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.
We quote monetary figures - company results, materials prices etc - in the currency in which they were originally reported. You can convert them to your own currency at today's exchange rates.
Trade associations vie for processor members September 18, 2005
Two British trade associations have found themselves at loggerheads over a move to offer membership to polymer processing companies 'who believe themselves to be too small or too busy to bother with membership of an organisation'. The Polymer Machinery Manufacturers and Distributors Association is making the offer, from which the British Plastics Federation has 'disassociated' itself.
The PMMDA says it can offer processing companies benefits from the services it offers to machinery manufacturers and distributors - such as group discount insurance, a legal helpline, health and safety advice, education support, and a two-way channel of communication with machinery suppliers. It also offers 'a link with the major plastics industry body, the BPF' with which it works closely in supporting the 'One Industry One Voice' approach. And that has triggered angry response from the BPF with a threat of severing links with the PMMDA. In a response to the PMMDA's announcement the BPF says that the change in the PMMDA's constitution 'will raise questions about its ongoing affiliation to the BPF' and adds that the PMMDA 'did not secure the approval of the BPF for its mention of the Federation and its inferred support for this move'. 'There is absolutely no question of processors who join the PMMDA receiving any membership benefits sourced from the BPF'.
The BPF statement says that 'the Federation and its alliance of affiliated dedicated processing organisations are the only serious providers of services to the plastics processing sector' and takes a swipe at the PMMDA's motives - 'it understands that the PMMDA's move is for financial reasons'. It does not respond to the PMMDA's target of recruiting companies 'who are not already members of other plastics organisations' beyond commenting that the BPF and its affiliated organisations 'already have a strong and growing following amongst small firms'.
In its 'notes for editors' the BPF advises that it is the UK trade association representing the whole supply chain, including machinery manufacturers, which raises the question of why machinery manufacturers and distributors felt a need to set up the PMMDA at all.
PVC-specific masterbatch is patented September 18, 2005
Colour Tone Masterbatch has been granted a patent on its Vynacol colouring technology, described as 'the world's first and only polymer-specific colour masterbatch that makes it as easy to colour PVC as any other plastic material'. The company says that traditional ways of colouring uPVC such as liquid colour, wax dispersions, or universal and flexible PVC-based masterbatches introduce additional components into the compound which may present processing difficulties and/or lead to product failure through plasticiser migration or changes in physical properties. Universal masterbatches may be unsuitable in uPVC because the carrier lubricates the compound while masterbatches based on flexible PVC contain plasticisers, which are inappropriate when the target is to make a rigid compound.
Growing sales of recycling equipment trigger investment September 18, 2005
Austrian recycling equipment manufacturer Erema is planning to increase production capacity over the next couple of years following continued growth in demand which pushed sales up 15 per cent to more than Eur 70 million in the last financial year. It is in the process of buying additional land in Ansfelden and is also planning to invest at its 3 S subsidiary in Gmunden.
Solvay to increase support for specialty polymers in China September 18, 2005
Solvay is to set up a technical centre in Shanghai, China, to support sales of its high performance polymers. Solvay High Performance Materials R & D (Shanghai) is scheduled to start operations in the first quarter of 2006 in the Shanghai Zhangjiang High-Tech Park.
Solvay Specialty Polymers has an annual turnover of more than Eur 100 million in Asia and sales are developing rapidly.
Tyco plastics to go by the end of the year September 18, 2005
The sale by medical and electronics giant Tyco of its $1·8 billion plastics operations, announced in May, will take place by the end of this year. It will be followed by a sell-off of some parts of its electronics business.
Tyco's plastics business is largely concentrated on films with products for packaging, agriculture and domestic use. It has been hit by the increase in the price of commodity plastics.
The electronics segment is Tyco's biggest and the $1 billion worth of business marked for disposal represents around 10 per cent. Tyco has a target of doubling the percentage of electronics work done in low-cost countries to 70 per cent over the next four years.
BP sets out its expectations for Innovene September 18, 2005
BP's Innovene petrochemicals division, put up for sale some 18 months ago, will be the subject of a public flotation expected to raise $1 billion. Just how much of the company would be sold initially has not been revealed.
Indian-based Reliance Industries has been thought of as a possible bidder for the company and was quoted in the Times of India as being 'close to launching a bid for a $15 billion North America-based company which in turn is a wholly-owned subsidiary of one of the world's biggest multinational giants with a name that is synonymous with petroleum'.
Borealis to increase XLPE production September 18, 2005
Borealis is to invest Eur 42 million expanding its cross linkable polyethylene capacity in Stenungsund, Sweden, to meet the growing demand in the power cable industry. The additional capacity is expected to be available during the second half of 2007.
Nova joins EPS/PS JV in Mexico September 18, 2005
NOVA Chemicals Corporation of Canada and Grupo Idesa of Mexico have formalised the affiliation started in July which sees Idesa distributing Nova's polystyrene in Mexico. The two companies have now signed a binding agreement to set up a 50:50 joint venture to be called Novidesa with operations starting on October 1.
The new company, as well as distributing Nova's solid PS, will produce expanded polystyrene using Nova's technology at Idesa's Apizaco plant, 75 miles east of Mexico City.
New acetal grades at Resin Express September 18, 2005
Resin Express has added the Kocetal range of acetal copolymers from KTP Industries for distribution across Europe, except for Spain. The materials are said to have high thermal stability, reducing formaldehyde emissions. They are available from MFI 2·5 for extrusion to MFI 42 for thin wall injection moulding, and the range includes grades with glass fibre, glass bead, glass whisker and mineral reinforcements. Other grades include low wear, low friction, UV stabilised, electrically conductive, antistatic and impact resistant.
Labfacility, which makes temperature sensors, thermocouple equipment and digital thermometers, has moved its Northern Division to larger premises at the former Dinnington Colliery site. Its new address is Eden Place Unit 3b, Outgang Lane, Dinnington, Sheffield, S25 3QT. Tel: 01909 569446, fax 01909 550632.
Thermoforming pioneer dies September 18, 2005
The founder of the Illig thermoforming machine company, Adolf Illig, has died aged 88. Adolf Illig Maschinenbau was set up in Heilbronn, Germany, in 1946.
Lego to quit Europe? September 11, 2005
Celebrated Danish toy maker Lego may be Danish no more if an initial move of manufacturing to a lower cost economy is successful. The company has already announced that it is to shut or sell its mould making plant at Steinhausen in Switzerland and plans to buy its moulds from commercial toolmakers.
Now it has said that its plant at Willisau near Lucerne in Switzerland will close early next year with production being moved in part to the Czech Republic and in part outsourced. And if this is successful, production from its Billund plant in Denmark could be moved wholly or partially to China or Eastern Europe. Chief executive Joergen Vig Knudstorp has been quoted in a Danish financial newspaper saying: 'In the long term, I think that everything will be moved.'
The loss-making company's restructuring plans are scheduled for completion by 2010, and any moves would take place before that.
Energy costs set to rocket September 11, 2005
Likely domestic power price rises of around 15 per cent which have made newspaper headlines this weekend are dwarfed by predictions by the British Plastics Federation for rises in gas and electricity costs to plastics processors. According to a survey of some 25 companies with interests across the plastics sector carried out by the BPF, plastics companies face average increases of 56 and 58 per cent for electricity and gas prices respectively at the next renegotiation of their supply contracts. This compares with expectations of a 33 per cent increase for electricity and 36 per cent for gas the last time contracts were renegotiated.
Deceuninck invests in British stockholding... September 11, 2005
Window profiles extruder Deceuninck of Belgium has opened a new distribution centre adjacent to its British headquarters at Calne in Wiltshire. The 10,000 m² warehouse accommodates stock items that used to be stored at three separate warehouse sites and has the capacity to hold in excess of 1,500 stock lines. Total investment was Eur 8·2 million.
Deceuninck says that Britain is Europe's largest market for PVC windows. Opening the warehouse group chairman Arnold Deceuninck said: 'Deceuninck has been active in the UK window market for over 25 years now; a market which has grown enormously over the same period. Our British subsidiary, Deceuninck Status, is a leading player in this field'. In May the group announced that it was to close its Status Systems plant in Delph near Oldham because of falling demand in the British and German markets.
...and starts up Russian production September 11, 2005
Deceuninck's Russian subsidiary has started production of PVC window profiles at Serpuchov, some 80 km south of Moscow. Processing locally will cut transport costs and remove high import duties, making Deceuninck's products more competitive. Annual capacity of the plant is 7,000 tonnes.
Now Honeywell sells off nylon fibres September 11, 2005
Honeywell has taken a further step in tightening up its Speciality Materials by agreeing to sell its non-core nylon carpet fibres business in the USA to Shaw Industries Group, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway. The three plants, and eventually Honeywell's 50 per cent stake in the Evergreen Nylon Recycling operation it co-owns with DSM, represent 90 per cent of Honeywell's nylon fibre capacity. It is keeping its operations in Shanghai in China, Arnprior in Canada, and its US-based textile operations.
Only two and a half years ago Honeywell expanded its nylon fibres business in an assets swap with BASF in which it disposed of its engineering plastics operations.
Second Asian PC plant planned by LG-Dow September 11, 2005
The 50:50 LG-Dow Polycarbonate joint venture between LG Chem and Dow Chemical is to build its second polycarbonate plant to supply the Asian market. The 65,000 tonnes plant at Yeosu in Korea could be on-line in less than two years because infrastructure for a second plant was built into the first 65,000 tonnes plant, which opened in July 2001.
Nova plans Arcel production in China September 11, 2005
The expansion in capacity for Nova Chemicals' Arcel expandable PE/PS 'inter-polymer' announced earlier this year has taken a far-eastern turn with an agreement for Loyal Chemical Industrial Corporation to manufacture Arcel near Shanghai in China. Loyal Chemical says it is China's largest expandable polystyrene producer. Production is expected to begin in early 2006.
Arcel is said to be stronger and tougher than conventional expanded polystyrene, enabling the same protection factors to be achieved at lower volume, and thereby making economies in shipping. It runs on standard EPS equipment and can be recycled along with EPS.
Baylis invests more in plastics recycling September 11, 2005
Waste reprocessor Baylis Recycling is to expand its mixed can and plastics reclamation scheme, and to build a PET reclamation plant at its Berkshire headquarters.
In order to extend mixed can and plastic recycling into the North of England the company will open a sorting facility in Leeds in the last quarter of this year. The can and plastic service is currently used by 12 local authorities within 40 minutes of its Langley, Slough, site. The new 15,000 tonnes a year Leeds plant will to take in materials from local authorities in Yorkshire.
Steel from the can element of the mixed reclamation is to be recovered by Corus Steel, which is to install equipment at Langley.
The new PET recycling plant, originally planned for a site in Surrey, will be built alongside the existing HDPE reprocessing line at Langley and will be the first in the country to use a friction washing process. It will have a capacity of 15,000 tonnes a year, the same as the HDPE plant.
Baylis has spent £3 million this year on plastics recycling equipment and the current plans add a further £500,000.
Coralfoam/Im-Pak inventor quits September 11, 2005
Peter Clarke, inventor of the Coralfoam controlled free-foaming and Im-Pak open mould injection/compression injection moulding processes has quit his position as technical director at Coralfoam and Im-Pak after a boardroom row over strategy for the future, which he felt would stifle development. He will retain his links with the companies as a consultant, and will also be working more widely through his Yew Tree Consultancy business.
Coralfoam is a process for forming thick sections in a moulding after mould opening by controlling the action of a blowing agent through temperature regulation and other process factors. It is aimed at high speed thinwall packaging. Im-Pak is intended for the same market, and makes thinwall products quickly by injecting at low pressure into a closing mould, the product being formed by the compression of the melt.
Coralfoam has been taken up by a few companies, and Im-Pak is still largely developmental.
Polypipe bought by US investment firm September 11, 2005
Plastic pipe producer Polypipe of Doncaster has been sold by IMI to American private equity firm Castle Harlan. Castle Harlan says it sees opportunities for growth 'through greater focus on core businesses, more coordination between business units and new products, including products from China and other low cost sources'. The company also hints at 'possible complementary acquisitions'.
IMI has sold Polypipe as the last part of a four-year restructure to focus on fluid control products and beverage dispensing equipment. The final price depends on Polypipe's performance, but could reach £293 million.
Polypipe focuses on rainwater, sewage and drainage products as well as plumbing and central heating pipes and fittings. Operating profit in 2004 was £27·2 million on sales of £372 million. Polypipe employs 2,900 people in 39 plants, mainly in the UK. Its doors and windows business had already ceased operations before the sale.
Former Polypipe Civils managing director David Hall has rejoined the company as chief executive.
IQMS sets up European subsidiary September 11, 2005
Plasticsgrid, which distributed the IQMS EnterpriseIQ manufacturing enterprise software, has been integrated into IQMS to form IQMS Europe. Now, instead of a third party providing the implementation services, the software is being sold, implemented and supported by a single company. Earlier this year IQMS set up IQMS Asia with an office in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. A second IQMS Asia office recently opened in Shanghai, China.
K-Tron rationalises its product lines September 11, 2005
K-Tron has combined the interests of its pneumatic conveying customers and its process feeder customers - some of whom are the same - by setting up a single division, K-Tron Feeder Group, which incorporates its Process Group and Pneumatic Conveying Group. With this comes a new name for the K-Tron operations in the UK.
K-Tron entered the pneumatic conveying business in 1997 with the acquisition of Hurricane, a small Canadian company. The pneumatic conveying business was strengthened by the acquisition of two British companies Colormax in 2000 and Pneumatic Conveying Systems in 2001. The PCS and Colormax businesses have been run by a separate K-Tron division, the Pneumatic Conveying Group, and have remained mostly focused on the UK market.
For the last four years, the K-Tron Feeder Group has sold both the traditional Hurricane vacuum receivers as well as PCS vacuum receivers under the Hurricane name. Now K-Tron will use the new K-Tron PCS name for its pneumatic conveying equipment and the Hurricane name will be phased out. The Colormax brand will continue on ancillary equipment for moulding and extrusion applications.
The original Hurricane Pneumatic Conveying plant in Canada is to be closed and operations transferred to the Pitman plant in the USA.
In Britain K-Tron Great Britain (direct sales for feeders), Pneumatic Conveying Systems and Colormax will be combined into one business unit, K-Tron PCS GB.
The K-Tron Soder name formerly used for feeders has been replaced by simply K-Tron Feeders.
PBE to sell Dubuit screen printers September 11, 2005
PBE Marking Systems has taken over British and Irish representation of Machines Dubuit screen-printing equipment. Both companies - along with Teca-Print and CER - are part of the Paris-based Dubuit Group of companies which reckons to be the largest European manufacturer of object decoration and marking equipment. Machines Dubuit equipment was sold in Britain for many years by Springvale Equipment. PBE, formerly known as PB & E Marking Equipment and a manufacturer of hot foil and pad printing equipment in its own right, is already the UK representive for CER hot stamping equipment.
BASF to raise Antwerp cracker capacity September 11, 2005
BASF is to expand the capacity of the naphtha steam cracker at its site in Antwerp, Belgium. Expansion will take place during the next regular turnaround of the plant scheduled for the autumn of 2007 to avoid any additional shutdown. The investment of about Eur 200 million will raise annual ethylene capacity from 800,000 to 1·08 million tonnes, making the plant the largest single-train steam cracker in Europe.
The company expects the additional olefins and aromatics from the expansion to be absorbed by existing and future internal demand, while the ethylene will be sold on the open market or swapped for other chemicals. As no major new cracker projects are foreseen in Europe until at least 2009 and in view of projected average demand growth of 1 to 1·5 percent per year, BASF says the additional ethylene volumes will fit into the market.
Rhodia spins Fortron PPS September 11, 2005
Rhodia Polyamide says it is the first European company to offer polyphenylene sulphide staple fibres, following an agreement with Ticona to spin Fortron PPS. Fibres are initially available between Dtex 2·2 and Dtex 7, however Rhodia is developing the product range to include finer and coarser counts.
Typical applications would include filter media where a combination of high temperature, chemical and hydrolysis resistance is required. PPS staple fibres are also used for hot gas filtration in sectors such as power generation, stone and cement, chemical and allied industries.
Rexam continues on its plastics expansion trail September 11, 2005
UK-based international packaging giant Rexam is continuing with its policy of expansion in plastics packaging with the purchase of an American injection moulded jars and closures company. It is to buy Delta Plastics of Hot Springs, Arkansas, for £83 million and expects to earn its money back in two years.
Delta Plastics employs more than 350 people at two plants in Hot Springs, and also has a technology centre near Los Angeles, California, which designs, develops and manufactures its own moulds and automation equipment. It serves mainly the personal care and food markets and holds a number of patents on its product designs.
For Rexam the purchase increases its presence in the USA, and offers potential synergies in areas such as raw materials purchasing, technology access and additional sales - particularly to the multinational food companies with which it is already doing business.
Peter Bealch, who founded silicone rubber extruder Advanced Polymers of Worthing, has retired after 30 years in the industry. He will remain as a consultant while his son in law Gary White takes over the running of the company.
Solvay names sulphone polymer expansion site September 11, 2005
The new Radel polyethersulphone/polyphenylsulphone plant announced by Solvay earlier this year is to be built at Marietta, Ohio, USA. Construction is expected to start towards the end of this year with full operation by the end of 2006. When operating at full capacity, the new unit will nearly triple Solvay's existing PES and PPS capacity. The investment cost is in excess of $50 million. Recently both Fortron Industries and Chevron Phillips announced plans to double PPS capacity.
Jenco adds German granulator September 11, 2005
Jenco has become exclusive UK and Ireland distributor for granulators made by Wanner Technik of Germany. There are several machines in the range with options on soundproof enclosure, motors, cutting chamber sizes and controls and they can be equipped with either the standard hopper, a robot in-feed chute or a tray for manual hand feed.
BASF is to buy engineering plastics compounder Leuna-Miramid of Germany. The company was founded in 1995 and has an annual capacity of approximately 30,000 tonnes.
DuPont appoints new Packaging Solutions head September 11, 2005
Heike Van De Kerkhof has been appointed global director by DuPont Packaging Solutions. Diego Boeri succeeds him as the new regional director (EMEA), Ethylene Copolymers (ECP).
ON-LINE
ON-LINE Home