The tug punctured the Spektr scientific module, and income was FFlOOm, up from FF62m last year over gravely compromised the power supply. the same period last year.

The module was sealed off when air pressure fell after the impact. The space shuttle Atlantis took pictures of flying particles escaping from under the electricity-generator, when air was pumped into the damaged section. Analysis of the leak is ongoing, but Atlantis did deliver to the space station an airtight cap for plugging the leak if it is situated under the broken electricity panel.

Sales for its main electrical applications business rose by 6%, but in the sealing business, which includes Cefilac, only sales in high performance activities increased. This resulted in a total turnover of FF112m. Sealing business operating margin totalled 13% of sales.

The Russian-US crew have also worked this month to seal a leak in the exterior airlock, which is part of the Kvant module. Astronauts were unable to seal the hatch completely after returning from a spacewalk. Air introduced initially showed no signs of pressure loss, but mission control was unconvinced that this meant there was no leak. A white substance was found on the hatch which may have prevented proper sealing, and once this was removed, pressure was raised incrementally until they could be sure the atmosphere was stable at operating pressure levels.

Contact: Groupe Carbone Lorraine, Immeuble La Fayette 2 - 3, place des Vosges La Defense 5 - 92400 Courbevoie, France. Tel: +33 146 915400; Fax: +33 146 915401.

Freudenberg and NOK to report global figures

Contact: Nasa Headquarters, Washington DC, USA Tel: +l 202 358 1979. The Freudenberg-NOK Group has announced that in

order to better reflect its global reach and the integration of its automotive operations around the world, it will begin reporting its global automotive industry sales total. BTR initiates

divestment of non- core activities BTR has taken its first step in the process of regaining engineering focus, with the sale this month of its US- based Schlegel operation, maker of seals and shielding systems, to Unipoly, a management-led enterprise. BTR hopes to raise &Z billion through disposals.

The sale, which includes hose and belting business Birmingham Tyre and Rubber, and a number of smaller industrial operations, raises over f600m for BTR. The buy-out was pursued by Mr Laurie Cant, former head of Schlegel, on the agreement that these 30 or so smaller businesses would also be included.

Contact: BTR plc, Silver-town House, Vincent Square, London SW1 2PL, UK. Tel: +44 171 834 3848; Fax: +44 171 834 3879.

static for Carbone Lorraine Carbone Lorraine has reported a 10% growth in turnover for the first half of 1997, an upturn in operating margin from 8.7 to 10.8%. Group net

Freudenberg-NOK produces total sealing packages for engines, transmissions and brakes, complete NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) modules and all rubber, plastic and PTFE components for suspension, steering, electrical and fuel systems.

The global automotive sales revenue figure for the Freudenberg and NOK Group network will be issued in the second quarter of each year, beginning in March 1998 with 1997 year-end results, to emphasize the size and reach of the networks automotive business.

Total automotive sales for the global group for 1997 are expected to surpass $3.2 billion. This would place the Freudenberg and NOK Group into the ranks of the world’s top 25 independent automotive suppliers, among such names as Bosch, Denso and TRW.

Freudenberg - a $3.5 billion, privately held company based in Weinheim, Germany - and NOK Corporation - a $2 billion, publicly traded company based in Tokyo, Japan - have continued to expand their relationship since the two companies first signed a technical agreement in the late 1950s.

Contact: Freudenberg-NOK General Partnership, 1 Nok Drive, Cleveland, GA 30528, USA Tel: +l 706 865 1665; Fax: +l 706 865 1063.

Wynn’s Precision facilities achieve QS certification Wynn’s Precision, manufacturer of O-rings and engineered sealing components, has had QS 9000

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Static sealing

certification issued by the Underwriters Laboratories to the its Tennessee elastomeric O-ring and seal manufacturing facilities.

These certifications come as the result of successfully completed reassessment audits to IS0 9002, and include upgrade certification to &S-9000, the quality system defining the fundamental quality expectations of Ford, Chrysler and General Motors for internal and external suppliers in the automotive industry.

Contact: Wynn’s Precision, 500 North State College Boulevard, Suite 700, Orange, California 92868, USA. Tel: +l 714 938 3700.

GTC head elected to Fluid Sealing Association board Mr Phil Paino, company president of Greene, Tweed & Contact: Greene, Tweed & Co, Semiconductor Co, has joined the board of directors of the Fluid Division, San Jose, CA, USA. Tel: +l ,408 468 0180; Sealing Association. Fax: +l 408 468 0170.

Mr Paino has been with GTC for 31 years, starting his career with the company in 1966 as a field sales representative. He subsequently held several sales and marketing positions until 1982 when he was elected company president by the board. He is a 1962 graduate of Drexel University with a BS degree in Finance.

No-O-Ring ensures leak-free seal

Contact: The Fluid Sealing Association, 995 Old Eagle Road, Suite 1019, Wayne, PA 19087, USA. Tel: +l 610 971 4850; Fax: +l 610 971 4859: www.fluidsealing.com

Semiconductor sealing handbook published In response to a long-standing need, the first definitive sealing handbook for the semiconductor manufacturing industry has now been created. Greene, Tweed 8r Co. will soon release The Right Seal, a comprehensive guide to seals and sealing in semiconductor fabrication processes. GTC believes the handbook to be the first of its kind in the sealing industry.

The Right Seal contains detailed technical information on a wide variety of seal types and materials, specifically for the benefit of those individuals who design equipment and specify seals and sealing materials for the semiconductor fabrication industry. Each of the seal designs and materials discussed in these pages has a proven track

record in the complex and unforgiving applications encountered in semiconductor processing.

While Greene, Tweed’s products are naturally featured in the publication, the handbook is broad-based and comprehensive. Included are chapters on:

. Sealing requirements of the semiconductor industry Physical properties of elastomers O-ring seals Dovetail seals MSE seals Specialty applications Seal gland design Glossary of semiconductor Sealing terms

Also included in the fully illustrated handbook is a comprehensive collection of data sheets and technical materials relating to Semiconductor manufacturing sealing.

Complimentary copies of The Right Seal will be made available to semiconductor industry professionals upon request.

Furon has developed an innovative PFA union featuring a tongue and groove seal joint that offers reliable, leak-free service without the need for an O-ring. The No-O-Ring union is engineered to join components in welded PFA piping systems for ambient and high temperature wet process tools in the semiconductor industry. In addition to eliminating leakage and contamination issues associated with O-ring connections, the No-O-Ring union is quickly assembled and disassembled.

The joint is made from high-purity PFA with a non-wetted ETFE nut, materials which do not introduce contammation into the system or react to the corrosive chemicals used in the semiconductor industry. The tongue and groove desigr. eliminates fluoroelastomeric O-rings, which tend to be a source of contamination, retained chemicals. bacteria, and dead volume in the system, or PFA encapsulated O-rings which take a compression set and leak over time. The union is assembled and double bagged in a Class 100 clean room.

Connections made with the No-O-Ring union remain leak-tight over a long working life, with no re-tightening necessary. The union can be hand-tightened, requiring no additional tools and is pressure rated to 120 psi.

Contact: Furon Company, 3340 East La Palma Avenue, Anaheim, CA 92806, USA. Tel: +l 714 630 5818; Fax: +l 714 630 6640.

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