Harman Corporation Meets with the FVA in Washington D.C. to discuss EPA Concerns.

On August 9th, 2010 Harman Corporation met with representatives from the FVA and OMB and other offices regarding the possible EPA listing of 8 phthalates as TSCA 5(b)(4) chemicals of concern.

Harman Corporations owner Ted Fisher presented and spoke about EPA phthalate concerns to the FVA and various government representatives. Among the representatives were N. Hart, program examiner of the Executive Branch, J. Weiss, Sr. Director of Technical Barriers to Trade, M. Stebbins, and PhD Assistant Director for Biotechnology. Industry representatives included K. Ott, Coordinator of the Flexible Vinyl Alliance (FVA), J. Seibold, President of Lakeside Plastics and R. Sternthal, President of the American Renolit Corporation. Discussions of the impact and importance of flexible Vinyls were raised.

Ted Fisher reasoned that Harman's products have met the cost and performance demands of manufacturers have provided safety and protection for consumers through their many operating years. Over 98% of our vinyl products are produced using DIDP and DINP, safe and proven hi molecular weight plasticizers, for which comparable cost performance alternatives simply do not exist at volumes sufficient to support even 25% of the current phthalate based applications. He argued that if these phthalates were listed under a chemical of concern TSCA 5(b)(4) it would cause market de-selection, effectively creating a de facto ban on key raw materials and products this would quickly eliminate 75% of the industries business and ultimately employees.
It should be noted that the flexible vinyl industry employs more than 275,000 domestic workers, and is part of the larger contingent of a plastics production workforce that exceeds 1 million persons domestically.
Allowing the EPA to create an effective ban on the incredibly diverse range of consumer and industrial products served by US manufacturers of flexible vinyl products is in direct contradiction to the decades of safe use and the most objective scientific information available, would have an immediate and significant impact on the US economy and is fundamentally a bad idea. Harman Corp also had positive exchanges with the Small Business Administration and believe they are aware of the potential business and economic impacts, and may very well be able to assist.

Harman Corporation has been a manufacturer and global supplier of dip molded flexible vinyl products for nearly 50 years, and has been manufacturing in Rochester, MI since 1963. The company currently employs 32
people and manufactures flexible vinyl products for a very diverse range of customers and applications.The company’s product line includes plastic caps, grips and plugs; high temperature paint masks, custom dip molding and injection molding. A broad range of companies throughout the world finds value in Harman Corporation’s experience, outstanding customer service and extensive capabilities. These complimentary products, our manufacturing and logistical capabilities, combined with our responsiveness and focus customer service, enables Harman Corporation to be your single source for standard and custom molded products.

360 South St
Rochester, MI 48307
(248) 651-4477

This release was published on openPR.