Degussa settles with EPA over alleged violations
Degussa Engineered Carbons L.P. has agreed to pay $350,000 to settle alleged federal clean air violations at its carbon black plant in Belpre, Ohio.
The pact includes a $105,000 fine and a $245,000 environmental project. It resolves Environmental Protection Agency allegations that the company used raw materials with a higher sulphur content and released more sulphur dioxide than its permit allowed.
As part of the deal, Degussa will replace domestic wood stoves installed in the area prior to 1988 with new, clean-burning EPA-certified wood stoves, or natural gas stoves, in low-income households by June 1, 2007. Homes in Washington County, Ohio, will have priority.
Kumho joins tire, rubber industry consortium
Kumho Tire Co. Inc. has joined the Tire and Rubber Industry Consortium as the 10th member-owner, according to RubberNetwork L.L.C.
South Korea-based Kumho joins Continental A.G., Cooper Tire & Rubber Co., Goodyear, Hankook Tire Co. Ltd., Michelin, Pirelli & C. S.p.A., Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd., Toyo Tire & Rubber Co. and Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. in the consortium.
The consortium said it extends the collective resources of the participants to facilitate change. The group claims that through strategic sourcing and supply chain management, it delivers ``reduced costs, increased efficiencies and opportunities for relevant benchmarking and knowledge sharing.''
Cooper-Standard acquires fluid handling systems unit
Cooper-Standard Automotive Inc. has completed the acquisition of the fluid handling systems business of ITT Industries Inc. in a transaction valued at about $205 million.
The purchase-announced in December-enhances Cooper-Standard's offering of steel and plastic tubing for fuel and brake lines and quick-connects, and enables the company to provide customers with a more complete line of fluid management solutions for new vehicle platforms.
``This acquisition is another important step for us in our continuing and strategic efforts to lead the industry with a broad range of products that meet the growing needs of our global customers,'' said Jim McElya, president and CEO, Cooper-Standard Automotive.
RPM subsidiary buys Tamms Industries Inc.
Euclid Chemical Co., a subsidiary of RPM International Inc., has purchased Tamms Industries Inc., a manufacturer of high-performance restoration, protection and waterproofing products for various segments of the concrete construction industry.
The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Tamms, headquartered in Kirkland, Ill., has annual sales of about $20 million and is expected to be accretive to earnings within the year, RPM reported.
Euclid Chemical, based in Cleveland, is part of RPM's Tremco Group and an industry-leading provider of concrete and masonry construction products.
Registration Web site for IISRP meeting online
The International Institute of Synthetic Rubber Producers has launched its registration Web site for its 47th annual general meeting in Barcelona, Spain.
To register for the May 15-18 event, go to www.iisrp.com. The site also has information about the meeting, including the business program, and a description of Barcelona.
Lord changes division name to MR Solutions
Lord Corp. has changed the name of its Materials Business unit to MR Solutions to better reflect the expanded scope and diversity of technologies offered by the company.
The firm is a supplier of commercial magnetorheological (MR) fluid, devices and systems. ``Our name dates back to an earlier mission encompassing all `smart' materials, but it doesn't accurately describe our vast offerings and application of magnetics for mechanical vibration and motion control,'' said Jim Toscano, manager of global sales and marketing for the business unit.