This page is an archive of news and news background stories. Stories are placed here when they expire from the news pages and are filed in date order, most recent on the top. Go to the most recent or browse through the headline links.
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E-commerce - it's a wired world, but it still matters where you are
April 30, 2000 -
It seems we hear daily of new e-commerce reources for the plastics and rubber industries, but despite the global nature of the internet, the physical practicality of trading makes them geographically specific - and that normally means limited to the USA. And territorial limitations are not the only disappointment.
Materials sourcing business to business site getPlastic.com, which was founded in the USA in 1999, has had a $5 million financial injection. Leading the funding is venture capitalist Zero Stage Capital, and other participants include an undisclosed 'strategic partner' and individual investors.
According to the press announcement, getPlastic.com enables plastics processors to access multiple suppliers and source materials at a single site. Its database also covers custom compounds, and there is support from a technical team of 'veteran industry professionals' to assist customers with material selection, design, tooling and troubleshooting.
Unfortunately when we tried to sample the site, all that could be found was a link to a bald statement about the funding.
New from M A Hanna is its on-line store which will enable US customers to place orders, enquire about stock levels, make sales enquiries on open and closed invoices, and access their account history. It is the first stage in a planned series of on-line tools to help companies buy more easily. Unless you can sign in with a US address and tax certificate information you can't see how it works, but you can get a flavour of Hanna's materials distribution support at www.hannaresin.com.
And perhaps taking plastics e-commerce to its ultimate is the move - again in the USA - by Tupperware to put its celebrated parties on-line. The company's 75,000 strong direct sales force can set up their own web sites - through a deal with AltaVista - and sales of Tupperware products generated through these sites will be executed and fulfilled through Tupperware's main site My.Tupperware.com (only go here if you have Flash 4.0 installed, or are prepared to download it and then re-boot your computer) with sales credit being paid directly to the consultants who originated the orders.
Dow raising ABS/SAN prices again
April 30, 2000 -
Dow is further increasing the European prices for Magnum ABS and Tyril SAN. From May 15 Magnum goes up by DM 0·35/kg and Tyril by DM 0·4/kg. The company says that the price increases so far this year have only partly offset continuing increases in raw materials costs, and that there is also a market shortage for ABS and SAN.
Hyperlast buys rail coating business
April 30, 2000 -
Polyurethane specialist Hyperlast has bought the rail coating business of ALH Systems. ALH's Series 6 is a two component modified polyurethane system used to encapsulate train and tram rails to reduce noise and vibration transmission. It is also used in other applications such as water sealing between concrete slabs, encapsulation of concrete pipe joints, and rail embedment.
For Hyperlast, a long time supplier of customised PU technology, the acquisition takes it further into the infrastructure market.
Another fast delivery hot runner system
April 30, 2000 -
Another name has been added to the growing list of fast turn round hot runner systems. Dynisco has introduced its Express line from which a system can be designed and delivered in four weeks.
Express includes three nozzle styles and six manifold shapes from the VC-Series with custom centre-to-centre gate locations. Systems can be developed for shot weights from 0·1 to 1,500 grams.
A user designs a system with Dynisco's automated engineering software and the Express Products brochure and supplies project details to Dynisco which reviews the project and provides a quotation within 24 hours. The system is shipped within four weeks of receipt of order.
Autoclave added in composites investment
April 30, 2000 -
Dunlop Aviation Ice Protection & Composites has invested £250,000 in extending its composite manufacturing plant in Coventry, and has added another computer controlled autoclave and a clean room.
The new autoclave can process components measuring 4·5 m × 1·7 m × 1·2 m - the company already has an autoclave with a 4 m × 3 m × 2 m capacity. The new clean room meets BS 5295 Class J and US Federal Standard 209E Class 10,000 requirements, and provides control of relative humidity to 50 per cent (±10 per cent) and temperature to 21 degC (±1 degC).
Russia buys UK injection machines
April 30, 2000 -
One of Britain's few remaining injection moulding machine builders has just delivered a machine to Russia, and is anticipating orders from China - although not for plastics or rubber processing.
Mercia Machinery Sales now works mainly in the ceramics/investment casting industries, and the machine it delivered recently to Russian aircraft manufacturer Salut was a 120 tonnes, 1·5 kg shot vertical clamp, horizontal injection machine for producing ceramic cores for aircraft engines. It follows a 150 tonnes machine for a similar application delivered to the Ukraine last year.
Three more orders are pending within the Russian Federation and Mercia expects to start work soon on a wax injection machine.
Mercia has not moved completely away from plastics, however, and is taking orders at home for retrofitting second shot injection units on machines used in the motor industry. It is also currently delivering a six-station rotary machine, and has recently received orders for converting plunger injection machines to screw plasticising.
UK agent for air pressure film thickness gauge
April 30, 2000 -
Extrutech of Droitwich has become UK agent for Electronic Systems of Italy, which has developed a new thickness measuring system.
Unlike traditional gauging equipment, the new Essair uses air pressure to measure film and sheet using a combination of a pneumatic transducer and inductive sensor. It is self-calibrating and is said not to be affected by superficial material aspects or colours. As with beta gauges, a radioactive source is not required.
When used in blown film applications, it feeds data to Electronic Systems' BTS (Bolts Tracking System) software which provides a fast thickness measurement relative to die bolt position for immediate correction by the operator. A full thickness profile is typically obtained within 90 seconds.
Product data such as average thickness, transverse and machine direction thickness profile and percentage variations are available with an audible and visual alarm for out of tolerance production. Accuracy is said to be to 0·5 micron or less, giving raw material savings of up to 7·5 per cent.
German machinery sales look buoyant
April 30, 2000 -
Expectations of a slow down in German plastics and rubber machinery output last year look to have been over-cautious. The VDMA, the association of German plastics and rubber machinery manufacturers, says that an increase in orders from abroad in the second half of 1999 pushed the level of orders received for the year up to only slightly less than the exceptional results for 1998. The VDMA expects 1999 figures to be around 4 per cent down on 1998, with growth resuming this year.
Results differed according to market segment. In injection moulding machines - which dominate the market with 27 per cent of the business - two successive record years were followed by a 7 per cent drop in 1999, although orders in the second half showed an increase. The blow moulding and extrusion sectors, however, increased sales in 1999.
Pipe demand maintains growth at Uponor
April 30, 2000 -
Steady high demand for its pipe systems continued Uponor's 1999 sales and profits growth in the first quarter of this year - although passing on higher materials prices accounted for some of the increased turnover.
The pipe division's sales were up 35 per cent over the 1999 first quarter at Euro 273·4 million, with profits four times higher at Euro 14·6 million.
The pipes division was the group's best performer. Group sales increased 21 per cent in the quarter to Euro 347·4 million, while profits grew 160 per cent to Euro 18·7 million.
Linear motors break all-electric injection speed barrier
April 27, 2000 -
A limiting factor of all-electric injection moulding machines is their injection speed, which is typically restricted to 200 - 300 mm/sec by the need to convert rotary drive to linear motion through a ball screw.
But not any more. Fanuc has built a Roboshot machine using linear motors for injection, which gives a major boost to both injection speed and acceleration.
The Supershot 100i can give 2,000 mm/sec injection speed. And unlike some high performance hydraulic machines, which can give this speed if the injection stroke is long enough, Fanuc says its time to 2,000 mm/sec is only 0·017 seconds. Putting this in perspective, the company's standard Roboshot has a maximum acceleration of 0·5 G, while the Supershot accelerates at 13 G.
Linear motors are already in limited use in plastics machinery, notably in Geiss thermoformers. But while they can shift loads very quickly and controllably, they lack what might be described as oomph, or linear torque. So while on an injection moulding machine the injection unit could easily be powered by a linear motor, it would fall short when it comes to injection pressure.
To make the technique workable Fanuc has coupled four linear motors together. This is pricey, so it becomes particularly relevant that the company is using its own make of linear motors.
So how do you stop it? Along with the new drive, Fanuc has developed a new nozzle touch mechanism, which it says cancels the rapid injection acceleration and prevents platen bending.
The Supershot goes on sale in October and Fanuc is expecting to sell five machines a month. UK availability will be soon after, and Mitsui Machine Tool Europe, Fanuc's UK outlet, sees potential for the machine.
So what comes next? Linear motors for clamping? They certainly couldn't be used for lock, but with the development in the past couple of years of hybrid electric closing/hydromechanical locking machines, there seems potential for a new dawn in machine design. Another new machine from Fanuc, but rather more specialised, is its AI-P splined machine. This uses splined tiebars, bushes and platens to improve tool location for moulding optical components. It is being used to mould optical encoder discs which have hitherto been made of glass with ultrafine etched divisions. Using the new machine they are being moulded in polycarbonate.
Japanese JV in TPU for Bayer
April 27, 2000 -
Bayer is combining its thermoplastic polyurethane business with that of Dainippon Ink & Chemicals in Japan. The new company will be named DIC Bayer Polymer and will be owned 50:50 by DIC and Bayer's Japanese subsidiary. Operations are scheduled to start on June 1 with a capacity of 7,000 tonnes/year.
Dainippon will transfer its production line at its Sakai Plant, its technology and marketing activities to the new company while Bayer will inject its TPU sales activities in Japan.
Demag Ergotech tightens El-Exis control
April 27, 2000 -
Demag Ergotech has further refined its hybrid electric/hydraulic El-Exis machine to use a single motor for both injection and screw rotation.
The basis of the El-Exis design is that hydraulic actuation is dedicated to the consumer, with control through the pump/motor. So a small closed hydraulic circuit can be used on the clamp unit alone, improving control response and reducing energy input.
The new El-Exis E takes this further by taking a dual ouput from a single motor. This drives the screw through a gearbox, and also drives a variable output pump which powers the injection ram. By, in effect, using the screw drive motor when it is redundant, Demag Ergotech has been able to apply localised hydraulic control to the injection unit. This takes out losses from response delays in more complex circuits, which the company says gives control more precise than with conventional designs.
Pressflow moves in with Modular Handling
April 25, 2000 -
Pressflow Robots, which was bought by Modular Handling in 1998, has now moved into its parent's Birmingham headquarters. The move has been triggered by increasing requirements by customers for automation in handling projects, leading to overlapping of Pressflow's robot handling and Modular Handling's Linkline conveyor systems. Pooling the two companies gives Modular Handling a central automation centre. The next step is a possible move into a purpose-built 55,000 sq m factory for the new joint venture.
Mecmesin moves
April 25, 2000 -
Force gauge manufacturer Mecmesin is moving to bigger premises in Horsham on May 22. The new 16,000 sq ft factory will treble its manufacturing capacity.
The new address is:
Newton House, Spring Copse Business Park, Slinfold, Horsham, West Sussex RH13 7SZ Tel: 01403 799979 Fax: 01403 799975.
Toolmaker invests in demo line for foamed PVC profiles
April 23, 2000 -
A British extrusion toolmaker has become the preferred supplier of foam dies for Battenfeld Extrusionstechnik profile lines.
Eurodie of Sittingbourne has built an Extrusion Centre in which it has installed a 90 mm Battenfeld twin screw line. The primary reason for the investment was for Eurodie to be able to tune dies in-house. Tuning had become a bottleneck in the company's operations because tuning in the field can be a time-intensive operation, involving key staff who were taken away from design and production of new tooling.
The key market for PVC foam profile dies - suppliers to the building industry - typically can only make an extrusion line available for tuning new dies at the start of the year, when customer demand is at its lowest. But there can still be long delays in finding a period in which to commission new tooling.
The centre also opens up an export market for Eurodie, as it can now supply tools and samples together - and at home, being able to supply samples with ready-to-run tooling improves cash flow because the total supply time is reduced.
Eurodie is not just using its new line for die tuning, however. It has agreed a co-operative arrangement with Battenfeld (through Uniplex Machinery Sales), Tek Machinery (which supplied the Spiroflux feeding system), cooling system manufacturer ICS and PVC supplier Chemix, whereby all parties can use the facility for production scale equipment/material demonstrations.
The arrangement with Battenfeld has been particularly beneficial for both parties, as Battenfeld, which is one of the biggest suppliers of foam extrusion lines in Europe, did not have satisfactory access to a tooling supplier for turnkey installations. Eurodie is now able to supply Battenfeld with tooling for a project, proved and ready to run.
Further use is to be made of the centre in an educational role. Eurodie plans to run training courses ranging from basic extrusion theory (specifically PVC) to the manufacture and use of extrusion tooling. It will also be able to host conferences and carry out research and development.
Eurodie can be contacted on +44(0)1795 472490.
PET bottle reclaim continues to rise
April 23, 2000 -
Recovery of post consumer PET bottles is expected to exceed 1 million tonnes for the first time this year. PCI PET Packaging, Resin & Recycling, which monitors and reports on the PET reclaim business, predicts that world collection will reach 1,048,000 tonnes, an increase of 15·5 per cent on the 907,000 tonnes collected in 1999. This volume equates roughly to 13 per cent of the world market for polyester staple fibre.
Europe is expected to show the greatest growth, with recovery increasing 27 per cent from 211,700 tonnes to 269,200 tonnes. Belgium, France, Italy and Switzerland currently account for three quarters of Europe's total, while Italy and France together made up 52 per cent in 1999.
Volumes are expected to rise in Korea and Taiwan, and in Japan growth is expected to be 19 per cent, reaching 100,000 tonnes.
Recovery rate is expected to decline slightly in North America, although actual volumes are expected to grow.
PCI says that PET bottle collection is around 17 per cent of resin consumption, and that this level will increase slightly in 2000. The volume of bottles collected, however, does not equate to the amount of RPET flake produced because of losses in bottle sorting and reclamation which can be as high as 30 per cent.
British government criticised for blinkered view of HFCs
April 23, 2000 -
Too much attention is being focused on HFCs as greenhouse gases, to the exclusion of their use in foam products to reduce global warming, according to ICI Klea. The company is calling on foam manufacturers to respond to the British Government's draft climate change programme, which is open for consultation until June 2.
The draft programme says that the government believes that HFCs are not a sustainable technology in the long term. ICI Klea argues that HFCs are the only commercially available alternatives to CFCs and HCFCs that have good insulation properties and are non-flammable and non-toxic. It says that the government should be focusing on encouraging industry to use HFCs responsibly. 'It almost defies belief that they can focus so much effort on HFCs at so much cost to industry when their own figures show that HFCs will account for no more than 2 per cent of the total man-made greenhouse gas emissions in this country.' Honeywell announced recently that it is to invest in the production of a new HFC blowing agent, with the possibility of building a plant in Europe.
Montell adds more threads to its Asian PP web
April 23, 2000 -
Montell has further reinforced its position in the Asia-Pacific polypropylene market by allying Daelim Industrial Company of Korea with its Montell SDK Sunrise operation.
The link between Montell and Daelim was announced last November, when Montell was said to be acquiring 50 per cent of Daelim's PP activities. Now Montell's 50 per cent ownership in the new company - PolyMirae - is being 'shared' with Montell SDK Sunrise (MSS) and one of its partners in MSS, Taiwan Polypropylene Co.
Montell owns 35 per cent of Taiwan Polypropylene Co (TPP), and has a further stake in MSS through the involvement of its joint venture in Japan, Montell-JPO.
The new venture has nearly 3 million tonnes of capacity, with the addition of the 500,000 tonnes brought in via PolyMirae to the existing MSS and TPP capacity to achieve more than 1·2 million tonnes, and the Montell Australia and HMC Polymers Co (Thailand) total of 1·7 million tonnes.
Eco-efficiency code is first part of PVC makers/users charter
April 22, 2000 -
A 'clean up or get out' challenge to British PVC manufacturers has resulted in a code of practice for eco-efficiency in the manufacture of PVC. The code has been drawn up by the National Centre for Business and Ecology as part of a wider reaching charter being developed by the PVC Co-ordination Group. This is an organisation spanning PVC production and use from manufacturers to retailers, and includes retailers Asda, CWS, Tesco and Waitrose, and British PVC manufacturers EVC and Hydro Polymers.
As a CWS spokesman put it, 'At the start of the process we challenged the PVC industry to clean up or we would phase out PVC packaging from our businesses.' Total losses from VCM and PVC production are currently less than, or in the order of, 0·05 per cent of the material processed, but the group says that the manufacturers accept the need to demonstrate to the public that there is no evidence of harm caused by their process.
As part of this demonstration the new code has been drawn up, setting minimum environmental standards to be achieved during the manufacture of PVC, together with measurable targets for continuous improvement in environmental performance. Quantitative targets are set in terms of the total environmental load per tonne of PVC manufactured, and the environmental load associated with each manufacturing site.
In addition, the code incorporates various commitments in relation to the Environmental Management Systems operated by the manufacturers, including an agreement to achieve ISO 14001 by 2002.
Further work planned as part of the construction of the charter is to devise standards covering the entire supply chain and waste management.
Increase in plastics reclaim rate outstrips consumption growth
April 22, 2000 -
More plastics are being reclaimed from the waste stream, and even more are being burned for energy recovery. Figures from the Association of Plastics Manufacturers in Europe show that between 1997 and 1998 5,323,000 tonnes of plastics were recovered from the waste stream in Europe - 16 per cent more than in the previous period, and representing 30 per cent of total plastics waste. From this came 1,072,000 tonnes of recycled granulate, while 3,348,000 tonnes (19 per cent of the total post-consumer waste) was used for energy recovery as a substitute for fossil fuels. This was a 20 per cent increase on the previous year. Recovery through feedstock recycling increased by 8 per cent, but the APME says this only takes place in Germany, and new investment has yet to materialise.
The 16 per cent growth in reclamation was against a 4·8 per cent increase in plastics consumption to 30,381,000 tonnes. Packaging remained the highest consumer of plastics at 12,592,000 tonnes, or 41 per cent, followed by building and construction at 5,746,000 tonnes (19 per cent); household and domestic applications (18 per cent); automotive (2,254,000 tonnes, 7 per cent); electric and electronic (2,381,000 tonnes, 8 per cent); agricultural (3 per cent) and large industry (4 per cent).
Gas Injection links with German company
April 22, 2000 -
Gas Injection of Nantwich, which reckons to have more installations of its gas assisted moulding equipment in Britain than any other company, is linking up with a German manufacturer. It has struck a deal with Factor Maschinen & Anlagentechnik in which Factor will sell Gas Injection equipment in Europe, and the two designs will be amalgamated for manufacture in Britain. The gas control and nitrogen generation, compression and recovery equipment will be assembled at Nantwich, but there will be input from Germany in the form of some components, such as valves.
A new range of equipment is due to be announced by Gas Injection.
US biodegradable plastics for UK manufacture
April 22, 2000 -
An American PVA manufacturer has opened a plant in Britain to make biodegradable plastics. PVAXX Corporation has set up PVAXX (Europe) at Kemble Business Park at Malmesbury, near Cirencester, alongside PVAXX Research and Development and PVAXX Technologies.
Marketing of the material - for applications such as sacks, cigarette filters, disposable nappies, gloves and hypodermic syringes, is through a new web site, www.pvaxx.com.
New name for Metalastik
April 19, 2000 -
Anti-vibration specialist Metalastik has changed its name to Trelleborg Industrial AVS following its acquisition by Trelleborg of Sweden. The company will continue to operate from its Leicester factory where it makes suspension and anti-vibration mountings, principally for the rail, marine and bus markets. The Metalastik name will be retained for the product range, which will be sold alongside Novibra components made at the Trelleborg plant in southern Sweden.
JSW is first Japanese MuCell licensee
April 19, 2000 -
Following the recent granting of a licence to Battenfeld to build injection moulding machines for its MuCell process, Trexel has now signed up Japan Steel Works as its first Japanese licensee. Initial support will be through Sanpho Group, but Trexel plans soon to set up its own company in Japan.
In July Trexel will install a JSW J200EL III machine to demonstrate MuCell processing. This machine is all-electric except for hydraulic high speed injection, and in particular will demonstrate high-speed thinwall moulding.
More price increases for polymers and additives
April 19, 2000 -
Price rises have been announced by EMS-Chemie and Targor for nylons and polypropylenes, and by Rohm and Haas for a range of modifiers.
EMS-Chemie is increasing the price of its Grilon nylon 6 and 66 products by Euro 0·20 - 0·30/kg from May 1 - with a bigger increase for special products and small quantities.
Targor PP Specialities has increased the price of all its Hostacom grades by DM 0·25/kg.
The increase by Rohm and Haas is on its Paraloid series of impact modifiers and matting agents and comes in on May 15. Depending on product type, the increases will be between 4 and 6 per cent.
Bayer investing in the US to make polyurethane dispersions
April 19, 2000 -
Bayer Group is investing more than $17 million in a new production plant to manufacture aqueous polyurethane dispersions at its New Martinsville site in West Virginia, USA. The plant is scheduled to come on stream in the fourth quarter of this year with the production of precursors for aqueous raw materials used to formulate coatings, adhesives and textile coatings.
The New Martinsville site is primarily involved in the manufacture of precursors for polyurethanes.
Clariant to expand Korean anti-oxidants
April 14, 2000 -
Following on from the recent announcement of an additives joint venture in Saudi Arabia, Clariant is to expand antioxidants production in Korea. Clariant has a co-operation with Songwon Industrial Co which includes a 10,000 tonnes facility for antioxidants. 5,000 tonnes of new capacity is being added, due on stream by next January.
Top changes at Krupp Werner & Pfleiderer
April 14, 2000 -
Professor Rolf Lidl, chairman of Krupp Werner & Pfleiderer, has been appointed chairman of Hüller-Hille and a member of the board of Thyssen Production Systems Division. He will remain chairman of Krupp Werner & Pfleiderer until the end of September. In the meantime Dr Hans-Jörg Pfeiffer, already a member of the Krupp W & P board, has been appointed deputy chairman and will assume the chairmanship on October 1.
Japanese moulding machine production climbing back to recovery
April 14, 2000 -
Production of injection moulding machines in Japan, laid low by the financial problems of the Far East in recent years, is very much in resurgence, according to figures reported from The Association of Japan Plastics Machinery and the Japan Industrial Machinery Manufacturers Association.
Output in October last year was 38·5 per cent up on October 1998 (in monetary terms), while machine production, at 1,253 machines, was 53·2 per cent ahead. This was the fifth monthly increase in a row.
The low base on which these increases have come is shown by the fact that, although production is increasing so rapidly, the January to October comparisons showed only a 2·3 per cent increase in monetary terms, and a 3·2 per cent increase in volume at 10,343 machines.
The small end of the market is seeing the fastest revival, with October production of machines under 100 tonnes being double that of October 1998. All-electric machines have also seen consistent growth.
One factor in increasing Japanese output was the lifting last year of the import ban by Korea. Imports of Japanese moulding machines had been banned to protect local manufacturers, but there were objections from moulders who felt that the local produce was not at the same level as Japanese machines, and Japanese machines are once more being sold in Korea. Export statistics show 532 machines in 1999 against 53 in 1998.
CDs/DVDs boost Axxicon
April 14, 2000 -
Sales of CD and DVD moulds in the first quarter of this year were above expectations at Axxicon, recording a 48 per cent increase in turnover and 125 per cent increase in profit over the 1999 firt quarter. Overall group sales were up 82 per cent in the period at Euro 21·3 million, while operating profit rose 203 per cent to Euro 2·0 million. Net profit for the first quarter was Euro 1·0 million, compared with a loss of Euro 0·3 million in the first quarter last year.
Honeywell gears up to make non-ozone depleting blowing agent
April 14, 2000 -
Honeywell Specialty Chemicals is to build the first of a series of plants to produce a new blowing agent in time to replace HCFC-141b by January 1, 2003, when the USA and European Union start phasing out HCFC-141b under the terms of the Montreal protocol.
The new blowing agent is HFC-245fa, which Honeywell says offers several advantages over the hydrocarbon and HFC-365mfc options as hydrochlorofluorocarbon replacements. It is non-flammable, is not considered a volatile organic compound, and is said to offer insulating performance equivalent to that of HCFC-141b while being superior in comparison with other non-ozone depleting alternatives.
The new plant will be built at Geismar in Louisiana in the USA, where Honeywell already makes several fluorine-based products. Honeywell also plans further manufacturing investment according to customer demand. Considerations include a plant in Europe or Asia.
Sharp increase in rubber prices forecast
April 14, 2000 -
Increasing shortages of natural rubber will lead to prices higher this year by 24 per cent, rising at 42 per cent next year, and reaching the levels before the slide began in 1996, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit.
The EIU tracks rubber prices as part of a basket of commodity industrial materials. Its latest World Commodity Forecast shows a rubber price of £475/tonne in 1998, falling to £447 last year, with a prediction of £556·30 this year and rising to £788·80 in 2001.
Ellis orders another Rotospeed
April 14, 2000 -
Gordon Ellis of Castle Donington has ordered a Rotospeed RS3-220 rotational moulding machine to increase output of its home healthcare products and industrial components. The company is already a Rotospeed user.
The machine ordered is an independent carousel machine comprising an oven, intermediate cooling station, fully enclosed and computer-controlled cooling chamber, and two load/unload stations. Carrying capacity is 1,088 kg on each of two straight arms and 907 kg on the drop arm.
Hanna divests rubber producer
April 14, 2000 -
M A Hanna has sold its Diversified Polymer Products division in the US to an investment group that includes members of the company's management. The name will change to Colonial Diversified Polymer Products.
The company makes cellular rubber for products such as automotive air, water and sound seals, and was not regarded as consistent with Hanna's overall structure as an intermediate supplier of materials.
Peguform buys T & D Automotive as a bridge into the UK
April 13, 2000 -
The final part of T & D Industries has been sold by administrator PricewaterhouseCoopers. T & D Automotive has been bought by Peguform and becomes the vehicle by which Peguform opens up in the UK.
Peguform is a subsidiary of US-based Venture Industries, which is a global manufacturer of car bumpers and other plastic moulded vehicle components. It has set up Peguform UK to buy and operate T & D Automotive.
T & D reckons to have around 10 per cent of the UK bumper market. It operates two moulding plants at Luton, close to its major customer General Motors, and has a further logistics plant in Dunstable. The backing of General Motors and Vauxhall was cited by the administrator as a factor in the sale.
The company employs 400 people and last year turned over £43 million.
Bayer adds to Chinese commitment
April 13, 2000 -
Bayer is investing more in the Chinese market with the setting up of a technical service centre in Shanghai. It will cost around Euro 10 million and will support Bayer's existing polyol formulation and polycarbonate sheet manufacturing facilities and the group's planned integrated chemical site in the Shanghai Chemical Industry Park, Caojing. The plans at the Caojing site include a Euro 430 million polycarbonate production facility for which a letter of intent was signed last November. Additional world-scale production units for polyurethane and coating raw materials, chemicals and rubber are presently under negotiation.
Clariant plans Saudi joint venture
April 13, 2000 -
Pigments and additives manufacturer Clariant is planning to join with a Saudi Arabian company to make masterbatches and compounds. Clariant and Astra Polymer Compounding Co intend to build a 2,000 tonnes plant in Dammam by mid 2001.
Astra already has 16,000 tonnes of capacity for black, white, colour, additive, paste and liquid masterbatches and custom compounds.
Management buy out at Tufnol
April 13, 2000 -
Tufnol has been bought from Tufnol Industries by a management team of production director Ken Aston and finance director Peter Jones. The company makes a range of machined engineering plastics and fibre reinforced composites. The buy out includes Countrose Bearings in Birmingham and Tufnol (Pty) of South Africa. Roger Trotman, who has been managing director for more than 24 years, is retiring but staying on for a while as a consultant.
Radici materials now from Daicel
April 13, 2000 -
Daicel Polymers is now distributing the full range of Radicinovacips engineering materials in mainland Britain. This gives it small lot distribution of the Radilon, Radiflam and Sicoammide nylons and Raditer polyester.
New MD for K-M UK
April 13, 2000 -
Krauss Maffei UK now has a new managing director, replacing Nick Wilkins who left the company last summer. Stephen Learney joins from GE Plastics. He has had 17 years involvement in plastics in the UK and the Netherlands.
Arrk buys Styles RPD
April 13, 2000 -
Rapid product development company Styles RPD of Teesside has been bought by Arrk. Arrk, which is ultimately Japanese-owned, is an international rapid prototyping, tooling and product development company which has other European operations in Milan and Paris. Last year it bought ailing rapid tooling company Formation of Gloucester which doubled the size of its UK operation.
Gordon Styles, who built Styles RPD up from a family precision engineering business with an increase in sales from £40,000 in 1983 to £4 million, is to set up a training and development company called Management Styles.
MuCell now on Battenfeld machines
April 13, 2000 -
Battenfeld is the latest injection moulding machinery company to take a licence for the Trexel MuCell microcellular foam technology. MuCell is a process which produces a controlled size microcellular foam which, while having the appearance of solid material, reduces weight, stress, warpage and sink marks. Battenfeld already has one licensee for a 500 tonne machine, and is building a co-injection machine for use in its demonstration facility at Meinerzhagen in Germany.
Price increases for engineering materials
April 12, 2000 -
Engineering materials prices are being increased by DuPont and Ticona.
DuPont's new prices come into effect on April 15 and affect Zytel and Minlon nylon 6 and 66, Delrin acetal, Rynite PET and Crastin PBT. Generally the increase is DM 0·30 to DM 0·60 per kilo, but with prices for some grades and for small lot colours increasing by up to DM 1/kg.
Ticona's price increases come in on May 15. Hostaform acetal goes up DM 0·30 to DM 0·50/kg according to grade - special grades go up more than standard grades. In polyesters Celanex PBT goes up DM 0·30 - DM 0·40/kg; Impet PET glass reinforced by DM 0·40/kg, Vandar high impact PBT by DM 0·50/kg, and Riteflex TPE-E also by DM 0·50/kg.
Other increases are DM 0·30/kg for PP-based Celstran LFT and Compel LFT long fibre composites; DM 0·60/kg for PA-based Celstran LFT; DM 0·50/kg for filled and DM 0·80/kg for unfilled Fortron PPS; and Vectra LCP is going up by DM 2·00/kg.
Polymer companies join forces for on-line trading
April 12, 2000 -
Business to Business internet sites for rubber processors and injection moulders are being planned by consortiums of multinational materials suppliers.
Bayer, CK Witco, DSM Elastomers, DuPont Dow Elastomers, Flexsys, M A Hanna Rubber Compounding and Zeon Chemicals are to set up www.ElastomerSolutions.com which will bring together rubber processors, materials, ingredient and equipment suppliers, service providers and other companies. Advanced Elastomer Systems (AES) and Enichem's Elastomers Division are also considering joining the group. The site is expected to launch in the third quarter of this year.
The injection moulding site is being planned by BASF, Bayer, Dow Chemical, DuPont and Ticona/Celanese. The aim is to create a single marketplace in which injection moulders can buy, not just materials, but also machinery, moulds, maintenance supplies, packaging materials and related services.
The intention is to create a new company to operate the site and sign up suppliers to sell through the on-line marketplace - including other materials suppliers.
The company, yet to be named, plans to go on-line on October 1 with a site that includes a full product catalogue, inter-product comparisons, order tracking, electronic billing and payment, and on-line customer support.
BASF to increase and modernise styrene production
April 3, 2000 -
BASF is to spend Euro 150 million on upgrading its ethylbenzene and styrene plants at Ludwigshafen in Germany, and to expand ethylbenzene capacity at Antwerp in Belgium.
The Ludwigshafen improvements will involve replacing a 525,000 tonnes 30 year old styrene plant with a new technology 550,000 tonnes plant. At Antwerp capacity will be raised to 890,000 tonnes.
The Antwerp expansion is due to be completed by the end of next year, while the work at Ludwigshafen is scheduled for completion by mid 2002.
Management changes at Stamford Group
April 3, 2000 -
David Openshaw, managing director of Mailbox Mouldings, has taken on the new position of group business development director at parent company The Stamford Group. Alan Reay replaces him at Mailbox Mouldings International.
Enter now for Horners Award
April 3, 2000 -
Entries for this year's Horners Award for excellence in plastics design and processing are now open. The deadline is June 7, and entry forms are available from the British Plastics Federation on 020 7457 5043.
Odd extrusions
April 3, 2000 -
Hertfordshire custom extruder Russell Plastics has started a service for the production of extrusions in more unusual materials. These include acrylic in glass clear and tints, polycarbonate and FR ABS. More information www.russellplastics.co.uk.
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Another new machine from Fanuc, but rather more specialised, is its AI-P splined machine. This uses splined tiebars, bushes and platens to improve tool location for moulding optical components. It is being used to mould optical encoder discs which have hitherto been made of glass with ultrafine etched divisions. Using the new machine they are being moulded in polycarbonate.