Country Focus Japanese engineering plastics and polymers manufacturer Polyplastics has forayed into the expanding NEV market opportunities in China and at Chinaplas highlighted its latest resin for NEV applications. According to Cliff Chan, Senior Corporate Communication Manager, Greater China & ASEAN Region, the Duranex PBT and Durafide PPS materials are targeted for engine peripheral parts such as power control units (PCUs) and deliver high insulating properties and lower water absorption, while meeting harsh operating conditions (-40°C to 150°C, up to 95% relative humidity). Alongside this new development, Chan said the company is exploring new materials to replace metal in PCU housings and developing materials with electromagnetic shielding properties. “We are also targeting material development work for other EV applications such as motors and batteries.” Italian company Radici Plastics is offering materials specifically developed for applications on electric and hybrid cars, said Erico Spini, Global Marketing Manager. “We have just increased our Polyplastics highlighted production capacity,” he pointed out. “In particular, we have been following the evolution of electric cars its latest resin for NEV very closely, and we are working on a number of applications at the very interesting projects in collaboration with both show, according to Senior Corporate Comlocal and global OEMs. Our objective is to continue munication Manager, to grow, despite the fact that the world market, Cliff Chan including China, started sending out signals of a slowdown from year-end 2018 to the beginning of 2019.” As for German blow moulding machinery manufacturer Kautex Maschinenbau, with the automotive fuel tank sector accounting for up to 70% of its machinery sales, the change to more electric/hybrid cars in China has seen it implementing a strategy to increase its presence in alternative storage modes for NEVs, according to Kautex Managing Partner Andreas Lichtenauer. “The development of composite pressure vessels plays a major role here as an additional source of revenue alongside the fuel tank business. However, this will not compensate for the decline in incoming orders,” he lamented. Kautex offers C3LS twin-sheet technology for fuel tanks employed in low emission vehicles, for example, which can be retrofitted to existing blow moulding machines.
Kautex says C3LS process offers a practical and costeffective way of producing plastic fuel tanks
Grounded on sustainability: greening with adhesives and additives China’s progress forward to high tech manufacturing is complemented by its sustainable manufacturing strategies including implementing energy efficient and environmental technologies. Taiwan’s Great Eastern Resins Industrial Co Ltd (Greco) is plunging headlong into the market opportunity. The green solutions company produces water-based PU adhesives, TPU resins, special coatings, dry-film photoresists, and special chemicals, to cater to markets like China.