W&H introduces 5-layer blown film lines

(China Plastic & Rubber Journal) -- Windmoller & Holscher (W&H) believes the VAREX 5-layer blown film line that produces film with 1000 kg/hour, to be a world record in polyolefin film output.

The new 5-layer VAREX blown film line produced at the K2010 is along with the new 5-layer 400 mm MAXICONE P die, which was developed specifically for innovative polyolefin-based film structures.

Recognizing a need in the market, W&H worked with resin manufacturer ExxonMobil Chemical, one of the world's leading manufacturers of metallocene polyethylene (mPE), to create a new generation of 5-layer films using a polyolefin base. The results are improved film properties as well as thinner films (downgauged) compared to conventional 3-layer films on the market. The new films achieve a substantial reduction of raw materials, a priority for W&H under their "greenovation" philosophy.

MRC

(Plastics News) -- Chemtura Corp. is bringing back a name that's familiar in the chemical industry, making Great Lakes Solutions the name of its flame retardant, brominated performance products and fumigants business.

Chemtura announced the Great Lakes Solutions brand name at K 2010. Chemtura also introduced a new Emerald-brand series of flame retardant products at the show. The introduction includes three products, marketed as green alternatives to existing flame retardants, and targeted at the electrical/electronics and construction sectors.

Chemtura Corporation, with 2009 sales of $2.5 billion, was formed in 2005 with the merger of Crompton Corporation and Great Lakes Chemical Corporation. Chemtura has approximately 4,000 employees in research, manufacturing, sales and administrative facilities in every major market of the world. Company is a leading global supplier of plastic additives, including flame retardants; the largest component supplier to the lubricants industry; and a top global producer of urethane polymers.

MRC

(Plastics News) -- The Franklin, Mass.-based maker of extrusion sensor and control instrumentation announced at K 2010 that it is expanding into Eastern Europe and the Middle East. This follows a recent move into Asia that officials say has been quite successful.

⌠We went into China three years ago, and now that accounts for 30 percent of our total revenue, and it's really growing, said Michael Swanton, sales manager for the United Kingdom and Europe. ⌠We're really adapting to changes in the market.

Many of Dynisco's customers are resin suppliers and compounders. With more material suppliers building capacity in the Middle East to take advantage of low feedstock prices, it made sense for Dynisco to follow. Some forecasters predict the resin market in the Middle East may grow 25-30 percent annually in the near future.

MRC

(Plastemart) -- DuPont Performance Polymers has augmented its portfolio of thermoplastic materials by introducing two specific grades of DuPont Rynite polyethylene terephtalate (PET) for solar applications. UV-resistant DuPont Rynite PET resins are designed for cost-effective manufacturing of photovoltaic module frames and components, the company says.

Rynite 935SUV is a 35% glass-fiber/mineral-reinforced, UV-stabilized grade of PET suitable for injection molding; Rynite 540SUV is a 40% glass-fiber-reinforced, UV-stabilized grade of PET suitable for extrusion and injection molding.

Both grades combine high stiffness with low warpage and have been specifically developed for long-term outdoor applications. When used in photovoltaic applications, DuPont's polymers can help increase design flexibility for greater ease of assembly and installation, as well as provide an opportunity for functional integration (thereby reducing the overall number of components), according to the company.

MRC

(ICIS) -- China's imports of most petrochemical products in September registered annual declines due to the high base last year and a slight moderation in overall economic activities, analysts said on Monday.

Based on data from China Customs, China imported 8% less of ethylene at 74,924 tonnes compared to the same period last year, while imports of propylene and butadiene recorded significant declines of 33% to 81,455 tonnes and 61% to 7,587 tonnes, respectively.

Massive new capacity additions from state-owned petrochemical giant Sinopec in Tianjin and Zhenhai had helped bring down China's olefins import requirements this year, said Wang Qiang, an analyst from Xiang Cai Securities.

The crackers in these two locations that started up this year have capacities of 1m tonnes/year each and were expected to boost supply of olefin derivatives such as polyethylene and polypropylene in the domestic market, Wang said.

Meanwhile, the recent spike in chemical values, on the back of crude price gains, also deterred buyers from procuring materials through imports last month, analysts said.

The case was different for polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which was priced lower when imported given that the domestic market was in short supply, analysts said, citing power restrictions at selected provinces that cut production at a number of China's petrochemical plants.

China's imports of PVC in September increased 35% year on year to 142,376 tonnes, based on official data.

MRC