One of the largest and most dramatic expansions has been at Geismar, La. This is a complete chemical complex for the manufacture of vinyl monomers, agricultural and Rydene synthetic rubber.
A. Agricultural chemicals are made in Geismar plant.
B. Rubber chemical plant at Geismar is now operating.
Geismar is also the site selected for Rubicon Chemicals, Inc., a company jointly owned with Imperial Chemical Industries, Ltd. of Great Britain. It will produce aniline and tolylene diisocyanates for polyurethane synthetics, used in foams, rubbers and surface coatings.
In Scotts Bluff, La. we are doubling our capacity for Kralastic ABS plastics. These tough plastics are widely used in automobile dashboards, body parts and panels, and also in travel trailers. They also find wide applications in appliances, pipe, telephone hand sets and a host of other uses.
Most Modern Tire Plant in U.S.A.
The most modern and efficient tire plant in the industry recently started production in Opelika, Ala. to satisfy the rapidly growing tire market of the southeastern states. An intensive modernization program is also in progress in our other tire plants. We have also opened new tread rubber plants in Conyers, Georgia and Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, and others are now in the planning stage.
Argentine Project
Production is expected to get underway by midyear at San Lorenzo in Argentina by PASA, an industrial complex in which we have a 24 per cent interest. It will produce synthetic rubbers, chemicals, carbon black and other hydrocarbon materials. The principal market for these products will be the thriving Argentine tire industry, but this market can be extended throughout Latin America.
Model is of Geismar Royalene synthetic rubber plant.
Turkish Tire Plant
At Adapazari in Turkey, U. S. Rubber in 1963 started manufacture of tires in a new plant. It will fill the needs of a rapidly growing market for tires in Turkey, a nation with an adequate road system, a growing automobile industry and an expanding transportation network.
English Chemical and Plastics Plants
At Bromsgrove, England the Company has established a subsidiary, Sto-Chem Limited, a company which manufactures synthetic latices that are marketed in England and on the continent. Also in England, we started to construct a plant to make the ABS plastic, Kralastic.
A. Argentine complex will make chemicals, synthetics for Argentine tire industry.
B. Turkish plant fills needs of growing Near East tire market.
C. New Scotts Bluff, La. plant will double ABS plastic capacity.
D. New Winnsboro, S. C. plant makes improved nylon tire cord.
E. Sto-Chem in Bromsgrove, England, manufactures synthetic latices that are marketed in England and on the continent.
Right: New Laredo, Texas, tire proving facility is now in operation. At top, test driver rounds curve on high speed track. Center, tires are tested for durability on cobblestone roadway. At bottom, part of 80 vehicle test fleet lines up on track. Laredo facility is on 6,900-acre site, employs more than 100 persons, logs more than 25,000,000 tire test miles annually.
U.S. ROYAL LASTIK TURK A.S.
A. New Belgian tire plant will serve the Benelux market.
B. Synthetic rubber will be made in new Painesville, Ohio plant.
C. Australian investment will include new tire factory.
D. Reclaimed rubber plant in Montreal will meet Canadian market needs.
E. Spanish footwear plant is our first investment in Spain.
Synthetic and Marvinol Expansion
In Painesville, Ohio, construction has started on a new facility for the manufacture of synthetic rubber. Initially, the plant will produce Paracril, our oil resistant synthetic, but eventually we expect to make other types of synthetic rubber there. At Painesville, we are also expanding our facilities to manufacture Marvinol polyvinyl chloride resins.
First Investment in Australia
U. S. Royal tires will be manufactured in Australia. The Company has purchased an interest in S. A. Rubber Holdings Limited, and to supplement these facilities a new tire plant will soon be built on a 100-acre site in Adelaide. This investment will also give us a potential base in Australia for the manufacture of an entire line of consumer and industrial rubber and plastic products.
Footwear in Spain
For the first time, we have made an investment in Spain. We have acquired a controlling interest in Samper, S.A., a well known Spanish shoe manufacturing company located in Elche. It produces rubber, leather and fabric footwear both for the Spanish domestic markets and for export.
Footwear Plant in Southeast
In Thomson, Ga. production of Keds footwear will soon start in a new plant. This new footwear plant permits us to serve the rapidly expanding footwear market in the southeastern states.
Expanded Royalite Plant
We are equipping a plant in Warsaw, Ind. to meet the rapidly growing demand for Expanded Royalite, our thermoplastic laminate that has been successfully used in the fabrication of travel trailers, engine covers, automotive hoods and fenders.