AlliedSignal Inc (HQ: PO Box 2332, Morristown, NY 07962, USA) acquired its first European manufacturing facility to produce "Capron" polyamide resins (PA 6 and 66), as well as PET resins last year (see Plasteurope.com No 11 and 20, 1995). The planned investment and modernisation programme for this factory, based in eastern Germany, has now commenced. As Bob Preston, Production Manager in Rudolstadt, explained to the international press, the intention is to improve the quality of production at AlliedSignal Polymer GmbH Rudolstadt (Breitscheidstr. 103, D-07407 Rudolstadt) up to the level of AlliedSignal Plastics (European HQ: Haasrode Research Park, B-3001 Heverlee) abroad. A large part of the total $ 150m investment planned over the next three years will be allocated to the construction of a new compounding facility (startup beginning 1997), as well as the upgrading and expansion of existing polyamide production capacity (mid-1997). In addition, an Application Development Centre and a Colour Laboratory will be located at Rudolstadt.

Allied has given no details about the financial situation of the Rudolstadt facility, nor has it made predictions about the time necessary to effect a turn-around. According to James T. Morelli, recently appointed Director of Sales and Market Development Europe, AlliedSignal Plastics, has embarked on a major drive for growth. "We aim to double our European business this year, we are already on-track to achieve that goal, and in 1997 we intend to double it again."

Among AlliedSignal's latest developments are "Capron" "HPN" (High Productivity Nylon), a polyamide 6, offering moulders up to 30% higher output rate and "Paint Free"-"Petra" recyclate that allows the elimination of painting without compromising either colour choice or batch-to-batch consistency. "HPN" has been specially developed to reduce cycle times in injection moulding significantly. Major application areas for this polyamide resin, also produced in Rudolstadt, are in garden equipment and power tools, as well as high performance automotive parts.

AlliedSignal Plastics is a leading worldwide producer of polyamide 6 and 66. Typical applications of "Capron", "Petra" (PET) and "Nypel" (recycled PA) include packaging films, automotive components, electrical wire and cable sheathing, electronic components, lawn and power products and other engineered plastics applications.

READER SERVICE: AlliedSignal Plastics company profile with technical data sheet: PIE-No. 39021 – Brochures: "Injection Molding Processing Guide for Capron: PIE-No. 38986 – "Modulus Design Solutions Guide": PIE-No. 38987 – Detailed information on business unit "Packaging": PIE-No. 39022 (DM 18.00) – "Lawn & Power Industry": PIE-No. 39025 – "Automotive Industry": PIE-No. 39026.