Dow bullish on the outlook for plastics on rising demand for packaging and wire coatings

(Plastemart) -- Dow, the world's second-biggest chemical maker, said it's ⌠bullish on the outlook for plastics because of rising demand for packaging and wire coatings and falling energy costs at its US plants.


The profit margin for Dow's plastics business will stay near this year's level in 2011 before rising further, as per Chief Executive Officer Andrew Liveris. New ethylene and polyethylene plants in the Middle East and Asia haven't started as quickly as predicted by some industry consultants and delays will continue, Liveris said.


Even if excess capacity does materialize, older plants in Europe and Asia will shut, keeping supply tight. Liveris, who tried unsuccessfully to sell a 50% stake in Dow's basic-plastics unit in 2008, said he's no longer considering such a deal. The plastics business has led earnings growth this year after Dow closed older plants while lower natural-gas prices made U.S. plants more competitive.


Dow plans to retain more than half the basic-plastics unit, the business that makes linear low density polyethylene, or LLDPE, because Dow technology and end markets in packaging and coatings for wire and cable make it highly profitable. Dow will consider selling its stake in its Equate venture with Kuwait after completing an arbitration proceeding next year over Kuwait's cancellation of the so-called K-Dow plastics venture.


MRC


Styron introduces polycarbonate grade for multi-wall sheet applications

(Styron) -- Styron announced the launch of its new branched polycarbonate grade for polycarbonate sheet producers in Europe. The new resin allows extruders to produce heavier and more complex multi-wall sheets with enhanced thermal insulation properties.


With the arrival of XZ 94260.00, Styron can now offer extruders a solution for producing high quality multi-wall sheets with thicknesses up to 60 mm. These thicker sheets with an increased number of walls bring better mechanical properties and higher thermal insulation for more energy efficient buildings.


Additionally, XZ 94260.00 offers outstanding surface aesthetics, thanks to its tailored composition.


Styron has a leadership position in its two flagship products, polystyrene and latex. The company has approximately $3.7 billion in revenue (based on 2009 data), with 20 manufacturing sites in all geographic regions.


MRC

Styron introduces polycarbonate grade for multi-wall sheet applications

(Styron) -- Styron announced the launch of its new branched polycarbonate grade for polycarbonate sheet producers in Europe. The new resin allows extruders to produce heavier and more complex multi-wall sheets with enhanced thermal insulation properties.


With the arrival of XZ 94260.00, Styron can now offer extruders a solution for producing high quality multi-wall sheets with thicknesses up to 60 mm. These thicker sheets with an increased number of walls bring better mechanical properties and higher thermal insulation for more energy efficient buildings.


Additionally, XZ 94260.00 offers outstanding surface aesthetics, thanks to its tailored composition.


Styron has a leadership position in its two flagship products, polystyrene and latex. The company has approximately $3.7 billion in revenue (based on 2009 data), with 20 manufacturing sites in all geographic regions.


MRC


Europe's converted flexible packaging market declined by 3%

(PRW) -- Europe's converted flexible packaging market declined by 3% in value terms to around ┬10.4bn in 2009, according to a report from leading consultancy PCI Films Consulting.


The decline in sales value was primarily associated with the fall in raw material costs, especially in the first half of the year, which was reflected in lower prices to customers. Contrary to some expectations, however, demand in area terms actually increased, albeit by a marginal 1%, as a result of real growth in a number of end use markets in both Western and Eastern Europe.


One of the major events of the last year has been Amcor completing its acquisition of certain parts of Alcan Packaging, which sees Amcor emerging as by far the largest flexible packaging converter in Europe with approaching 25% overall market share. At the same time a number of other European top ten converters have not yet achieved the critical mass at which they can most effectively challenge the newly enlarged Amcor.


The report notes that the conjunction of these trends is expected to result in still further consolidation of the European flexible packaging industry as more medium sized converters are likely to be acquired by the leading players. The report also details the emergence of a number fast growing medium sized converters that are taking share from the leading players in some national markets.


MRC


Milliken presented clarifying agents for polypropylene

(China Plastic & Rubber Journal) -- To highlight the theme "sustainability", Chemical company Milliken presented at K2010 additive innovation by the example of latest Millad clarifying agents for polypropylene.


Milliken is already known as the world's leading supplier of clarifiers that enable polypropylene, one of the most sustainable plastics on the market, to compete for applications demanding excellent optics but normally requiring more costly materials. Now, its new Millad NX8000 series not only sets a new benchmark for clarification, but also enables processors to make substantial improvements in their economics through reduced processing temperatures and shorter cycles.


Numerous trials carried out by Milliken have proven that the additive can regularly yield cycle time reductions of as much as 15%, while the ability to process at lower temperatures can often cut energy consumption by 15-20% - and in some extreme cases by over 30%.


At K 2010, Milliken is exhibiting a wide range of packaging and durable storage applications in clear polypropylene containing Millad NX8000 clarifying agent.


MRC