South Korean-Serbian LDPE foam JV launched near Belgrade

(plasticker) -- South Korean plastics extruder and waste management firm Mecen IPC is launching commercial production at a newly established joint venture low density polyethylene foam insulation plant in Serbia.

The Seoul-based company linked up with the local firm Evropa-Inex of Novi Banovci, Serbia to invest around ┬4m in the new facility in Nova Pazova. It will serve markets including construction, automotive and air-conditioning systems.

Production equipment to turn out the foam insulation material was installed in the newly built plant, the workforce began training and trial manufacturing began during February. This month (March) saw the start of full production at the new unit.

The joint venture Mecen Evropa Tech will employ a total of 35 during the first year of operation while it plans to recruit a further 60 employees within the next two years.
MRC

(borealisgroup) -- Borealis and Borouge, the world's leading providers of innovative, value-creating solutions for the wire and cable industry, have launched Borlink a technology platform offering a complete global package of power materials, experience, knowledge and support.

Borlink is a wire and cable industry-wide platform cross-linking the technology, products and expertise to connect networks and grids as well as people and their access to energy.

The establishment of Borlink represents another step change innovation, specifically for the wire and cable power industry. It underlines Borealis and Borouge's commitment to the industry as it provides an outstanding resource to help meet the challenges the industry faces in the future. By establishing Borlink, Borealis and Borouge have elevated their total network of support to a new level by helping to facilitate the linking of different grids and energy sources together both regionally and globally.

Borealis and Borouge are recognised throughout the wire and cable industry as trendsetters for innovation in technology and products. With more than 45 years of experience, they are the reliable partners of choice in offering high quality polyolefins for a wide variety of power transmission and distribution cables as well as electrical and fibre optic communication applications.
MRC

(canplastics) -- In a bid to expand its footprint in India, Australia-based PET packaging supplier Amcor Ltd. has acquired Uniglobe Packaging Private Ltd. for USD20.7 million.

Uniglobe is based 150 km north of Mumbai, and produces flexible packaging for the food, personal care, and health sectors.

Amcor is a global packaging company that manufactures PET containers for beverages, flexible packaging for the food and healthcare markets, tobacco packaging, and corrugated boxes. The company has operations across 30 countries and 89 plants; with this deal, it will increase its facilities in India from three to five plants.

⌠This is an important opportunity to expand Amcor's footprint in the high growth Indian market, said managing director and CEO Ken MacKenzie. "The Uniglobe business comes with a strong management team, and a track record of delivering significant annual sales growth."

The purchase is Amcor's second this month: the company also acquired The Aperio Group, producers of flexible packaging products with 13 manufacturing facilities across Australia and New Zealand.
MRC

(canplastics) -- Not-for-profit industry association the American Chemistry Council (ACC) has turned to Facebook to help consumers learn more about plastics recycling.

The Washington, D.C.-based group's Recycle Your Plastics site is intended to be "an educational community devoted to sharing plastics recycling news and information," the ACC said. "Users can look forward to receiving updates on tips, trends and opportunities in plastics recycling quickly and on a regular basis."

"We've seen a steady increase in opportunities to recycle more plastics over the past several months, and we want to make sure people are aware of these developments, said Steve Russell, the ACC's vice president of plastics. ⌠Facebook is a great way to connect people with information, so that we can all do our part for our communities and the environment. Used plastics are a valuable resource, and it's never been easier to recycle many of the plastics we use every day."

MRC

(newsflanders-chinabe) -- Ford Motor Co opened its fourth passenger vehicle assembly plant in China. The new USD490 million factory in Chongqing will initially produce the latest Focus compact model.

With a yearly output of 150,000 units, it will take the annual capacity of Ford's Chinese passenger vehicle joint venture, Changan Ford Mazda Automobile, to 600,000 vehicles. The opening of Chongqing Assembly Plant 2 is a crucial step in Ford's stated plan to introduce 15 vehicles to the country by 2015. Ford said Chongqing will become its second-largest manufacturing center in the world by production capacity, after Michigan, once two additional plants under construction are completed next year.

Ford executives say they also plan to expand production at the newly opened Chongqing assembly plant over time. The new facility is able to produce six different kinds of vehicles, including the Focus. Joe Hinrichs, Ford's President for Asia-Pacific and Africa, said production capacity in China will be devoted to the Chinese market. Ford sold 519,390 vehicles in China in 2011, 7% more than the year before. By comparison, Volkswagen's China sales rose 18% to 2.26 million vehicles and GM sales rose 8.3% to 2.55 million.

"We think for the rest of this decade the Chinese market will grow on average about 5%," Hinrichs said. Namrita Chow, Analyst at IHS Automotive, said the new Chongqing plant will give Ford a much-needed lift in a tighter market. "Chinese consumers are moving upwards. They want bigger cars," Chow said. "The interior regions are going to have much more growth, she added. The move to the interior ⌠is Ford's plan because it's really aiming to compete with the big players in China" .

MRC