SAY YES TO PLASTICS Volume No. 84
MH/MR/N/200/MBI/12- 14
Issue No. 11
Pages 68
November 2014
Rs. 76.00
P L A S T I C S N E W S
3
N O V E M B E R 2014
P L A S T I C S N E W S
4
N O V E M B E R 2014
CONTENT
IN THIS ISSUE... 15...... AIPMA At Work ... Fakuma 2014 The Official Organ of The All India Plastics Manufacturers Association Estd. 1945
MH/MR/N/200/MBI/12-14 Volume 84
November 2014 No. 11
Chairman - Editorial Board
Mr. Rituraj Gupta
Hon. Editor
Mr. Ajay Desai
Members
Mr. A. E. Ladhaboy Dr. Y. B. Vasudeo Ms. Poorvi Desai
... AIPMA Delegates visits the Indian Institute Of Packaging ...The Plastshow - 2014
18...... Project Aipma Kayakalp 24...... Interview 25...... Company News 29...... Features
Editorial Co-ordination: Padmesh Prabhune, Dhruv Communications, Mumbai, Tel No: 00-22-2868 5198 / 5049 Fax No : 00-22-28685495 • email: dhruvpr@vsnl.net
... Ultra-thin tool heating for injection molding
Published by Ms. Umaa Gupta on behalf of the owners, The All India Plastics Manufacturers’ Association Plot No. A-52, Road No. 1, M.I.D.C., Andheri (E), Mumbai-400 093. Tel: 67778899 • Fax : 00-22-2821 6390 E-mail : office@aipma.net Website : http://www.aipma.net and printed by her at Dhote Offset Technokrafts Pvt. Ltd., Goregaon (E), Mumbai-400 063.
... HDPE /GRP pipes for Infrastructure and Sewers ... Husky expands hot runners and controllers business in China and India ... RD Dryer System for Material through-puts up to 300 kg/h ... More than just thermal insulation strips: polyamide profiles for special applications
Annual Subscription Rs. 1,000/Single issue Rs. 75/-
... Kabra-Metzerplas launches Flat Drip Tube Line
Views/Reports/Extracts etc. published in Plastics News are those of the
...Amut and Amut Ecotech Joint Players to supply recycling facilities
authors and not necessarily of the Editor. Furthermore except for copies of formal AIPMA communications no other matter in this journal should
...Plastic Bags Save Lives...
be interpreted as views of The All India Plastics Mfgrs. Association.
39...... International News
OFFICE BEARERS Mr. Rituraj Gupta President
51...... Business News Mr. Sanju Desai Vice President (West Zone)
55...... Product News
Mr. R. K. Aggarwal Mr. Ashok Agarwal Vice President (North Zone) Vice President (East Zone)
59...... Technology
Mr. Meela Jayadev Vice President (South Zone)
Mr. Manoj R. Shah Hon. Jt. Secretary
61...... In the News
Mr. Haren Sanghavi Hon. Secretary
Mr. Jagat Killawala Hon. Treasurer
64...... Events
P L A S T I C S N E W S
5
N O V E M B E R 2014
P L A S T I C S N E W S
6
N O V E M B E R 2014
P L A S T I C S N E W S
7
N O V E M B E R 2014
P L A S T I C S N E W S
8
N O V E M B E R 2014
THE PRESIDENT SAYS
The Roadmap for Recovery he government has reduced the prices of Petrol
The pre-fab segment and
and Diesel on the back of falling international
custom moulded products are
oil rates. Both the fuels are now decontrolled. As
the biggest growth drivers. The
we know, Crude oil prices have dropped more
two segments also sport better
than 35 per cent since June, driven by multiple
profit margins.
T
factors, including moderation in demand, increase in However, some of our
supply, strengthening of the dollar and unwinding of
economist friends are of the
speculative long positions.
view that while these cuts will be good for denting This spells good news not only for our Plastics
inflation further, they are not in the long-term interests
Industry but for the Indian economy as well. Crude oil
of the country for India still imports 80 per cent of its
has corrected sharply after Saudi Arabia cut down oil
crude, and any continuing fall in global prices will not
price to the US after rise in US shale gas production.
only push up import bills and roil the rupee, but also
Metals, which rallied sharply in the last bull cycle, are
damage our long-term energy security. They say if
facing a tough time due to slowdown in China.
there is one reason why the Indian economy went into a tailspin under the UPA, it was because of unrestrained
Since the Government has seized the chance and
growth in petro-fuel subsidies. This ruined the fiscal
deregulated diesel prices, the subsidy burden will
balance and created a massive current account deficit
ease, helping to lower the fiscal deficit. The drop will
that only a slowdown could cure.
also reduce India’s import bill, thus providing relief to the current account deficit. As oil prices have a
There is, of course, a counter-argument and most
cascading effect on other goods, this is expected to
of us are of the view that the lower fuel prices will help
help bring down inflation too. And falling inflation will
growth. Economics (Books) suggest that the actual
give the RBI room to cut interest rates which, in turn,
cuts must happen after a longer period of fall and not
will give a leg-up to consumption.
every month so that one can be sure that the price fall is sustainable rather than just a flash-in-the-pan.
Raw material costs have been moving higher over the years. Respite on the raw material front, a pick-
Hopefully the new Government understands
up in construction demand for low-cost housing, and
economics and take logical steps to ensure the 'Indian
a revival in industrial growth can boost the fortunes
Economy' is back on track.
especially of Plastics and Plastics related Industry. Companies that use crude or crude derivatives as
Rituraj Gupta
inputs, along with manufacturers of plastic products,
president@aipma.net
Processors, synthetic textiles, tyres and paints, will see margins expanding due to lower input costs.
P LLAAS ST ITCISCNSE W N SE W S
9
N O V E M B E R 2014
P L A S T I C S N E W S
10
N O V E M B E R 2014
FROM THE EDITOR'S PEN
The life saving ‘Polythene bag’ lastics have been in discussion, not only in
conducted by Mumbai based
India but world over, and highlighted in media
hospital after looking at 101
for quite time some time now. Most of the times, it is
premature babies who, on an
for wrong reasons. This is quite unfortunate. But as
average, weighed 1.5kg and
we know there is always other side of the story.
needed to be immediately
P
shifted to a neonatal intensive
Plastics are life savings and Hospitals are using it
care unit after birth. The study
to save the new born babies. Recently in US (Florida
won the best paper award at the seventh annual
based) Julie Kent Whitton was horrified when she
national conference of the neonatology chapter of
learned a doctor placed her recently delivered, 1 lb.
the Indian Academy of Pediatrics, which was held in
11 oz baby into a clear, plastic bag. Doctors explained
Meerut on November 1, 2014.
that the bag was a solution to keep her daughter warm.
Neonatal care facilities are too often lacking the
They later moved her daughter to an incubator after
resources that babies need to survive. Premature
nearly 24 hours in the bag.
babies especially are weak and frail in the first few
Another women Claire Bebb, who had recently
days of their lives, and improper care at this stage can
given birth to twins, experienced similar concerns.
lead to permanent injury or disability down the road.
Both of her babies weighed in at under two pounds,
Moreover neonates born prematurely are extremely
and they both had retinopathy of prematurity, an eye
fragile and vulnerable at temperatures lower than the
condition that can cause permanent blindness if left
body temperature of 37 degree centigrade.
untreated.
Several Indian doctors have innovated on how
As a result of the plastic bag treatment, both babies
to transport premature babies, some of them with
stayed warm for the 24 hours immediately following
weight as low as 600 grams. The polythene wrap,
birth. Thankfully, both babies can see perfectly fine.
which is an essential part of any operation theatre and This is not only in US but is happening in India as
costs between Rs 5 and 10, is another such low-cost
well. Some premature babies are small enough to fit
innovation.
inside a plastic sandwich bag when they are born. We have been advocating the judicial use of
In fact, some hospitals are doing just that to keep
Plastics as it is one of the best alternative matter. I think
premature babies healthy and warm immediately after
it’s high time we change our attitude towards Plastics.
they are born.
Hon. Editor
The humble polythene bag may just save the life
Ajay Desai
of a premature baby. This is the finding of a study P LLAAS ST ITCISCNSE W N SE W S
11
N O V E M B E R 2014
P L A S T I C S N E W S
12
N O V E M B E R 2014
P L A S T I C S N E W S
13
N O V E M B E R 2014
P L A S T I C S N E W S
14
N O V E M B E R 2014
AIPMA AT WORK
Fakuma 2014 By Harish Dharamsi considering their track record, it seems they can bring good numbers. All the meetings were fruitful and soon agreements will be entered in to. We also met Mr. Lino Pastore-President of Italian Mold Manufacturers Association. They have agreed to circulate brochures of PVA & PVI among their members and would try to bring in few exhibitors to both the shows. We have to offer free both to association in both the shows. We also met Mr. Heiko Semaru of VDWF- German mould manufacturers association (Counter part of VDMA). They are very conservative and wants to have the feel of the event rather than relying on brochures and videos. They will try to organize delegation for PVI 2017 subject to approval by their committee.
Mr. Harish Dharamsi – Chairman Plastivision Arabia 2016 with P ESchall, organizer of Fakuma
We also met Ben Huang of THE TW of Taiwan who also had motivated exhibitors for Fakuma.
he Fakuma 2014 was organized from October 14 17 2014, at Friedrichshafen, Germany. Team AIPMA consisting of Shri Kailash Murarka - Chairman PVI, Harish Dharamsi - Chairman PVA assisted by Sanjeevani Kothare and joined by Sandeep Bolar Expo Center, Sharjah visited
T
We also met Mr. & Mrs. P. E. Schall, organizer of Fakuma and invited him to visit PVI 2017. We also met quite a few exhibitors who have shown interest in both the shows.
The objective of the visit was to locate agents for PVI & PVA. Meetings were arranged by Expo Center as well as PVI Secretariat. During the show, we had meeting with prospective agents for PVI & PVA as follows: M/s. Emtrad - Mr. Edger Mader - Italy, Spain, Portugal M/s. Jordi Publipress - Mr. Herman Jordi - Switzerland & Liechtenstein M/s. Inter Mundio - Ms. Sigrid Jahn - BeNeLux M/s. RFL Fuar - Mr. Mohmet Ali Dincer - Turkey As afterthought, both Edger & Herman had offered to work in Germany & Austria if they do not have any other arrangements in their communication. All the above agents were more than willing to work for PVA and PVI All the above parties are working for FAKUMA and can Mr. Harish Dharamsi – Chairman Plastivision Arabia 2016 and Mr. motivate number of exhibitors. However as the markets Kailash Murarka – Chairman, Plastivision India 2017 with Mr. Herman are new for both of them, nobody is committing area. Also Jordi, prospective Swiss agent P L A S T I C S N E W S
15
N O V E M B E R 2014
AIPMA AT WORK
AIPMA Delegates visits the Indian Institute Of Packaging Arvind Mehta companies are participating this year with more than 700 innovative products which we saw. Top notch companies i.e who's who in India like HUL, ITC, Marico, Cadbury & full spectrum of companies of India have participated. To our surprise the innovative designed samples, which we saw, were 70% in Plastics. So friends, There is very big scope for all of us. Extraordinary design innovations that we see abroad, but they might have been designed in India also quite likely. IIP is largest institute in India for packaging, spread in 12 Acres of land in MIDC Marol. It falls under Commerce Ministry. They have institute branches in Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad, Banglore (L to R): Mr. Kishore P. Sampat – Chairman AIPMA Placement Cell, Mr. Rituraj Gupta and Guwahati. In Mumbai they are – President AIPMA, Mr. Arvind Mehta – Chairman AIPMA Governing Council, Mr. N. C. building college having BTech & MTech Saha – Director General IIP, Mr. Manoj R. Shah – Hon. Jt. Secretary and Mr. Kailash course in packaging. Murarka – Chairman Plastivision India 2017.
AIPMA is planning an exhibition Plasti World (An exhibition of finished goods with raw material)
n Wednesday, October 22, 2014, AIPMA delegation visited Indian Institute Of Packaging, at MIDC Marol, Andheri at the invitation of Mr. Saha, Director General IIP. The delegation included Mr Rituraj Gupta, President AIPMA, Mr Kailshbhai Murarka, Mr Manoj Shah, Mr Kishore Sampat, and Ms Umaa Gupta along with me.
O
Along with their event India Pack 2015 scheduled during 8- 11 in October 2015 at NSE grounds Mumbai, basically to support our converters that could be beneficial for them in the long run.
Mr. Saha, Director General IIP has been our very good friend for quite long time and incidentally we are neighbours, as the institute is located just at five minutes from AIPMA House.
Concurrently IIP are holding world class conference on packaging. This time participation is from 40 countries. To give compliments, DG, IIP is the man behind the success.
The objective of this visit was to see their very important activity i.e. “India Star Awards” for Best Designs with innovations in any packaging products which can be in metal, glass, paper, plastics.
Mr. N.C. Saha is the driving force backed with dynamism, technology driven & always willing to support. Now he is involved by Government of India for incoming new Packaging Policy for exports. He is the prime person in the Committee set up for Export Packaging.
India Star Biannual Awards are highly recognized by Packaging industry. To our surprise more than 125
P L A S T I C S N E W S
AIPMA & IIP joint efforts will give handsome benefits to plastic industry at large. 16
N O V E M B E R 2014
AIPMA AT WORK
The Plastshow - 2014 market space booking for AIPMA Exhibitions. A visit was also made to Rajkot Machines Tools show -2014 organised, another Exhibition by KMG and Machine Tools Manufacturing Association. In order to maintain the contacts and to follow up with prospective exhibitors, business cards and brochures were collected and their contact details entered into the ever growing database at Plastivision. However, in spite of being the 5th edition the number of stalls were lesser than expected. Total No. of Exhibitors were 110, including Barter and Complementary stalls. Enquiries were received from 53 potential exhibitors with an approximate area booking of 600 sq. mtrs. Plastivision Arabia -2016 and for Plastivision India - 2017
he 5th PLAST SHOW - 2014 on “Plastics" was held from November 5th to 9th 2014, at Race Cource Ground at Rajkot. The plastshow organized Jointly by “Sunline Infotech Event, in Association with, AIPMA, GSPMA, RPMA, RKMA & SWAYAM Welfare Associates”. The exposition has grown from event to event in terms of growing number of exhibitors, visitors and business generated.
T
It was a good experience with encouraging result in terms of marketing PLASTIVISION INDIA 2017 and Plastivision Arabia 2016.
AIPMA Stall at Plast Show - 2014: A stall (Hall No. 1 stall no.1) was allotted to AIPMA at Plast Show - 2014. From Plastivision, Ms. Sanjeevani Kothare attended the Exhibition. The basic focus was on promoting our show and booking space for Plastivision India 2017 and Plastivision Arabia 2016 exhibitions. In addition to the promotion of space booking, AIPMA Directories, CDs, PVI 2013 Show Directory were distributed. Plastic News Advertisement and the enrolment for AIPMA membership was also undertaken. Mr. Kailash Murarka, Chairman Plastivision Shri Kishorbhai Sanghavi, President & Office Bearers of Rajkot Plastics India – 2017 visited the AIPMA stall. Mr. Kailash Manufacturers Association visited at AIPMA stall discussing with Shri Kailash Murarka encouraged and motivated the staff to Murarka, Chairman Plastivision India 2017 at Plast Show 2014. P L A S T I C S N E W S
17
N O V E M B E R 2014
ince 1945, AIPMA has evolved from a 200 sq.foot rented office to it’s own property, the AIPMA House, holding it’s own exhibitions in India and Abroad and standing tall amongst industry associations delivering on 16 out of 25 key activity platforms. But, as a popular saying goes, “past success does not guarantee the future”. In a world full of Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity (VUCA), it is absolutely essential for an industry association to periodically reinvent itself. To make it more membership centric. To reorient the emphasis from government lobbying to Industry Development & Promotion. To become a think tank that enables the Industry and Members to grapple with articulation of their future.
S
A holistic relook at the way AIPMA functions was therefore necessary. How to strengthen the triad (Members, Managing Committee and Secretariate) that is the very foundation of an association? How to spread wings from western India to Pan India, befitting our very name? How to create a strategic roadmap with Vision & Mission? How to construct financial processes and SOPs’ that enable us to discharge our fiduciary responsibilities? And finally how to have all these planned and executed by best in class human talent that effectively merges the passion and commitment of Honorary practitioners with competence and skills of professionals? With this is mind, we launched Project Kayakalp – ‘Kaya’ means the Body, both in its physical and the subtle forms. ‘Kalpa’ means holistic transformation, not merely ‘rejuvenation' as modern day spas’ would lead us to believe. Originating in ancient practices and sciences of Tantra, Siddha, Yoga & Ayurveda, Kayakalp is at once a promise of being the elixir of youth as a process to immortalize mind, body and soul. By attempting to create utmost equilibrium between various energy cycles, they achieve oneness, a unification that unleashes awesome power or ‘Atmik’ Aura. Through the Project Kayakalp, we at AIPMA, have resolutely embarked on this journey of Total Transformation. The activities conducted so far include: PreConclave at Waterstone Hotel, Mumbai, VISION Conclave at Treasure Island Resort, Lonavala and Staff Meeting at AIPMA House, Many one-on-one meetings, Feedback sessions with Governing Council Members, Presentations and discussions with Managing Committee etc.
was
The scope of activities covered SWOT Analysis, Contradiction Analysis, Defining Strategic Directions and Action Planning, a Comprehensive Restructuring Report, the H.R. approach, Financial Architecture and SOPs’ and many more. Suffice to say, not a single area of AIPMA left uncovered or untouched. So what is the benefit of all these to the members?
1. Be an important part of the Plastic Industry Eco System, not the ‘also ran’ or one among many, find customers and suppliers from AIPMA membership, be recognized on a larger platform. P L A S T I C S N E W S
18
N O V E M B E R 2014
2. Get to know the latest developments in the Industry, well before it becomes public knowledge. Information is power. 3. Get an opportunity to network with potential customers in India & Abroad. Power of Contacts. 4. Access new business opportunities, I will not chase Growth. “Growth will chase me.” 5. Obtain help, training & exposure in improving efficiency & competitiveness of my business. Beat my competition, 6. Learn from Best Practices followed in my Industry. Developing competitive edge. 7. Get True and Factual Industry data and understand sectoral demand for Plastics. To Plan and Strategise my future growth (Eg.: Agriculture, Construction, Automotive, etc.). 8. Get Overseas Contacts. 9. Access Government and other Authorities through the Association. A diligent implementation of Kayakalp Plan would surely make AIPMA a well recognized and respected association that all of us can be proud of. Shailesh Sheth Kayakalp Advisor
P L A S T I C S N E W S
19
N O V E M B E R 2014
P L A S T I C S N E W S
20
N O V E M B E R 2014
P L A S T I C S N E W S
21
N O V E M B E R 2014
P L A S T I C S N E W S
22
N O V E M B E R 2014
Gujarat To Host Plastindia 2015 he 9th edition of PLASTINDIA 2015, the international flagship show of the Indian plastics industry will be held at a new and modern venue Gandhinagar the state capital of Gujarat.
connectivity facilities, with the support of the Government of Gujarat. PLASTINDIA 2015 will benefit from the preceding major events at the venue Pravasi Bhartiya Divas and Vibrant Gujarat Global Investor Summit 2015 and the infrastructure and secondary facilities that are being created for these events will be useful for PLASTINDIA 2015, as well”. It will concurrently host PROPLAST 2015 and an International Conference to draw the attention of the entire business fraternity. Eminent academicians, consultants, professionals, technocrats, research scientists and industry experts will participate and share their views during various seminars.
T
PLASTINDIA 2015, a six day mega event will be held from February 5-10, 2015 at a well-designed Modern Exhibition Venue with a “State- of- the- Art” convention Center, Mahatma Mandir. The massive and futuristic 125,000 sqm venue will have 2000 exhibitors from 40 countries. Over 150,000 visitors are expected to congregate at PLASTINDIA 2015. Shri. J.R. Shah, Chairman, National Executive Council, PLASTINDIA 2015 said, “PLASTINDIA 2015 will bring global attention to the new venue as an exhibition ground created and developed as per international standards. We will facilitate the exhibitors and visitors with top quality exhibition infrastructure, accommodation, transportation and
The venue holds immense strategic significance with more than 60% of India’s plastics industry being located in the State of Gujarat and the State is a base for some of the biggest players from this sector.
Micro Small & Medium Enterprise Registrations & Benifits related to industries.
All the Members of Association
6. Government is also providing up to Rs. 1 lac to fight anti dumping case.
All manufacturing units who have invested up to Rs. 10 crore in Plant & Machinery are eligible for MSME benefits of Government of India.
7. Government is providing financial assistance of 75% of Bar Code registration fees for one time and 75% of Annual fees for three years.
MSME registration & credit rating is a pre requisite for several scheme of government of India.
8. Several public sector units and government department are giving 15% higher price to MSME enterprise in compare to large companies.
Following are the benefits of MSME registration & credit rating. 1.
For technology upgradation 15% capital subsidy on institutional finance. Finance limit Is Rs. 1 crore.
9. Several public sector units & government department are giving waiver in earnest money and security deposits of government tender & contract.
2. Government of India is providing loan up to Rs. 1 crore without any collateral security to MSME sector. With the help of credit guarantee fund trust for micro & small enterprise, members can approach any nationalized bank for this loan. 3.
We have made special arrangement with ICRA Limited for MSME Registration & Credit rating at discounted rate. For registration & Credit rating please contact association office.
Under market development assistance, government is providing funding up to 75% in respect of Air fare for participation in overseas exhibition.
For The Bombay Fountain Pen Mfrs & Traders Association Sunil K. Ghelani Honorary Secretary
4. Government is funding up to 25% for publicity material. 5. Government is providing Rs. 2 lacs for specific studies P L A S T I C S N E W S
23
N O V E M B E R 2014
INTERVIEW In this issue we have Mr Ramesh Parasuraman, Director Allied Solutions (I) Pvt. Ltd. He is also recently elected Hon. Secretary of Society of Plastic Engineers India. We had interactions with him on various topics. Excerpts of the interview Q What are the products of Allied Solutions Pvt. Ltd.?
Q What are the awards / recognition you have received till date?
A Allied Solutions (I) Pvt. Ltd. is a proactive marketing company of Plastic Processing Machineries and Technologies. Allied Solutions represents 15 companies across the globe for their State of Art Technology and Hardware. We provide innovative solutions to Plastic industry, to name a few like Gas Assist System, Hot Runner Systems, Pipe Extrusion Lines, Sheet Lines, Butt Fusion Solutions, Blow Moulding Machines, Plastics Automation, Size Reduction Systems, Screws & Barrels & Second Hand Extrusion Machines etc. From consultancy to project feasibility study, supply of machineries & support in service including re-engineering in the field of plastic processing.
A We have received many awards like; Award of Excellence in Plastivision 2007 Exhibition. Best Agent of Bauer Kompressor in Asia, Best Agent of Zerma Machinery & Recycling Technology in Asia, No 1 market share in India for Bauer, Gas Assist Systems,
Q What is the turnover of the company for the year?
Q What are the latest new products / innovative solutions offered by the company?
Q What is your opinion on the current trends in the Plastic Processing Industry? A To me the three growth engines for the industry are a) the investments in upstream crackers, b) growth in rural consumption and c) absorption of technology by Indian entrepreneurs. One of the key features of Indians is that we may be slow in adopting the technology but when we do, we adopt the latest and the best.
A The turn over was $ 5 Million USD A Our KRAH pipe technology enables the producer to make pipes which have higher stiffness to weight ratio, thereby bringing down the energy costs and raw material costs and delivering more superior performance.
Q What is the strength of the company in terms of Operations and Employee structure? A We have staff strength of 20 people, namely in technical sales and service support. Accuracy and Commitment are our strengths. We never promise on quality and we deliver on our promises. We are committed to providing our clients with exceptional service.
Also the machine is so versatile that in the same machine you can make low pressure pipes and high pressure pipes. One single machine is capable of making from 800mm diameter pipe to 4000 mm diameter pipe.
Our people are our strength, we value our people’s ability, diversity and creativity, and do all in our power to nurture their existing talents and develop new ones. The way we care for and encourage our people is a key part of our culture, and is governed by our People Principles.
Q What are the challenges faced by the company, be it infrastructure, talent crunch, government policy? A As it happens with any other industry there are some challenges we are facing as well. I think Infrastructure, Manpower and government policies have always been challenges faced by the industry, but in the last few years Volatility in Forex is a huge worry.
Q Does the company have Pan India Presence? A With our offices strategically located across the India, we work closely with our clients. Our Head office is in Mumbai and we have branches in Chennai and New Delhi.
This disturbs the balance and affects growth rate. According to me Stability of our rupee would mean a faster pace of growth for the industry.
Q What are the markets the company would like to explore? A Process Industries for Chemicals and Petrochemicals Plastics and Polymer Processing Industries P L A S T I C S N E W S
24
N O V E M B E R 2014
COMPANY NEWS
Huntsman inaugurates Mumbai office Rosneft and CNPC untsman Corporation inaugurated its new India corporate office, in Andheri, Mumbai. The 220,000 square feet, seven story building will initially house some 300 Huntsman associates, including over 100 technical staff spread across three floors of state-of-the-art laboratory and research facilities.
H
The ceremony was led by Peter R. Huntsman, President and Chief Executive of the Huntsman Corporation, and was attended by Huntsman officers, associates, customers, suppliers and other key stakeholders. Commenting on the importance of the new headquarters to Huntsman’s ambitions in the Indian subcontinent, Peter R. Huntsman said “This opening is an important milestone in our continued growth
and commitment to the Indian market. Our family and employees have been building a business in the Indian subcontinent for over 25 years and today enjoy a strong, profitable and growing organization in excess of $500 million. Our continued success will depend on the quality and creativity of our local associates and this site will enable better technical, customer service, and development opportunities going forward. Huntsman has sales of approximately US$500 mln in the subcontinent, and has more than 1,000 associates based in the region. Ithas manufacturing facilities in Baroda and Ankleshwar in Gujarat, manufacturing textile chemicals and dyes and surfactants, and in Pune, manufacturing polyurethane systems.
endorse Tianjin refinery he Board of Directors of the PetroChina-Rosneft Orient Petrochemical (Tianjin) Company Ltd has endorsed the Feasibility Study for the project to construct the Tianjin refinery. The members of the Board of Directors adopted a resolution to optimize the oil refining segment of the Tianjin refinery by the end of February 2015 with a primary crude processing capacity of 16 mmtpa and a package for production of aromatic hydrocarbons with a capacity of 1.4 mmtpa of paraxylene.
T
Petrovietnam acquires additional 11% stake in Long Son petrochem ietnam’s State-owned oil and gas firm Petrovietnam has increased its stake in the US$4.6 bln Long Son petrochemical complex in Ba Ria-Vung Tau province, Vietnam, by acquiring a further 11% stake from Vietnam National Chemical. With this acquisition, the company now holds a 29% share in the project.
V
Other partners involved in the project include Thailand-based Siam Cement and Qatar Petroleum, which hold 46% and 25% stakes respectively. Said to be the largest-of-its-kind in the country, the Long Son complex will P L A S T I C S N E W S
use ethane, propane and naphtha as feedstock. The capital transfer forms part of Vietnam's restructuring plans for state-owned enterprises. The acquisition will help consolidate funding resources for the project and accelerate implementation of the project. The financial terms of the transaction have not been disclosed. Negotiations are underway with engineering, procurement and construction partners, while developers are working on site clearance. Licensed in 2008, the 400ha petrochemical complex is being built near the Long Son oil refinery in 25
the Long Son Industrial Zone. With preparation works underway, the complex is scheduled to commence operations in mid-2019. Said to be the largest-of-its-kind in the country, the Long Son complex will use ethane, propane and naphtha as feedstock. The complex will produce 2.7 mln tons of polyethylene and polypropylene, as well as 700,000 tons of compounds for the production of polyvinyl chloride and 840,000 tons of other chemicals for the petrochemical and chemical industry.
N O V E M B E R 2014
COMPANY NEWS
Evonik receives FDA approval for its biobased polyamide PA1010 vonik Industries has received FDA approval for a food contact substance notification (FCN) for its family of PA1010 polyamides. Its VESTAMID Terra DS16 natural may be used as a basic polymer in the production of articles intended for food contact. Food contact substances (FCS) are materials intended to come into contact with food, such as processing equipment, packaging and containers, and containers used in transport.
E
Due to the migration of molecules from the food contact material to the food, these substances are regulated in many countries. In the U.S., this is regulated via the Food Contact Notification Program established by the FDA within the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition's (CFSAN) Office of Food Additive Safety. All FCS must be approved by the U.S. FDA through the process of FCN. Approval of the Vestamid Terra DS polyamides is based on the simulation and actual tested migration behavior of the monomers, oligomers and other trace substances. Similar to the previous approvals obtained for the monomer DMDA under EU food contact materials Framework Regulation-1935/2004, compliance with very low specific migration levels (SML)was required. In the case of Vestamid Terra se, the SML's were found to be well within the limits for food contact applications, Benjamin Brehmer, business manager for biopolymers, commented that: "receiving the FDA approval is a validation that our efforts to strive for
P L A S T I C S N E W S
the best quality bio-based polyamides on the market has paid off." He added: "This milestone also allows us to confidently enter new markets with clarity of the regulatory situation." Vestamid Terra polymers are partially or entirely based on renewable feedstocks. The starting material is the castor bean and its oil derivates, a raw material that is not animal feed, and which does not compete with that of food crops. These are synthesized into monomers that form the basis of the Vestamid Terra product range. Vestamid Terra DS is based on polyamide 1010, which is the polycondensation product of 1,10-decamethylene diamine (D) and
1,10-decanedoic diacid (sebacic acid - S). Both decamethylene diamine and sebacic acid are derived from castor oil, which means that Terra DS has a bio-content of 100%. Vestamid Terra HS, which has a bio-content of 63%, is based on polyamide 610, which is the polycondensation product of 1,6-hexamethylene diamine (H) and 1,10-decanedoic diacid (sebacic acid - S) and was previously approved in the EU and USA for food contact with non-alcoholic foods. Having food contact approvals for both products will considerably broaden the range of commercial applications open to Evonik's portfolio of bio-based polyamide on the market.
Technip awarded engineering and procurement contract by Sasol for Louisiana echnip has received a contract from Sasol Limited to provide engineering and procurement for eight proprietary Ultra Selective Conversion or USC furnaces. The furnaces are for a world-scale ethane cracker and derivatives complex to be located in Lake Charles, Louisiana, USA.
Stan Knez, Technip's Senior Vice President, Technip Stone & Webster Process Technology, said, "Following the selection of our ethylene technology during the early stage of this project, Technip is pleased to expand our role by supplying the most critical part of the cracker, the furnaces.
Technip's operating center in Houston, Texas, USA, will execute the project. Sasol has also selected Technip's proprietary ethylene technology and Front-end engineering design (FEED) for the cracker, which will produce an estimated 1.5 mln tpa of ethylene.
In addition, Technip's North America region also is playing a significant project role, having been selected, with Fluor, to provide engineering, procurement and construction management for the cracker and derivatives complex."
T
26
N O V E M B E R 2014
COMPANY NEWS
Coca-Cola Recycling shuts down he beverage container recycling arm of The CocaCola Company – Coca-Cola Recycling North America has closed down .
T
Sheree Robinson, communications manager for Coca-Cola North America, confirmed "yes, we are winding down Coca- Cola Recycling, LLC" and offered the following statement: The Coca-Cola Company’s current goal is to lead the industry in packaging sustainability including Plant Bottle, reducing our packaging footprint and increasing recovery, and using recyclable materials. In the U.S., we will continue to work more directly with our value chain to increase the use of recycled materials. As the industry is evolving, we no longer need to directly engage in the buying
and selling of recyclable materials. We are excited about the opportunities this will create and remain committed to broad-based sustainability initiatives in North America.
conversion into can sheet. Some of the firm’s UBC buyers were formerly employed by Anheuser-Busch in a similar arrangement designed to help control can sheet prices.
Coca-Cola remains committed to using recyclable materials in our packaging and advancing recycling. We are restructuring how we procure recyclable materials and will focus on developing our sources of supply.
Several UBC suppliers to CocaCola Recycling expect this side of the operation to continue for a short period due to existing supply and melting agreements. Some observers say that the UBC market will become very interesting in the coming months.
Coca-Cola will continue to work with our suppliers, customers and the industry to increase recycled content in our packaging. Coca-Cola Recycling was active nationwide in the recovery and marketing of aluminum and PET beverage containers. On the aluminum side, the firm purchased used beverage cans (UBCs) for
"What will Alcoa and Novelis do now, given the demise of their joint buying system [Evermore Recycling]?" said a West Coast supplier to CocaCola Recycling. "Will they become more active?”
Reverdia earns USDA certifications for Biosuccinium™ Bio-succinic Acid everdia has earned the USDA Certified Biobased Product Label for its Biosuccinium™ biosuccinic acid. The USDA Certified Biobased Product Label verifies that the product’s amount of renewable biobased ingredients meets or exceeds levels set by USDA.
R
Biobased products are finished or intermediate materials composed in whole or in significant part of agricultural, forestry, or marine ingredients. The label verifies that Biosuccinium™ bio-succinic acid is 99% biobased. Bio-succinic acid has P L A S T I C S N E W S
applications in a variety of markets, such as biopolymers, polyurethanes, resins and plasticizers for end products including footwear, paint and packaging. Marcel Lubben, President of Reverdia said, “Reverdia is committed to developing the biobased market so we’re very proud to display this certification on Biosuccinium™, the most sustainable choice of bio-succinic acid, commercially produced from nonGMO feedstocks.” All biobased amount claims are verified by independent labs and monitored by the USDA. 27
Consumers should feel secure in the accuracy of the biobased amount and be empowered in making better informed purchasing decisions. “We are proud that Reverdia has earned the USDA Certified Biobased Product Label,” said Ron Buckhalt, USDA BioPreferred Program Manager. “Biobased products add value to renewable agriculture commodities, create jobs in rural communities and help decrease reliance on nonrenewable petroleum.”
N O V E M B E R 2014
COMPANY NEWS
Pertorp stepping up investment in Shell to buy bioplastics market Monaca site from erstorp the world leader in e-polycaprolactones (PCL) technology, marketed under the Capa™ brand, is stepping up its investment into the fast growing bioplastics market. The investments include a pilot plant, which is already up and running at Warrington, UK, increased technical resources and a new laboratory at Perstorp, Sweden, which will be in place from January 2015.
P
Perstorp has a track record of investing in sustainability and spends more than 85% of its R&D resources on finding environmentally sound solutions. As part of this strategy, and with the global bioplastics market set for rapid growth, the timing is right for Perstorp to make substantial new investments in the development of bioplastics and bio products.
World demand is expected to continue to grow at over 20% pa for the foreseeable future, and Capa™ Thermoplastics are already playing a vital role in enhancing biopolymer performance and biodegradability across a range of bioplastic applications. Capa™ is a perfect performance enhancer and processing aid for renewable biopolymers whether it is used for short-life, long-life or endof-life solutions. In particular Perstorp’s primary focus today is on three key bioplastic growth segments – paper coatings, bags & films and packaging. The current investments are designed to support rapid development of all three, but also to ensure the infrastructure is in place to meet the challenges of new emerging applications.
Horsehead Corp hell Chemical LP has decided to purchase Horsehead Holding Corp's zinc smelter facility located in Monaca, Pennsylvania. The proposed refinery has been planned to convert ethane from Marcellus Shale into ethylene and polyethylene.
S
Shell signed a land option agreement with Horsehead to evaluate properties in early 2012, and plans have been in development since though a timeline for the project has not yet been set. The proposed US$4 bln ethane cracker would be the first of its kind in the US Northeast.
One millionth tons of polycarbonate by Bayer ayer MaterialScience (BMS) celebrated the production of its one millionth ton of polycarbonate at Bayer Integrated Site Shanghai. The company said it has been providing ample supply from China to its local and global customers in Asia Pacific.
B
" We s t a r t e d o u r i n v e s t m e n t nearly a decade ago, we made the commitment. We are proud to have achieved this goal and we celebrate the production of our one millionth ton as a symbol of this commitment," said Markus Steilemann, global head of the P L A S T I C S N E W S
polycarbonates business unit at BMS. China';s demand for polycarbonate is expected to reach 1.78 million metric tons by 2015, according to SCI International. "We see healthy utilization of polycarbonates particularly in China, thanks to the industries such as automotive, electrical and construction that are interested in our products." added Steilemann. Polycarbonate can be used in many applications that are currently growing rapidly in
28
China, such as automotive, electric vehicle chargers, railroad cars and LED lighting. BMS uses the melt polycarbonate process, is a multi-stage, continuous poly-condensation process that works without the use of solvent. The company claims its advantages include a 20 percent reduction in energy consumption and 60 percent less water usage compared to alternative process technologies. Bayer AG is spinning off BMS into a separate, publicly-traded company. N O V E M B E R 2014
FEATURES
Ultra-thin tool heating for injection molding n future, thin-film heating will allow plastic parts to be produced with greatly improved surface quality. Researchers have also found a way to make the whole process more energy efficient.
I
if you have ever tried to make waffles then you are bound to be familiar with the following problem: You only get good waffles if the iron is heated to the correct temperature. The same principle applies to the manufacture of plastics parts, such as displays, facings, covers and instrument panels, using injection molding techniques. A liquid plastic melt is injected into a steel forming tool which is heated just like a waffle iron. The point is to produce a perfect cast of the tool's surface, which may be smooth like a mirror or feature a functional structure. Using injection molding to realize the desired structural and functional surface qualities of plastic parts is intended as a one-step process without the need for any extensive finishing work. The process also has to be economic and energy efficient. To manufacture plastic parts with high-end surfaces, the entire forming tool is heated to around 110 degrees Celsius using a technique known as variothermic tempering. Thermo- plastic materials such as polycarbonate are processed at similar temperatures. In order to get the finished plastic part out without damaging it, the mold must be cooled by around 20 to 30 degrees Celsius. This has to be done for every production cycle before the whole process can begin again, which "eats up a considerable amount of energy," explains Alexander Fromm from the Fraunhofer Institute for Mechanics of
P L A S T I C S N E W S
Materials IWM in Freiburg. Working to improve the situation, Fromm and his colleagues teamed up with the Kunststoff-Zentrum in Leipzig to develop a new kind of tempering technique that, depending on the product, is up to 90 percent more energy efficient than other techniques used to date. The trick is to avoid having to heat up the entire tool; these can weigh half a ton or even more depending on the plastic part being produced. All that is heated now is the surface of the tool that actually comes into contact with the plastic melt.
A micrometer-thin layer This is possible thanks to thin-film heating. Researchers coat the wall of the forming tool using a vacuum-based coating technique known as sputtering. Imagine a game of pool in which the balls are base-material atoms – in this case from the thin film. Hitting them with energy-rich ions sends them ricocheting around the vacuum chamber. The sputtered material is deposited onto the surface of the forming tool in layers only a few micrometers thick (1 micrometer equals one thousandth of a millimeter). To put this into perspective, a human hair is approximately 80 micrometers thick. Not only can this extremely thin coating be used to heat the forming tool surface to the desired temperature, but it is also capable of withstanding the thermodynamic stresses that occur during injection molding. Electrical insulation is provided by a ceramic layer that shields the conductive heating layer from the steel tool underneath. The layer that actually gets heated is made of a specially
29
designed conductive hard material. In this case, the challenge of sputtering lies not only in producing a perfect insulating layer so as to avoid any short circuits, but also in integrating a sensor into the thin-film heating layer. A sensor placed here can measure the temperature of the tool wall and be used to regulate the manufacturing process. To achieve this, the researchers set about integrating incredibly fine thermocouples, made from nickel or nickel-chrome alloy and each just a few hundred nanometers thick. Thermo- couples can be produced using thin-film technology and incorporated into the insulation layer. Due to their extremely low mass, thermocouples react incredibly fast to temperature changes and make it possible to directly measure the temperature of the tool wall. Through a series of laboratory experiments, the researchers were able to demonstrate that thin-film heating can be used to achieve the desired tool wall temperature very quickly indeed. The researchers are now looking for industry partners to help prepare the process for use in series manufacture.
N O V E M B E R 2014
FEATURES
HDPE /GRP pipes for Infrastructure and Sewers 3,600mm GRP pipes to protect Polish city from flooding xtruded high density polyethylene pipe is increasingly used as a replacement for traditional materials in infrastructure projects. But now even sewer structures, which traditionally would be built from precast concrete, are being made from extruded polymer. More often than not water management or do we say management of storm water and sewerage are at times responsible for flooding.
E
A recent happening is use of 3,600mm GRP pipes in Polish city DąbrowaGórniczawitt that is supposed to protect it from flooding. In the view of environmental influences and the expansion of urban areas, the issue of flood prevention becomes a key task for urban infrastructure. Hobas, the manufacturer of GRP pipe systems for sewage and stormwater applications, has taken on the task and recently installed a 2,410 m³ large retention system DN 3600 in the Polish city of DąbrowaGórniczawith.
The city carrying out a number of large-scale projects, including in the field of water and wastewater management due to the poor technical condition of the network and the insufficient capacity of the existing stormwater sewer during heavy rain. In order to prevent floods, the city opted for a complete rehabilitation of the sewage and stormwater system. In the event of heavy rainfalls, the excess water shall be discharged into a stormwater retention tank and then gradually pumped out. The very limited space on site ruled out the alternative option of a second sewer. Hobas designed the underground storage tank with a capacity of 2,410 m³. The reservoir is built of four 62 m rows of GRP Pipes DN 3600, shafts, as well as bends with in- and outlet pipes and channels. The individual elements were jointed with Hobas FW Couplings (FWC) and two assembly couplings were selected to close the reservoir. Due to the pipe’s small outside diameter in relation to the
inside diameter, the installation area could be reduced. A ventilation system with PVC pipes was laminated to the GRP Pipes. The storage system is part of a new stormwater drainage system which is currently being built from DN 4001400 pipes (PN 1, SN 10000). The installation of the sewers commenced in February 2014 and will continue until the end of 2014. Hobas Poland produced the required GRP pipes, fittings, and shafts. Due to the large size of the fittings, the deliveries took place at night. The project also includes a pumping station with two pumps to discharge the rainwater accumulated in the tank. The two pumps are an integral part of the tank and located in a shaft DN 2000. They operate periodically, depending on the precipitation intensity. Assuming a performance of the pumping station of 30 l/sec, it takes about 22 hours to drain the tank.
General comparison of features between GRP and HDPE pipe S. No.
Description
GRP Pipe
1
Tensile strength
2
Modulus of Elasticity Hoop Tensile modulus: 20000-30000 GPa
5000 GPa
3
Specific gravity
1.8 – 1.9
0.95
4
Wall thickness
Lesser wall thickness due to high strength and For a particular pressure rating, wall excellent stiffness and proper fiber orientation thickness is much higher than GRP
P L A S T I C S N E W S
Hoop tensile strength: 300 - 375 MPa
HDPE Pipe
30
60 MPa
N O V E M B E R 2014
FEATURES 5
Corrosion resistance Good
Good
6
Relative Cost
7
Process parameter Varies from case to case and hence properties Only one type for all applications for manufacturing can be fixed depend upon the application by varying fiber orientation.
8
Maintenance
9
Underground piping Best design optimization possible between In case of Uneconomical design calling applications meeting internal pressure class and stiffness for very high thickness. requirement with fiber orientation and sand aggregate addition
15% cost saving higher diameter pipes (above – 8 inches)
GRP pipes are designed for 50 Year of life hence Periodical maintenance is required. no maintenance is required
Husky expands hot runners and controllers business in China and India anadian injection moulding machine and hot runner supplier Husky Injection Molding Systems is making significant investments to support the strong growth of its hot runners and controllers customers. Recent investments in the business will enable Husky to further reduce lead times, increase global capacity, and enhance its global customer support capabilities
C
Husky established its hot runners and controllers business as a strategic priority early in 2013 and is focused on developing products and services that solve customers’ key injection moulding challenges in areas such as gate quality, balance, ease of use and maintainability. Specific investments in 2014 include expanding Husky’s facility in Pudong, China with new manufacturing equipment and new team members, and
P L A S T I C S N E W S
commencing hot runner manufacturing at its Chennai, India facility. This will allow Husky to achieve lead times in Asia, and benefit customers around the world by streamlining the workload at its other manufacturing facilities in Milton, Vermont and Dudelange, Luxembourg.
with customers. Hand in hand with capital investments, Husky has added more people to its sales support and customer service teams to give customers better support on mold and part design consulting, resin trials, start-up assistance and field troubleshooting.
In the next 12 months, investments in the business will include increasing capacity to manufacture hot half plates, and introducing new, more efficient manufacturing technology for manifolds at its Luxembourg facility. To better support customers with fast delivery needs or special technical requirements, Husky is also expanding its custom components manufacturing capacity with equipment and skilled machinists. A new generation of engineering automation is also being put into place that will greatly improve collaborative engineering
To support customers with hot runners and controllers for a wider variety of applications, Husky has launched a number of products recently. Such products include a Pronto and Ultra Sidegate expansion, and the launch of innovative new products like the Altanium Matrix2 and Altanium Delta3 controllers, and the Unify pre-assembled manifold system.
31
“Husky’s goal is to be the industry’s first choice for melt delivery systems, and our new Unify manifold system and Altanium hot runner controllers continue to prove that we are leaders
N O V E M B E R 2014
FEATURES in the industry by continuously driving innovation,” said Gerardo Chiaia, Husky’s President of Hot Runners. “Customers continue to benefit from our technology with improved gate quality, balance, ease of use and maintainability.” Husky says it has adopted a scientific approach to reducing
sources of waste and variability in the injection moulding process, and as a result has introduced new design and manufacturing processes that aim to make its hot runners the most thermally uniform in the industry. This approach is also being applied to developing nozzles with longer life and improved valve gate quality, as
well as expanding the scope of current products. By focusing on innovation, Husky will further increase its ability to optimise hot runners for each application, helping bring customers’ products to market faster and at the lowest part cost
RD Dryer System for Material through-puts up to 300 kg/h lue Air Systems an Austrianbased company, has introduced the range of the RD series, a complete modular built highly flexible dryer system to condition plastic resin with dry process air. With drying capacities ranging from 0,05 to 300 kg/h, the efficient and energy saving dryers using compressed air reach new dimensions.
B
The RD resin dryer series impresses with efficiency and innovative modularity using segmental design. The units are usually mounted directly onto the extruder throat of the plastic processing machine, or can be installed as a central drying unit. The modular RD series consists of 4 main components: process air module, material hopper, dryer lid and hopper extension. This allows very quick changes of the hopper sizes to adapt to the needed material through-put and superior accessibility for maintenance. The
P L A S T I C S N E W S
dryers are equipped with double wall glass for optimal thermal decoupling, stepless adjustable material sensors in combination with an automatic hopper loading device. Large and removable display and control elements allow an efficient and secure process monitoring. Based on the compressed air principle the RD hoppers offer perfect conditions for material flow allowing state of the art drying performance. By expanding pre dried compressed air to atmospheric pressure the dew point of the air sinks to an extremely low level. Subsequent heating of the air to the set temperature, reduces the relative humidity of the process air. Surface defects and defects of the mechanical properties of the plastic part can be deleted with this principle.
for highly demanded applications such as the production of PET performs, the dew point of the air can be lowered down to -70°C (-94°F). By recycling high quality exhaust compressed air used on injection blow molding machines, energy costs for drying the material can be reduced to an unachieved level in plastic processing (60%). One of the main aspects of the RD dryer series is the complete circulation of dry air around each and every resin through the ring jet system. The RD dryers set new standards in performance, functionality and flexibility. The principle of thorough drying, resin for resin using lowest possible energy consumption has been adapted to larger volume hoppers with greater material through-put to enlarge the application range.
The dryer series works without a desiccant dryer or the need of cooling water and allow easily to adapt to any needed material through-put. If needed
32
N O V E M B E R 2014
FEATURES
More than just thermal insulation strips: polyamide profiles for special applications hermal insulating film replaces foam in profiles From 100% recycled polyamide to fire protection
T
Ensinger has introduced its product classification system The main task of an insulating profile, either made from polyamide or polypropylene, is insulation. But the requirements vary depending on the specific application. To meet the different needs, the company Ensinger offers a wide range of insulating profiles and has introduced a new product classification system for its Insulbar profiles used in aluminum windows, doors and facades.
Improved thermal insulation: film as an alternative to foam In order to improve the thermal insulation properties, the company offers a special insulation technology: The use of Low-E Film (LEF), made of a special aluminium foil, applied to the flag of the thermal insulation profile reflects the thermal radiation between the inner and outer shell of the aluminium frames. The functional
principle is similar to that used in a thermos flask, whose mirror-finish inner coating maintains the temperature over long periods as a result of reflection. LEF is a simple alternative to thermally insulating foam. When using insulbar LEF, the Uf values achieved are equivalent to those of thermal insulation profiles with foam, and in many cases even better. The rated emissivity of Low-E film corresponds to ε = 0.03 (standards and directives: EN 12898 and EN ISO 10456). LEF is heat resistant up to 200°C, is able to withstand this temperature for up to 20 minutes and so permits powder coating in the finished assembly. Standard anodizing is also possible.
Long glass fibre reinforced profiles withstand high levels of mechanical stress The Insulbar high performance series of profiles are capable to withstand high levels of mechanical stress and can be used wherever high loading capacities and rigidity are required. Alongside the glass fibrereinforced profile (REG), the company also offers long glass fibre reinforced profiles (LGF) for even higher strength and rigidity, and suitable for facade press-on or glass holding profiles.
From 100% recycled polyamide to fire protection Insulbar LEF: This insulating profile uses a Low-E film which reflects thermal radiation.
P L A S T I C S N E W S
Another profile system (RE) is made from 100% recycled polyamide and saves energy and resources. This is
33
Insulbar insulating profiles protect the mountain-top “Sphinx” restaurant on the Jungfraujoch from temperatures as low as -30°C and wind speeds of up to 250 km/h.
also confirmed by the Environmental Product Declaration, which is a major benefit when calculating the life cycle assessment of eco-certified buildings, according to Ensinger. The company also offers fire protection profiles (FSFire Stop) which are reinforced with continuous fibres, and have flame retardant and non-melting properties. Another polyamide profile system (ESP) features optimized electrostatic properties for easier powder coating. And a self-lubricating glass fibre reinforced profile system (LUB) can be offered for lock and bolt rods applications.
N O V E M B E R 2014
FEATURES
Kabra-Metzerplas launches Flat Drip Tube Line ince last five decades, Kabra has been playing an active role in providing complete solutions on extensive range of plastics processing applications. Kabra has always offered technologically advanced plastics extrusion machinery to major processors across the globe.
S
Team Kabra paved way for yet another high-tech development in drip irrigation, when Kabra-Metzerplas flat drip tube line was commissioned successfully at a line speed of 250 MPM. Delegation from Kabra ExtrusionTechnik visited Metzerplas, Israel to witness the same. Amongst the delegates were Mr. S. V. Kabra (Chairman & Managing Director), Mr. Anand Kabra (Director), Mr. P. M. Jariwala (Sr. VP – R&D) and Mr. Sunil Ambekar (VP-Marketing). Management team from Metzerplas, Mr. Shmuel Schupak (CEO) and Mr. Yitzhak Rotem (Head - Engineering & Development) were also present to host this technology visit. Metzerplas is a kibbutz-based industry of micro-irrigation products. Metzerplas unique drippers have been designed with the widest dripper inlet filter and an innovative PC (Pressure Compensating) mechanism for precise irrigation with low-quality water and clog-resistance. Metzerplas, established in 1970, has earned its reputation for excellence by successfully assembling thousands of irrigation systems worldwide. Metzerplas projects department is expert in agricultural and irrigation turn-key projects for greenhouses and open fields. P L A S T I C S N E W S
K a b r a Metzerplas offers drip line manufacturers high-speed production lines both for cylindrical and flat drippers, integral and PC drip lines. The drip line production equipments are self-designed and manufactured by engineering and technology team for both cylindrical and flat drippers. Kabra-Metzerplas offers drip line manufacturers’ accurate and reliable solutions combining high efficiency, operation and maintenance ease, enabling even small manufacturing plants to become competitive with a leading technology at affordable investments. Since last 2 years, Kabra ExtrusionTechnik has been partnering with Metzerplas to bring solutions for drip irrigation system suppliers. Kabra has introduced many products, mainly inline round and flat drip tubing lines which are extensively used in micro irrigation. With the new development, Kabra will be able to offer better yield with higher efficiency level at line speed of up to 250 MPM. Kabra-Metzerplas are also exploring developments on following offerings suitable for drip irrigation system suppliers 1. Low cost flat drip line
3. High-speed, High end flat drip line These lines are being developed especially for India and other developing countries. This is mainly to pass on maximum benefits to the processors & agriculture sector and thereby support farming techniques required by farmers. Kabra is also exploring possibilities of new avenues in bringing low cost cylindrical & flat drippers, high-end equipments and micro irrigation systems for drip irrigation suppliers at competitive prices to boost yield. Given the nature of rainfall in Indian subcontinent, drip lines are gaining popularity and acceptance across the country. Kabra continues to be preferred choice of processors for flat and cylindrical drip segment. Kabra’s drip lines – both, flat and cylindrical, are widely recognized for their reliability, efficiency and advanced technology. Team Kabra takes pride in partnering & fulfilling the needs of irrigation system manufacturers to achieve higher productivity with lower cost.
2. Low cost cylindrical drip line 34
N O V E M B E R 2014
FEATURES
AMUT and AMUT ECOTECH Joint Players to supply recycling facilities he Italian AMUT GROUP is globally considered as synonymous of flexibility and turn-key solutions mainly because all of its divisions and companies collaborate together, sharing knowledge and professional competences in three sectors: extrusion, thermoforming and recycling.
T
As a result of this strategy, AMUT GROUP is always in position to supply tailor-made equipment and installations to satisfy a wide range of requirements. AMUT Recycling Division, innovative manufacturer of plastics washing plants, together with AMUT ECOTECH, high expert of sorting and separation technology, represent an instrumental player in the waste processing systems field. AMUT and AMUT ECOTECH become a sole reference to supply recycling facilities. Confirming this important strength, a recycling plant has been recently supplied in England for a customer who preferred AMUT over the others, not only for technological reasons but also because he could find the advantage to buy a turn-key mixed plastic sorting plant and HDPE washing plant by an unique supplier.
flakes. These flakes have a quality level suitable to be re-used in further extrusion, injection or thermoforming process. The plant reclaims polyolefin thermoplastics scraps to be transformed into granules with an output of 10 Tons/h. The thermoplastic scraps come from the urban and industrial separate collection and they are previously selected as: -
HDPE / PP containers and bottles for foods. HDPE / PP containers and bottles for detergents and chemicals.
Plastics at inlet: HDPE and PP (75%), heavy plastics (25%). AMUT designers usually work in collaboration with the technicians joining their efforts to develop performing machines and proper structure in terms of optimization of the overall dimensions and of an easy
In fact, AMUT plant is able to cover the comprehensive recycling flow from mixed plastics sorting up to the delivery of P L A S T I C S N E W S
35
handling to facilitate the maintenance interventions.
AMUT ECOTECH - PRF The plant is fed by mixed plastics materials packed into bales, loaded by a forklift on the extracting chain conveyor installed in a pit, weighing system equipped with, and then conveyed to the “bales breaker machine”, properly designed and manufactured to break up bales mainly composed by plastic materials. This machine doesn’t shred material but gets back bulk material in order to feed the recovery plant in a constant and regular way. Breaking up of the bales is assured by the circular motion of a drum equipped with fix teeth. The rotor’s sharp tools enter the bales separating in this way all materials that fall in the below conveyor belt, conveying materials to the pre-sorting picking cabin where pickers take way bulky materials, mainly represented by cardboard and film, from the stream. After this first selection, by a feeding conveyor, the material flow is
N O V E M B E R 2014
FEATURES be sent to the automatic line are manually selected and discharged in chutes.
conveyed in the rotary trommel, where the separation depends on size. Three different streams are possible. 1. Material having size smaller than 30 mm falls on a conveyor belt, where is conveyed, jointly to the one fine coming from the ballistic separators, to the residue storing unit. 2. Material having size between 30 and 260 mm, is conveyed to the ballistic separator where the rolling shape and the hard materials are separated from the light and flat ones by the paddles sussultory movement. Furthermore, thanks to the grids installed on the paddles, fine material not yet separated by the rotary trommel, is evacuated and conveyed to the special storing unit. Flat and light material are conveyed upward by a conveyor. “Rolling shape and hard materials” sorted by the action of the ballistic separator, are conveyed to the plastics automatic selection line where plastic material will be automatically selected by optical readers. 3. Oversize materials stream, having size bigger than 260 mm is conveyed to the bulky materials picking line, where, different types of materials, mainly film and good plastics to P L A S T I C S N E W S
In order to get the higher quality of materials, after the NIR optical reader they are provided QC (quality control) stations, where pickers recycle errors, conveyed at the beginning of the automatic line to get more efficient the line. A manual checking line is also provided. Before entering the automatic line, “rolling shape and hard material” (plastic materials stream) stream passes through a demetallization line, consisting of an over band magnetic separator used for ferrous materials and, an Eddy Current System (based on the Foucaults currents principle), used for noferrous metals. Ferrous and no-ferrous materials selected in the de-metallization line, are weighed by weighing system hopper and then discharged into hook-lift containers.
AMUT - Washing System The main washing action on the product is made by the Friction Washer, thanks to the intensive friction of the rotary paddles among the flakes. Even if it is continuously fed, the friction washer allows an adjustment of the stay time of the material. A characteristic of this unit is its noiselessness, therefore a soundproof box is not required. The water, coming from the friction washer with paper pollutants, is filtered and then used again for the process.
the rinsing cycle starts into two proper troughs in series where there is also the separation of light pollutants (paper, non-polyolefin thermoplastics, etc.). The material is introduced in the bottom of the rinsing troughs in order to improve their efficiency. The light pollutants are so decanted, while the polyolefin float. Also these rinsing troughs are equipped with an automatic extractor of decanted material and heavy plastics. This mixed plastics are dried by a centrifuge and stored in big bags. The Washing Section operates in a fully automatic
cycle, controlled by a centralized board. The equipment has been designed to assure both separation and complete cleaning of thermoplastic material from all the pollutants having specific weight higher than the thermoplastics one. Possible residuals of pollutants, not extracted in the Washing Section, will be filtered during the process in the Granulation Section. Once all materials are selected, they are stored into the storing unit by type, ready to be discharged in the collecting conveyors to be then sent to the baling press, for the final packaging of bales.
After this strong washing action,
36
N O V E M B E R 2014
FEATURES
Plastic Bags Save Lives... Hospitals world over put babies in Plastics bags to save life hile it has become a norm to criticise the plastics bags one would be forced to take their words back for the Plastics bag is more of a life saving bag fort he new born and their mother fell short of words.
W
The humble polythene bag may just save the life of a premature baby. This is the finding of a study conducted by a Santa Cruz hospital after looking at 101 premature babies who, on an average, weighed 1.5kg and needed to be immediately shifted to a neonatal intensive care unit after birth. And this is happening all over the world. Consider this US (Florida ) based Julie Kent Whitton was horrified when she learned a doctor placed her recently delivered, 1 lb. 11 oz baby into a clear, plastic bag. “My first thought was, ‘Is she dead?’” Whitton told the Daily Mail. “’Is that her body bag?’” Doctors explained that the bag was a solution to keep her daughter warm. They later moved her daughter to an incubator after nearly 24 hours in the bag. Claire Bebb, who had recently given birth to twins, experienced similar concerns. Both of her babies weighed in at under two pounds, and they both had retinopathy of prematurity, an eye condition that can cause permanent blindness if left untreated. As a result of the plastic bag treatment, both babies stayed warm for the 24 hours immediately following birth. Thankfully, both babies can see perfectly fine.
P L A S T I C S N E W S
US Government Studies Support the Plastic Bag Treatment. A study, funded by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), examined the efficacy of using plastic bags to keep premature babies’ body temperatures up. The study concluded that the treatment reduced hypothermia and works well as a “low-cost, lowtechnology tool for resource-limited settings.” The study took place in Zimbabwe, and a doctor remarked that the bags only cost roughly two cents apiece. Neonatal care facilities are too often lacking the resources that babies need to survive. Premature babies especially are weak and frail in the first few days of their lives, and improper care at this stage can lead to permanent injury or disability down the road. Back home in India the so called cheap polythene wrap keeps premature
37
babies warm "The polythene wrap keeps the baby warmer in comparison to a cloth that people usually wrap such babies in while transporting," said Dr Bhupinder Avasthi of Surya Hospital, which conducted the study. Neonates are children who are less than one month old; neonates born prematurely are extremely fragile and vulnerable at temperatures lower than the body temperature of 37 degree centigrade. Transporting them effectively from the maternity home to a neonatal intensive care unit is a big challengeparticularly in India where such infrastructure is mainly located in cities. India has a neonatal mortality of 29 deaths per 1,000 live births (as against an infant mortality of 42 per 1,000 live births). Several Indian doctors have innovated on how to transport premature babies, some of them with weight as
N O V E M B E R 2014
FEATURES
low as 600 grams. Almost two decades ago, pediatrician Dr Subhash Daga from JJ Group of Hospital innovated by transporting such children in discarded thermocol and styrofoam boxes. He won the British Medical Journal Award for Medical Innovation in 2011. The polythene wrap, which is an essential part of any operation theatre and costs between Rs 5 and 10, is another such low-cost innovation. "The first few hours after birth are golden hours of life and hence a safe and effective transportation of newborn is extremely critical," said Dr Avasthi. His team of doctors, led by neonatologist Dr Nandkishor Kabra, started the study at Surya Hospital in June 2013, enrolling 101 premature babies until January 2014. "We knew polythene wraps are used in western countries to prevent hypothermia in preterm and low birth babies while being transported from the delivery room to the NICU," said Dr Kabra. Surya Hospital, which is one of the biggest NICU facility in the city with 65 beds, decided to check the efficacy of these wraps during longer drives. Fifty neonates were transported in polythene wraps while 51 were transported in sterile cloth. "We found that the body temperature of children
P L A S T I C S N E W S
who were brought in polythene wraps hadn't fallen as much as children brought in sterile cloth," said Dr Kabra. While the average temperature of the polythene group was 35.6, the other group was 34.7. The former group also had better sugar control and oxygenation levels.
The study won the best paper award at the seventh annual national conference of the neonatology chapter of the Indian Academy of Pediatrics, which was held in Meerut on November 1, 2014 "India alone accounts for 27% of global neonatal deaths. Such safe and effective transport of sick newborn will go a long way in improving the outcomes of newborn babies in our country," said Dr Avasthi. As said.
Polymer bag Helps..
Neonatal care facilities are too often lacking the resources that babies need to survive.
Premature babies especially are weak and frail in the first few days of their lives, and improper care at this stage can lead to permanent injury or disability down the road.
The Noenates or the premature new born is placed inside a resealable plastic bag, similar to a sandwich bag you would buy in a supermarket.
According to Paediatrician, it one of the remarkable technique 'The bag acts as a micro environment. Most of the premature newborns are too tiny for an incubator, which is designed for full-term babies.'
Babies who are born so prematurely have very little body fat to keep them warm, putting them at a high risk of developing hypothermia.
The plastic bag helps to warm the baby by mimicking the environment inside the womb.
The bags help to keep babies’ temperature stable. “They stop moisture evaporating from the skin and provide a ‘greenhouse’ effect to keep the babies warm.”
Hypothermia is a common danger for preterm infants who have difficulties adjusting to life outside the womb. Unable to regulate their own body temperature, hundreds of thousands of newborns across the globe dying within the first weeks of life because of this complication.
Babies' wrapped in plastic had a 26 percent reduced risk of hypothermia within the first hour after birth
38
N O V E M B E R 2014
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Qatar to reassess polymer expansion in Middle East region atar aims to reasses at its petrochemical expansion plans, with a view to remove any new polymer capacities in the pipeline amid a supply glut in the Middle East that is chipping away at regional producers’ margins. Approximately US$25 bln is planned to be invested to boost its petrochemical capacity to 23 mln tons by 2020 from 16.8 mln tons in 2012, according to state-owned energy distributor Muntajat.
Q
A regional oversupply of polymers is forcing Qatar to diversify to other petrochemicals, deviating from its longstanding focus on growing its polyolefins production. State-owned conglomerate Industries Qatar announced last month that its mega Al-Sejeel petrochemical complex project is on hold, and that it is looking at an alternative downstream investment. The complex, scheduled
for completion in 2018, was planned with capacity to produce 1.4 mln tpa of ethylene; 550,000 tpa of low density (LDPE); 430,000 tpa of linear low density PE (LLDPE); 1.04 mln tpa of high density PE (HDPE) and 760,000 tpa of polypropylene (PP). In the Middle East, at least 2.5 mln tons of new olefins and polyolefins capacities are due to come on stream in the UAE in the coming months, with the start-up of Borouge 3. Borouge 3 comprises a 1.5 mln tpa ethane cracker and derivative plants, including HDPE and LLDPE units with a combined capacity of 1.08 mln tpa; a 350,000 tpa LDPE unit; and two PP units with a combined capacity of 960,000 tpa. An estimated 350,000 tpa of LDPE will be made available once Sadara complex in Jubai, Saudi Arabia becomes operational. The Al-Karaana project in
Ras Laffan, will feature a 1.5 mln tpa monoethylene glycol (MEG) plant; a 277,000 tpa oxo-alcohols unit; and a 300,000 tpa linear alpha olefins (LAO) facility. Al-Karaana, which is scheduled to start up in H2 2018, is a joint venture between Shell and Qatar Petroleum (QP). QP-commissioned RLGAP is expected to produce 1.304 mln tpa of paraxylene (PX), 890,000 tpa of benzene, and 820,000 tpa of pentane, and is due for start-up in H2-2018. Qatar is the world’s largest exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG), with natural gas reserves of 885,000 billion cubic feet in 2013, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA). Qatar enhanced its naphtha and baseoils segments in end-2012, with the start-up of the Pearl Gas-To-Liquids (GTL) project, which is a joint venture between Shell and QP.
Japan urges petrochem makers to reduce capacities for falling demands apan has urged domestic petrochemical makers to voluntarily close or cut additional ethylene-making capacity to deal with falling local demand for plastics and synthetic fibres, and an influx of cheaper foreign supplies.
year, and Sumitomo Chemical and Asahi Kasei are to shut two more of the 14 remaining in 2015 and 2016. Even with the three shutdowns, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) expects excess ethylene output capacity of 1.7 mln tpa by 2020.
The push by the government amid existing plans to shut down ethylene plant, will lead to a further reduction in demand for naphtha. Mitsubishi Chemical has shut one of its ethylene plants in eastern Japan earlier this
METI has twice ordered capacity cuts in Japan's refinery industry, which is beset with similarly bleak conditions. But the ministry doesn't intend to push for mandatory cuts at petrochemicals plants. Japan's ageing crackers, which
J
P L A S T I C S N E W S
39
split naphtha into ethylene and other plastics feedstocks, have also been struggling to compete with newer rivals in South Korea and Singapore with larger and more efficient plants. New capacity is also expected to come up in the United States and China, threatening to overwhelm petrochemical margins in Asia. In the United States, 11 mln tons of new ethane crackers are planned by 2020 to take advantage of cheap, abundant supplies derived from shale gas.
N O V E M B E R 2014
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
FTC warns bag makers in US h e U . S . F e d e r a l Tr a d e Commission has warned the bag makers to take care before making biodegradeability claims. Serving letters to the Makers of oxodegradable or oxo-biodegradable plastic bags it said they should consider themselves on notice.
T
The agency has sent letters to 15 plastic waste bag companies, warning that their oxodegradable, oxo-biodegradable, or biodegradable claims may be deceptive, as consumers understand those terms to mean the same thing as “biodegradable.” Companies must remove the claims from their marketing materials or present “competent and reliable scientific evidence proving that their bags will biodegrade as advertised” to FTC, the letters said. FTC is not releasing the names of the companies or their products at this time, and spokesman Mitchell Katz said any plastic bag company making oxo-biodegradable claims should not assume that their claims are in compliance with U.S. federal regulations just because they did not receive a warning letter. Since the 2012 revision of its Guides for the use of Environmental Marketing Claims, known as the Green Guides, FTC has been cracking down on the greenwashing of products and services that are not actually as environmentally friendly as consumers are led to believe. According to the London-based Oxo-Biodegradable Plastics Association (OPA), “there are two very different types of biodegradable plastic.” One is oxo-
P L A S T I C S N E W S
biodegradable, made from everyday polymers including polyethylene, polypropylene and polystyrene with metal salts additives that catalyze the natural degradation process, speeding it up in the presence of oxygen; oxo-biodegradable plastics can also be recycled in traditional facilities. The other is bio-based or “compostable” plastic, OPA says, designed to biodegrade in industrial composting facilities or with the help of anaerobic digesters. FTC’s Green Guides do not define oxo-biodegradable, only stating that any claims regarding degradation be backed up with scientific evidence and items must “decompose into elements found in nature within a reasonably short period of time after customary disposal” to be called biodegradable, oxo-degradable, oxo-biodegradable or photodegradable. “Unqualified degradable claims for items that are customarily disposed in landfills, incinerators, and recycling facilities are deceptive because these locations do not present conditions in which complete decomposition will occur within one year,” according to the Green Guides. Common oxobiodegradable products degrade in anywhere from six to 18 months, according to OPA, though the length of time is largely dependent on the manufacturer’s formulation. But part of the argument oxo-biodegradable bag manufactures face from FTC is that most trash bags in the United States end up buried in landfills, where oxygen cannot reach the plastic to speed degradation as intended.
40
“The OPA advises its members not to make unqualified claims, and to state that oxo-biodegradable plastic is not suitable for composting, Oxobiodegradable plastic is not intended to degrade deep in landfill. It is designed to address the problem of plastic litter which escapes into the environment.” Oxo-biodegradable plastics suppliers should have their own products tested by reputable laboratories, OPA says, but consumers should know what recycling and composting facilities are available near them and shop accordingly.
DuPont announces US$30 mln expansion at its Sorona plant Kingston uPont has announced that its DuPont Sorona plant at Kinston is undergoing a US$30 mln expansion. The Kinston plant is the largest manufacturer of Sorona. “Our expansion is due to the strong demand for our renewable Sorona polymer,” said William Feehery, president of DuPont Industrial Biosciences. “Sorona is the cornerstone of our biomaterials business, a product with superior performance in terms of softness and stain resistance.
D
N O V E M B E R 2014
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Massive plastics processing investments in Africa assive investments are underway in plastics processing operations in Africa driving double digit growth in polymer demand. With much of this polymer still currently imported, it is now one of the most exciting markets for polymers in the world today, according to Applied Market Information Ltd (AMI Consulting). However, Africa is a complex market with market conditions vastly different in the welldeveloped North and South African markets compared with most other Sub-Saharan countries. Nigeria, Egypt and South Africa currently account for nearly half of polymer demand in the continent and for nearly all polymer production for the region. Despite significant investments in new capacity in these three countries, Africa remains a net importer for all resins and is expected to remain so for the foreseeable future.
M
Commodity plastics dominate the market with polyolefins accounting for about 60% of demand. This is partly because of the limited amount of manufacturing for automotive, domestic appliances and other technical products in the region. The largest volume is accounted for by polypropylene resins with the material being widely used for raffia production for bags and sacks. However, PET resin has been one of the fastest growing markets where the growing use of PET bottles for drinks is replacing LDPE pouches which have traditionally been used. This attractive growth in demand for plastic products has attracted abundant P L A S T I C S N E W S
foreign investment, especially from China and India which is expected to carry on in the future. In addition, there is some off shoring by European companies, especially in North Africa. The development of duty free zones is also encouraging investment in plastics processing operations. Another key driver for polymer demand is infrastructure development and building activity since nearly onequarter of polymer demand in Africa is for building and infrastructure related products. A growing middle-class and the resulting increase in disposable incomes are also playing an important role in driving plastic demand. Rising wealth also drives the development of organised retailing and the selling of food via supermarkets and, at present, packaging applications account for just under half of the polymer market across Africa. Growing urbanisation will also impact on demand for packaged food but it will also have implications in terms of building methods to ensure more energy efficient and safe dwellings. However, lack of sufficient local polymer production is the biggest challenge faced by the African plastics processing industry with most companies reliant on resin imports, mainly sourced from the Middle East or Asia. Exchange rate fluctuations of local currencies against the dollar add further uncertainty to the market, making it harder to compete against cheaper Chinese imports of finished goods. In general, power supply in Africa is tight but also erratic and unreliable in many 41
countries, which can dramatically reduce effective utilisation. Political instability is another key challenge in Africa, both north and south of the Sahara which can seriously impact on investor confidence and local demand. It is clear that plastics will be called on to play a vital role in this changing continent. In its report, AMI forecasts 8% pa average increases in Africa over the next five years, with diverse levels of annual growth varying from 5% in South Africa to up to 15% in parts of West Africa.
SABIC, Shell abandon plans for expansion of Jubail petrochem audi Basic Industries Corp. (SABIC) and Royal Dutch Shell (Shell), partners in the SADAF, have abandoned expansion plans of the Jubail petrochemical complex on the Gulf coast of Saudi Arabia. The expansion was planned for the additions of polyols, propylene oxide (PO) and styrene monomer processing capacity. According to a Shell spokesman, SABIC and Shell have agreed not to pursue this investment further as the feasibility study results were not encouraging to continue the SADAF project further.
S
N O V E M B E R 2014
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
China to develop safety standards for baby feeding products he China Toy and Juvenile Products Association will develop the country's first industrywide safety standards for infant and children's feeding utensils.
T
Speaking at a news conference at the China Toy Expo and the China Kids Expo, in Shanghai, representatives spoke about the voluntary effort, which they hope will lead to a government standard."We have to start right from the beginning," said Liang Mei, secretary of the China Toy and Juvenile Products Association."There isn't a government standard yet because that takes time, one or two years at least," she said. "We've become aware of this problem and that's why we're developing our own standard." Under the plan, products will feature a label to show consumers that they adhere to the standards. Companies that are grossly not up to standard could be punished, Liang said, "but if there is absolutely no standard we can't do anything." Looking to the future she said: "We will communicate with the government in the hope that our standards will eventually become the government standard." One company participating in the project said large companies have already developed their own standards, but smaller companies did not pay much attention to the issue. "It is related with food safety concerns," said Hong Limin, chairman of Zhejiang Rikang Baby Products Co. Ltd. Others agreed. "Currently there is no industry standard so we must
P L A S T I C S N E W S
develop our own standards," said He Yi, brand director for Zhejiang MuAi Baby and Children's Products Co.'s new Super Mama product line of baby products. "These standards are necessary to make consumers feel safer." Her company has close to 100 million RMB (US$16 million) in sales last year and is expecting a 30-50 percent increase this year. It manufactures in Yiwu, Zhejiang province, and uses only imported polyphenylsulfone and polypropylene, along with domestically produced silicone, to maintain high standard of safety.She said that the new standards
will have a greater impact on smaller manufacturers with limited capital. We've dealt with recalls before," she said. "We have the ability to change with the standards. But smaller factories don't have the ability to lose that kind of money." The bottom line she said was, "We want consumers to see we put safety and quality first." An executive at an American children's utensils company with manufacturing in Wenzhou said that in general he feels that sometimes Chinese industry standards can be more stringent than Western ones, but he seemed confident that his company could reach the standards."
Turkey files anti-dumping suit against PP film exports from India, China urkey has filed an antidumping suit against PP film exports from Egypt, India, China. Turkish Chemical & Fertilisers Export Council member Magdy Abu Fath said that Turkish authorities have filed an anti-dumping suit against polypropylene film exports from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, India, and China,. This decision has taken into consideration the political situation. The council member claimed that Egypt’s production of polypropylene amounts to 432,000 tons, which represents a small amount that does not pose a threat to local Turkish production. Studies
T
42
will also be conducted on technical lapses on Turkey’s part as well as a comparison of the prices of Egyptian products compared to the cost of their production. Chairman of the Chemical & Fertilisers Export Council Waleed Helal confirmed the existence of an Egyptian export crisis. The situation has particularly affected chemical exports as a result of political circumstances in the Arab world, stating that exports to the markets of Libya, Iraq, Syria, Tunisia, and Yemen have ceased, in addition to Turkey, which alone accounts for one-fourth of the Egyptian chemical exports.
N O V E M B E R 2014
P L A S T I C S N E W S
43
N O V E M B E R 2014
P L A S T I C S N E W S
44
N O V E M B E R 2014
P L A S T I C S N E W S
45
N O V E M B E R 2014
P L A S T I C S N E W S
46
N O V E M B E R 2014
P L A S T I C S N E W S
47
N O V E M B E R 2014
P L A S T I C S N E W S
48
N O V E M B E R 2014
P L A S T I C S N E W S
49
N O V E M B E R 2014
P L A S T I C S N E W S
50
N O V E M B E R 2014
BUSINESS NEWS
ONGC to hive off 25% stake in petrochemical, power unit il & Natural Gas Corp., India’s biggest energy explorer, is seeking to sell to strategic investors a 25% stake each in two petrochemical ventures and a power project before taking the units public.
O
According to a story published in Mint, talks are on with a number of potential buyers for stakes in ONGC Petro-additions Ltd, ONGC Mangalore Petrochemicals Ltd and ONGC Tripura Power Co., ONGC finance director Aloke Kumar Banerjee said. The story further says that the holdings could together fetch at least $1 billion based on the investments the projects require, according to Dhaval Joshi, a Mumbai-based analyst with Emkay Global Financial Services Pvt. Staterun ONGC is betting on Prime Minister
Narendra Modi’s initiative to attract foreign investment into India in sectors including energy by easing controls on fuel pricing. The country’s benchmark stock index has risen 16% to a record since Modi swept to power in May with the biggest mandate in 30 years. ONGC will own 26% in ONGC Petro-additions, Gail India Ltd 15.5% and Gujarat State Petroleum Corp. 5% after the stake sale and public offer, according to ONGC’s annual report. ONGC Petro-additions will spend Rs. 21,400 crore to build a petrochemical plant in the western state of Gujarat, according to ONGC. New plant ONGC and unit Mangalore Refinery & Petrochemicals Ltd will offer 51% to large investors and the public after keeping 49%, Banerjee
said. The company is building a plant in Mangalore on India’s west coast that will produce paraxylene and benzene, a raw material for making plastic, dyes and detergents. ONGC will eventually own 50% of ONGC Tripura, while IL&FS Energy Development Co. will have 26% and the government of the northeastern state of Tripura 0.5%. The venture operates a 727 megawatt power station that uses natural gas from ONGC’s fields in the region. The plant cost Rs. 4,047 crore to build, according to the annual report. The S&P BSE India Oil & Gas Index, which comprises 10 stocks, has gained 23% this year, while ONGC has surged 36%. The government freed diesel prices from its control and increased natural gas prices by 33% last month.
Rajoo forms joint venture with Meaf Machines extrusion machine maker Rajoo Engineers Ltd. has formed a joint venture with the Netherlands based Meaf Machines BV to make sheet and thermoforming equipment.
president of Rajoo Engineers. Rajoo generates annual sales of about 100 million rupees ($20 million). Meaf has been in the sheet extrusion and thermoforming machinery market since 1947.
Product design, technical knowhow and critical components will come from Meaf, which is based in Yerseke, the Netherlands. “There are certain technologies which Rajoo doesn’t [currently] have that would come with the new joint venture, like tilting mold thermoforming with stacking solution and sheet extrusion system. Our idea is to bring in the cost and energyefficient technology,” said Sunil Jain,
Jain said the venture will help Rajoo broaden its reach. “This is still a new market with immense potential that unfolds in India in the years to come with organized retailing growing in India, more disposable containers are required in this market,” Jain said. The market for disposable containers in India is growing 20-22 percent annually, even faster than flexible packaging, he said.
E
P L A S T I C S N E W S
51
Thermoformed packaging with barrier properties is relatively uncommon in India, but the partners expect it to grow significantly. Rising energy and labor costs also have packaging companies looking at ways to automate and improve output and energy efficiency, Jain said. I n S e p t e m b e r, t h e I n d i a n government opened a 110-acre food processing industrial park in Karnataka. The park is hope to 30 food processing plants, and it was started with an initial estimated investment of $166 million.
N O V E M B E R 2014
BUSINESS NEWS
Sasol to invest US$8.1 bln in world-scale ethane cracker and derivatives asol Limited has announced the final approval of an US$8.1 billion ethane cracker and derivatives complex at its existing site in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Central to the project is an ethane cracker that will produce 1.5 mln tpa ethylene, benefitting from significant economies of scale. The complex also includes six chemical manufacturing plants.
S
Approximately 90% of the cracker's ethylene output will be converted into a diverse slate of commodity and highmargin specialty chemicals for markets in which Sasol has a strong position, underpinned by collaborative customer relationships. Sasol has selected Fluor Technip Integrated, a joint venture of two world-class firms, as the primary engineering, procurement, and construction management
contractor for this project. Sasol's project management team is also supported by WorleyParsons, who bring with them significant megaproject experience. An additional US$800 mln will be invested in infrastructure and utility improvements, as well as land acquisition, to establish the Lake Charles location as an integrated, multi-asset site that will enable growth for decades to come. "Sasol's decision to move forward with this project is a defining moment in our company's history, and an important milestone in the execution of our growth strategy," said David Constable, President and Chief Executive Officer, Sasol Limited. "Once commissioned, this world-scale petrochemicals complex will roughly triple our chemical production capacity
in the United States, enabling Sasol to further strengthen its position in a growing global chemicals market. The U.S. Gulf Coast's robust infrastructure for transporting and storing abundant, low-cost ethane was a key driver in our decision to invest in America." "In spite of a largely volatile macroeconomic outlook, we are confident that we will deliver this project successfully, by drawing on our experience of executing worldscale fuel and chemical facilities, and enlisting the best employees and industry partners," said Constable. "The Sasol team and our contractors have strong track records in project management, engineering, fabrication and construction of similar large-scale petrochemical complexes, with deep expertise along the U.S. Gulf Coast."
Mitsui Chemicals post net profit 7.4 bln (Y) itsui Chemicals posted a H1 net profit of Japanese yen (Y) 7.4 bln, representing a sharp surge from a Y1 bln profit recorded in the same period last year, partly on higher sales prices and volumes.
M
Net sales for the six months ending September 2014 increased 6.1% year on year to Y776 bln, with operating income jumping 69% to Y18.6 bln.“This was mainly attributable to Y37.9 lbn yen increase in sales prices and Y6.5 bln increase in sales volume. Sales prices were higher because of the rise P L A S T I C S N E W S
in naphtha, other raw material and fuel prices as well as the impact of weaker yen,” the company said. Mitsui Chemicals cited improved production in its petrochemicals segment for the increased sales volumes. The sharp increase in H1 operating income was attributed to “increased sales volume in the functional chemicals segment and the functional polymeric materials segment, in addition to lowered fixed costs”. In the petrochemicals segment, H1 operating profit grew 25.5% year on year to Y12.3 52
bln, on the back of a 20.5% increase in net sales to Y290.8 bln, as well as “improved market condition for byproducts primarily those of butadiene and favorable trading terms." The petrochemicals segment accounted for 37% of the company’s overall net sales in the first half. For the fiscal year ending March 2015, Mitsui Chemicals is projecting a net profit of Y14 bln, reversing a net loss of Y25.1 bln in the previous year, with net sales expected at Y1,623 bln.
N O V E M B E R 2014
BUSINESS NEWS
TCI Sanmar Chemicals SAE plans to invest Dow to sell stakes in US$150 mln in phase 2 of project 2 petrochemical JVs he Sanmar group, which has established a huge chemicals complex in Port Said, Egypt - TCI Sanmar Chemicals SAE, plans to invest an additional US$150 mln in phase 2 of the project. This will involve setting up a new PVC plant with a capacity of 200,000 tons and expansion of its ethylene manufacturing capacity by 60,000 tons.
T
After this round, the total investment will be US$1.3 bln (?7,800 crore). The Sanmar group, has established a huge chemicals complex in Egypt. Sanmar had acquired Trust Chemicals Industries in March 2007 and renamed it as TCI Sanmar Chemicals. In the first phase, its plan was to manufacture 275,000 tons caustic soda, 60,000 tons of green
ethylene from ethanol and 200,000 tons PVC in a year. “The caustic soda plant is operating at around 90% capacity while the PVC plant is operating at around 60% capacity and will reach 100% by March 15 when a new drier would have been commissioned. The Phase-II expansion work involving setting up another PVC plant of 200,000 ton capacity (thus taking the total capacity to 400,000 tons) and enhancing the ethanol to ethylene capacity to 120,000 tons would involve an investment of US$150 mln. We will start implementation of Phase-II after achieving financial closure for which we are working,” said PS Jayaraman, Chairman, TCI Sanmar.
GAIL signs MoU with SOCAR to pursue opportunities in LNG, Petrochem AIL has signed a MoU with State Oil Company of Republic of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) for jointly pursuing opportunities in LNG, upstream and petrochemical project.
G
According to reports the two will jointly pursue LNG opportunities through capacity booking, LNG procurement and promotion of LNG projects globally. Both companies will also cooperate in optimisation of LNG marketing, sourcing and shipping requirements. In addition, Gail and SOCAR will pursue business opportunities in upstream assets across P L A S T I C S N E W S
the world and joint investment in petrochemical projects. B C Tripathi, Chairman and Managing Director, Gail India, said “We are happy to enter into this strategic relationship with SOCAR. Skills and strengths of both the parties would be leveraged to explore business opportunities jointly in natural gas and LNG business including new business developments across the gas value chain.” SOCAR is an integrated oil & gas company involved in upstream, midstream and downstream operations 53
in Kuwait s part of its efforts to streamline its business and raise cash so the company can buy back more of its own shares, Dow Chemical Co. said it would sell stakes in two petrochemical joint ventures in Kuwait. Chairman Andrew Liveris said Dow’s goals no longer fully match up with its Kuwaiti partners in MEGlobal and Equate, which include Petrochemical Industries Company of Kuwait and other companies. As per wsj.com, the chemical giant is under pressure to pare back its businesses to focus on high-margin products instead of commodities. Dow is in the midst of selling and spinning off several commodity chemical businesses with low profit margins, such as plants that make chlorine and epoxy, but activist investors are pressuring the company to go further.
A
encompassing exploration of oil and gas fields, production, processing and transporting oil, gas and condensate, marketing of petroleum and petrochemical products in domestic and international markets and supplying natural gas to domestic and industrial customers in Azerbaijan. SOCAR has its trading companies in Switzerland, Singapore and UAE and representative offices in a number of other countries.
N O V E M B E R 2014
BUSINESS NEWS
Petroleum Minister lays Foundation stone for 3150 crores polypropylene plant at Paradip Refinery he foundation stone of the Rs 3150 crore polypropylene plant at the upcoming Paradip refinery project complex has been laid by Union Minister of State (Ind) for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan. This marks the dawn of a new era in industrial development in Odisha and the country. Paradip refinery, slated to be commissioned in early 2015, is the most prestigious and capital intensive project of Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) till date.
T
With the commissioning of the plant in next three years, a number of plastic processing industries will come up in the area paving the way for development of a petrochemical hub. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has decided to accord priority to development of Eastern States, including Odisha, irrespective of
party in power, as this region remains economically backward compared to other regions. The Union Minister said IOCL is evaluating the feasibility of setting up an ethylene derivative plant at an estimated cost of nearly Rs 4000 crore. The plant will provide products that will facilitate manufacturing of polyester chips, fibres, PET bottles and polyester yarn, he added. Paradip Refinery will be catering to the energy needs of Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal IOC is also evaluating the feasibility of setting up of Ethylene Derivative Plant at an estimated cost of nearly Rs 4,000 crore. Other major projects which are in pipeline include Petkoke Gasification, paraxylene and a number of intra-
Shell buys a site in Pennsylvania for ethane cracker hell Chemical LP has decided to purchase Horsehead Holding Corp's zinc smelter facility located in Monaca, Pennsylvania. The proposed refinery has been planned to convert ethane from Marcellus Shale into ethylene and polyethylene.
S
Shell signed a land option agreement with Horsehead to evaluate properties in early 2012, and plans have been in development since though a timeline for the project has not yet been set. The proposed US$4 bln ethane P L A S T I C S N E W S
cracker would be the first of its kind in the US Northeast. After signing the third extension in December 2013, Horsehead began demolition work at the site in 2014 at Shell's expense. Shell's ethane cracker, expected to be completed in 2019, would feed production of 1.5 mln tpa of ethylene, 500,000 m tpa of gas-phased high density polyethylene, 500,000 m tpa of slurry HDPE, and 500,000 m tpa of linear low density polyethylene.
54
State crude oil, product and LPG pipelines. With the polypropylene unit expected to be commissioned within the next three years, a number of plastic processing industries would also come up in the area, paving the way for the development of a petrochemical hub in this zone.
Technip in JV with Fluor, bags EPC contract for RAPID project echnip, in a joint venture with Fluor, was awarded an engineering, procurement and construction management contract by PRPC Utilities and Facilities Sdn. Bhd. for the PETRONAS Refinery and Petrochemical Integrated Development (RAPID) project located in the state of Johor, Malaysia. Under this contract, the Fluor and Technip joint venture will be responsible for the utilities, interconnecting and offsites (UIO) scope of work. RAPID is part of PETRONAS Pengerang Integrated Complex development. It comprises RAPID and its associated facilities including the Pengerang co-generation plant, liquefied natural gas (LNG) regasification terminal, air separation unit, the raw water supply project as well as other ancillary facilities.
T
N O V E M B E R 2014
PRODUCT NEWS
Dow Corning Launches Advanced New Syl-Off®Release ow Corning, a global leader in silicones, silicon-based technology and innovation, unveiled its new, high-performance Syl-Off® Release System at the recently concluded Labelexpo India 2014. The new system combines Dow Corning’s industry-leading Syl-Off® SL 35 Release Modifier and new SylOff® SL 411 Coating to help customers optimize quality control and costeffective manufacturing.
D
Dow Corning showcased the new system along with the company’s broad Syl-Off family of products. The company also featured its full line of extreme-performance labeling technologies, including pressuresensitive (PS) silicones, pressuresensitive adhesives (PSAs) and emulsion coatings. Praveen Malhotra, marketing manager for Packaging, South Asia, at Dow Corning said, “Dow
Corning’s new Syl-Off SL 35 Release Modifier/Syl-OffSL 411 Coating system illustrates our commitment to developing next-generation silicone technologies to help our labeling customers drive greater manufacturing performance and cost efficiencies,” \ He added “Like all of our SylOff Advantage Series products, the new system demonstrates Dow Corning’s total understanding of what our customers need in order to strengthen their market position, and how we collaborate with them to create forward-looking labeling solutions.” Syl-OffSL 411 Coating, introduced is a new solventless silicone release polymer technology that offers low platinum levels and optimizes highspeed performance. It provides fast cure and extremely stable release for applications involving bulk roll
pressure-sensitive label stock, food packaging and industrial release papers using glassine and supercalendared kraft (SCK) substrates. Syl-Off SL 35 Release Modifier, used together with Dow Corning’s new Syl-OffSL 411 Coating, offers tightly controlled, but flexible modification of a coating’s release force. It combines very low platinum levels with superior stability and shelf life to optimally balance quality control and cost savings. This new addition to Dow Corning’s leading-edge Syl-Off Advantage Series improves the manufacture of pressuresensitive label stock, single- and double-sided release papers, liners for adhesive tapes and other coatings for sticky materials.
Clariant, new pigment PV Fast® Orange HGR lariant, has launched its orange pigment PV Fast® Orange HGR. The mid shade orange can be used as a shading pigment or for customers to create unique full orange shades with eye-catching appeal. PV Fast Orange HGR has high light and heat stability also at low concentrations, which allows excellent cost / performance ratio. The pigment is suitable for applications where low warpage is needed.
C
PV Fast Orange HGR can be used to achieve product differentiation for consumer goods and packaging P L A S T I C S N E W S
applications, such as caps and closures and household containers, based on polyolefins and a wide variety of engineering polymers, including polycarbonate, polystyrene and thermoplastic rubbers. The pigment is compliant with EU Regulation 10/2011, and is manufactured at Clariant’s Azo Pigment and Pigment Preparation facility in Roha, India. This proximity to customers in India and China, where there is increasing demand for high-performance and cost-efficient coloration solutions, aligns with 55
Clariant’s commitment to support emerging markets with high quality developments. “Clariant’s new high-performance mid shade orange offers masterbatch producers, processors and compounders a cost-efficient opportunity to achieve colorful solutions that can add exciting visual appeal to consumer end-products,” comments Markus Furrer, Head of Marketing & Sales Plastics and Special Applications at Clariant.
N O V E M B E R 2014
PRODUCT NEWS
Milliken’s nucleator for HDPE applications new nucleating agent for injection molded high-density polyethylene (HDPE) applications - Hyperform HPN 210 M, has been unveiled by Milliken & Company.
A
This new technology features a unique crystalline orientation that improves the mechanical performance of HDPE to levels approaching those of polypropylene (PP) impact copolymers. Hyperform gives molders attractive new processing options for packaging and material handling applications and underscores Milliken's investment in ongoing research to benefit customers worldwide. The new additive - which specifically targets material handling applications such as waste containers, totes, crates and pallets - is the first in a family of next-generation nucleators
that Milliken is developing. HDPE using Hyperform offers molders of packaging and material handling products a unique combination of benefits. Testing done according to the American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM D790-00) showed increased stiffness (modulus) of up to 50 percent vs. standard HDPE. This stiffness can enable thinner-wall designs, contributing to weight reductions of the final part. Furthermore, Hyperform improves HDPE's heat resistance, enabling it to be molded into a wide range of products where PP is already commonly used. HDPE with Hyperform boosts heat distortion temperatures by 10 - 40°C, as determined by the ASTM D648-07 test. Hyperform also improves the processing benefits of
HDPE, including higher productivity due to shorter cooling times. The new nucleator's unique ability to create lamellar crystal orientation of PE in the polymer flow (or machine) direction aids the reduction in shrinkage. Control of shrinkage and warpage contributes to an improvement in the overall quality of large, complex parts, opening the window for PE to become a potential material of choice in molds that traditionally run PP, without the need to re-tool. The new nucleating agent will be available in the United States on Dec. 1, and subsequently in Asia, Latin America and Europe, pending chemical registrations. Food contact approvals are also in process.
Nipro launches eco-friendly, BPA- and DEHP-free dialyzer new dialyzer with a housing and membrane made of materials that do not contain BPA or DEHP has been launched by Nipro Medical Corp. (Bridgewater, NJ), a subsidiary of Japan's Nipro Corp. A leader in dialyzer design and manufacturing,
A
Nipro announced the launch of the next-generation Elisio Polynephron single-use, high-flux, hollow-fiber dialyzer . Described by the company as a superior version of its Elisio dialyzer that was introduced earlier this year, the new model features a state-of-theart membrane made of Polynephron synthetic fiber that functions in a manner similar to the human kidney. The membrane delivers excellent P L A S T I C S N E W S
biocompatibility, hemocompatibility, and solute-removal performance, resulting in superior clearances for better patient outcomes, according to Nipro. "We have taken a dialyzer that delivers excellent clearance and r e d u c e d t h r o m b o g e n i c i t y, a n d improved it by eliminating any BPA or DEHP," said Joe Dawson, Senior Vice President, Nipro North America. "Both chemicals are known endocrine disruptors. There are many published studies showing that endocrine disruptors cause adverse effects in animals. As a company that is focused on making products that improve the lives of patients, we are excited that 56
we now have a dialyzer that can do that."The new polypropylene housing is also around 25% lighter than dialyzers currently available in the market, according to Nipro, thus making disposal and transportation more cost effective. It also generates 25% less resin waste than other commonly used materials, can be molded with lower temperatures, and generates 10% fewer CO2 emissions during resin production and 50% fewer CO2 emissions when it is incinerated."The eco-friendliness of the Elisio dialyzer is a definite plus," Dawson said. "We do not have to compromise on clinical performance, while making a greener dialyzer."
N O V E M B E R 2014
PRODUCT NEWS
Royal DSM’s Next generation of high temperature resistant polyamides ext generation of Diablo high temperature resistant polyamides have been unveiled by Royal DSM.
N
The new grades are part of both DSM's Stanyl® polyamide 46 and Akulon® PA66 portfolios and are aimed at applications in automotive engine compartments where temperatures can reach as high as 260°C. The automotive industry’s constant drive to create more fuel-efficient designs has resulted in reduced space and higher temperatures under the hood, due in part to the inclusion of such new features as improved pedestrian impact protection and the increasing use of turbochargers and superchargers. DSM’s next generation Diablo grades help manufacturers in this innovation
challenge by providing unprecedented heat resistance, both long-term and short term.
has an improved HDT of 267°C, while the new Akulon Diablo has an HDT of 245°C.
The technology provides a significant improvement in long-term temperature resistance components such as air intake manifolds with integrated intercoolers, ducts, charge air cooler end caps, mixing tubes and resonators used in the latest car engines. The latest version of Stanyl Diablo polyamide 46 is able to withstand a continuous use temperature of 230°C, while the new Akulon Diablo withstands a 220°C continuous-use temperature. Both new grades have improved resistance to short-term high temperature peaks as measured by deflection temperature under load (HDT). New Stanyl Diablo
The long term heat ageing and the HDT of the new materials are proof of their superior characteristics compared to competing materials currently on the market. The new grades also have improved resistance to chemicals and gases in EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) systems. They have very good processing properties and create finished parts with high burst pressure weld-line strength as well as excellent surface finish. Diablo technology, developed and patented by DSM, improves the long term temperature resistance of materials and has been applied to various types of polyamide.
New ultrasonic sensor measures liquid levels without media contact aterials engineering company Morgan Advanced Materials (Windsor, UK) has introduced an ultrasonic sensor that detects the level of liquids in a variety of container sizes without coming into physical contact with the contents.
a container, detecting liquid depth. In this mode, its operation relies on wave reflection from the liquid/air interface. The transducer simply mounts onto the container exterior with an adjustable strap, making positioning and removal straightforward.
Relying on acoustic wave reflection, the new level sensor sends an ultrasonic burst and then listens for an echo at a point in time depending on the container size. The signal changes when the liquid drops below a predetermined level, at which point the sensor can trigger an alert. The sensor can also operate in continuous mode when positioned at the base of
The sensor is based on a drycoupled design, which is not reliant on separate liquid or gel couplants that leave unwanted residue. Instead, it uses an innovative compliant layer that only requires moderate pressure against the container to operate. Because it detects liquid levels from outside the container, the sensor is suited for use with drip chambers
M
P L A S T I C S N E W S
57
and other applications where the liquid cannot come into contact with the sensor. This is particularly relevant in medical applications, where sterilised and traceable materials would otherwise be required, but also in applications where a corrosive or harmful liquid is being used. This is reportedly the first system of its kind that works accurately with cylindrical containers measuring less than 2 inches in diameter and with capacities between 20 and 300 mm. It is available with or without electronics, depending on customer requirements.
N O V E M B E R 2014
PRODUCT NEWS
Color mixer introduced for powder hio based Reduction Engineering Scheer Inc. Reduction Engineering Scheer Inc. introduced an inline color mixer for use during pulverizing of powder for rotational molding.
O
Liquid color has been used in injection molding for years. Reduction Engineering Scheer partnered with PolyOne Corp.’s Colormatrix unit to make the device. And the companies received a U.S. patent on the incolor mixer. According to Rick D’Angelo, chief operating officer of Reduction Engineering Scheer. The liquid color is added at the beginning of the mixing process, after the powder comes out of the pulverizer, using a Colormatrix volumetric dosing
controller and pump system. The color mixer allows the molder to adjust color concentration during mixing. The unit gives faster cleanout and color changes that traditional dry pigments, and can reduce cost of color, according to the companies. Also the color mixer uses latent heat from the milled powder to flash off the liquid in the colorant. At the recently held Rotoplas, Reduction Engineering Scheer linked the inline color mixer with one of its new RE Series of pulverizers, a new design with a smaller footprint than earlier models, and ease-of-use features. The sifters are stainless steel, not the traditional wood, and they have a larger number of decks, D’Angelo
Bayer introduces Bayblend FR4000 ayer MaterialScience (BMS) introduced Bayblend FR4000 series material a further development on the back of the 3000 flame-retardant polycarbonate blends it introduced earlier. Bayer claims the outstanding fire resistance of the new product series is proven by tests showing glow wire flammability according to IEC 60695-2-12 (Glow Wire Flammability Index, GWFI). This test examines how quickly a material sample set alight using a glow wire self-extinguishes. Grades of the Bayblend FR4000 material meet the requirements at the maximum glow wire temperature of 960°C and burn only briefly. The results of tests according to the strict
B
P L A S T I C S N E W S
Underwriters Laboratories UL 94 V standard provide further evidence of its high flame retardance. The blends achieved the top V-0 classification at a specimen thickness of 1.5 millimeters. The properties of the new Bayblend FR series are optimized for specific customized applications. One variant of the material has been designed with good chemical resistance and lowtemperature impact strength in mind, making it suitable for encapsulating lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles. A fiber-reinforced blend with very high stiffness and strength is also available for use in large structural components that have low wall thicknesses in some places.
58
said. The airflow is adjustable from the factory floor level, without the need for drives. The feed hopper also is accessible from the floor. The RE line has a new adjustable air flow system. A high efficiency motor drives the pulverizing mill and the blower. RE Series pulverizers come in three output sizes, ranging from 400 to 1,500 pounds an hour.
Teknor announces halogen-free jacketing eknor Apex Co. reports it has new halogen-free flame retardant jacketing with exceptionally high protection without compromising other properties. The Halguard 58300 series is aimed at data center cables, control cables, energy cables and other demanding applications, the Pawtucket, R.I., company states. It has high oxygen-limiting index and can achieve a UL94 rating of V-O with test specimens as thin as 0.025 inch. Grades are available with Shore D hardness of 48 to 52. Server farms operated by Internet companies demand very high flame retardance. Teknor Apex vinyl division manager Michael Roberts claims the new compounds are the most flame retardant HFFR compound on the market not made with halogen flame retardants.
T
N O V E M B E R 2014
TECHNOLOGY
Low cost polymers that carry electric charge with almost no losses esearchers from the University of Cambridge have identified a class of low-cost, easily-processed semiconducting polymers which, despite their seemingly disorganised internal structure, can transport electrons as efficiently as expensive crystalline inorganic semiconductors. In this new polymer, about 70% of the electrons are free to travel, whereas in conventional polymers that number can be less than 50%. The materials approach intrinsic disorderfree limits, which would enable faster, more efficient flexible electronics and displays.
R
The results are published in the journal Nature. For years, researchers have been searching for semiconducting polymers that can be solution processed and printed – which makes them much cheaper – but also retain well-defined electronic properties. These materials are used in printed electronic circuits, large-area solar cells and flexible LED displays. However, a major problem with these materials – especially after they go through a messy wet coating, fastdrying printing process – is that they have an internal structure more like a bowl of spaghetti than the beautifully ordered crystal lattice found in most electronic or optoelectronic devices. These nooks and crannies normally lead to poorer performance, as they make ideal places for the electrons which carry charge throughout the structure to become trapped and slowed down. Polymer molecules consist of at least one long backbone chain, with shorter chains at the sides.
P L A S T I C S N E W S
It is these side chains which make conjugated polymers easy to process, but they also increase the amount of disorder, leading to more trapped electrons and poorer performance. Now, the Cambridge researchers have discovered a class of conjugated polymers that are extremely tolerant to any form of disorder that is introduced by the side chains. “What is most surprising about these materials is that they appear amorphous, that is very disordered, at the microstructural level, while at the electronic level they allow electrons to move nearly as freely as in crystalline inorganic semiconductors,” said Mark Nikolka, a PhD student at the University’s Cavendish Laboratory and one of the lead authors of the study. Using a combination of electrical and optical measurements combined with molecular simulations, the team of researchers led by Professor Henning Sirringhaus were able to measure that, electronically, the materials are approaching disorder-free limits and that every molecular unit along the polymer chain is able to participate in the transport of charges. “These materials resemble tiny ribbons of graphene in which the electrons can zoom fast along the length of the polymer chain, although not yet as fast as in graphene,” said Dr Deepak Venkateshvaran, the paper’s other lead author. “What makes them better than graphene, however, is they are much easier to process, and therefore much cheaper.” The researchers plan to use these results to provide molecular design guidelines for a wider class of
59
disorder-free conjugated polymers, which could open up a new range of flexible electronic applications. For example, these materials might be suitable for the electronics that will be needed to make the colour and video displays that are used in smartphones and tablets more lightweight, flexible and robust.
Negri Bossi produces press with 7,000 metric tons of clamping force elmont based Negri Bossi SpA has rolled out a BiPower injection press with 7,000 metric tons of clamping force. That is the largest of its twoplaten presses, which start at “only” 1,000 tonnes. The massive 7,000 tonner features a special twin-barrel injection unit and a coinjection nozzle. It has a maximum shot size of 328.5 pounds. The machine comes equipped with an automatic tie bar extraction device, to ease mold changes. The device pulls the top tie bar on the non-operator side through the fixed platen towards the injection unit. The controller has been upgraded to the new Powerlink Ethernetbased system.
D
N O V E M B E R 2014
TECHNOLOGY
New materials yield record efficiency polymer solar cells esearchers from North Carolina State University and Hong Kong University of Science and Technology have found that temperature-controlled aggregation in a family of new semi-conducting polymers is the key to creating highly efficient organic solar cells that can be mass produced more cheaply. Their findings also open the door to experimentation with different chemical mixtures that comprise the active layers of the cells.
R
Polymer solar cells are a delicately controlled mixture of a polymer donor and a fullerene acceptor. The cell is created by adding a solvent to the polymer and fullerene until the mixture becomes a liquid, then spreading the liquid thinly onto a surface. As the solvent evaporates, the thin layer solidifies, with the donor material hardening into tiny, highly ordered
"clumps" that are connected by other, disordered donor molecules, and the acceptor weaving around them. Currently the most efficient organic solar cells are manufactured using one of only two different fullerenes. NC State physicist Harald Ade and postdoctoral researcher Wei Ma had previously studied the morphology of solar cells and found that the size scale of the clumps within the donor layer and the aggregation -- or interaction between neighboring molecules within the layers -- were the main drivers of solar cell efficiency. In a paper published in Nature Communications, Ade, Ma and a team of chemists from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology led by He Yan show that size scale and aggregation within these devices are strongly temperature dependent. They also show that record efficiencies
of up to 10.8 percent -- as opposed to the currently published 9.8 percent -- are achievable with the substitution of numerous fullerenes. Additionally, this performance can be achieved in thick film devices. "Once we saw how temperature affected the aggregation and morphology of these solar cells, it allowed the chemists more freedom to play with different chemical compositions in the active layer," Ade says. "Yan's team demonstrated 10 percent efficiency with 10 different mixtures, and in thicker films. So these solar cells could be compatible with existing methods of mass production, like slot die casting and roll-to-roll processing, similar to newspaper printing, rather than the more expensive production methods currently in use that are required for thickness control.
Wheat Proteins produce Biodegradable Nanocomposites heat proteins have been used to produce a new generation of biodegradable nanocomposites with applications in different industries, specially packaging industry, by Iranian researchers from Isfahan University of Technology.
W
In line with improving the mechanical, thermal, and prohibition properties of biodegradable films, wheat gluten was used in this research by applying carboxylated cellulose nanocrystals (C.CNC). Among the reasons for selecting wheat protein, mention can be made of its reasonable price, ease P L A S T I C S N E W S
of availability, biodegradability, and appropriate properties for film creation. The use of nanoparticles has been reported as a simple and effective method for strengthening polymers. High activity of nanoparticles facilitates the creation of bonds between them and the active group in the polymer molecular chain, and it improves the mechanical properties and thermal stability. This research takes an important step towards the replacement of synthetic films with biodegradable films by improving the properties of gluten films by using carboxylated 60
cellulose nanocrystals. Among the advantages of application of the abovementioned nanocrystals in the structure of the film, mention can be made of significant improvement in mechanical properties such as tension power of the polymer and mechano-dynamic properties, including its storage modules. Reduction in water solubility and diffusivity against steam, which are among very important characteristics of the polymer used in packaging industry.
N O V E M B E R 2014
IN THE NEWS
U.S., China reach historic deal to end tech tariffs he United States and China reached a historic agreement that would eliminate tariffs on the global trade of $1 trillion in high-tech products in a development that could support up to 60,000 new U.S. jobs. The tentative accord would cover about 200 product lines, from printer cartridges and semiconductors to video game consoles and magnetic resonance imaging machines.= The deal, struck during a meeting of leaders attending the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Beijing, must be approved by the World Trade Organization. At the summit's plenary session, President Obama said he hopes the pact "will contribute to a rapid conclusion of the broader negotiations in Geneva." "To give you some idea of the importance of this agreement, the last time the WTO agreed to eliminate tariffs on (information technology) products was in 1996 when most of the GPS technology, much of the medical equipment, software and high-tech gadgetry that we rely on in our daily lives didn't even exist," U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman said at a briefing afterward, according to a White House transcript. If approved by the WTO, the agreement would do away with tariffs on high-tech products traded among 54 economies, including the United States and China.
T
The pact could help bolster U.S.-Chinese relations marked by recent tensions over cybertheft and human rights, among other issues. "This shows that China, despite any resistance it may have, has been
P L A S T I C S N E W S
willing to give a little bit," said Omar Hamid, head of Asia Pacific country risk for IHS Global Insight. U.S. officials have worked with global partners to expand the WTO's Information Technology Agreement for two years, but talks broke down last December over China's insistence on limiting the scope of products covered. The deal would contribute about $190 billion annually to the global economy, according to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. The United States is likely to be the biggest beneficiary of the agreement because it sells more than $100 billion of the $1 trillion in annual global IT sales. Much of the new U.S. sales spurred by the agreement would probably be to China "because it's the biggest potential untapped market," Hamid says. "China has given up more than it's gotten in return."Brian Toohey, head of the Semiconductor
Industry Association, said the deal would fuel investment, "reduce costs for consumers, promote exports and strengthen overall semiconductor sector development and growth." The inclusion of advanced semiconductors used in "smart" products alone would save the industry $150 million to $300 million in annual tariffs, the group says. Hamid attributes the breakthrough to Chinese President Xi Jinping's willingness "to take a much more pragmatic stance on issues across the board.".l As growth in China slows, he says, the country is trying to shift its economy from being heavily reliant on manufacturing and exports to one driven more by consumption. Other products that would be impacted by the agreement include loudspeakers, global positioning systems, video cameras, software media and hightech medical devices.
Joint committee to prepare roadmap for implementation of Paradip petrochem he Centre has suggested setting up a joint committee involving senior officials from Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and State Government for preparing a roadmap for implementation of the petrochemical complex at Paradip, The committee will also study funding options for the petrochemical project, including joint venture route.According to reports
T
61
the refinery project has achieved overall physical progress of 97%, with commissioning of the project to commence from December 2014 in phases. The IOCL board has approved a polypropylene (PP) unit with a capacity of 700000 tpa. The project is scheduled for completion in 42 months from the date of approval and the unit is likely to be commissioned during 2017-18.
N O V E M B E R 2014
IN THE NEWS
Bayer seeing success in project to replace petroleum with C02 ayer MaterialScience says its research into the potential of using carbon dioxide as a raw material already is paying off in studies showing that C02 can reduce the amount of petroleum used to make plastics. The German chemical giant’s technology uses greenhouse gas as part of its Dream Polymers project to produce a key component for high quality polyurethane foam, and is already moving towards commercial use. The proportion of the petroleum in this chemical is 80 percent.
B
Christoph Gürtler, project manager at Bayer MaterialScience, said: “We have now succeeded in reducing the petroleum content for making other plastics to just 60 percent.” Carbon
dioxide is used twice in the new process. First, the greenhouse gas is incorporated directly into a new kind of precursor - polyoxymethylene polycarbonate polyol - replacing 20% of the petroleum. Secondly, it is also used indirectly, producing a chemical that is also incorporated into the precursor for a further 20 percent saving in petroleum. “As a result, the proportion of alternative raw materials is already 40 percent,” Gürtler said. In addition to this, the number of plastics that can be produced using carbon dioxide is increasing. “It is now also possible to manufacture thermoplastic polyurethanes, films and casting elastomers in this way,” added Gürtler.
Startup post-consumer recycling specialty company Zzyzx wins grant n Allentown, Perryslyvania, company is receiving a grant of $737,000 to help support its efforts to develop polymers using postconsumer plastics. Zzyzx Polymers is getting a Small Business Innovation Research grant from the National Science Foundation to working on a process known as continuous mechanochemical compatibilization.
A
Zzyzx - pronounced ziziks - will use the CMC process to recycle material without the need for extensive cleaning or sorting. This reduction in steps will return value to the materials in a more cost-competitive way, according
P L A S T I C S N E W S
to the company and the Allentown Economic Development Corp. Zzyzx Polymers recently was accepted into an AEDC business incubation program. “The SBIR grant will allow the Zzyzx management team to accelerate the process of launching and growing the company,” said AEDC Executive Director Scott Unger in a statement. “ U l t i m a t e l y, t h a t m e a n s t h e company is able to create jobs and reach profitability faster than they planned to. We are very excited to see them be awarded this grant.” Zzyzx expects to begin making prototype resins by the end of this summer.
62
Such plastics are used in all kinds of applications, including automotive interiors, cable sheathing and sporting goods such as ski boots. Bayer researchers have already proved in laboratory tests that the manufacturing process works in principle. “Initial application tests have been positive,” he said, “but there is some way to go before the process is commercially viable.” Dream Polymers is being supported by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research. External institutions in Germany such as the CAT Catalytic Center, the Leibniz Institute for Catalysis and the Fraunhofer Institute for Chemical Technology are also involved.
Nigerian President flags off US$1.5bln Petrochem complex igerian President h a s f l a g g e d o ff t h e implementation of the US$1.5 bln (about N260 bln) Quantum Petrochemical Complex in Ibeno, Akwa Ibom State.
N
The state-of-the-art facility will produce a range of petrochemicals including polyethylene, polypropylene and methanol.
N O V E M B E R 2014
IN THE NEWS
Teknors TPES meet US and European regulations eknor Apex Company has developed a series of standard grades that offer a wide range of choices for manufacturers of food containers, utensils, kitchen appliances, and children’s products.
T
Monprene® RG-10100 Series injection molding and RG-20100 extrusion compounds comply with multiple U.S. and European foodcontact regulations while enabling manufacturers of rubbery or flexible components to achieve vivid colors, smooth surfaces, and end-use durability. Standard grades are available with Shore A hardness levels ranging from a soft 40 to a semi-rigid 80 (see accompanying table for data on injection molding grades). The compounds exhibit good tensile and tear strength, are readily colored, and can be supplied as pre-colored products or in custom color-match grades. For molded-in seals, “softtouch” grips, and other over-molded applications, they provide adhesion to polyolefins such as those used for kitchen containers and utensils, while custom formulations are available for over-molding onto engineering polymers. Prospective applications for Monprene RG Series TPEs are similar to those where custom grades from Teknor Apex are already used: •
Kitchen appliance components such as grips, gaskets, knobs, and anti-skid parts.
P L A S T I C S N E W S
•
Food containers and utensils such as food saver storage products, secure-grip implements, and ice cube trays.
•
Children’s and infant products such as soft toys, teething rings, and non-spill lids.
Every ingredient used to manufacture the Monprene RG series of standard products is “Generally Recognized as Safe” (GRAS) according to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, subject to an effective Food Contact Notification (FCN), Threshold of Regulation (TOR), or is identified in at least one section of Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations published by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In addition, these grades comply with European Directives for Food Contact, EU 1935/2004 and PIM10/2011, as well as the Toy Safety Directives: 2009/48/EC and EN-71-3. In both single-use and repeat-use applications (as defined by U.S. and European regulations),
Monprene RG compounds can be used in containers for dry, acidic, aqueous, and alcoholic foods. “Teknor Apex has ensured that Monprene RG Series compounds are pre-compliant with food-contact regulations in order to help customers shorten lead time for bringing new products to market,” said Brian Mulvany, senior market manager, consumer and industrial markets, for the Thermoplastic Elastomer Division of Teknor Apex. “In addition to our standard grades, we can work with customers to develop custom formulations to meet special needs and to provide engineering support for application development.” All Monprene RG products are phthalate-, latex, and BPA-free and are compliant with RoHS and REACH SVHC directives. Grades thus far available in the Monprene RG series are based on styrenic (TPE-S) polymer chemistry. Teknor Apex can also develop custom formulations based on thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPE-V), olefinics (TPE-O and OBC), or specialty alloys.
Dhunseri Petrochem resumes production hunseri Petrochem & Tea Ltd has resumed production at its polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plant I in Haldia, was shut for last 2 months.
D
Plant I, which caters only to the export market, was shut down on August 14, 2014 after considering unfavourable international demand
63
and supply situation and margin pressure. The sudden increase in imports of PET into India resulted in reduced PET demand from the domestic customers and consequent reduction in supplies of the company in the domestic market.
N O V E M B E R 2014
EVENTS
Events and Exhibitions products and equipments among the visitors. The Myanmar show, which will be organized by Chan Chao International Co., Ltd, will play a vital role in educating the key decision makers about the market and the products and equipments related to the sector. Myanmar International Plastics and Rubber Industry Exhibition will be an excellent international exhibition, which will be held in Yangon. The fair will be held over a period of four days.
PLASTIC EXPO 2014 Date : Nov 25 – Nov 26 2014 Venue: Swapnanagari, Calicut, Kerala, India Rising Kerala is the gateway for you to explore and build your business interests in Kerala.
PLAST FUTURE EAST 2014 – INTERNATIONAL Exhibition & Conference on Plastics & Polymers
8th RUBBER INDUSTRY FAIR 2014
Date: Nov 28 – Nov 30 2014
Date: Nov 27 2014 – Nov 30 2014
Venue: Balasore, Odisha India
Venue: TUYAP Fair, Convention and Congress Center, ,
North Odisha Chamber of Commerce and Industries (NOCCi) in association with `Team Odisha', Government of Odisha is organizing PLAST FUTURE EAST-2014, an international exhibition-cum-conference on plastics and polymers from 28th -30th November 2014 at Balasore, Odisha. This exhibition provides platform to interact with designers, engineers, OEMs and helps business professionals to turn their plans and designs into reality.
Istanbul, Turkey Rubber 2014 identifies itself as the meeting point of the rubber industry where the rubber industry presents the latest products, technologies and innovations. RUBBER 2014 provides an excellent marketing platform by bringing together the rubber industry in a trade event that attracts professional visitors from around the world and offers new business opportunities in both local and global markets.
The plastics industry in eastern India is growing at the rate of 9% per annum as against 14% of India. The per capita consumption of plastics in the eastern Region consisting of states of West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and Assam & the north-eastern states.
Buyer delegations will be hosted from 14 countries, namely Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Macedonia, Egypt, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Tunis, Ukraine and Jordan, for the purpose of visiting Rubber 2014 Fair with the cooperation of Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Turkey. This year, the trade show will be home to the national pavilion from China.
The 3rd Myanmar International Plastics, Rubber, Packaging, Printing & Foodtech Industrial Exhibition Concurrent with Agriculture Techniques & Equipment Exhibition
Antec Mumbai 2014 Postponed
Date: Nov 27 – Nov 30 2014
The Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) has
Venue: Myanmar Convention Center (MCC), Min Dhama Street Mayangon Tsp Yangon, Myanmar
informed that The Antec Mumbai 2014, The Plastics Technical Conference, initially scheduled for
Myanmar International Plastics and Rubber Industry Exhibition will be an amazing show, which will be concerned with the plastics and rubber industry. The exhibitors of the products and equipments of the related industry will showcase their exhibits for the visitors to see and buy. The show will facilitate the exhibitors with the promotion of their
P L A S T I C S N E W S
December 10-11, 2014 at the Renaissance Mumbai Convention Centre Hotel, Powai, Mumbai has been postponed due to unforeseen reasons. The new dates will be declared shortly.
64
N O V E M B E R 2014
R R Plast Extrusions Pvt. Ltd. .. .................................................................................................................... cover Madhu Machines & Systems ...............................................................................................................inside cover Anupam Heaters and Controls .............................................................................................................................3 Polymechplast ......................................................................................................................................................4 PASL Windtech ... .................................................................................................................................................6 Ferromatik Milacron . ............................................................................................................................................7 Neejtech India - Gimatic . .....................................................................................................................................8 Satellite Plastic Industries ..................................................................................................................................10 KABRA Extrusion Technik Ltd.. ..........................................................................................................................12 Allied Solutions... ................................................................................................................................................13 Plasticon Awards 2015 .......................................................................................................................................14 Sonal Realty... ...............................................................................................................................................20-21 Reliance Polymers..............................................................................................................................................22 Mold Masters ......................................................................................................................................................43 Plastic Technologies ...........................................................................................................................................44 Nu Vu Conair... ...................................................................................................................................................45 C&G Extrusion Machines . .................................................................................................................................46 e3 Plastech Marketing Pvt. Ltd. .........................................................................................................................47 Toshiba Machines . .............................................................................................................................................48 Forwell Precision Machinery Co. Ltd. ................................................................................................................49 Ultra Polymers ...................................................................................................................................................49 Plastic Park.........................................................................................................................................................50 Vijaydeep Moulds & Accessories Pvt. Ltd. .........................................................................................................66 Zambello Riduttori Group ...........................................................................................................Inside back cover Rajoo Engineers ................................................................................................................................... Back cover
P L A S T I C S N E W S
65
N O V E M B E R 2014
P L A S T I C S N E W S
66
N O V E M B E R 2014
P L A S T I C S N E W S
67
N O V E M B E R 2014
Registered with Registrar of Newspapers under RNI No. 22731/72
Posted at Patrika Channel Sorting OfďŹ ce, Mumbai 400 001
Postal Registration No. No. MH/MR/N/200/MBI/12-14
Posting date : 25th - 26th of every month
Date of Publication: 25th of every month (as per declaration in AfďŹ davit form)
P L A S T I C S N E W S
68
N O V E M B E R 2014