Remcon Plastics to expand its capacity

(Plastics Today) -- Custom rotational molder Remcon Plastics Inc. announced new equipment additions to expand its capacity. Remcon recently installed a new Ferry 280 rotational molding machine that increased the company's capacity by 20%. Additionally, 23 employees have been hired, working three shifts to handle manufacturing of new products driven by sales growth.


Remcon specializes in products for the material handling and safety products market segments. The company's products include polyethylene FDA/USDA compliant containers for storage, in-process handling and shipping of food products. Remcon will be showcasing some of its newest products at Pack Expo in Las Vegas, September 26-28.


Equipment at Remcon includes a Ferry RS 400, one of the largest rotational molding machines on the East coast, with 160-inch swing capability and each arm rated for 5000/lb of capacity, including the weight of the mold and the material.


MRC

MGS Manufacturing Group added molding facility in Ireland

(Plastics Today) -- MGS Manufacturing Group opened a new manufacturing location in Leixlip, Ireland. Formally named MGS Mfg. Group, Ltd., the facility is the fifth production molding plant, and the company's first outside of North America. The facility will manufacture products for the computer/electronics market, along with healthcare and consumer products. The facility has just over 45,000 sq-ft of manufacturing space and will house three electric injection molding machines, ranging from 100 to 350 tons.


MGS also plans an on-site tool shop to support production mold preventive maintenance, engineering changes and the inspection of incoming transfer molds. This service will also be offered to area OEMs to provide maintenance repairs of molds they run in-house.


This expansion of the company's global operations will allow MGS to increase productivity to better serve its customers.


MRC

Lukoil shut Kazakh projects on poor discoveries

(Arabian Oil and Gas) -- Lukoil Overseas is shutting down two projects in the Kazakh sector of the Caspian Sea after geological exploration failed to find commercial reserves of hydrocarbons, according to an Interfax report citing Andrei Kirillov, head of the company's local affiliate in Astana.


He said that all commercial and social commitments under the projects had been met. He added that a drilling contractor is currently being selected for the third license section, Zhambai Yuzhny-Yuzhnoye Zaburunye. He also said "The process has been delayed in connection with the difficult operating conditions at that shallow water section and also due to the lack of appropriate drilling equipment in the region."


Work at the Atashsky section was performed by Atash a joint venture between KazMunayGas subsidiary KazMunayTeniz and Lukoil Overseas Atash. Under the terms of the contract, Lukoil bore all of the project costs in the geological exploration phase.


MRC

KBR has been awarded a contract by LG Chem

(Plastemart) -- KBR has been awarded a contract by LG Chem Ltd. (LG) to license KBR's leading phenol technology for LG's 240 KTa phenol plant in Daesan, South Korea. The Daesan plant will be the second license by LG for KBR's phenol technology. The first phenol plant in Yesou was originally licensed in 2002 for 150 KTA and later expanded to 240 KTA. The new plant in Daesan will be part of an integrated, world-scale facility from cumene to BPA production. KBR will also provide the necessary engineering services in order to help LG meet its project schedule, which is targeting to be on-stream during H1- 2013.


⌠KBR's phenol process is a benchmark in the industry and has been on the leading-edge of phenol technology for more than 60 years, said John Derbyshire, President, KBR Technology. ⌠KBR's longstanding relationship with LG Chem began with the license for LG's first phenol unit in 2002 and has continued with ongoing cooperation in many areas of the technology. Nearly 10 years later, we are pleased to once again offer our technology to help LG meet its growth objectives.


MRC

BOPP films imports to Russia up by one third over the seven months

(MRC) -- Over the seven months, total volume of BOPP films imports to the Russian market made nearly 22 KT, that was one third more year on year, according to MRC DataScope.


This year the peak of BOPP films imports to the Russian market was observed in May (3.64 KT), and by the end of July it had decreased to 3.24 KT. In fact, imports decline was observed in all sectors of consumption, the only exception made cigarette packaging sector.


The biggest increase in imports was fixed in the so-called sector of films without printing. This year imports to the Russian market of these films doubled nearly to 5 KT. About 54% of the increase in supplies was made by films with printing.


The smallest imports increase was made in the sector of films for tobacco products packaging (about 2%), mostly due to decline in cigarettes production in Russia. According to Rosstat, this year cigarette production fell by 5%.


In July, some Russian producers of BOPP films gradually began to increase production. Following August results, it is expected that output of BOPP films in Russia will be more than 10 KT, by that the Russian producers will partially substitute imports in the domestic market.


MRC