UNIROYAL CHEM-TEXTS
Vol. 7, 1973 | PUBLISHED FOR THE PEOPLE OF UNIROYAL CHEMICAL | No. 5
Synthetic Rubber Plant To Close
Top UG Goal With $22,010
Third Successive Year
Uniroyal Chemical people again topped the United Fund goal. This year’s goal was $21,000. Pledges and contributions amounted to $22,010.
944 employees—or 65% of the people at the Naugatuck location—participated in the annual drive to raise funds for the work of the 16 charitable and social organizations in the Fund.
4 Departments Exceed Goals
Four departments — Reclaim Production, Chemical Engineering and Mechanical, Research & Development and EMIC exceeded their goals with EMIC going over its goal by $1146.
Research and Development
(Cont’d on page 4)
[CENTER IMAGE CAPTION:]
The Synthetic Rubber plant was constructed by the U.S. Government during WW II. It was purchased by Uniroyal Chemical in 1955. Bldg. 17 and the Synthetic Pilot Plant will not be affected by the closing and will continue to operate.
Although rumors had persisted for a long time that the Synthetic Plant would close, it was hoped that each year would bring an economic miracle and keep it operating. But the sad end of a historic era came on November 27 when the Company announced final plans to cease operation of it.
For several years efforts had been made to keep the plant operating and getting it in the black, including the possibility of introducing new products. But in spite of the cost reduction efforts and the study of various alternatives, the plant continued to be non-competitive.
Obsolescence A Major Factor
Even a reduction in labor costs was not a solution and would not of itself have kept it in operation.
Plant obsolescence, increased power and utility costs, raw materials and market conditions were some of the many factors which contributed to the closing.
The phase out will start about
(Cont’d on page 4)
Crim New Personnel Director
Jesse E. Crim, Industrial Relations Manager, has been named Director of Personnel for the Uniroyal Chemical division, it was announced by Andrew J. McNeill, President of Uniroyal Chemical.
In his new position Crim will be responsible for the coordination of Industrial Relations activities and Personnel and Organization Development and Planning in the Chemical division. In addition he will temporarily retain certain special assignments in the Naugatuck factory.
In 1971 he was appointed Industrial Relations Manager for the Naugatuck Chemical plant and coordinator of IR managers for the divisional plants. Prior to his Naugatuck position he was IR Manager at Painesville, Ohio from 1968 to 1971. He held the same post at the Company’s Santa Ana, Calif. and Washington, Ind. plants.
(Cont’d on page 4)
$50,000 Unit for Cleaner Air Installed
[LEFT IMAGE CAPTION:]
It took 3 mins. 8 secs. to fly from the ground to the roof; pick up the cyclone; and return to the ground.
[RIGHT IMAGE CAPTION:]
The helicopter pilot skillfully maneuvers the $50,000 air pollution control device into position. (Photos by James Reynolds)
As part of Uniroyal Chemical’s commitment to comply with the Federal and State’s emission standards of the Clean Air Act of 1970, the Reclaim Plant installed an air pollution control device to collect and recycle the lint and rubber particles which were emitted from two of the cyclones that convey the finely ground rubber to the digesting operation.
A Delicate Operation
To install the 6000-pound system a helicopter airlifted it from the ground to the reclaim roof, completing the delicate operation within 3 hours on a Saturday morning. Three obsolete cyclones were also removed from the Reclaim roof.
Ordinarily a job of this nature, according to Eric Storch, who engineered the project, would have required two to three weeks.
Lands In Reclaim Yard
Besides the skill of the helicopter crew, the maneuver re-
(Cont’d on page 2)