Document ppQvB3wZLRyx7n0ZyqgO1YGnD

A mark*tnew fastiscope 3 E Retttfreflect* processors* worries about VCM standards 'n i concent over the osha Man* *f T<*\k Substance*. who called the pp.m. According to Mr. Dow rick, mc*+ netting hw exposure kick for vcm v< m rulm" the "tip of the lu-lvrj* I lc plants in Western Europe already are [fiitb* workplace was forcefully demon- made il ilar Ihjt hi* agents Kilt ] under these levels. when nearly 1000 manufac- dress iim. II lit mam problem* .owici.iivd What to do? The Rctcc was not all ^VKfi. procciton, ami fabricators with ulruv? of chemical* in ihc atmo Sturm t$nJ brunt Much of the time waa 'turned' vat fur a Keytonal Technical sphere-problem* which arc expected In deviated to hard data on how manufac ^Cmfcranca |Rmi on "VCM-The Pro- grow in number, seventy, and coniplcx- turers and proto-sore can hope tn oper Ferspectivc." The event w ity in live years ahead. ate under omia standards. Discussions ^WMWdcad by the Society of Plastics Em According to Mr. Schwcii/er. EfA't reviewed p\c and vi m manufacturing ^ttn ami held ia New York Oct. 31 plans include establishing a standard processes and related them to worker EMdNpv.1. for monomer and polymer pl-inis. based exposure, described methods for min fAttendees heard representative* of on best available control technology, imizing such worker exposure (ventila ty and government alternately at* that is intended to cl : emissions by 75% tion. respirators, etc.), and covered ways ;"tart and defend oshVs new standard in resin plants and Wfi in monomer to measure ihc amount of vcm in indus tIha( Bmits VCM exposure hy workers to plants. Ihc standard is upalcd to trial atmospheres. jt|UN. in an S-hf. day. and 5 pp.m. in come out ir. about a year, with all com In discussing compounding tech nr 15-min. period. The regf* tion goes pliance required three years after publi niques to minimize monomer content in rkm effect Jan. I. unless industry court cation. Larlv csii.k.jies ind'.atc that wc formulation. Dr. Wolfgang Mack of 'action for judicial review, and a stay, such a standard could cause 4% price Werner A Pfleideref Corp. suggested , prove* successful (see Nov. Mr. p. 20). Industry'! position. In hit keynote rise for rvc-over and above price in creases mandated by other regulations. that the ps wder Mending stage repre sents the best and easiest opportunity, address, Richard Fleming. vp.. Air The agency also is investigating vcm's within the *imits of current processing ; Prodacts A Chemicals Co.'* Chemical Group, totted three main objections to behavior in water, presumably with a view to limiting the effluents discharged equipment. Tot processors to cut vcm content in resin. Accordin* n IV the OSH/ standard: I) the low tevei '*!? r**crc zzi <i it* migration Mack, equipment now is available for -s CSttcO h r nave not been demonstrated from rvc products--pipes, liners, etc.-- the efficient snd economical removal of as necessary so assart worker health: 2) | there is no known technology at present Ito reduce, concentrations in vcm and frvc plants to required levels: and 3) a used in drinking water reservoirs and transport netems. Speaking for the Food A Drug Ad ministration. Gerard L. McCowin of vcm at this stage. Still in the future, though, is e piipment to prevent escape of exhaust g ises into the atmosphere. A concur ent exhibition highlighted ' lorn of some 2.2 million jobs, and as the Food and Color Additives Dtv. con equipment now on the market for de 1 much as 590 billion off the cnp can be centrated on the migration problem. tecting vcm in plant atmospheres, and ecxtrapolaied if rvc and vcm producers Conceding that much still is not known protective e luipmcnt for workers. De 'art forced to shut down through failure about the safety of food exposed to tection equipment ranged from simple to meet the standards. vcm. or if vcm is carcinogenic when in and relativt lv inexpensive gas chro * Mr. Fleming called instead for adop gested. Mr. McCow-in advised that rA matographs to sophisticated computer- tion cf the industry's own plan fas set nevertheless is planning some hmita- controlled instruments capable of moni forth by the sn) which calls for phased lions--possibly 10 p.p m -on residual toring 16 work places. reduction, over a three-year period, to 5 vcm in focwJ-coniact products. Respirators made up the bulk of pro p.pja. set vcm plants and 10 p.p.m. in European developments. Tight tection devices, although both industry rvc plants by the third year. His conclu ening of exposure levels overseas--in and gox'ernment spokesmen agree that sion: "Unless prompt relief from the Sweden. Norway. The Netherlands. and use of respirators A only a temporary Oew OSHA standard is obtained, there Gcrmanv to date-seemingly will dose measure tn brine ci-mpanie* into imme 49 be severe dislocation* within the off the alternative of expansion abroad diate compliance with the OSHA stan- PVC Industry which win have a *ub*tan- for Ihmc L' S prdwvrrs unable to meet dard, until permanent plant upgrading . rial economic impact on our society." ' . Government view. Since Ostia now standards here. David J Dnwncl. plas tics market mgr for fr;ljnJ'i Imperial n accomplished. Summing up. Rilled as "the most r^Md* Itself having to defend its ruling in Chemical Industries, told the Rcn-c au imrwtani Ketec ever sponsored hv ^bourt. the agency didn't provide * dience that \i*rw.n. after tirt wiling vi." this :wtd;iy session nevertheless 4 .speaker at the Retcc hut did participate VCM standard->f J^ppm. then went l.fi unanswered quotums Much, of ,`in a telephone question-and-answer *cv |sbn from Washington. However, ovm muyh lunhcf and -topped all fni pro duction in that unjntrv pcndin* fmthef course, will depend on ihc outcome of c.-uft avtions brought bs xh and indus ttpmsmhtu dtxrl ed to divctts* deci study. Sweden * new regulation limiting try member* (which the Industrial sion-making processes or rationale be exposure lu I ppm riportcdl* has l men Dept of Al l./C'IO ihw has en hind the standard. Caused the is'timrs'* onls vsi producer, tered on the government's sidcl. No Much of the slack was taken up hy KemaNtird. to ilose down Other Lurt*- matter wtiai the o>urt decides. however. llenn F. Schwcitm, director of the tnwiunnicnul Pnacu** Agency's OfTke pean countries have of arc .iKiul to is sue standard* ranging from 25 to 50 ii essential qurstHHi* still will have to be rewdsvd in the luiure; H ill il he pos U<! 104 ." tmortem Piastres. December 1074 4^ 1.B RSV 00066*6 &S. '.>V4 . i-urfs : 'f!| . :-4v| irfi** I. lastlicdp 3 : ^jHe lo achieve a balance bet* ecn ihc ^iwml for worker protection and the 'equally inpiftiMil need to keep an induMry'aliv*? And. when all i> *T.J and litie.` will f\r be available at a pfivc priimwrecan afford? Business & Industry More Mtiyiltn oversea* News from overseas continues to em phasize more expansions and some new ventures, as it has throughout the year (Nov, Mf. p. 138). In Japan. Mitsui Pc- tnwhemical Industries will udd a new 2*r` ?:.* petrochemical Works, where complex to iis Chiha Mitsui and Nippon Pe trochemicals Co. jointly will build a 400.000 tons/yr. ethylene plant. fn an otherjoint venture. Mitsui and Du Pont Co. will huild new- faeilmes at Chiba for U: ` .V"^- hifh density polvethylcn; (135.000 tons/yr.). low density ft (30.000 tons/yr.). and polypropylene (100.000 lons/yr.k September 1976 is the target date for the ethylene and hope plants, and July 1977 foe the fr facility. European developments are several and varied. A 25? expansion is planned for NL Industries* titanium pigment op- eraied by NL*s Kronot Titan A/S sub sidiary). In a cooperative venture. Italy's SN1A Viscosa and Ferro Corp.'s Dutch subsidiary wilt produce and market gel coats in Italy. This operation will use 5N1A Vbcosa's polyesiers and Ferro's colorants and compounds. Also in Europe, there is word that Conoco. British Steel Corp.. and Eng land's National Coal Board mav join to build an ethylene plant at feesstde. where much of British petrochemical fyp- activity h centered. The ethylene cracker would hare a capacity of about 500.000 lons/XT. when completed in 197* or 1979. * As part of an expansion program be gun at the start of this year. ATO Chimie h building a rt plant at Confreville. France. The plant which marks the company's first venture into the it market win have 70.000 tons/yr. tapacits when H comes on stream at the end of 1976. ATO Chimie will use Dart In dustries processing technology. The company's expansion plans also include an increase *f cltulcnc capacity at Gonfrvxille to CiiO.nnu n*n/yr. m 1976. anJ a new I50.tt00 ums/vr. ben/vne favthtv w hwh w ill he opcratKinal in early |975 t-mntsh it>rt production will he hewied by aboul SS.UtXi tons/yr. early in 1976 when Pckcma Or completes ex- '.it. tot paiiMon of it' plant at Punw. raising c.ip.icitv from its present 95.1X1) to l5tMXX tons \r. I'ckcnu uses National Distillers A (heiiucal Corp. technology, Sumitomo Chemical Co. and C. Itoh A Co. (both Japan) have joined with Brazil's state-owned Pciroquisa to form Politeno-liuliistria e Comereio SA. Which Will build a inO.UOO tonv/vr. LOPE plant in ihc tjic of Bahia. Production is scheduled to start in 1977. And Japan's Sckisut Chemical Co. reportedly is un dertaking to market its cro'dinked PE Toam in ltal\. sia a joml venture with Montedison SpY Resin swap plan The Organization of Plastics Processors tfOPP) has started a program whereby members can arrange to share surplus molding compounds. Companies are asked to list umccdcd compounds which thes -'fe v ilhn* to exchange or sell t.or no more th.n 2c/1b. over list price) in a semimonthly "swap sheet." The program, which TOPP hopes will help . Deviate allocation and "black marko" problem*, wilt be coordinated by L.J. Griffith. Sunset Plastic Products. Lenexa. Kan. Scott drops cups Dcclan te that rapidly escalating prices for raw materials had adversely affected its coi ipefilive marketing position. Scott P per Co. is withdrawing from the paper nJ plastic cup business Its $10 milhon/yr. cup operation at Eddvstone. Pa., wi I be phased out. However, other foam i ivision operations at that plant will cot imue. System for PS disposable foodwere Sweetheart Plastics Inc. has introduced the Sweetheart Serving System, a method for keeping food w arm during transit from central kitchen lo institu tional patrons It ts said lo offer ad**anfaces beyond those traditionally associ ated with disposability--w-hich some indu'trv observers think may not always offset rising materials costs I see June Mb. p. 50). Moreover, the company's initial push is in hospital fix'd service. a market which svstem inventor anJ Sweetheart's exee. vp. George Shumr.k call* "ok**' revC'Vioft-pr,^'l." It' |9xn. he '.,id. dispi-sablc* penctr.iiK-n could re.ich *0? of Ihi' market. The sxstc-m consists of a scif-powcrcd cart-ca'ilv mosed bs one person-with 20 cnmp.inroe-'x for enrineerms-plaxiic iravx holdmc dinnerwjrc. Two sepa rate controls for each compartment' regulate individual tray heating units-- ., one for a mam-cuurc dish and cncfoc a soup bowl. Result is meals "served at the exact temperature the chef intended regardless of how long it takes U> traits* port the meal from the central kitchen.** Lateral heal transfer discs ru>t tike place. o that butter, for example, will not melt if placed next to hot soup. * Locating rings in the trays were de signed to tn Sweetheart's Copley Square' line of PS dinnerware. Trays, designed for complete enclosure of heating units to allow washing in institutional dish washers. are molded of Noryl pheny- lenc oxide-based resin supplied by Genera) Electric. Plant add^tn: good sign (or polyester Mm Cdanexe Plastics Co. plans a 50% ex pansion of its Celanar polyester film plant at Greer. S.C. by cmf-1976. and its reasons for the action support earlier indications of improving economics and healthy long-term growth for the poly ester film industry (Sepc mp. p. *0). Overcapacity has ended. *xid Cdanese executive.sl.atparmid-Octobte. r anj- out throagh 1976. and open capacity from 1977 through 1983 should not ex ceed II?. Film market prices will con tinue their upward movement though not as steeply, uniil 1977. when a level-. ine-off is expected. During the rtext 10 years, the 0.5. merchant mafket will grow "at a conservative rate of 115% for traditional applications, and 13.5% with the prospects of new applications presently in development" Overseas markets, meanwhile, have opened up to Cclanetc as a result of expiration of "key competitive patents" during the past two years. The company expects its international sales to grow from 15 to 25? of total Celanar sales between 1975 and 1977. The U.S. merchant market for poly ester lilm (estimated by several sources at 53.000 metric ions) is divided by Celanrvc as follows: magnetic tape. 25?; photobasc/rcprographics. 19?; electrical. IT?; packaging. 13?; metalli/mg/roll leaf. 9?; and miscellaneous, P?. A' for new end U'ev Estimated 19X0 merchant market potential for polyc'ler him in the flexible can (retort p> Midi 11> 4Imo metric ton*; home video, ?M<t); micr,-publishing. 2300; wall cov. efinev 2Vt; and substitution in pack aging. 6V00. A substantial portion of the new 1' Modern Plastics, December 1974 Cc% tor t* reeow units ; RSV 0006647