Frost & Sullivan commends DSM for developing Green Arnitel Eco

(DSM) -- Based on its recent analysis of the TPC elastomers market, Frost & Sullivan recognises DSM Engineering Plastics (DSM) with the 2011 Frost & Sullivan Europe Green Excellence in Product Innovation Award for Arnitel Eco.


⌠This innovative and more sustainable partly bio-based thermoplastic copolyester elastomer (TPC) offers superior performance characteristics, notes Frost & Sullivan Industry Analyst Deepan Kannan. ⌠It is set to meet the increasing demand for more environment-friendly materials in a range of end-user applications.


This revolutionary material, launched in 2010, is partially made from rapeseed oil. With it, DSM aims to encourage end-users to reduce their carbon footprint by switching over to Arnitel Eco from petrochemical-based TPC elastomers.


Although designed for several applications including food packaging, automotive interiors, sports and leisure, furniture, consumer electronics and alternative energy, Arnitel Eco is currently used commercially for high temperature ovenable pan liners. Its application in M&Q Packaging Corporation's PanSaver ECO has resulted in a carbon footprint reduction of nearly 65 per cent.


Perspectives of development of polymer markets, pricing issues and other important aspects will be discussed at The Polymers Summit-2011, which will be held in Moscow on November 30, 2011 at the Ritz Carlton Hotel. The Summit will be organized by MRC with the support of ICIS. The main idea of the Summit is to find a "the golden mean" between producers and converters. When producers receive exactly such margin of production, which helps them to invest in production expansion in order to substitute polymers imports, and the converters receive such price of feedstock that helps them to compete imported finished products. The Summit site gives an access to the live video of the Summit, speakers" presentations, as well as opportunities to ask questions or make appointments to any Summit partcipant.


MRC

IQPC Plastics Packaging South Africa focuses on sustainability

(ICIS) -- The IQPC Plastics Packaging South Africa conference opened on Tuesday, with the focus on sustainability and an aim to look at Africa as a whole, all the while examining challenges in Africa, said event chairman Patrick Munyembate. ⌠It's time for Africa, said Munyembate. ⌠There is an emerging middle class, not only in South Africa but also Nigeria, Tanzania and Kenya. Africa has 1.2bn people and is growing. Nigeria alone has 185m people. However, independent consultant Munyembate also outlined the concerns over development in South Africa and Africa.


⌠The lack of proper infrastructure is a huge concern, he said. ⌠There is also a lack of local high-grade raw material production. We often have to import from the Middle East, India and China.
Africa's local polyethylene (PE) production, for example, is concentrated in a few countries, including South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt and Libya. Another concern is the lack of technical skills, Munyembate added.


Perspectives of development of polymer markets, pricing issues and other important aspects will be discussed at The Polymers Summit-2011, which will be held in Moscow on November 30, 2011 at the Ritz Carlton Hotel. The Summit will be organized by MRC with the support of ICIS. The main idea of the Summit is to find a "the golden mean" between producers and converters. When producers receive exactly such margin of production, which helps them to invest in production expansion in order to substitute polymers imports, and the converters receive such price of feedstock that helps them to compete imported finished products. The Summit site gives an access to the live video of the Summit, speakers" presentations, as well as opportunities to ask questions or make appointments to any Summit partcipant.


MRC

BASF was honored as Germany's Most Diverse Employer

(BASF) -- BASF has been honored with the German Diversity Award as ⌠Germany's Most Diverse Employer in the category large-scale enterprise. The prize is awarded by Henkel, the business consultancy McKinsey and the German business magazine Wirtschaftswoche. It honors employers, individuals and innovative projects that are especially committed to establishing a working culture of diversity.


After accepting the award, Saori Dubourg, President BASF East Asia Regional Headquarters said: ⌠Diversity and Inclusion is a strategic tool for BASF to focus our competencies towards future market demands. The award is therefore a big appreciation of our present efforts in this field and at the same time an incentive to become even better at it. Saori Dubourg was instrumental in setting up the global Diversity + Inclusion project back in 2008 and 2009.


Perspectives of development of polymer markets, pricing issues and other important aspects will be discussed at The Polymers Summit-2011, which will be held in Moscow on November 30, 2011 at the Ritz Carlton Hotel. The Summit will be organized by MRC with the support of ICIS. The main idea of the Summit is to find a "the golden mean" between producers and converters. When producers receive exactly such margin of production, which helps them to invest in production expansion in order to substitute polymers imports, and the converters receive such price of feedstock that helps them to compete imported finished products. The Summit site gives an access to the live video of the Summit, speakers" presentations, as well as opportunities to ask questions or make appointments to any Summit partcipant.


MRC

ElectriPlast selected by Tier 1 supplier Lear Corporation

(Plastics Today) -- ElectriPlast Corp. (Fort Washington, PA), a manufacturer of conductive plastics, has been selected by Tier 1 supplier Lear Corporation (Southfield, MI) to provide ElectriPlast conductive plastics to the Fisker Karma plug-in hybrid electric vehicle project currently under way in Valmet, Finland and scheduled to run through 2016. The high-performance Fiska Karma represents a high profile application for conductive plastics.


Lear has designed a new generation of electrical connectors for Fisker utilizing ElectriPlast's patented line of conductive resins. ElectriPlast and Lear are also working jointly to develop future technologies incorporating ElectriPlast composites into next-generation automotive components and devices. Shipments of ElectriPlast for the manufacturing of the new lightweight electrical connectors are scheduled to begin immediately.


The Fisker Karma is the world's first premium plug-in hybrid electric vehicle and the embodiment of Fisker Automotive's commitment to creating environmentally conscious vehicles with passion, style and performance.


Perspectives of development of polymer markets, pricing issues and other important aspects will be discussed at The Polymers Summit-2011, which will be held in Moscow on November 30, 2011 at the Ritz Carlton Hotel. The Summit will be organized by MRC with the support of ICIS. The main idea of the Summit is to find a "the golden mean" between producers and converters. When producers receive exactly such margin of production, which helps them to invest in production expansion in order to substitute polymers imports, and the converters receive such price of feedstock that helps them to compete imported finished products. The Summit site gives an access to the live video of the Summit, speakers" presentations, as well as opportunities to ask questions or make appointments to any Summit partcipant.


MRC

PP production in Russia increased over the 9 months by 11%

(MRC) -- The Russian producers cut polypropylene (PP) output to 55,200 tonnes, due to scheduled turnarounds in October. In general, over the ten months, overall volume of polypropylene (PP) production increased by 11%, according to MRC ScanPlast.


In October, due to scheduled turnarounds of Nizhnekamsk and Budyonnovsk facilities, total volume of Russian production of PP decreased by 6% compared to September and made 55,200 tonnes.


In October, Ufaorgsyntez demonstrated a significant increase in production volumes. Following the results of last month, the company produced more than 11,000 tonnes of polypropylene.


There was reduction in production of copolymers of propylene. In September, overall output of propylene copolymers made 10,400 tonnes. In October, this index dropped to 8,600 tonnes.

In general, following the ten months, the total volume of PP production in Russia made 567,300 tonnes, that was by 11% more year on year. The production of block copolymers of propylene increased by 56%, stat-copolymer of polypropylene - by 15%.


Perspectives of development of polymer markets, pricing issues and other important aspects will be discussed at The Polymers Summit-2011, which will be held in Moscow on November 30, 2011 at the Ritz Carlton Hotel. The Summit will be organized by MRC with the support of ICIS. The main idea of the Summit is to find a "the golden mean" between producers and converters. When producers receive exactly such margin of production, which helps them to invest in production expansion in order to substitute polymers imports, and the converters receive such price of feedstock that helps them to compete imported finished products. The Summit site gives an access to the live video of the Summit, speakers" presentations, as well as opportunities to ask questions or make appointments to any Summit partcipant.


MRC