Uniroyal Chemical forms business development group.

Uniroyal Chemical, Middlebury, CT, has formed a business development group as part of the company's ongoing commitment to the rubber industry. This group will be part of the Chemicals & Polymers Division, and will be responsible for accelerating the division's growth over the next five years in two ways, including acquiring core and synergistic products and technologies, and accelerating market development and introduction of the group's newly-developed products. Uniroyal Chemical products which will be transferred to this group from several existing businesses include Durazone 37, Benzyl Tuex and Bonding Agent TZ rubber chemicals, Royaltherm silicone-modified EPDM, Adiprene/Vibrathane solid polyurethanes and Trilene liquid polymers for rubber applications.

The Chemical Products Division of Lord Corp., Cary, NC, has purchased par Oberflachenchemie GmbH of Hucklehoven-Baal, Germany. A manufacturer and marketer of adhesives and coatings, par will operate as an independent company under its current management.

Goodyear Tire & Rubber, Akron, OH, announced a $12 million radial tire expansion at its Canadian tire plant in Napanee, Ontario. Goodyear also announced plans to more than double the size of the U.S. winter tire market from 8 million to 20 million tires. The company wants North America to emulate Europe, where winter tires represent more than 25 million tires. Plans are to grow Goodyear's market share by 25% in the next winter season and double it in the next three years with innovative tires that provide traction in all kinds of winter weather, according to the company.

Bayer AG, Leverkusen, Germany, and DSM, Heerlen, the Netherlands, have reached an agreement under which Bayer will acquire DSM's global transparent sheet business, which produces and sells transparent polycarbonate and polyester sheet for use in building and construction, communication and industrial markets. The transparent sheet business, which forms part of DSM Engineering Plastic Products, has annual sales of $140 million and employs about 300 people. The business is comprised of two operating units: Axxis N.V., based in Tielt, Belgium and DSM Sheffield Plastics, based in Sheffield, MA. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Gold Key Processing, Ltd., Middlefield, OH, has opened for business in a 36,000 square foot facility, offering customers throughout the United States an alternative source for black, custom rubber compound mixing.

Continental General Tire will upgrade production capacity at its Mt. Vernon, IL radial truck tire manufacturing facility to provide an additional 400,000 Continental and General radial truck tires in the second half of 1999. In addition, the company's off-the-road tire plant in Bryan, OH is preparing for the introduction of Continental brand radial OTR tires in early 2000.

Safic-Alcan of France has acquired the Germany company Gobel + Pfrengle GmbH, a distributor of rubber chemicals.

Union Carbide announced the first sales of ethylenepropylene rubber (EPR) products to customers from its plant at Seadrift, TX. This 200-million-pounds-per-year plant, adapted from Union Carbide's Unipol polyethylene and polypropylene low pressure, gas-phase technology, was started up in December.

AlliedSignal Performance Fibers plans to double manufacturing capacity of Fiberbrite 2000 solution-dyed polyester at its Churchill, VA plant. The additional capacity is expected to come on-line by the second quarter of 1999.

Exxon Chemical, Houston, TX, confirmed its commitment to build an oxo alcohol facility at its Singapore Chemical Complex that will produce 150,000 mt per year of the product. Once in operation, Exxon will supply capability in all major geographies of the world.

Marangoni Tread SpA of Verona, Italy, a supplier of materials and technology for the precured retreading sector, has established a subsidiary company in the United States with a view to developing a network of licensees in the North American market for the company's Ringtread system technology. The new company, Marangoni Tread North America, will be located in Walnut Creek, CA.