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Agricultural Chemicals Grows Bigger
Who would ever have predicted that a rubber chemical, Vulkacit, would be the beginning of our evergrowing agricultural chemical business.
The chemical showed fungicidal properties in tests and was sent to the N.Y. State Agricultural Experiment Station where they found it to be an excellent seed protectant for peas.
It was renamed Spergon Seed Protectant and that became the beginning of the Ag. Chem. business.
In 1942 a greenhouse was constructed at Bethany, Conn. and a Research group was assigned to keep Spergon from the laboratory into the market-place.
Over the years the Agricultural Chemical Research & Development group concentrated its efforts on specialty-use chemicals rather than the higher volume but lower profit fertilizers and insecticide types of chemicals.
Today six basic chemicals are formulated into over 15 major products and sold throughout the world: Omite, Comite, miticides for cotton and fruit; MH*, a growth regulator for tobacco, potatoes and onions; Vitavax*, a systemic fungicide for grain, cotton and peanuts; Dyanap*, a herbicide for soybeans; and Dyanap*- a herbicide for soybeans and peanuts.
From left Dr. Allen Blem, Dr. Alyn Bell, Dr. Robert Davis and Richard Moore who are responsible for primary and secondary screening review the effectiveness of S-734 a new herbicide for soybeans.
1978 A Very Safe Year
Employees showed another significant improvement in safety performance during 1978. By working over 4,905,471 hours, the company had a lost-time accident rate compared to 16 accidents in 1977.
The goal for the Company was a 10% reduction. This was the fourth successive year that the Chemical people worked safer than the goal.
The incidence rate-which is the number of injuries per million manhours worked-was 1.23 compared to 2.18 in 1977.
Employee Safety Saves $165,000
The safety performance of employees in 1978 not only made the plant a better and safer place to work but also saved the company $165,000 in hospitalization, medical and compensation costs. Safety performance is one of the major factors that influence the Naugatuck Chemical Plant and Latina, Italy; the others are Omite and Comite manufactured at the Naugatuck Chemical Plant and Latina, Italy; the others are made in Geismar, La… Gastonia, N.C. or Elmira, Canada.
MH Discovered by Accident
MH which became one of the Division’s more profitable products was discovered by accident when a chemist at Bethany sprayed some plants to be used for the Christmas holidays. A week later he noticed that the sprayed plants did not grow as rapidly as the other plants in the greenhouse. This keen observation led to further tests and what was once a fuel propellant for German rockets was soon to revolutionize the tobacco market.
Smoking Rules to Tighten
The Union-Management Safety Committee has recommended stricter enforcement of the plant “No-Smoking rules. Recent months have shown a 3% record of the rule by employees who smoke in non-designated areas. The laboratories are especially dangerous areas to smoke since people are constantly working with chemicals that could explode.
The committee is suggesting a 30 Day Suspension for smoking in a restricted area and recommending stronger disciplinary action if necessary.
The committee consists of H. F. Mayo, Dr. J. H. Commandre, J. Krzesknic, J. Leone, J. Spencer, R. Bretton.
“Congratulations to you, you’re cured,” said the psychiatrist. “Same cure,” replied the patient, “Before I was killing people. Now I’m nobody.”
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Recent Retirements
Francis Zettlemoyer, center, Trades Foreman in Chemical Maintenance, retired after 35 years service. From left are Francis Boyles, George Holmes, Zettlemoyer, John Gandolfo and Victor Alves, General Foreman.
Guy Elwood, center, Area Foreman in Chemical Production, retired early after 39 years service. From left are Edward Runowicz, Bldg. 89 Foreman; George Baklis, Bldg. 94 Foreman; Elwood, Robert Bell, Bldg. 109 Foreman; and Ronald Moffat, Bldg. 88 Foreman.
Arthur Calder retired from Synthetic Maintenance after 36 years service. He is a Quarter Member of URW Local 308. At left is Charles Roland, URW 303rd President and Ralph Provenzal, Vice President, right.
Agricultural
The R&D group is supported by a marketing and sales organization of approximately 68 people in North America and 30 people in the Overseas operations.
The Agricultural Chemical Research and Development group has a staff of 41 research people. They are: Bethany Greenhouse and a group of 30 Research and Development people in Bldg. 81. Fifteen have M.S. degrees and nine have Ph.D. graduate degrees.
Sales Forecast
to Triple by 1987
The sales of agricultural chemicals increased by 17% in 1978.
Based on the existing product line the sales are expected to double by 1982. By 1987 sales are estimated to more than double again. This forecast is based on present and new products and the acquisition of new businesses that will complement the present marketing structure.
$614,000…
Continued from page 1
The major items on the AR guide-line for storage tanks and scale systems for the necessary raw materials. Included will be a scrubbing system for the reactor vent systems and changes in 124 Building. All other process vents will be directed to the building’s carbon absorption unit. These system represent most advanced technology in the area of pollution control. The dry ash collected in Building 101, where it will be stored and packaged. The construction work will be done by a combination of contractors and chemical maintenance personnel.
The work is scheduled to be completed in mid-1980.
MAP
Continued from page 1
by this early surround of the UR-03 vessel to the Manufacturing department. This instrument is the following employees: G. Hennessey, E. Mischak, E. Lamkin, G. Watkins, R. Hendricks, J. Lavery, F. Guerrieri, D. Lindell, G. Feragne, J. Hoey, L. Birkenbeyer, S. Mazur, R. Bailey, H. Yaci, J. Melto and J. Butkas.
1978 …
Continued from page 1
Rubber and Plastic Products
Sales of Fabricated Rubber and Plastic Products were $153 million in the 4th quarter of 1978, up from $111 million in 1977.
For the year, sales were $454 million, up from $415 million in 1977.
Operating income was $20.2 million, up from $15.6 million in 1977.
Are You An Alcoholic?
To answer this question, ask yourself the following 20 questions and answer them as honestly as you can.
Yes No
1. Do you lose time from work due to drinking?
2. Is drinking making your home life unhappy?
3. Do you drink because you are shy with other people?
4. Is drinking affecting your reputation?
5. Have you ever felt remorse after drinking?
6. Have you gotten into financial difficulties as a result of drinking?
7. Do you turn turn to lower companions and an intoxicating environment when drinking?
8. Does your drinking make you careless of your family’s welfare?
9. Has your ambition decreased since drinking?
10. Do you crave a drink at a definite time daily?
11. Do you want a drink the next morning?
12. Does drinking cause you to have difficulty in sleeping?
13. Has your efficiency decreased since drinking?
14. Is drinking jeopardizing your job or business?
15. Do you drink to escape from worries or troubles?
16. Do you drink alone?
17. Have you ever had a complete loss of memory as a result of drinking?
18. Has your physician ever treated you for drinking?
19. Do you drink to build up your self-confidence?
20. Have you ever been to a hospital or sanitarium on account of drinking?
If you have answered YES to any of the questions there is a definite warning that you may be an alcoholic.
If you have answered YES to three or more, you are definitely an alcoholic.
(The Alcoholism Test Questions are used by Johns Hopkins University Hospital, Baltimore, Md., to help in determining whether or not a patient is an alcoholic.)
If you think you have a drinking or drug problem and want help, you can call Don Corby, Ext. 3472 or Dennis Baldwin, 373-2137 at Oxford. It is not necessary to give your name. Copies of AA Literature and Meetings may be obtained from D. Corby or the PILL Hospital, Ext. 3231.
BOB’S CAMERA SHOP INC.
Film • Cameras • Projectors • Developing • Rentals
WATERBURY’S LEADING CAMERA SHOP
69 South Main St., Waterbury, Conn. 06702 756-2258
CHEM-TEXTS
PUBLISHED BY THE INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS DEPARTMENT
UNIROYAL CHEMICAL, NAUGATUCK, CONN. 06770
Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer
EDITOR: William F. Lavelle
UNIROYAL CHEMICAL DIVISION
UNIROYAL, INC., NAUGATUCK, CONN. 06770
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