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In this Edition May 2012 |
LEAD FEATURE |
COMPANY NEWS |
MATERIALS NEWS |
MACHINERY NEWS |
EXHIBITION NEWS |
INJECTION MOULDING ASIA |
RUBBER JOURNAL ASIA |
 ELECTRONIC ISSUE |
PRA June-July 2012 Electronic Issue Now Available |
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Lead Feature Lanxess prepares for green tyre demand
After Lanxess's Dr Ron Commander, Head of itsButyl Rubber Business Unit, predicted a brighter future for synthetic rubber at the World Rubber Summit held last week in Singapore, the German speciality chemicals firm is seriously rolling up its sleeves to meet increased demand at its facilities in China, Singapore and France and Belgium. |
Company News
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Malaysians skeptical over Kuokuang project
A petrochemical investment project that has been scrapped in Taiwan is set to be transplanted to the Petronas Refinery and Petrochemical Integrated Development in Pengerang, Johor. This is much to the dismay of some Malaysians still fighting the building of the rare earth plant in Kuantan by Australian firm Lynas.
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Dow wins suit
The International Court of Arbitration in Paris has decided that Kuwait's Petrochemical Industries (PIC) must pay US firm Dow Chemical for backing out of the K-Dow deal. Dow will be awarded US$2.16 billion, which has not been factored yet into its current finances. According to Dow this will in the end enhance its financial stability.
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Acquisitions in the US
Materials supplier Kuraray is acquiring Monosol, a manufacturer of water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) films, while Georg Fischer has bought a US pipe maker and Nordson is purchasing die maker EDI.
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Sumitomo reveals new JV projects
Japanese firm Sumitomo Chemical and Rabigh Refining and Petrochemical Company revealed plans to construct new production assets in the Gulf, including plants for thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), and low-density polyethylene/ethylene vinyl acetate (LDPE/EVA). The plants are expected to go on-stream beginning H1 2016.
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Hopes remain high amidst economic slowdown
Despite the continuing European debt and the worldwide economic decline, the global chemistry and plastic industry remains optimistic, says Ceresana Research. The research firm interviewed decision-makers in 47 countries that generally revealed plans of even increasing production volume.
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New strategy and rebranding to Versalis
The new face of Italian firm Eni's chemicals division is Versalis. Created following the rebranding of Polimeri Europa, Versalis brings to mind the concept of universality, widespread presence, stability, safety and security, said Daniele Ferrari, CEO.
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Thai firm buys Japanese chemical unit
Thai refiner and petrochemicals firm IRPC, a subsidiary of Thai national oil company PTT, is acquiring a 25% stake in UBE Chemical for 5.3 billion baht. UBE has facilities of 220,000 sq m in IRPC's industrial estate in Rayong province and obtains most of its feedstock from IRPC.
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Lanxess pumps up plastics capacity
In line with its green mobility theme this year, German firm Lanxess has been investing in not only its rubber plants but also into high-tech plastics to facilitate more materials to cater to growing demand from the automotive sector. Its latest investment of EUR75 million is for a 90,000-tonne/year polyamide plant in Antwerp, Belgium, to start up in the first quarter of 2014.
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In Brief
Cytec to divest coating resins businessCytec Industries is selling its coating resins business before end-2012. This is part of its strategy to focus on high-growth, advanced composite materials and separation technologies. The company did not disclose any further details. Besides urethane resins, the coatings business includes radiation-cured types, liquid coating resins and additives, powder-coating resins and amino crosslinkers.
Solvay confirms sale and opens research centre
Belgium firm Solvay has sold Pipelife and opened an R&D centre in Savli, India. The sale of its 50% stake in Pipelife to Wienerberger will add EUR172 million to the company's accounts. The new R&D facility, meanwhile, will bolster the company's capabilities with over 200 researchers focused on high-performance polymers, organic chemistry, nano composites and green chemistry. The company believes that India offers a significant growth opportunity and the R&D centre will be pivotal in the implementation of its strategy and assist it to create customer-tailored innovations.
Materials News
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Sabic to produce multi-wall PC in India and introduces HDPE for films
Fuelled by India's vibrant economy and infrastructure investment, materials supplier Sabic is building a new multiwall sheet production line at its plant in Vadodara, India. This expansion underlines the company's already extensive capabilities in the region, which include a local team of expert technologists, and a complete supply chain and distribution organisation.
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Sugarcane shortage not alarming
For the first time in 11 years, sugarcane production in Brazil fell flat this year due to bad weather and weak investments. Nevertheless, materials supplierBraskem believes that the current sugarcane shortage will not adversely affect its projects to produce renewable plastics from fermented sugars.
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TPVs meet FDA standards
US firm Teknor Apex has launched high-purity TPV medical for applications like stoppers, seals and gaskets. Compared to other TPEs, the new product exhibits a wide range of hardness level and high purity and resilience, says the company.
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To help aircraft manufacturers create lightweight and fuel-efficient aircrafts affordably, UK-based materials supplier Victrex Polymer Solutions together with the PFW Aerospace havedeveloped a polymer-based pipe system for the cargo drainage system on the Airbus A350 XWB.
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Plastics that can remember!
A new TPU developed by German supplier Bayer MaterialScience, together with the BAM Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing in Berlin, shows that plastics can also have a memory.
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Australian supplier Cardia Bioplastics has launched a compostable bubble wrap that provides better protective performance compared to traditional bubble wrap. The firm's Biohybrid resin has also been used by protective packaging manufacturer Sealed Air for a new film.
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PBN resins potential
Japanese firm Teijin Chemicals has launched its polybutylene napthalate (PBN) resins, which have better chemical resistance, gas and barrier resistance and wear properties than PPS and polyacetal. Although priced higher, the company said that its PNB resin is making inroads in a variety of applications.
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Twelve tonnes of oil palm biomass is on its way from Malaysia to a plant in Italy for tests on its suitability for conversion into industrial sugar. Successful results could one day result in commercial scale production of high-value green chemicals from the non-edible residue of Malaysia's vast oil palm plantations.
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Momentive expands PU additives capacity
US-based silicone and materials supplier Momentive Performance Materials has made some strategic investments in its manufacturing operations in China, India, Brazil and Belgium for urethane additives, such as surfactants, catalysts and process modifiers, which are critical components in PU foam production.
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Machinery News
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Macro introduces PV sheet line
Canadian film and sheet extrusion systems supplier, Macro, has launched its newest extrusion line for photovoltaic (PV) sheet production.
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AWWA issues report guide
The American Water Works Association (AWWA) has issued a report to be used as reference guide for the installation of cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) pipe. The report was written by the AWWA C904 Subcommittee of the Standards Committee on Polyolefin Pressure Pipe and Fittings and describes methods of manufacturing, material properties and the capabilities of the flexible pipe known for durability, performance characteristics and installation efficiency.
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New technology enables EVA sheet manufacturing
EVA sheets can now be produced at high output through Krauss MaffeiBestorff's new flat sheet extrusion system. The new system is said to support EVA sheets of over 3m with optimal visual properties, return for the edge trimming, and low shrinkage.
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Urbanisation to fuel Battenfeld-Cincinnati's growth in China
Despite predictions of a cooling economy in China, many equipment manufacturing companies in the plastics and rubber industry are still considering it as their surest growth bets. Battenfeld- Cincinnati (Foshan) Extrusion Systems, an extrusion machinery manufacturer, are among the manufacturers that have reported good performances in China. The company's sales in China shot up from US$6.8 million in 2010 to US$43.6 million in 2011.
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Exhibition News
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More foreign visitors at Italian show
The slowdown in Europe had an effect on the Italian Plast 2012 exhibition in Milan held recently. Though the overall number of visitors went down to 50,593, compared to 55,175 in 2009, foreign visitors totalled more than 18,000, compared to 17,500 at the 2009 edition, said the show organiser Promaplast.
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. Injection Moulding Asia
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Resin for implantable medical devices
Solvay Specialty Polymers has launched a new radio visible Zeniva PEEK resin for use in implantable medical devices. The Zeniva ZA-520 provides image contrasting capabilities for optimal visualisation with x-ray, CT and MRI imaging systems.
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New robot range launched
Austria-based Wittmann Group has launched new models of its linear robot range. Available worldwide, the revamped W831 linear robot offers processors the opportunity to automate the production of even heavier payloads on middle-size moulding machines. It can be equipped with vertical strokes ranging from 1,000 mm, 1,200 mm to 1,400 mm.
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Automotive parts made lighter with PP and fibre use
Borealis and Borouge have introduced a new grade of PP for use in lightweight bumper applications for two new Renault automotive platforms, while French automotive parts supplier Faurecia is developing a system to injection mould using natural fibre to replace compression moulded parts.
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