DSM TPEs concludes strategic alliance in Japan.

DSM Thermoplastic Elastomers, a business unit of DSM Elastomers, Sittard, the Netherlands, has concluded a strategic market development alliance for its Sarlink thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs) in Japan with Toyobo Co. Ltd. Toyobo, a supplier of engineered plastics and thermoplastic elastomers to the automotive industry, will support the marketing and application development of Sarlink in Japan.

Continental has signed a contract with Buhler for the production plant it has acquired from Matador in the Slovakian town of Puchov. Buhler will supply an installation for the handling of beaded carbon black for the production of tires. The system's handling capacity is about 20 metric tons per hour across a conveying distance totaling 150 meters.

Dow Chemical, Midland, MI, in conjunction with Maxxim Medical, will supply Intacta performance polymers for use in the manufacture and sale of Maxxim's SensiCare Advantix exam/dental glove in North America. SensiCare Advantix has been developed by Maxxim and Dow in response to market demand for a cost-effective exam/dental glove that eliminates exposure of healthcare practitioners and patients to allergens transmitted from proteins and chemical accelerators commonly found in natural rubber latex and some synthetic rubber gloves.

DuPont Packaging and Industrial Polymers, Wilmington, DE, announced a long-term agreement by which Millennium Petrochemicals will purchase vinyl acetate monomer (VAM) produced at DuPont's LaPorte, TX plant, beginning January 1,2001. The agreement covers all VAM produced by DuPont at LaPorte, excluding VAM used by DuPont for internal consumption.

Vernay Europa and Polycomp signed a strategic cooperative agreement concerning the development and production of rubber compounds. Vernay Europa of Oldenzaal, the Netherlands, is a producer of technically complex precision parts from elastomers, on a variety of substrates, for high quality applications. Polycomp in Vorden, the Netherlands, develops and produces compounds in all the elastomers available for a wide range of applications.

Dunleary, Towson, MD, a specialty chemical distribution company, has been awarded exclusive representation of the Mississippi Lime precipitated calcium carbonate product line. Dunleary will be responsible for sales in nine states throughout its geographical area which covers the middle Atlantic and southeastern regions.

Bridegestone/Firestone Truck Tires Sales, a division of Bridgestone/Firestone, Nashville, TN, in cooperation with Dell Computer, has created the Bridgestone Firestone Truck Tires Technology Purchase Program. This strategic relationship is said to provide Bridgestone/Firestone business customers easy access to the tools and technology necessary to enhance their business operations.

The Extrusion Business Unit of HPM, Mt. Gilead, OH, has become the exclusive North American supplier of the APV Baker Perkins line of 19 mm and 24 mm laboratory size compounders and 30 mm through 160 mm production size twin screw compounders with barrel lengths from 15 to 40 L/D in 5 L/D increments. The new line will be marketed under the Prodex APV name. In an exclusive agreement with the compounders' designers, APV Baker of Straffordshire, U.K., HPM will produce the MP and AC series of high and low shear thermoplastic compounding machines, adding American electronics and other components for exacting process requirements for North American customers and selling them through the company's network of sales personnel.

Dunlop Enerka Belting, Farington, U.K., has supplied a steel cord conveyor belt to the mine complex at Selby in North Yorkshire operated by RJB Mining plc.

Pennsylvania College of Technology's Plastics Manufacturing Center, a Pennsylvania State University affiliate in Williamsport, PA, has equipped its plastic research and education facility with a Model 500 cutter/puller system provided by G.F. Goodman & Son, Ivyland, PA.

Goodyear Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela, has formed an alliance with Covencaucho, the country's largest national independent retreading manufacturer. The alliance will offer Goodyear's Venezuela dealers a new commercial activity (retreaded tires), and offers Covencaucho the opportunity to partner with Goodyear.

Quality registrations

Biltrite Industries, Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada, has been approved for A2LA laboratory accreditation by the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation in the mechanical field of testing rubber compounds.

Blair Rubber, Akron, OH, designers and manufacturers of corrosive resistant tank linings, belt splice and other rubber materials, has been certified to the ISO 9001, 1994 international quality system standard by Smithers Quality Assessments.

Glassven C.A.'s precipitated silicas plant in Barquisimeto City, Venezuela has achieved ISO 9001 certification from Bureau Veritas Q.I.

Ingersoll-Rand's waterjet cutting systems business unit, Baxter Springs, KS, has received ISO 9001 certification from TUV Certification.

Vredestein Rubber Resources B.V., Maastricht, Holland, has received ISO 14001 certification.