NEWS
3Sealing Technology June 2004
Positive financial results from seal group companies around the worldBurgmann enters 2004 with positive figures in difficult times
In spite of a strained situationthroughout the world economy,2003 saw sales increase by 2.3%at Burgmann DichtungswerkeGmbH in Germany.
Consolidated group salesincreased to around �298 millionin 2003; business activities outsideGermany accounted for 68% of thisresult. Domestic sales rose toaround �96.7 million, compared to�93.3 million for the previous year.Sales outside Germany grew from�198.7 million to �201.5 million.
With effect from 1 March 2004,Freudenberg & Co in Weinheimpurchased key elements of theBurgmann Group activities, inparticular the Mechanical Seals,Expansion Joints and Automotive
divisions [Sealing Technology,April]. The company is now oper-ating in Germany under the nameBurgmann Industries GmbH &Co KG, and its current workforcetotals 3117 among more than 50subsidiaries and joint venturesworldwide.
Burgmann’s international serviceand framework agreements areproof that long-term, partnership-based cooperation with plant opera-tors forms an important buildingblock for future success.
Contact:Burgmann Industries, ÄußereSauerlacher Strasse 6–10, D-82502Wolfratshausen, Germany.Tel: +49 8171 231453, Fax: +49 8171 231095,Web: www.burgmann.com
EnPro Industries Q1 earnings up as major markets strengthen
EnPro, the parent group ofGarlock, is reporting salesgrowth of 16% for the firstquarter of 2004, as most of its operations benefit fromincreased activity. Segmentprofits improved by 32%, ben-efiting from higher volumesand lower costs.
The company reported a netincome of $11.4 million ($0.54per share) for the first quarter of2004, compared to $6.1 million($0.30 per share) in the firstquarter of 2003.
EnPro subsidiaries received8400 new asbestos claims filingsduring the quarter, down 16%from the first quarter of last year,as new claims continued to comein at lower rates. Claims receivedin the quarter included 3500from a Mississippi lawsuit thatwas amended to add GarlockSealing Technologies as a defen-dant. Excluding these, other newclaims came in at about the samerate as in each of the third andfourth quarters of 2003.
The company says that, whilestill large, this rate is well belowthe lowest number of new claimsreceived in any year since 1994.This, it is hoped, is indicative of areal decline in the incidence ofasbestos-related disease, consistentwith the expectations and predic-tions of the medical community.
Sealing Products within thegroup reported profits of $15.8million for the first quarter, a46% improvement over the firstquarter of 2003. Indeed, marketsimproved and volumes increasedat most units.
Segment profits also reflected astronger mix of business as theresult of the acquisition ofPikotek in the fourth quarter of 2004, and the divestiture of a low-margin sealing businessthat was included in the firstquarter of 2003. Sales in the seg-ment grew by 16% over the firstquarter of 2003, led by a 24%increase at Stemco, reflecting thestrength of the heavy-duty truckmarket.
Stronger end markets also ledto improved sales figures atGarlock Sealing Technologies,although activity in those mar-kets remains low by historicalstandards. While sales benefitedprimarily from improved marketconditions, they also benefitedto a lesser extent from a strongereuro currency.
Contact:EnPro Industries Inc, 5605 CarnegieBoulevard, Charlotte, NC 28209-4674, USA. Tel: +1 704 731 1500,Fax: +1 704 731 1511, Email: [email protected],Web: www.enproindustries.com
US-based Kaydon Corporationreports that for the first quarter of2004, its sales were up 17.7%.
In the same period the company’sorder entry increased by 14.2% andnet income rose by 25.5%.Earnings per share were $0.32
versus $0.24 in the comparableperiod a year ago.
Contact:Kaydon Ring & Seal, PO Box 626, Balti-more, MD 21203-0626, USA.Tel: +1 410547 7700, www.kaydonringandseal.com
Kaydon reports increased first quarter results
Trelleborg shows benefit of sealing aquisition
The Trelleborg Group showed acontinued favorable sales andprofit trend during the firstquarter of 2004.
The group reported positiveeffects from the new businessarea, Trelleborg Sealing Solutions.The Group’s net sales rose by 36%during the first quarter of 2004,
with its operating profit increas-ing by 75% to SKr406 million(US$53.4 million).
Contact:Trelleborg AB, PO Box 153, SE-231 22Trelleborg, Sweden. Tel: +46 41067000, Fax: +46 410 42763,www.trelleborg.com
John Crane sets up e-Business solutionSealing giant John Crane hasdeveloped what it claims is aworld-leading e-Business solution.The aim of this is to provide boththe company and key customerswith an opportunity to achievemutual benefits.
These are expected to include:
• Streamlined communications.• Inventory rationalization.• Faster turnaround times.• Elimination of errors and delays.• Increased security.
The solution can be configured for
conducting e-Business either directly(‘B2B’), or via the major exchangesor hubs. The objective of e-Businessis to make it easy to do business withJohn Crane. To achieve this a suite ofproprietary tools can be deployed toensure that an optimized collabora-tive business solution is created withkey customers.
Contacts:John Crane, Nash Road,Trafford Park,Manchester M17 1SS, UK.Tel: +44 161886 5996, Fax: +44 161 886 5990,Web:www.johncrane.co.uk
New VP of technology & innovationfor Parker Seal GroupParker Hannifin Corporationhas announced the promotion ofDale M. Ashby to the position ofvice president of technology andinnovation for the company’sSeal Group, with effect from 1 April.
The promotion is intended toreflect the effort within the Groupto increase its capacity for organicgrowth through innovative systemsengineering and product develop-ment. Ashby joined Parker in May
1985 as an applications engineer,and has held a number of positionsof increasing responsibility in theorganization. Since 2001, Ashbyhas been the technical director ofthe O-Ring Division in Lexington,Kentucky.
Contact:Parker Hannifin Corporation, SealGroup, 6035 Parkland Boulevard,Cleveland,OH 44124, USA. Tel: +1 216 896 2363,Fax: +1 216 896 4010, Web:
