News

Salzgitter AG, as the sole shareholder of Klöckner DESMA Elastomertechnik GmbH, has appointed Mr. Siegfried Köhler as Managing Director Sales & Service as of October 1. Together with Dr. Michael Zaun, who has been Managing Director for the technical and operational areas since September 1, 2022, Siegfried Köhler will lead the company and with him assume responsibility for the four subsidiaries and thus around five hundred employees on three continents.

Guill Tool recently announced the purchase of a CNC grinder and a CT scanner. The company’s rheology lab measures the flow characteristics of plastics and rubber to better predict how the customer’s material will flow through the extrusion dies before they’re made. Together with the scanner, simulation greatly reduces the number of physical reworks needed.

After working for several years in Germany and abroad, Jörg Stech was most recently responsible for the overall business of ARGO-HYTOS GmbH, a leading manufacturer of components and systems for the hydraulics industry, as Managing Director. A graduate engineer (Diploma from Baden-Wuerttemberg Corporative State University, Stuttgart), he additionally holds a master’s degree in business administration and a master’s degree in industrial science – both from a renowned US university. Jörg Stech also has extensive experience in organizational development as well as in production.

The trade deficit contracted 9.9% to $58.3 billion, the lowest level since September 2020, the Commerce Department said on Thursday. Data for July was revised to show the trade gap rising to $64.7 billion instead of $65.0 billion as previously reported. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast the trade deficit shrinking to $62.3 billion in August.

Ford made a comprehensive offer to the UAW in an effort to reach a tentative agreement on a new master labor agreement through April 30, 2028. It is the seventh and strongest offer Ford has made on the key economic issues since Aug. 29. Ford has received two comprehensive counteroffers from the UAW, the last on Sept. 25. Ford’s latest offer provides our 57,000 UAW-represented employees with a record contract and a strong future. Ford’s offer includes unprecedented improvements in wages (putting employees among the top 25% of all U.S. jobs, hourly and salaried) and benefits, product commitments for every UAW factory and job security. At the same time, it preserves Ford’s ability to invest and grow.  

On 6 October, the Norwegian government presented its state budget proposal for 2024. The proposal contains elements potentially affecting Elkem’s activities in Norway.

CO2 compensation is a government scheme provided to avoid carbon leakage, i.e. where European industry is shut down and moved to countries without CO2 emissions tariffs, causing increased global emissions as well as the loss of green industrial jobs.

Lubrizol Engineered Polymers has announced that Danquinsa GmbH, its sales representative in Germany, will be displaying Lubrizol’s specialty thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPUs) at Fakuma fair. Fakuma is taking place from October 17 to 21 in Friedrichshafen, Germany. New developments belonging to the color stable and weather resistant ESTANE® TPU portfolio will be featured at the booth. Backed by more than 30 years of experience in surface protection applications, ESTANE TPU provides exceptional performance with transparency after long-term exposure to the elements, such as UV light, moisture, physical wear, chemicals and more. ESTANE polymers help protect and maintain aesthetics in demanding surface applications for automotive, consumer products, building and construction, and graphics. ESTANE material can also be recycled* due to its thermoplastic behavior.

The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., introduces the GEOLANDAR CV 4S, a new all-season tire for crossover SUVs. The latest addition to the GEOLANDAR brand of tires for SUVs and pickup trucks, the GEOLANDAR CV 4S will be launched from this autumn in North America, Europe and then South Korea. The new tire will be available in 32 sizes, ranging from 245/45R20 103V to 235/65R17 108V.

REP international announces that Mr. Hervé REVEL becomes the new CEO of REP international as of October 1st, 2023.

He succeeds Mr. Bruno TABAR, who has retired after nearly 40 years of service, including almost 30 years at the head of the REP group.

The handover took place at a ceremony held at the end of September. This emotional event provided an opportunity to retrace the company’s major developments and rich path under Bruno TABAR’s leadership, as well as the new prospects for REP’s future.