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In this Edition December 2011 |
LEAD FEATURE |
COMPANY NEWS |
MATERIALS NEWS |
MACHINERY NEWS |
INJECTION MOULDING ASIA |
RUBBER JOURNAL ASIA |
 ELECTRONIC ISSUE |
PRA December 2011 Electronic Issue Now Available |
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Lead Feature Portrait of 2011 and a glimpse into 2012
As we begin the countdown to 2012, we look back on 2011 and the calamities, from the earthquake in New Zealand, earthquake/tsunami in Japan to subsequent flooding in Thailand, all of which affected the plastics and chemical sectors in one way or another.
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Company News
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Shell pilots new PC process and enters into Middle East jv
UK-based Shell and Qatar Petroleum are to develop a world-scale petrochemicals complex in Ras Laffan Industrial City, Qatar, with the products to be sold primarily to Asia. In other news, Shell is piloting new process to produce polycarbonate (PC) feedstock at its Singapore plant.
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Evonik strengthens nylon supply
Germany-based speciality polymers supplier Evonik Industries is expanding capacity for its PA12, by adding on further capacity at its German plant and setting up a new 20,000 tonne/year-plant in Asia. Though it did not identify the location in Asia, Evonik already operates an acrylic plant in Shanghai, China.
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Companies make forays into the South Korean market
While the recent death of North Korean dictator Kim Jong Il has shaken South Korea, plastics companies are continuing with their forays into the country. German supplier BASF is building a 6,000 tonne/year-plant for Ultrason polyethersulfone (PESU) in Yeosu, AkzoNobel has acquired SSCP's coatings business and Süd-Chemie and LG Chem are building a lithium iron phosphate plant.
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Carbon fibre joint venture
Dow Chemical is entering into a 50:50 joint venture with Turkish carbon fibre producer Aksa Akrilik Kimya Sanayii to manufacture and commercialise carbon fibre and derivatives with a US$1 billion investment over five years.
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PTT's PU jv formalised
The joint venture for the worldwide manufacturing and sales of products for the polyurethane industry between speciality chemicals company Perstorp and Thailand-based PTT Global Chemical has been signed.
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In Brief
BASF sales to emerging countries increasesBASF says its sales to customers in emerging markets have almost tripled in the past ten years and accounted for approximately one-third of total sales (excluding Oil & Gas) in 2010. In 2020, the company expects current emerging markets to contribute 45% to sales. Investments will boost the company's future growth. Between 2011 and 2020, BASF plans capital expenditures of EUR30 billion to EUR35 billion. More than one-third of this amount will be invested in emerging markets.
Hexpol adds on TPE producer
Swedish Hexpol is acquiring Germany-based TPE compound maker Horst Müller Kunststoffe from the Rowa Group for EUR39 million. Müller has annual sales of EUR46 million and 90 employees. The purchase is in line with growth of the TPE compounding market, especially in the field of medical, consumer, general industry and automotive, said Hexpol, which is also building a manufacturing plant in southern China for TPE compounding.
Adhesives bonding by Fuller and Forbo
US-based adhesives supplier HB Fuller is purchasing the global industrial adhesives business of Swiss company Forbo for CHF370 million. The business to be acquired represents about 80% (by revenue) of the Forbo Bonding Systems division of Forbo Group, which is a manufacturer of floor coverings, adhesives as well as power transmission and conveyor belt solutions. This business will generate US$580 million in revenue for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2011, operates 17 manufacturing facilities in ten countries and employs more than 1,100 people globally. The transaction, which is expected to close in March 2012, will create one of the world's largest market participants in the area of industrial adhesives.
Cabot to shift production to China
US carbon black supplier Cabot is closing its Hong Kong masterbatch plant in March next year and shifting its production to a new facility in Tianjin, China. The company says the move will allow for competitive advantages like being closer to its customers.
Materials News
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Plexiglas used in large scale PVs
Experts estimate the world's installed capacity for concentrating photovoltaics (CPV) at 23 MW in 2010, with market research company GTM Research expecting annual demand to rise to more than a gigawatt by 2015. Gone are the days of small pilot plants and all these solar panels require high quality lenses.
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API invests to increase capacity
Italy-based producer of thermoplastic compounds (TPE, TPU and bioplastics) API says it has made significant investments in production machinery and R&D increasing capacity by up to 25%.
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Clariant triples capacity for Exolit
Swiss chemicals supplier Clariant is increasing capacity for its Exolit OP non-halogenated flame retardants, with the addition of a third line at its Hürth-Knapsack site in Germany, and evaluating a site for Asian production.
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Songwon preps OPS with buy and output in Middle East
South Korean additives supplier Songwon Industrial has acquired Additives Technology Greiz (ATG), a German producer of One Pack Systems (OPS), and is also cooperating with Gulf-based Pan Gulf Holdings and Polysys Industries for the manufacture and sale of its Songnox OPS.
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Cardia bags deal in China and sells to Europe
Australian bioplastics maker Cardia Bioplastics has secured a contract from China to supply waste bags made from its Biohybrid products. In other news, Cardia's material is being used by Polyden Folien to produce film for the European packaging industry
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Coke to use PEF for its bottles
Dutch research and technology company, Avantium, has developed a patented technology, YXY, to produce 100% biobased PEF bottles. Based on the performance of the new material, Avantium believes PEF will become the next-generation biobased polyester and is working with Coca-Cola to further co-develop the technology for producing PEF bottles.
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Making mass production of composite auto parts a reality
Japanese material supplier Teijin will establish what it says will be the world's first pilot plant for fully integrated production of carbon fibre-reinforced thermoplastic (CFRTP) components from carbon fibre at its Matsuyama facility in Japan. The company will also work with US automotive maker GM to reduce vehicle weight through composites.
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In Brief
Colourants to be produced in ChinaUS-based specialised polymer supplier PolyOne is starting up production of its Stan-Tone paste colourants at its plant in Shenzhen, China, in response to global demand for colourant dispersions used in thermoset polymers for building and construction in applications such as sealants, caulks, flooring and indoor and outdoor decking.
Bioplastics market on meteoric riseGlobal demand for biodegradable and bio-based plastics will more than triple to more than 1 million tonnes in 2015 with a value of US$2.9 billion, according to a new market study by US-based Freedonia Group. The increase will be driven by rising petroleum prices, consumer preferences for sustainable materials, improved performance of bioplastics and the introduction of commodity plastics produced from bio-based sources. The report also says that prices of the resins will be on par with conventional materials by the end of the decade.
Machinery News
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Europeans upbeat about 2011 but enter 2012 with caution
The Italian plastics and rubber machinery association Assocomaplast says the export markets, especially China, aided growth in sales in 2011. Meanwhile, the German plastics and rubber machinery association VDMA raised its forecast for sales growth from 18 to 22% and a new all-time high of turnover of EUR6 billion but painted a pessimistic outlook for next year.
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Record year for centenarian Reifenhäuser
Germany-based Reifenhäuser not only celebrated its 100th year anniversary this year but also had a record year in terms of its results, with sales up by 12% and orders up by 50%. The company is also eyeing the Indian market keenly, especially the flexible packaging market.
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Quick changeover from new IBC
US-based Addex, a global supplier of blown film equipment, has introduced an internal bubble cooling (IBC) system said to deliver the fastest reaction time in the industry.
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. Injection Moulding Asia
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KraussMaffei to expand output in China
German machinery company KraussMaffei is viewing the Chinese market with optimism and has announced plans to double its capacity in China as well as in Slovakia, by 2013.
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Jebco to launch Autothane products in China
Malaysian company Kumpulan Jebco will start up a US$8 million plant in China next year and produce under license Dow Automotive Systems's Autothane microcellular polyurethane systems for cars, for management of impact, shock and vibration in chassis and suspension uses (spring aids and components to reduce noise, vibration and harshness).
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