Carbon black conference held.

Carbon Black World 2000, a comprehensive update of strategic market and technical developments, sponsored by Intertech, will be held November 29 - December 1 at the La Mansion del Rio Hotel in San Antonio, TX.

Intertech's sixth international carbon black event is said to provide a unique forum for carbon black producers, users and suppliers from around the world to debate strategies, assess technical advances and discuss new ways to achieve profitability and growth in the decade to come.

Today's challenge for the industry is said to be profitability. The re-emergence of OPEC is said to have created a new landscape for feedstock supply. Carbon black margins remain low, despite recent price increases and higher sales volumes, according to the sponsor.

Attendees will discover what impact these factors, coupled with e-commerce purchasing methods, could have on the long-term sales contracts coming up for renegotiation.

Participants will also learn how higher gasoline prices are affecting SUV (and tire) sales in North America, and how the trend to smaller tires in Japan will impact carbon black use.

Updates will be provided on why demand is escalating strongly in key regional markets such as Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia.

Experts from every aspect of the carbon black industry will present the status of key drivers such as feedstock supply/demand, global tire trends, threats from the green tire, the changing masterbatch industry and the impact of the e-commerce revolution.

Important advances in emissions controls, refractories, filtering and pneumatic conveying will be discussed.

This conference is designed to provide users, producers and suppliers of carbon black with a complete assessment of the global carbon black industry and new ways to minimize the effects of global turbulence on purchasing, production and marketing.

A pre-conference workshop will be held on "The fundamentals of carbon black production, handling, testing and performance." Instructed by Dr. Kenneth W. Lee of Engineered Carbons, the workshop is designed for technical, marketing and production staff who are either new to the field or who are experienced and would like to receive an update on carbon black fundamentals.

The workshop will include an in-depth review of how carbon black is produced, feedstock selection criteria, a review of all major manufacturing methods and a discussion of how formation impacts performance and properties.

Other topics to be covered during the workshop will include basics of carbon black formation, selection of feed-stocks and production methods, handling, storage and packaging, environmental, health and safety issues, physical and chemical characterization methods, and keys to performance.

A second pre-conference will be held on "Regional challenges and opportunities for the global carbon black market." Instructed by Stuart Finch of the Chemical Market Intelligence Carbon Black Monthly Report, the workshop will provide producers, end-users, suppliers and analysts with detailed insight into the current challenges and opportunities of the global carbon black market.

Attendees at this workshop will receive a thorough assessment of supply, demand, pricing, and long- and short-term trends. A detailed appraisal of the tire industry will also be provided.

As various geographic regions face complex and different challenges, the carbon black market in North and South America, Europe and Asia will be discussed individually, providing attendees with a detailed global view, building up the picture regionally. There will be ample time to pose questions, discuss strategic options and debate the conclusions.

The technical program for Carbon Black World 2000 is as follows:

Session 1 - Market outlook and assessment: "Global tends and impact on the carbon black industry," Bill Noglows, Cabot; "Future of green tires worldwide," Jean Bergh, Goodyear Tire and Rubber; and "Market outlook for carbon black in East Asia," Peter Wu, China synthetic Rubber.

Session 2 - End-user markets and applications: "Trends in international vehicle production," Dennis Byrne, University of Akron; "Progress in filler systems - challenges and opportunities," Alan McNeish, Degussa-Huls; "Development of carbon black for use in tires," Shinichi Makino, Tokai Carbon; and "The changing face of the masterbatch industry in North America," Mitch Zimmer, PenResearch Group.

Session 3 - Feedstock oils - supply/ demand balance and quality issues: "Trends in carbon black feedstock pricing," David Tauber, Tauber Oil; "Carbon black feedstock overview," Vincent Guercio, CTC International; "CBO - transportation," John C. Kennelly, Enjet; and "Upgrade FCC slurry oil with chemical settling aids," William Minyard, Nalco/Exxon Energy Chemicals.

Session 4 - New developments in carbon black handling: "Pneumatic conveying of carbon black," Juerg Zuber, Buhler AG Uzwil; and "Accurate ultra low fines conveying of carbon black," Robert Yarwood, Chronos Richardson Ltd.

Session 5 - New technologies for manufacturing and for new grades: "Mounting a new competitiveness for rubber," John Quinn, M.A. Hanna Rubber Compounding; "Plasma processing: A step towards the production of new grades of carbon black," Laurent Fulcheri, Ecole des Mines de Paris; "Increase productivity by fuel and air preheating," C.P. Natarajan, Alstom Energy Systems SHG GmbH; "Refractories for carbon black reactors - update," David Stiles, RHI Refractories America; "Increasing carbon black production rates through the use of BHA-TEX, ePTFE membrane, filter media," Mike Hammond, BHA Group; "The novel shape of carbon black products: Molded carbon black," Yutaka Fukuyama, Mitsubishi Chemical; "Effect of e-commerce on carbon black and the rubber industry," Marc Lebel, Cabot; and "Molecular carbon products for the future Fullerenes and Nanotubes," Dr. L.P. Felipe Chibante, Continental Carbon.

Session 6 - Environmental and safety considerations: "Current activities of the International Carbon Black Association," Jimmy Boyd, Engineered Carbons; "Determination and detection of possible carbon black fugitive emissions," Wesley Wamplar, Sid Richardson Carbon; and "Occupational health research in the carbon black industry," Robert McCunney, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

The conference registration fee for Carbon Black World 2000 is $1,295. Registration fees for the workshops are $395. Further information is available from Melanie Searle [phone].