UK is fastest growing plastic packaging market

(plasticsinfomart) -- A new report from Research and Markets , Packaging (Plastics) Market Report 2012, analyzes the UK plastic packaging market, currently the fastest growing market in the packaging industry.

In 2010, the plastic packaging market experienced growth, following a loss in value as the recession affected demand in both the UK and overseas. The market for plastic packaging was worth 3.7 billion in 2011, an increase of 1.4% on the previous year, and a rise of 13.2% on the market size five years earlier in 2007.

Packaging is currently the leading application for plastics in the UK, providing packaging for end-use industries such as the food and drink, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, personal care and household care industries. In the majority of these industries plastics have become the most extensively used packaging material and, if this trend continues, they are likely to overtake paper and board as the most popular material in the packaging industry.
MRC

Reliance eyes strategic partnership for petrochem project in Tatarstan

(plastemart) -- In the last few years, Russia's Tatarstan region has emerged as an attractive investment hub for Indian companies.

Tatarstan and RIL have agreed to set up a joint working group of specialists to develop strategic partnership in petrochemical and oil refining sectors, specially in crude oil refining.

The agreement was reached during the visit of a high-profile delegation led by Tatarstan's President Rustam Minnikhanov to Jamnagar in Gujarat (India) on March 22, in order to get on-the-spot information about the manufacturing processes and study the advanced oil refining technologies launched by the RIL, the largest private sector enterprise in India.
MRC

New PET material saves energy and cost

(plastemart) -- A new PET packaging material; Artenius FastFlow+ has been designed and developed by Artenius, the PET & Recycling Division of Artenius and LSB. This is the latest generation of ⌠fast-reheat PET resins, and is built on the success of Artenius' hugely successful FastFlow resin.

It works by capturing heat energy in the blowing process more efficiently, thereby reducing the overall amount needed. This leads to energy savings of more than 20% in comparison to standard PET resins, and can also allow for a higher production output of bottles per hour. This means that as well as saving cost, an important reduction in carbon footprint is also achievable.

Thanks to its optimised formulation, Artenius FastFlow+ offers wider injection stretch blow molding (ISBM) and stretch blow molding (SBM) windows. It also offers the ability to blow thinner walled preforms into more complex bottle shapes that otherwise would not be possible. Its intrinsic viscosity level is consistent with market needs, and is especially suited for light-weighting initiatives.

The resin has superior reheat absorption, even at ultra-high speed stretch blow moulding. The new formulation includes a new additive for absorbing Near Infra-Red (NIR) radiation, to heat up the polymer allowing less energy consumption when blowing the preform into bottle.The faster absorption of heat inside the preform results in a more efficient blowing process. Even in older blow moulding machines, which can be heat input limited, Artenius FastFlow+ provides the opportunity to optimize throughput rates.
MRC

Ethylene plant of Lukoil still to be restarted

(chemmonitor) -- The Moscow-headquartered Russian oil company Lukoil is currently liquidating the consequences of the accident occurred at its plant producing ethylene, in December of the previous year.

The unit went off stream for unscheduled maintenance. The accident resulted from the fire outbreak.

Initially, the producer planned to recommence the operations by early April 2012. However, the startup was postponed.

Meanwhile, the company has already resumed the activities at its polypropylene plant in mid-March of the current year.
MRC

Styrolution starts making products from recycled PS

(chemmonitor) -- Styrolution with HQ in Germany elaborated a manufacturing line. The latter one is able to make polystyrene (PS) products using post-user recycled material.


The line generates three grades of the products. It will be demonstrated during an international showcase which currently takes place in the territory of the USA.


The PS grades made by the manufacturer fully correspond to requirements of FDA (USA) for food contact.
MRC