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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BASF is increasing the European prices of its specialty ABS grades Ronfalin and Terluran from March 1. Ronfalin, Terluran HH and coloured Terluran will go up by Eur 200/tonne to reclaim margins eroded by higher raw material costs.
Terluran HH is typically used in automotive interiors for door trim and instrument panels. Coloured Terluran is used for white goods (refrigerators, washing machines, and so on) and for casings for vacuum cleaners and telephones.
EVC invests £1 million at Runcorn February 24, 2003
EVC is planning to spend £1 million on improving its vinyl chloride monomer plant at Runcorn. EVC acquired the plant from ICI in 1997 and since then has increased capacity from 160,000 to 300,000 tonnes and applied eco-efficiency improvements which have reduced total volatile organic compound emissions by 90 per cent.
The new investment plan follows the plant's ISO 14001 registration in 2002 and will further improve environmental management. In particular, improvements will be made to the efficiency and reliability of the incineration unit treating liquid residues and gaseous vents from the manufacturing process.
Work will begin immediately and the project is scheduled for completion during 2004.
New identity for BIP thermoplastics February 24, 2003
BIP is rebranding its thermoplastics compounding activities as Chem Polymer as part of a strategy to unify its European and North American operations. In the USA the company operates mainly in the automotive OEM business, while in Europe it concentrates on its traditional markets of the electrical and industrial sectors.
With increasing global manufacturing by both the automotive and electrical sectors, the company has decided to adopt its American identity to sell in both places to both markets. The BIP Plastex branding will be discontinued.
German deposit law favours PET beer bottles February 24, 2003
European legislation on the disposal of packaging is for once having a positive effect on plastics. Discount chain operator Aldi of Germany is reponding to the country's new deposit law by discontinuing the sale of beer in cans, and is planning to use PET bottles instead. This will allow it to save costs related to the return of cans.
Basell targets Indian polyolefins with New Delhi office February 24, 2003
Basell has opened an office in New Delhi to serve the Indian market for polyolefins. The company and its predecessors have been active in India for 20 years through distributors, and it has a joint venture in compounder Machine-Basell India which makes advanced polyolefins for automotive, industrial and appliance applications.
Reofos and Kronitex phosphorus-based flame retardants made by Great Lakes Chemical Corporation are being increased in price by 10 per cent worldwide.
Dow to increase vinyl ester prices February 24, 2003
Dow Epoxy Products and Intermediates is to increase prices for Derakane epoxy vinyl ester resins, from March 20. All grades will go up Eur 100/tonne in Europe and $100/tonne in the Middle East, Africa and the Indian subcontinent.
Printing press manufacturer WIFAG of Switzerland is to split off its Polytype paper/film/foil converting and printing equipment divisions as separate companies under the umbrella of Polytype Holding. The aim is to give all operations a more focused market strategy. The first of the new companies will be Polytype Converting in Fribourg, Switzerland.
An immediate effect of the tighter focus on each company's development will be that Polytype's two pilot lines, which have 50 options of applying coatings, will be modernized and equipped with the latest hotmelt application techniques.
Package deals for polymer production February 24, 2003
Three international suppliers to the polymer manufacturing industry have pooled resources to provide turnkey plant. Japan Steel Works (Japan), Zeppelin Silo und Apparatetechnik (Germany) and Haver & Boecker (also from Germany) have set up the Polymer Alliance to supply petrochemical companies on a global basis.
JSW supplies extrusion, compounding and pelletizing; Zeppelin, silos, blenders and conveying systems; and H & B bagging, packaging and warehouse management.
Two suppliers combine to sell anti-static products February 17, 2003
PolyOne and Noveon are joining forces to supply electrostatic dissipative compounds to the electronics industry. PolyOne is to distribute Noveon's Stat-Rite line of inherently dissipative polymers, and Noveon is to distribute PolyOne's Stat-Tech electrically conductive products. In addition Noveon will use PolyOne manufacturing resources in Europe, Asia and North America.
The co-operation will give both companies a product line that includes compounds for injection moulding and sheet for thermoforming, as well as a broad ESD technology base including carbon powder, carbon fibre, stainless steel fibre, carbon nanotubes and IDP alloys. The companies plan to co-ordinate research and development efforts to expand ESD applications and develop more innovative ESD compounds.
Conoco closes Cevolution carbon fibres business February 17, 2003
ConocoPhillips is closing the Cevolution carbon fibres operation it started in 2000 to focus on new technologies for the production of carbon fibres. The company said the decision 'is the result of the cumulative effect of market, operating and technology uncertainties' which suggested that the potential of the business was not as strong as originally perceived.
Abandoning the project will cost the company around $125 million, but it reckons to save around $25 million a year through shutting down carbon fibre research and applications development. In 2001 Conoco opened a base in Amsterdam for Cevolution and in July last year it opened its first plant, in Oklahoma, USA - where 175 employees will either be redeployed or lose their jobs.
Single-layer PET has barrier good enough for beer February 16, 2003
A PET formulated to give an effective oxygen barrier in only a single layer bottle has been developed by Mossi & Ghisolfi group (M & G), the world's second largest PET producer which bought Shell's PET business in 2000 and last year bought Rhodia's Brazilian PET business. The material is already in use for beer bottles in Russia.
The ActiTUF material imparts both active and/or passive gas barrier properties. The active barrier is achieved through a proprietary oxygen scavenging technology while the passive barrier is achieved either through the incorporation of naphthalates or through a proprietary poly-addition technology. Unlike other oxygen scavenging systems, says M & G, the new oxygen scavenging technology is triggered to react with oxygen only when a container is filled with beverage. The material is said to be recyclable in the same way as standard PET.
Initially, M & G is marketing the material in Europe and will be introducing ActiTUF resins to North America probably from Q3 of this year. Pricing is likely to be in the range Eur 330 to Eur 650/tonne above that of standard PET. M & G's target is the market for oxygen sensitive beverages such as single serve juice/juice drinks and beer, replacing glass and cans.
The first commercial use of the ActiTUF technology is by Interbrew in its Pivopack bottle being introduced to the Russian market for Klinskoye beer.
Hallite buys 10,000th Wiehe Demag February 16, 2003
The 10,000th injection moulding machine built at Demag Ergotech's small-machine plant at Wiehe in Germany has been delivered to a British company.
The Ergotech 50-270 Extra, is part of a four-machine order from Hallite Seals International of Hampton, Middlesex.
Boston Matthews opens Asian sales office February 16, 2003
Extrusion systems manufacturer Boston Matthews, which towards the end of last year took over the Munchy recycling extruder company, has opened an Asian sales and technical support office in Singapore. As well as sales and support, the office will act as the main co-ordination point for the company's Asian network of agents, which currently cover Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, Japan, and China. In charge of the new office is sales manager for Asia Pacific, Colin Davies.
EVC board says sell in the short term, but offers long term hope February 16, 2003
The directors of EVC International have been knocked off the fence in their approach to a bid by INEOS to buy the shares in EVC that it doesn't already own. The bid was made in December through an INEOS associate company, Hawkslease Finance Company, and is part of a proposal to put 10 per cent of EVC's shares into an employee share ownership scheme. As most of the EVC board are themselves employees of INEOS they stand to benefit from the proposal, so abstained in expressing an opinion to shareholders. Only William Prinselaar, who is an independent member of the board, actually opposed the proposal.
But the Dutch stock exchange has ruled that the board members may not take a neutral position over the bid, so the board has issued a go-stop recommendation to shareholders. In the next two to three years, it says, EVC is unlikely to build shareholder value or pay dividends because of the current depressed market conditions, so it recommends accepting Hawkslease's offer. Over the longer term, three to five years, the board is anticipating growth, so for long term shareholders it is recommending they do not sell to Hawkslease.
Because of the Hawkslease bid EVC has brought its end of year reporting forward, and has published 10 months (to October 31) figures which show an overall improvement in its fortunes compared with the same period in 2001. While turnover was 0·9 per cent down at Eur 904·7 million (Eur 912·6 million) the operating result rose from a loss of Eur 22·7 million to a profit of Eur 6·2 million, and the group's net loss decreased from Eur 52·9 million in 2001 to Eur 12·4 million.
But against these improvement EVC has warned that the trading conditions for PVC producers which had improved in the first half of 2002 started to weaken again in the third quarter, and the tightening of ethylene prices due to uncertainties from the Venezuelan oil problems and the Middle East political situation means that margins are again under downward pressure.
European co-operation on ultrasonic melt flow improvement February 16, 2003
Four European plastics industry associations have joined forces to launch a research and development project to improve polymer flow through the application of ultrasonic vibration.
The Polymer Machinery Manufacturers & Distributors Association (UK), The Danish Plastics Federation, AVEP Polymer Processors Association (Spain) and Assocomaplast (Italy) will be working together, with member companies on the three year Ultra-Melt project which is expected to save energy in injection moulding. The commercial companies involved in the project are UPM Machinery (UK), BMB Biraghi (Italy), DKI Plast (Holland), AEMSA (Spain), PERA (UK), FHG-TEG (Germany), AIMPLAS (Spain) and CESAP (Italy).
Their aim is to expand on a discovery from an earlier project on highly-filled parts, that the flow of polymer into a mould cavity could be increased by using ultrasonic energy to lower melt viscosity, increase flow length and lower injection pressure requirements. Benefits expected from this increase in plastic flow are reduced clamping tonnage, reduced energy consumption and reduced product wall thickness requirements, resulting in reduced material usage and therefore overall reduced part costs.
The aim of the project is to produce a prototype for a low cost ultrasonic melt system which can either be tool-mounted or retro-fittable. Although the initial study will focus on injection moulding, it is envisaged that this application can be developed for plastics extrusion.
BASF squeezes out more capacity for Poly THF February 16, 2003
BASF has streamlined production of PolyTHF polytetrahydrofuran in Korea and increased the plant's capacity from 30,000 to 40,000 tonnes. The plant, which started operations in 1998, has already been expanded when it went up from 20,000 to 30,000 tonnes in 2000. BASF also produces 1,4-butanediol and tetrahydrofuran at the site.
BASF is currently expanding its worldwide production of PolyTHF, used an an intermediate in thermoplastic polyurethanes and polyetheresters as well as in elastic fibres, with increased capacity at Ludwigshafen in Germany and plans to open the biggest plant in the world in China in 2004. Its current annual capacity is 134,000 tonnes.
Dow raises PU prices to wrestle back profits February 16, 2003
Dow has taken the first step in an avowed attempt to restore margins in its polyurethane business by announcing an April 1 price rise of Eur 150 - 200/tonne on its main polyurethanes raw materials - polyols, methylene diphenyl diisocyanate and toluene diisocyanate - in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Taking a view similar to that prefacing its epoxy price rises last year Dow says that current oil market pressures are added to 'several years of severe margin compression and tough economic conditions' to make the polyurethane market situation 'acute' - 'margin restoration is critical in 2003'. In 2001 margins in Dow's polyurethanes business fell to 10 year lows, and in 2002 the business was unable to raise prices at a pace in line with dramatically rising costs.
Higher prices for Eastman specialities February 16, 2003
Eastman Chemical Company is increasing the prices of its speciality plastics worldwide on March 1. An increase of $0·24/kg will be applied to its DuraStar, Provista and Eastalloy polyesters; Eastar, Eastman, Embrace and Tsunamie copolyesters; and Ecdel thermoplastic elastomer. Eastapak, Eastar and Eastman polyesters will go up $0·18/kg and Eastobond copolyester by $0·44/kg.
Eastman says it has not increased prices for two years because of its cost-containment policies, but now has to raise prices to fund R & D, and other overheads, alongside climbing raw materials prices.
The higher prices asked for polycarbonate are being reflected in the PC sheet made by Makroform. The company has implemented 5 - 8 per cent price increases on its Makrolon and Bayloy sheet.
Red phosphorus added to FR options February 16, 2003
Areton International Plastics has become UK and Irish distributor of Masteret red phosphorus-based flame retardant masterbatches from Italmatch Chemicals in Genova, Italy. AIP already has other FR materials available.
Although red phosphorus has previously been aimed at the engineering polymer markets, AIP has been working in the polyolefin market and has produced flame retardant foam, sheet and extruded sections incorporating Masteret.
Hamilton Machinery has become UK and Irish agent for the recycling machinery built in Germany by Plastmachines. The equipment is modular for optimum use of floor space, and lines can be equipped to suit most needs, in particular the re-processing of thin walled thermoplastic waste from film, tape, fibres and foam production, and the recycling of PET bottles and packaging.
The acquisition of Ausimont and integration with its own fluorine products division gave a boost to Solvay's plastics earnings in the last year, but just how much of a boost is less apparent as the HDPE joint venture with BP has been taken out of the group's trading account.
The division showed a turnover of Eur 1,940 million and earnings of Eur 34 million, representing a drop in turnover of 26 per cent and an increase in earnings of 234 per cent. But in 2001 the sales figure included Eur 1,221 million from the HDPE business, which lost Eur 27 milllion.
The effects of restructuring apart, Solvay's plastics business benefited from an improved performance in vinyls - partly due to the more competitive position of Solvay Indupa following the devaluation of the Argentinian peso and partly from satisfactory demand in Europe and Asia which, in contrast, put pressure on Solvay's PVC compounds business - and good sales volumes and margins for its PP and HDPE performance compounds. Set against those were more difficult markets for performance polymers, excepting PVDC and fluoroelastomers for which sales increased, and PVC compounds.
Solvay also has a substantial involvement in plastics processing, and like its materials production activities, the performance of this division was affected by structural change with the sale of its air intake systems business. While sales volume fell by 6 per cent, this division - industrial films and joint ventures in vehicle fuel systems and pipes and fittings - improved profits by 7 per cent. The Inergy Automotive Systems (50:50 with Plastic Omnium) and Pipelife (50:50 with Winerberger) operations both improved performance. Industrial films remained 'satisfactory' against raw material price increases.
Finnish-based pipe systems specialist Uponor has appointed Jan Lång as chief executive officer from the beginning of August. He joins the company in June, from Huhtamäki where he was president of the European Food Service division. Uponor's present CEO Jarmo Rytilahti will become senior executive adviser and will retire from the company in September 2004.
Welwyn Tool adds bending to welding February 16, 2003
Plastic welding tool specialist Welwyn Tool Co has moved into plastics forming equipment with its appointment as UK distributor for a new range of heating and folding machines from Herz of Germany.
The range extends from a portable benchtop heater for small R & D projects, exhibition stands and point of sale displays to large machines with multiple heating zones for simultaneous multiple bends able to handle materials up to 20 mm thick for producing industrial containers, process vessels and storage tanks.
Machinery agent Eurodata has moved to: 55 Westbrook End, Newton Longville, Buckinghamshire MK17 0DL. Telephone number is 07771 817350; fax 01908 374941.
Semi-finished materials specialist F R Warren & Company is now at Unit 10, Ashley Trading Estate, Ashley Parade, Bristol BS2 9XS. Telephone: 0117 955 8500.
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