Expansions: Milliken’s additional capacity for PP clarifier at US plant; Ampacet opens production facility in Italy

The recent launch of production at Milliken & Company’s new clarifier plant in Blacksburg, South Carolina, will enhance access to the Millad NX 8000 additive for customers worldwide. This facility will enable additives maker Milliken to increase The PP clarifier capacity by more than 50% to meet increasing demand for these products well into the future.

”We’re pleased to report that the plant has begun manufacturing product, and we plan to reach full operating capacity by the end of 2022, allowing us to increase Millad production by 50 percent,” said Cindy Boiter, president of Milliken’s Chemical Business. Announced earlier this year, “this represents the largest clarifier plant investment in Milliken history.”

Millad NX 8000 is said to help reduce carbon emissions by enabling converters to lower their energy use during processing while also improving production efficiency. This has never been more important than during this period of unparalleled spikes in energy prices. Additionally, these certified energy savings allow brand owners using PP clarified with Millad NX 8000 ECO to display the much-desired UL Environmental Claim Validation label on their injection-moulded parts.

Polypropylene (PP) is durable, lightweight, highly recyclable and, thanks to Millad, offers glass-like clarity. This improvement enables PP to be used in applications such as thin-wall packaging, adds Milliken. It also is one of the least energy-intensive polymers to make and recycle compared to other clear polymers. Additionally, the How2Recycle labelling program in late July upgraded the eligibility of rigid PP tubs, bottles, jugs, and jars to “Widely Recyclable” in the US.

In other news US masterbatch maker Ampacet has opened a new production plant in Brembate (BG), Italy in response to increased product demand. The new site doubles additive capacity and all lines are up and running. It did not state the capacity increase.

“This new site with its cutting-edge technologies will further improve the service provided to our customers by speeding up the innovation process, thus helping to bring products to market more quickly. The plant has been designed to produce minimal environmental impact and will offer our customers a full range of sustainable solutions, helping to meet new industry requirements and circular economy initiatives,” said Marcello Bergamo, Ampacet Europe Managing Director.

“The new site is based on the latest Industry 4.0 standards and improves the production process and enhances the quality provided to our customers,” he added.

(PRA)

Subscribe to Get the Latest Updates from PRA  Please click here