India will continue to heavily depend on plastics in the next five years, says a report from GlobalData. The country is currently the world’s third largest consumer of polymers, behind China and the US, with a share of 5.7% of the 2011 global total – an increase from its 2000 size of 3.5%.

According to the report, manufacture of polymer products will reach 11.575 million tonnes/year by 2016, a 9.4% CAGR from the 7.377 million tonnes/year in 2011. The report also shows that polymer demand is outstripping the country’s GDP growth. From 2000-2011, India’s GDP climbed at a 7.6% CAGR whereas polymer consumption grew at a CAGR of 9.1%.

As plastics continue to create inroads into more applications such as agriculture, it is said that the industry can help address the country’s food problems. Plasticulture, a process that involves the use of plastics in agriculture and horticulture, is gaining popularity in India. In particular, micro-irrigation, which strategically places small devices that deliver water to specific soil locations. An effective device for areas with water shortage, micro-irrigation reduces water consumption by as much as 70%.

With the help of the government, widespread use of micro-irrigation is expected to happen. The Micro-Irrigation Scheme (MIS) to date has brought 1.79 million ha under micro-irrigation at an estimated costs of US450 million. By 2017, 10 million ha of land will have these devices, which will spark the demand for polymers.

US firm Huntsman Corp. has acquired the remaining stake of Huntsman NMG, its Russian PU joint venture with NMG, the manufacturer of PU in Russia and other areas of the former Soviet Union.

Shanghai Sinopec Mitsui Elastomers, a 50:50 joint-venture between Chinese firm Sinopec and Japan-based Mitsui Chemicals, will build an ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer (EPT) production plant in Shanghai Chemical Industry Park

Swiss speciality chemicals group Clariant is acquiring the remaining 40% share of a joint venture between Alvigo and Chemie.

Belgian firm Solvay has started up its EUR21 million speciality polymers compounding plant at Changshu, targeting the electronics, automotive, consumer and industrial applications markets.

German automotive Tier 1 supplier Faurecia has opened a major R&D centre in Pune, India. Employing 800 automotive engineers, the facility will serve interior systems, automotive seating and automotive exteriors.

US international aerospace and industrial manufacturing and service provider Barnes Group will acquire privately held hot runner maker Synventive Molding Solutions for US$335 million.

US firms Bermis has tied up with Norwegian Thin Film Electronics to develop the Bemis Intelligent Packaging Platform for the commercial development of functional sensor labels manufactured from new and emerging printed electronic technology made from Thin Film’s propriety read/writable printed memory and programme logic

Not only did German robot maker Krauss-Maffei Automation celebrate its 30th anniversary since its foundation, it also marked it with its 1,000th robot delivery from the “robot wharf” of its branch in Schwerin.