I N D U S T R Y & B U S I N E S S

resistant to gas, oil, and grease, ac­cording to Du Pont.

There were a number of new de­velopments based on polyester resins. One of these, Seotchpak, was displayed by Minnesota Mining & Manufactur­ing. 3M says this is the only film that permits a tamper-proof bond with paper. The film cannot be destroyed without destroying the paper, too.

Mylar, a polyester product which Du Pont says is the toughest of all plastic films, is now being used as out­side lamination for returnable fiber beer cases. The cases last as much as twice as long and may be cleaned with a water hose. Celanese also displayed beer cartons that were treated with a formula based on its polyvinyl acetate emulsions.

• Soft Plastic Films. On the other side of the coin, the trend in packaging equipment is toward adapting standard equipment to handle soft plastic films. Many machines, originally designed to work with paper, underwent revamping in the early 1930's to run cellophane. With soft plastic film volume really coming into its own around 1953-54, packaging machine manufacturers are modifying the machines again to meet the rush to plastics.

But many packaging experts feel that plastic producers still have "bugs" to iron out in their products. Many plas­tics do not produce repetitive films, they say. Film packagers still receive rolls of film which vary in gage, causing all kinds of difficulties on the packaging machines. Printing is another area where some plastics leave a lot to be desired, they point out. First, some plastics are unreeeptive to certain inks: result—poor quality printing. Second, and perhaps more important, is in ma­chine cutting operations. In pattern layout particularly (where each cut must fall in a certain place over the package), plastic stretching often poses a big headache.

"Blister" and "skin" packaging is forging ahead, as indicated at the ex­position. Major advantages offered by these packaging techniques: see-through eye appeal to stimulate impulse buying, chances to further "plug" the product on the paperboard backing, pilferage protection of small articles, and increased shelf-life for perishable items. Blister and skin techniques are similar in principle. Perforated paper-board is coated with a heat sensitive adhesive. The product then is laid on

the backing, and a sheet of thermo­plastic is vacuum formed over it. T h e plastic heat seals itself to the backing. Perforation is necessary to draw the vacuum. Both processes are well named—blisters are just that, and re­quire a female mold. In skin packag­ing process, the product is the mold.

• Hearts and Ovals . A new ma­chine by Erclco Manufacturing uses high frequency waves which concen­trate the heat directly at the sealing point to allow blister packaging of materials that would be damaged or spoiled by the conventional heat seal­ing operation. The machine offers an­other advantage: It die-cuts the paper-board backing, instead of slitting it. Thus it makes possible more attractive package shapes, such as hearts and ovals. On display by Eastman Chemi­cal, it used Eastman's cellulose acetate butyrate to demonstrate the method.

Abbott Plastic Machine demonstrated its new board converting unit for both skin and blister pack. This is the first complete package unit, says Abbott. Now plastic packagers can convert the board, coat it, and package—all in one unit.

Pharmaceutical interests seemed to dominate F. J. Stokes's display. Its new 51-station rotary tableting ma­chine jumps production rate nearly 2 5 % over the company's present 41-station units. A new stoppering device, also shown, sets the stoppers in bottles or vials while they are still in the vacuum chamber—to prevent possible contami­nation once the vacuum is broken. I t is now available in the company's line of freezer-dryers.

Eastman Chemical got into the act again with a demonstration of E-Z Packaging's new machine that forms a polyethylene film bag and wraps it over a dry-cleaned garment in less than five seconds. According to Eastman Chemical Products vice president David C. Williams, this may be the first prac­tical and convenient means of using polyethylene for point-of-sale packing while the customer waits. I t s opera­tion is simple. The operator opens the polyethylene film tubing and pulls it over the garment to the needed length. A foot pedal closes heated platens and a blade, simultaneously cutting and sealing the film along the shoulders of the garment. The film used to demon­strate E-Z's machine was extruded by Chippewa Plastics (C&EN, May 26, 1958, page 7 3 ) .

More Plasf icizer on Way Pitt Coke & Chemical sees strong growth possibilities in market desp i te weak spots

Jr ITTSBURGH COKE & CJHEMICAL TOSSED

a vote of confidence t o the plasticizer market last week whera it p u t its new Neville Island, Pa., plasticizer plant on stream. It increases Pitt Coke's ca­pacity hy 50r/f and brings the nation's annual capacity to around 600 million pounds.

Not all this capacity- is in use now; the current operating rate is around 727' . But Pitt Coke figures the gap will close in u few yeatrs as plasticizer output keeps pace wi th the growing vinyl plastics market. Most of this growth will be in phthiilate ester types which accounted for o~d'% of last year's total plasticizer production. Pitt Coke expects phthalate plasticizer consump­tion to reach 370 million pounds by 1962, 50rA more than last year.

• Vinyls Set Pace. Vinyl plastics began to move in 1950 and as they did, plasticizers followed r ight behind. One pound of plasticizer r>lus two pounds of vinyl polymer maJœ about three pounds of vinyl plast ic . On this basis, some 350 million pountds of plasticizer were consumed last yeiir since the out­put of vinyl chloride and copolymer resins reached 700 million pounds .

Pitt Coke does not foresee any ma­jor stumbling blocks "to vinyl plastics growth. No newer type plastics are expected to replace vinyls. And no internally plasticized vinyl resins or new plasticizers are seen on the horizon, at this time, which xnight limit the ability of phthalate type plasticizers to follow in vmyTs footsteps. Further, Pitt Coke expects phtlxalate plasticizers will soon overtake alkyd resins as the major use for phthalicr anhydride.

• Cost-Price Nightmare . On the surface then, the oufilook for plasti­cizers appears quite "bright. This is not completely so; iir's a matter of position.

Intense competition has riddled the phthalate ester plasticizer market in the past few years. Since 1952, price cuts have chopped the price about 3 3 % to today's average of about 28 cents a pound. But under-l is t selling has be­come a common practice, As a conse­quence, profit margins have been cut to the minimum and sometimes lower.

2 2 C & E N J U N E 9, 1 9 5 8

RAW MATERIAL.

PARAFLINT has been on the market for one year— a very successful year from the marketing standpoint. During this time, its low cost, availability, and unusual properties have brought its introduction into the paper, plastics, polish and other industries, while exciting unusual interest among chemists in many other fields.

Perhaps this versatile product has properties which you are seeking. We shall be happy to send you our literature.

PARAFLINT A VERSATILE FISCHER TROPSCH DERIVATIVE

A, WRITE FOR TECHNICAL DATA.

MOORE <& MUNGER 33 Rector Street, New York 6, Ν. Υ.

• T.M. Reg. 1957

J U N E 9, 1958 C & E N 2 3

I N D U S T R Y & BUSINESS

Phthalate Eshers Lead , Plastîcîzer Parade j

; „ Λ.· .., (Production; Millions of PomndsL J τί*~~ lr > f « ί '* J^ >#: vW f *̂ \Phihalate & j

Γ^ΓΓ^^"^^?' ^ ) Anhydride _ j - 'Year ^^"Phstïcize^ ^Jype?

71949 ~^> ^ . 166. - ; * 94 ~: «

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And for the foreseeable future, the re apparently is little hojpe lor relief from this cost-price squeeze .

Under these conditions many firms exercised a competit ive right. If y o u choose to enter a business, you are aLso free to leave it. Laust year 40 firms made plasticizers; today it's down to 2 5 .

• Why M a k e Plaisticiners? Tti is would hardly look lilce the t ime,- then, to expand in plasticizers. However , Pitt Coke's analysis of the marke t s i tua­tion shows that there is a profitable side to the business : Be a producer of raw materials such a s phthalic anhy­dride or octyl alcohol.

The large volumes of r aw materi ills used to make plasticizers is the major economic incentive t o stay in t h e bus i ­ness. A firm with a hasic raw mate r ia l position can make plasticizers a profit­able venture despite tlhe highly compe t i ­tive situation. On mus basis, howeve r , plasticizer makers w h o must b u y b o t h acids and alcohols could b e in a v u l ­nerable position a n d might face an uncertain future.

In Pitt Coke's case, the company l ias an integrated operation where it maices phthalic anhydride ^ about 30 million pounds a year) mostly from its ΟΛνη coke-oven naphthalene. Phthalic is then processed with various purchased alcohols into many different plasticizers to meet the many atnd varied marke t demands. Diisoocfryl and dioctyl phthalate for calendered vinyls; di-capryl phthalate for plastisols a n d coated fabrics; and combined t y p e s such as butyl decyl and butyl oc ty l

phthalate for extruded products are some examples.

• Another Point. In 1950, when plasticizers sold for 40 cents a pound, it was a profitable business. But also, firms could get capt ive capacity for a relatively small investment. The amount varied from company to com­pany, b u t on the average, for around $600,000, a firm could get u p to 12 million pounds capacity a year. Con­sequently, many companies decided to make their own plasticizers rather than buy from outside producers. As prices dropped, however, the situation changed and it now looks better to buy than make; the trend to "do it yourself" has apparently stopped. With the current market situation expected to remain, i t does not seem likely to be revived.

From a sales viewpoint, then, outlets which were closing because of captive production are now opening again. And with vinyls expected to continue their growth spiral, increased demand for plasticizers and , in turn, for phthalic anhydride and alcohols, might be ex­pected. These r aw materials, Pitt Coke feels, a r e keys to profits in the future plasticizer market .

IMC Offers Help Company hopes to boost markets for its fertilizers through program of Full Orbi t Service

ITH PLENTY OF space-age hoopla, International Minerals & Chemical has just launched a new sales promotion program. The opening session was a p ­propriately called the Blast-Off. I t took place a t Chicago's Sheraton Hotel in a room profusely decorated with miniature space ships, revolving planets hanging from t h e ceiling, and photo­graphic blowups of rocket launchings. Sound effects were provided by dis­charging a hidden carbon dioxide fire extinguisher.

The complete project is called Full Orbit Service. Its promotional litera­ture, decorated with lots of Stardust, carries the slogan "Out-of-this-world service for down-to-earth resul ts / '

Stripped of its outer-space trappings, the program is designed to promote IMC's sales of phosphate minerals, phosphate chemicals, and potash

(C&EX, June 2, page 19) . I M C plans to do this by providing its customers (fertilizer manufacturers and mixers) with more service than they 've ever had before.

This is the kind of service that , for years, has been supplied by manufac­turers of consumer goods (people w h o make automobiles, phonograph records, washing machines) . But according to IMC, it's unusual in t h e fertilizer indus­try. Although many other fertilizer companies offer a variety of customer aids, nothing before has been qui te so comprehensive, the firm says.

• Answers to Ques t ions . Sparked by Anthony E. Cascino, IMC's vice president in charge of marketing, the program is designed to help customers improve their day-to-day operations and thus sell more product . Some 3 0 of the company's salesmen gathered in Chi­cago recently7 for a three-day briefing. And in the future, they'll b e taking periodic refresher courses. IMC's sales­men have to be properly t ra ined; they're the heart of the program.

For the time being, the program will provide IMC's customers wi th help in six areas—market analysis, sales manpower, advertising, t ransportat ion, special meetings, and technical service.

In sales manpower , for example, the IMC staff is prepared to offer recom­mendations on how to choose and de­velop new salesmen, how to supervise them, how to assign sales quo tas , how to analyze sales results, how to p a y sales­men, how to offer special incentives. On meetings, IMC will advise on how to plan sure-fire programs, h o w to get good speakers, how to increase at tend­ance, how to use props, when and where to hold meetings, what different

Anthony E . Cascino, IMC's v .p . in charge of marketing, leads rjrogram

2 4 C & E N J U N E 9 1958