UK Fibrecycle developed high-performance yarns and fabrics

(PlastEurope) -- Multi-partner UK recycling project Fibrecycle has developed a generation of high-performance, low-cost co-mingled carbon fibre yarns and fabrics. The materials consist of carbon/PET, manufactured from virgin recovered carbon fibre that would otherwise have gone to landfill.

The new materials have almost 100% of the stiffness of virgin materials and are available at a lower cost than similar products currently available on the market, Fibrecycle says. They are also beneficial to the environment and retain the traceability of virgin materials. In common with other co-mingled and blended materials, the fabrics are simply placed in a mould tool under pressure and passed through a heating and cooling cycle.

The project, which aims to develop processes for recovering and recycling carbon fibre and reusing it in high value products, is nearing the end of its four-year programme and has made ⌠excellent progress against its objectives of developing low-cost, high-performance carbon fibre materials from waste streams.

MRC

(Arabian Oil and Gas) -- ICL, a multinational fertilizer and specialty chemicals company, announced that its joint venture operation in India, Zuari Rotem Specialty Fertilizers, will search for suitable plots for two additional soluble fertilizer manufacturing plants in northern and eastern India.

The initiative follows the success of the joint venture's first plant, the steadily growing demand throughout India for specialty fertilizers, and the Company's desire to capitalize on the economic advantages of manufacturing within its target markets.

ICL's Indian partner, Zuari Industries, is a major Indian producer and distributor of fertilizers and agricultural products.

MRC

(Plastemart) -- The new state government in West Bengal has decided to scrap the proposed petroleum, chemicals and petrochemicals investment region (PCPIR) on Nayachar island in Bengal's East Midnapore district on environmental grounds. The government has decided not to allow a chemical hub in the state because of threat of air and land pollution and a threat to livelihood of fishermen. This week, Bengal will take a call on the proposed ecotourism project, power plant and Polypark at Nayachar, to replace the ecotourism project.

MRC

(PlasticsToday) -- KraussMaffei's doubling of its automation production area to 1570 square meters is currently running ahead of the company's original construction timetable, with interior fittings and the construction of the assembly stations to start in September, and the entire production hall to be completed in October. At this pace, the company says robot fabrication will commence at the beginning of November.

Karlheinz Bourdon, managing director of KraussMaffei Technologies GmbH (Munich) said the expansion was undertaken in response to the growing demand for automated production cells in injection molding. "Our customers are increasingly recognizing the value-added and efficiency potential of effective production cells comprising robots and injection molding machines," Bourdon said.

Construction work on the second production hall in Schwaig only began in the middle of April 2011. KraussMaffei will use the space to create its range of automation systems for injection molding machines, including linear, side entry, and industrial six-axis robots.

MRC

(Reuters) - South Korea's Honam Petrochemical bought 50 KT of naphtha at around USD 2.00 a tonne above Japan quotes on a cost-and-freight (C&F) basis, highest premium paid in the country in 3-1/2 months, traders said on Wednesday.

Honam bought the open-grade naphtha for second-half September arrival a day after YNCC had paid about USD 1.00 a tonne for the same arrival period, reflecting stronger premiums.

"There will be less Indian exports ahead and that boosted premiums. Additionally, Japan domestic naphtha stocks are also down," said a North Asian trader.

India is expected to reduce its September exports to around 850 KT from 1 million tonnes in August.

MRC