Welcome to E-News Update from Plastics & Rubber Asia

February 2011

LEAD FEATURE

Unravelling the rubber recycling tread

COMPANY NEWS

US companies doing better

Clariant to take over Süd-Chemie

KPPC ships heavy aromatics to Asia

Borouge awards contract for XLPE unit

Sabic ships first acetone load to India

MATERIALS NEWS

Fly ash to hit the roof

PET bottle comes on board

High heat resistant PEEK label

All-plastic wheelchair is wheeled out

TPU for high heat applications

Funding to develop carbon fibres

Pilot plant for carbon dioxide-based PUs

MACHINERY NEWS

German machinery sales pick up

Kreyenborg clinches Korean deal

Brückner buys PackSys Global

Icma extruder for lab line

EXHIBITION NEWS

MPlas in a right setting

RUBBER JOURNAL ASIA

Comar to settle into industrial site

More tyre bladders in South America

Competitive rubber material

Thailand on new rubber planting drive

New silicones for medical devices

INJECTION MOULDING ASIA

Sumitomo expands machine range

Hot gas welding integrated in injection moulding process

Mould maker expands portfolio with new company

New hybrid model ramps up vertical moulding

German machinery sales pick up

erman plastics and rubber machine makers recorded 17% higher sales in the last financial year, pointing to a recovery in the market that was faster than expected, according to VDMA, the German Plastics and Rubber Machinery Association. Furthermore, sales outside Europe increased by 19%, led by China, the US and India.

"The process of recovery was so strong that by the end of the year sales had grown even faster than predicted," said Ulrich Reifenhäuser, President of VDMA.

Meanwhile, Ulrich Reifenhäuser, who is also the rotating chairman of the German Plastics Industry Federation (WVK), said that the recovery has turned out far better than the industry consensus predicted 12 months ago and the positive trend in the second half of 2010 has taken many market participants "by surprise". He added, "The rather cautious estimates dating back to the middle of the year were overtaken by events."

VDMA says its members will generate EUR4.5 billion in sales in 2010 since many companies have a backlog of work and are working at full capacity well into this year. Ulrich Reifenhäuser said, "Many firms in the plastics industry have full order books; production and employment for the weeks and months ahead are secure."