SAY YES TO PLASTICS Volume No. 75
MH/MR/N/200/MBI/12- 14
Issue No. 2
Pages 72
February 2014
Rs. 75.00
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CONTENT
IN THIS ISSUE... 16...... AIPMA At Work ... 16th INDPACK - 2014 National Packaging Exhibition ... Plastics Exports – Need of the Hour
The Official Organ of The All India Plastics Manufacturers Association Estd. 1945
... Seminar on ERP for MSME in Chennai
MH/MR/N/200/MBI/12-14 Volume 75
February 2014 No. 2
Chairman - Editorial Board
Mr. Anandilal Oza
... World’s largest events to generate unprecedented demand for regional plastics players
Hon. Editor
Mr. Ajay Desai
... Indian recycling 'up close and personal
Members
Mr. A. E. Ladhaboy Dr. Y. B. Vasudeo Ms. Poorvi Desai
... Expert promotion councils awards
Editorial Co-ordination: Padmesh Prabhune, Dhruv Communications, Mumbai, Tel No: 00-22-2868 5198 / 5049 Fax No : 00-22-28685495 • email: dhruvpr@vsnl.net 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. Annual Subscription Rs. 1,000/-
22...... Company News
Single issue Rs. 75/-
27 .... Features
Views/Reports/Extracts etc. published in Plastics News are those of the
... Bottled water to take the beverage crown in US
authors and not necessarily of the Editor. Furthermore except for copies
... UV Curing in the Plastic Components Industry!
of formal AIPMA communications no other matter in this journal should
... Water Injection Molding for making lightweight Hollow parts
be interpreted as views of The All India Plastics Mfgrs. Association.
OFFICE BEARERS Mr. Anandilal Oza President
Mr. Sanju Desai Vice President (West Zone)
Mr. R. K. Aggarwal Vice President (North Zone)
Mr. Rituraj Gupta Hon. Secretary
Mr. Anil Bansal Vice President (South Zone)
Mr. Manoj R. Shah Hon. Jt. Secretary
Mr. Ashok Agarwal Vice President (East Zone)
Mr. Haren Sanghavi Hon. Treasurer
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38...... International News 42...... Business News 55...... Product News 62...... Technology 65...... In the News 69...... Events
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THE PRESIDENT SAYS
Dancing on ‘Braskem’ Tunes razil has imposed anti-dumping duties on imports of polypropylene resins from India South Africa and South Korea. This is in its latest bid to protect monopoly (of local PP manufacturers), which is struggling to compete with imports from lower cost countries. Earlier CAMEX (the Brazilian Chamber of Foreign Trade of the Federal Government), had decided to impose antidumping duties on imports into Brazil of nylon from China, South Korea, Thailand and Taiwan.
plastic converters as a result of the cut to payroll taxes have been absorbed by the increase in the price of one of the main raw materials for the sector..
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Raw materials such as polyethylene represent 50% of the sector's production costs, and polyethylene represents 39% of the consumption of thermoplastic resins in Brazil. In recent years, the government has increased import tariffs on resins such as polypropylene and polyethylene, most recently applying anti-dumping duties to imports of polypropylene from South Africa, South Korea and India. These measures have protected local monopoly producer Braskem and kept resin prices in Brazil at higher levels than in other markets, making it hard for domestic producers of finished plastic items to compete with imports from lower cost countries.
According to the CAMEX, the duty will be collected in the form of a specific tax. Brazilian imports of PP resins from India are bifurcated in two sections. Imports of PP from Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) are levied $100 per tonne, while anti-dumping duty of $109.89 per tonne is imposed on other exporters of PP resins from India. CAMEX, has imposed anti-dumping duty on imports of PP resins from South Africa with Sasol polymers to attract anti-dumping duty of $111.78 per tonne and antidumping duty of $161.96 per tonne is levied on other exporters from South Africa.
According to Abiplast, despite the reduction in payroll taxes the sector's output in Brazil increased by less than 2% in 2013. It expects a similar performance in 2014. Also most of the experts are of the view that apart from Braskem’s ongoing takeover of the polyvinyl chloride (PVC) assets of Belgian chemical group Solvay in South America, they don't think Brazil we will see any other major M&A in 2014, or major investments in new plants.
The Brazilian imports of PP resins from South Korea are levied anti-dumping duty ranging from $26.11 to $101.39 per tonne for the period of upto six months. However, the Brazilian association of plastics companies Abiplast, has said that the Brazilian government's protectionist measures have canceled out any benefits from tax cuts it awarded the sector in 2012.
At our end, most of us are aware that Indian exports to Brazil are not that high and perhaps it would not make much difference, for we do have huge potential Asian markets along with Europe and Middle East.
The association singled out the government's decision to increase the import duty on polyethylene (PE), which is widely used by producers of packaging, from 14% to 20% for most of 2013. Abiplast said this led on average to a 3% increase in raw material costs for the industry, wiping out the effects of the government's decision to reduce payroll taxes in the plastics sector, which Abiplast said cut the cost of labor by 0.5%. Abiplast President José Ricardo Roriz Coelho has said it on record that the possible benefits and reductions in the costs of P LLAAS ST ITCISCNSE W N SE W S
The question remains that, would this act (of imposing antidumping duties) really benefit the country as Braskem has already made it clear that its priorities are outside Brazil, they are in the US and Mexico.. Anandilal Oza president@aipma.net 9
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FROM THE EDITOR'S PEN
Plastics help us survive synthesising and self-assembling materials of the supramolecular polymers, whose properties are adapted by external stimuli. In cooperation with Dr Patricia Dankers, also of Technische Universiteit Eindhoven and who received an ERC Starting grant in 2012, Dr Meijer’s team will produce parts of a prototype bioartificial kidney, which could result in improved dialysis techniques or a portable dialysis apparatus. Their work also has the potential to improve the success rate of transplants by reducing the risk of rejection. By introducing this new class of materials, Meijer succeeded in showing how polymers have good and unique materials properties despite being linked by weaker interactions instead of long chains.
e have been talking about the advances of plastics in Medical and health care industry for quite some time now, and at times, I wonder how things change so quickly! If you remember we have been advocating the use of plastics for ages and we have been proved right once again. For, if everything works as expected by researchers then the ‘Bioartificial kidney’ from novel polymer could reduce risk of transplants being rejected by human body
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EU researchers are on the way to making parts of a bioartificial kidney out of a novel polymer – which could reduce the risk of transplants being rejected by the human body. Led by Dr Egbart Willem Meijer, a researcher at the Technische Universiteit Eindhoven, Netherlands, the team is focusing on the formation of supramolecular polymers – systems comprised of macromolecules, joined by specific bonds, which control their assembly and behaviour.
Back home, Indian researchers have developed an innovative method to re-use waste plastic bags by transforming them into fuel to power car engines with a relatively low-temperature process. Chemist Achyut Kumar Panda of Centurion University of Technology and Management Odisha is working with chemical engineer Raghubansh Kumar Singh of the National Institute of Technology, Odisha, to develop a commercially viable technology for efficiently rendering LDPE into a liquid fuel. In the recycling process, plastic waste is heated to 750 to 900 degrees F over a kaolin catalyst, causing the plastic's long chain polymer chains to break apart in a process known as thermo-catalytic degradation. This releases large quantities of much smaller, carbon-rich molecules like paraffins and olefins, yielding a liquid fuel very similar chemically to conventional petrochemical fuels. According to them every pound of waste plastic can produce about 10 ounces of liquid fuel in the process.
The EU project SUPOCOSYS (‘From supramolecular polymers to compartmentalized systems’) is attempting to solve the problem by investigating a novel material that can be used to design, synthesise and self-assembly biomaterials that dynamically adapt their properties to human cells. Using these adaptable materials, parts of a bioartificial kidney will be made to demonstrate the material’s properties. Other medical applications could include improving dialysis treatment, reducing transplant rejection or applying as innovative sutures. Supramolecular polymers are random or entangled coils, with plastics and elastomers as mechanical properties. They have the ability to process, recycle and self-heal, and are created through self-assembly. They are also unique in that they can be processed at low temperatures and then manipulated without difficulty. Meijer is exploiting these assets to further enhance the materials and introduce more complex functionalities to supramolecular systems.
Well this in one more feather in the cap and those who say Plastics is dangerous please take note Plastics help you survive. Hon. Editor Ajay Desai editor@aipma.net
Over the course of the five-year project, scheduled to end in March 2015, the researchers are designing,
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Not only machinery and equipment We develop your ideas!! EXTRUSION LINE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF PET STRAPPING LINES
Strapping Line
Performance Spectrum of Strapping Lines:Output : upto 500 kg/h Velocity : upto 350 m/min Working Width : upto 1000 mm upto 16 tapes Tape-dimension : 4 - 19 mm
Applications :Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ
Parcel Packaging Letter collation Bonded storage (Customs) Cotton bales Synthetic fibre bales Wood Earthernware Furniture industry
REItruder co-rotating twinscrew extruder with venting without predrying
www.reimotec.com P L A S T I C S N E W S
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PS / PMMA /PC / ABS Sheet Extrusion Line
Embo
ssed S
heet
Design Sheet
Plain Transparent Sheet
Corrugated Sheet
FEATURE : Vented Extruder • Melt Pump • Inclined \ Vertical Calender Unit • Shear Cutter • Traveling Saw Cutter Lamination Facility • Masking Facility • Imported T - Die with Feed Block
450 Inclined Calendar Unit
Four layer Feed block with Inclined T-die
Saw Cutter
Sheet Width :: 700 - 2000mm Sheet Output :: 300 - 1000 kg/hr Sheet Thickness :: 1 to 12mm
Office / Administration B-3, Nand Jyot Ind. Estate, Safed Pool, Sakinaka, Andheri-Kurla Road, Andheri (E), Mumbai - 400 072. India Tel.: +91-22-4246 1500/01/03/04 Fax: +91-22-2850 9603 Email: info@rrplast.com Web: www.rrplast.com
• Sheet line • Drip Irrigation Pipe Plant • PE Pipe Plant • Compounding Plant • Recycling Plant
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AIPMA AT WORK
16th INDPACK - 2014 National Packaging Exhibition he 16th INDPACK – 2014 National Packaging Exhibition was organized by Indian Institute of Packaging (IIP) at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi (Hall No.
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Chairman, UFLEX Group of Industries. Over 80 exhibitors from all over India were participated in the exhibition. Trade visitors’ response was poor. National Conference was a grand success. AIPMA had a stall of 9 sq. mtrs in the aforesaid exhibition as per barter agreement. As per directed by Ms. Umaa Gupta Ji, Secretary General, Naresh and Neha attended the Exhibition. We both did marketing of PVA-2014 to be held at Sharjah, UAE, from 7th to 10th April, 2014. PVA-14 Brochure and Registration form were distributed to each and every exhibitors of INDPACK 2014 along with AIPMA membership Application form. Ms. Vinita, M/s. Spinks India Pvt. Ltd. and Mr. Rajesh Gandhi, M/s. UFLEX Limited showed their interest to take part in our forthcoming International Exhibition which is going to take place on the land of other country. Owner of M/s. Angel Instrument, M/s. National Plastic and M/s. TONDAK Group are willing to become member of the Association. Membership Application forms and payment cheques details of them will be sent soon for approval in MCM.
06) during 16th to 18th January, 2014. Concurrently, the Institute (IIP) conducted a two days National Conference on “Consumer Packaging Challenges and Opportunities” at Hotel Shangri Lal’s Eros, New Delhi during 17th to 18th January, 2014 after a gap of 14 years as the last INDPACK was held in Delhi in 1999. The inaugural function started by welcoming and felicitating the Chief Guest , Ms. Anita Agnihotri, IAS, Special Secretary & Financial Advisor, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India and the Guest of Honour, Mr. Ashok Chaturvedi,
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AIPMA AT WORK
Plastics Exports - Need of the Hour Arvind M. Mehta CMD Welset Plast Extrusions P. Ltd., Past President – AIPMA & Plastindia
growth of our Plastics Industry and in turn slow down the growth of the country.
or past many years, India has been exporting more of natural and other related products. Hence the country’s economy continued to be healthy and this was helping the overall industry. In fact it kept the plastic industry buoyant
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Just for eg if we compare ourselves with Chinese Plastics Industry then, while India's export were US$ 4.40 Bln, Chinas export were US$ 90 Bln. almost 20 timed higher
However,today, nearly 75% of India’s foreign exchange is being eaten away by just two products
Moreover while the Indian Rupee depreciated last year by 16%, Yuan became stronger by 8%. This means that we had a 24% advantage over China for exports. But we could not en-cash this opportunity.
1. Energy- driven Crude Oil Imports 2. Gold Imports: A habit cultivated by Indians over years, though it is fixed money.
2012-13 From India the Polymer exports of US$ 2.73 Billion should have been consumed in India to retain the advantage of value-addition in India.
According to some estimates more than 200 Billion Dollars is the over-all outflow. As a result the Indian Economy is under constant pressure. Indians, by nature, are hard working. The Industry and Service sectors, in particular, work very hard for exports all the time. However, we are not comfortable with our FOREX reserves.
2012-13 India imported consumer plastics for US$ 2 Billion from China and FTA countries These are STARK FACTS given by none other than CMD of Supreme Industries Shri M.P. Taparia, the doyen of Indian Plastics Processing Industry, during the recent Plexconcil Award Function.
Indian scenario of Plastic exports Last year our Plastics Exports were around US$ 7.2 Billions, out of this:
What is our loss – i.e. only average conversion, say @ 15% of value.
Raw Material i.e. Polymer accounted US$ 2.74 Billions for 38% i.e.
Exports & Value in Imports from USD India
Finished Plastics Products export US$ 4.46 Billions. accounted for US$ 7.20 Billions For the current year (2013-14), Our Export Target for Plastics Finished Products is US$ 4.82 Billions - a growth of nearly 8% which is achievable. We seem to be complacent with what we are doing. On a closer look, we would realize that we are undermining our efforts and opportunities that could slow down the the
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Conversion Conversion in USD @ in Rupees 15% of value
Polymers Exports
US$ 2.73 US$ 0.4095 Billion Billion
Rs. 2539 Crores
Plastic Products Imports
US$ 2.20 US$ 0.3300 Billion Billion
Rs. 2046 Crores
Total
US$ 4.93 US$ 0.7395 Billion Billion
Rs. 4585 Crores
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AIPMA AT WORK So, conversion loss to Indian Plastic Industry is of Rs. 4585 Crores.
More over it is the ‘Need of the Hour’. If our exports have to increase, it is imperative that we enhance the quality of our products and services. Since we would be getting orders in bulk, the operational cost will be economical. This would lead to the desired result of over-all satisfaction of service to the Nation. We can lift our country’s economy from C.A.D. (Current Account Deficit) to C.A.S. (Current Account Surplus). This is the strength of processing plastic industry.
This is our cup of tea snatched away. Now this has to be channelized for exports with a clear cut advantage of 24%, our aim should be to en-cash this. If we export on the lines of China, the scenario will greatly turn the table in favour of India. Friends- increasing our exports is not a difficult task.
Seminar on ERP for MSME in Chennai A. Ramarethinam, Regional Manager – South Zone, AIPMA he first Seminar on Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) for MSME Sector was held on January 24, 2014, at AIPMA South Zone Office, Chennai.
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He outlined the need for ERP for SMEs at low cost. Mr. Surjith Singh explained in detail the futuristic concept of Social Cloud ERP for SMEs. This was followed by very interactive sessions by the participants.
The seminar was jointly organized by AIPMA and UNIDO and turned out to a thumping success with around 50 participants. Many company owners along with their Accounts Executives attended this meeting.
Mr. Y.V. Raman, Regional Coordinator in his vote of thanks, was grateful to Mr. Chandrasekar of UNIDO and the speakers Mr. Natarajan and Mr. Surjith Singh for their excellent presentation.
The seminar started with a warm welcome by Mr. Chandrasekar of UNIDO followed with the lectures by Mr. R. Natarajan, MD of M/s Engineering Global Solutions and Mr. Surjith Singh J, Chief Experiment Officer of M/s Niqotin.
He also thanked members of AIPMA, TAPMA, IPI and Plexconcil who participated, besides explaining the role of AIPMA in Plastic industry and services AIPMA south zone would offer to its members and the plastic fraternity. This was followed by dinner.
Mr. Natarajan dealt at length and cleared the myths of ERP being luxury.
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AIPMA AT WORK
World’s largest events to generate unprecedented demand for regional plastics players Going by the previous editions in other countries, the World Expo is expected to attract up to 50 million visitors to the UAE and generate 270,000 jobs, drawing in business people, professionals, workers and others. In fact, experts are of the opinion that both World Expo and the World Cup will be beneficial for the entire GCC region After its impressive launch in 2012, the second edition of the biennial Plastivision Arabia will be held from April 7 to 10, 2014, at Expo Centre Sharjah in association with The All India Plastics Manufacturers’ Association (AIPMA), the oldest and the largest apex body of the plastics industry in India.
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egional plastics consumption is projected to see
“Titled ‘Exploring Growth Through Innovation in the
a massive surge as preparations pick up pace for
Plastic Conversion Industry’, PlastiCon 2014 will focus on
two premier international events in the GCC.
the role of innovation in developing new plastic products and opening up new markets in plastic conversion,” said
The combination of the World Expo in 2020 and the
Dr. Abdulwahab Al-Sadoun, Secretary General, GPCA.
Fifa World Cup in 2022 – that too in quick succession -- is set to provide considerable momentum to regional plastics
The inaugural Print Pack Arabia exhibition and
players, who are expecting demand to swell in the run up
conference will also be held alongside Plastivision Arabia,
to these events.
and feature latest printing & packaging technology, materials and machinery. Print Pack Arabia is co-organised
While Dubai is set to spend over US$18 billion for the
by the Indian Printing, Packaging and Allied Machinery
World Expo 2020, Qatar has earmarked a staggering
Manufacturers' Association (IPAMA), and supported by
US$200 billion for the Fifa World Cup in 2022, which could
the Printing Equipment Industries Association of China
propel plastics usage much over a conservative estimate
(PEIAC).
of nearly 6 metric tons.
The second Arabia Mold too will be held alongside
“These mega events are going to have tremendous
Plastivision Arabia, in association DEMAT, the organizer
impact on the region’s plastics producers given that plastic
of world-renowned EuroMold, the world’s leading fair
products are heavily used in infrastructure projects, apart
for mold-making & tooling, design and application
from packaging. Apart from infrastructure projects, millions
development.
are going to fly into the region, providing a strong boost to plastics consumption,” said Mr. Saif Mohammed Al
Together, these events form a comprehensive sourcing
Midfa, CEO, Expo Centre Sharjah, ahead of the upcoming
as well as networking platform for the entire regional print,
Plastivision Arabia 2014 trade fair.
packaging, plastics and mold-making industry.
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AIPMA AT WORK
Indian recycling 'up close and personal' UK exhibitors at last month’s Plastivision trade show in Mumbai were given what was described as an “eye-opening and at times heart-breaking” tour of Dharavi, the city’s largest slum. ore than a dozen UK plastics companies exhibited at the triennial event under the umbrella of the British Plastics Federation’s (BPF) Pavilion, and a number of those representing the recycling sector toured the slum to witness examples of its industrial activity.
for tours re-invests 85% of the income generated back into the area to support charitable initiatives, including a school the group visited.
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The BPF said that it had held what it called “several influential meetings” with the All India Plastics Manufacturers Association at the show and it also welcomed news that the forthcoming Plastindia, to be held in February 2015, would again be hosted at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi, rather than at a previously proposed site in Gujarat.
With a population fluctuating between 300,000 and one million people in an area less than a mile square, Dharavi is said to generate $650m (£392m) a year from its various trading activities and has earned itself the moniker ‘India’s recycling centre’. Recycling, which the BPF said takes place in Dharavi on “a massive scale”, is big business in India. The country has a recycling rate figure of 47%.
India is said to be the world’s third-largest consumer of plastics by 2025 and the country’s domestic plastics industry is said to growing at nearly 15% a year. Meanwhile UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) has confirmed it will offer funding grants of up to £3,000 to those companies wishing to be part of UK pavilions and attend next year’s Plastindia (5 – 10 February 2015). The offer also extends to those companies wishing to visit Chinaplas in Shanghai (23 – 26 April 2014) and Plastimagen in Mexico (18 – 21 November 2014).
Commenting on the visit the BPF said: “It was evident to the group how nothing is wasted and that all material entering the slum was carefully checked and sorted with the plastics being washed, shredded, extruded and regranulated before it was sold on as raw material.” To support the slum’s communities the company which runs the paid-
Expert promotion councils awards The Export Promotion council had recently announced its awards in the different categories for the this year. The list of awardees is mentioned for our readers. AIPMA congratulates all the recipients.
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AIPMA AT WORK Expert promotion councils awards in different categories PRODUCT CATEGORY
NAME OF EXPORT AWARD WINNER
POSITION IN POSITION IN 2011 - 2012 2012 - 2013
Dip Irrigation Systems
M/s. Jain Irrigation Systems Ltd.
FIRST
FIRST
Electrical Accessories of Plastics
M/s. Brilliant International
SECOND
SECOND
Engineering Components of plastics
M/s. Shaily Engineering Plastic Ltd.
FIRST
FIRST
Fittings for Pipes & Hoses (of plastics) M/s. Prince Industries
SECOND
SECOND
Hair combs/brushes of plastics
FIRST
FIRST
M/s. Crystal Plastics & Metalizing Pvt. Ltd.
Houseware (other than thermoware/ M/s. Aristo Exports insulated ware)
SECOND
Masterbatches
M/s. Prayag Poly tech Pvt. Ltd.
FIRST
FIRST
Masterbatches
M/s. Plastiblends India Limited
SECOND
SECOND
Moulded/Extruded packaging items M/s. Alkon Plastics Pvt. Limited like Boxes, Cases, Crates, Carboys & Similar Articles Of Plastic
FIRST
FIRST
Pipes & Hoses of plastics
M/s. Jain Irrigation Systems Ltd.
FIRST
FIRST
Pipes & Hoses of plastics
M/s. The Supreme Industries Limited
SECOND
SECOND
Plastic Furniture
M/s. Nilkamal Ltd.
SECOND
SECOND
Plastic Mats
M/s. Sapana Polyweave Pvt. Ltd.
FIRST
FIRST
Plastic Polymers
M/s. Haldia Petrochemicals Ltd.
SECOND
P l a s t i c S t a t i o n e r y ( e x c l u d i n g M/s. Allied Instruments Pvt. Ltd. writing instruments)- mathematical instruments, files, plastic covers etc
SECOND
SECOND
Plates/Sheets/ Films/Etc of plastics M/s. The Supreme Industries Limited (Other than polyester/PET/BOPP)
FIRST
SECOND
PVC Foam Board/Sheets
M/s. Jain Irrigation Systems Ltd.
FIRST
FIRST
Ropes/Cordage
M/s. Tufropes Pvt. Ltd.
FIRST
FIRST
Ropes/Cordage
M/s. Garware Wall Ropes Limited
SECOND
Tarpauline
M/s. The Supreme Industries Limited
FIRST
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COMPANY NEWS
BASF partners to promote organic waste composting in Sri Lanka ASF, the world’s leading chemical company, together with local and international partners, has launched its Project REPLACE (Restoring the Environment by promoting biodegradable Plastic Resources) in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
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This is the first step undertaken by the project initaitors to endorse the use of certified compostable bags made with BASF’s ecovio® / ecoflex® to efficiently and effectively manage organic and biodegradable waste in Sri Lanka. Witnessing the launch event at Taj Samudra, Colombo were key government officials, policymakers, waste management companies, representatives from Colombo Municipal Council, Urban Councils, ITIs, convertors, top hotel chains, food cities and shopping malls. All
together, three educational sessions are planned in the city of Colombo with an aim to faciliate major stakeholders to switch to certified compostable plastic bags. The central idea of the initiative is to create awareness, engage partners, educate stakeholders and achieve sustainability goals in waste management. To this end, mobile awareness stations are planned at prominent locations in the city of Colombo to create necessary awareness among the public about the need to dispose garbage responsibly. It also aims to inculcate the habit of source segregation of waste. As part of the project, waste bins will also be installed in the city of Colombo and the organic waste collected will be then be taken to a composting plant, where it will be
converted to compost for agricultural use. Certified compostable bags enable the hygienic collection of organic waste: they prevent liquid leaking from organic waste and keep out unpleasant odors. Additionally, as the bags are certified compostable, it can be processed immediately upon arrival at composting site, to be quickly converted into high quality compost without the need to first separate out non-organic or non-biodegradable waste. The REPLACE project is partially financed by Deutsche Investitionsund Entwicklungsgesellschaft, and implemented by BASF and Asia Society for Social Improvement & Sustainable Transformation in association with the National Cleaner Production Center.
Sasol inaugurates new ethylene purification unit asol Ltd’s Chief Executive Officer, David Constable, and the South African Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Rob Davies, inaugurated Sasol's new ethylene purification unit, known as the Ethylene Purification Unit 5 (EPU5), in Sasolburg.
better utilisation of Sasol's existing downstream polyethylene facilities. David Constable said, "Through the installation of the new ethylene splitter, considerable production capacity has been freed up to produce more ethylene.
Located at the Sasol Polymers Plant in Sasolburg, the R1.9 billion ethylene purification unit aims to address the growing demand for polyethylene material. The plant will also ensure
In so doing, our investment in EPU5, together with a new compressor unit in Secunda, will provide the South African plastics manufacturing industry with an additional 47 000 tons
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of polyethylene annually." EPU5 is already in operation phase. Half of the additional 47 000 tons of polyethylene will be reached within the next six months, while the plant is expected to reach full capacity by 2017. "The South African plastics industry is a significant contributor to the national economy. Local demand for polyethylene polymers continues to grow at a rate of 4 to 5% annually.
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COMPANY NEWS
Röchling invests in German and Indian plants he two automotive moulding and semi-finished plastics businesses of German group Röchling have announced the opening of new facilities in the past few days.
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Röchling Automotive has moved into a 36,000 sq. mts property in Wackersdorf, Germany, and has transferred machinery from a facility in a nearby innovation park which it was leasing from its customer BMW, as per European Plastics News. The total investment in the new facility, which started construction in May 2013, was €23 mln. In the first stage of operation, the production
area in the new plant covers 3,300 sq. mts, and the logistical area totals 4,000 sq. mts. The company already plans an initial expansion in 2015. It expects to add another 1,000 sq. mts for production and 1,500 sq. mts for logistics. It also suggested a further expansion could take place after the first one to double the working space. Röchling Engineering Plastics said it has inaugurated its first manufacturing plant for semifinished thermoplastics in Savli, India. Speaking at the opening ceremony,
Sweden's Rosti closes Chennai office expands in UK, Germany osti had closed its plant in Chennai, India, which manufactured products including business machines and consumer electronics goods. Around 100 jobs have gone and the factory's 12 machines have been redeployed to Rosti's other Asian operations.
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Rosti AB, the privately-owned plastics processor, will invest 60 million euros ($81.9 million) across the business in the next two years to help it achieve its annual turnover goal of 600 million euros ($819.9 million) by 2017. The company has also announced that it is closing its factory in India, with the loss of 100 jobs. The company based in Malmo,
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Sweden, which was acquired by Swedish family-owned investment firm Nordstjernan in 2010, will plow some of the funds into Rosti McKechnie's plant in Pickering, England, where the company makes parts for automotive customers including Jaguar Land Rover. Money will also go into extending the firm's packaging plant in Dresden, Germany, by a further 32,300 square feet, while at its operation in China will add 43,000 square feet of space, all to accommodate new business. Investment in Pickering will include 20 injection molding machines up to 2,700 metric tons, an extrusion line and a new painting plant – currently being built.
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Manoj Kumar, managing director of Röchling Engineering Plastics’ Indian subsidiary, said: “Röchling plans to produce approximately 1,000 tons of engineering plastics in India in the year 2014 and future expansions are already planned.”
Dow awards contract for US Gulf Coast petrochemical projects to CB&I ow Chemical Co. has awarded a contract to CB&I, Houston, for work related to planned ethylene and propylene expansion projects along the US Gulf Coast. Under the contract, CB&I will provide pipe fabrication for Dow Chemical’s construction of a new ethylene and propylene production unit in Texas as well as four new polyethylene plants in Texas and Louisiana.
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"CB&I's strategically-located fabrication facilities, production management systems and manufacturing technology give us the unique capability to provide complete piping solutions for major energy infrastructure projects," said Luke Scorsone, president of CB&I's fabrication services operating group. The value of the contract was not disclosed.
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COMPANY NEWS
Sinopec awarded EPC contract for world’s largest CTO in Mongolia inopec Engineering Group has been awarded by Zhong Tian He Chuang Energy Corp. Ltd., the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract to design and build the world largest Coal-To-Olefins (CTO) plant at Uxin Banner near Ordos, Inner Mongolia. Established for the purpose of this US$3.2 bln capital expenditure.
Russia. Despite intensive investments in the downstream industries, China import 45% of its ethylene.
CTO project, Zhong Tian He Chuang Energy Corp is a joint venture between China Coal Energy Company (China Coal) and the Sinopec Group (Sinopec) with 38.75% interests.
Sinopec is expecting to hand over the US$3.2 billion CTO petrochemical complex in less than two years for October 2015.
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China holds the third largest coal reserves in the world after USA and
In addition to the S-MTO technology and the EPC contract, Sinopec Engineering Group will provide Zhong Tian He Chuang with project management consultancy (PMC) services for the production and logistic of the equipment.
The Zhong Tian Chuang CTO project will include: Coal gasification unit, Coal purification unit, Air
separation unit, Coal-To-Methanol unit of 3.6 mln tpa. Two Methanol-ToOlefins (S-MTO) units of 1.8 mln tpa each, Olefin catalytic cracking unit of 200,000 tpa, Polypropylene unit (loop reactor) of 350,000 tpa, Polypropylene unit (gas reactor) of 350,000 tpa, Low density polyethylene (LDPE) unit (tank reactor) of 120,000 tpa, LDPE unit (tubular reactor) of 250,000 tpa, Linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) unit of 300,000 tpa. 1-butylene unit of 30,000 tpa, Methyl Ter Butyl Ether (MTBE) unit of 10,000 tpa, Offsites and Utilities, Air Compression unit, Olefins intermediates tank farm unit.
Mitsui to restructure polyurethane, close plants and enter merchant TDI market itsui Chemicals Inc's future business in polyurethanes lies in specialty grades and will be more closely aligned to the Middle East, said Toshikazu Tanaka, president and CEO, as he announced a major business restructuring.
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According to the company the restructuring, which will see Japanese facilities close, is an attempt to stem losses and return to profitability. Speaking during Mitusi Chemical's quarterly results announcement, Tanaka said: "With unwavering
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determination, we will initiate the measures and tactics full force to assure realization of a V-shaped turnaround." The Tokyo-based company is struggling with costs, according to the announcement. Sales grew from Yen 1406 billion ($13.7 billion) in 2012 to an estimated Yen 1570 billion in 2013, said Tanaka. He said the firm's operating loss would grow from Yen 4.3 billion to Yen 25 billion and has taken a Yen 32 billion charge in 2013 to pay for
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restructuring. Tanaka also promised to cut director salaries by 12-20 percent, and bonuses too. He added that the company expected to start paying a dividend to shareholders at the end of 2014 financial year. Mitsui's polyurethane business saw its loss of Yen 2.6 billion in 2012 grow to an estimated Yen 4 billion in 2013, said Tanaka. In future, Mitsui plans to focus on coating engineering materials in polyurethane through specialty isocyanates, which account for 36 percent of the company's Yen 170 billion sales in the sector. F E B R U A R Y 2014
COMPANY NEWS
Molex opens expanded tooling operation in China olex Inc., Illinois based major producer of plastic components for the electronics market, has expanded its global tooling capabilities with the opening of a 200,000-square-foot facility at its Chengdu hi-tech development zone facility in China.
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The automated plant has capabilities to make precision molds and dies. The tooling center will serve Molex plants around the world as well as the company's Chengdu facility. Construction began in late last year, Molex told Plastics News. Molex's Chengdu facility is its largest global operation, with 1 million square feet. Molex opened operations in Chengdu in 2005. To date, Molex
has invested more than $160 million in its Chengdu operations. E a c h y e a r, M o l e x C h e n g d u produces more than 1 billion parts for applications in automotive, commercial, information technology, mobile and telecommunications industries. Its big clients produce consumer products, such as Samsung, Apple and domestic giant Huawei. Martin Slark, Molex CEO said "We are continuing our investment in Chengdu, which is an emerging economic hub in China." He added, "This high-tech facility expands our ability to serve our global customers with the highly-engineered tools that are critical for manufacturing the innovative interconnect solutions our customers require."
Dhunseri Petrochem commissions first petrochemical plant in Egypt hunseri Petrochem and Tea has commissioned its first petrochemical plant in Egypt.
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The US$170 mln project, got little delayed because of the ongoing political turmoil in the North African nation, has seen a cost escalation of around 4%. Dhunseri also plans to de merge its businesses. The restructuring exercise was to apportion business focus and priorities among various segments Business Line. The tea business P L A S T I C S N E W S
would be transferred to an entity at a consideration of one share for five shares held in Dhunseri Petrochem, while the new infrastructure subsidiary will issue 50 lakh shares of Rs 10 each to the parent company. The names of the entities, including Dhunseri, would also change to reflect respective businesses. The petrochemicals vertical has production units in Haldia, West Bengal, and in Egypt for PET resin.
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Bruce Catoen appointed as CTO Milacron ilacron LLC has named a new chief technology officer: Bruce Catoen, a 25-year veteran of the plastics industry who worked at Mold-Masters Ltd. and Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd.
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Catoen will work with Milacron's product development teams to establish and put in place a three-year roadmap for product technology Company officials spelled out Catoen's job description as CTO: to institutionalize product and service development, invest in new people, guide investment in new technologies and build a strong portfolio of technologies with solid intellectual property protection and evaluate potential acquisitions. Milacron makes injection molding machines, extruders, blow molding machines and structural foam molding machines. Catoen was Mold-Masters' vice president of business development and chief technology officer when Milacron bought the Canada-based hot runner specialist one year ago. He had joined Mold-Masters in 2007, coming from Husky, where he had several positions, including vice president of packaging.
F E B R U A R Y 2014
COMPANY NEWS
Magma flooring makes floor tile from Manner Plastics recycled polyethylene renamed startup company plans to commission a new factory at the end of February to make what it calls is an eco-friendly alternative to PVC sheet such as used in flooring. Magma Flooring LLC has received a $2 million equity injection New Capital Fund to help it get into production of sheet made from recycled resins and natural fillers.
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“We’re looking at various markets and will start with flooring and luxury vinyl tile,” said Magma vice president of sales and marketing Cory Erickson. “We are seeing the market needs low-cost yet green and sustainable products.” Magma’s plant in River Falls, Wisconsin ., will install a continuous, double-belt press to make sheeting from recycled post-industrial polyethylene and a proprietary menu
of natural fillers, according to Erickson. The company claims the sheet it has developed is chlorine-free, phthalatefree, plasticizer-free and has virtually no odor and is recyclable. As well, the sheet can be printed and embossed. Magma has been running pilot scale trials of the new sheet at its equipment supplier, TechnoPartner Samtronic GmbH of Goepingen, Germany. Among TechnoPartner’s equipment offerings are double belt presses it claims can make homogenous and heterogeneous flooring, composites and products made from recycled plastics and fibers. The machinery creates webs from powdery or granular thermoplastics and other materials. TechnoPartner says the double-belt system provides uniform surface pressure and handles temperatures of up to 482° F.
Zahoransky begins mold production in Tamilnadu old maker Zahoransky Gormenbau GmbH has opened a facility for making injection molds in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, which will act as the German group's Asian centre for serving customers throughout the region.
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The new 27,000-square-foot building was formally inaugurated in mid-November 2013. It has 60
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employees who manufacture injection molds for the Indian and Asian market. The Indian facility's design department is fully networked with the parent plant in Freiburg for mold construction. "In the long term, complex automated moulds are expected to be offered and supplied from India," said Zahoransky officials. The service personnel in India also provide support
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ompounder Manner Plastics LP is adding its seventh line and is changing its name to Manner Polymers Corp. to better reflect what it does, according to company President Raj Bhargava.“We were light on capacity and we are seeing growth in automotive and construction, so we are very fortunate,” Bhargava said. He said the McKinney, Texas, company deals in flexible PVC compounds and wanted to illustrate that it does work with polymers with the new name, which took effect January.
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The decision also was due to changes made in the Texas Franchise Law. There is no change in ownership or management. Bhargava said the new line will be ready in the first quarter of 2014. Manner added another line last year, plus 30,000 square feet of warehouse space and 3,500 square feet of office space. and maintenance of molds made by Zahoransky in Germany that are located at customer facilities in India and other countries in Asia. Zahoransky has locations in Germany and the US, and the addition of an Asian location means its customers can now be supported and served around the clock.
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FEATURES
Bottled water to take the beverage crown in US The popularity of bottled water continues to grow in US, as companies look to aggressively take costs out of their production. That includes installing high-speed filling systems and lightweighting bottles. ndians are known to be foodies and water is the most desired drink. However, abroad it may not be necessarily true. But if we were to consider an expert’s view then Bottled water soon will take the beverage crown in US.
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It's certainly not going to happen in 2014. And it won't happen in 2015. But, in the not-too-distant future, will overtake carbonated soft drinks as the largest beverage category in the United States, according to one industry expert. Gary A. Hemphill, managing director and chief operating officer of research and consulting firm Beverage Marketing Corp., predicts that bottled water consumption will eclipse carbonated soft drink consumption in three or four years. And plastic will continue to gain market share in the beverage container market thanks to the ongoing success of bottled water. "The best news for plastic is the likelihood of continued growth in bottled water, a category that plastic dominates," Hemphill said at The Packaging Conference in Orlando. "One of the key categories for plastics is bottled water. "Our projection is ultimately (water is) going to surpass carbonated soft drinks as the biggest category on a volume basis in the U.S. That's not going to happen this year, and P L A S T I C S N E W S
it's not going to happen next year. But by 2017, 2018, something like that, it seems inevitable that that's going to happen," he said. Bottled water, the way that Beverage Marketing analyzes the market, is a broader category than just single-serve containers. It includes water cooler jugs as well as larger containers, like one- and two-gallon jugs, sold at grocery stores. But make no mistake, those single-serve containers are what's fueling the growing popularity of the segment. "The overall category has been growing by about mid-single digits, so that 4-to-6 percent range," Hemphill said. "What's really driving it is the single-serve market for bottled water. The way we define that is 1.5 liters and under. That's roughly two-thirds of the bottled water category," he said. And that's a sweet spot for plastic. "There's some interest and people have looked at other packaging materials for bottled water, but at the end of the day, that is about as perfect as you can get for that category," he said about using plastic. "Portability is really important. Resealability is really important." "Those are key attributes that 27
consumers want, retailers want," he said, along with plastic's lighter weight compared to other containers and its "unbreakability." "It's probably the best-positioned packaging right now for beverages. But all the packaging types have their niche and have their uses. Obviously, the can has been amazingly successful for a number of years and continues to be," he said. The popularity of bottled water continues to grow as companies look to aggressively take costs out of their production. That includes installing high-speed filling systems and lightweighting bottles. Some companies, particularly private-label firms, have attacked their cost structures to a point where there is not much more room to improve. But Hemphill said there still space for additional efficiencies across the entire market as not all bottled water firms have taken such an aggressive approach.
F E B R U A R Y 2014
FEATURES
UV Curing in the Plastic Components Industry UV is rapidly becoming the technique of choice for curing coatings in the plastic components industry, but it’s not been all plain sailing. Complex part shapes, temperature sensitive substrates and demanding finish quality are just some of the challenges faced by chemistry suppliers and equipment manufacturers alike. This article reviews the development of UV-curing chemistries and techniques for plastic components, their current uses and potential.
Then and Now Until recently, coaters and decorators of plastic components had no option but to paint or coat pieces using water or solvent-based products and then to dry them all thermally in large curing ovens. Though effective, the water-based coatings required very high energy input to drive off the water content, the VOC emissions from drying solvent-based formulations required expensive containmentor treatment equipment and the drying ovens simply took up a huge amount of space. Identifying and developing a drying technology that could eliminate some or all of these problems would obviously revolutionize the production process and massively enhance the potential for coated plastic components. UV curing was an obvious contender. Introduced commercially in the 1970s for flat, web-type applications, the technology was already proven to practically eliminate all VOC emissions, offer energy and space savings in comparison with large curing ovens, provide faster curing times and even the ability to cure on heat sensitive substrates with UV-resistant coatings. P L A S T I C S N E W S
However, could UV-curable coatings provide the quality and range of visual and textural finishes required, especially for the modern, fashion-conscious teletronics industry? In addition, would it work for the complex 3-D shapes frequently found in plastic components?
The Development Process The principle of UV curing is based on initiating a chemical polymerization inside a liquid coating using direct UV irradiation to create a cross-linked, dry, solid coating. There are two elements to a successful UV-curing system—the UV-curable coating and the UV-curing lamps with their support systems. The finished properties of a UV-cured coating—hardness, scuff and scratch resistance, gloss or matt appearance, UV stability, chemical resistance, etc.—are dictated by the initial chemical composition of the coating, the “match” of the UV lamp’s spectral output, intensity and dose with that chemistry and the optimum physical sitting of the UV lamps.In order to develop UV curing into a feasible and reliable production process for the plastics industry, chemistry suppliers and equipment manufacturers have had to work together to create effective, workable solutions to these and other issues.
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Chemistry While the concept of a coating that is free of organic solvent carrier, but which retains the performance properties of a solvent-based coating, is very attractive, designing such a product has proved to be a challenge. UV coatings are very different from conventional solvent or water-based liquid and paste coatings. They are up to 100% solids, containing little or no solvent or water carrier, but formulated from monomers, oligomers, pigments, additives and photoinitiators. When exposed to high-intensity UV light the photoinitiators start a chain reaction to polymerize the formulation, producing a dry, solid coating.
Challenges and Solutions For the chemistry formulators, there were two initial challenges when creating UV-curable coatings for plastics: •
To create coatings which could be applied using standard application methods.
•
To compensate for the lack of solvent content which, in conventional coatings, aids adhesion to the substrate. The commonly used application
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FEATURES methods, such as spray coating, dip coating and flow coating, all presented problems for 100% solids UV formulations. Hence, UV-curable coatings for the plastics industry are likely to contain some solvent or water content, to allow the coating to be applied by the chosen method. There are some 100% solids sprayable UV systems available commercially, but these are very limited. The inclusion of low-viscosity crosslinkable materials to enable effective application may compromise the final properties of the cured coating. Thus, these 100% UV systems tend to be used in “less demanding” applications—as decorative coatings
for the cosmetic container industry, for example, where high durability or scratch resistance are not critical factors. However, the exception is UVcurable powder coatings. Though still requiring further research and development work to bring these 100% solids formulations within the reach of many of today’s plastic coating operations, current UVcurable powders are bringing the possibility of powder coating plastics a little nearer. Unlike traditional powder coatings, UV-powder coatings only require the application of infrared (IR) or
convection heat for the melt/flow process, and are then cured by low temperature UV-radiation curing. This reduces the heat required from a typical range of 160-200°C to 80-120°C and the dwell time at these temperatures from 2060 minutes to only 2-10 minutes, depending on part size and shape. Melt temperatures will have to be reduced further for many plastics applications and the advantages will need to offset the costs of special storage and handling. However, UV-curable powder coatings can be applied using the same methods as for conventional powder coatings and
What is UV Curing? Ultraviolet curing (commonly known as UV curing) is a photochemical process in which high-intensity ultraviolet light is used to instantly cure or “dry” inks, coatings or adhesives. Offering many advantages over traditional drying methods, UV curing has been shown to increase production speed, reduce reject rates, improve scratch and solvent resistance, and facilitate superior bonding.
Who Uses UV Curing? Since it was originally introduced in the 1960's, UV curing has been widely adopted in many industries including automotive, telecommunications, electronics, graphic arts, converting and metal, glass and plastic decorating. UV curing is a multi-billion dollar worldwide industry, and now constitutes approximately 4% of the industrial coatings market. UV curing has grown more than 10% per year, displacing conventional water and solvent-based thermal drying processes due to its increased productivity, improvement of product quality and performance, and environmentally friendly characteristics.
Why to use UV curing? UV curing offers manufacturers many benefits. Using light instead of heat, the UV curing process is based on a photochemical reaction. Liquid monomers and oligomers are mixed with a small percent of photoinitiators, and then exposed to UV energy. In a few seconds, the products - inks, coatings or adhesives instantly harden. UV curable inks and coatings were first used as a better alternative to solvent-based products. Conventional heat- and air-drying works by solvent evaporation. This process shrinks the initial application of coatings by more than 50% and creates environmental pollutants. In UV curing, there is no solvent to evaporate, no environmental pollutants, no loss of coating thickness, and no loss of volume. This results in higher productivity in less time, with a reduction in waste, energy.
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FEATURES figure 1: Coatings comparison for plastics Property
Water-Based
Solvent-Based
UV Curable
60 (clear coatings)
40-95%
20-30 (pigmented)
Few at 100%
Easy to apply and achieve
Difficult to achieve because achieve UV tends to produce hard surface cure
Visuals All gloss range possible (gloss/matt etc.)
All gloss range possible
All gloss range possible. Very low matt can be more difficult
Durability
Moderate
High
High
Advantages
• “Easy” switch from solvent- • Known technology • Small compact plants based systems to reduce • Wide range of suppliers • High production rates VOC emissions • Lower cost capital equipment • Reduced reject rates • Range of textures/ appearances possible
Solids content 40-60%
Soft feel
Easy to apply and achieve
Disadvantages • E n e r g y / t i m e c o s t s t o • High VOC levels remove water prior to thermal cure
• Some solvents to be removed • New technology • New capital equipment required
provide exceptionally high-quality finished coatings. Therefore, UV-curable coatings have been formulated to meet standard application requirements, but they also need to adhere to the substrate. The wetting (spread) of the coating on the surface and the adhesion of the dried (cured) coating to the surface of the substrate depend on the tension at the boundary surface. For sufficient wetting and adhesion of a coating, the surface tension of the substrate must be higher than that of the coating. In most cases, the surface tension of the coating can’t be changed so that of the substrate must be increased, which is usually achieved with an oxidizing flame, corona discharge or UV pre-treatment.
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The surface treatment results in a physically and chemically modified surface with increased surface tension, enhancing the wetting of the coating and producing better adhesion. The solvent used in conventional coatings to aid application can also be used to enhance wetting and chemically attack the surface of the substrate to increase the adhesion of the coating. UV coatings do not necessarily contain such solvents and may not have the opportunity to physically “anchor” themselves in this way. Therefore, it is important to check the surface tension, and modify if necessary, when using UV coatings. An additional challenge to coatings formulators has been the achievement of specific finished
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properties such as soft feels or low matt finish, both of which are in demand for modern consumer teletronics products and which can be difficult to achieve with UV-curable coatings. Figure 1 shows an overview comparison of the three main coating technologies. Solvent-based coatings are the known, “tried and tested” systems, which have served the industry well for many years. However, the drive to reduce the use and emission of solvents leads manufacturers to look at waterbased coatings. This is seen as an “easy” technology switch, but water-based coatings do require special consideration when it comes to the drying operation to ensure the coating is fully cured.
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FEATURES No one technology is the perfect solution for all applications and coating requirements, but UVcurable coatings certainly have many important features and benefits. The high durability of the coatings coupled with the significant improvements in production speeds and reduction of finished product reject rates are the key driving forces for implementing UV-curing technology in many plastic coating operations. Development work continues to increase the range of UVcurable coatings with new soft feel, low matt and one-coat high gloss, pigmented systems coming into the market. With all these factors and options,plastics coaters are making their choice of coating on an “applicationbyapplication” basis. No one coating is sweeping across the board; rather, the choice of coating is usually driven by economics, with coaters choosing the most costeffectivesystem that will deliver their required performance characteristics.
UV-Curing Equipment Existing UV-curing technology could be easily adapted for flat plastic component applications, with installations incorporating the latest in-line modular UV-curing units, variable power supply and electrodeless bulbs. However, creating UV systems to cure coatings on 3-D plastic components presented far more of a challenge.
“shadow” areas. If UV curing was to be successfully applied to plastic components, then the problem of achieving optimal cure in these “shadow” areas had to be solved. The optimal characteristic profile of a coating can only be achieved if the parameters of the individual manufacturing steps are situated within certain boundaries—the process window (Figure 2).
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• A variable power supply alters thepower of the lamp, and therefore, the dose supplied. •
Additional installation of reflectors ensures optimal utilization of the irradiation.
•
Distance between the lamps and the part to be cured can be altered.
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Installations can be made with a UV lamp on a flexible arm.
•
The installation of elliptical reflectors rather than parabolic reflectors improves the curing of former shadow areas .
Process window (Figure 2)
Types of Reflectors (Figure 3)
For two-dimensional parts the UV dose can be adjusted simply by changing the power of the UV lamp or the line speed; however, for 3-D parts, due to their complexity, it is more critical to achieve an even energy distribution over the whole surface. Intensity, dose and UV spectrum must be combined to provide a cured coating with the optimum combination of properties required. Following intensive R&D involving laboratory experimentation and pilot testing, a variety of solution concepts have been developed to eliminate “shadow.” These are often combined in production to obtain optimal results: •
A programmed robot can move either the lamp over the surface of the part, or in reverse, the part infront of the UV lamp.
•
Short and modular UV lamps can be placed at different angles
3-D Curing Many plastic components are complex 3-D structures containing frequent undercuts that create
around the geometry of the part.
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Of all these solutions, robotics is the probably the most exciting, but also the one that presented the most problems. A robot used for UV curing must be designed to meet specific requirements. Depending upon the UV irradiation unit used, the robot must have a carrying capacity between 8-16kg. Precision and speed are not necessarily primary characteristics, depending upon the geometry and size of the part to be cured; however, many degrees of freedom and a large work radius is
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FEATURES important. UV stable supply cables and gaskets must be used.The UV lamps also have to be adapted for robotic use. Traditionally, UV lamps were designed to be mounted almost exclusively in a fixed position. To cure 3-D plastic components from a moving robot, the lamps had to be adapted to cope with the new environment. Internal components insensitive to vibrations were developed to overcome problems caused by rapid movements, sudden changes in direction and sudden stopping. The construction and cooling of the UV lamps also had to be redesigned to ensure that the lamps would not overheat.
for UV curing has been found to provide process flexibility and high productivity. Optimized programming of robots has even made the UV curing of extreme geometries possible. However, there is still much development that can be done to refine and improve the technique.
Robot mounted UV-curing lamps are now being used successfully in a variety of production installations across countries in the world by companies. In production, using robots
Despite this success and to widen the usage of UV-curable coatings in the plastics industry, there are some technical issues still to be resolved. Environmental, legislative
The Future UV-curable coatings are now commonly used for plastics applications that experience very harsh environments where high levels of scratch/scuff resistance are required, such as consumer teletronics products and automotive polycarbonate headlamp lenses.
and economic pressures necessitate ongoing research and development programs. Customers are beginning to look beyond the simple “solids content” or VOC issues, to evaluate the coating process “in the round” - taking into account performance and cost drivers and the implications for their plant processes and procedures when making a choice of coating system. The constant drive for reduced solvent content in coatings formulations will remain a major influencing factor; however, progress in this area is likely to be limited by the viscosity rheology requirements of the application process. Will this lead to new application techniques in the future? Acknowledgments Polymer, Paint and Coatings Journal.
Water Injection Molding for making lightweight Hollow parts Mikell Knights
Coring out thick sections with cooling water is not only faster than gas-assist molding, but it makes thinner walls and smoother part interiors. The technology is developing but it is moving fast to wider commercialization. ater-assisted injection molding is the newest way to mold hollow or partly hollow parts. It’s basically similar to gas-assist molding as a means to core out thick sections. But water-injection technology (WIT) comes with a big advantage: direct cooling inside the part. The thermal conductivity of water is 40 times greater than that of gas, and water’s heat capacity is four times greater than gas. “With the cooling capability of WIT, cooling cycle
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times can be reduced to only 25% of that of gas,” says Helmut Eckardt, technical director for low-pressure injection molding at Battenfeld Injection Molding Technology in Meinerzhagen, Germany. But the potential for faster cycles is only part of the story. “There are many reasons why the technology is attractive,” says Friedrich Westphal, head of Project Management Engineering (PME), a German supplier of WIT systems. He says that if done 32
correctly, WIT can yield thinner, more uniform part walls, which adds to material savings. WIT’s ability to produce a smooth internal part surface, which is much more difficult with gas assist, makes injection molding much more competitive with blow molding. Some sources also believe WIT can produce larger void spaces and longer hollow sections in parts than gas can. A. Schulman in Germany helped produce a prototype PP shopping cart that had a water channel 3 meters F E B R U A R Y 2014
FEATURES long! Water injection molding burst onto the scene in a big way at last fall’s K 2001 show in Dusseldorf, Germany. R&D on the process has been under way at a number of European injection machine suppliers, independent makers of gas-assist equipment, resin companies, and others. The impetus for much of this activity was a 1998 report on WIT research at the Institut fur Kunststoffverarbeitung (IKV), a plastics processing development center in Germany. The IKV continues active development of the process. WIT is already in limited commercial use in Germany and several projects are in active development. But because WIT is so new, a number of technical questions remain to be answered. Researchers are seeking to define the proper water temperature, pressure, and flow rate, as well as the effect of internal water quenching on resin crystallization and molded part properties. There are also numerous hardware questions: “The injection press and processing are unchanged in all aspects up until it is time to inject the water,” says Jorg Dassow, manager of application technology at Ferromatik Milacron in Germany. “At that point there is a question of how and where to inject the water, how to evacuate the water, and the related tooling and control technology needed to accomplish it.” Other issues center around pin and valve design and mold modifications. All of these are reasons why knowledgeable parties are quick to point out that WIT should not be considered a drop-in substitute for gas assist. P L A S T I C S N E W S
Who’s involved A number of suppliers offering systems for gas-assist have modified their equipment for WIT use. Currently, there are seven firms offering WIT technology. These include three systems from press suppliers: Aquamold from Battenfeld, Watermelt from Engel, and AquaPress from Ferromatik Milacron Europe. Independent sources of WIT equipment are Alliance Gas Systems, Cinpres Gas Injection, Maximator in Germany, and Project Management Engineering (PME) in Germany. One materials supplier, Rhodia Engineering Plastics in Germany, developed its own WIT system for materials-testing purposes, but does not intend to offer it commercially. All WIT R&D is occurring in Europe at the moment, but suppliers expect the draw of lower cycle times to attract users in North America. “Water is a niche process right now, so it is important that no one promises too much, ” cautions Oliver Phann schmidt, head of the injection molding department at the IKV. He recalls that when gas-assist first arrived on the scene, it had a tough incubation period with processors, who had little technical help when they tried to take the technology into new areas of molding.
Why water works The chief difference between water and gas is that gas is compressible, while water is not. When injected into the melt, the leading edge of the water forms a solid boundary or highly viscous membrane. The membrane forces molten material forward, instead of the polymer forcing the water to the side. The primary 33
reason for this action is the higher viscosity and incompressibility of water compared with gas. This viscous front acts as a ram that cores out the part. The front also cools the melt as it is pushed down the mold cavity by water pressure. “Gas-assist operates at a pressure of 300 to 2500 psi, while water-assist generally operates in a range up to 4350 psi,” says Kai Jacobsen, manager of machine sales and technologies for Engel. “Gas can migrate into solution with the polymer. Water is a different story,” notes Jacobsen. If gas permeates the polymer, it can roughen the inner surface of the part when the gas migrates out again. However, Steven van Hoeck, v.p. of sales at Alliance Gas Systems, believes the rough inner surface could be due to too much pressure on the gas or leaving the gas in the part too long—both causes for the gas to begin to act as a foaming agent. Suppliers agree on several other differences between gas and water injection. Gas, unlike water, can branch into smaller flow streams inside the part, creating an undesirable fingering effect. The unpredictability of gas behavior makes it very difficult to control wall thickness, while water makes wall thickness uniform and repeatable. And has already been noted, gas does not cool the part. (There is, however, a new gas-assist technology, called KoolGas, developed by the Warwick Manufacturing Group, part of the Advanced Technology Centre at the University of Warwick in England. It can increase the cooling effect of gas by cryogenically cooling it as far as -292 F, and/or circulating
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FEATURES gas through the part at a high rate of up to 75 liters/min.) For shrinkage and sink reduction, molds can be pre-pressurized with gas before melt is injected, or gas can be introduced between the nonappearance side of the part and the mold. Water, however, would likely mar the surface of the part and couldn’t be used for that purpose. “Overall, we do not see competition between gas-assist and water-assist,” says Mark Paddock, v.p. and general manager of Cinpres Gas Injection. “Generally speaking, thicker parts and ones with longer flow paths could be good for water assist.” Molders looking to apply WIT to large multi-cavity tools should be cautious, suppliers warn. They recommend the process for tools having no more than four to six cavities. “Molders shouldn’t think about molding with a 12- or 16-cavity tool, because process control will be much more difficult,” says Engel’s Jacobsen.
Ready to make a splash A number of companies expect WIT to be gas-assist molders seeking to capture the potential for lower cycle times. Tubular parts, automotive fuel lines and other fluid systems, handles, roof racks, fascias, bumpers, door handles, clutches, and steeringcolumn supports are some of the areas where suppliers are hopeful the technology will get its first major toehold. Other products being considered include baby strollers, handles for kitchen items, office furniture, shovels, brackets, and general fittings. P L A S T I C S N E W S
Thilo Stier, technical director at A. Schulman in Germany, says the first commercial use of WIT was an all-plastic shopping cart made by Sulo GmbH in Herford, Germany. The project started in 1998. It used Schulman’s PP and PME’s WIT technology to mold a part with three water channels from 20 to 60 mm diam and 800 to 1500 mm long. The PP trolley had previously been molded with gas-assist in 280 sec, while WIT took just 68 sec. Engel’s Jacobsen says a chain-saw handle made of a 30% glass-filled nylon was molded in 30 sec with WIT vs. 61 sec with gas assist. Ferromatik reports that a PP part produced in a single-cavity test mold took 60 sec to make as a solid part, 40 sec with gas-assist, and 30 sec with WIT. At IKV, a two-material sports racket was made using Battenfeld’s Aquamold process. It is a three-shot process with two materials plus water. The water flow path splits to core out the racket frame. The first shot molds the handle and frame of 20% glassfilled PP from Schulman. The second shot makes the web of unfilled PP. The third shot injects water into the frame. The incompressible water supports the hollow frame while the web is being injected, notes Battenfeld’s Eckardt. PME cored out 6-8 mm diam. glassfilled nylon pipes with gas and with water. The wall of the gas-assist part was two to three times thicker than with water. “WIT trimmed the walls to about 2 mm in a shorter cycle,” says Westphal. The WIT part showed improved mechanical properties even with less material, he adds. 34
Early successes WIT technology has already found success. PME appears to lead all other suppliers: In 2001, PME had 12 systems operating commercially or in advanced projects. The firm has received an order from a Dutch firm for a system to produce 960,000 appliance handles and to convert production of a another hollow handle from steel to plastic using WIT. The latter project involves 360,000 units. PME is also doing tests for BMW to convert an automotive duct from gas-assist to WIT. Maximator’s Rupprecht says its first serious molding applications with water will be considered by a molder in coming weeks. “But we will look to do it with gas first,” he adds. Alliance has eight to 10 candidates. “We are selecting only two or three for further evaluation of WIT, with the rest likely going to gas-assist,” says van Hoeck. Alliance has done WIT trials with makers of personal water craft. The 2-ft-wide part has massive internal sections hollowed out with gas-assist, but the gas leaves a 1-in. wall. “With water, we can trim the wall thickness considerably and cut cycle times by 2 min,” says van Hoeck. Battenfeld has about 10 Aqua mold projects in the works, and Engel has eight to 10 projects in trials. Cinpres and partner Factor have five projects moving toward commercialization. All are tubular products for the auto industry. Each is being evaluated for either gas or water.
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FEATURES Water-Assist Injection Molding (WAIM) Water-assist injection molding (WAIM) is one of the latest and most promising developments in "assisted" injection molding. As in the established gas-assist injection molding process, WAIM technology uses a fluid under pressure to core out a hollow plastic part in the mold. Because of similarities between the two processes, both provide several of the same benefits:
Lower material costs
Lower tool cost
Cooling WAIM reduces cooling cycle time to as little as half that of gas-assist molding both because of the properties of water and the structure of the process. To begin with, the thermal conductivity of water is 40 times greater thanthat of gas; its heat capacity, four times greater. After injection, the continuous flow of water coring out the hollow section cools plastic from the inside at the same time that the mold tool's metal cools the plastic from the outside. Although the mold tool performs the same cooling function in gas-assist, injected gas simply cannot cool as well as water can. In fact, studies performed by BASF demonstrate that the temperature of parts molded with gas-assist continues to rise after demolding. The temperature of WAIM-molded parts drops. In addition, WAIM creates thinner walls that cool faster
More part consolidation and less finishing than with un-assisted injection molding or metals The differences between water and gas, however, enable WAIM to introduce significant improvements of its own: •
50% faster cooling cycle time than with gas-assist molding
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Up to 25% thinner wall sections, based on resin / composition
Molders may also combine gas-assist and waterassist technology in sequence to achieve further benefits in certain applications
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F E B R U A R Y 2014
FEATURES Thinner walls, less material
Proven process technology, materials
Compared to gas, water has higher viscosity and is incompressible. In WAIM, water compresses plastic uniformly into thinner walls – approximately 25% thinner than is typical in gas-assist molding. Uniformity of wall thickness around bends and other geometric shapes is aparticular advantage of WAIM. Thinner walls directly correlate to materials savings; uniform walls, directly to uniform strength.
Material surface and performance WAIM has been under development for some 10 to 15 years and is already successfully commercialized in Europe. In North America, BASF Corporation has built upon its European experience and established WAIM technology and application development capabilities. At its Budd Lake, New Jersey, location, the company can perform pilot-scale WAIM, gas-assist injection molding, or the combination of the two processes (GASWAIM). BASF has already optimized several resin grades* (LINK) specifically for use in WAIM or GAS-WAIM, and in several product applications.
Even with hygroscopic resins, such as polyamides, the water injection process does not have a negative effect on material characteristics.This is probably because the rapid cooling with Water-assist injection molding (WAIM) prevents water ingress.
Applications WAIM is especially well suited for a number of hollowparts applications:
The molecular weights of Water-assist injection molding (WAIM)-molded resins are comparable to those measured in gas-assist-molded resins. In studies conducted by BASF, both polyamides and polyesters at 25% regrind levels exhibit expected molecular weight retention over five heat histories. And the water-assist-molded parts can be successfully powder-coated or painted.
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Automotive fluid handling tubes for oils and coolants
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Automotive door handles
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Oven and refrigerator handles
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Chain saw handles
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Office furniture chair arms
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Structural components in many industries.
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FEATURES Four process approaches
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WIT can be applied in one of four processes. The sequences, similar to the process variations seen with gas-injection technology, vary by filling of the polymer, introduction of the water, and evacuation of the water by gravity or air. •
Short shot: Also called the bubble or blow-up process, it is executed by partial filling of the mold cavity with melt. Water is injected into the mold before the end of melt injection, pushing the material to the end of the cavity for final packing. Valves close off melt from the injection unit and water from the pin.
As for disadvantages, it requires a special nozzle and check ring to accommodate material coming back into the injection unit. Users must be careful not to let water penetrate into the injection headspace (that could be a big problem with hygroscopic materials like nylon). Every part of the process must be under controlled pressure to get a consistent, known amount of material back into the molding unit.
A release valve for the water opens allowing water to drain from the part. A valve mounted at or near the end of fill can facilitate water evacuation using compressed air. This method is considered good for very thick parts. It involves no wasted material and no regrind. Entry and exit points for water (and air) can be at/near the same point. Disadvantages relate to the tight control required. Too little material can lead to water bursting through melt into the mold. Water injection pressure must be higher than the melt pressure to push it to end of fill. The switchover point from resin injection to water injection may cause hesitation marks on the surface of the part, so a Class A finish may not be feasible. Also, material at the end of a short shot is likely to form a thicker section that could lengthen cycle time. P L A S T I C S N E W S
Pushback: Melt completely fills the cavity. Opening a water pin located near the end of melt fill pushes the excess melt back into the head space in the injection unit. Advantages of this approach include the absence of scrap material and ability to achieve Class-A finish.
The returning material may be of a temperature or pressure different than that still in the barrel, creating process variables that may influence the next shot. Separate air and water delivery systems are required. •
Overflow: The mold cavity is completely filled with melt and closed off by a valve. A separate pin then opens in the mold for water injection, while simultaneously, a valve at the end of cavity fill opens a path from the main cavity into a secondary or overflow cavity. The incoming water displaces melt, which is pushed into the secondary cavity. The secondary valve is closed for hold and pack. Water can be expelled through gravity or evaporation.
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This approach reportedly can provide a Class A surface. It is closest to conventional molding, offering a wider processing window. It also requires lower water pressure than the short-shot method. On the downside, displaced material from the core has to be recycled. Secondary trimming is needed to separate the finished product from the excess material in the secondary cavity. •
Flow process: A combination of the short-shot and overflow methods flushes water through the part for enhanced cooling. The mold cavity is partially filled, then water is introduced, pushing the material to the end of fill. A special valve opens at the end of fill, and the water breaks through the melt and streams through the valve into a water-recirculation circuit. Advantages are material savings and a high rate of cooling. Disadvantages include a blemish at the tip of the part. Also low pressure could cause water to seep between the inner mold surface and outer part surface.
A common factor in WIT processes is the need to purge the water. Gravity works in some situations, but some suppliers advocate sequencing WIT with gas-assist. Alliance Gas Systems says its WIT systems include a pressurized gas purge. For sensitive materials, Alliance can supply a gasassist system with a secondary water injection, followed by a gas purge. Suppliers remark that the entire process of injecting and evacuating water takes just a few seconds.
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INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Wisconsin looking to boost plastics recycling ith tens of millions of dollars' worth of plastics heading to Wisconsin landfills each and every year, a government-appointed group is out with a list of recommendations to better capture that material for recycling.
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The Wisconsin Council on Recycling is targeting a few key areas in an attempt to divert plastics from landfill disposal. Council recommendations include: increasing collection of plastic packaging from commercial
establishments; increasing recovery of plastic bottles at public events; and increasing agricultural plastic film recycling."The approach has been to target actions that can be successfully implemented now, within existing budgets and policies, and that are supported by the private and public sectors," said Rick Meyers, chairman of the recycling council. Recommendations come following a series of public meetings last year to discuss ways to capture some of the
$64 million in plastics thrown away in the state each year. Work already has begun on some diversion ideas, including a pilot project to increase plastic film, including bags and product wrap, from customers, businesses, distributors and warehouses. That pilot project, the council said, began in the Milwaukee area but now will expand throughout the state. Current council members represent industry, business, non-profit organizations and local units of government, the group said.
Equatorial Guinea to allocate US$1 bln to diversify into farming, petrochem frica’s oil and gas producer Equatorial Guinea will allocate US$1 bln over three years to support foreign investment aimed at diversifying its energy-dependent economy into new areas, such as farming, petrochemicals and mining, as per Reuters.President Teodoro Obiang Nguema's government announced the co-investment fund of 500 billion CFA francs (US$1 bln).
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Announcing the investment fund, Finance Minister Marcelino Owono Edu said the fund would make investments with private partners in non-energy sectors where the government wanted to attract capital. These included agriculture and ranching, fisheries, petrochemicals and mining, tourism and financial services. A new state entity, to be called Holdings Equatorial Guinea 2020, would help to guide the
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state's diversification effort. Although Equatorial Guinea boasts Africa's highest gross domestic product per capita - even beating some
southern European countries on that measure - international development organisations say more than half of its 735,000 population still live in poverty.
USA, EU to lift sanctions against 14 Iranian petrochemical companies SA and European Union are to exclude 14 Iranian major petrochemical companies from the list of sanctions very shortly. This is expected after the implementation of the Geneva deal on January 20, as per Islamic Republic News Agency. After several days of intensive talks, Iran and the Group 5+1 (US, Russia, Britain, France and China plus Germany) made a nuclear deal in the Swiss city of
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Geneva on November 24, 2013. Experts of the two sides organized a mechanism or a joint plan of action for implementation of the agreement and proposed January 20 for its implementation. The agreement is for a period of six months during which the relevant countries hope to seal a final comprehensive deal that would ultimately result in the permanent lifting of all sanctions against Teheran.
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INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Taiwan government approves first domestic proposal to set up petrochemical plant aiwan government has approved a proposal by domestic companies to put a petrochemical plant in China, the first such approval since authorities lifted restrictions on Taiwanese investment in naphtha cracking plants on the mainland, as per CNA.
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The Investment Commission under the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) gave the green light to USI Corporation and six other Taiwanese companies to invest US$263.62 ml in a joint venture in Fujian's Zhangzhou
Gulei Economic Development Zone. However, the approval has came with some conditions- The new company, which will produce seven products including ethylene, propylene and 1,3-butadiene, will need to supply those products to Taiwan as necessary. The seven Taiwanese firms have pledged in their investment plan to ship 300,000 tons of its annual production of 1.2 mln tons of ethylene to Taiwan should there be a shortfall in Taiwan's own production. The Taiwanese investors will also need to step up
Safety standards revised for robots in plastics molding he Society of the Plastics Industry Inc. and American National Standards Institute have revised two safety standards under the 151 section, which covers plastics machinery. The standards cover safety requirements for the integration of robots with injection molding machines (ANSI/SPI B151.27-2013) and for plastics sheet production machinery (ANSI/SPI B151.20 - 2013).
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The robot safety standard addresses the use and integration of robots for injection molding, to minimize hazards to people. The standard integrates safety from three different areas: eliminate recognized hazards by design criteria, establish standard approaches to design and safeguard the point of operation to P L A S T I C S N E W S
protect the operator. The sheet line standards seek to minimize hazards to people. They include updates to reflect changes in technology and provide additional explanatory materials, illustrations and definitions. "Both standards represent significant and substantive changes from the previous editions," Washington-based SPI said in its Jan. 16 announcement. Both are considered Type-C standards, which mean they contain detailed safety requirements specific to those types of plastics processing machinery. When an accident occurs, inspectors from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration look at how a company follows industrial safety standards. 39
their research and development and the manufacturing of high-value products in Taiwan and report on their progress annually from 2015 through 2019. Taiwan lifted the ban on domestic companies investing in China's petrochemical industry and infrastructure in October 2013.
Europe gets new medical plastics trade association new trade body focusing on medical devices and packaging called MedPharmPlast Europe (MPPE), which forms part of the European Plastics Converters (EuPC) group, was founded to "address the many challenges faced by the industry," held its inaugural meeting in Brussels last month.
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MPPE will focus on legislation and coordinating industry responses covering plastics in medical devices and packaging; participation in the Medical Devices Expert Group of the European Commission; creating an advocacy plan in the EU to defend members' interests; EU research projects on plastics in the medical sector; market intelligence, and workshop events. MPPE currently had 16 member companies from seven European Union countries.
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INTERNATIONAL NEWS
New York proposing a microbead ban ew York State is looking to become the first nation to outlaw microbeads, those tiny polyethylene or polypropylene pieces that critics allege cause big pollution problems in rivers and lakes and oceans.
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The aptly named proposed Microbead-Free Waters Act is aimed squarely at the round little beads that have found their way into a variety of beauty and cosmetic products over the years.A problem, critics say, is that those beads that make us feel good by scrubbing away the day's dirt, end up being washed down the drain. And, from there, it's only a matter of time
before they become pollution as they are too small to be captured at water treatment plants. Some consumer products companies, including Johnson & Johnson and Unilever, already have agreed to remove the beads from their offerings thanks to a push by environmental group 5 Gyres Institute. But Stiv Wilson, policy director at 5 Gyres, said his group ultimately realized a legislative solution would bring about change more rapidly than dealing with individual firms and products that contain these microbeads.New York State was eager to be the first to propose the legislation. The proposed
US shale boom hurts petrochemical makers in Brazil drop in natural gas prices caused by a shale gas boom in the United States is hurting Brazilian petrochemical company profits by reducing pricing power and making them less competitive, Odebrecht CEO Marcelo Odebrech has been quoted by Reuters.
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Lower costs have boosted U.S. exports and driven down prices worldwide. Braskem SA - in which Odebrecht has a majority stake - and its partner, Brazil's state-controlled oil producer Petr贸leo Brasileiro SA are discussing a cut in the domestic natural gas price to bring Braskem's costs more in line with those in the United States. Braskem is Latin America's No. 1 petrochemical company. Petrobras is the principal P L A S T I C S N E W S
source of domestic and imported natural gas in Brazil. Petrobras charged local distributors US$8.22 per mln British Thermal Units (MBTU) of domestic natural gas in the third quarter. The benchmark U.S. Henry Hub price in the quarter was US$3.55 MBTU, 43% less than in Brazil. While prices have risen to about US$4.91 MBTU in the U.S., they are still 4% below Brazilian levels. Higher prices caused Brazilian exports of styrene, polystyrene and ethylene to fall 7.6% in 2013, while imports jumped 21%. Cheaper Brazilian natural gas would make it easier for Braskem and other producers to cut their prices, helping maintain export levels and make their products more competitive at home. 40
law, unveiled by New York State Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman and state Assemblyman Robert K. Sweeney, wants to "prohibit the production, manufacture, distribution and sale in New York of any beauty product, cosmetic or other personal care product containing plastic particles less than 5 millimeters in size," the attorney general's office said. Microbeads can be found in products such as facial scrubs, soaps, shampoo and toothpaste, the attorney general said. They have replaced natural abrasive materials such as ground walnut shells and sea salt.
Severe winter in US impacts petrochemical deliveries arsh winter in USA has wreaked havoc on the logistics of the petrochemical business in first few weeks of 2014. Heavy snow and freezing temperatures delayed delivery times by 7-10 days of railcars, trucks and barges during one of the roughest seasons in recent memory.
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Along with the Northeast and Midwest, the Gulf Coast has also been hit with colder-than-usual temperatures. The Gulf Coast, producing a significant portion of US petrochemicals, has been hit with ice, sleet and freezing temperatures in January and February.
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INTERNATIONAL NEWS
US Recyclers still exploring solutions for shrink-sleeve label problems ecyclers in US are exploring all the options to find a solutions for shrink-sleeve label problems Shrink labels have been a boon for marketers, allowing manufacturers to increase the appeal of their products through these full-bottle, graphics-friendly labels. "The biggest takeaway," said Holli Whitt of Eastman Chemical Co., "is I think that we can see that there are good solutions out there, but no solution is the end-all, be-all fix for this challenge. So it's truly going to be a combination of a variety of different solutions to create the impact we're looking for."
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Whitt, market development manager for sustainability at Eastman's specialty plastics unit, spoke recently about the issue at The Packaging Conference in Orlando. She indicated an informal consortium of interested parties is examining a variety of solutions and potential solutions for the issue that has grown significantly in recent years. Mechanical de-labeling equipment already is being used by some recyclers. Perforation on the labels themselves also could help both consumers and recyclers readily remove the labels. And research is under way to allow labels to "deseam" during processing to allow for easier separation from bottles. Another approach involves special coatings for labels to allow them to float away from PET flake during the materials' time in separation tanks. The consortium has been working on the issue for about 18 months, and P L A S T I C S N E W S
Whitt said it remains unclear how long it will take to develop a final game plan for the issue. "One of the things we've learned is the power of collaboration," Whitt said, in bringing people together from all aspects of the "value chain," including recyclers. Eastman, based in Kingsport, Tenn., thrust itself in the middle of the issue because the company is a major manufacture of resin used in shrink labels. The shrink label problem has grown quickly in recent years with recyclers reporting about 1 percent of their bales containing bottles with these labels in 2007 That number
increased to about 3 percent by 2011 and 5 percent to 6 percent in 2012. And there have been anecdotal reports of 7 percent to 9 percent by some recyclers. Popularity has grown because shrink-sleeve labels not only provide full coverage, but they also can be applied to uniquely shaped bottles. The Association of Postconsumer Plastic Recyclers, a trade group, has been deeply involved in the issue. APR Technical Director John Standish previously said 2013 was a pivotal year for recyclers because the use of the labels had grown large enough to start financially hurting reclaimers.
ONEOK NGL reverses pipeline flow from Medford to Buston NEOK NGL Pipeline plans to reverse the flow of a pipeline to run from Medford, Oklahoma, to Buston, Kansas, in an effort to increase propane supplies to the US Midcontinent, as per Platts.
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ONEOK has 175,000 barrels of fractionation capacity at Medford. The North Line 5 traditionally runs north to south and connects NGL facilities in Medford with similar ones in Buston. Bushton is loacted about 50 miles Northwest of the Conway, Kansas, NGL trading hub. Strong propane demand for heating this winter has drawn propane stocks to record lows in the Midcontinent and
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shot prices to all-time highs. Conway propane was assessed at US$4.95/ gal on January 23, the highest level since Platts started assessing propane in 1983. The main route between Conway and Mont Belvieu for purity NGLs is ONEOK's Sterling pipeline system. H o w e v e r, t h a t p i p e l i n e i s configured to run north to south, with reversal only occuring under certain circumstances. Therefore, tightness in the Midcontinent propane market has created logistical challenges for midstream companies as the look for alternative ways to move product to higher priced markets.
F E B R U A R Y 2014
BUSINESS NEWS
Dow Chemical hikes dividend, triples share buyback plan ow Chemical Company hiked its dividend and tripled its share buyback program, but signaled that it was in no hurry to fall in line with activist shareholder Daniel Loeb's demands to spin off its slow-growing petrochemical businesses.
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According to Reuter. the company also reported a quarterly profit that comfortably beat market expectations, powered by resilient agricultural demand and strong margins at its plastics business. Dow Chemical Chairman and CEO Andrew Liveris
defended his strategy of integrating commodity chemicals with specialty products after activist investor Third Point called for the company to spin off its petrochemicals assets. Dow only makes commodity chemicals - such as ethylene and propylene - to provide ingredients for its higher-value products in agriculture, electronics and plastics, Liveris said during the company’s fourth-quarter earnings conference call.“We have a very focused and integrated portfolio, a rising and increasingly growing
ONGC signs MoU with Mitsui & Co Ltd NGC has signed an MoU with Japanese conglomerate Mitsui& Co Ltd for pursuing petroleum and natural gas opportunities. According to the MoU, both companies will cooperate in exploration and production for conventional and unconventional petroleum and natural gas opportunities in India and other countries. This is the third MoU signed
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by ONGC and Mitsui. In August 2012, ONGC and Mitsui had entered into a MoU for wide ranging cooperation in gas and LNG business. Later, in March 2013, Mitsui had entered into another MoU with ONGC, BPCL and New Mangalore Port Trust for feasibility study of a LNG terminal at Mangalore.
earnings profile and tremendous financial flexibility,” he said. Third Point, founded by billionaire Dan Loeb, said in a Jan. 21 letter that Dow is its top holding and could add billions of dollars to earnings by spinning off commodity chemicals and plastics.
Bangladesh to tender sale of 170,000 bbls naphtha angladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) will issue a tender to sell 170,000 barrels of naphtha for March 1214 loading from Chittagong. The tender will close on February 24, with validity up to March 2.
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LG Chem plans to increase investment outlay for 2014 to US$1.8 bln
BPC resumed exports of naphtha in last November after a four-month hiatus for maintenance and repairs at its sole refinery. It last sold a samesize cargo to Japanese trading firm Itochu in mid-January at a discount of US$0.11 a barrel to Singapore quotes on a free-onboard (FOB) basis.
G Chem plans to boost its 2014 capital expenditures by 41% year on year to Won 1.95 trillion (US$1.8 billion) with plant upgrades and a planned petrochemical complex in Kazakhstan, as per Platts. Upgrade of facilities of superabsorbent
Apart from exporting, BPC sells naphtha domestically to privately owned Super Petrochemical. The Asian naphtha margin was at a foursession high of US$141.35 as demand emerged from Japan.
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polymers and synthetic rubber is on the cards, along with a new polyethylene plant in Kazakhstan. South Korea's largest chemicals maker aims to increase 2014 revenues by 3.6% to Won 23.92 trillion, from Won 23.14 trillion in 2013.
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F E B R U A R Y 2014
BUSINESS NEWS
Teknor Apex acquires Viking Polymers eknor Apex Company completed the acquisition of Viking Polymers, LLC, a custom compounder with a diversified portfolio of specialty formulations and a particularly extensive involvement in rigid PVC and related materials for building and construction. However, the amount of the deal was undisclosed.
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The purchase agreement was with Viking Polymers owner and President John Ammondson, who founded the company in 1994 and will now serve as a consultant to Teknor Apex. Based in Jamestown, NC, U.S.A., Viking Polymers has a nominal annual compounding capacity of 50 million lbs. (23,000 metric tons). The acquired business will be part of the Teknor Apex Vinyl Division, continue to operate in Jamestown, NC, and retain all employees, according to Louis R. Cappucci, Teknor Apex
vice president and head of the Vinyl Division. “While most of the business of the Vinyl Division of Teknor Apex has historically centered on flexible compounds, rigid PVC plays an increasingly important role in our continued growth,” said Mr. Cappucci. “The acquisition of Viking Polymers adds substantially to our rigid PVC capabilities and represents a natural extension of our product portfolio into weatherable capstocks, CPVC compounds, and other specialties for the fast-growing building and construction market.” The chief applications for CPVC (chlorinated polyvinyl chloride) include hot and cold potable water systems and industrial piping. PVC, ASA, acrylic and alloys are custom formulated for applications ranging from house siding, windows, decks, railings, rainwater systems, and fences.
Latin American exporters taps buyers in India and China s the United States reduces its dependence on imports amid a boom in shale oil, Latin American exporters are getting coerced to tap buyers from China and India markets growing enough to soak up their surplus supplies .According to a report from Reuters The Latin American crudes are often heavy grades, which, without elaborate refining, tend to produce higher
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quantities of low-value products such as fuel oil, used to run ships' engines. India's state-run refiners are snapping up Latin American oil after upgrading their plants, reaping the benefit of cheap prices for crudes that have lost their market in the United States to shale oil. India is the world's fourthbiggest buyer of crude and 80% of its needs are met by imports, making cheap supplies crucial. 43
Supreme Petrochem Ltd reports Q2 loss of Rs. 13.47 crore upreme Petrochem Ltd has announced the results for the quarter ended December 2013. The company reported Net Sales / Income from Operations of Rs.814.05 crores for the quarter ended December 31, 2013 against Rs.796.95 crores for the quarter ended December 31, 2012.
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The company announced the Financial Results for the period ended December 31, 2013. The Net Loss was at (Rs.13.47) crores for the quarter ended December 31, 2013 against Rs.27.06 crores for the quarter ended December 31, 2012. The company has reported Net Sales / Income from Operations of Rs.1605.95 crores for the 6 months period ended December 31, 2013 against Rs.1415.49 crores for the 6 months period ended December 31, 2012. The Net Profit / (Loss) was at Rs.13.07 crores for the 6 months period ended December 31, 2013 against Rs.33.46 crores for the 6 months period ended December 31, 2012.
F E B R U A R Y 2014
BUSINESS NEWS
Pluss Polymers plans to increase presence in Turkey, Russia lussPolymers one of the leading manufacturers of specialised polymers and phasechange materials (PCMs), is aiming for manifold increase in overseas business by tapping into new markets and strengthening its existing base across the world.
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This year its planning to increase its presence in markets such Turkey, Russia and Thailand. Pluss Polymers has a strong distributor base in Thailand and is in advanced talks of
appointing distributors in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and other ASEAN countries. To capture the growing polymer market, the company is increasing its participation in plastic and polymer exhibitions in these regions.Built on in-house R&D, Pluss claims to be the first company to manufacture grafted polymers and PCMs in India. It has patents on synthetic paper compounds and has currently filed four patents in the PCM space.
Samit Jain, Managing Director, Pluss Polymers, said, “Being a part of the show in Turkey was very rewarding for us. We also saw very positive interest from other nations like Iran, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Italy, South Korea and Egypt. With increased involvement in such exhibitions in various markets of the world, we are sure to steadily expand our market base to newer regions, besides fortifying existing associations.”
German machinery group forecasts 6% sales growth he German Plastics and Rubber Machinery Association VDMA says its members see "a great deal of optimism" in 2014, and are predicting record sales for the year.
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The Frankfurt-based group said its only major reservation is with the sluggish machinery market in Asia — with the exception of China, which is still fairly robust. "Based on association forecasts, sales are set to grow by 6 percent to 6.9 billion euros in 2014," said Ulrich Reifenhäuser, VDMA's chairman and the managing director of Troisdorf, Germany-based Reifenhäuser GmbH & Co. Maschinenfabrik, a major manufacturer of extrusion equipment. German plastics and rubber machinery manufacturers reported that sales were basically flat last year — down 1 percent from the record 2012 level of 6.5 billion
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euros."For the year as a whole, incoming orders exactly matched the previous year's total, albeit with a rising trend. As far as domestic orders were concerned, there was ground to be made up throughout the year," said Thorsten Kühmann, managing director of the association."Demand
from abroad, on the other hand, stabilized, especially in the second half of the year. It is pleasing to note in this context that the rate of growth in orders from euro area countries accelerated sharply.Exports showed growth in 2013, up 4.1 percent over the previous ear.
Borealis secures €150 mln development loan from European Investment Bank orealis has signed a loan deal with the European Investment Bank (EIB) worth €150 mln to help support the group’s investment program across a number of its European activities. As part of its innovation strategy Austria-headquartered Borealis will use the funds to finance research
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into advanced polymers and its vocational training program. The loan was agreed under a joint EIB/ European Commission risk-sharing financing facility, designed to improve access to external funding for private and public companies undertaking high financial risk research and development projects.
F E B R U A R Y 2014
BUSINESS NEWS
Shale gas development in USA and China, to boost LPG demand from non associated gas source, says study ccording to a study from the firm Research and Markets. The study says that Government initiatives to promote the use of LPG as an auto fuel, especially in developing regions, are expected to boost the global market.
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overnments of major emerging economies such as India, Thailand, Turkey, Indonesia and other countries have been taking initiatives to promote the use of LPG in domestic applications such as cooking and space heating. In addition, the increasing number of auto gas vehicles - owing to cost benefi ts offered by LPG over conventional fuels such as gasoline and diesel - has led to an increase in LPG consumption globally.
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Various benefits such as low cost, low carbon emission and other operational benefits are expected to push the global demand. Refineries were the major source segment of LPG with 45.5% of the total demand in 2011. LPG is mainly recovered as a byproduct of crude oil refining. In Asia Pacific major demand is derived from refineries where as in North America it is sourced from non-associated gas. Development in shale gas resources, especially in the U.S. and China, is expected boost the LPG demand from non associated gas source in the near future., as per Research and Markets. Out of various applications, the residential/commercial sector P L A S T I C S N E W S
emerged as the key market segment and accounted for more than 45% of the total share in 2011. As well as being the biggest segment, residential/commercial is also expected to be the fastest growing application for LPG, followed by auto fuel application. The auto fuel segment is also expected to show substantial growth and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.4%, in terms of revenue from 2012 to 2018. Reducing reliance on conventional auto fuels such as gasoline and diesel is expected to boost the demand for auto gas over the forecast period. Growth in petrochemical industries is expected to push the LPG demand in future.
Petrochemical industry has been expected to continue absorbing the price sensitive demand for LPG due to its oversupply in the market. Asia Pacific dominated the LPG market and accounted for 35% of the global demand in 2011. Asia Pacific is also the fastest growing market for LPG which is expected to grow at CAGR of 4.8% from 2012 to 2018. The region was followed by North America and Europe that together accounted for 38.9% of the overall market in 2011. Growing NGL (natural gas liquids) development in the region is expected to boost the LPG production in North America. LPG consumption is also expected to increase in the Middle East and Africa.
Milacron buys Industrial Machine Sales, opens technical center in Texas incinnati based Machinery maker Milacron LLC has purchased a manufacturers' representative firm in Texas, Industrial Machine Sales Inc., and its sister company, Precise Plastics Machinery Inc. Industrial Machine Sales is based in Southlake, Texas, and serves that state, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi, New Mexico and the northern border of Mexico.The Southlake facility will become a Milacron High Impact Technical Center (HIT).
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The Cincinnati-based machinery manufacturer is opening a HIT center in Irvine, Calif., this month. HIT centers will handle customer support, aftermarket parts, training, technical services and retrofit and rebuilding.Industrial Machine Sales has represented Milacron's injection molding machines and extruder business, as well as equipment from other companies. Precise Plastics Machinery handles used equipment and turnkey support services.
F E B R U A R Y 2014
BUSINESS NEWS
LyondellBasell reports record 2013 earnings yondellBasell Industries announced its financial results for the period December 2103. The company announced its earnings from continuing operations for Q42013 of US$1177 million, or US$2.11 per share.
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positions in both Olefins and Polyolefins - Americas,and Intermediates and Derivatives. Growth projects on schedule; completed butadiene expansion and methanol restart.
Q4 2013 EBITDA was U$1543 million. Full year 2013 income from continuing operations was $3,860 million, or $6.76 per share. Full Year 2013 Highlights:Record earnings of $3.9 billion.
Initiated a share repurchase program of up to 10 percent in second quarter 2013; share repurchases and dividends totaled $3.1 billion. In 2013, LyondellBasell reported record results, led by improvements in global olefins and polyolefins. Fourth quarter 2013.
Income from continuing operations or $6.76 diluted earnings per share; EBITDA of $6.3 billion. Strong performance led by advantaged
EBITDA was relatively unchanged compared to the third quarter of 2013 despite the impact of normal seasonal slowdowns.
Alfa Laval bags SEK 65 mln energyefficiency order lfa Laval- a world leader in heat transfer, centrifugal separation and fluid handling – has won an order to supply Alfa Laval Packinox heat exchangers to an integrated refinerypetrochemical complex in the Middle East. The order, booked in the Process Industry segment, is worth approximately SEK 65 mln and delivery is scheduled for 2014 and 2015. The Alfa Laval Packinox heat exchangers will be included in a process to remove non-desirable substances, such as sulfur, from the feed stock.
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Polymer Group acquires Brazil nonwoven Norma Group buys manufacturer Malaysia's Chien Jin olymer Group Inc. (PGI) has signed an agreement to acquire a controlling interest in Companhia Providencia Industria e Comercio (Providencia), a Brazilian manufacturer of nonwoven materials used in hygiene, healthcare, and industrial applications.
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This acquisition further accelerates PGI's global growth strategy by extending its presence into Brazil. The country is supposed to have become an attractive and highgrowth region, and enhancing its capabilities in North America. PGI has P L A S T I C S N E W S
nonwovens operations in 13 countries across North America, South America, Europe, and Asia. The acquisition of Providencia will enable the company to serve a more diverse range of customers in Latin America. In November 2013, PGI completed its acquisition of Fiberweb Inc., the Nashville–based manufacturer of specialty nonwoven products and materials. As a result of that acquisition, PGI became the world’s largest manufacturer of nonwovens.
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Plastic orma Group AG, a specialist in engineered joining technology, has acquired the remaining 15 percent of shares in Chien Jin Plastic Snd. Bhd., based in Ipoh, Malaysia Maintal, Germany-based Norma gained 100 percent of shares in Chien Jin Plastic, a manufacturer of thermoplastic joining systems this month. Norma had previously acquired 85 percent of Chien Jin Plastic in November 2012,
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Gearboxes and geared motors for electric injection presses s the confirmation of the great flexibility of its products, with this new SERIES MNP3, Zambello supplies gearboxes both in standard execution and also in partially variable versions or customised ones according to the customers specific requirements.
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The gearboxes of the MNP3 series have been specifically designed for the drive of plasticising screws for injection presses. These are suitable for transmitting high torques by accepting also very high input speeds at very low noise levels and total performances over 95%. The great axes distance between the drive (electric motor) and the output (threaded mounting and cylinder), which consists of 3 gear pairs, avoids any problems of interference with the various machine units. The extreme precision during grinding and checking of the gears (according to the class AGMA 11 - DIN 3) allows to match these gearboxes to very powerful electric motors at high revolutions (also over 3000 rpm) offering low dimensions and weights. For this reason the Zambello gearbox for injection presses is of very compact and powerful construction.
Examples of application:
Automotive (instrument boards, mudguards, internals)
Electronics (screen, telephone equipment)
Civil building works, garden tools
Industrial products in general ZAMINDIA MANISH SANANDIYA / CEO Mobile: +91 9925835500 E-mail: msanandiya@zambelloindia.com C/602, Riddhi Tower, Nr. Lotus School, Jodhpur Gam Road, Jodhpur, Satellite, Ahmedabad –380015 Gujarat. India
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F E B R U A R Y 2014
PRODUCT NEWS
Axon launches ThermoPoint steam heat shrink tunnel upgrade S-based Axon has launched ThermoPoint 2.0 steam heat shrink tunnel, said to be the latest iteration of the company’s most advanced steam tunnel.
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According to the specialist equipment manufacturer – part of the integrated packaging group Pro Mach– ThermoPoint 2.0 delivers precise, repeatable control of the shrink process for full-body shrink labels and tamper evident bands, as required for the type of highly-contoured containers favoured in current markets. The ThermoPoint 2.0 steam shrink tunnel is said to accommodate both small and large containers – maximum
container size is 7 inches (17.8 cm) wide and 15 inches (38 cm) tall. Each of the tunnel’s three heat zones can be adjusted independently to deliver steam at different rates, heights, and angles; and precise control of the shrink process leads to “higher quality, consistency, and throughput”. Graduated dials and steam injector adjustment indicators enable precise control of the process, as well as ensuring repeatability between batches. Axon offers optional Allen Bradley interlocks featuring Category 3 safety circuitry on each ThermoPoint 2.0 access panel. And for customers
without centralised steam, Axon offers an optional steam generator and blowoff tank for the ThermoPoint 2.0.
Clariant launches New cool black masterbatches lariant, has announced the introduction of black masterbatches specially formulated to reflect heat-generating nearinfrared light rays so that carpeting stays cooler. Light in the visible spectrum is absorbed so that color development is comparable to that of standard pigments. Tradenamed REMAFIN® Cool Black, the tailormade masterbatches are intended to replace more conventional products that use carbon black pigments.
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Polypropylene (PP) carpet yarns made with new Cool Black masterbatches are ideal for carpeting used outdoors on decks or boats where the heat of the sun can make dark surfaces uncomfortable to walk on. The same technology can be P L A S T I C S N E W S
applied in such textile applications as apparel and upholstery and in resins other than PP, including polyester and nylon. REMAFIN Cool Black was developed at the Clariant facility in Dalton, Georgia, USA, which specializes in production of masterbatches that go into fiberbased end-products such as carpets and various types of textiles. The plant houses an application development lab with a pilot-scale fiber line so yarn samples produced in almost any color and new formulations can be tested. Here, Clariant engineers compared how yarn made with conventional carbon-black pigments performed against Cool Black formulations. Yarns made with Cool Black masterbatches remained 55
about 10°C and about 20°F cooler than the control samples. Acceptable color saturation was achieved at 7% masterbatch loading, which was comparable to the loading used with the carbon black masterbatch. Details about the test results are available to interested customers. “Black pigments that reflect the sun’s heat have been used in other applications,” says Peter Prusak, Head of Marketing – Clariant Masterbatches North America. “However, carpet fibers are so thin that pigments must be thoroughly dispersed or else agglomerates can create problems in the fiber spinning process. We believe this is the first time Cool Black technology has been available to producers of carpet fiber.
F E B R U A R Y 2014
PRODUCT NEWS
Dyneema introduces Revolutionary solution for soft and hard ballistic armor offers new innovation platform Dyneema® Force Multiplier Technology has been introduced to the Indian market at Defexpo 2014, India by DSM Dyneema, the manufacturer of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMwPE) fiber, branded as Dyneema®, and world leader in life protection materials and high performance fibers. This new breakthrough innovation platform delivers products for use in soft and hard ballistic armor addresses increasing demands in India's defense sector, including requirements for a higher level of protection and expanded protection area, as well as the adoption of the National Institute of Justice (NIJ).06 standard – which are intensifying the need to reduce the weight of protective gear. Built on DSM Dyneema’s Radical Innovation platform, Dyneema® Force Multiplier Technology delivers products with a unique combination of exceptional ballistic performance and the lightest weight and lowest profile of any ballistic material currently on the market. Depending on the protection level required for the armor application, it can provide up to 30 percent weight reduction.
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“With growing requirements for uncompromising ballistic protection and armor weight reduction in soldier modernization programs worldwide, including India, the industry is looking towards new material technologies that can deliver significant improvements,” said Shitij P L A S T I C S N E W S
Chabba, Global Segment Director, Life Protection. “Our new Dyneema® Force Multiplier Technology can help India meet its defense needs by enabling manufacturers to create innovative next-generation designs, increase protection without adding weight or bulk, and optimize usability. We strongly believe that this advanced innovation platform will define future standards in life protection, including soldier modernization.” Several important factors are contributing to the need for lightweight life protection solutions for India’s defense market. First, increased levels of ballistic protection against stronger threats such as the 7.62 x 39mm AK47 Kirkee and 7.62 x 51mm SLR ammunitions call for significantly higher levels of protection
that traditionally add weight. Second, the industry is looking towards more/ extended protection coverage for the body which can also add weight and even impede movement. Finally, as India shifts to the NIJ.06 standard for protective vests, compliance can lead to less flexible designs as well. To meet India’s demand for enhanced protection, DSM’s new radical innovation platform, Dyneema® Force Multiplier Technology, provides top ballistic performance combined with light weight and flexibility for enhanced comfort and agility for both military and law enforcement personnel. Furthermore, it provides greater range, agility and capacity for vehicles, while providing extreme protection against the latest threats.
Temperature controller designed for extruders tlanta-based Siemens Industry has unveiled its improved TCP3000 temperature controller for extruders. The prefigured temperature controller saves machinery manufacturers time and money when equipping their machines, gives end users a high degree of flexibility and performance and offers simple, clear operating screens. The TCP3000 can be operated using Siemens’ new Simatic Multi-Panels, including the 10-inch MP 277 and the 12-, 15- or
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19-inch MP 377. The system is supported by standard Simatic plc software, which requires no special, high-level programming expertise. Its features include a graphic user interface for analyzing temperatures and trends, separate control parameters for heating and cooling, tolerance and controlloop monitoring, control system identification for each temperature zone, wire break monitoring with a programmable controller response and a timer clock and limits.
F E B R U A R Y 2014
PRODUCT NEWS
Maguire introduces Vaccum Dryer for increased molding capacity
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aguire has introduced Vaccum Dryer for increased molding
capacity. The Maguire® VBD™ 150 Dryer Yields Process-Ready Resin in Only 35 Minutes and Comes with New Features that Boost Throughput Further and Reduce Cleanout and Maintenance Time Extensive production-scale demonstration runs with a wide range of resins have shown that a new type of vacuum resin dryer introduced by Maguire Products, Inc. less than a year ago exhibits greater throughput than originally specified and achieves required dryness in just 35 minutes after a cold startup. The Maguire® VBD™ 150 vacuum dryer, originally rated for a throughput of up to 150 lb. (68 kg) per hour, easily exceeds 200 lb. (90 kg) per hour with hygroscopic materials such as ABS, acrylic, nylon, polycarbonate, polyetherimide, and PBT, according to B. Patrick (Pat) Smith, Maguire vice president of marketing and sales.
slide out, giving ready access for cleanout; and 2) an optional hopper extension whose one cubic foot (0.028 m3) capacity extends the throughput of the dryer by 25%. “Vacuum drying is six times faster than with desiccant systems, which not only makes possible much shorter cold startups but also reduces the risk of material degradation, since resin is exposed to elevated temperature for 80% less time,” said Mr. Smith. “This remarkable drying speed is attributable to a far more efficient method for extracting moisture from resin pellets— so much more efficient that vacuum dryers reduce energy consumption by up to 60% in comparison with desiccant dryers.” The VBD vacuum dryer uses gravity to move material through three vertically arranged vessels, with the discharge of material from one vessel to the next
The ability of the dryer to deliver process-ready resin in just over half an hour is in sharp contrast with a conventional desiccant dryer, which takes up to four hours to bring resin from a cold startup to a condition of readiness for molding saleable product. Additional productivity enhancements are available with two features now available for the dryer: 1) an “EasySlide” mechanism that enables the vacuum vessel to
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controlled by slide-gate valves. From top to bottom, the vessels include a h e a t i n g hopper that brings resin to a target temperature; a vacuum vessel in which vacuum reduces the boiling point of water, causing moisture within the pellets to volatilize and be forced out of the pellet into the low-pressure environment surrounding it; and a pressurized retention / take-away hopper that is continually purged by a membrane air dryer to maintain the target level of dryness until the material is discharged. This system eliminates most moving parts, in particular the three-station indexing carousel mechanism of the Maguire® LPD™ vacuum dryer introduced in 2000.. The new EasySlide feature involves the vacuum vessel, which slides out in the style of a drawer and is securely held in that position during cleaning. The feature gives access to the retention hopper as well as the vacuum vessel.
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PRODUCT NEWS
U.S. firm Nomacorc launches bio-based PE wine closure leading producer of polymeric wine closures claims to be the first to create a plant-based wine closure. Nomacorc LLC is using Braskem’s I’m Green polyethylene derived from sugar cane. Braskem has been making the bio-based PE at its Triunfo plant in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul since 2010.
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Braskem converts sugar-cane ethanol to ethylene and then to PE resin. Nomacorc claims its new Select Bio wine closures are fully recyclable and extend the Zebulon, N.C.-based company’s Select series that manages oxygen permeation
in wine bottles. Nomacorc says polymer corks avoid problems such as spoilage that can occur with faulty natural wine corks. “By using Braskem’s sugar-cane based green polyethylene, we can confidently offer to our customers a carbon-neutral wine closure which will not only be consistent and optimal for their wines, but also now allows them to create a more sustainable packaging solution,” says Nomacorc’s principal scientist Olav Aagaard. Nomacorc uses a patented coextrusion process to make its wine closures. The firm makes more than 2 billion closures
Ampacet ‘s flame retardant materials mpacet Corp. has enhanced the flame resistance and other properties for plastics chosen for demanding applications. As new flammability standards arise globally, Ampacet has been developing halogenated and non-halogenated masterbatches that interfere with the exothermic chemical reaction of combustion, notes Ampacet strategic business manager Joe Serbaroli.
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Product 100950 is a non-halogen polyethylene material designed for thin films without detracting from clarity. Another non-halogen type, 103132, is a proprietary copolymer with highly concentrated flame retardant composition and is compatible with various resins, allowing use of the product across more than one application.
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Product 401155 is a polypropylenebased masterbatch suited to specialty uses of PP and thermoplastic polyolefins. The brominated product provides good thermal stability and bloom resistance. 10268, also brominated, is a proprietary copolymer suited to broad use. 11371-W is a cost-effective polyethylene that enhances whiteness for extrusion coating and other hightemperature uses. It is non-blooming, provides good thermal and UV stability, and doesn't affect sealability in films. Product 19574 is a black material designed for high density polyethylene in flame-resistant tubing, telecom cable, corrugated duct and other uses demanding long-term UV stability.
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annually at plants in the United States, Belgium, China and Argentina. Braskem of São Paulo says its Triunfo plant can make 440 million pounds per year of PE from bio-based ethylene. Each ton of I’m Green PE sequesters up to 2.15 tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, according to the resin major. The firm’s Braskem America subsidiary is based in Philadelphia.
Royal DSM’s Film-grade bio-derived nylon oyal DSM has added a film extrusion grade of biobased nylon in its EcoPaXX nylon 410 product line.The new resin has higher viscosity than typical injection molding grades in the EcoPaxx series, explains DSM.
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The new grade also provides thermal stability, broad processing range and good melt strength, according to DSM. EcoPaXX molding grades have been adopted in automotive applications where its heat and chemical resistance, dimensional stability and good surface aesthetics have been exploited while boosting sustainability. Construction, sports and castor wheels are other markets penetrated by EcoPaxx 410. In addition to films, the latest EcoPaxx nylon is suited to tubing and fibers.
F E B R U A R Y 2014
PRODUCT NEWS
MIREX MT technology transfers precision and automation level of up-to-date machine tools to polishing stacks nspired by the precision and high level of automation of modern CNC machine tools, Reifenhäuser Cast Sheet Coating has developed MIREX MT, a new polishing stack technology that outperforms by far all state-of-theart polishing stacks with regard to reproducibility and sustainability. The new patent pending polishing stack technology is the first and only system in the market that combines modern digital technique with sophisticated mechanical engineering.
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The MIREX MT product range allows film producers to adjust the polishing nip more precisely by a factor of 10. In contrast to other polishing stacks, nip adjustment of MIREX MT can be effected fully automatically, even during running production. In the past, the line had to be stopped for manual adjustment of the correct nip on a trial and error basis. MIREX MT works at the push of a button and the set data are 100% reproducible.
Thermoforming Sheet Extrusion Lines As Helmut Meyer, responsible developing engineer, puts it: “Forget what you know about polishing stacks. With MIREX MT we have completely changed the current stateof-the-art technology and chosen a different approach. Our courage paid off: In the past, it was hardly conceivable what the new polishing stacks are able to accomplish with regard to precision, automation, and reduction of production cost.”
The high level of automation has a positive effect both on the film quality and production cost. Due to the uniform thickness profile over large web widths, producers are able to obtain film of considerably improved precision while saving raw material. Thanks to the automatic adjustment, set-up times are only a quarter of the time needed in the past. The amount of waste can be reduced by 75%, depending on the production conditions.
MIREX MT combines the roll set-on system and the nip adjustment system forming a mechatronic drive unit. The angular position of the first polishing roll can be varied by 30 degrees using a X-Y adjusting device. Individual drives arranged on both sides of the roll facilitate axle crossing of the first two rolls – a prerequisite for a uniform film thickness profile. Reifenhäuser Cast Sheet Coating has optimized the existing roll drives by combining several lowbacklash planetary gearboxes with servomotors and torsion-resistant couplings.
When it comes to sustainability, the new MIREX MT technology outperforms all other polishing stacks available in the market. Hydraulic systems are completely dispensed with so that the polishing stack developed by Reifenhäuser Cast Sheet Coating is suited for clean room production. Film producers can benefit from triple savings in energy: no need for hydraulic pumps in permanent operation, improved efficiency of roll drives, no energy-intensive adjustment of the nip.
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PRODUCT NEWS capacity: Smart, Standard and High Quality. Smart: Less challenging applications (PS/PP) and low to medium output of maximum 1.200 kgs per hour Standard: Medium to higher capacities selectable in three steps from 1,000 to 3,000 kgs per hour. High Quality: Ensures high performance for specific applications in terms of output, speed and different film thicknesses and film properties.
With the patent pending MIREX MT technology, Reifenhäuser Cast Sheet Coating transfers the precision and level of automation of up-to-date machine tools to its polishing stacks. For more info please contact Reifenhauser (India) Marketing Ltd. Ph.No. :- +91 22 26862711 Fax No.:- +91 22 26862722 Email :- info@reifenhauserindia.com / anil@reifenhauserindia.com Website :- www.reifenhauserindia.com
The polishing nip of MIREX MT is set during production at the push of a button. The setting accuracy is improved by a factor of 10 compared to polishing stacks used in the past.
Brückner Group at Chinaplas 2014
Enhanced profitability for China’s plastics and packaging industry with high-value appearance made of PET-G, PS or PP.
t Chinaplas 2014 the members of the Brückner Group will be presenting the latest solutions for enhanced productivity, quality and optimised energy efficiency in the Chinese plastics and packaging industries at their booth Hall E1 / Booth K01.
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Brückner Maschinenbau: Various line concepts for specialty films Upcoming trends lead to more demand for innovative oriented specialty films in packaging as well as technical applications. New markets exhibit high growth rates, also driven by political factors such as the trend towards less raw material usage or renewable energy in the form of photovoltaic panels or electric mobility.
Production lines for high-barrier BOPP films in 5, 7 or 9 layers.
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BOPET lines for the production of various optical applications up to 400µm.
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Simultaneous LISIM technology with very specific, adjustable film properties for thinnest BOPP and BOPET capacitor films below 3µm as well as finest quality BOPA film and others.
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In-line and off-line technologies for trendy shrink sleeves
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Dedicated line concepts for the growth market of photovoltaic applications such as UV-resistant solar back sheet.
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Advanced production lines with patented EVAPORE process for unmatched efficient, high output and consistent quality of battery separator film for 3C and EV applications.
Efficient and energy-saving stretching lines for commodity film production. Besides the trend towards specialty films the demand for commodity films in China is still strong. Brückner’s high yield unique stretching lines offer the highest productivity within the industry: Up to 10.4 m working width, 525 m/min speed and an annual output of over 55,000 tons enable film producers to benefit from considerably reduced production costs and improved profitability.
For the production of added value specialty films in such areas Brückner will present various line concepts and latest technological developments that help Chinese film producers to diversify and enlarge their portfolio: •
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Additionally Chinese film producers will get to know how to reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions – in line with industry needs and the current Chinese five-year development plan. To name two of Brückner’s solutions: the special torque control of clips for simultaneous lines, reducing energy consumption by 40% or the new high speed extrusion system with lower radiation and convection losses. Brückner Servtec: Solutions for the profitable operation of film stretching lines. 60
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PRODUCT NEWS
Film producers benefit from the wide product and service range of Brückner Servtec by implementing new technologies in existing film stretching lines: •
Automotive Industry Machines for the production of interior trim components, such as instrument panels, door panels, consoles and covering elements, map pockets, pillar liners, sun visors.
Twin screw and multi-layer technology to enter new markets with high-margin film.
Appliance Industry
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Direct drives for unmatched speed accuracy and improved average thickness stability.
Technologies for efficient production of refrigerator inner and door liners.
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Solutions for unstable power grid.
PackSys Global: Advanced packaging equipment
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Remote services for highest line availability.
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Comprehensive services for film stretching lines of any brand.
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Machines for the production of oral care tubes: LT 125 and LT 250 high speed laminate tube lines: These machines, featuring the patented loading system on the LT 250 compression moulding header, allow clients to achieve world-class production efficiencies for oral care tubes at speeds of 125 or 250 tubes per minute.
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Equipment for the production of cosmetic tubes: The new LSH heading machine features, among others, quick size part changeover in just 10 minutes and a plug and produce concept. The LSH, with its compact footprint, is particularly well designed for production of small order sizes.
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Machines to deliver tamper evidence on plastic caps: At speeds between 2,000 and 3,500 caps/minute (1.5 billion caps/year) the new SPM, the world’s fastest plastic cap folding and slitting machine, as well as the MSM (folding and slitting speeds from 1,200 to 2,000 caps/minute), both offer unbeatable efficiency on minimal floor space and low investment costs.
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Dedicated service team for film stretching lines located in China.
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Solid backup by experts from Germany.
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No difficulties due to language or time differences.
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Sourcing and quality assurance platform.
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Sub-assembly of line components.
Kiefel: Solutions for the packaging, automotive & medical industry Packaging Industry Live at the booth: Innovative Pressure Forming Machine, “KMD 78 SPEED” for trays and containers, hinged packaging, blister packs, tub lids and sorting elements.
Contact:
Medical Technology
Karlheinz Weinmann, Brückner Group GmbH, Königsberger Str. 5-7, 83313 Siegsdorf, Germany. T: +49 8662 63-9278 / karlheinz.weinmann@brueckner. com / www.brueckner.com
Manufacturing solutions for infusion bags that fulfil the highest performance specifications and innovative lines for the production of IV bags with integrated filling. P L A S T I C S N E W S
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TECHNOLOGY
EU researchers making Bioartificial kidney from novel polymer U researchers are on the way to making parts of a bioartificial kidney out of a novel polymer – which could reduce the risk of transplants being rejected by the human body.
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The EU project SUPOCOSYS (‘From supramolecular polymers to compartmentalized systems’) is attempting to solve the problem by investigating a novel material that can be used to design, synthesise and self-assembly biomaterials that dynamically adapt their properties to human cells. Using these adaptable materials, parts of a bioartificial kidney will be made to demonstrate the material’s properties. Other medical applications could include improving dialysis treatment, reducing transplant rejection or applying as innovative sutures. Led by Dr Egbart Willem Meijer,
a researcher at the Technische Universiteit Eindhoven, Netherlands, the team is focusing on the formation of supramolecular polymers – systems comprised of macro-molecules, joined by specific bonds, which control their assembly and behaviour. Supramolecular polymers are random or entangled coils, with plastics and elastomers as mechanical properties. They have the ability to process, recycle and self-heal, and are created through self-assembly. They are also unique in that they can be processed at low temperatures and then manipulated without difficulty. Meijer is exploiting these assets to further enhance the materials and introduce more complex functionalities to supramolecular systems. Over the course of the five-year project, scheduled to end in March 2015, the researchers are designing,
synthesising and self-assembling materials of the supramolecular polymers, whose properties are adapted by external stimuli. In cooperation with Dr Patricia D a n k e r s , a l s o o f Te c h n i s c h e Universiteit Eindhoven and who received an ERC Starting grant in 2012, Dr Meijer’s team will produce parts of a prototype bioartificial kidney, which could result in improved dialysis techniques or a portable dialysis apparatus. Their work also has the potential to improve the success rate of transplants by reducing the risk of rejection. By introducing this new class of materials, Meijer succeeded in showing how polymers have good and unique materials properties despite being linked by weaker interactions instead of long chains.
New tecnology to derive fuel from plastics waste ndian researchers have developed a method to use discarded plastic bags by transforming them into fuel to power car engines. This discovery may lead to re-using discarded plastic bags and other products to address growing demands for fuel globally, said a study, to be published in International Journal of Environment and Waste Management.
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Chemist Achyut Kumar Panda of Centurion University of Technology and Management, Odisha, and chemical engineer Raghubansh P L A S T I C S N E W S
Kumar Singh of National Institute of Technology, Odisha, developed a commercially viable technology for efficiently rendering common polymer, low-density polyethylene (LDPE) into a liquid fuel. In their approach, the team heat up the plastic waste to between 400 and 500 degrees celsius over a kaolin catalyst (a clay mineral containing aluminum and silicon).This caused the plastic's long chain polymer chains to break apart in a process known as thermo-catalytic degradation.The 62
process released large quantities of much smaller, carbon-rich molecules. "We used an analytical method called gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to characterise these product molecules and found the components of their liquid fuel to be mainly paraffins and olefins 10 to 16 carbon atoms long," explained Panda. "We could boost the yield to almost 80% " said Singh.The process, if implemented on a large enough scale, could reduce pressure on landfills. F E B R U A R Y 2014
TECHNOLOGY
Super glue and paint thinner lead development to selfhealing polymer emovable paint and selfhealing plastics soon could be household products. The new dynamic materials is developed at the University. of Illinois. The University of Illinois materials science and engineering professor Jianjun Cheng, graduate student Hanze Ying and postdoctoral researcher Yanfeng Zhang published their work in the journal Nature Communications.
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“The key advantage of using this material is that it’s catalyst-free and low-temperature, and can be healed multiple times,” Cheng said. “These are very nice materials for internal cracks. This can heal the crack before it causes major problems by propagating.” Other self-healing material systems have focused on solid, strong materials. However, the new study uses softer elastic materials made of polyurea, one of the most widely used classes of polymers in consumer goods such as paints, coatings, elastics and plastics. After the polymer is cut or torn, the researchers press the two pieces back together and let the sample sit for about a day to heal—no extra chemicals or catalysts required. The materials can heal at room temperature, but the process can be sped up by curing at slightly higher temperatures (37 C, or about body temperature). The polymer bonds back together on the molecular level nearly as strongly as before it was cut. In fact, tests found that some healed samples, stretched to their limits, tore in a new place rather than the healed spot, evidence that P L A S T I C S N E W S
the samples had healed completely. The researchers use commercially available ingredients to create their polymer. By slightly tweaking the structure of the molecules that join up to make the polymer, they can make the bonds between the molecules longer so that they can more easily pull apart and stick back together—the key for healing. This molecular-level rebonding is called dynamic chemistry. Dynamic chemistry has been explored in some other polymers, but those materials tend to be for specialized applications or laboratory settings, rather than the conventional polymers used commercially. By focusing on consumer materials and using readily available ingredients, the researchers hope that manufacturers could easily integrate dynamic materials. “We just
buy commercial materials and mix them together, no fancy controls or special apparatus,” said Cheng. “It’s a very simple, low-cost, inexpensive process. Anybody can do this on any scale. Now that they’ve established the chemistry required, the researchers are exploring how dynamic polyurea could bolster different applications. For example, they could fine-tune the mixture so that a polyurethane coating or paint could be removable. “In some areas, when it’s not necessary for the coating to be permanent and you want it to be removable, this chemistry may be applied to existing coating materials to make it reversible,” Cheng said. “In general, polyurea and polyurethane are widely used. This chemistry could modify existing materials to make them more dynamic, healable.”
APS introduces TPUs for food processing machinery PS Elastomers has new food-grade thermoplastic polyurethanes for food processing machinery.The TPUs are well suited to conveyor belts, harvesting equipment and other dry food and bottle dispensing machinery, according to the Romulus, Michigan based company.APS says the grades have a wide processing range, are easy to color and meet Food and Drug Administration standards for contact with dry
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food. Grades have a hardness range of Shore A 80 to Shore D 74. The products, polyetherbased and polyester-based, offer high mechanical strength, and exceptional abrasion and tear resistance. APS claims they withstand a broad temperature range and resist hydrolysis. The new TPUs complement APS offerings in other TPU applications as well as several types of thermoplastic elastomers and fluoropolymers.
F E B R U A R Y 2014
TECHNOLOGY
Cost saving pelletizing system PET produces and crystallizes pellets in single integrated process ordson BKG has devised an integrated system that uses the thermal energy of the molten polymer in PET pelletizing for subsequent crystallization eliminates problems caused by the agglomeration of amorphous material and substantially reduces energy costs for compounding or recycling.
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The system called CrystallCut®, the patented* process avoids the need to cool PET after pelletizing and then reheat it for crystallization. As an integrated network that incorporates underwater pelletizing, drying, and crystallizing, it is designed for precise control of material temperatures throughout the process, preventing production and quality problems caused by insufficient crystallization and excess levels of amorphous material. The energy efficiency of the CrystallCut system can save more than € 3,000,000 in annual energy costs for a typical PET resin plant and nearly € 200,000 for an extrusion line recycling PET bottle flakes, according to examples cited by Nordson BKG™ based on actual commercial installations (see graph for an example relating to polymerization). “The CrystallCut system provides substantial relief to the cost pressure on PET polymerization and recycling, particularly as prices for PET fall,” said Ralf Simon, managing director of Nordson BKG™. “In addition,
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because the system utilizes residual thermal energy within the material to crystallize pellets from the inside out, it yields an enhanced crystalline structure that results in lower energy costs for remelting the material.” In the CrystallCut system, the hot PET granulate produced by the face cutter of the underwater pelletizer is transported rapidly to the pellet dryer in hot water (up to 95 °C) through closed conveying pipes, where pellet cooling and solidifying takes place. This conveying medium and the short distance between die head and dryer are keys to conserving the heat from melt processing. The pellets are at a temperature in the 150 to 160 °C range when they exit the dryer onto a vibrating conveyor. This keeps the pellets in constant motion, generates a uniform distribution of thermal energy, and prevents pellets from sticking together. At the completion of the process, the pellets have a temperature of approximately 180 °C, have achieved up to 40% crystallinity, and may be transferred directly to solid state polycondensation (SSP). In addition to saving energy costs and preventing
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amorphous PET clumping, the CrystallCut system yields an almost dust-free product and increases bulk density by 8% in comparison with a conventional process. Assuming an average energy cost of 12 cents/ kWh, Nordson BKG™ estimates that the CrystallCut system yields energy savings of up to 125 kWh or € 15 per ton of PET in a modern PET polymerization plant. Since such a plant can achieve a production capacity of 600 tons per day, these savings amount to € 9,000 daily and € 3,200,000 per year. This represents an annual energy saving of more than 26 gigawatt hours, or 26,000 megawatt hours. Another example cited by Nordson BKG™ is that of an extrusion line which recycles PET bottle flakes at a rate of 1,500 kg/h. The savings achievable with the CrystallCut system exceed 180 kWh, or more than 1.4 cents/kg. In a 365/24 operation this equates to € 190,000 per year.
F E B R U A R Y 2014
IN THE NEWS
India’s first food packaging laboratory inaugurated ndia’s first food packaging laboratory was inaugurated at the Indian institute of packaging (IIP) Delhi. The new academic block and food packaging laboratory was inaugurated at Indian Institute of Packaging (IIP) Delhi Centre on 29 January 2014.
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Inaugurating the Academic Block and Food Packaging Laboratory, Dr. E.M. Sudarsana Natchiappan, Hon’ble Minister of State for Commerce & Industry, Govt. of India said, “Govt. of India has made a target to increase the growth of the processed food sector from 7% to 20% by 2020. Since packaging and food processing industries are complementary to each other, it had become necessary to set up a laboratory which would support the testing of the same. It is quite interesting to note that there is no exclusive laboratory for the testing of packaged foods.” The Indian Institute of Packaging, being an autonomous body in the field of Packaging Technology and working under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Govt. of India, has therefore taken an initiative to expand the infrastructural facilities of its Delhi Centre which is located at Patparganj by way of setting up an exclusive Food Package Testing Laboratory under the current 12th Five Year Plan. Prof N C Saha, Director IIP said, “the growth of Packaging Industry has also created a great demand for qualified Packaging Professionals.
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The Institute has also started a Two Year Post Graduate Diploma in Packaging at Delhi in the year 2000 with the intake of 15 students, which we will now increase to 100. This has also created requirement of infrastructural facilities and thus the Institute has also constructed an exclusive Academic Block to accommodate more number of PG students.” Prof Saha also added that IIP will now modernise the Vaishnodevi prasad packaging process. Pilot experiments had been done in 2004; but the setting up of an exclusive Food Package Testing Laboratory under the current 12th Five Year Plan will now revive the project. It is a well known fact that the Indian economy is based on agriculture yet, international agribased trade suffers because of lack of packaging expertise. India is ranked
second with respect to the production of food grains (2nd only to China), third in milk production, fourth in the production of fruits and vegetables and 5th in the Marine Foods including Inland Fishes. Despite having such a large raw material base in the country, the international trade of India is only 1.3% which is very low as compared to the neighbouring countries. Hence, the Ministry of Food processing Industries, Govt. of India, has taken various initiatives for the growth of processed food sector and accordingly, Ministry of Food Processing Industries has also implemented its National Food Processing Mission. As on date, only 2% of fruits and vegetables and 15% of fresh milk are processed. As a result, the average growth of processed food sector is only 7%.
Training program covers extrusion blow molding aulson Training Programs in Chester, Connecticut, has announced a new interactive training program for extrusion blow molding. Paulson is offering a free seven-day trial of Extrusion Blow Molding Technology Seven lessons cover the complete extrusion blow molding process.
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The course is designed for setup personnel, technicians, quality control
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people, production supervisors and production managers.The course has all-new three-dimensional high definition animation, to clearly show what goes on inside the machine. Topics covered include the process and equipment, behavior of plastics, operating controls and procedures including startup and shutdown, part quality and problem solving, and parison programming.
F E B R U A R Y 2014
IN THE NEWS
Detailed report of objections on Vizag-Kakinada PCPIR likely to be submitted this month he Special Development Authority (SDA) of the Visakhapatnam-Kakinada Petroleum, Chemical, Petrochemicals Investment Region (VK-PCPIR) is busy gearing up to make the necessary arrangements to submit a detailed report of the peoples' objections to the Central government for its approval in February 2014.
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According to reports the objections raised by the people, who will be affected by the much awaited VKPCPIR, will be technically evaluated by a Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC) of the VK-PCPIR Special
Development Authority (SDA) in February. The TEC will comprise experts in the field of petrochemicals, officials from the AP Pollution Control Board as well as Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC) and two professors from Andhra University. "All the key work on the objections, evaluation of the objections and the board meeting will be held in February itself. Even the Central government will make some changes, if needed. After clearing the entire process of objections, the government will finally release an official gazette notification
PlastIndia Foundation formally announces PlastIndia 2015 lastIndia Foundation formally announced the trade fair PlastIndia 2015 (PI 2015) .The Trade fair Exhibition will be organized from 5-10 February 2015 at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi with the tagline of ‘Expanding Horizons’.
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The ninth edition of the exhibition was unveiled at an inaugural function attended by stalwarts of the industry. Plastindia 2015, which is slated to be the top three international platforms for the Plastics Industry, was formally launched by Mr. Avinash Joshi, IAS, Joint Secretary - Petrochemicals Division, Department of Chemicals & Petrochemicals, Ministry of Chemical P L A S T I C S N E W S
and Fertilizers - Government of India in the presence of the Guest of Honor, Mr. Nirmal Thakkar, first President of PlastIndia Foundation (PIF) and Chairman of Tipco Industries. Dignitaries on the dais included Mr. Subhash Kadakia, President PIF, Mr. J.R. Shah, Chairman, National Executive Council (NEC), Mr. L. K. Singh, Co-Chairman, NEC, Mr. Rajeev Chitalia, Vice President PIF and Mr. Rajiv Raval, Honorable Treasurer, PIF. PI 2015 is targeted to be the largest till date and expected to consolidate its position as one of the world’s largest ‘plastics only’ exhibitions.
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on the project," SD VP Yuvaraj told TOI. The SDA has received a total of 961 objections between August 5 and December 5, 2013, from 76 gram panchayats in the Visakhapatnam and East Godavari districts. Of these, a total of 175 objections were raised on land related issues, around 50 on the expressway project and most of the remaining objections focused on issues such on livelihood, pollution, compensation, employment and loss of property.
Brazil imposes antidumping duties on South Africa, India, South Korea razil has imposed antidumping duties on imports of polypropylene from South Africa, South Korea and India, in its latest bid to protect local monopoly producer Braskem, which is struggling to compete with imports from lower cost countries.
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Earlier in the year, the South American country’s chamber of foreign trade, Camex, had decided to impose anti-dumping duties on imports into Brazil of nylon from China, South Korea, Thailand and Taiwan.
F E B R U A R Y 2014
IN THE NEWS
Canadian study looks at making fuel from marine litter anadian study group Upcycle the Gyres Society is looking forward for making fuel from plastics waste. The group maintains that for Converting plastic marine litter to fuel is a lot like getting fuel from litter collected from terrestrial sources.
is supporting UpGyre’s work on marine litter. The next step is studying the collection of marine litter along Canada’s west coast and converting it to fuel for remote communities, where fuel is typically imported at great expense.
The study, organized by Upcycle the Gyres Society, collected plastic marine litter from the shoreline of northern Vancouver Island in 2013. It found 99 percent of the litter was suited to pyrolysis, the application of heat in the absence of oxygen to create liquid fuel.
The marine litter study showed a liter of fuel similar to diesel could be obtained from a kilogram of plastic with the input of 1 kiloWatt per hour of electricity. Scaling up the pyrolysis step reduces the per-liter cost of fuel.
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The marine litter seemed unaffected by exposure to salt water. Canadian Plastics Industry Association
Even at a low production rate of 20 kilograms of plastic pyrolysis per hour, the fuel cost is about C$0.99 (US$0.90) per liter, less than the local cost of C$1.20 (US$1.09) per liter
Recycling stream can handle up to 10 percent compostable plastics, says Study mall amounts of compostable plastics have no impact on the mechanical performance of post-consumer recycled plastics, according to study published by a trade group that represents the bioplastics sector. "Studies and field trials have demonstrated that [if] a small fraction of compostable plastics ends up in the [polyethylene] recycle stream, this does in no way negatively impact the quality of the recycling stream," said François de Bie, chairman of European Bioplastics, which describes itself as the association "representing the interests of Europe's thriving bioplastics' industry.""Remaining
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for diesel fuel in Whitehorse, Yukon. The study used a Blest pyrolyser in Whitehorse. Test results were analyzed by laboratories in Canada, the United States and Japan.
Bees make nests with waste plastics wo species of bee are making their nests from waste polyurethane and polyethylene, according to researchers at Toronto's York University. Megachile rotundata, which traditionally uses cut plant leaves, was found to be constructing nests from pieces of polyethylene plastic bags. Megachile campanulae, which uses plant and tree resins for its nests, was found to be employing waste polyurethane-based building sealants.
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amounts are easier to handle than other residual wastes in the polyethylene stream such as polystyrene or polypropylene." According to the study, the recycling stream can handle up to 10 percent compostable plastics and "show no or negligible impact on the mechanical performance" of postconsumer plastics.
"Although not easily determined, novel uses of humanmade materials might result in an adaptive advantage, leading to more widespread use after multiple successful occurrences in a given population," said the researchers in Ecosphere., a journal of the Ecological Society of America.
According to Berlin-based European Bioplastics, the studies were done independently by the Institute for Bioplastics and Biocomposites (University of Applied Arts and Sciences Hannover), the Italian National Packaging Consortium (CONAI) and the company Biotec GmbH.
"Our understanding of how plastics spontaneous integrate into natural ecological processes will increase as more humanmade material and products build up in both urban and non-urban landscapes," they wrote.
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F E B R U A R Y 2014
IN THE NEWS
EC says no risk of phthalates in toys and childcare products he European Commission has concluded that the phthalates in toys and childcare products pose no risk to infants. The findings, which also include adult sex toys, are in line with the conclusions presented last August by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).
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Based on ECHA’s assessment, the Commission has concluded that “no unacceptable risk has been characterised for the uses of DINP and DIDP in articles other than toys and childcare articles which can be placed in the mouth”. The Commission further concluded that “in the light of the absence of any further risks from the uses of DINP and DIDP, the evaluation of potential substitutes has been less pertinent. DINP and DIDP are therefore safe for use in
all current consumer applications”. “The safety and optimal performance of plasticisers is essential for the numerous durable flexible PVC articles being used my millions of Europeans every day. The European Council for Plasticisers and Intermediates (ECPI) is confident the Commission’s communication will provide reassurance to consumers as well as a stable regulatory environment for companies to continue using these two high phthalates” stated ECPI’s manager, Dr Stéphane Content. “Furthermore, DINP and DIDP have proved to be reliable substitutes for the classified low phthalates which are currently undergoing Reach Authorisation” he added. Regarding children, ECHA concluded that “no
Haldia Petrochemicals Ltd bid may turn out to be infructuous, says IOC ndian Oil Corporation's (IOC) bid for buying out West Bengal government's stake in ailing Haldia Petrochemicals Ltd may turn out to be infructuous, according to PTI. IOC has written to the WBIDC, an arm of the West Bengal government, for a discussion on the state of affairs on HPL including a dialogue with TCG. But the new minister Amit Mitra has not yet communicated. There is a need for a corrective action soon as the company is suffering losses each day, resulting the bid turning out to be null and void. IOC emerged as the sole
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bidder for 675 million shares of WBIDC in HPL and quoted a price of Rs 25.10 per share way back in October 2013. TCG had moved the court over the disputed 155 million shares and the Supreme Court had also allowed it to take the matter to Paris-based International Chamber of Commerce for arbitration. Meanwhile, lenders had extended a loan of Rs 100 crore to HPL. The HPL board had also approved a rights issue amounting to Rs 1,300 crore to tide over the funds crunch.
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further risk management measures are needed to reduce the exposure of children to DINP and DIDP”. In the case of adults, the biomonitoring data reviewed by ECHA confirmed that “exposure from food and the indoor environment are not very significant” and, in the case of dermal exposure to DINP and DIDP is “not expected to result in a risk for adults or the developing foetus in pregnant women”. ECHA also indicated that using sex toys containing DINP and DIDP “would not result in any risk”. Overall, the European Chemicals Agency concluded that “no further risk management measures are needed to reduce the exposure of adults to DINP and DIDP”.
Spanish conglomerate set to buy two La Seda de Barcelona PET plants panish conglomerate with interests in designer jewelry, cosmetics and paperboard packaging is set to acquire two plants from the bankrupt PET packaging group La Seda de Barcelona, local press is reported. According to report Cristian Lay group of Jerez de los Caballeros, Spain, has offered around Euro 15 mln to buy LSB's 170,000 metric tpa PET polymer plant in El Prat de Llobregat, near Barcelona.
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EVENTS
Events and Exhibitions Saudi Plastics & Petrochem 2014 - Saudi PPPP 2014
IPF Bangladesh 2014
The 11th International Plastics & Petrochemicals Trade Fair
Venue: Bangabandhu International Conference Centre – BICC, Bangladesh
Date: Feb 16, 2014 – Feb 19, 2014
International Plastics, Packaging, Printing, Food Processing Industry Fair –IPF 2014 will be staged for the 9th time at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) from February 20rd to 23th.
Date: Feb.20 2014– Feb 23 2014
Venue: RICEC (Riyadh International Convention & Exhibition Center), Saudi Arabia Saudi Plastics and Petrochem 2014 is the ideal businessto-business networking platform for key decision makers, industrialists, developers and other professionals. Held every two years, the Saudi Plastics and Saudi Petrochem exhibition hosted more than 500 exhibitors from 26 countries in 2011, proving to be the largest plastics and petrochemical event in Saudi Arabia.
Over 200 exhibitors’ early registration taking up 350 booths from 16 countries & regions (Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, U.A.E, United Kingdom) will showcase a comprehensive range of industrial products, technologies, and services to meet the needs of industry upgrading. BPGMEA as one of the show organizer has lead the members to exhibit more than 40 companies this year.
The largest plastics and petrochemical companies in the Kingdom and the region take part in the event, in addition to a number of governmental industrial commissions from the Gulf States. It is the only industrial fair supported by the Saudi Industrial Property Authority (MODON). The latest technologies in machinery, equipment, raw materials, semi-finished products, spare parts and services in the plastics and petrochemical fields will be showcased at the fair.
Buyers can find the most efficient know how of woven sack plant machinery from their booth. Local industry giants from Bangladesh Plastic Goods Manufacturers & Exporters Association (Bengal Group, FAMOUS GROUP, Imtex Packaging, Talukder Group, RFL PLASTIC LTD., A & A Corp. etc.) are also ready to show their innovative products and solutions to quench the domestic needs. In short, raw material, mold product, and mold making machine can be found right here.
Saudi Plastics & Petrochem has witnessed consistent growth over the past few years, in parallel with the sector growth in Saudi Arabia and the GCC, becoming the most prominent event of its kind in the region, combining all aspects of the sector locally, regionally and internationally. Participants at the show include major plastics and petrochemical companies in the Kingdom and the region, in addition to a large number of government and industry bodies from the entire GCC region.
An increase in tube-well installation fuels demand for plastic pipes encourages firms in plastics industry to invest more in plastics-related sector. The plastics-related industries help Bangladesh keep the sustainable growth among the emerging markets.This event is tailored for professionals and buyers. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is always the first priority among the organizer committee and we endeavour to make this exhibition more environmental-aware. We not only promote eco-friendly exhibition booths and energy conservation but also introduce green technologies to plastics-related industries. This event is tailored for professionals and buyers. Name cards or invitations are needed for onsite registration and entry.
There will be hundreds of local, regional and international exhibitors, numerous bodies, chambers and agencies, and thousands of professional visitors gathering under one roof for the latest showcase of up-to-date technologies in machinery, equipment, raw materials, semi-finished products, spare parts and services in the plastics and petrochemical fields.
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YUDO Hot Runner .. ...................................................................................................................................... cover Madhu Machines & Systems ...............................................................................................................inside cover Anupam Heaters...................................................................................................................................................3 Polymechplast ......................................................................................................................................................4 Plastlink Technologies ..........................................................................................................................................6 Ferromatik Milacron . ...........................................................................................................................................7 Nijtech India . ........................................................................................................................................................8 GSM Plastic Machinery ........................................... ..........................................................................................10 PASL Windtech... ................................................................................................................................................12 Reifenhauser India Ltd.. .....................................................................................................................................13 R R Plast Extrusion ...........................................................................................................................................14 Reliance Polymers..............................................................................................................................................15 Koplas 2015........................................................................................................................................................47 Leister Technologies India Pvt. Ltd.. ...................................................................................................................48 KABRA Extrusion Technik Ltd.. ..........................................................................................................................49 Plastivision Arabia 2014 .....................................................................................................................................50 Plastic Park.........................................................................................................................................................51 TAGMA ..............................................................................................................................................................52 Jing Cheng Mold Machinery Co. Ltd. ................................................................................................................53 Sun Lung Gear Works Co. Ltd. . ........................................................................................................................54 Jandi's Industrial Co. Ltd. ...................................................................................................................................54 Zambello Riduttori Group ...........................................................................................................Inside back cover Rajoo Engineers ................................................................................................................................... Back cover
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