Reliance Industries plans two new plants

(ICIS) -- India's Reliance Industries is on track with its plans for two new worldscale purified terephthalic acid (PTA) plants and investments in paraxylene (PX), polyester and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a source close to the company said on Tuesday.


⌠The first PTA plant of 1.1m tonnes/year at Dahej, Gujarat, is scheduled to start up in the first quarter of 2013, and the second one will start 6-12 months later, he said.


Invista would supply technology for the first plant, which would have a single reactor, while Reliance was still evaluating technology options for the second plant, he added.

The new PTA volumes would feed the company's downstream polyester investments at Silvassa, Gujarat, which included a 560,000 tonne/year PET plant and a 360,000 tonne/year partially oriented yarn (POY) unit, he said.


The POY project was already under implementation and should be completed in the next two years while the PET plant would be commissioned in the first quarter of 2013, the source added.

MRC


Exxonmobil Chemical's propylene-based elastomer approved for Japan's food contact applications

(China Plastic & Rubber Journal) -- ExxonMobil Chemical's Vistamaxx propylene-based elastomer has been approved for food contact applications, such as flexible and rigid food packaging, by the Japan Hygienic Olefin and Styrene Plastics Association (JHOSPA).


Based on ExxonMobil Chemical's proprietary Exxpol metallocene technology, Vistamaxx propylene-based elastomer offers a unique combination of high elasticity, softness, toughness, flexibility and clarity.


The elastomer can be used as a blend partner to modify the polymer properties to meet the needs of the application in which it is being used. A lower density alternative to PET, PC and PVC, it can be used for downgauging, reducing part thickness and weight.


The grades, used in compounding and films, are already compliant with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under the Food Contact Notification process.


MRC


Rajoo announces collaborations with Bausano and Hosokawa Alpine

(Plastics Today) -- Indian-based blown-film and sheet-extrusion supplier, Rajoo Engineers Ltd. (Rajkot) has expanded its geographic and technology reach with the announcement of collaborative agreements with Italian pipe/profile extruder supplier Bausano & Figli S.p.a (Rivarolo Canavese) and German film extruder technology supplier Hosokawa Alpine Aktiengesellschaft (Augsburg).


Rajoo and Bausano will form Rajoo Bausano Extrusion Pvt. Ltd., with operations to commence in 2011, supplying pipe and profile lines, including wood plastic composite technology, in India, Africa, and South Asia from Rajkot.


Rajoo and Hosokawa Alpine have agreed to cooperate on international marketing, production, and procurement, as well as in joint product development in their shared blown-film technology offerings.


MRC


Constar appoints two executives

(Plastics News) -- PET blow molder Constar International Inc. on Oct. 25 named George Caplea executive vice president of global business development, and announced that Joseph Bione of Whitehall Group LLC, will be consulting with the company as acting executive vice president of operations.

Both report directly to Grant Beard, the Philadelphia-based company's president and CEO.


Headquartered in Philadelphia, PA, Constar International is among the world's leading suppliers of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) plastic containers. A pioneer in the PET bottle business, Constar began manufacturing plastic bottles in the 1960's.


Now Constar continues to be an innovator in developing PET technology that gives customers new options for more sustainable packaging that meet retailer, consumer and cost objectives.


MRC


US foams market set to expand, says research

(PRW) -- According to a new technical market research report from Wellesley, Massachusetts-BCC Research, the US market for polymeric foams will amount to an estimated 7.6bn pounds in 2010, but is expected to increase to nearly 8.6bn pounds in 2015, giving a five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.5%.

Polystyrene foams are projected to increase from an estimated 2.2bn pounds in 2010 to 2.5bn pounds in 2015, for a CAGR of 2.1%.


PVC foams are expected to increase from 638m pounds in 2010 to 725m pounds in 2015, for a CAGR of 2.6%.


In addition to mature, continuing markets for plastic foams, BCC notes newer developments such as cross-linked polyolefin foam in leisure and sports goods, and foamed PVC in house construction elements, windows and doors.


The consultancy attributes motivation for the latest work on foams made from biopolymers and biodegradable polymers to efforts directed to reducing US dependency on petroleum and natural gas, the feedstocks for the plastics that are currently foamed.


MRC