Lord enters licensing agreement

DETROIT (March 9)—Lord Corp. is expanding its line of water-based coatings for automotive weatherstripping through a new licensing agreement with a Canadian firm. The Cary, N.C.-based Lord´s pact with G.B.I.E. Inc. of Amherstburg, Ontario, took effect in January. The deal allows Lord to use G.B.I.E.´s proprietary technology and integrate it into its Autoseal-brand of coatings for interior and exterior weatherstrip applications, the company said. The additions to the Autoseal line, which includes adhesives, present a significant opportunity for growth in a niche business, said Robert J. Dixon, automotive market manager for Lord´s Chemical Products Division. He talked about the deal at the Society of Automotive Engineers World Congress in Detroit.