US Machinery and Technology
Partnering for joint gains At the recent Chinaplas 2013 show, US companies displayed their technology prowess and updates to products, with materials suppliers tying up with local Chinese manufacturers to showcase technology at a localised level.
From right-left: Haridass Kalidas, Asia Pacific PE Market Development Manager, General Manager of Xinle, Guoliang Ma, and Thomas Deman, ExxonMobil Chemical’s Global Marketing Manager of PE
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JUNE / JULY 2013
ExxonMobil ties up with local machine maker Materials firm ExxonMobil Chemical showcased how its Exceed and Enable metallocene polyethylene (mPE) resins and Vistamaxx propylene-based elastomer (PBE) can be used to provide opportunities for downgauging. The firm has had various success stories in China and for this reason is seeing a 15% growth for its mPE business, compared to the general PE market, according to Thomas Deman, ExxonMobil Chemical’s Global Marketing Manager of PE. One such demonstration shown at Chinese machine maker Xinle Huabao Plastic Machinery’s booth was a five-layer cast line running a “tough cast power” pre-stretch machine wrap packaging film using Exceed and Enable mPEs and Vistamaxx PBE. “By adding the elastomers into the mPE formulation, the processor is able to downgauge by up to 40% to 15-20 microns (instead of the usual 20-25 microns); plus the film is able to be pre-stretched by up to 250% (hence the term used tough cast power),” said Deman. Furthermore, Deman says the elastomers add value to the film. “Vistamaxx PBE provides the cling requirement at a much lower dosage of 4% when used with LLDPE, compared with up to 50% for ULDPE.” A typical fivelayer cast power pre-stretch film structure includes the 96-100% LLDPE (in the outer layers), 100% mPE resins (in the inner layers), with 4% Vistamaxx PBE. “Besides allowing for a more sustainable production, it is also more energy efficient; results in significant cost savings plus the film produced is not only thinner but tougher and with improved optical properties,” reiterated Haridass Kalidas, Asia Pacific PE Market Development Manager. Ashok Sapaliga, Asia Pacific Market Development Manager for Vistamaxx in Film says the company has a two-way approach to the market. “We set solutions for customers and want to go beyond the product. Our goal is to help customers high performance sustainable end products.” Meanwhile, machine maker Xinle is also reaping the benefits of the elastomers, said General Manager Guoliang Ma. “Through the cooperation with ExxonMobil Chemical, we have increased the output of the machine from 450 to 650 kg/hour,” said Ma, adding that the Hebei-headquartered firm sells not only the machine but the entire stretch film solution to customers. “Xinle as a machine supplier has the formulation for the power stretch film, so that we are able to resolve film quality issues and improve processability." Xinle had a turnover of RMB120 million last year and expects a 20% increase this year, mainly due to ExxonMobil Chemical’s solutions, said Ma. Xinle exports half its output to countries like the US, Brazil, Mexico, Turkey, Iraq, Russia, Malaysia and South Korea. PolyOne basks in investment limelight Specialised polymer material provider PolyOne achieved a number of milestones in China last year, including the expansion of an existing R&D centre in Shanghai, and is evaluating future expansions, said Mark Crist, Vice-President of Asia. “We are committed to China. In fact, the Asia Pacific headquarters is based in China, and contrary to what critics may say, this is the right location since most of our customers have facilities in China, too.”