Nonmetallics

PLASTICS

FP INTERNATIONAL BUYS UK MANUFACTURER

FP International, Redwood City, Calif., has announced the acquisition of Flo-Pak, a manufacturer of polystyrene loosefill in the United Kingdom. “We’re very pleased about the purchase,” says Arthur Graham, president, FP International. “We think Flo-Pak UK is an integral part of our organization’s plans for future growth.”

Flo-Pak UK was purchased from Macfarlane Group PLC of Glasgow, Scotland. The company has a 51,000 square-foot manufacturing facility in Brackley, England. The facility manufactures FLO-PAK loosefill packaging and “Ultrawood” maintenance-free wood substitute made from polystyrene.

FP International has also announced a 9.3% increase in the amount of expanded polystyrene (EPS) the company recycled last year. “Our polystyrene recycling program grew significantly last year,” says company president Arthur Graham. “We recycled 8.8 million pounds of EPS, over 75,000 pounds more than we processed in 1998.”

The company has recycled more than 62 million pounds of EPS packaging since it began polystyrene recycling in 1990. FP International recycles polystyrene foam packaging collected from equipment manufacturers, local businesses and individuals.

RUBBER

SCRAP TIRE PROCESSORS HOST FIRST MEETING

The National Association of Scrap Tire Processors (NASTP) is holding their first nationwide meeting April 30 at the Opryland Hotel, Nashville, Tenn. The meeting coincides with the International Tire and Retreaders Association (ITRA) Annual Convention.

OIL

OIL RECYCLING UP IN SOUTH CAROLINA

Oil recycled by do-it-yourself oil changers in South Carolina rose by 12% in volume last year, marking the eighth consecutive year with an increase, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) has announced.

Since the program began in 1991, 4.6 million gallons of used oil and more than 338 tons of filters and 142 tons of motor oil bottles have been recycled, says Douglas E. Bryant, DHEC commissioner.

The South Carolina program was one of the first to target do-it-yourselfers as well as the first to collect oil bottles and filters, Bryant announced at a Columbia news conference.