March 2012 Sealing Technology7

NEWS

Publications of Interest

Study identifies emerging UK firms

A new study by UK-based industry analyst Plimsoll Publishing Ltd

has identified a group of 27 emerging companies operating in the UK seals and gaskets industry.

In the last year these companies have increased sales by an average of 32% and are taking further control of the market as 2012 begins, says the firm. Over the last two years growth in the market has been sporadic, aver-aging -11% two years ago and 10% last year. However, these high-growth companies have managed to grow much faster.

Of the 201 companies analysed in the research 22 were found to be suffering the consequences of these high-growth companies. They saw their own sales fall, on average by -11% in the same period.

David Pattison, author of this new market study, commented: ‘This is absolute evidence that whatever growth there is in the market is being captured by a select group of companies.’

So what have these companies been doing to create this growth?

Pattison continued: ‘It is clear that the market is changing. The revenue and growth streams companies took for granted a couple of years ago have changed. Frankly, it is the one question to which we all want to know the answer. Where is the market heading? These 27 winning compa-nies seem to have the best idea.’

Despite concerns to the contrary, this is not just a case of larger companies forcing out their smaller competitors as research shows that growth is still being achieved by a number of small, innovative companies (as well as some of the major ones).

This new analysis provides a full financial analysis covering the top 201 companies in the UK seals and gaskets industry. Their financial performance over the last four years is pre-sented in the publication.

The analysis is designed for the busy manager who needs to spot trends in the overall market, and identify and understand threatening com-petitors. For those looking for quick growth, the analysis also can be used to seek out acqui-sition prospects.

Contact:

Christopher Evans, Plimsoll Publishing Ltd,

Scotswood House, Teesdale South, Stockton-on-Tees

TS17 5SB, UK. Tel: +44 1642 626400,

Fax: +44 1642 626410,

Email: c.evans@plimsoll.co.uk,

Web: www.plimsoll.co.uk

Editor’s note: Readers of Sealing Technology newsletter are entitled to a discount of £50 when purchasing this study. Call the company for fur-ther details and quote reference PR/AA10.

Conferences and Meetings News

International forum discusses green polymer chemistry

Applied Market Information Ltd (AMI) is organising an interna-

tional forum to debate green polymer chemistry.

Green Polymer Chemistry 2012, which is scheduled to take place on 20–22 March 2012 in Cologne, Germany, covers market drivers, agriculture crop availability, poten-tial production methods and case studies of materials that have reached the market place.

The term ‘‘green polymer chemistry’’ is being used here to describe the production of established thermoplastics and elastomers from renewable sources, including polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyethyl-ene terephthalate, polyamide, epoxy resin and polyurethane.

The byword in all types of industry these days is “sustainability” as research is look-ing to find ways of conserving the earth’s resources for future generations and reducing the harmful effects of climate change. In the plastics and rubber markets this will mean moving away from fossil fuels as sources of basic chemicals and using instead renewable sources like plants, waste products and waste gases.

The automotive, packaging and electron-ics markets are all looking for green sources of materials to improve their carbon foot-print and the use of green polymer chem-istry could make a dramatic difference in this area.

The Ford Motor Co (see Sealing Technology August 2011, page 5) has been particularly active in sourcing and testing innovative mate-rials and is conducting research on renewables in automotive composites.

I N B R I E F

Strong nuclear industry sales for BeakbaneBeakbane Ltd, a machinery protection and bellows specialist based in Kidderminster, UK, says that it continues to enjoy strong sales in the nuclear energy sector. Over the past 12 months it has received significant orders from Sellafield for high-performance protective gaiters for remote manipulators used in fuel reprocessing. It has also received orders for other sewn bellows from Sellafield, and orders from Dounreay Site Restoration Ltd for bellows and manipulator bellows used in plant decommissioning, and for other equipment supplied to contractors in the nuclear energy sector.

Dreyplas launches Web-siteDreyplas GmbH, a German materials distribu-tion company that started trading in November 2011 has now launched its Web-site. The firm’s portfolio comprises raw materials, additives and processing aids for plastics converters and com-pounders, and for producers of adhesives, paints and coatings, chemicals and building materi-als. The company says that the majority of its products are sourced from major manufacturers located in the Far East, often backed up by long-term supply agreements.

More information:Web: www.dreyplas.com

Dow Corning and Air Products enter long-term silane supply agreementDow Corning Corp, which specialises in sili-cones, and Air Products and Chemicals Inc, a supplier of atmospheric gases, process and speci-ality gases, materials, and equipment and services, have entered into a long-term supply agreement for electronic-grade silane – a material used for manufacturing flat-panel displays, semiconduc-tors and photovoltaic cells. Air Products says this agreement provides it with access to significant silane volume to meet the present and future needs of its global customers and the future growth of the electronics and solar industry.

Companies and organisations form ‘‘Rubber Excellence Partnership’’What is termed a ‘‘Rubber Excellence Partnership’’ has been formed by German speciality chemicals company Lanxess Deutschland GmbH, Deutsches Institut für Kautschuktechnologie eV (the German Institute of Rubber Technology) based in Hannover, and Qingdao University of Science and Technology, China. It aims to further improve the opportunities for high-perfor-mance rubber through international exchanges involving the best talent. Among other things, the initiative promotes academic exchange between China and Germany, and research into important rubber-related topics.