Plastic Fantastic

Page 1

plastic fantastic Design & print by F4group.com

plastribution newsletter 2011

Plastribution Limited Ceva House, Excelsior Road, Ashby Business Park, Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire LE65 1XY

Magellan House, Unit 1 Compass Point Business Park, Stocks Bridge Way, St Ives, Cambridgeshire PE27 5JL

Suite 21, Glenbervie Business Centre, 1 Glenbervie Business Park, Larbert FK5 4RB

Tel: 0845 34 54 560 www.plastribution.co.uk

plastic fantastic / 2011

plastic fantastic / 2011


welcome to plastic fantastic... Welcome to Plastic Fantastic!

We reflect three grounds for celebration in this issue of our customer magazine. Firstly, during 2010, we celebrated 30 years of Plastribution. Over the last three decades, we have endeavoured to be true to our name, by focusing on the sourcing, stocking, and distribution of a comprehensive range of thermoplastics. Our success has been founded on the simple philosophy of providing fast and flexible solutions to customer requirements and the sharing of our technical expertise. Confirmation of our philosophy is provided by two other reasons for celebration: In figures published by strategic consultants Applied Market Information Ltd. (AMI) during 2010, Plastribution was confirmed as the UK’s number one polymer distributor by both revenue and volume. This outstanding success has been achieved by providing both our suppliers and customers with quality, service and innovation. Service and innovation were also behind our success in the Polymer Distributor category of this year’s Plastics Industry Awards, announced in October. As you will go on to read in this issue, we received the award for our work with the Prison Industries on the design and production of an ‘indestructible’ plastic chair. According to the judges, our assistance in terms of material selection, technical support and teamwork approach were to the successful completion of the project. We invite you to read this issue of Plastic Fantastic and find out some more about what is going on in the world of Plastribution, whilst we look forward to many more years of mutual success.

welcome Best regards, Mike Boswell, Managing Director, Plastribution

page 2 / plastic fantastic / 2011

Product list

Supplier

CARMEL OLEFINS LTD.

Material

Brand

TPE TPO TPV TPE TPU Bioplastics

Megol Apigo Tivilon Raplan Apilon 52 Apinat

Biodegradeable Biohybrid

Cardia Biohybrid

LDPE PPHP PPCP PPRCP

Ipethene Capilene Capilene Capilene

ABS ASA BDS PC/ABS SAN Polycarbonate

Polyac Kibilac Kibiton Wonderloy Kibisan Wonderlite

Masrterbatch Anti-static Masterbatch - Blowing Agents Masterbatch - Nylon Masterbatch - PBT Masterbatch - Polycarbonate Masterbatch - POM Masterbatch - PVC Masterbatch - UV Stabilisers Masterbatch - Universal SMMA

Styrilic

Cyro Cyro XT PMMA

Cyrolite Clear Polymer Plexiglas

Supplier

Material EAA EVA Functional Polymers HDPE Ionomer LDPE LLD Plastomer LLDPE mPE mPE PPHP PPCP PP Plastomer

Brand Escor Escorene Exxelor ExxonMobil HD Iotek ExxonMobil LD Exact ExxonMobil LLD Exceed Enable ExxonMobil PP ExxonMobil PP Vistamaxx

Calcium Carbonate Compounds Granic Polycarbonate SPS

Tarflon Xarec

LLDPE

Innovex

Masterbatch - Blowing Agents Masterbatch Colour Universal Masterbatch - Flame Retardant Masterbatch - UV Stabilisers Masterbatch - Process Aids Masterbatch Slip/Anti-block Masterbatch - Slip Agent Masterbatch Anti-block Polycarbonate POM (Acetal Copolymer) Functional Polymers

Iupital Iupilon Modic

PA12 PA6 Prime PA6.6 PBT PP Compounds Functional Polymers

Plustek Plustek Plustek Ramster Ramofin BondyRam

Conductive Static Dissipative Compounds Thermally Conductive Compounds TPE - Highly Conductive

Pre-Elec Pre-Elec ESD Pretherm Preseal TPE

Supplier

Material

Brand

PA6 PA6 PA6 Industrial (Germany) PA6 Industrial (Italy) PA6 Prime (Germany) PA6 Prime (Italy) PA6 Prime FR (Italy) PA6.10 PA6.6 (Industrial) Germany PA6.6 FR (Italy) PA6.6 Industrial (Italy) PA6.6 Prime (Germany) PA6.6 Prime (Italy) PBT PBT PETG TPEE/TPE/TPV

Radilon S Heramid B Heramid I/B Heramid S Radilon B Radilon S Radiflam S Radilon D Heramid I/A Radiflam A Heramid A Radilon A Radilon A Raditer Radiflam B Raditer E Heraflex

ASA PA/ABS PC/ABS PC/ASA

Rotec Romiloy Romiloy Romiloy

PP Compounds

Thermofil

LLDPE PPCP

Sumitomo Sumitomo

PPS

Susteel

GPPS HIPS HIPS FR HIPS FR EVA HDPE LDPE LLDPE MDPE mPPRCP PPHP PPRCP PPCP

HIPS Alloys

Total EVA Total HD Total LD Total LLD Total MD Lumicene Total PP Total PP Total PP

2011 / plastic fantastic / page 3


welcome to plastic fantastic... Welcome to Plastic Fantastic!

We reflect three grounds for celebration in this issue of our customer magazine. Firstly, during 2010, we celebrated 30 years of Plastribution. Over the last three decades, we have endeavoured to be true to our name, by focusing on the sourcing, stocking, and distribution of a comprehensive range of thermoplastics. Our success has been founded on the simple philosophy of providing fast and flexible solutions to customer requirements and the sharing of our technical expertise. Confirmation of our philosophy is provided by two other reasons for celebration: In figures published by strategic consultants Applied Market Information Ltd. (AMI) during 2010, Plastribution was confirmed as the UK’s number one polymer distributor by both revenue and volume. This outstanding success has been achieved by providing both our suppliers and customers with quality, service and innovation. Service and innovation were also behind our success in the Polymer Distributor category of this year’s Plastics Industry Awards, announced in October. As you will go on to read in this issue, we received the award for our work with the Prison Industries on the design and production of an ‘indestructible’ plastic chair. According to the judges, our assistance in terms of material selection, technical support and teamwork approach were to the successful completion of the project. We invite you to read this issue of Plastic Fantastic and find out some more about what is going on in the world of Plastribution, whilst we look forward to many more years of mutual success.

welcome Best regards, Mike Boswell, Managing Director, Plastribution

page 2 / plastic fantastic / 2011

Product list

Supplier

CARMEL OLEFINS LTD.

Material

Brand

TPE TPO TPV TPE TPU Bioplastics

Megol Apigo Tivilon Raplan Apilon 52 Apinat

Biodegradeable Biohybrid

Cardia Biohybrid

LDPE PPHP PPCP PPRCP

Ipethene Capilene Capilene Capilene

ABS ASA BDS PC/ABS SAN Polycarbonate

Polyac Kibilac Kibiton Wonderloy Kibisan Wonderlite

Masrterbatch Anti-static Masterbatch - Blowing Agents Masterbatch - Nylon Masterbatch - PBT Masterbatch - Polycarbonate Masterbatch - POM Masterbatch - PVC Masterbatch - UV Stabilisers Masterbatch - Universal SMMA

Styrilic

Cyro Cyro XT PMMA

Cyrolite Clear Polymer Plexiglas

Supplier

Material EAA EVA Functional Polymers HDPE Ionomer LDPE LLD Plastomer LLDPE mPE mPE PPHP PPCP PP Plastomer

Brand Escor Escorene Exxelor ExxonMobil HD Iotek ExxonMobil LD Exact ExxonMobil LLD Exceed Enable ExxonMobil PP ExxonMobil PP Vistamaxx

Calcium Carbonate Compounds Granic Polycarbonate SPS

Tarflon Xarec

LLDPE

Innovex

Masterbatch - Blowing Agents Masterbatch Colour Universal Masterbatch - Flame Retardant Masterbatch - UV Stabilisers Masterbatch - Process Aids Masterbatch Slip/Anti-block Masterbatch - Slip Agent Masterbatch Anti-block Polycarbonate POM (Acetal Copolymer) Functional Polymers

Iupital Iupilon Modic

PA12 PA6 Prime PA6.6 PBT PP Compounds Functional Polymers

Plustek Plustek Plustek Ramster Ramofin BondyRam

Conductive Static Dissipative Compounds Thermally Conductive Compounds TPE - Highly Conductive

Pre-Elec Pre-Elec ESD Pretherm Preseal TPE

Supplier

Material

Brand

PA6 PA6 PA6 Industrial (Germany) PA6 Industrial (Italy) PA6 Prime (Germany) PA6 Prime (Italy) PA6 Prime FR (Italy) PA6.10 PA6.6 (Industrial) Germany PA6.6 FR (Italy) PA6.6 Industrial (Italy) PA6.6 Prime (Germany) PA6.6 Prime (Italy) PBT PBT PETG TPEE/TPE/TPV

Radilon S Heramid B Heramid I/B Heramid S Radilon B Radilon S Radiflam S Radilon D Heramid I/A Radiflam A Heramid A Radilon A Radilon A Raditer Radiflam B Raditer E Heraflex

ASA PA/ABS PC/ABS PC/ASA

Rotec Romiloy Romiloy Romiloy

PP Compounds

Thermofil

LLDPE PPCP

Sumitomo Sumitomo

PPS

Susteel

GPPS HIPS HIPS FR HIPS FR EVA HDPE LDPE LLDPE MDPE mPPRCP PPHP PPRCP PPCP

HIPS Alloys

Total EVA Total HD Total LD Total LLD Total MD Lumicene Total PP Total PP Total PP

2011 / plastic fantastic / page 3


plastribution named distributor of the year Mike Boswell (right), managing director of Plastribution Limited, receives the Polymer Distributor of the Year award from Sam Hill (centre) managing director at Summit Systems. The awards were presented by celebrity Millie Clode (left)

The ‘indestructible’ prison cell chair is moulded in two sections and joined together using plastic welding

Plastribution was announced Polymer Distributor of the Year at the annual Plastics Industry Awards, held in London on 1 October 2010. The polymer distributor was presented with the award for its work with the Prison Industries on the design and production of an ‘indestructible’ plastic chair to be used in prison cells across the country. After personally accepting the award on behalf of Plastribution, Mike Boswell, managing director of Plastribution Limited, said: “Coming on top of recent recognition as the UK’s leading distributor of polymers,

page 4 / plastic fantastic / 2011

this award is a further highlight of what has been a highly successful 2010 and 30th year of Plastribution. We consider the award as clear recognition of our commitment to bringing value to the UK plastics industry and the quality of our products and technical support.” In a new format for the Supplier Partnership category, polymer distribution companies able to demonstrate a key role in the success of a new project, or an excellent level of service in an ongoing supply relationship, were short-listed for the title of Distributor of the Year 2010. With two of the three projects selected for the award, Plastribution’s hopes

for the evening were high – and it was for its work with the Prison Industries on a new, indestructible cell chair that it took title.

Plastribution was selected in 2008 as the sole supplier of plastics to the Prison Industries’ seven mould shops throughout the UK based on the strength of its polymer portfolio and technical support. One of the first projects for the distributor to become involved in was the production of an ‘indestructible’ cell chair that would be difficult to destroy or break into pieces, awkward to hold or throw, safe-in-use and not provide the opportunity for the concealment of weapons.

Finding that most materials were too brittle and were failing tests within 30 seconds, Plastribution was able to recommend Capilene® PP TG50 from Carmel Olefins, a copolymer designed for injection moulding applications requiring optimal impact resistance, used with an Exact™ plastomer modifier from Dex Plastomers (at 10 percent) to further improve impact strength and flexibility.

Using the new material combination, the chair passed all testing (surviving more than five minutes of violent impact testing) and went into production in June 2009.

To date not a single product failure has been recorded.

Abdul Majid of the National Offender Management Service is in no doubt the role played by Plastribution in the successful conclusion of a very demanding project: “Plastribution made it possible. They were quick to respond with new alternatives when the initial materials failed, and proposed the innovative solution based on new generation plastomers. Their advice on processing and teamwork approach helped drive the project to its successful completion and confirmed our choice of Plastribution as our sole supplier.”

2011 / plastic fantastic / page 5


plastribution named distributor of the year Mike Boswell (right), managing director of Plastribution Limited, receives the Polymer Distributor of the Year award from Sam Hill (centre) managing director at Summit Systems. The awards were presented by celebrity Millie Clode (left)

The ‘indestructible’ prison cell chair is moulded in two sections and joined together using plastic welding

Plastribution was announced Polymer Distributor of the Year at the annual Plastics Industry Awards, held in London on 1 October 2010. The polymer distributor was presented with the award for its work with the Prison Industries on the design and production of an ‘indestructible’ plastic chair to be used in prison cells across the country. After personally accepting the award on behalf of Plastribution, Mike Boswell, managing director of Plastribution Limited, said: “Coming on top of recent recognition as the UK’s leading distributor of polymers,

page 4 / plastic fantastic / 2011

this award is a further highlight of what has been a highly successful 2010 and 30th year of Plastribution. We consider the award as clear recognition of our commitment to bringing value to the UK plastics industry and the quality of our products and technical support.” In a new format for the Supplier Partnership category, polymer distribution companies able to demonstrate a key role in the success of a new project, or an excellent level of service in an ongoing supply relationship, were short-listed for the title of Distributor of the Year 2010. With two of the three projects selected for the award, Plastribution’s hopes

for the evening were high – and it was for its work with the Prison Industries on a new, indestructible cell chair that it took title.

Plastribution was selected in 2008 as the sole supplier of plastics to the Prison Industries’ seven mould shops throughout the UK based on the strength of its polymer portfolio and technical support. One of the first projects for the distributor to become involved in was the production of an ‘indestructible’ cell chair that would be difficult to destroy or break into pieces, awkward to hold or throw, safe-in-use and not provide the opportunity for the concealment of weapons.

Finding that most materials were too brittle and were failing tests within 30 seconds, Plastribution was able to recommend Capilene® PP TG50 from Carmel Olefins, a copolymer designed for injection moulding applications requiring optimal impact resistance, used with an Exact™ plastomer modifier from Dex Plastomers (at 10 percent) to further improve impact strength and flexibility.

Using the new material combination, the chair passed all testing (surviving more than five minutes of violent impact testing) and went into production in June 2009.

To date not a single product failure has been recorded.

Abdul Majid of the National Offender Management Service is in no doubt the role played by Plastribution in the successful conclusion of a very demanding project: “Plastribution made it possible. They were quick to respond with new alternatives when the initial materials failed, and proposed the innovative solution based on new generation plastomers. Their advice on processing and teamwork approach helped drive the project to its successful completion and confirmed our choice of Plastribution as our sole supplier.”

2011 / plastic fantastic / page 5


a quacking good time

green innovation from Radici

‘ under the enthusiastic encouragement of Matt the tour guide, the assembled Plastribution group emitted a loud and hearty “QUACK!” to the policemen...’

Unbeknown to most of those present, a Duck Tour of London consists of an “exciting road and river adventure” (to quote the website) aboard an amphibious craft, originally known as ‘DUKWS’. The DUKWS were designed during World War II and were first used for the D-Day landings when more than 22,000 were built to take the troops ashore. Weighing more than a bus at just over 7 tons, the amphibious vehicle performs a dramatic launch into the River Thames to provide guests with a unique view of some of London’s most famous landmarks from the water.

A further core element of the Duck Tour is for the passengers to flap their arms and make a quacking sound when passing significant London attractions. Hence, under the enthusiastic encouragement of Matt the tour guide, the assembled Plastribution group emitted a loud and hearty “QUACK!” to the policemen guarding the entrance to Downing Street and bemused tourists passing the Ritz Hotel.

Sixty percent of the raw materials used to manufacture new Radilon® D plastics are from renewable resource materials, such as castor seed oil, (obtained from the castor oil plant). The new products have characteristics that make them suitable for use in many critical applications, such as under-bonnet car parts (which operate under mechanical stress at high temperatures, in contact with aggressive chemicals, etc.), compressed air hoses and cable jackets, amongst many others.

Two products from the new Radilon® D line are Radilon® D RV300K 333 black for injection moulding, which is ideal for automotive applications such as fuel line connectors, and Radilon® D 40P50 100 natural (still in its approval stage) for extrusion, ideal for applications such as compressed air ducts. Development of other Radilon® D products is currently in progress.. Further information: www.radicigroup.com Radilon® is a registered trademark of RadiciGroup.

Properties Comparison at a glance

40°C Static Permeation (Unleaded Fuel)

Tensile Modulus (DAM) Charpy Notched Impact (-30°C, RH50)

Although the weather on the day was more the kind to be enjoyed by ducks, all those present for the meal and tour enjoyed their day. And with Plastribution walking away with the title of Distributor of the Year at the end of the awards evening, everyone was in agreement that it had indeed been a ‘quacking’ good time!

1,4

Tensile Modulus (RH50)

Charpy Notched Impact (23°C, RH50)

Tensile Stress at Yield (DAM)

Moisture uptake (23°C/50% HR)

Tensile Stress at Yeild (RH50)

1,2 1 0,8 0,6 0,4 0,2 0

Water uptake (23°C Saturation)

Melting Temperature HDT (0.45 Mpa)

The DUKWS amphibious craft is as much at home on land as it is on water

page 6 / plastic fantastic / 2011

The new PA6-10 polyamides reduce environmental impact, while featuring properties that are the equivalent of, if not superior to, those of traditional polyamides. Compared to petroleum-based products, these materials can not only reduce dependency on fossil resources but also lower greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption in production processes.

Compared to polyamides 6 and 66, Radilon® D materials show reduced moisture uptake and a smaller loss of tensile strength and tensile modulus under wet conditions. Furthermore, PA6-10 products have better chemical resistance in contact with zinc chloride and calcium chloride solutions and better glycol resistance. Compared to PA11 and PA12, the new Radilon® D products have improved thermal resistance and much lower levels of unleaded fuel permeation which are the equivalent of PA6.

Weight Loss (g)

Ahead of last year’s Plastics Industry Awards held at the London Hilton on Park Lane on 1 October 2010, a select group of representatives from its material suppliers were Plastribution’s guests for lunch at the London Hilton, and a subsequent ‘Duck Tour’ of London.

Radici has recently introduced Radilon® D, a new family of PA6-10 engineering plastics for injection moulding and extrusion that are produced in part using polymer from renewable sources. Their introduction forms part of a long-term sustainable innovation project from Radici Group Plastics.

PA11

Specific Gravity

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

Days

PA6-10 shows much lower unleaded fuel permeation versus PA11 & PA12, same as PA6

PA12

PA6

PA6-10

Plastribution and its guests on the Duck Tour of London

2011 / plastic fantastic / page 7


a quacking good time

green innovation from Radici

‘ under the enthusiastic encouragement of Matt the tour guide, the assembled Plastribution group emitted a loud and hearty “QUACK!” to the policemen...’

Unbeknown to most of those present, a Duck Tour of London consists of an “exciting road and river adventure” (to quote the website) aboard an amphibious craft, originally known as ‘DUKWS’. The DUKWS were designed during World War II and were first used for the D-Day landings when more than 22,000 were built to take the troops ashore. Weighing more than a bus at just over 7 tons, the amphibious vehicle performs a dramatic launch into the River Thames to provide guests with a unique view of some of London’s most famous landmarks from the water.

A further core element of the Duck Tour is for the passengers to flap their arms and make a quacking sound when passing significant London attractions. Hence, under the enthusiastic encouragement of Matt the tour guide, the assembled Plastribution group emitted a loud and hearty “QUACK!” to the policemen guarding the entrance to Downing Street and bemused tourists passing the Ritz Hotel.

Sixty percent of the raw materials used to manufacture new Radilon® D plastics are from renewable resource materials, such as castor seed oil, (obtained from the castor oil plant). The new products have characteristics that make them suitable for use in many critical applications, such as under-bonnet car parts (which operate under mechanical stress at high temperatures, in contact with aggressive chemicals, etc.), compressed air hoses and cable jackets, amongst many others.

Two products from the new Radilon® D line are Radilon® D RV300K 333 black for injection moulding, which is ideal for automotive applications such as fuel line connectors, and Radilon® D 40P50 100 natural (still in its approval stage) for extrusion, ideal for applications such as compressed air ducts. Development of other Radilon® D products is currently in progress.. Further information: www.radicigroup.com Radilon® is a registered trademark of RadiciGroup.

Properties Comparison at a glance

40°C Static Permeation (Unleaded Fuel)

Tensile Modulus (DAM) Charpy Notched Impact (-30°C, RH50)

Although the weather on the day was more the kind to be enjoyed by ducks, all those present for the meal and tour enjoyed their day. And with Plastribution walking away with the title of Distributor of the Year at the end of the awards evening, everyone was in agreement that it had indeed been a ‘quacking’ good time!

1,4

Tensile Modulus (RH50)

Charpy Notched Impact (23°C, RH50)

Tensile Stress at Yield (DAM)

Moisture uptake (23°C/50% HR)

Tensile Stress at Yeild (RH50)

1,2 1 0,8 0,6 0,4 0,2 0

Water uptake (23°C Saturation)

Melting Temperature HDT (0.45 Mpa)

The DUKWS amphibious craft is as much at home on land as it is on water

page 6 / plastic fantastic / 2011

The new PA6-10 polyamides reduce environmental impact, while featuring properties that are the equivalent of, if not superior to, those of traditional polyamides. Compared to petroleum-based products, these materials can not only reduce dependency on fossil resources but also lower greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption in production processes.

Compared to polyamides 6 and 66, Radilon® D materials show reduced moisture uptake and a smaller loss of tensile strength and tensile modulus under wet conditions. Furthermore, PA6-10 products have better chemical resistance in contact with zinc chloride and calcium chloride solutions and better glycol resistance. Compared to PA11 and PA12, the new Radilon® D products have improved thermal resistance and much lower levels of unleaded fuel permeation which are the equivalent of PA6.

Weight Loss (g)

Ahead of last year’s Plastics Industry Awards held at the London Hilton on Park Lane on 1 October 2010, a select group of representatives from its material suppliers were Plastribution’s guests for lunch at the London Hilton, and a subsequent ‘Duck Tour’ of London.

Radici has recently introduced Radilon® D, a new family of PA6-10 engineering plastics for injection moulding and extrusion that are produced in part using polymer from renewable sources. Their introduction forms part of a long-term sustainable innovation project from Radici Group Plastics.

PA11

Specific Gravity

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

Days

PA6-10 shows much lower unleaded fuel permeation versus PA11 & PA12, same as PA6

PA12

PA6

PA6-10

Plastribution and its guests on the Duck Tour of London

2011 / plastic fantastic / page 7


PLEXIGLAS outshines the competition

®

The use of PLEXIGLAS® and PLEXALLOY® moulding compounds from Evonik by European car makers is helping cars retain the brilliant gloss of non-transparent automotive applications (NTAA) for as long as possible, with colours that are as fresh and vivid as the day the vehicle was bought. “Until recently, brilliant black surfaces dulled over time to an unattractive gray, mainly due to the punishing effects of high temperatures and solar UV radiation,” explains Tony Halbländer, senior technical manager and project manager for NTAA at Evonik in Darmstadt. “But using PLEXIGLAS® moulding compounds has all but put an end to that, thanks to their excellent UV and weathering resistance.” The idea of using PLEXIGLAS® in NTAA grew out of a joint project a few years ago. For the production of a new small car, a sub-supplier had to meet demanding and seemingly conflicting specifications. First, the A-pillar cover had to have an elegant, high-gloss Class A surface in a highly saturated colour. Second, the parts had to be produced more cost effectively. Potential savings were identified in the coating stage. “Coated plastic parts are costly to produce because they involve an additional work step. The use of PLEXIGLAS® moulding compounds completely eliminates this step, leading to cost savings of about 40 percent, compared to coated component systems,” explains Halbländer. Add-on parts made of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) are also lighter than comparable metal parts. As a result, the car itself is lighter, consumes less fuel, and produces less CO2. About 10 million parts made from PLEXIGLAS® and PLEXALLOY® moulding compounds are now produced annually for the automotive industry; approximately 50 million add-on components have been manufactured since the beginning of 2001, and the numbers are increasing. “With PLEXIGLAS®, we‘ve started a new trend on the European motor vehicle scene,” says Rudolf Blass, director of Business Development, Moulding Compounds, at Evonik. And the trend will now be extended to large-sized roof modules, utility vehicles, and the Asian and American markets.

“With PLEXIGLAS , we‘ve started a new trend on the European motor vehicle scene...” ®

page 8 / plastic fantastic / 2011

Product update: PLEXIGLAS® CoolTouch˛, the latest product from Evonik for car roof applications, significantly reduces heat build-up in plastic components by as much as 22 percent by reflecting part of the sun’s infrared radiation. The heat reflecting properties also positively impact the climate in the interior of the car. Because the temperature is lower, air conditioning systems require less energy, saving fuel and thus reducing CO2 emissions. Further information: www.plexiglas.net The Performance Polymers Business Unit of Evonik Industries is a worldwide manufacturer of PMMA products sold under the PLEXIGLAS® trademarks on the European, Asian, African and Australian continents and under the trademark ACRYLITE® in the Americas.

Owing to its heat reflection, PLEXIGLAS® CoolTouch® is suitable for car roof applications.

vistamaxx stretches performance

Vistamaxx™ propylene-based elastomers from ExxonMobil Chemical exhibit such a unique combination of properties that compounders and converters can produce innovative polymers and compounds with enhanced properties to meet specific application requirements. Produced using the company’s Exxpol™ metallocene technology, Vistamaxx propylene-based elastomers are semi-crystalline copolymers of propylene and ethylene. The grades typically used in polypropylene (PP) compounds and polymer modification have densities of 0.86 to 0.87g/cm3 and melt flow rates of 3 to 18 g/cm3. Vistamaxx can be used to achieve a unique balance of flexibility, transparency and impact performance. When used in PP modification, it enhances flexibility, clarity, impact strength and adhesion while reducing or eliminating stress whitening. As a minor blend component in a variety of polymers, it is easy to disperse and highly compatible. It can be added as a dry blend for use in conventional processing equipment. And, for more-complex compounds, Vistamaxx propylene-based elastomers can be loaded with high levels of filler and moderate levels of oil without significantly reducing mechanical properties.

Flexible products Blends of Vistamaxx and PP are also proving to be reliable alternatives to PVC compounds as they provide a range of benefits including: lower

fogging, which is detrimental in automotive applications caused by plasticizer migration; good elasticity and toughness at lower temperatures; good organoleptic properties; less staining due to plasticizer migration; and broad food contact compliance for fluid delivery applications. It also provides opportunities to lower the specific gravity and thickness of the part for reduced costs. Applications include: wire and cable, light duty wheel treads, trolley components, luggage handle grips, faux leather, car floor mats, washing machine drain hose, strain relief and toys.

Rigid packaging In the packaging market, Vistamaxx propylenebased elastomers are being selected as a drop-in modifier to improve the performance of polymers used in storage containers and boxes. OEMs and converters are adding a range of attributes such as enhanced flexibility, clarity and impact strength, and reduce or eliminate stress whitening.

Sumika Polymer Compounds is widely recognised as a leader in the technology of chemically coupled glass fibre reinforced polypropylene. Its use of an advanced

Further information: www.exxonmobilchemical.com Vistamaxx™ is a trademark of Exxon Mobil Corporation.

One converter reduced the cost and maintained performance of a transparent box previously made of polycarbonate (PC) by using 5 to 15 percent Vistamaxx propylenebased elastomer in a blend with random copolymer polypropylene (RCP). The modified RCP compound, which was dry blended at the injection molding machine, provided a balance of transparency for good appearance, impact performance to eliminate breakage, flexibility for good fit and lower costs.

New opportunities for weight and cost reduction During early 2010 Plastribution added the Thermofil® range of reinforced polypropylene (PP) compounds from Sumika Polymer Compounds to its extensive thermoplastic portfolio. Thermofil® glass- and mineralmodified PP compounds have been developed over the last forty years to meet the evolving requirements of the global automotive, household appliance and general engineering industries. They can be used as a replacement for traditional and more expensive engineering thermoplastics such as polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) and polyamide (PA), delivering benefits such as weight and cost savings, ease of processing and design.

A food container made from homopolymer polypropylene (hPP) lacked aesthetic appeal and the sealing performance required for a premium product range. RCP was originally evaluated as a possible replacement, but the flexibility and low temperature performance did not meet the requirements of the application. By adding 5 to10 percent Vistamaxx propylenebased elastomer to RCP, the modified compound provided a balance of: flexibility for an air-tight seal; transparency for superior appearance; low temperature performance to eliminate breakage; and, hinge flexibility without stress whitening or cracking.

coupling technology ensures the best possible adhesion between the PP and the glass fibre as well optimum glass fibre length distribution. The resulting compounds offer superior performance in terms of strength and stiffness, temperature resistance and impact strength than conventional glass fibre reinforced polypropylenes. Glass-coupled Thermofil® PP compounds can be used to replace glass-fibre reinforced PA and PBT in automotive components requiring high temperature and high toughness for significant weight and cost savings. The materials also have a long track record for their use in dynamically-stressed appliance components such as the structural drums for front loading washing machines, providing detergent resistance accredited to UL standards. General industrial applications include the adoption of fast cycling grades of glass coupled Thermofil®

PP for the production of thick wall applications in electric motor housings, industrial filters and fan impellers. The Thermofil® range of mineral-filled polypropylene bridges the gap between glassfilled and unfilled polypropylene resins. Tailored materials for targeted automotive applications include a range of supertough compounds for automotive bumpers and aesthetic high impact and low scratch grades for passenger compartment fascias and trims. A general range of engineering grades based on a wide variety of mineral fillers and other speciality reinforcements – including high temperature and chemically resistant low warp grades for metal replacement applications – are also available. Further information: www.sumika.co.uk Thermofil® is a registered trademark of Sumika Polymer Compounds.

2011 / plastic fantastic / page 9


PLEXIGLAS outshines the competition

®

The use of PLEXIGLAS® and PLEXALLOY® moulding compounds from Evonik by European car makers is helping cars retain the brilliant gloss of non-transparent automotive applications (NTAA) for as long as possible, with colours that are as fresh and vivid as the day the vehicle was bought. “Until recently, brilliant black surfaces dulled over time to an unattractive gray, mainly due to the punishing effects of high temperatures and solar UV radiation,” explains Tony Halbländer, senior technical manager and project manager for NTAA at Evonik in Darmstadt. “But using PLEXIGLAS® moulding compounds has all but put an end to that, thanks to their excellent UV and weathering resistance.” The idea of using PLEXIGLAS® in NTAA grew out of a joint project a few years ago. For the production of a new small car, a sub-supplier had to meet demanding and seemingly conflicting specifications. First, the A-pillar cover had to have an elegant, high-gloss Class A surface in a highly saturated colour. Second, the parts had to be produced more cost effectively. Potential savings were identified in the coating stage. “Coated plastic parts are costly to produce because they involve an additional work step. The use of PLEXIGLAS® moulding compounds completely eliminates this step, leading to cost savings of about 40 percent, compared to coated component systems,” explains Halbländer. Add-on parts made of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) are also lighter than comparable metal parts. As a result, the car itself is lighter, consumes less fuel, and produces less CO2. About 10 million parts made from PLEXIGLAS® and PLEXALLOY® moulding compounds are now produced annually for the automotive industry; approximately 50 million add-on components have been manufactured since the beginning of 2001, and the numbers are increasing. “With PLEXIGLAS®, we‘ve started a new trend on the European motor vehicle scene,” says Rudolf Blass, director of Business Development, Moulding Compounds, at Evonik. And the trend will now be extended to large-sized roof modules, utility vehicles, and the Asian and American markets.

“With PLEXIGLAS , we‘ve started a new trend on the European motor vehicle scene...” ®

page 8 / plastic fantastic / 2011

Product update: PLEXIGLAS® CoolTouch˛, the latest product from Evonik for car roof applications, significantly reduces heat build-up in plastic components by as much as 22 percent by reflecting part of the sun’s infrared radiation. The heat reflecting properties also positively impact the climate in the interior of the car. Because the temperature is lower, air conditioning systems require less energy, saving fuel and thus reducing CO2 emissions. Further information: www.plexiglas.net The Performance Polymers Business Unit of Evonik Industries is a worldwide manufacturer of PMMA products sold under the PLEXIGLAS® trademarks on the European, Asian, African and Australian continents and under the trademark ACRYLITE® in the Americas.

Owing to its heat reflection, PLEXIGLAS® CoolTouch® is suitable for car roof applications.

vistamaxx stretches performance

Vistamaxx™ propylene-based elastomers from ExxonMobil Chemical exhibit such a unique combination of properties that compounders and converters can produce innovative polymers and compounds with enhanced properties to meet specific application requirements. Produced using the company’s Exxpol™ metallocene technology, Vistamaxx propylene-based elastomers are semi-crystalline copolymers of propylene and ethylene. The grades typically used in polypropylene (PP) compounds and polymer modification have densities of 0.86 to 0.87g/cm3 and melt flow rates of 3 to 18 g/cm3. Vistamaxx can be used to achieve a unique balance of flexibility, transparency and impact performance. When used in PP modification, it enhances flexibility, clarity, impact strength and adhesion while reducing or eliminating stress whitening. As a minor blend component in a variety of polymers, it is easy to disperse and highly compatible. It can be added as a dry blend for use in conventional processing equipment. And, for more-complex compounds, Vistamaxx propylene-based elastomers can be loaded with high levels of filler and moderate levels of oil without significantly reducing mechanical properties.

Flexible products Blends of Vistamaxx and PP are also proving to be reliable alternatives to PVC compounds as they provide a range of benefits including: lower

fogging, which is detrimental in automotive applications caused by plasticizer migration; good elasticity and toughness at lower temperatures; good organoleptic properties; less staining due to plasticizer migration; and broad food contact compliance for fluid delivery applications. It also provides opportunities to lower the specific gravity and thickness of the part for reduced costs. Applications include: wire and cable, light duty wheel treads, trolley components, luggage handle grips, faux leather, car floor mats, washing machine drain hose, strain relief and toys.

Rigid packaging In the packaging market, Vistamaxx propylenebased elastomers are being selected as a drop-in modifier to improve the performance of polymers used in storage containers and boxes. OEMs and converters are adding a range of attributes such as enhanced flexibility, clarity and impact strength, and reduce or eliminate stress whitening.

Sumika Polymer Compounds is widely recognised as a leader in the technology of chemically coupled glass fibre reinforced polypropylene. Its use of an advanced

Further information: www.exxonmobilchemical.com Vistamaxx™ is a trademark of Exxon Mobil Corporation.

One converter reduced the cost and maintained performance of a transparent box previously made of polycarbonate (PC) by using 5 to 15 percent Vistamaxx propylenebased elastomer in a blend with random copolymer polypropylene (RCP). The modified RCP compound, which was dry blended at the injection molding machine, provided a balance of transparency for good appearance, impact performance to eliminate breakage, flexibility for good fit and lower costs.

New opportunities for weight and cost reduction During early 2010 Plastribution added the Thermofil® range of reinforced polypropylene (PP) compounds from Sumika Polymer Compounds to its extensive thermoplastic portfolio. Thermofil® glass- and mineralmodified PP compounds have been developed over the last forty years to meet the evolving requirements of the global automotive, household appliance and general engineering industries. They can be used as a replacement for traditional and more expensive engineering thermoplastics such as polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) and polyamide (PA), delivering benefits such as weight and cost savings, ease of processing and design.

A food container made from homopolymer polypropylene (hPP) lacked aesthetic appeal and the sealing performance required for a premium product range. RCP was originally evaluated as a possible replacement, but the flexibility and low temperature performance did not meet the requirements of the application. By adding 5 to10 percent Vistamaxx propylenebased elastomer to RCP, the modified compound provided a balance of: flexibility for an air-tight seal; transparency for superior appearance; low temperature performance to eliminate breakage; and, hinge flexibility without stress whitening or cracking.

coupling technology ensures the best possible adhesion between the PP and the glass fibre as well optimum glass fibre length distribution. The resulting compounds offer superior performance in terms of strength and stiffness, temperature resistance and impact strength than conventional glass fibre reinforced polypropylenes. Glass-coupled Thermofil® PP compounds can be used to replace glass-fibre reinforced PA and PBT in automotive components requiring high temperature and high toughness for significant weight and cost savings. The materials also have a long track record for their use in dynamically-stressed appliance components such as the structural drums for front loading washing machines, providing detergent resistance accredited to UL standards. General industrial applications include the adoption of fast cycling grades of glass coupled Thermofil®

PP for the production of thick wall applications in electric motor housings, industrial filters and fan impellers. The Thermofil® range of mineral-filled polypropylene bridges the gap between glassfilled and unfilled polypropylene resins. Tailored materials for targeted automotive applications include a range of supertough compounds for automotive bumpers and aesthetic high impact and low scratch grades for passenger compartment fascias and trims. A general range of engineering grades based on a wide variety of mineral fillers and other speciality reinforcements – including high temperature and chemically resistant low warp grades for metal replacement applications – are also available. Further information: www.sumika.co.uk Thermofil® is a registered trademark of Sumika Polymer Compounds.

2011 / plastic fantastic / page 9


come see us at Plastribution will once more be exhibiting at pdm11 (Plastics Design and Moulding), the UK’s leading annual plastics event, following its move to London. Scheduled to be held at the ExCeL Centre in London, 18-19 May 2011, pdm11 has relocated to the capital due to its position at the heart of the design community as well as the opportunity to access additional market sectors. At the show, Plastribution will be making use of the new ‘pod’ concept arranged by the show’s organisers to provide exhibitors with a more contemporary image and more time to speak with their customers. As ever, visitors to the Plastribution pod (stand number P22) can

expect to find out more about the broad range of engineering, styrenic and commodity thermoplastics carried by the UK’s leading distributor, as well as seek advice on material selection and processing for new and existing applications. Over the last five years, pdm has established itself as the must-attend event for everyone involved in plastics design and moulding. The show has a strong and loyal following amongst representatives of the moulding community, of both in-house OEMs and independents, and of the design community. This year pdm11 is specifically addressing the challenge faced by many companies in the

polymer sector: embracing the changing face of industry in the UK, while retaining the core elements of its established business. “We are delighted to be exhibiting at pdm11. Bearing in mind our role as a founding partner of the event, we fully support the show and its concept and are excited by its move south. We look forward to meeting old and new customers at the ExCeL Centre in London, and to supporting them in achieving innovation and design in plastics” said Plastribution managing director, Mike Boswell. Further information on pdm11 can be found at www.pdmevent.com

tree-mendous growth at plastribution Five years ago, Plastribution celebrated 25 years of business by planting 25 trees at a National Forest site in Staunton Harold near Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire. Last summer, before the company commemorated another milestone – 30 years and becoming the UK’s leading polymer distributor – managing director Mike Boswell checked up on the trees and found it was not just Plastribution that has gone from strength to strength over the last five years. It was a combination of oak, ash and birch saplings that formed the 25 trees planted by Plastribution in the National Forest during March 2005. As well as marking the company’s Silver Jubilee, the tree planting was also conducted as part of an effort to enhance the local environment – indeed, throughout its history Plastribution has been located in and around the National Forest which covers 200 square miles of Leicestershire and Derbyshire.

page 10 / plastic fantastic / 2011

Five years on, and the trees have shown remarkable growth – already taller than Mike Boswell at 6 feet tall and towering above his son Robbie. Their development is also symbolic of growth at Plastribution over the last 30 years and, specifically, the last half a decade. Recently confirmed as the country’s leading distributor of polymers by figures published by strategic consultants Applied Market Information Ltd. (AMI), Plastribution has established itself as a highly progressive distributor of plastic raw materials for injection moulding and extrusion customers. And staying with the tree analogy, the roots of its success can be found in the provision of fast and flexible solutions to customer requirements, and the sharing of its technical expertise. “Even with good care and conditions, it still takes years for a tree to develop and grow to massive proportions. The same applies in our approach to business,” say Mike Boswell. “After 30 years we have already reached great heights, but there are many more years of sustainable growth to come.”

Mike Mike and and his his son son Robbie Robbie during during aa visit visit to to the the trees trees in in the the National National Forest Forest last last summer. summer.

It is unlikely that you will have ever heard of The Glassbacks, but they are the biggest...and only band ever to come out of Plastribution. Formed two years ago when three guys (Dan Jarvis on bass, Martin White on guitar and Duncan Scott on drums) got together for a jam on the top floor of a local gym, where they were joined just a few months later by lead singer Dionne Wardle. After many practices, many laughs and the use of a vast vocabulary of swear words they committed to playing their first, and maybe last, gig at the Plastribution summer party. Knowing they were due to play in front of their friends’ partners and colleagues the laughs grew less frequent and the swearing got worse.

Set lists were chosen, sound and light equipment organised. The practising got more frequent and more focused until on the 3rd June everything was in place. Donington Park Hotel hushed and grew dim as the lights were turned low. With shaking limbs and quivering lips the band climbed onto the stage and launched into their opening chords. Some of the audience were expectant, some embarrassed but all looked at each other with a slightly surprised expression on their face. “They are quite good!” Three or four songs in, and the nerves had subsided and the lips had stopped quivering.

The band looked at each other with a similarly surprised expression. “We sound quite good!” Coming to the end of the set the band were in full cry, the crowd were crying out for more (or just crying). At the time of writing this article, we are not sure if The Glassbacks will ever reform for another performance. If it was the only appearance, then it will be long remembered by all. If rock & roll history does repeat itself, in 20 years time 10,000 people will claim they were there that sultry June night. Sons will excitedly ask their Fathers “Were you there Dad?” Fathers will answer in hushed tones “Yes son, I was there”.

rock&roll? do you wanna

The Glassbacks are (left to right) Martin White, Duncan Scott, Dionne Wardle and Dan Jarvis

2011 / plastic fantastic / page 11


come see us at Plastribution will once more be exhibiting at pdm11 (Plastics Design and Moulding), the UK’s leading annual plastics event, following its move to London. Scheduled to be held at the ExCeL Centre in London, 18-19 May 2011, pdm11 has relocated to the capital due to its position at the heart of the design community as well as the opportunity to access additional market sectors. At the show, Plastribution will be making use of the new ‘pod’ concept arranged by the show’s organisers to provide exhibitors with a more contemporary image and more time to speak with their customers. As ever, visitors to the Plastribution pod (stand number P22) can

expect to find out more about the broad range of engineering, styrenic and commodity thermoplastics carried by the UK’s leading distributor, as well as seek advice on material selection and processing for new and existing applications. Over the last five years, pdm has established itself as the must-attend event for everyone involved in plastics design and moulding. The show has a strong and loyal following amongst representatives of the moulding community, of both in-house OEMs and independents, and of the design community. This year pdm11 is specifically addressing the challenge faced by many companies in the

polymer sector: embracing the changing face of industry in the UK, while retaining the core elements of its established business. “We are delighted to be exhibiting at pdm11. Bearing in mind our role as a founding partner of the event, we fully support the show and its concept and are excited by its move south. We look forward to meeting old and new customers at the ExCeL Centre in London, and to supporting them in achieving innovation and design in plastics” said Plastribution managing director, Mike Boswell. Further information on pdm11 can be found at www.pdmevent.com

tree-mendous growth at plastribution Five years ago, Plastribution celebrated 25 years of business by planting 25 trees at a National Forest site in Staunton Harold near Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire. Last summer, before the company commemorated another milestone – 30 years and becoming the UK’s leading polymer distributor – managing director Mike Boswell checked up on the trees and found it was not just Plastribution that has gone from strength to strength over the last five years. It was a combination of oak, ash and birch saplings that formed the 25 trees planted by Plastribution in the National Forest during March 2005. As well as marking the company’s Silver Jubilee, the tree planting was also conducted as part of an effort to enhance the local environment – indeed, throughout its history Plastribution has been located in and around the National Forest which covers 200 square miles of Leicestershire and Derbyshire.

page 10 / plastic fantastic / 2011

Five years on, and the trees have shown remarkable growth – already taller than Mike Boswell at 6 feet tall and towering above his son Robbie. Their development is also symbolic of growth at Plastribution over the last 30 years and, specifically, the last half a decade. Recently confirmed as the country’s leading distributor of polymers by figures published by strategic consultants Applied Market Information Ltd. (AMI), Plastribution has established itself as a highly progressive distributor of plastic raw materials for injection moulding and extrusion customers. And staying with the tree analogy, the roots of its success can be found in the provision of fast and flexible solutions to customer requirements, and the sharing of its technical expertise. “Even with good care and conditions, it still takes years for a tree to develop and grow to massive proportions. The same applies in our approach to business,” say Mike Boswell. “After 30 years we have already reached great heights, but there are many more years of sustainable growth to come.”

Mike Mike and and his his son son Robbie Robbie during during aa visit visit to to the the trees trees in in the the National National Forest Forest last last summer. summer.

It is unlikely that you will have ever heard of The Glassbacks, but they are the biggest...and only band ever to come out of Plastribution. Formed two years ago when three guys (Dan Jarvis on bass, Martin White on guitar and Duncan Scott on drums) got together for a jam on the top floor of a local gym, where they were joined just a few months later by lead singer Dionne Wardle. After many practices, many laughs and the use of a vast vocabulary of swear words they committed to playing their first, and maybe last, gig at the Plastribution summer party. Knowing they were due to play in front of their friends’ partners and colleagues the laughs grew less frequent and the swearing got worse.

Set lists were chosen, sound and light equipment organised. The practising got more frequent and more focused until on the 3rd June everything was in place. Donington Park Hotel hushed and grew dim as the lights were turned low. With shaking limbs and quivering lips the band climbed onto the stage and launched into their opening chords. Some of the audience were expectant, some embarrassed but all looked at each other with a slightly surprised expression on their face. “They are quite good!” Three or four songs in, and the nerves had subsided and the lips had stopped quivering.

The band looked at each other with a similarly surprised expression. “We sound quite good!” Coming to the end of the set the band were in full cry, the crowd were crying out for more (or just crying). At the time of writing this article, we are not sure if The Glassbacks will ever reform for another performance. If it was the only appearance, then it will be long remembered by all. If rock & roll history does repeat itself, in 20 years time 10,000 people will claim they were there that sultry June night. Sons will excitedly ask their Fathers “Were you there Dad?” Fathers will answer in hushed tones “Yes son, I was there”.

rock&roll? do you wanna

The Glassbacks are (left to right) Martin White, Duncan Scott, Dionne Wardle and Dan Jarvis

2011 / plastic fantastic / page 11


A SIMPL pledge to safety “ Everyone is entitled to a safe working environment and as well as achieving that within our business we also want to encourage our customers and suppliers to embrace this responsibility. A safe workplace is vital for the future of UK manufacturing...”

Cardia Bioplastics appoints Plastribution as distributor for the UK

Plastribution is one of the latest companies to sign up to a new industry-led initiative to improve health and safety in the plastics industry. The SIMPL (Safety In Manufacturing Plastics) initiative, supported by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), runs for three years from 2011 to 2014. It brings together all parts of the industry, including trade organisations and unions, in a bid to stimulate progress on accident and ill-health reduction by helping to embed a health and safety culture within businesses.

Plastribution has been appointed by Australian packaging technology company Cardia Bioplastics Limited to provide its comprehensive range of bioplastic resins to the UK packaging and plastic products industries. Depending on their specific product and sustainability needs, Plastribution customers can now choose from Cardia Biohybrid™ resins or Cardia certified compostable resins. The Cardia materials can be converted on standard processing equipment without the need for additional investment.

The plastics industry has one of the highest rates of industrial injuries. Industry figures show that in 2008/09, one person was killed and 1,158 were injured in a sector that employs approximately 143,600 people. Manual handling and slips and trips are responsible for the majority of injuries and illnesses include occupational asthma and dermatitis.

Cardia Biohybrid™ resins are a blend of renewable materials and traditional polyolefins. The colourable and printable materials have a wide processing and application window and can be used to increase the renewable content of the final product by up to 50 percent. Typical applications include shrink wrappings, multi-layer films, moulding and high resolution printable packaging.

By signing the pledge, Plastribution commits to improve the health and safety record of the industry as a whole by achieving targets in line with the SIMPL strategic action plan. This requires Plastribution to show leadership in establishing a health a safety culture within its own organisation; to develop and implement a health and safety management system appropriate to its size and nature of business; to engage with its workforce on all matters of health and safety; to assess and reduce health and safety; and to identify the necessary steps to reduce accidents at its workplace.

Cardia Compostable resins are biodegradable materials derived from renewable resources that meet international standards for compostability such as USA ASTM 6400 and Europe’s EN13432:2000. The compostable resins are soft touch, colourable and printable, and can also be developed as compounds to specific customer requirements. Typical applications include compostable bags, moulded parts, extrusion coatings, laminates and films.

The participating companies are required to submit brief progress summaries to the British Plastics Federation (BPF) at 6 monthly intervals. The summary will be combined with other pledge signatories to keep SIMPL informed of the plastic industry’s overall progress towards achieving these important targets.

According to Plastribution managing director Mike Boswell, the Cardia bioplastics range will provide environmentally responsible polymer choices for its customers. “As the ‘sustainable products space’ grows, we have looked for a supplier with a full range of sustainable options. The Cardia Bioplastics range provides customers with that choice and is well proven with leading brand owners and plastics processing companies,” he said.

“Everyone is entitled to a safe working environment and as well as achieving that within our business we also want to encourage our customers and suppliers to embrace this responsibility. A safe workplace is vital for the future of UK manufacturing and it is therefore key that all stakeholders work together to improve the health and safety in our industry,” said Mike Boswell, managing director at Plastribution.

Commenting on the distribution agreement with Plastribution, Dr Frank Glatz, managing director of Cardia Bioplastics, said: “We are delighted to have this partnership with Plastribution, the leading plastics resins distributor in the UK market. Growth for the sustainable resins market is driven by changing public attitudes and regulatory requirements. Moreover, packaging and plastics businesses know that packaging and plastic products solutions based on sustainable resources will help them retain their future competitiveness.”

Further information on the SIMPL initiative can be found at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/plastics/index.htm

Further information: http://www.cardiabioplastics.com

“ As the ‘sustainable products space’ grows, we have looked for a supplier with a full range of sustainable options. The Cardia Bioplastics range provides customers with that choice...”

Cardia Biohybrid™ is a trademark of Cardia Bioplastics Limited.

page 12 / plastic fantastic / 2011

2011 / plastic fantastic / page 13


A SIMPL pledge to safety “ Everyone is entitled to a safe working environment and as well as achieving that within our business we also want to encourage our customers and suppliers to embrace this responsibility. A safe workplace is vital for the future of UK manufacturing...”

Cardia Bioplastics appoints Plastribution as distributor for the UK

Plastribution is one of the latest companies to sign up to a new industry-led initiative to improve health and safety in the plastics industry. The SIMPL (Safety In Manufacturing Plastics) initiative, supported by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), runs for three years from 2011 to 2014. It brings together all parts of the industry, including trade organisations and unions, in a bid to stimulate progress on accident and ill-health reduction by helping to embed a health and safety culture within businesses.

Plastribution has been appointed by Australian packaging technology company Cardia Bioplastics Limited to provide its comprehensive range of bioplastic resins to the UK packaging and plastic products industries. Depending on their specific product and sustainability needs, Plastribution customers can now choose from Cardia Biohybrid™ resins or Cardia certified compostable resins. The Cardia materials can be converted on standard processing equipment without the need for additional investment.

The plastics industry has one of the highest rates of industrial injuries. Industry figures show that in 2008/09, one person was killed and 1,158 were injured in a sector that employs approximately 143,600 people. Manual handling and slips and trips are responsible for the majority of injuries and illnesses include occupational asthma and dermatitis.

Cardia Biohybrid™ resins are a blend of renewable materials and traditional polyolefins. The colourable and printable materials have a wide processing and application window and can be used to increase the renewable content of the final product by up to 50 percent. Typical applications include shrink wrappings, multi-layer films, moulding and high resolution printable packaging.

By signing the pledge, Plastribution commits to improve the health and safety record of the industry as a whole by achieving targets in line with the SIMPL strategic action plan. This requires Plastribution to show leadership in establishing a health a safety culture within its own organisation; to develop and implement a health and safety management system appropriate to its size and nature of business; to engage with its workforce on all matters of health and safety; to assess and reduce health and safety; and to identify the necessary steps to reduce accidents at its workplace.

Cardia Compostable resins are biodegradable materials derived from renewable resources that meet international standards for compostability such as USA ASTM 6400 and Europe’s EN13432:2000. The compostable resins are soft touch, colourable and printable, and can also be developed as compounds to specific customer requirements. Typical applications include compostable bags, moulded parts, extrusion coatings, laminates and films.

The participating companies are required to submit brief progress summaries to the British Plastics Federation (BPF) at 6 monthly intervals. The summary will be combined with other pledge signatories to keep SIMPL informed of the plastic industry’s overall progress towards achieving these important targets.

According to Plastribution managing director Mike Boswell, the Cardia bioplastics range will provide environmentally responsible polymer choices for its customers. “As the ‘sustainable products space’ grows, we have looked for a supplier with a full range of sustainable options. The Cardia Bioplastics range provides customers with that choice and is well proven with leading brand owners and plastics processing companies,” he said.

“Everyone is entitled to a safe working environment and as well as achieving that within our business we also want to encourage our customers and suppliers to embrace this responsibility. A safe workplace is vital for the future of UK manufacturing and it is therefore key that all stakeholders work together to improve the health and safety in our industry,” said Mike Boswell, managing director at Plastribution.

Commenting on the distribution agreement with Plastribution, Dr Frank Glatz, managing director of Cardia Bioplastics, said: “We are delighted to have this partnership with Plastribution, the leading plastics resins distributor in the UK market. Growth for the sustainable resins market is driven by changing public attitudes and regulatory requirements. Moreover, packaging and plastics businesses know that packaging and plastic products solutions based on sustainable resources will help them retain their future competitiveness.”

Further information on the SIMPL initiative can be found at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/plastics/index.htm

Further information: http://www.cardiabioplastics.com

“ As the ‘sustainable products space’ grows, we have looked for a supplier with a full range of sustainable options. The Cardia Bioplastics range provides customers with that choice...”

Cardia Biohybrid™ is a trademark of Cardia Bioplastics Limited.

page 12 / plastic fantastic / 2011

2011 / plastic fantastic / page 13


Plastribution launches Granic® calcium carbonate filled compounds “ We are delighted to add the Granic® range of calcium carbonate filled polymers to our portfolio as not only do they provide environmental benefits, but also cost-effective advantages for the processor as well.”

With effect from the start of 2011, Plastribution is the sole distributor in the United Kingdom of the Granic® range of highly calcium carbonate filled polymers. Produced by Gestora Catalana de Residuo of Spain, the low carbon footprint PE, PP and PS compounds provide improved mechanical properties for the cost-effective production of more ecological products such as carrier bags, industrial and agricultural films as well as injection moulded parts. Granic® is a masterbatch with a 75%–85% content of ultrafine calcium carbonate granules that have been chemically treated to make them compatible with all types of polyolefins and styrenics. The use of high concentrations of calcium carbonate in PE, PP and PS compounds not only reduces the carbon footprint of the materials themselves but also results in a range of performance benefits. An increase in stiffness, for instance, permits the reduction of wall thickness in blow moulded, extruded sheet, pipe and injection moulded applications. Alternatively, an improvement in tear and impact performance can be achieved in extruded films, whilst an increase in thermal conductivity enhances their sealing speed and quality. In terms of processing, injection moulding cycle times can be shortened and the output of an extruder increased, depending on the calcium carbonate content. Granic® is 100% recyclable, is less than 25% dependent on oil for its production and is compatible with bio-degradable agents – green credentials that help it fit within Plastribution’s growing range of products with a reduced carbon footprint. “Standard thermoplastics already make a very positive contribution to a ‘greener’ environment, but there is a strong demand for even more ecologically sound and sustainable solutions,” says Mike Boswell, managing director at Plastribution. “We are delighted to add the Granic® range of calcium carbonate filled polymers to our portfolio as not only do they provide environmental benefits, but also cost-effective advantages for the processor as well.” Further information: http://www.granic.es Granic® is a registered trademark of Gestora Catalana de Residuo

Audio, video and web-conferencing for a reduced carbon footprint “ We have been making use of video conferencing facilities for meetings with our shareholders for over 5 years, significantly reducing the time cost and expense of travel”

As well as offering a growing range of products with a reduced carbon footprint, Plastribution is ‘practicing what it preaches’ by introducing new business procedures that help reduce its own carbon footprint. This includes the increased use of audio, video and web-conferencing services to reduce business travel and thereby CO2 emissions. In a business climate where time and money are precious, more and more companies are cutting down on mileage expenses and out-of-office meeting costs. Indeed, a recent international study by the Carbon Disclosure Project revealed that the UK and US could save a total of £11.7 million over the next 10 years by staging ‘virtual meetings’ instead of taking business trips. The report also suggests CO2 emissions during this time would be reduced by 5.5 million metric tons – the equivalent of taking a million vehicles off the road for a year. At the same time, spending on software, tools and equipment for online collaboration, including audio, video and web-conferencing services such as Skype, Powwownow and Webex, is predicted to grow significantly. By adopting services such as web conferencing, companies can hit both their cost and carbon reduction targets, while increasing worker productivity and decreasing time to market.

Plastribution has been an early adopter of such technology, as managing director Mike Boswell recalls: “We have been making use of video conferencing facilities for meetings with our shareholders for over 5 years, significantly reducing the time cost and expense of travel both within Europe and to Asia. Since early 2010 we have also been using telephone conferences more widely to run a range of internal meetings, whilst as of this year we have also incorporated Webex/Webinar internet technologies to further reduce the need to travel where presentations or other forms of data sharing are required.” Plastribution is now rolling out this approach to its dealings with customers and suppliers. It will also be asking its sales team to introduce a ‘green sales day’ each month, a day on which they should conduct virtual meetings with their customers rather than travel by car. “It all comes down to a simple, common sense approach of adopting technology to increase our efficiency and reduce our own carbon footprint – as well as the additional benefits of reducing congestion and the risks associated with travelling by car,” concludes Mike Boswell.

page 14 / plastic fantastic / 2011

2011 / plastic fantastic / page 15


Plastribution launches Granic® calcium carbonate filled compounds “ We are delighted to add the Granic® range of calcium carbonate filled polymers to our portfolio as not only do they provide environmental benefits, but also cost-effective advantages for the processor as well.”

With effect from the start of 2011, Plastribution is the sole distributor in the United Kingdom of the Granic® range of highly calcium carbonate filled polymers. Produced by Gestora Catalana de Residuo of Spain, the low carbon footprint PE, PP and PS compounds provide improved mechanical properties for the cost-effective production of more ecological products such as carrier bags, industrial and agricultural films as well as injection moulded parts. Granic® is a masterbatch with a 75%–85% content of ultrafine calcium carbonate granules that have been chemically treated to make them compatible with all types of polyolefins and styrenics. The use of high concentrations of calcium carbonate in PE, PP and PS compounds not only reduces the carbon footprint of the materials themselves but also results in a range of performance benefits. An increase in stiffness, for instance, permits the reduction of wall thickness in blow moulded, extruded sheet, pipe and injection moulded applications. Alternatively, an improvement in tear and impact performance can be achieved in extruded films, whilst an increase in thermal conductivity enhances their sealing speed and quality. In terms of processing, injection moulding cycle times can be shortened and the output of an extruder increased, depending on the calcium carbonate content. Granic® is 100% recyclable, is less than 25% dependent on oil for its production and is compatible with bio-degradable agents – green credentials that help it fit within Plastribution’s growing range of products with a reduced carbon footprint. “Standard thermoplastics already make a very positive contribution to a ‘greener’ environment, but there is a strong demand for even more ecologically sound and sustainable solutions,” says Mike Boswell, managing director at Plastribution. “We are delighted to add the Granic® range of calcium carbonate filled polymers to our portfolio as not only do they provide environmental benefits, but also cost-effective advantages for the processor as well.” Further information: http://www.granic.es Granic® is a registered trademark of Gestora Catalana de Residuo

Audio, video and web-conferencing for a reduced carbon footprint “ We have been making use of video conferencing facilities for meetings with our shareholders for over 5 years, significantly reducing the time cost and expense of travel”

As well as offering a growing range of products with a reduced carbon footprint, Plastribution is ‘practicing what it preaches’ by introducing new business procedures that help reduce its own carbon footprint. This includes the increased use of audio, video and web-conferencing services to reduce business travel and thereby CO2 emissions. In a business climate where time and money are precious, more and more companies are cutting down on mileage expenses and out-of-office meeting costs. Indeed, a recent international study by the Carbon Disclosure Project revealed that the UK and US could save a total of £11.7 million over the next 10 years by staging ‘virtual meetings’ instead of taking business trips. The report also suggests CO2 emissions during this time would be reduced by 5.5 million metric tons – the equivalent of taking a million vehicles off the road for a year. At the same time, spending on software, tools and equipment for online collaboration, including audio, video and web-conferencing services such as Skype, Powwownow and Webex, is predicted to grow significantly. By adopting services such as web conferencing, companies can hit both their cost and carbon reduction targets, while increasing worker productivity and decreasing time to market.

Plastribution has been an early adopter of such technology, as managing director Mike Boswell recalls: “We have been making use of video conferencing facilities for meetings with our shareholders for over 5 years, significantly reducing the time cost and expense of travel both within Europe and to Asia. Since early 2010 we have also been using telephone conferences more widely to run a range of internal meetings, whilst as of this year we have also incorporated Webex/Webinar internet technologies to further reduce the need to travel where presentations or other forms of data sharing are required.” Plastribution is now rolling out this approach to its dealings with customers and suppliers. It will also be asking its sales team to introduce a ‘green sales day’ each month, a day on which they should conduct virtual meetings with their customers rather than travel by car. “It all comes down to a simple, common sense approach of adopting technology to increase our efficiency and reduce our own carbon footprint – as well as the additional benefits of reducing congestion and the risks associated with travelling by car,” concludes Mike Boswell.

page 14 / plastic fantastic / 2011

2011 / plastic fantastic / page 15


“ Our first two plastics design workshops have been very successful, with some very interesting projects that might otherwise have taken much more time and money to bring to reality.”

Free consultation Plastribution on product design becomes corporate member of the SPRA and manufacture Plastribution has a long-standing presence in Scotland through its regional sales office in Larbert and local warehousing facilities. It was therefore a logical step for the UK distributor to confirm its commitment to the Scottish plastics industry by becoming a corporate member of the Scottish Plastics and Rubber Association (SPRA).

The SPRA was formed in 1993 to continue the activities of the Scottish Section of the Plastics and Rubber Institute (PRI) after the merger of the PRI with the Institute of Metals and the Ceramics Institute to form the Institute of

Materials (IoM). The primary aim of the SPRA is: “to promote the advancement of plastics, rubber and related materials, through education and training in the science, engineering and design associated with the manufacture, conversion and end-use of polymeric materials.”

It provides a forum for discussion of topics of mutual benefit to members in the form of technical and business meetings, seminars, a regular newsletter and a website (www.spra.org. uk). The SPRA also organises social functions for members to allow them to relax in the company of professionals with similar outlook,

away from the stresses of the workplace. One of the highlights in the SPRA calendar is the popular annual Dinner Dance held in early March, an event that Plastribution has regularly attend over the years.

“Plastribution has enjoyed a presence in Scotland for over 35 years (formerly through Thistle Plastics & Anglo Polymers) and having become corporate members we will, where possible, make a positive contribution to this important organization,” commented Brian Read, technical sales representative at Plastribution.

On specific dates throughout 2011, Plastribution will once more be teaming up with injection moulding technology group Engel and design company Agentdraw to offer free-of-charge, individual consultations relating to product design. The Plastics Design Workshops are the opportunity for product designers to receive confidential, high-level advice on material selection, product design, tooling and manufacture. Following two successful events held at Engel UK’s offices in Warwick, future Plastics Design Workshops include those being held during the pdm11 show at Excel London (18th-19th May, www.pdmevent.com) and at Interplas 2011 (27th-29th September, www. britishplasticsshow.com). Reflecting a concept first developed by the Engel Moulders’ Group, the goal of the Plastics Design Workshop is to offer support to companies who have any plastics project or current issue relating to product design. Areas for discussion include making aesthetic

Plastribution has created a new business division to focus on its growing range of niche film products for the UK packaging market. These currently include Sanzip re-closable zippers from C I Kasei (Japan), heat shrinkable films from Bonset America Corporation and tie resins from Mitsubishi Chemicals Europe. The company also supplies a range of packaging products from Polyram (Israel), including tie resins, impact modifiers and coupling Agents.

page 16 / plastic fantastic / 2011

improvements to existing functional designs, the resolution of functional design problems, tooling concepts and design for manufacture as well as new ways of achieving cost-effective design.

A total of 24 companies brought forward projects for expert discussion at the last workshop. In every case, the combined expertise of the three organising companies was beneficial in terms of product development, with several projects progressing significantly thanks to the advice received. “Our first two plastics design workshops have been very successful, with some very interesting projects that might otherwise have taken much more time and money to bring to reality,” confirms Dan Jarvis, product supervisor at Plastribution. “The multi-disciplinary approach with our partners Engel and Agentdraw has been very fruitful, with one of the most promising projects to date being a metal replacement component for a demanding application.”

view to improving a window vent design. “We found the experience very useful,” he said. “Hats off to the event’s organisers. I’m sure it’s this kind of innovative idea that can help ensure the successful and cost-effective use of plastics in product design.” Prospective participants in the next Plastics Design Workshops to be held during pdm11 or Interplas 2011 should contact an Engel, Agentdraw or Plastribution representative to register their interest.

Mark O’Mahoney, technical director at Glazpart, attended the last workshop with a

Plastribution creates packaging films division “It is our ambition to continually develop our films division to service the needs of the UK conversion and packaging market with specialist quality materials,” explains Alan Moules, commercial director at Plastribution. “With the latest additions to our portfolio, and several more soon to be added, we aim to provide not only a comprehensive range of materials but also the knowledge, service and solutions that have seen us become the country’s number one distributor of plastic raw materials.”

One of the latest additions to the Plastribution packaging portfolio is the Sanzip range of re-closable zippers from C.I. Kasei Co., Ltd., Asia’s largest manufacturer of zippers with 20 years business experience in this field. With over 100 grades available, complete material compatibility with the sealant layer is virtually assured, whilst a wide range of zipper designs help meet pouch size and the application requirements. Accordingly there are Sanzip re-closable zippers for use in high air tight and powder applications, for heavy contents and high retort applications.

“One grade that is generating a lot of customer interest is Sanzip MD-10TR, which is characterised by its very low temperature sealability leading to productivity increases of up to 30 percent,” comments Stephen Harpham, film sales representative at Plastribution.

Plastribution’s new packaging films division is based in St Ives, Cambridgeshire, where it has both offices and temperature controlled warehouse facilities Further information on Plastribution and its products can be found at www.plastribution.co.uk or requested by emailing filmsales@plastribution.co.uk

2011 / plastic fantastic / page 17


“ Our first two plastics design workshops have been very successful, with some very interesting projects that might otherwise have taken much more time and money to bring to reality.”

Free consultation Plastribution on product design becomes corporate member of the SPRA and manufacture Plastribution has a long-standing presence in Scotland through its regional sales office in Larbert and local warehousing facilities. It was therefore a logical step for the UK distributor to confirm its commitment to the Scottish plastics industry by becoming a corporate member of the Scottish Plastics and Rubber Association (SPRA).

The SPRA was formed in 1993 to continue the activities of the Scottish Section of the Plastics and Rubber Institute (PRI) after the merger of the PRI with the Institute of Metals and the Ceramics Institute to form the Institute of

Materials (IoM). The primary aim of the SPRA is: “to promote the advancement of plastics, rubber and related materials, through education and training in the science, engineering and design associated with the manufacture, conversion and end-use of polymeric materials.”

It provides a forum for discussion of topics of mutual benefit to members in the form of technical and business meetings, seminars, a regular newsletter and a website (www.spra.org. uk). The SPRA also organises social functions for members to allow them to relax in the company of professionals with similar outlook,

away from the stresses of the workplace. One of the highlights in the SPRA calendar is the popular annual Dinner Dance held in early March, an event that Plastribution has regularly attend over the years.

“Plastribution has enjoyed a presence in Scotland for over 35 years (formerly through Thistle Plastics & Anglo Polymers) and having become corporate members we will, where possible, make a positive contribution to this important organization,” commented Brian Read, technical sales representative at Plastribution.

On specific dates throughout 2011, Plastribution will once more be teaming up with injection moulding technology group Engel and design company Agentdraw to offer free-of-charge, individual consultations relating to product design. The Plastics Design Workshops are the opportunity for product designers to receive confidential, high-level advice on material selection, product design, tooling and manufacture. Following two successful events held at Engel UK’s offices in Warwick, future Plastics Design Workshops include those being held during the pdm11 show at Excel London (18th-19th May, www.pdmevent.com) and at Interplas 2011 (27th-29th September, www. britishplasticsshow.com). Reflecting a concept first developed by the Engel Moulders’ Group, the goal of the Plastics Design Workshop is to offer support to companies who have any plastics project or current issue relating to product design. Areas for discussion include making aesthetic

Plastribution has created a new business division to focus on its growing range of niche film products for the UK packaging market. These currently include Sanzip re-closable zippers from C I Kasei (Japan), heat shrinkable films from Bonset America Corporation and tie resins from Mitsubishi Chemicals Europe. The company also supplies a range of packaging products from Polyram (Israel), including tie resins, impact modifiers and coupling Agents.

page 16 / plastic fantastic / 2011

improvements to existing functional designs, the resolution of functional design problems, tooling concepts and design for manufacture as well as new ways of achieving cost-effective design.

A total of 24 companies brought forward projects for expert discussion at the last workshop. In every case, the combined expertise of the three organising companies was beneficial in terms of product development, with several projects progressing significantly thanks to the advice received. “Our first two plastics design workshops have been very successful, with some very interesting projects that might otherwise have taken much more time and money to bring to reality,” confirms Dan Jarvis, product supervisor at Plastribution. “The multi-disciplinary approach with our partners Engel and Agentdraw has been very fruitful, with one of the most promising projects to date being a metal replacement component for a demanding application.”

view to improving a window vent design. “We found the experience very useful,” he said. “Hats off to the event’s organisers. I’m sure it’s this kind of innovative idea that can help ensure the successful and cost-effective use of plastics in product design.” Prospective participants in the next Plastics Design Workshops to be held during pdm11 or Interplas 2011 should contact an Engel, Agentdraw or Plastribution representative to register their interest.

Mark O’Mahoney, technical director at Glazpart, attended the last workshop with a

Plastribution creates packaging films division “It is our ambition to continually develop our films division to service the needs of the UK conversion and packaging market with specialist quality materials,” explains Alan Moules, commercial director at Plastribution. “With the latest additions to our portfolio, and several more soon to be added, we aim to provide not only a comprehensive range of materials but also the knowledge, service and solutions that have seen us become the country’s number one distributor of plastic raw materials.”

One of the latest additions to the Plastribution packaging portfolio is the Sanzip range of re-closable zippers from C.I. Kasei Co., Ltd., Asia’s largest manufacturer of zippers with 20 years business experience in this field. With over 100 grades available, complete material compatibility with the sealant layer is virtually assured, whilst a wide range of zipper designs help meet pouch size and the application requirements. Accordingly there are Sanzip re-closable zippers for use in high air tight and powder applications, for heavy contents and high retort applications.

“One grade that is generating a lot of customer interest is Sanzip MD-10TR, which is characterised by its very low temperature sealability leading to productivity increases of up to 30 percent,” comments Stephen Harpham, film sales representative at Plastribution.

Plastribution’s new packaging films division is based in St Ives, Cambridgeshire, where it has both offices and temperature controlled warehouse facilities Further information on Plastribution and its products can be found at www.plastribution.co.uk or requested by emailing filmsales@plastribution.co.uk

2011 / plastic fantastic / page 17


Plastribution commits to a clean environment

Plastribution introduc es ® Styrilic SMMA to the UK

Plastribution recently joined plastic industry colleagues in taking the pledge to become an Operation Clean Sweep (OCS) partner. Operation Clean Sweep is a programme launched by the British Plastics Federation (BPF) aimed at ensuring zero plastic pellet loss into the environment. All OCS programme partners are committed to preventing, containing and cleaning up pellet spillages and thereby ensuring no escape of pellets into local waters and eventually the world’s oceans. The loss of plastic pellets can have an extreme impact both in the workplace as well as on the wider, outdoor environment. Pellets on factory floors can cause accidents through slips, trips and falls, whilst plastic pellets in the marine and riverine environment – so-called mermaids’ tears – are not only unsightly but can also harm marine life. It is against this background that the BPF launched ‘Operation Clean Sweep - Plastic Pellet Loss Prevention’ to mark World Environment Day in June 2009. At the same time it introduced a guidance manual which lays down suggested procedures on prevention, containment and clean up to prevent pellets being accidentally washed down factory drains or lost in transportation. OCS partners that have signed the pledge commit to: 1. Making zero pellet loss a priority; 2. Assessing the company’s situation and needs with regard to equipment and procedures for pellet containments; 3. Upgrading facilities and equipment as appropriate; 4. Raising employee awareness and creating accountability; 5. Following up and enforcing procedures.

“The issue of waste plastics in the marine environment is a matter of serious concern, and each segment of our industry, including resin producers, distributors, bulk terminal operators and plastics processors, has a role to play in eliminating resin pellet loss,” confirms Mike Boswell, managing director at Plastribution. “This is why Plastribution has signed up to the pledge and will also require its principle logistic subcontractor to comply with the guidelines.” Further information and the OCS Guidance Manual can be found at: www.operationcleansweep.co.uk

“ Plastribution is acknowledged throughout the industry as a highly competent and approachable supplier of polymers with excellent technical expertise,”

With effect from the start of 2011, Plastribution is the newly-appointed distributor of Styrilic® SMMA (Styrene Methyl Methacrylate) polymer from Deltech Polymers Corporation, a division of Deltech Corporation. Available in Europe for the very first time, Styrilic® SMMA provides high clarity, ease of processing, scratch resistance, excellent impact strength, good ultraviolet resistance and easy mould release. SMMA is a clear alternative to styrene–acrylonitrile (SAN), acrylic and polycarbonate and is a prime material for applications requiring excellent clarity and impact resistance. These include household items such as water jugs and pen barrels, cosmetic and point of sale packaging, computer and printer peripherals and sanitaryware.

“Styrilic® SMMA polymer should be considered for applications where straight acrylic or clear SAN resins may not provide the ease of processing or chemical resistance desired in the finished product,” explains Andrew Cooper, European business manager at Deltech. “When blended with block copolymers, Styrilic® SMMA can provide the balance of rigidity, surface characteristics and temperature performance required while maintaining clarity. We believe Styrilic® SMMA polymer will help moulders in the UK reduce their processing costs and improve their products.” Deltech Polymers Corporation is the manufacturer of Styrilic® SMMA polymer and crystal polystyrene polymers from a dedicated production facility located in Ohio, USA. Since 1991, Deltech Polymers Corporation has operated their multi-train continuous production facility to dependably supply various grades of high quality styrenic products and technical service to the North American market. Deltech’s decision to appoint Plastribution as the UK’s sole distributor of Styrilic® SMMA was based upon the polymer distributor’s excellent reputation. “Plastribution is acknowledged throughout the industry as a highly competent and approachable supplier of polymers with excellent technical expertise,” confirms Andrew Cooper. “This makes them the ideal partner to work on the successful introduction of Styrilic® SMMA polymer to the UK.” Further information: http://www.deltechcorp.com Styrilic® is a registered trademark of Deltech Corporation

page 18 / plastic fantastic / 2011

Plastribution offers Total portfolio Building on the successful relationship between Total Petrochemicals and Plastribution on the supply of polystyrene to the UK market, Plastribution now offers the complete range of Total Petrochemicals polyolefins. These include HDPE, MDPE, LDPE, LLDPE, EVA, PPHP, PPRCP and PPCP as well as Total’s new generation of metallocene polyolefins available under the Lumicene® brand. Compared to conventional polyolefins, Lumicene® metallocene polyolefins offer enhanced performance in terms of environmental properties, gloss and transparency, gas permeability, chemical resistance, mechanical properties and processability. They are based on the latest generation of ‘single site’ metallocene catalysts used in the polyolefin polymerisation processes, and are the result of continuous investment in innovation by Total Petrochemicals. The Lumicene® range includes polyethylene resins for film, rotational moulding, blow moulding, artificial grass and caps and closures, as well as polypropylene grades for fibres, film, injection moulding and medical applications.

Gloss and transparency

Food compatibility, cooking (organoleptics, extractables)

Stiffness for down gauging

Moulding productivity to lower reject rate of default parts

Impact resistance (23°C) even at high MFI

Producers of rigid food packaging, caps and closures, medical devices, housewares and kitchenwares can take full advantage of the benefits of the new Polypropylenes Lumicene Random product range.

Polypropylene Lumicene® random copolymer, based on metallocene technology, expands on the range of applications for standard random copolymers and adds a new dimension to more traditional ones. As well as improved aesthetics (gloss and transparency), polypropylene Lumicene® offers: • Superior food compatibility: ultra low extractables, best in class organoleptic properties gives Lumicene® range the status of universal grade for food packaging, recommended for cooking application. • Higher rigidity and better impact: The Polypropylene Lumicene® PP product range exhibits 150 MPa more rigidity, allowing down gauging and/or reduced cooling time as moulded parts can be ejected earlier than with conventional grades. At the same time the impact resistance as measured with a ball drop test at room temperature, shows a ductile behaviour whatever the melt flow index. • Higher moulding productivity: with standard random copolymers (Ziegler Natta catalyst), dimensional variation occurs from one injection shot to another due to variation in shrinkage. With Polypropylene Lumicene® the moulding precision is much higher, the reproducibility between shots is much improved giving a lower reject rate of out of specification parts. Also the higher rigidity allows a faster demoulding. The benefit to producers of rigid food packaging, caps and closures, medical devices, housewares and kitchenwares is a reduction in production costs, versus standard random copolymers, achieved by increased productivity, longer machine lifetimes, a reduction in environmental impact and the potential for downgauging. Further information: www.totalpetrochemicals.com Lumicene® is a registered trademark of Total Petrochemicals

2011 / plastic fantastic / page 19


Plastribution commits to a clean environment

Plastribution introduc es ® Styrilic SMMA to the UK

Plastribution recently joined plastic industry colleagues in taking the pledge to become an Operation Clean Sweep (OCS) partner. Operation Clean Sweep is a programme launched by the British Plastics Federation (BPF) aimed at ensuring zero plastic pellet loss into the environment. All OCS programme partners are committed to preventing, containing and cleaning up pellet spillages and thereby ensuring no escape of pellets into local waters and eventually the world’s oceans. The loss of plastic pellets can have an extreme impact both in the workplace as well as on the wider, outdoor environment. Pellets on factory floors can cause accidents through slips, trips and falls, whilst plastic pellets in the marine and riverine environment – so-called mermaids’ tears – are not only unsightly but can also harm marine life. It is against this background that the BPF launched ‘Operation Clean Sweep - Plastic Pellet Loss Prevention’ to mark World Environment Day in June 2009. At the same time it introduced a guidance manual which lays down suggested procedures on prevention, containment and clean up to prevent pellets being accidentally washed down factory drains or lost in transportation. OCS partners that have signed the pledge commit to: 1. Making zero pellet loss a priority; 2. Assessing the company’s situation and needs with regard to equipment and procedures for pellet containments; 3. Upgrading facilities and equipment as appropriate; 4. Raising employee awareness and creating accountability; 5. Following up and enforcing procedures.

“The issue of waste plastics in the marine environment is a matter of serious concern, and each segment of our industry, including resin producers, distributors, bulk terminal operators and plastics processors, has a role to play in eliminating resin pellet loss,” confirms Mike Boswell, managing director at Plastribution. “This is why Plastribution has signed up to the pledge and will also require its principle logistic subcontractor to comply with the guidelines.” Further information and the OCS Guidance Manual can be found at: www.operationcleansweep.co.uk

“ Plastribution is acknowledged throughout the industry as a highly competent and approachable supplier of polymers with excellent technical expertise,”

With effect from the start of 2011, Plastribution is the newly-appointed distributor of Styrilic® SMMA (Styrene Methyl Methacrylate) polymer from Deltech Polymers Corporation, a division of Deltech Corporation. Available in Europe for the very first time, Styrilic® SMMA provides high clarity, ease of processing, scratch resistance, excellent impact strength, good ultraviolet resistance and easy mould release. SMMA is a clear alternative to styrene–acrylonitrile (SAN), acrylic and polycarbonate and is a prime material for applications requiring excellent clarity and impact resistance. These include household items such as water jugs and pen barrels, cosmetic and point of sale packaging, computer and printer peripherals and sanitaryware.

“Styrilic® SMMA polymer should be considered for applications where straight acrylic or clear SAN resins may not provide the ease of processing or chemical resistance desired in the finished product,” explains Andrew Cooper, European business manager at Deltech. “When blended with block copolymers, Styrilic® SMMA can provide the balance of rigidity, surface characteristics and temperature performance required while maintaining clarity. We believe Styrilic® SMMA polymer will help moulders in the UK reduce their processing costs and improve their products.” Deltech Polymers Corporation is the manufacturer of Styrilic® SMMA polymer and crystal polystyrene polymers from a dedicated production facility located in Ohio, USA. Since 1991, Deltech Polymers Corporation has operated their multi-train continuous production facility to dependably supply various grades of high quality styrenic products and technical service to the North American market. Deltech’s decision to appoint Plastribution as the UK’s sole distributor of Styrilic® SMMA was based upon the polymer distributor’s excellent reputation. “Plastribution is acknowledged throughout the industry as a highly competent and approachable supplier of polymers with excellent technical expertise,” confirms Andrew Cooper. “This makes them the ideal partner to work on the successful introduction of Styrilic® SMMA polymer to the UK.” Further information: http://www.deltechcorp.com Styrilic® is a registered trademark of Deltech Corporation

page 18 / plastic fantastic / 2011

Plastribution offers Total portfolio Building on the successful relationship between Total Petrochemicals and Plastribution on the supply of polystyrene to the UK market, Plastribution now offers the complete range of Total Petrochemicals polyolefins. These include HDPE, MDPE, LDPE, LLDPE, EVA, PPHP, PPRCP and PPCP as well as Total’s new generation of metallocene polyolefins available under the Lumicene® brand. Compared to conventional polyolefins, Lumicene® metallocene polyolefins offer enhanced performance in terms of environmental properties, gloss and transparency, gas permeability, chemical resistance, mechanical properties and processability. They are based on the latest generation of ‘single site’ metallocene catalysts used in the polyolefin polymerisation processes, and are the result of continuous investment in innovation by Total Petrochemicals. The Lumicene® range includes polyethylene resins for film, rotational moulding, blow moulding, artificial grass and caps and closures, as well as polypropylene grades for fibres, film, injection moulding and medical applications.

Gloss and transparency

Food compatibility, cooking (organoleptics, extractables)

Stiffness for down gauging

Moulding productivity to lower reject rate of default parts

Impact resistance (23°C) even at high MFI

Producers of rigid food packaging, caps and closures, medical devices, housewares and kitchenwares can take full advantage of the benefits of the new Polypropylenes Lumicene Random product range.

Polypropylene Lumicene® random copolymer, based on metallocene technology, expands on the range of applications for standard random copolymers and adds a new dimension to more traditional ones. As well as improved aesthetics (gloss and transparency), polypropylene Lumicene® offers: • Superior food compatibility: ultra low extractables, best in class organoleptic properties gives Lumicene® range the status of universal grade for food packaging, recommended for cooking application. • Higher rigidity and better impact: The Polypropylene Lumicene® PP product range exhibits 150 MPa more rigidity, allowing down gauging and/or reduced cooling time as moulded parts can be ejected earlier than with conventional grades. At the same time the impact resistance as measured with a ball drop test at room temperature, shows a ductile behaviour whatever the melt flow index. • Higher moulding productivity: with standard random copolymers (Ziegler Natta catalyst), dimensional variation occurs from one injection shot to another due to variation in shrinkage. With Polypropylene Lumicene® the moulding precision is much higher, the reproducibility between shots is much improved giving a lower reject rate of out of specification parts. Also the higher rigidity allows a faster demoulding. The benefit to producers of rigid food packaging, caps and closures, medical devices, housewares and kitchenwares is a reduction in production costs, versus standard random copolymers, achieved by increased productivity, longer machine lifetimes, a reduction in environmental impact and the potential for downgauging. Further information: www.totalpetrochemicals.com Lumicene® is a registered trademark of Total Petrochemicals

2011 / plastic fantastic / page 19


plastic fantastic Design & print by F4group.com

plastribution newsletter 2011

Plastribution Limited Ceva House, Excelsior Road, Ashby Business Park, Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire LE65 1XY

Magellan House, Unit 1 Compass Point Business Park, Stocks Bridge Way, St Ives, Cambridgeshire PE27 5JL

Suite 21, Glenbervie Business Centre, 1 Glenbervie Business Park, Larbert FK5 4RB

Tel: 0845 34 54 560 www.plastribution.co.uk

plastic fantastic / 2011

plastic fantastic / 2011


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