1980s

CHEM-TEXTS – Vol. 14 – Page 4

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CHEM-TEXTS

Page 4 | Vol. 14, 1980

Equality

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The execution of the equal opportunity policy demands the involvement of all management personnel in identifying and attracting minority, female, disabled veteran and Vietnam Era Veteran, and handicapped applicants qualified for consideration in all job classifications, as job openings in such classifications occur. The plant will make monthly audits of its recruiting efforts, hiring, promotional, and termination activities, and the minority, female, disabled veteran and Vietnam Era Veteran, and handicapped situation on the payroll. Additionally, our Affirmative Action Plans are audited on a regular basis by Federal Government and Corporate office Personnel.

J.R. Douglas, Industrial Relations Manager, has appointed C.D. Hilton, Personnel Manager, as the EEO Administrator for the Naugatuck Plant. Feel free to contact them regarding any facet of the EEO policy.

Williams Heads Toastmasters Club

Bob Williams, International Marketing Specialist for Vibrathane and Speciality Chemicals, has been elected President of the Preston Hill Toastmasters Club for 1980.

The club meets every other Friday at Uniroyal’s Preston Hill Inn in Oxford is dedicated to help people improve their communication and leadership skills.

For more information call Bob at 723-3791. Other club members from EMIC and the plant are Joe Calaghan, George Lapp and Jim Marshall.

“On the Road”

By Joe Bucciaglia

The Chemicals and Polymers Sales Force

An important member of the team, but often a “distant” one, is the field sales representative who is “On-the-Road”. I hope to run a series of articles about our Chemicals and Polymers sales group and tell you a little about the people and what they do.

To start with, this sales force is led by a General Sales Manager, Joe Callaghan. Reporting to Joe is a Specialty Chemicals National Sales Manager, governing Specialty Chemicals and three Regional managers covering the Rubber Chemicals and Polymers. Also reporting to Joe are two Operations Managers, Pete Cookson for Polymers, and myself for Chemicals.

The Central Office for the Midwest Region (better known as District 4) is located in Akron, Ohio, “The Rubber Capital of the World”. Out of this office, the Chemicals and Polymers field Sales Force are responsible for selling Rubber and Heavy Chemicals, ROYALENE®, PARACRIL®, Natural Latex and VIBRATHANE® Gums.

The Sales Force in the Midwest is:

Vin Russo Regional Manager
Bill Galwardy Sr. Sales Associate with sales responsibilities in parts of Ohio Plus all the major Akron based Rubber Companies.
Wes Curtis Technical Representative with sales responsibilities in Ohio, West Virginia, and parts of New York and Pennsylvania.
Bill Stephenson Technical Representative with sales responsibilities in Indiana and half of Michigan.
Wayne Churchill Technical Representative with sales responsibilities in Illinois and half of Michigan.
Leo Pranitis Technical Representative with sales responsibilities in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota.

The Akron Office is staffed by Leo Foley and Ruth Hoak.

Next issue, more on the other District Offices and the people staffing them. In the meanwhile, if your interested in anything else about Sales, drop me a line.

Become Hearing Experts

In the photo from left are Eric Johnson, Factory Manager, who presented the certificates; Ann McAllister RN; Patricia Grzywacz RN; and James Loman, Safety Supervisor.

Three members of the Safety and Medical Department have been awarded Certificates of Accreditation by the Council for Accreditation Occupational Hearing Conservation. The accreditation qualifies them to give industrial audiometric tests. As part of its continuing medical program the group wil give hearing tests to all employees to insure proper care of their hearing. Ann and Patricia received their certification from the University of Bridgeport and Jim from Kutztown State University, Pa. Loman is also a Certified First Aid and CPR Instructor while Pat recently received certification as a CPR Instructor.

55 MPH

Give it a chance to work. To save gasoline. To save lives, too.

Local 218…

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growth.”

Joe Rzeszutek recognized the need to make certain changes in the Contract in order to make the plant competitive with other chemical companies and to help improve its productivity in order to maintain job security in a highly competitive market area.

As a result of this mutual interest, Douglas reported that the parties were able to negotiate contractual changes that will provide potential improvements in productivity, reduced down-time, and cost reductions that can amount to substantial savings per year to the Naugatuck Plant. Both Douglas and Rzeszutek stated that this was the type of joint Company-Union effort that the parties are striving for in order to improve our operations, help secure jobs, and provide growth for the Naugatuck Chemical plant’s future.

Old Timers Corner

A group of “old timers” enjoy a barbecue at the home of Paul Benson in the warm Florida sun. The photo was sent in by George Allen, front row, left, who recently retired from the Industrial Relations Dept. Next to him is Ed Weaving who headed up the Plant Protection Dept. for many years. another picnic is scheduled at the home of Paul Benson on Feb. 17th, 1981.

George Allen who retired from Industrial Relations in 1979 sent this photo of retirees who gathered at the home of Paul Benson for a picnic. Since George retired he and his wife, Kay, have travelled the forty-eight states and now spend the winters in Florida. Seated from left are George Allen, Ed Weaving, Ann (Smey) Rockwood, Anthony Marrello, Andrew Smey, Al Lanouette and John Quint.

Standing from left are Kazys Urbsaitis, Guy Elwood, Vic Stasonis, Dave Rappe, Larry Terra, Ed Bazenas and Paul Benson.

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CHEM-TEXTS

PUBLISHED BY THE INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS DEPARTMENT
UNIROYAL CHEMICAL, NAUGATUCK, CONN. 06770

Equal Opportunity Employer

EDITOR: William F. Lavelle.

UNIROYAL

UNIROYAL CHEMICAL
Naugatuck, Connecticut 06770

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Naugatuck, Conn. 06770

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CHEM-TEXTS – 1980-v14-s289

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Page 2 CHEM-TEXTS Vol. 14, 1980

Goals For 1980

1979 was a very good year for the Uniroyal Chemical Company and the Naugatuck Plant. The company had record sales and profit and the Plant’s operating profit increased 59% over 1978. In order to continue this improvement, severl major 1980 Objectives for the following products and areas must be accomplished:

NAUGACEL SD-1

Successfully start up Naugacel SD-1, an accelerator that will be new business for the plant. It will be manufactured in the FOC Plant Bldg. 124. Most of the equipment has been installed and startup is expected in the 2nd Quarter of 1980. Naugacel is used in the manufacture of tires and mechanical goods.

OMITE

Our goal is to increase Omite production 20% through productivity improvements over 1979, which was a record year. This is necessary if we want to meet the needs of fruit and cotton growers in the U.S. and to avoid the additional expense of importing Omite from our Latina Plant in Italy. Omite is the highest profit chemical made in the plant.

This year, we also will finalize our plant to increase the Omite capacity to meet future sales.

TPR

Increase the production of TPR by 30%, again, through productivity improvements, so that outside manufacturing can be eliminated. This will reduce TPR manufacturing cost and therefore improve TPR’s profitability.

DEVELOP A STRATEGY FOR THE PLANT

We will review the existing resources of the plant, analyze our strengths and weaknesses, and develop a plan that will increase the profit of our facilities. We have many resources that are not fully utilized and increasing their utilization will have a dramatic improvement on the company’s profitability.

For example, the Boiler Plant, Land and Wastewater treatment facilities are only 50-60% utilized. Some of our manufacturing equipment is operating at less than half of capacity. We certainly have the capacity and ability to manfacture more chemical products at Naugatuck and must develop a plan to take advantage of this opportunity.

ENERGY STRATEGY

This year, we will develop an energy strategy that reduces the cost of energy per pound of product so that we can be more competitive with chemical companies closer to lower cost energy sources.

OPERATING PROFIT

The profit goal for 1980 is to improve the operating profit of the Naugatuck Plant by 20%. The operating profit in 1979 was $18.9 million dollars and we plan to raise it to $22.7 million dollars in 1980. Achieving the objectives of the 1980 PIP Program, “Mainstream”, and meeting our 1980 Operating Budget, are important factors in meeting the 1980 Plant Operating Profit Goal.

HEALTH & SAFETY

2000 air monitoring tests will be taken in the Plant to insure that conditions in which employees are working are safe and corrective action initiated to improve the working environment. Also our safety goal this year is an Incidence Rate of 2.6, which is the number of injuries per 1,000,000 manhours worked. The Chemical Industry’s average is “6”, so we hope to operate significantly safer than the average plant.

RIDESHARING

We plan to finalize our ridesharing program in support of Gov. Grasso’s objective to reduce dependence on foreign oil by decreasing gasoline consumption. This program will also provide a system for our employees that will enable them to travel to work during gas shortages that will most likely occur in the future.

Eric Johnson, Factory Manager

Equality Policy Affirmed

The providing of equal employment opportunity for all employees or applicants for employment regardless of race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, handicap or disabled and Vietnam Era Veteran status is one of the basic policies of UNIROYAL, Inc. The Naugatuck Chemical plant endorses this policy and expects all decisions regarding personnel to conform to these equal employment rules and regulations.

The Naugatuck Chemical Plant has a specific plan of action designed to aid in providing equal opportunity for all. It is committed to recruit, hire, and promote in all job classifications and to ensure that items such as compensation, benefits, transfers, layoffs, return from layoff, training, educational and tuition assistance, and social and recreational activities are administered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, handicap or disabled and Vietnam Era Veteran status except where sex, and/or age is a bonafied occupational qualification. It is also committed to make employment or promotional decisions based solely upon the individual’s qualifications as they relate to the valid qualification requirements of the position for which the individual is being considered.

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Man-Lift Purchased

[IMAGE: Black and white photograph showing members of the Chemical Maintenance department operating a self-propelled Man Lift]

Members of the Chemical Maintenance department operate the new self-propelled Man Lift that will provide safer work conditions.

By Vic Alves

The Maintenance Department recently purchased a personnel-lift for its use in the performance of various jobs throughout the plant. This versatile piece of equipment will allow work to be done more safely, reduce equipment down-

time, and afford productivity improvements within the department. Its purchase was criticial to the Maintenance Department’s 1980 Profit Improvement Program.

The personnel lift will minimize the erection of staging or scaffolding on jobs undertaken at heights up to 38 feet while allowing for a safer operation. Without the time consuming errection costs, productive equipment can be returned to service sooner and the productivity of the plant improved.

The purchased unit is self-propelled and has a total lifting capacity of 1,750 lbs.

Because of its mobility, it is planned to be used in most areas of our plant where reasonable and feasible.

Audit Plan Started on Waste

By Tim Cunningham

The Environmental Engineering Department will conduct a pollution generating audit of each process building during 1980. The audit will consist of a review of all pollution streams leaving the process buildings: air, water, and solid waste pollution streams. The purpose of these audits will be to investigate reductions in currently generated pollution streams, and where reductions are possible, to develop Profit Improvement Programs.

Examples of possible cost-saving projects include the recycling of material which is presently sent to the liquid waste Pretreatment Plant or to the drummed waste storage area in order to save raw material costs and waste disposal costs, the reduction of solvents and other liquid material disposed of in the water treatment system, and the reduction of solid product and raw materials disposed of in the water treatment system.

If there are any suggestions for possible cost savings projects in any of these areas, please contact the Environmental Engineering Department.

Plant’s Profits Improve

A successful 1979 performance for the Naugatuck Plant was highlighted by Project Enterprise. Enterprise, the name of the plant’s 1979 Profit Improvement Program, generated $5.4 million of savings. The efforts of many of our people was necessary to achieve this performance. Congratulations on a job well done to all who participated.

The impetus generated by Project Enterprise helped to increase the plant’s 1979 Operating Profit to $18.9 million from $12.0 million in 1978. Operating Profit is the net selling price of the products manufactured less their manufacturing cost. It includes the costs for Selling, Research-Development, Advertising, Administrative and Taxes.

This performance provides a sound base to approach the challenges of 1980.

Chemical Bloodmobile Dates Set

The Bloodmobile sponsored by Uniroyal Chemical employees will be held on Monday, May 19 and Tuesday, May 20 at the TSSC Bldg. 112 from 9:45 A.M. to 2:45 P.M. All donors will receive a very useful tire gauge to check the wear of tire tread. To avoid delay, an appointment may be made with Ann McAllister R.N. or Patricia Grzywacz R.N., Ext. 3231.

In 1979 Chemical employees contributed 282 pints of blood to the Red Cross Bloodmobile.

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CHEM-TEXTS

Page 3 | Vol. 14, 1980

V. Calarco Looks at 1980

[PHOTO CAPTION:]
Vincent A. Calarco, center, President of the Uniroyal Chemical Company poses with the officers of the Uniroyal Chemical Management Club prior to his talk to the group. From left are Robert Smith, Treasurer; Ronald Lak, President; Calarco; Shirley Darling, Secretary; and Norman Boisseau, Vice President.

Vincent Calarco, President of the Uniroyal Chemical Company, in an address to the Uniroyal Chemical Management Club reviewed the division’s performance in 1979 and discussed the outlook for 1980. The following are highlights from his talk to the group at the Elks Club in Naugatuck.

1979 was the best year in the division’s history in terms of sales and profits.

Sales for the chemical Rubber and Plastic business segments of the Company – for which we are the major portion – were $448 million up from $442 million in 1978; and operating profits were 88 million, an increase of 24% over the $71 million in 1978.

4th quarter sales and profits for the Chemical Company set a record level in 1979.

These results are especially noteworthy since the Kralastic business which was sold in early 1979 accounted for over $90 million dollars in worldwide sales in 1978.

Agricultural Chemical sales had an exceptional year with sales 40% over 1978.

Specialty Chemical sales grew by nearly 35%. Improvements in Polywet alone resulted in 12% of this increase.

In February, Rovel, a new weatherable polymer was introduced to the market after two years of testing. Solid sales results are expected in 1981.

Rubber Chemicals, the division’s base business grew 25% worldwide. To continue this growth major new facilities in the U.S., Canada, Italy, Brazil and Taiwan are now under construction.

The International division generated a 21% increase in worldwide sales. Today the International division contributes over one-third of the Chemical Company’s total sales.

Looking ahead in 1980 growth is seen for Rovalene EPDM where the division is a technological leader.

TPR, a product manufactured in the Dispersions Bldg. presently has a 40% market share and looks forward to a 10% growth annually.

Rubber Chemicals is a mature market in the U.S. and dramatic domestic growth is not anticipated in 1980 but it does expect solid profit growth. The rubber chemicals growth is expected in the overseas market with the new plant under construction. Even with the slump in automobile sales there are very positive indicators for the rubber chemicals market to maintain its market position.

Agricultural Chemicals plans to bring a highly promising new product to the market several years ahead of time through an innovative technique. The product code is S-734.

Last year productivity in the U.S. declined in contrast to a 20% productivity increase at Uniroyal Chemical.

Productivity means getting more out of what you have in assets, like plants or machinery and making every machine or reactor or office equipment work more efficiently. In brief it means working smarter…using our minds to think and plan things out and to use new innovative approaches to the often traditional and time consuming ways of doing things.

In 1979 the Omite group increased production by 56% without any new investment other than in thinking about how to make the machinery do more.

In the past two years the productivity of TPR has doubled and in Geismar the production of Flexzone was increased by 30% without any new plant, new equipment or new people.

Productivity applies to office personnel as well. A group of secretaries at EMIC responded to the challenge and developed the Serendipity program which resulted in savings of $200,000.

Job Opening System—an Avenue to your Career Development

By Marge Woolfrey

The objectives of the Job Opportunity System are to provide employees with timely information about the availability of and requirements for open positions and another avenue for individual career development. Openings are communicated within the Naugatuck location by placing on bulletin boards the “Job Opening” notice. All non-exempt openings through Grade 24 will be communicated, except as noted below.

Exceptions to the System

  • Grade or title changes where the individual retains the same basic position but the grade or title is changed due to increased responsibilities. (e.g. Clerk Senior to Clerk Specialist)
  • Job placement for employees during reduction-in-force situations.
  • The establishment of temporary, Co-op or summer positions.
  • Reorganization changes by a manager within a department provided there is no increase in head count and no promotional opportunities created.
  • Placement of college-recruited trainee program graduates by Corporate or Division in their initial permanent positions.
  • Positions that are being held until the return of an employee from maternity leave or other approved leaves of absences.

How to Apply

You may apply for any opening for which you feel that you are qualified and have an interest, provided you have a recommendation from your present manager. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, you will be interviewed and subsequently informed whether or not you have been selected.

You will be contacted when you have been scheduled for an interview. You will receive feedback from the hiring manager after the interview as to whether or not you are selected.

Assignment to New Position

Generally, it is expected that you will be released to your new position as soon as possible after acceptance of an offer. Normally, this is within two weeks, but the release time may be negotiated further between the hiring and releasing managers.

Appeals Route

Normal established appeal routes should be used in cases where individuals disagree with or have questions about decisions made at this step of the process. In general, the first attempt to clarify the situation should be made through your manager and the person who made the selection decision. Further clarification or questions can be taken directly to the Human Resources Department for discussion.

Program is Working

During 1979, there were 26 Chemical employee promotions made through utilization of the Job Opportunity System. There were eight positions filled by transfer from other parts of the company because no one at the Naugatuck location applied for the openings. It is especially important to note that there were only two exceptions to the procedure during the year – one because of a reduction in force and one because of a special training program hire. Unfortunately, we are not perfect and two positions were filled without notice. In the future, all jobs without exception to the system will be placed on bulletin boards. There were other hires during the year where technical background requirements necessitated going to the outside.

The system is a program designed to involve you earlier in the promotional process. It establishes a formal method for interested and qualified employees to obtain open position information and to request consideration for specific promotional opportunities.

Local 218 Contract Signed

URW Local 218 and the Naugatuck Chemical Plant have signed a new local supplemental agreement, effective February 4, 1980. Joe Rzeszutek, President of Local 218 and Bob Douglas, Industrial Relations Manager, reported that the major changes in the new contract provide for improved vacation scheduling for employees, work efficiency improvements through better utilization of personnel and inequity adjustments for various job classifications.

Douglas emphasized that “efforts were directed at negotiating improvements in work efficiencies to improve overall operations without a “take-away” program affecting our employees. These efficiency improvements are essential to improve the plant’s productivity and to off-set rising costs so that we can sustain operations at Naugatuck and provide a strong base for future

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Plant to Close for Two Weeks

The Naugatuck Chemical plant will be shut down for two weeks beginning June 30th and July 7th. The plant will reopen on Monday, July 15th.

During the shutdown the Maintenance Dept. will make a general maintenance overhaul throughout the plant, install new equipment, and do preventive maintenance work.

In Chemical Manufacturing Bldg. 100 and Bldg. 118 will operate along with Bldg. 72.

Health Support Program Continues

The Health Support Program which offers assistance to employees with alcohol or drug problems is still very active. However, there has been a change in the meeting place and time.

Dennis Baldwin who is the Health Support counsellor will now hold sessions at the Chemical Plant Hospital on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 P.M. to 9 P.M. Bill Smith will hold counselling sessions on Mondays from 2:30 P.M. to 4:30 P.M. at the Hospital.

All telephone calls regarding the Health Support Program should be made to Don Conty, Bldg. 84. His telephone number is 723-3472. All matters will be held in strictest confidence.

The Health Support Program has helped a number of employees and their families overcome the disease of alcoholism since its inception several years ago.

May is High Blood Pressure Month

High blood pressure is a major factor in stroke and heart attack. This disease has no characteristic symptoms and it must be treated by a physician.

The disease usually can be controlled with drug therapy and some simple diet changes.

During May a blood pressure clinic will be held on Wednesdays and Fridays at the Plant Hospital from 9 A.M. to 11 A.M. An appointment in not necessary. Simply walk in and ask one of the nurses for a blood pressure check.

CHEM-TEXTS – 1980 – Page NO. 1

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UNIROYAL CHEM-TEXTS

Vol. 14, 1980 | PUBLISHED FOR THE PEOPLE OF UNIROYAL CHEMICAL | NO. 1

Plant Receives Award

[IMAGE: Photo of two people shaking hands during award presentation]

Gov. Ella Grasso presents Robert Mazaika, Director of Manufacturing and Engineering, with the Energy Saver Award that the plant received in recognition of its outstanding efforts in energy reduction and its valuable contribution to the success of the energy conservation program of the State of Connecticut.

Earlier in the year the plant received an Outstanding Leadership Award in the Application of Advanced Environmental Technology from the President’s Council on Environmental quality. The award was made for the burning of nonenes, a hazardous waste material.

The energy conservation program is spearheaded by George Arndt and John Gilbert of the plant’s Technical Department.

Shrubs Perk Up Plant

[IMAGE: Photo of building exterior with evergreen shrubs]

Evergreen shrubs improve the appearance of the area around the Pilot Plant.

As part of a plant improvement program evergreen shrubs have been planted in different areas of the plant. The program was started several years ago with the planting of Norwegian spruce along the river bank and the north side of Bldg. 84. More plantings are planned in different areas by Howard Vagt of the Chemical Maintenance Dept. who heads up the program.

Energy Program Saves $1,780,000 in Fuel Cost

[IMAGE: Photo of man next to industrial equipment/machinery]

Rod Ashby conceived the idea of a hybrid vacuum pump that would save energy costs in Bldg. 28. It was not available on the market so Rod engineered a unique system that used the parts of several manufacturers. Depending on the usage the hybrid can save up to $20,000 in energy costs compared to an old style vacuum jet.

Since the plant’s Steam Conservation Program was initiated in 1977, $1,780,800 dollars has been saved by an intensified effort to replace steam jets with vacuum pumps; eliminate an unused 10″ steam main; install automatic temperature-regulator devices on unit heaters in the plant; perform steam audits in Bldgs.; replace steam traps; monitor the steam usage monthly in each Bldg. A new high efficiency burner was recently installed in the Boiler House that will reduce the oxygen useage in the burning of fuel.

Recently Frank Guerrera, a Foreman in the Chemical Maintenance Department, has been named a member of the Plant’s Steam Conservation Committee. A plan is also underway to conserve electricity in the offices and other Bldgs., when it is not required such as after work hours, lunch periods or absences from the office for an hour or more.

The current price of fuel for the plant is about $35 a barrel compared to a cost of $12.87 in 1976. The continuing increases in oil prices force us to seek more drastic solutions to conserve energy if the plant is to operate successfully and profitably. It must compete with the Geismar chemical plant in La. where energy costs are much lower than the northeast.

The plant has received two awards for its energy conservation programs. It received a federal award for excellence in hazardous waste control from the Environmental Industry Council and the President’s Council on Environmental Quality. This prestigious award was made to only five companies in the U.S. Recently Gov. Grasso presented to the plant an Energy Saver’s Award for its conservation achievements. These Awards hang in the lobby of Bldg. 84.

Engineers in the Technical Dept. and an outside consulting firm are studying more long-term solutions such as burning tires, garbage, coal and hazardous wastes. Capital has been allocated to bring natural gas to the Boiler House as an alternative fuel source.

George Arndt and John Gilbert have been charged with the responsibility of spearheading the energy conservation program which began in 1976 and which has been outstandingly successful in not only keeping manufacturing costs down but keeping the plant competitive in an economically unstable period.