CHEM-TEXTS
Vol. 4 No. 10 Page 3
Chemical Business Competition Increases
[IMAGE: Three men in business attire reviewing documents]
Ed Geise, seated, Director of Marketing for the Chemical division reviews marketing plans with Henry Smith, left, General Sales Manager and Joe Flannery, General Products Manager.
by Joe Flannery
Business continues to be more and more competitive. In today’s tight economy, competitors want our customers just as we want theirs; and they fight pretty hard for them too. Today there is no such thing as a guaranteed market for our products.
Competitors are often willing to offer better delivery, packaging, quality, technical service and even lower prices to obtain business. And customers, on the other hand, are increasingly more demanding for these services and prices.
Cost-Price Squeeze
Most businesses today are in a cost-price squeeze in the competitive struggle. Our business is no exception. Profits have declined in the last year as a result of lower prices for our products and higher costs of doing business. And yet we must be increasingly responsive to our customers to keep our business and maintain a healthy growth. At the same time, we must be efficient and competitive to be profitable. Profits are the source of funds to expand our business; modernize plants; install new
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Personnel Assignments
Earl Root was made a Foreman in Synthetic Production. Prior to his new assignment he was a Utility Operator at the Synthetic plant. Earl joined Uniroyal in 1947.
Al Hoodbhoy was assigned to Testing Services in Bldg. 81, responsible for Chemical Control.
Doug Ritche was transferred to the Synthetic plant as a process engineer.
Lab Cat Becomes A Queen
[IMAGE: Woman holding a cat and displaying trophies]
Miss Uniroyal, a pedigree Domestic Short Hair displays her trophies with Ruth Shipman.
by Ruth Shipman
Two years ago, a stray kitten walked through the main gate, and into building 81 Lab. The cat turned out to be a pedigreed Domestic Short Hair with a Tortoise shell fur, black, orange, and creamy white.
In her first show in 1969, Miss Uniroyal was judged Best Household pet and in 1970 three judges named her Best Household pet twice at the Yankee Spay and Neuter Club Show.
The two year old Miss Uniroyal is now registered with the Cat Fanciers Federation.
DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE
Omite Facilities
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worked in Bldg. 100: Bob Anderson, Joe Bednarek, Lyle Bissonette, Ed Cheney, Ray Drapeau, Harry Hedrick, Orrin Huntley, Dan Marino, John Matcheson, Carl Mulonet, Dom Persutti, and Bob Breton, foreman of the building.
Reduces Pollution
By recovery of the heptane solvent, which was previously lost and discharged into the atmosphere and the Naugatuck River, the plant not only saved materials’ cost but also reduced pollution.
Prevention of waste by dumping materials into the drain is an important part of the plant’s policy to stop pollution. Its success depends on every operator carefully checking all processing operations to prevent waste, and to avoid washing chemical spillage into the river.
Safer Operation
Bulk butyl phenol will be stored in one of the new 10,000 gallon tanks and piped directly into the processing operations, making the job easier and safer. An operator previously lifted and knifed open the 50 lb. bags, and emptied them into the equipment. The bags were discarded as solid waste. The new facility now eliminates this waste problem, another improvement in pollution abatement.
The other 10,000 gallon tank holds thionyl chloride, which was previously handled in 55 gallon drums.
The two new tanks minimize exposure to lifting and handling heavy objects, as well as, the exposure to handling chemicals in drums.
Promising Product
Sales of Omite increased 10% over 1969 sales and was a bright spot in the plant’s economic
Eskiloos Set Style
[IMAGE: Woman in boots posing outdoors]
Uniroyal’s Eskiloos are better than ever for getting around town in style in rain and snow weather. Eskiloos come in all lengths from ankle bone to knee high on high, thick heels. They offer wash-and-wear easy care, water repellent protection, shape retention and salt stain resistance. Many of these special attributes are due to the Royalon vinyl upper material which is made from Marvinol vinyl, a product of the Chemical Division. Much of the Research and Development work on the vinyl plastic is done by the Marvinol group at the Technical Sales Service Center.
situation when sales of rubber chemicals, reclaimed rubber, synthetic rubber and latex dropped off.
Delays in label registration from the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture for use on orange, grapefruit, and lemon trees have affected a more optimistic sales forecast previously set for 1971. As a result, production of the chemical in the plant has been rescheduled for a shorter schedule.
Seven years of field tests and toxicology tests to determine the safe use on food crops were conducted at a cost of approximately $750,000 before a pound of the chemical was sold commercially.
Omite does not upset the ecological cycle. Harmless to humans and animals, it does not disrupt the natural, biological control of predatory insects such as bees which are beneficial to growers.
Phenol Spill Causes Burn
A freak accident took place in the Control Lab. when the bottom of a glass test tube broke while an analyst was stirring a chemical in it with a glass rod. Phenol spilled over the employee’s laboratory smock and caused a minor burn to the skin.
The accident was a perfect example of the unexpected happening. As a safety precaution against such accidents, glassware should be held over the laboratory bench to avoid accidental burns from broken glassware.
Accidents of this type are unusual and occur only one out of a thousand times. Prevention of the one time is what safety is all about.
[IMAGE: Four people in discussion around a table]
Label registration for Omite use on citrus crops is discussed by, from left, Gracie Stone, Bob Covey, Dr. John Zukel and Dr. Al Smith.