specifications that give preference to one basic plastic material as to another. Where such differences of opinion exist, it is better to reach agreement within the Plastics Committee of MCA through its own represen tation rather than through a group which involves the fabricators. Mr. Blount also suggested that where practical the same raw material people who have the privilege of serving on the SPI committee should be the representative on the MCA committee. Mr. Branch indicated that this would not *. all times be practical. In reporting to the MCA Plastics Committee the following are Mr. Blount's spinions-- 1. There is a strong feeling in SPI to cooperate with MCA. Such feeling that existed of lack of confidence has to a great extent been eliminated. 2. That from here on actions to maintain close liaison and under standing between the MCA representative with his advisory com mittee and the SPI representative consultant, Harold Perrine, with his advisory committee must be as close as the words already have indicated they would be. Appendix APage 2 3. Whenever the MCA Advisory Committee meets with its representative> minutes of the meeting should be kept and copies in duplicate for warded to Mr. W. T. Cruse, Executive Vice President of SPI. It is my belief that he would forward one copy to Mr. Harold Perrine, Professional Consultant, who is a member of the committee. If. While I am not entirely familiar with the activites that are proposed for the MCA Advisory Committee and its professional representative I recommend that they establish objectives for the committee. The Code Advisory Committee of SPI has set up the following objectives-- 1. To give reliable data on plastics. 2. To encourage the development of voluntary standards and their use where they exist. 3. To make available to code authorities information and advise on plastics and plastics products where requested* If. To foster strict compliance with building codes in the interest of public safety. S- To the end that plastics shall take their proper place as materials of construction. The most controversial point is Objective #1 - "To give reliable data on -Ustics". From what I could learn all such data has been obtained from the .oratories of the raw material manufacturers. Since in the main, those plastics '.'jidered for structures are reinforced, the technique of fabrication and design -ences the properties of the finished part. We must be in agreement with the when we submit data. There are eight representatives of plastic resin pro--ers on the SPI committee and two representatives of producers of glass fibers "* " > total of twenty-two. CMA 078292 From: The Dow Chemical Company Midland, Michigan Tot Mr. Frank H. Caiman Manufacturing Chemists Association, Inc. 1625 Eye Street N. W. Washington 6, D, C. Date: May 7, 1957 Appendix B Dear Frank? It the last S.P.I. Board Meeting I read your summary on the MCA Building Codes Activities, The S.P.I. Board was quite alarmed that this would be a competitive activity to their own building code work and would result in two different industry stor ies being presented to Code Officials. This has happened before, as you know, r.d they are very concerned about the possibility of confusion. * emphasized strongly that this was not to be the case and re-read your para graphs several times which point out that this is to be a cooperative activity with the S.P.I, A-'ter seeing the alarm of these S.P.I. Board Manbers, I feel that we should be ry careful to do nothing that will result in statements contradictory to that the S.P.I. in negotiating with any code group. In particular, I believe *-.at you should make sure that these activities are coordinated with the S.P.I. :o-de people. Very truly yours. C. B. Branch, Manager Plastics Department CMA 078293