Carbon Black World 2004 held.

Carbon Black World 2004, Intertech's eighth international business development conference, will be held November 15-18 at the Westin Galleria Hotel in Houston, TX.

This event is said to provide a forum for producers, users, feedstock suppliers and providers of support equipment to engage in a comprehensive examination of the global carbon black industry.

The tire market and centers of tire production dictate the geographic distribution of carbon black demand, which is resulting in a migration of production to the east, according to Intertech. Oil prices swelled from less than $25 a barrel in June of 2002 to over $40 at the end of May 2004, fueled by the crisis in the Middle East, the U.S. economic recovery and China's increasing appetite for all raw materials, according to the sponsor. This is said to have put pressure on carbon black suppliers, margins and resulted in sustained increased prices.

Attendees of Carbon Black World 2004 will receive a complete briefing on market trends by region and sector, new technologies, international regulatory issues and technical trends in major end-use markets such as tires, industrial rubbers and others.

Participants are said to receive it balanced view of where carbon black is heading and where new business opportunities are developing. A thorough global assessment will be made, according to organizers, complete with ideas on how the industry can continue to develop new products, processes and equipment to cut production costs.

On Monday, November 15, a preconference seminar will be held on, "Health and safety considerations for carbon black." Instructors Henry J. Muranko of Muranko & Associates and Robert J. McCunney of Cabot, both of whom also serve as scientific leaders in the International Carbon Black Association's Scientific Advisory Group, will lead discussions on current health and safety topics intended to enhance the working knowledge of handling practices, operational design, maintenance, training and emergency response associated with the manufacture and use of carbon black.

This workshop will instruct participants on developing a clear understanding of the current health implications of carbon black exposure. Producers and users will learn about new or pending national and international developments likely to influence regulatory trends for carbon black during the next five years.

Specific topics will include findings from recent mortality, morbidity toxicology and workplace exposure assessment studies: implications of new personal sampling methods for the evaluation of worker exposures: workplace particle size characterization studies: and the absorption of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by carbon blacks.

Personnel responsible for the management of production, plant operations, marketing and sales, purchasing and research and development will learn about the current status of human health and animal toxicological studies associated with exposure to carbon black and the different exposure assessment methodologies associated with carbon black industrial hygiene monitoring.

Consequently, these personnel will be able to communicate the current status of carbon black health and safety regulations and research to management and workers, according to the sponsor.

A second pre-conference seminar, "The world tire market in the next five years: Are happy days here again?" will be held on Monday, November 15. Instructor Dr. Dennis M. Byrne of the University of Akron will examine how the tire industry has experienced chronic excess capacity over the last 30 years, leading to atavistic competition, and consequently anemic profitability.

Byrne will discuss the two factors driving the industry. First, the world economy, especially the U.S. economy, is entering a period of recovery that should lead to an increase in both vehicle and tires sales. This increase will positively impact the original equipment and replacement segments of the tire market, according to conference organizers.

The second factor involves a long-term structural change in both sales and manufacturing, i.e., the movement of production to the Far East, especially China. The growth of the Chinese vehicle market and the use of China as a production platform for export sales throughout the world will have a major impact on the tire industry in the foreseeable future, according to the sponsor. This seminar will examine the impact of the changing economic and competitive climate on the tire industry for the immediate to near future.

Session 1 on "Market outlook and assessment," will include the following presentations: "Carbon black and the global economy--where do we go from here?" Steve Bayless, Continental Carbon: "Carbon black capacity requirements," Paul Ita, Notch consulting Group: "Carbon black usage trends in passenger car tires," Dave Schwarz, Smithers Scientific Services; and "Current activities of the International Carbon Black Association," Dr. Harry G. Moore, Cabot.

Session 2 on "Carbon black feedstock overview and roundtable," will include the following presentations: "Carbon black feedstock overview." Vincent J. Guercio, CTC International; "The role of the gulf coast carbon black feedstock supplier," David W. Tauber, Tauber Oil; "The challenge of feedstock procurement in Asia," Sudhir Sahgal, Phillips Carbon Black Ltd.; "Carbon black feedstock oil storage and handling," Willis K. Rossler, Houston Fuel Oil Terminal: "The role of the independent inspection company," Ed Wrzesniewski, Intertek Caleb Brett; and "Carbon black feedstock roundtable discussion," Vincent J. Guercio, CTC International; Irv Grayson. Glencore Ltd.; John Kennelly and Tim Mercier, Enjet; Willis K. Rossler, Houston Fuel Oil Terminal; Sudhir Sahgal, Phillips Carbon Black Ltd.; David W. Tauber, Tauber Oil; and Ed Wrzesniewski, Intertek Caleb Brett.

Session 3 on "Developing technologies and technical trends," will include the following presentations: "Phase transfer catalysis process: A new flexible and efficient route for the commercial production of sulfidosilanes," Shawn K. Mealey, Dow Corning; "Improved test for determination of carbon black structure," Wesley Wampler, Sid Richardson Carbon; "Carbon black surface chemistry and its effects on water-based dispersion stability," Lisa Hahn, Flexo Tech; "Current advances and innovations in black pigmented polypropylene for high temperature environments," Joseph R. Webster, Stabilization Technologies, LLC; and "New conductive carbon black," Takeshi Hattori, Mitsubishi Chemical.

Session 4 on "Carbon black processing, handling and safety considerations," will include the following presentations: "Review of recent health studies in the carbon black industry," Dr. Robert McCunney, MIT; "Energy recovery in the carbon black industry quench coolers, 900[degrees]C air preheaters and beyond," Greg Homoki, Alstom Power; "New economical refractory for carbon black reactors--an update," Kevin Paskale, Saint Gobain Industrial Ceramics; "Optimization of dust collectors in the manufacturing processes of carbon black," Ole Petzoldt, W.L. Gore & Associates: "Advances in filtration for the carbon black industry," Marc Moreano and Kane Springer, BHA Group; "How to benefit from dust monitoring," Volker Schmitz, PCME Ltd.; and Reliable level measurement of carbon black," Russ Carlson, SOR.

Registration for Carbon Black World 2004 costs $1,295. Further information is available from Ralph Jessie [phone].