Plastics News January 2012

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IN THIS ISSUE... 36...... AIPMA At Work 63...... Company News The Official Organ of The All India Plastics Manufacturers Association Estd. 1945

Tech-47/713/MBI/12-14 Volume 50

January 2012 No. 1

Hon. Editor

Mr. Raju Desai

Associate Editor

Mr. Hiten Bheda

Chairman - Editorial Board

Mr. Yogesh Shah

Members

Dr. T. Biswas Mr. A. E. Ladhaboy

68...... Special Initiatives 83...... Environment 101.... Features ...Plastic for Modern Life ...Plastic industry In U.S. recovers slowly

Editorial Co-ordination: Padmesh Prabhune, Dhruv Communications,

...Petrochemical markets in Asia to see increasing competition

Mumbai, Tel No: 00-22-2868 5198 / 5049 • Fax No : 00-22-28685495 email: dhruvpr@vsnl.net

...Polymer Consumption in 2011

Published by Ms. Uma Gupta on behalf of the owners,

...Do you really know your melt temp?

The All India Plastics Manufacturers’ Association

...Plastic bridges

Plot No. A-52, Road No. 1, M.I.D.C., Andheri (E), Mumbai-400 093. Tel: 67778899 • Fax : 00-22-2821 6390 E-mail : office@aipma.net Website : http://www.aipma.net and printed by her at Dhote Offset Technokrafts Pvt. Ltd., Jogeshwari (E), Mumbai-400 060. Annual Subscription Rs. 750/Single issue Rs. 75/Views/Reports/Extracts etc. published in Plastics News are those of the authors and not necessarily of the Editor. Furthermore except for copies of formal AIPMA communications no other matter in this journal should be interpreted as views of The All India Plastics Mfgrs. Association.

124.... International News

OFFICE BEARERS Mr. Jayesh Rambhia President Mr. Anand Oza Vice President (West Zone) Mr. R. K. Aggarwal Vice President (North Zone) Mr. Anil Bansal Vice President (South Zone)

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128.... Business News

Mr. Ashok Agarwal Vice President (East Zone)

133.... Product News

Mr. Manish Dedhia Hon. Secretary

138.... Technology

Dr. Asutosh Gor Jt. Hon. Secretary

142.... In the News

Mr. Mukesh Shah Hon. Treasurer 7

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THE PRESIDENT SAYS

Mind The Gap s consumers, we are choosing the best world has to offer. Look at mobiles around you. World’s best companies like Blackberry, Samsung, Sony, Nokia, Google, Motorola, LG are servings masses. Even lower income group are using good phones. Average business man uses a better phone in India compared to west. Teenagers are using smart phones.

We prefer to invest in solid things we can touch & feel, buy & resell. Real estate, machines, materials are our major investments. Where we falter is investing in soft, invisible things which we can buy but cannot resell directly. Like R&D, IPR : Trademarks, patents, copyright, designing, Advertising, skills training ,travel, websites, Brand building : Soft investments. Most of them cannot be traditionally carried to annual balance sheet.

A

Look into our homes or in stores. Latest branded LED, LCD & Plasma flat TV have replaced tube based TV is pretty short time. Look at cars on our roads. If you survey even casually, you can see people have preferred quality & status to economy. Scooters are out, bikes are in. Nano & Maruti 800 are rare compared to more expensive latest models. People have chosen to use upper end bikes rather than low cost cars. This is not logical, but is reality. Man is not just logical creature, he is complex bundle of emotional & social belief system.

In fact they are not considered property or wealth or work by majority. Most of our grandparents were farmers. They may not recognize work as: sitting in front of computer & punching buttons Or talking to clients Or Thinking or deigning. For them unless you sweat, you are not working.

We do our best to get our kids to best schools & training in extracurricular activities. Now compare this home scenario to your factory, business or association. How old are our machines? How latest is technology on our shop floor? How much do spend to train your workforce? How clean & appealing is your factory? Are you making higher end quality products, people will be proud to use or are you trying to sell on cost advantage alone?

As per traditions an honest person will return the jewelry to rightful owner & will not steal property. But same will not apply to trademark, copyright & patents. As Idea is not considered work & hence copy is not considered as theft or immoral thing in society. We inherit the same belief system & we carried it in our head as we grew. World has changed. Dinosaurs were wiped out as they could not adapt to change.

As producer are you in sync with time as you are as a consumer? Most SMEs are not. We need to Mind this Gap. That is the reason multinationals & big corporates have captured mind space in consumers consciousness & shelf space in malls.If you look into your home & see percentage of money you paid to SME compared to MNC & Corporates you will realize the Gap. Mind the Gap.

If we recognize change. Accept it. Change our accounting system to recognize the soft investments are not expense. We would be able to thrive in future. A world class consumer needs to evolve into a world class manufacturer. Mind the Gap. Change the Mind Set to Mend the Gap.

It requires deep pockets, high risk taking ability, constant endeavor to remain at cutting edge along with fantastic team & marketing reach. It’s not easy & safe. But its need of hour. P L A S T I C S N E W S

Jayesh Rambhia President - AIPMA

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FROM THE EDITOR

Infinite Opportunities... he SME sector in India is growing at an

Blow Moulding machine would

exceptionally fast rate. The share of Micro

grow from 7000 to 11000 and

Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) towards the

Extrusion machines would be

GDP of the country is expected to touch double-digit

growing to 37,000 in coming

(around 15%) by 2015 from the current share of

years.

T

8%. These enterprises can be rightly called as the

With the number of machines

backbone of the GDP of India. For currently, there

increasing the overall polymer consumption capacity

are over 11 million SME units in India producing more

is also expected to increased to 38 Mn MT by 2020

than 8000 products! This means we would need an investment of over The latest report of Prime Minister's Task Force

Rs 65,000 Crores. Imagine the job opportunities that

on MSME's have categorically said that the sector

would be created.

contributes 45% of the manufactured output and 40% As of today the industry employment (direct and

of its exports provides employment to about 60 million

Indirect) is 5,021468. Over the years it is expected to

persons through 26 million enterprises.

increase further by 4 million. "The per-capita consumption of plastics will be I am optimistic about the future of the plastic

at par with the world average". The growth in the

industry, for despite immense challenges, including

Indian Plastics Sector’s Machinery and the polymer

bans and court cases, the Industry is striding forward

consumption both will be a big opportunity to the

at a steady pace and is all set to achieve its target of

Indian Plastic Industry. Agriculture, Infrastructure,

20 Mn MT consumption of plastics by 2020.

Energy are key economic drivers. Plastic is also widely used in Consumer Goods, Health Care, Packaging,

It is inevitable as India would be one among the

Transportation as well. Hence with increase in all these

developed countries, it would be the desired business

domains, the plastics industry is all set for rapid growth

destination, Yes – Destination India!! And with the

in coming years.

stage for the Plastindia 2102 all set, I anticipate some changes for the better.

Not only this but with the demand of plastic growing in all the spheres of life we would need additional

Hon. Editor

machines to balance the supply. It is estimated that

Raju Desai

the need of Injection Moulding machines would

raju@jyotimail.com

grow to 72,000 from the current 47,000 machines. P L A S T I C S N E W S

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AIPMA AT WORK

AIPMA : Vision for Growth On the occassion of the special

Manpower : AIPMA placement cell will work to get skilled

issue of the Plastic News during

manpower for industry.

Plastindia 2012, I wish to share

We are also planning for skill up gradation program.

some thoughts with our readers and members as well.India is

Technology : AIPMA in partnership with UNIDO has

world's third largest economy and

undertaken gap analysis to identify technological constraints

is growing very fast.

to growth of industry. Benefits from this program will be shared by entire industry.

As most of us know India consumes about 8 kg plastic per head per year against

Environment : AIPMA is in process of major initiative to

international average of 28 Kgs. Indian plastic consumption

collect plastic waste & save environment. This will reduce

is likely to double in next 5 years.

resistance to growth of industry.

This means that the Indian plastic industry will need as

Vision & Strategy : AIPMA is planning international

many machines in next five years as it had consumed in

summit “Vision for Growth" at UAE during 14-17 May 2012,

past Sixty five years.Its an huge opportunity.

during Plastivsion Arabia. Marketing : Buyer seller meet is being planned in UAE

Globally India has become a favorite destination

during Plastivision Arabia. Fortune 500 companies in India like Indian Oil, HPCL, During Plastivsion India visiting delegation will bring

Mittal, Reliance, GAIL have invested heavily in plastic

business opportunity.

sector.

Tenders from plastic sector will be made available to

I would like to maintain that AIPMA has been progressing

members.

over the years with adapting to changes as well. AIPMA has started to work on each of external factor

Seminars : We now have regular seminars at AIPMA.

which can constrain growth of industry. AIPMA wants to

Content will be available on aipma website for members

benefit plastic processors, on their every step, on their way

to access from their own computers at time suitable to them.

to growth.

IPR : AIPMA has sponsored prize for innovation

Land : About 200 acres in Dahej have already been

competition.

disbursed to members.

Planning for IPR cell to support creation of patents ,

Thanks to Gujarat government , “AIPMA Industrial Park”

copyright & trademark is on.

has been sanctioned 240 acres industrial lands in auto

AIPMA is changing to meet new challenges.

components cluster in & around Sananad. Do expect more from us. AIPMA common facility will make business easier in I hope all of exhibitors and members in the Plastindia

this cluster.

find it full of opportunites . Money : AIPMA is in active talks with financial institute to Jayesh Rambhia

secure easy & affordable finance for members to the tune

President

of Rs 10000 Crore P L A S T I C S N E W S

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AIPMA AT WORK

Message from President of Plastindia Foundation on the occasion of Special Issue Plastics News being brought out by AIPMA during Plastindia 2012 he All India Plastics

like Healthcare, Telecom, Retail, Packaging, Automobiles,

Manufacturers’

Agriculture, Infrastructure etc.

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Association [AIPMA] is one

India’s domestic consumption of plastics – 7kgs per

of the founding members

capita per year, is much below the world average of 26

of Plastindia Foundation

kgs. With plastics rapidly replacing the traditional material

comprising over 2500

coupled with the average annual growth rate of 12-15%

members and is spread in

the industry is gearing towards 20 Mn. MT consumption by

175 cities of the country.

2020 against the 10 Mn MT at present.

They have also 27 affiliated associations as their

Our exports account for about 4% of total world plastic

members which speak for their volume of achievement and

exports, indicating a tremendous opportunity for growth and

home work which they have done for last 65 years.

business in the world market. The Indian plastic industry

Plastindia Foundation is the Apex body of major

is in same inflexion point where Indian auto component

associations, organizations and institutions connected with

was there two decades back. While the domestic market

Plastics. Its vision is to be recognized internationally as an

is the primary focus, the industry has all the requisite

organization devoted to promoting excellence in the field

characteristics to become an export hub for processed

of plastics and making India as one of the hub in the world

plastic goods due its low cost structure due to burgeoning

for plastic products.

domestic demand and consistent quality.

Its Mission is to be a flexible, vibrant and proactive

The Indian plastic processing machinery sector meets

organization, committed to enhancing the image and growth

most of the requirements of processing industry in terms

of the plastic industry – by highlighting achievements,

of technology and product range. This is a Rs.4,000 Crore

demonstrating capabilities, trying to improve the image of

sector of the industry, but again has only a negligible 2%

plastics and achieve “National Progress through Plastics”.

of world export market share. It has the potential to grow

Status of Indian Plastic industry

at 20% CAGR and the target is to reach an export turnover for US$600 million in 2020-21.

Worldwide the Plastic industry as a whole is on a crest.

Role of PlastIndia

Tremendous opportunities and scope for growth exist in every sphere of humankind. Processed plastics has silently

Plastindia Foundation’s role is to bring together the

forayed into and become an integral part in important sectors

entire plastic industry; raw material producers, processors,

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AIPMA AT WORK machinery manufacturers and respective institutes,

exhibitions are held, highlighting the uses and the

academicians under one platform to unleash the true

benefits of using, plastics in agriculture.

potential of the plastic industry. To address the hurdles

c) Plastindia International University –a world class

faced by the Plastic industry in attaining to its true potential,

University coming up at Vapi, Gujarat, to cater entirely to

Plastindia has taken the following initiatives:

the Plastic Industry’s requirement of both technical and

a) PlastIndia- 2012, 8th triennial International Exhibition and

managerial human resource in phased manner along

Conference is being held from 1st to 6th February 2012

with material science and R&D for which tie up with two

at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.

internationally renowned Universities in the respective field is planned to be unveiled.

Over 1500 Exhibitors from 40 countries, across the world are going to participate in the exhibition, grouped into

d) India recycles 60% of its used plastic, much higher

three sectors Raw Material, Machinery and Finished

than the world average of 22%. Contradictory to what

Goods. This is to ensure business visitors to plan their

most people believe, plastics account for only 3% of

stall visit in structured way and facilitate the members

the municipal waste and plastic bags account for only

within the sector to see and discuss the developments

0.3%. Plastindia plans to put up demo re-cycling plants

in product and technology.

in 4 metros, the first two being in Kolkata and the NCR Region in Delhi to create awareness of the recyclability

A two-day International Conference is being held along

of plastics and thereby improving overall image of

with the exhibition with emphasis on sustainability in

plastics.

plastics addressed by eminent speakers from across the world. Also to promote and reward excellence, a

Currently in its silver jubilee year, Plastindia has come

competition judged by an independent jury on innovation

a long way. The path has been rugged and the journey

in different areas related to plastics is being held, named

forward may not be a bed of roses; but I am confident

Plasticon Awards during the exhibition.

that together, as an Industry, we will scale new heights and set new benchmarks in coming days ahead.

b) Plasticulture- With a view to help marginalized farmers, Plastindia had embarked on creating platform of

The AIPMA is rendering yeomen service to the Industry

conserving natural resource like water, while increasing

through enlightening articles and statistics published

farm yield by use of modern techniques of using plastics

in their monthly edition of Plastics News. I take this

in agriculture.

opportunity to wish the Management and Members of AIPMA all the very best in all their endeavours.

Two models are being planned. One is with working NABARD and NGOs to adopt 1,400 small and marginal

Best Wishes,

for drip irrigation across 16 villages in Jalna district,

Ashok Goel President

Maharashtra state The second is by way of putting

Plastindia Foundation

up demo plants with drip irrigation along with which

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AIPMA AT WORK

Year 2012 – Time for Consolidation uring Global Recession in 2008-09 – Plastindia 2009 exhibition helped in triggering growth, LOGO of Plastindia 2009 FUTURE IS HERE – INDIA and vigorous Marketing gave a real push to Indian Plastic Industry. Amid global recession there was cheer, great relief to foreigners that India is THE market.

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Massive buying, solid confidence of Indian exhibitions lead by SMEs, all exhibitions’ order book was full for next 1 to 1 ½ years. Then, everybody went on expansion spree. Factory area of 1000 – 5000 sq. ft. expanded to 10000 – 50000 sq. ft. We saw growth of 15% plus in 2009-10 & 2010-11. Raising per capita consumption to 8.5 kgs when, investment of Rs. 10,000 Crores in processing sector was done. Machine capacity enhanced and old capacities updated, that brought products to global acceptance level. 2011 began with bad note for India. Crisis in EU & USA, sudden spurt in dollar strength, depreciation from Rs. 46 to 53 has created an atmosphere of negativity. Investment proposals were five year low in 2011 due to Government flip-flop on policies. Asset creation suffered badly during the period. In addition, banks were reluctant to fund for fear of bad loans. Funding became very expensive since there were 13 rate increases by RBI. Here 2012 is pointing to trend reversal since no more rate increases are in offing. 100% FDI in single brand retail has been notified. Further, Moody has upgraded India P L A S T I C S N E W S

rating to investment grade for short term foreign currency bank deposits. My gut feeling is, this is the right time for Indian Plastic Industry to upgrade technology management and target full utilization of capacity. Finance is tough so there will be elimination of many players but healthy players will prevail. TIME NOW TO INVEST: First consolation, up-gradation in technology management keeping Balance sheet healthy, then go for expansion.

Reasons: 1) Per Capita growth to go to 12 kg plus by 2015 v/s world average of 27 kgs. 2) India is a booming consumer market 3) Plastic is accepted as material of choice, convenience, utility by Indian Public including government at large. 4) We are not export dependent as China today. 5) EU – USA crisis offers us very good opportunity to upgrade. Rise of dollar to Rs. 53/- is an incentive to exporters. So exports can be lucrative with quality products. 6) Manufacturing base of EU-USA can shift to India in Plastindia 2012 because of their saturated market and higher cost of operations. So friends, with Infinite Opportunities Plastindia 2012 offers platform for future growth which we must keep with ourselves by managing 3 ‘M’s, Money,

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Arvind M. Mehta Chairman Welset Plast Extrusions P. Ltd Past President AIPMA Imm. Past President PlastIndia Foundation Manpower & Management. Money to the tune of 10-20,000 Crores to be invested. All India Plastics Manufacturers Association (AIPMA) offers next two big opportunities for exports: Plastivision Arabia 2012 and Kenya Plast 2012. Land & Money: Current AIPMA President is very aggressive in getting land at cheaper rates from the State Governments & money for industry with a vision of 10,000 Crores from public institutions. Let him complete and flash news. Friends, Plastic Industry of India is just maturing. It will grow twice the rate of GDP so future is bright as earlier. It is a matter of time, 2012 ultimately will march forward with growth in all sectors of plastics.

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We are a Government Recognised Export House and leading manufacturer of the following products.

Sivathene Calcium Carbonate Masterbatch

Sivathene Black and White Masterbatch

Sivalene PP Compounds

Sivamide Nylon Compounds

Our products are globally being used by the following industries:

Automobile Industry for various Injection Moulded Parts

Household and Appliances Sector

Electrical and Electronic Industry

Woven Bags/RafďŹ a Sector

Shopping Bags/Liners/Trash Bags and Other Blown Film Products

Blow Moulding/Injection Moulding and other Injection Moulded Products

Thermoforming and various other Plastic Processing Sectors

With an installed annual capacity of 21600 MT of Masterbatches and 4000 MT of Polymer Compounds, the delivery time to the customer’s end is very short. Our infrastructure is very well supported by State of the Art Lab where all the latest Testing Equipments are available. Very strict monitoring of the incoming raw material and the processing parameters assure that the best product is delivered to the customer. A team of Professional and Experienced manpower including Research Scientists is always involved in new product development and R&D activities so as to keep pace with the global developments. We are catering to the needs of various customers of ours located in different regions of the globe. P L A S T I C S N E W S

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BJS Engineers’ Slotting Machine

BJS Engineers offers finest, available New Generation High Speed Automatic Slotting Machine for Casing and Ribbed Screen PVC Pipes, which are used in deep bore well and reclaim of water, in modern days.

NEW GEN. HIGH SPEED AUTOMATIC SLOTTING MACHINE The indigenously developed state-of-Art machine is supplied to number of reputed PVC Pipe plants throughout India and Exported with repetition of orders across the globe to countries such as France, Poland, Morocco, Tanzania, Madagascar, Kenya, Uganda, Australia, Nigeria, Iran, Bangladesh, Saudi Arab, Burkina Faso, etc. With 70% sales overseas, the company has many repetition of orders. Some of our machines carry CE certification, also. Slotting Machine manufactured by us covers full range for pipe dia 40 to 630 mm and length 3 mtrs or 6 mtrs. Available, Special Slotting Machine for HDPE Pipes, Slotting 2/3 Area, Slotting Zig-Zag Pattern, Slotting follows any standard, 6 mtrs Long Machine with Double Slotting Head, Twin Pipe Slotting, etc with different combinations, also. The machine is provided with H.S.S cutters, powered with 20 HP A.C Motor. The slots are cut, at 450 mm length per stroke at a time. The machine is controlled by PLC with HMI. The machine requires max 25 HP AC POWER and a connection of AIR line with 6 BAR pressure from existing plant, only. The machine is with built in a dust collector for neat and clean operation and dust could also be collected and recycled for making pipes, with which a lot of saving in Raw material cost.

BJS is also participating at Plastindia 2012 and can be seen at HALL NO: 1H, STALL NO: A12 For more details contact:

BJS ENGINEERS 526, Sector -7 B, Faridabad-121006 (Hr) India TELE: +91-9873926696, FAX: +91-11-66173696 E-mail: bjsengg@yahoo.co.in, info@bjsengg.com Web: www.bjsengg.com, www.bjsengg.net P L A S T I C S N E W S

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Star Performer yet again... @ Plastindia 2012 Mamata Machinery had won Star Performer Award for the outstanding Export Performance during the Year 2009-10. Award and Certificate received from Shri Jyotiraditya Schindia, Hon'ble Minister of State for Commerce & Industry, Government of India during the Award Function held at New Delhi recently. Mamata has won 20 Awards in different categories from EEPC and PLASTINDIA FOUNDATION for its Excellent Performance. Working in a highly specialized niche field of Plastic Bag making machinery,. MAMATA MACHINERY has already made a mark in the global market with more than 2700 machines working in more than 72 countries around the world in a span of 21 years of operations. It is considered as one of the Top Five Companies in the world in the Bag and Pouch Making Machine Market.

Vega Series Bag Makers, Pouch Makers & Wicketers. Machines with Speed and Intelligence! Servo Driven Bag Makers:Available in different widths starting from 600mm to 1200mm. Over and above traditional side Seal bags from PE, PP and CPP / BOPP films, Mamata's Universal Bag Makers with Option to make Side Seal as well as Bottom Seal Bags have Fastest changeover between the two types. Wicketers: Mamata also offers High Speed Wicketers for variety of Wicketed Bag Applications. Pouch Making Systems:Mamata Pouch Making System has been designed with optimum processing flexibility, which is a prime requirement for a converter. The machine has been designed in a modular fashion so as to pick and choose various modules to configure a Pouch making system to meet different needs of customers. For Larger Production and Flexibility, Vega & Vega Plus Pouch Making Systems are available in the usable width of 610mm, 820mm & 1020mm.

So what do Mamata will show at Plastindia 2012 Introduction of New Bag Making Technology: Vega 1200 Split: A Dual Draw Roll Bag Maker It has Dual Servo Driven Index with Dual Pneumatic Assisted Dancers. With this technology, one can process two printed bags at a time of two different sizes. Two lane bags up to 590mm width in each or Single Lane bag up to 1200mm. Double your production and reduce cost. Shaped Stand Up Pouches: Vega 610 For the first time in India, Mamata will demonstrate live Shape Pouch Making machine. The shaped stand up pouches will be made two up folded from a single master web. Mamata will demonstrate progressive punching to form shapes made possible due to extreme control over web movement in X and Y Directions. Please visit at Hall 5 at Pragati Maidan – New Delhi (February 1 – 6, 2012) to see it in Live. For more information on Mamata and it’s product line. Visit www.mamata.com or Write to us on sales@mamata.com. You can reach us in India on +91-79-66309800 56 J A N U A R Y 2012 P L A S T I C S N E W S


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a new equation to bring costs down and take productivity up. An advantage to your business from Mamata Extrusion Systems

Star Performer yet again... @ Plastindia 2012 Mamata Machinery had won Star Performer Award for the outstanding Export Performance during the Year 2009-10. Award and Certificate received from Shri Jyotiraditya Schindia, Hon'ble Minister of State for Commerce & Industry, Government of India during the Award Function held at New Delhi recently. Mamata has won 20 Awards in different categories from EEPC and PLASTINDIA FOUNDATION for its Excellent Performance. Working in a highly specialized niche field of Plastic Bag making machinery,. MAMATA MACHINERY has already made a mark in the global market with more than 2700 machines working in more than 72 countries around the world in a span of 21 years of operations. It is considered as one of the Top Five Companies in the world in the Bag and Pouch Making Machine Market.

Vega Series Bag Makers, Pouch Makers & Wicketers. Machines with Speed and Intelligence! Servo Driven Bag Makers:Available in different widths starting from 600mm to 1200mm. Over and above traditional side Seal bags from PE, PP and CPP / BOPP films, Mamata's Universal Bag Makers with Option to make Side Seal as well as Bottom Seal Bags have Fastest changeover between the two types. Wicketers: Mamata also offers High Speed Wicketers for variety of Wicketed Bag Applications. Pouch Making Systems:Mamata Pouch Making System has been designed with optimum processing flexibility, which is a prime requirement for a converter. The machine has been designed in a modular fashion so as to pick and choose various modules to configure a Pouch making system to meet different needs of customers. For Larger Production and Flexibility, Vega & Vega Plus Pouch Making Systems are available in the usable width of 610mm, 820mm & 1020mm.

So what do Mamata will show at Plastindia 2012 Introduction of New Bag Making Technology: Vega 1200 Split: A Dual Draw Roll Bag Maker It has Dual Servo Driven Index with Dual Pneumatic Assisted Dancers. With this technology, one can process two printed bags at a time of two different sizes. Two lane bags up to 590mm width in each or Single Lane bag up to 1200mm. Double your production and reduce cost. Shaped Stand Up Pouches: Vega 610 For the first time in India, Mamata will demonstrate live Shape Pouch Making machine. The shaped stand up pouches will be made two up folded from a single master web. Mamata will demonstrate progressive punching to form shapes made possible due to extreme control over web movement in X and Y Directions. Please visit at Hall 5 at Pragati Maidan – New Delhi (February 1 – 6, 2012) to see it in Live. For more information on Mamata and it’s product line. Visit www.mamata.com or Write to us on sales@mamata.com. You can reach us in India 61 J A N U A R Y 2012 P A S T I C S N E W S onL+91-79-66309800


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RIL plans maintenance at Jamnagar refining complex in February eliance Industries will shut several units at its newer 580,000 bpd Jamnagar refining complex for a three-week maintenance in February, according to Reuters. This will lead to a reduction in appetite for crude, gasoline output, and tightening supply of the motor fuel in Asia. RIL will

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shut a 290,000 bpd crude distillation unit or half of the crude processing capacity at the Jamnagar complex. Other units such as a 70,000 bpd coker, a catalytic reformer and a residue fluidised catalytic cracker or gasoline-making unit may also be idled during the February turnaround.

Octal plans expansion at Oman ET producer and sheet extruder Octal Petrochemicals of Muscat, Oman, is planning an expansion costing more than $200m (€153.5m).The firm will add PET capacity at its Salalah, Oman, production plant by June 2012. The firm now has 880 million pounds of PET capacity of which 770 million pounds can be used for on-site sheet production. According to the release

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the Salalah plant now has two reactors and will add two more in the expansion. Octal estimates its annual sales will reach $1.5bn (€1.2bn) as a result of the expansion. The firm mainly sells PET products in North America and Europe but sales to other global regions are rising because of its location near sea routes. Its PET sheet markets include food and consumer packaging.

Royal Building Products closing Indiana plant tlanta based extrusion firm Royal Building Products plans to close its Milford, Indiana plant in March. The major extrusion firm, a subsidiary of Georgia Gulf Corp. of Atlanta, said it issued WARN notices on December 13 to the approximate 70 employees in Milford. The site produces vinyl decking, fence and railing and was part of Georgia Gulf’s acquisition of Royal Group Technologies in 2006.

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Production of vinyl fence, many of the decking products like Brock Deck and Deck Lok, and rail products will be transferred to another, undisclosed Royal Building operation, where they will provide greater synergies. According to the release the prolonged downturn in North American housing and home remodeling has significantly impacted sales and the profitability.

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Raven installs seven-layer barrier line ioux Falls-based Raven Industries Inc. has installed a seven-layer blown sheet line to its Technology Solutions Center. The company claims the system is the world’s largest for making seven-layer barrier sheeting. Raven worked with equipment supplier Davis Standard LLC to plan, design and develop the line, which is capable of making wide and thick barrier structures using EVOH and nylon resins. The line can make films up to 32 feet in circumference and sheeting up to 80 mils thick. The line features Davis-Standard’s new ProCone die technology. The dies are engineered in a stackable mandrel arrangement, which enables vertical and angular movement within the stack.

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Jyoti Plastics bags Plasticon Award umbai based Jyoti Plastic works has been selected for the Plasticon Award for the innovative plastic product design this year. The company will formally receive the award on February 01, 2012.

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Millennium Rubber fined £90,000 over fatal accident wo companies have been fined a total of £100,000 following the death of a maintenance worker who fell from the forks of a forklift truck at a Macclesfield factory. According to reports Martin Denton died after falling from the forks of a forklift truck. Denton, 60, was being lifted in a metal container, known as a stillage, on 10 June 2006 when it slipped off and he fell approximately four metres to the concrete floor below. The father-ofthree from Rotherham died in hospital later that day from head injuries.

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Millennium Rubber International and United Crane Services were both prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) following the incident at Millennium Rubber's factory at Nab Works, Long Lane, Pott Shrigley. Chester Crown Court was told United

Crane Services had been hired to repair an overhead crane at the factory but had allowed Mr Denton to be lifted in a container designed for materials rather than people. The HSE investigation found that it had been standard practice for Millennium Rubber to use containers and pallets on forklift trucks to lift workers, despite neither being designed, nor safe, for that purpose. Millennium Rubber, which produces rubber surfaces for running tracks and children's playgrounds, admitted two breaches of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 by putting workers' safety at risk. It was fined £90,000 and ordered to pay £21,411 in prosecution costs in a sentencing hearing a Warrington Crown Court on 9 December.

Sibur to build giant petrochemical complex ccording to a story in European Plastics News Russia-based Sibur is considering building a new giant petrochemical complex in Tobolsk (in Tyumen, western Siberia), which is expected to be the largest in Russia and one of the largest in the world, according to Dmitry Konov, CEO of the company. The new project, which is expected to be known as ZapSibNeftehim, involves

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the construction of a pyrolysis facility with a capacity of 1.5 mln tons of ethylene. The company will also build several units to produce up to 2 mln tpa of polymers. The project requires approval of the company’s board and that the final decision will be made in 2012. Timing of the project and its financial details have not yet been disclosed. There is a possibility that it might be implemented by 2016-2017.

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E&T Plastics adds space in Minnesota &T Plastics Manufacturing Co. Inc. recently added 3,600 square feet of warehousing space to boost the size of its Blaine, Minnesota operation by 20 percent. The company, headquartered in Long Island, N.Y., supplies plastic sheet, rod, tube and film nationally. E&T has eight locations in the U.S. and a multi-million dollar inventory It opened a sales and distribution center in Blaine in April 2006 to serve customers in Minnesota, North and South Dakota, western Wisconsin, Iowa and nearby Canada. “We experienced considerable growth here in five short years and basically outgrew the facility,” said Tom Tuckey, Minnesota branch manager, in a news release.He said the company has become more versatile in Minnesota and helps support the region’s large print industry. The Minnesota facility has a Schelling computerized saw to offer custom cutting. It can cut single, oversized sheets or thousands of 3/8 squares and is used mainly for large production cutting. The site also has a vertical saw for smaller, quickturnaround jobs.

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Solar startup GlobalWatt relocates to reduce costs alifornia -based GlobalWatt Inc. A solar manufacturing company that originally planned to bring 500 jobs and a $177 million production plant to Saginaw announced this week that it will relocate in northern Michigan next month, citing a need to reduce costs.“It’s not an expansion. It’s more of a cost optimization,” said

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Sanjeev Chitre, CEO of San Jose, “We came there with good intentions, but the solar industry has changed dramatically in the last year and a half, and we just have to manage reality.” In the past three months, GlobalWatt has had 15-17 contract employees at all its locations, Chitre said. At one

time, the company had about 29 contract employees. High overhead costs and an increasingly competitive climate in the solar industry over the past year and a half led to the decision to relocate GlobalWatt’s solar module production plant

AMEC awarded £70 mln asset support contracts by SABIC UK Petrochemicals MEC, the international engineering and project management company, has been awarded two asset support contracts by chemical giant SABIC UK Petrochemicals Limited. The first is a £30 mln asset support contract for plant turnaround services for SABIC's petrochemicals assets at Wilton and North Tees in the North East of England. The award, an extension to an existing contract,is for planning, preparation, execution and management of resource and supply chain for major turnarounds and will run through to 2014. It includes SABIC's Aromatics, Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) and Olefins plants. The second is a three year, £40 mln extension to an existing integrated maintenance contract, also at Wilton and North Tees, which will also run through to 2014.

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"I am delighted that our successful delivery for SABIC over the last five years - safely, on budget

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and to time - has given us such an excellent relationship with this valued customer," said John Pearson, Managing Director of AMEC's Europe &West Africa business. "This latest contract reinforces AMEC's position as the leading provider of turnaround services to the UK's petrochemical sector." AMEC's excellent safety

record on the existing contracts has been recognised both by SABIC and externally. In 2010 AMEC was awarded SABIC's EHSS (Environment, Health, Safety and Security) global award for contractors and in2011 AMEC won a 'Special Category Award' at the North of England Excellence Awards (NofEE).

OK Play to set up two more auto supply plants eading automotive plastic component maker OK Play Ltd. opened a plant in Ranipet, Tamil Nadu, in early 2011, to cater to the south India auto hub. Now the company is planning two additional plants.The rotational molder has a goal of reaching annual sales of US$100 million by 2016.Managing director Rajan Handa said. “We are planning to widen our product range

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in the automotive sector. We are planning to set up two more plants in Pant Nagar and Jamshedpur in the next two years.” The company was initially incorporated under the name Aquapure Containers Ltd. in 1998 to manufacture water storage tanks. In 1990 it diversified into toys, school furniture, playground equipment, automotive tanks and other products.

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Dow bags ‘Global Innovator’ award from Thomson Reuters ow has been named in the first edition of Thomson Reuters’ Top 100 Global Innovators. The listing recognises the company’s continued investment in innovation. In the UK, for example, Dow is working with the National Grid, the University of Southampton and GnoSys, a science and technology company established by the University of Surrey. Together they have made significant advances in developing a distribution power cable.Dow is also a global partner of

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the International Year of Chemistry – this year it awarded £18,500 to four Cambridge University students as part of the Dow Sustainability Innovation Student Challenge. Andrew Liveris, Dow chairman and CEO, said: “Dow’s integrated portfolio of solutions makes the world safer, healthier, cleaner and more convenient. We are uniquely enabled to address the major challenges of an evolving planet while providing increased value for our customers

Samsung Total to invest US$1.72 bln in aromatics, EVA plants amsung Total Petrochemicals Co. plans to spend 2 trillion won (US$1.72 bln) to build a new aromatics complex and an ethylenevinyl acetate copolymer plant in its Daesan complex in South Korea.

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Capacities will include 1 mln tons of paraxylene and 420,000 tons of benzene, and 240,000 tpa of EVA. The ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer plant is to be located at the Daesan petrochemical complex by April 2014

Rehau invests 3.2 million euros in new Czech plant lobal extruder and injection molder Rehau AG + Co. has invested 3.2 million euros ($4.17 million) to launch a new manufacturing plant in the Czech Republic to produce automotive components. Rehau bought the plant from airbag maker Global Safety Textiles. Rehau started production with two extrusion lines and 80 workers transferred from its

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existing plant in Moravské TÅ™ebové. That plant will focus on injection molding and assembly operations. During the year 2012, the firm plans to install another five extruders and hire 120 more employees at the new site. Rehau already employs 640 in its original Czech operations.Production at the new plant will focus on vehicle window and roof rail seals as well as 66

SCG-DOW finalize start-up of Thai PO facility he Dow Chemical Company has announced that the SCG-Dow Group, a joint venture between Dow and The Siam Cement Group, has finalized the start-up of its propylene oxide (PO) facility in Thailand by successfully completing its full capacity performance test. The ground for the PO facility was broken in June 2008. Propylene oxide, a versatile chemical intermediate, is used in the production of raw materials for a wide range of industrial and commercial products, including polyurethanes, propylene glycol, and glycol ethers. In October 2011, the SCG-Dow Group reached a key milestone for the new PO facility in Thailand. The world-scale plant, located within the Asia Industrial Estates (AIE) site near Map Ta Phut, Thailand will have a name plate capacity of 390 kilotons per annum (KTA) of PO via the innovative hydrogen peroxide to propylene oxide (HPPO) technology jointly developed by Dow and BASF

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other car components. The processor, based in Rehau, Germany, also plans to open a Czech technology center in 2012 with offices at both its sites. The Czech centre will be the firm’s fourth. Rehau employs 15,000 at 170 locations worldwide. J A N U A R Y 2012


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GN Thermoforming Equipment, Canada celebrates 30 years in business! Chester, Novascotia N Thermoforming Equipment is celebrating its 30th anniversary as a leading global manufacturer of Servo-Driven, Roll-Fed Thermoforming Machines for the production of food packaging. Today, the company has remained true to its original business philosophy of developing innovative machinery and seeking out export markets for its unique products.

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"The company is immensely proud of working with many of its customers on a long-term basis," said Jerome Romkey, Marketing Manager for GN. "This is a tribute to our leadership role in the Thermoforming Industry and our targeted focus on new products and strong customer service." From the beginning, GN Thermoforming Equipment has been an export-driven company, recognizing quickly that more stable sales growth could be achieved by selling into various markets, thus minimizing the impact of regional economic slowdowns. "We quickly embraced the export business and became very good at it," said Jerome. At the outset, GN focused on the U.S., Mexico, U.K. and Russia and today, it derives more than 90% of its business from exports all over the world. GN started out in 1981 as a manufacturer of Contact-Heat Machinery and in 2000 made an entry into Radiant-Heat Plug-Assist

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Equipment to spur future growth. The company, whose workforce has grown from six employees to over 100, has enjoyed significant and steady growth over the past 30 years. Products have been exported to 66 countries and over 1200 thermoformers have been installed worldwide. It all started in Vienna where Georg Nemeskéri, still in his teens, began experimenting with form and structure and the early stages of building thermoforming machinery in his father's factory. After pursuing his interest and studying in mechanical engineering, Georg immigrated to Chester, Nova Scotia on the east coast of Canada to start a new venture, Chester Plastics, and process thermoformed packaging products. In 1981, Georg started another company, GN, in order to provide high quality Pressure Forming Machinery for the Plastics Industry. Over the course of the past 30 years, he has further expanded the business to meet the growing demand of other consumer product manufacturers. Chester Plastics was eventually sold in 2001.

GN's full range of Contact-Heat Cut-In-Place Thermoformers meets the demands of both small- and large-volume applications. They are all ideally suited to produce highquality food packaging from a range of materials including OPS, PVC, HIPS, PET, PP, and a range of bio-based materials including PLA. A global network of sales and technical service personnel support OEMs and processors that produce plastic packaging for the bakery and confectionery markets. Key applications include clamshells, cake domes and bases, margarine tubs, muffin and cookie trays, egg trays, cups, yogurt containers, and other food containers. Other more limited uses include trays for the medical/ pharmaceutical industry and blister packaging for the industrial market.

Besides the headquarters located in Chester, GN established in 2004 GN Europe, a Sales & Service division which is operating from the Czech Republic. An extensive network of 22 manufacturers' representatives is also strategically located throughout the world.

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Sintex Industries Limited r S.B. Dangayach (Danga) is Managing Director of Sintex Industries Limited that is a well diversified corporate active in plastics, textiles, composites, infrastructure, construction, power, renewable energy and water sectors. He is also Chairman of Sintex International Limited that manufactures Homoeopathic medicines.

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Dangayach is responsible for the entire Plastics Division, which is recognized in India as leader in innovations. Under his stewardship company has evolved several successful products, technologies and solutions relating to Building & Construction, Prefabs, Interior decoration, Industrial, Electrical, Environmental and Consumer sectors.

a part of many symposia, seminars and conferences relating to plastics, housing, renewable energy, water, innovation, entrepreneurship and leadership. He has also travelled as a delegate with Prime Minister of India and Chief Minister of Gujarat several times. Dangayach is right now Chairman of National Advisory Board of Plastindia Foundation, which is the foremost organization for the plastic industry. He is also on the Governing Board of India-China Economic and Cultural

Dangayach is an out of box thinker and is passionate about low carbon, inclusive, green and clean development. He has therefore been driving his company towards providing products, systems and solutions that are in domains of cooking energy security, drinking water security, high quality but low cost housing for EWS/ LIG sectors and healthcare through green medicinal system like Homoeopathy.

Council (ICEC), which is working towards closer economic and cultural ties between two emerging giants. He is connected with CEPT University as an adjunct faculty of School of Building Science and Technology. Dangayach has been recipient of ‘Best Manager’ award of 1998 by Ahmedabad Management Association. He is perceived as an ‘intrapreneur’ and is featured in the bestselling ‘Stay Hungry Stay Foolish’, authored by Rashmi Bansal. Dangayach is an avid listener of Indian classical music. He has been regularly encouraging up and coming artistes by arranging private concerts at home. Amita, his wife is a homemaker. His elder son Hersh lives in U.S. and younger son Karan is in Ahmedabad.

Dangayach has been

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Sintex corporate office in Kalol, Gujrat

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LANXESS in India

LANXESS plant in Jhagadia, Gujarat, has been operational from March 2010. ANXESS India Private Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of LANXESS Deutschland GmbH, is a leading supplier of Performance Polymers, Advanced Intermediates and Performance Chemicals products. The core business of LANXESS is the development, manufacturing and marketing of plastics, rubber, intermediates and specialty chemicals.

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LANXESS is a leading specialty chemicals company with sales of EUR 7.1 billion in 2010 and currently around 15,800 employees in 30 countries. The company is at present represented at forty six production sites worldwide.

Rubber Chemicals business unit and Ion Exchange Resins business unit have production facilities in Jhagadia that are operational since 2010. It is the most modern facility of its kind in Asia. Rubber chemicals, release agents, ion exchange resins, high-tech plastics and material protection products are manufactured at the this plant .

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LANXESS is a member in the leading sustainable indices Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) World and

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All the thirteen business units are represented in LANXESS India. LANXESS India has its registered ofďŹ ce in Thane and sales ofďŹ ces in New Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai. LANXESS India also operates a technical development center for rubber chemicals in Thane.

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Advanced Industrial Intermediates business unit has a production facility in Nagda since 2009. Cogeneration plants in Nagda and Jhagadia are operational since October 2010. In January 2012, Material Protection Products, Rhein Chemie and Semi Crystalline products (SCP) business units have inaugurated their production facilities in Jhagadia. The new compounding facility of SCP business unit has an initial capacity of 20,000 metric tons per year. This facility produces the high-tech plastics Durethan (polyamide) and Pocan (polybutylene terephthalate).

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Plastochem Fabrication making an impact in FRP's lastochem Fabrication is the manufacturer of `Fibre Glass Reinforced Plastics (FRP)’ equipment. For the last 25 years they are in the field of manufacture of plastic and FRP equipment and have executed orders for various reputed firms. Reputed consultants like UHDE, ICB, Davy Power gas, SPECS, FEDO etc, have approved the firm. They also design, manufacture and supply Pollution Control Systems. They give complete service from conceptualization and design up to erection and commissioning with performance guarantees.

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Plastochem Fabrication can also manufacture and supply to the design and specifications of their customers or consultants. Plastochem Fabrication Expertise in design, up-todate manufacturing facilities, in-house quality analysis, prompt delivery and installation assistance for package as well as tailor-made plants and equipment are their strong points.

Suresh G. Nair Executive Director, Plastochem Fabrication

M r. S u r e s h G. Nair is the Executive Director of Plastochem Fabrication who has a lion’s share in Plastochem Fabrication’s success of over 25 years.

Plastochem Fabrication have team of qualified engineers, experienced in design and manufacture,supported by more than 75 highly skilled workmen and complete infrastructure facilities

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for design and manufacture of systems and equipment of any size and design. A t e a m o f Dr. MPS Ramani engineers under Technical Director, the guidance of Plastochem Fabrication Dr. MPS Ramani technically backs Plastochem Fabrication. Dr. Ramani, Technical Director of Plastochem Fabrication is an outstanding Chemical Engineer having more than 30 years working experience in this field. He has a PhD (Tech) in Chemical Engineering from the University Department of Chemical Technology, Mumbai. He has worked in the laboratories of Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd, Canada and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), USA. While at ORNL the Governor of the State of Tennessee conferred on him `the Honorary Citizenship of the State of Tennessee’ in recognition of his contributions in the field of Chemical Engineering. He was previously with BARC as Head of Desalination and Effluent Engineering Division (DEED). Plastochem Fabrication have factories at Mumbai and at Mysore in Karnataka. A brief Information of Plastochem Fabrication’s specialties are given below : 1. Storage Tanks: FRP storage tanks for Hydrochloric Acid and other corrosive chemicals. The largest tank manufactured by us till date has a capacity of 250,000 litres. It has a diameter of 5000 mms and height of 13000 mms. We 70

design and manufacture both vertical and horizontal tanks for both over ground and underground installations. We follow codes such as BSS and ASTM for the design. The tanks can be made either by hand lap or on filament winding machines. 2. Pipes and fittings: Plastochem Fabrication manufacture and supply pipes and fittings made of PP, PVC, HDPE, FRP etc. to various standards such as ASTM, AWWA, BSS, DIN, and ISS. Our services also include turnkey execution of piping systems, when so required by the customer. Again the pipes can be made either by hand lap method or on filament winding machines. 3. Blowers: Plastochem Fabrication manufacture their own make of FRP Centrifugal blowers in capacity range from 500 CMH to 60000 CMH and static heads ranging from 50 mm to 750 mm water column. 4. Mixer-settlers: FRP / PP/ PVC / HDPE Plastochem Fabrication have manufactured and supplied mixer-settlers for liquid-liquid solvent extraction for purposes such as separation of rare earths. 5. Nutsche: FRP / PP / PVC / HDPE nutsche type filters for corrosive chemicals. 6. Mixing/reaction vessels with agitator assembly: Vessels with agitation require special considerations in design. Agitation produces dynamic loading. The rotating speed of the

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SPECIAL INITIATIVES agitator and natural frequency of the system as a whole have to be taken into account for the design to avoid failures. We specialize in the design of agitated vessels. 7. Fume extraction systems for steel pickling plants: Steel pickling plants are mainly of two types viz. (1) continuous pickling lines of the closed type for strips and wires and (2) batch pickling lines of the open type for wire coils, straight tube bundles, automobile bodies (surface pretreatment prior to painting) etc. Induced draft type fume extraction systems are adopted for the former and pushpull type systems are used for the latter. The surface 2 treatment solutions could be hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, hydrofluoric acid, nitric acid, chromic acid or any other at various concentrations and temperatures. The design of the system is aimed at protection of the operating personnel on the one side and protection of the environment by controlling emissions. Temperature, concentration and toxicity and partial pressures of the vapours are considerations in system design. Their service covers from conceptualization to design, selection of appropriate materials of construction, manufacture, specification and procurement of purchased items such as pumps, motors, instrumentation and control etc., supply, erection, commissioning and handing over with guarantees for quality and integrity of the supplies and performance of the system conforming to specified parameters. P L A S T I C S N E W S

8. Tray-type gas absorbers for Acid Regeneration Plants: Acid is regenerated and recovered from the spent acid in steel pickling plants. The spent acid containing chlorides of iron in oxidized in a uidized bed reactor to produce iron oxide and HCl vapours. Whereas iron oxide is a useful bye-product, the HCl is absorbed in stoichiometric quantities of water to obtain 17 to 20% hydrochloric acid and reused for pickling. Plastochem Fabrication design and manufacture special tray-type absorbers for the purpose. Finally the gases are passed columns to limit emissions within pollution control limits. 9. Fume extraction systems for pharmaceutical plants: Bulk drug manufacturing plants typically comprise several reactors. Also they generate several highly toxic gases such as NH3, HCl, HF, NOx, SO2, Cl2, HBr, Br2, H2S, HCN, HCHO and other organic and inorganic gases. Personnel, who feed the raw materials into the reactors and operate the plant, have to be protected from the poisonous vapours and gases. The emissions from the plant have also to be controlled. As the gases generated are of different types the solutions to be used for absorbing them will also be different. As it would be uneconomical to use many absorption systems, the reactors are grouped into two or more groups for the purpose of providing fume extraction systems. The systems cover everything from retractable fume hoods near reactors to protect personnel to final absorbers and stacks. Our 71

engineers give total service from consultancy to commissioning including supply and erection. We also undertake trouble-shooting in existing fume extraction systems supplied by others. 10.Fume extraction systems for pesticide and petrochemical plants: As in the case of pharmaceutical plants we also undertake turnkey contracts for plants for the extraction and absorption of toxic gases in the case of any chemical industry, pesticide and petrochemical industries in particular. 11. Sulfur Dioxide Absorbers for sulfuric acid plants: Plastochem Fabrication have put up giant absorbers for SO2 in plants. The specialty of our system is that whereas NaOH is used for the absorption of SO2, the product is NaHSO3 and not Na2SO3. Thus the consumption of NaOH is reduced to 50%. A pH control system automatically recharges and refreshes the scrubbing liquid when it is exhausted. A two-stage countercurrent cascade is adopted for efďŹ cient removal of the toxic gases to pollution control standards. 12.Hydrochloric / Hydrobromic Acid absorption without heat exchangers: Absorption of HCl or HBr to produce concentrated acid is accompanied by generation of large amount of heat. Heat exchangers with expensive materials of construction are used to cool the acid. We have developed gas absorption systems, which do not require heat exchangers. This results in saving in capital costs.

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SPECIAL INITIATIVES National Plastics today is a known name in the houseware manufacturing. On the occasion the special issue we had the opportunity of interacting with Mr Rakesh Shelatkar. excerpts…. Q: Yo u a r e k n o w n f o r y o u r manufacturing, how did you start? A: We had a very modest start as a small family managed business in 1952 promoted by our chairman Mr. Vinod Parekh and his family in a small 500 sq.ft. premises as a plastic button manufacturing unit. Thereafter we diversified as a plastic housewares manufacturing unit and soon became the largest brand in. It was our Chairman’s vision that saw NATIONAL to further diversify as a plastic furniture manufacturer – and today we are one of the largest manufacturers of Plastic Furniture Manufacturers in the Country and of late our recent venture of Plastic Flooring solutions. Q: Who are your clients ? A: Our clients include all household, corporate , outdoor decorators, Hospitality businesses, Institutions and Modern Trade Retailers. Q: What are the product lines that you manufacture? A: Plastic Moulded Furniture – includes Chairs, Tables , Centre Tables, Shoe Racks , Storage Solutions, Cabinets , Planters etc. Plastic Moulded Housewares – Buckets , Laundry Baskets, Bins etc. Plastic Floorings – Artificial Grass mats, Door mats , Automobile Mattings P L A S T I C S N E W S

Q: Are you working for any particluar brands / segment / or only household.? A: We are associated with Major Retails Brands viz Future Group, Relaince Retail, Metro , Walmart, Carrefour etc. We cater to households along with every segment of user of plastic products. Q: You are exporting to many countries if I am not wrong … A: Yes, we are exporting to major countries of the world with major interest in South America, North America, Australia, Middle East. Q: Do you have any tie-ups ?

rate and believe that there is still a lot to be achieved and are surely intending to focus on more aggressive growth in the near future by adding capacities and diversifying into newer product lines and markets. The year 2011 has witnessed a major turnaround for us . To further strengthen the competitive advantage we have added capacities with two more state of art manufacturing facilities at PATNA and Hyderabad in addition to the existing facility at Silvassa. Q: What do you feel about the Plastic industry as a whole? A: Considering the current economic slowdown plastic industry too has been through rough times but there is still a lot of scope. Innovation and value addition now holds the key for further growth. The industry has to move out of its peculiar mould of mere processing of plastic and tonnage utilization.

A: No. Not yet! Q: How has been the progress otherwise? A: The plastic Industry has been constantly going through ups and down primarily because of the continuous fluctuations in the raw material prices, cheaper imports etc however we have been able to maintain a steady growth rate and are now focusing on an aggressive organic growth. Q: A r e y o u h a p p y a b o u t y o u r achievement ?. A: One can never be complacent and satisfied with ones achievement, we have had a fairly stable growth

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Q: What are the new avenues for plastic? There is lot more to offer as the per capita consumption of plastic in India( 5kgs) is still way below the world average(26 kgs). Changing lifestyles and the more demanding consumers than ever offer a great opportunity to us to provide them with more value added products both in the furniture segment as well as in the housewares. We are trying to focus on products higher up the value chain which would provide newer avenues in household plastics.

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Lines for the production of innovative specialty BO films Brückner Maschinenbau at Plastindia (Hall 12, booth 12D1) oday, the Indian BO film market is still dominated by commodity films such as plain, tape base, laminate or metallizable films. Upcoming trends will lead to more demand for innovative specialty BO films. These films for the future Indian local and export markets need to be thinner, requiring less raw material and should be partly made of renewable and biodegradable raw materials.

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S i m i l a r t o We s t e r n E u r o p e , USA, Japan or Korea the Indian film markets will see a tendency that film manufacturers are more and more turning their attention to specialty films, namely:

Multi-layer function films with special barrier layers

Bio-based and bio-degradable films

Optical films

Films for photovoltaic modules

Battery separator films

As large and efficient BO lines are the key to success in commodity film, for the production of added value specialty films smaller, flexible lines are in demand. German Brückner Maschinenbau offers various line concepts and technological developments. Besides the sequential stretching technology (stretching of the film in longitudinal and transverse direction in succession) Brückner also records an increased demand for simultaneous LISIM® technology for the very highest quality demands.

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With this worldwide unique technique the film is stretched simultaneously in longitudinal and transverse direction, using linear motor technology like the Maglev train in Shanghai.

Thin Films To date, packaging films are made of products based on crude oil. In times of limited resources and ever increasing oil prices, the clear objective of film manufacturers is to produce thinner films – with unchanged or even improved properties – in order to reduce raw material consumption. This trend towards thin films, however - particularly when older lines are involved – could prove detrimental in terms of production stability and efficiency. On account of the implementation of „High-End System Components“ and improved process technologies, B r ü c k n e r i s a b l e t o o ff e r f i l m manufacturers optimum line efficiency for the production of thin films:

Smooth guiding and stretching of ultra-thin films: controlled drives on all feeding film rolls over the entire line ensure a gentle handling of the film without damage to surface

Highly flexible MDO multi-gap technology

TDO with excellent air distribution over the entire film width

Web tension control in pull roll and winder

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Highly accurate thickness control with fast-acting profile control at die lip

In addition, the simultaneous orientation process offers a well defined advantage in terms of thickness reduction. Brückner has taken a pioneer position with their unique LISIM® Technology.

Multi-Layer Film: The reduction of certain process steps (e.g. lamination, coating) up to end packaging is also a distinguishable trend. This is exactly where multi-layer films are applied. By means of socalled function layers, whether EVOH, PA or others, special film properties can be attained – in particular for barrier requirements – in either 7-layer clear or 5-layer metallized films. Such properties normally can only be attained by means of a subsequently manufactured composite film. In their own technology center, Brückner has developed several new promising multi-layer film types and has implemented this known-how in their film stretching line technology, namely:

Adjustment of the extrusion and filter system in order to attain thinner function layers (1 - 4μm)

Special die for the corresponding exact layer arrangement (rearrangement of the layers must not occur)

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Bio-based and biodegradable film As an alternative to raw material based on crude oil, renewable materials are increasingly being applied for the manufacture of biaxially stretching packaging films – e.g. Bio-PE, Bio-PA, Bio-PET or PLA. These films convince in view of the incomparable low carbon footprint which will increasingly become important. Also here, Brückner is able to offers concepts for new lines or the modification of existing lines:

Special raw material handling systems for hygroscopic materials

A specially adapted extruder screw design ensuring gentle plastification

Special adaption of all melt leading components ensuring gentle raw material handling

A temperature control system specially adapted and aligned for PLA for machine and transverse stretching of the material given the fact that PLA is stretched with considerable lower temperatures than other polymers

Solar Panels und LCD Displays The growth of stretched films is expected to continue at an even higher pace - not only in the packaging industry. Also in the fast growing market of photovoltaic applications (PET films in the thickness range of up to approx. 250 μm) and optical applications such as for example P L A S T I C S N E W S

for LCD displays (PET-films in the thickness range of up to approx. 400 μm), Brückner has focussed on further developments. The newly designed lines have responded to the specific demands for such films:

Proven profiling of the melt ensuring that the required optical properties are attained Smooth and gentle film handling during orientation and winding in order to avoid mechanical surface faults and to ensure the required form stability for subsequent application (super low shrinkage)

Electric powered mobility For the future market of electric powered mobility, Brückner is presently carrying out R & D for battery separator films which not only can be applied for all kinds of transportable devices (communications, computer and consumer) but in future also for all electric vehicles (EV) – e-bikes, scooters, electric cars. Based on their long term experience within the field of capacitor film, Brückner is engaged in the topic concerning the requirements for such films and relevant technology and line design. In addition to its own R&D efforts, Brückner is member of the prestigious “German National Platform for Electric Mobility”.

New developments of specialty films at Brückner`s technology center Ever since the beginning in1960, Brückner ’s strategy has been to operate their own small scale semi-

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production line for process and technological developments. This facility being, on the one hand, the prerequisite to develop and offer technological expertise to the market and - on the other hand - to offer customers the use of this facility for their own R & D activities. Meanwhile, the fourth generation of the pilot line is available and is extremely flexible for all kinds of processes. As such, it is possible to perform all stretching modes on one single pilot line, which is world-wide unique, namely:

MD orientation

TD orientation

Sequential orientation (MD + TD)

Simultaneous orientation (MD + TD)

Energy & raw material savings Apart from issues on productivity and efficiency, energy consumption and cost optimization have increasingly gained importance. On all line designs - irrespective of whether production lines for the manufacture of first-class mono- and biaxially stretched films or for extruded flat film sheets - Brückner optimises the potential for energy and material saving:

Specially designed „Energy Monitoring Tool“

Optimised cast film temperature control

Down Gauging: Utmost precision in process control for a reduced raw material charge

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What’s next to expect from Rajoo at Plastindia 2012! Plastindia 2012 is just weeks away, with Rajoo it is expected that technology, innovation, convenience and value proposition would clearly reflect in its launches! It is more than just a mere ritual. The industry waits with bated breath to see what Rajoo would unveil at every Plastindia. The history speaks for itself. Each edition of Plastindia has witnessed it, to mention a few. Plastindia 2003 saw India’s highest output indigenous 3 layer blown film line and highest capacity downward extrusion PP blown film line. Plastindia 2006 took Indian

and products, available world-wide, at Indian prices. To grab a pie of this growing market, the processors need to be empowered with the right tools to meet this requirement. Maybe the nEXt at Rajoo! With thermoforming now being an integral part of Rajoo, thermoformers would definitely look forward to a technology leader as Rajoo to address issues relating to increased productivity of their machines, need for improving the levels of hygiene in product handling as well as look to increase the level of automation so as to reduce the component of labour in overall operations. Maybe the nEXt at Rajoo!

manufacturing to newer heights with the release of Asia’s first fully loaded 7 layer blown film line, Plastindia 2009 with the launch of Asia’s first 3 layer rPET sheet line, 3 axis servo thermoformer and fully loaded high output 3 layer blown film line further reinforced Rajoo’s global name in the field of quality extrusion. The buzz is evident with What’s nEXt at Plastindia 2012! It is expected though that technology, innovation and convenience would reflect in the launches!

The extrusion industry would witness unparalled gains as with every Plastindia, the Rajoo launches would only up the ante of performance, quality, convenience and the unmistakable ‘Rajoo Value Proposition’. With this, the industry would only hope that Plastindia happens quicker than once in 3 years! What’s nEXt!!

The fast growing polymers and packaging industry results in the formation of niches which come with specific and high performance requirements; the blown film lines are no different. With world as the market place, would highend machines incorporating state-of-the-art technology with global acclaim ever be available at Indian prices? Maybe the nEXt at Rajoo!

About Rajoo Based in Rajkot, Rajoo Engineers Limited, having made a modest beginning in 1986, has today emerged as an undisputed global player in blown film and sheet extrusion lines. Owing to its focused efforts in blown film and sheet extrusion lines, the Company enjoys premium market position in this segment. Being a technology driven Company, product innovations, world-class quality, stateof-the-art workmanship, increased energy efficiency, and high levels of sophistication and automation have become the hallmark of Rajoo products during all these years, positioning the Company's products on a global platform, competing with the established world leaders. With representations in many countries of the world and customers in over 53 countries, the Company's exports have multiplied after its debut in the international market in 1990. (www.rajoo.com)

New polymers, newer materials, newer machines for low cost trial runs, prototype development …who knows? The challenges are enormous for the raw material producer, process development laboratory to ensure process or application development on one side with a production like feel on the other. Estimates and guesstimates should surely be a thing of the past, quite surely so, the industry deserves this convenience. Maybe the nEXt at Rajoo! New application segments warrant new and innovative solutions that are reliable and cost-effective. Customers in the business of irrigation; plumbing; soil, waste & rain water drainage; drain, waste and vent are very demanding and are today looking for newer and energy-efficient technologies P L A S T I C S N E W S

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CHINAPLAS 2012, 18-21 April, Shanghai, China - Plastics & Rubber Technology at its peak eeping pace with the growth of China’s plastics and rubber industries for nearly 30 years, CHINAPLAS has become a distinguished meeting and business platform for these industries and has also largely contributed to their prosperous development.

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At present, CHINAPLAS is the largest plastics and rubber trade fair in Asia, and widely recognized by the industry as the 3rd most influential exhibition in the world. Its significance is surpassed only by K Fair in Germany, the world’s premier plastics and rubber trade fair, and NPE in USA, the second largest plastics fair in the world. The forthcoming edition in 2012 is expected to draw over 2,600 exhibitors from 35 countries and more than 1,00,000 visitors. CHINAPLAS has been certified as a “UFI Approved Event” by the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry (UFI), an internationally-recognized representative body of the international trade fair sector. This endorsement further demonstrates CHINAPLAS’ proven track record as an international event, with professional standards of exhibition and visiting services as well as quality project management. It has also gained sustained support from EUROMAP (European Committee of Machinery Manufacturers for the Plastics & Rubber Industries) as the Sponsor.

Scope of Exhibits at CHINAPLAS 2012: Ancillary equipment, Blow molding machines, Chemicals, raw materials & auxiliaries, Extruders & extrusion lines, Injection moulding machines, IT applications / CAD-CAM , Machines & equipment for preprocessing & recycling, Machinery & plant for finishing, decorating, printing & marking, Machinery for foam, reactive or reinforced resins, Measuring, control & test equipment, Moulds & dies, Parts & components, Post processing & other processing machines, Presses, Semifinished products, Welding machines, etc. When it comes to travelling to CHINAPLAS Orbitz is one name that crops up at the top of ones mind. That’s because it has led the largest Indian delegations to earlier editions of CHINAPLAS. For the upcoming hosting, the team at Orbitz Business Tours has wide ranging 5-day group travel packages - premium, comfort and budget to suit any business traveller. These include world class airlines, choice of conveniently located 5/4/3-star hotels, Indian dinners in comfort of the hotel you stay and half day Shanghai City Tour including SWFC 94th Floor, 2 way Maglev Ride and a relaxing Huangpu River Cruise. Serious minded professionals therefore ought to plan their business trip to CHINAPLAS 2012, one of the world’s biggest trade fairs in Asia. It also makes sound business sense to travel with Orbitz, officially the best in India. For more information contact: Orbitz Corporate & Leisure Travels (I) Pvt. Ltd. 101, Navyug Industrial Estate, T. J. Road, Sewri ( W), MUMBAI - 400 015. • Tel.: 022-2410 2801-04, 3950 4400 • Fax: 022-2410 2805 • Contact person: Mr. Chintan Chheda• E-mail: chintan@orbit-star.com Book online: www.visittradefairs.com/go/chinaplas2012

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STEER AT PLASTINDIA 2012 lastindia has grown in stature and is one of the top 5 plastic fairs. {K show, NPE, ChinaPlas being the other}

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STEER is an active participant in Plastindia. The STEER booth is located in Hall 6H/M2. In Plastindia 2012 STEER will be display its proven EPZ products especially the much acclaimed and patented Shovel Elements – SFV elements. STEER will display and launch its new ‘small-lot product line’ extruders. SPL 40 – Super Production Line, ‘a compounding and pelletizing system comprising of co-rotating twin-screw extruder with a cooling trough, air knife, strand pelletizer and classifier’. The SPL 40 is conceived to achieve lean manufacturing and meet customer’s deliveries in sequence. STEER (www.steerworld.com) which was established in 1993 by its founder and Managing director Dr. Babu Padmanabhan (www.drbabupadmanabhan.com) has reached a global leadership position in EPZ products with a global market share of over 15%. {EPZ = Extruder Processing Zone which are primarily Screw Elements, Shafts & Barrels} STEER which began its generation next co-rotating twin-screw extruders marketing in year 2003, is the leader in the India region with a market share of over 60%; has continuously innovated and has got recognition awards for its flagship brand STEER OMEGA and STEER H Class (see www.extruders.steerworld.com). STEER extruders are present actively in USA, Middle East, Japan, China & Europe. STEER is well known for proven technology, precision manufacturing, metallurgy expertise, perfect engineering, relentless service, expertise in processing and know-how in compounding. STEER works with a philosophy of “YOU WIN” i.e. the customer wins with its specified and special extruders. The customers win and grow, thus contributing to materials development and creating environment friendly products.

STEER Engineering Pvt Ltd, #290, 4th Main, 4th Phase, Peenya, Bangalore – 560 058, India. Phone: +91 80 23723309, Fax: +91 80 23723307, Email: info@steerworld.com, www.steerworld.com

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LOHIA STARLINGER LIMITED IN PLASTINDIA 2012: Feb 01-06, 2012, PRAGATI MAIDAN, NEW DELHI, INDIA

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ohia Starlinger Limited brings 3 decades of experience and expertise of supplying complete range of machines for Plastic

Woven Fabric Industry for flexible packaging for wide range of applications like bags, sacks, tarpaulin, FIBC (big-bags), carpet backing, leno bags & many more. The projects supplied by the company are running successfully in over 60 countries around the world and this accomplishment has been possible due to the Group’s continuous emphasis on quality and innovation. They have delivered more than 750 Tape Extrusion Lines supported by 32,000 Looms processing over one million tons per year of plastics for woven fabric. Lohia portfolio of products deliver complete end to end solutions from a wide range of tapelines, winders and circular looms for producing quality woven plastic fabrics. Lohia Starlinger Limited is major player in Indian market and has been responsible to introduce many innovations creating advantages for its customers. It continues to increase its market share and penetration in

Lasting relationship mutual trust

Export markets and now is a major global player. They will be present in Plastindia 2012 in full strength with over 8 latest innovations in Tape Extrusion, Winding, Circular Weaving, Printing, Coating, Multi-filament Spin-Draw-Wind lines. All these machines will be in display with live demonstrations. Some of these machines will be show-cased for the first time by Lohia and will provide opportunity to processors to upgrade their production quality and productivity at competitive costs. Contact:

Lohia Starlinger Limited D-3/A, Panki Industrial Estate Kanpur – 208022 sales@lohiagroup.com

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Intelligent Hydraulic Cylinders - By M/S Vega Srl., Italy ega is specialised in the design, production and technical support of Hydraulic Cylinders for applications on plastic injection and die-cast molds. Vega's strategy consists in providing application-oriented solutions rather than simple products.

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VEGA Hydraulic ‘Intelligent’ cylinders find wide variety of applications in Injection Moulds, Special Purpose Machines etc. VEGA provides a wide range of cylinders which are able to solve extreme condition and problems such as forces, reduced space need and high temperature. These cylinders are available in both magnetic and non magnetic versions, i.e. with or without magnetic proximity switches. All the cylinders are having various types of mounting styles, Oil Delivery Ports etc. Following are the popular ones.

V160CB: Tie rod type cylinder according to ISO 6020/2 standards. They are extremely versatile thanks to the wide range of dimensions (bores, rods and stroke). They can be fitted with adjustable end stroke switches. Max. Pressure : 160 Bar Bore Dia. : 25 mm to 200 mm Stroke Range : 20 to 1500 mm

V230CI: Tie rod type High Temperature cylinders. Seal kit is Viton as standard. Max Pressure : 230 Bar Bore Dia. : 32 mm to 160 mm Stroke Range : 20 to 1500 mm Rod Dia. : 14 mm to 110 mm Working Temp : Up to 160°C (Normal Version) Working Temp : Up to 80°C (Magnetic Version)

V250CE: Short stroke light weight block cylinder with magnetic switches. They provide the best bore +stroke ratio and dimensions for the strokes up to 50 mm. Seal kit is Viton as standard. Max Pressure : 250 Bar Bore Dia : 25 mm to 100 mm Stroke Range : 20, 50, 80mm Working Temp : Up to 120°C (Normal Version) Working Temp : Up to 80°C (Magnetic Version)

V450CM: Heavy duty, short stroke cylinders with extreme compactness. They can be fitted with integrated and adjustable mechanical micro switches. Seal kit is Viton as standard. Max. Pressure : 450 Bar Bore Dia : 16 mm to 100 mm Stroke Range : 10 to 100 mm Working Temp : Up to 160°C (Without Mechanical Micro Switches) Working Temp : Up to 80°C (With Mechanical Micro Switches)

V-260CF: Self Locking Double acting hydraulic cylinders with mechanical piston-locking in the end stroke position. It is especially designed for use on punches for molds with a large surface coming in contact with the injected plastics frontally. Max Pressure : 260 Bar Bore Dia : 30 mm to 84 mm Stroke Range : 30 to 150 mm Working Temp : Up to 160°C For details, contact:

Madhu Machines & Systems Pvt. Ltd. 'Anurag' 1st Floor, A-4/5, Ganesh Krupa Society, Chikuwadi, Vadodara–390007 Gujarat, INDIA Tel: +91 265 2321104 / 2353886, Fax. : +91 265 2334278 Email: info@madhu-group.com / machinery@madhu-group.com Web site: www.madhu-group.com

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United Strengths of Plastic Extrusion Machinery: battenfeld-cincinnati, Austria & Kabra ExtrusionTechnik, India Kabra Extrusiontechnik (KET), a leader in the Indian extrusion machinery market had a technological collaboration with Battenfeld Extrusiontechnik, Germany since 1983. In 2006, this partnership was further strengthened as Battenfeld acquired 14 % equity stake in KET. Technology agreement with the said company executed in April, 2006 has been amended recently to include technology from its group member battenfeld-cincinnati, Austria. About battenfeld cincinnati, Austria: Battenfeld Extrusiontechnik, (Germany), Cincinnati Extrusion, (Austria) formerly operating as independent entities effective from April, 2010 combined their strengths under a new brand of battenfeldcincinnati. Together with American Maplan Corporation (also a member of battenfeld-cincinnati), the group is the largest global supplier of extrusion lines for production of pipes, profiles, films and sheet. From the merger of Battenfeld Extrusionstechnik, Cincinnati Extrusion and American Maplan, battenfeld-cincinnati has emerged as the global market leader in extrusion technology. battenfeld-cincinnati has three operative divisions Construction, Infrastructure and Packaging and hold leading positions in their target markets for innovative strength, product quality, problemsolving expertise and service. Mr. S. V. Kabra, KET Chairman says “The need of the hour is to remain ahead of the technology curve and create benchmarks in terms of quality machinery and cost competitiveness. In addition to the continuous inflow of technology from USA and Germany, KET now will also be able to manufacture plant with technical know-how of battenfeld-cincinnati, Austria, eventually helping the Company to create long lasting value for customers and stakeholders in plastics processing industry. We have once again taken a step forward in our endeavour of providing advanced technology and leveraging our long standing brand equity in the markets.” KET’s portfolio has strengthened further, with high quality, high performance and innovative extruders, processing tools & downstream equipments available with battenfeld-cincinnati Austria.Mr. Jürgen Arnold, battenfeld-cincinnati CEO, quoted “We expect to benefit from KET’s strong manufacturing set-up and marketing network across India as our group’s entire product range shall be exclusively made available by them enabling us to extend our leadership in India. Furthermore, the modern facilities of KET will be instrumental for establishing manufacturing footprint in India and increase the presence of battenfeld-cincinnati made European equipment in the country”. The spectrum of extrusion lines includes: Single Screw Extruders, Parallel Twin Screw Extruders, Conical Twin Screw Extruders,Wood Plastic Composites Lines In addition to the extruder series, helix VSI dies, new technology PO VSI-T dies, helix KryoS dies and the latest PVC dies will be offered by KET. The Extrusion machinery range caters to all the major industry segments: Infrastructure – includes pipes for transportation and distribution of water, gas and telecommunication data. Construction - covers PVC & PO profiles, Wood Plastic Composites for decking, fencing, siding and railing. Packaging - comprise of thermoforming films and sheets for food packaging. Agriculture sector - has PVC/PO pipes for water supply and LLDPE drip irrigation tubes.

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Ferromatik Milacron India (FMI) Ferromatik Milacron India is part of Milacron LLC, USA, a Global Leader in business areas of Plastics Processing Technologies, Metal Working Fluids and Precision Machining with group revenue in excess of US$ 750 Million supported by manufacturing credentials accrued over 130 years. FMI is the leading manufacturer of Plastics Injectio n Molding Machines in India serving the entire gamut of Plastic Applications at 40 countries across the world including USA. Established in 1995, FMI offers today the full range of Injection Molding Machines from 50 T to 2500 T with capacity to manufacture 1500 machines per annum and a PAN India Sales & Service Office in major cities and industrial towns of the country. It is accredited to the Export House Status and is an ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 14001:2004 certified company adhering to World Class Quality Standards. There is only one way to describe FMI – Dynamic, Growing & Global. Our success is based on our customers, partners and our people. We are known for our professionalism, business ethics, superior technology, quality & reliability and commitment to after sales service.

Our Strengths

Leading manufacturer of Plastics Injection Molding Machines (from 50 T to 2500 T) in India

State-of-the art manufacturing facility to manufacture 1500 machines per annum

Wide range of products and value added services

ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 14001:2004 certified company adhering to World Class Quality Standards.

PAN India Sales & Service Office in major cities and industrial towns of the country

Accredited to the Export House Status, serving 40 countries across the world including USA

Serving the entire gamut of Plastic Applications i.e. House wares, Furniture, Packaging, Medical, Automotive, Electrical, Electronics & Telecom, Caps & Closures, Thin Wall Containers, Writing Instruments, White Goods, PET Preforms, etc.

Strong pre and after sales support

Delivered more than 6000 machines to over 900 customers, since commencement of operations in December '95

Our Contact Details Ferromatik Milacron India Pvt. Ltd. 93/2 & 94/1 Phase – I, GIDC Vatva, Ahmedabad – 382 445 Gujarat (India) Phone: + 91 79 2589 1033 / 2589 0081 Fax: + 91 79 25891593 Email: salesfmi@milacron.com Website: www.milacron.com P L A S T I C S N E W S

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Why Plastic Packaging is Good for the environment It may seem to be a bit counterintuitive, but plastic packaging is actually quite beneficial to the environment says Jacqueline Cook lthough many packaging suppliers initially loved the material for its low cost, many more are turning to plastics for the ease of recycling it. Reusing plastics can help reduce the amount of waste that is generated on the planet, which helps the environment enormously. Plastics Recycling: It's a Good Thing

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Plastics are frequently recycled in Australia, which is why using them in packaging makes so much sense. In fact, the rate of plastics recycling in Australia rose from 7.0% to 12.4% from 1997 to 2003. The overall plastic packaging recycling rate in the country hovers right around twenty percent. This is a very sizable chunk, since every piece of plastic that gets recycled stays out of the landfill - and doesn't pollute the planet.

The Lightweight Nature Of Plastic And How It Helps The Planet Since plastics are so lightweight, they are wonderful to use in packaging. It is interesting to note that if plastics were suddenly taken out of production, a 400% increase of packaging weight would take place. Additionally, an increase of 150% in waste would take place if plastics were not to be used, production costs - along with energy costs - would skyrocket. All around, it is plain to see that plastics help reduce the amount of waste in terms of P L A S T I C S N E W S

volume. Compared with twenty years ago, today's packaging is up to 80% lighter - and the use of plastic can be credited with that.

energy savings and recycling - and it's obvious why the packaging industry and consumers have embraced it so much.

Examples Of The Benefits Of Plastic Packaging

Benefits Of Recycling Paper And Cardboard In Packaging

There are many compelling examples of the benefits of using plastic packaging. For instance, stretch film - which is used in pallet security during shipping - is made with up to 40% less material than it once was. A massive 70% reduction of the amount of materials used for laundry detergents occurred when plastic refill packs were initially introduced. Plastics are more efficient and effective, along with a lot lighter, than many other materials - and those characteristics are great news for our planet.

The Advantages of Using Recycled Plastic Manufacturing plastic from recycled materials is great for a number of reasons. Only 30% of the energy that is needed to make plastic from fossil fuels is needed to make it out of recycled materials. That enhances sustainability and green living and promotes a healthier planet. Also, the recycling of PET bottles saves about 84% of the energy that is needed to make them out of raw materials. It's clear that plastic presents many very attractive opportunities in terms of 83

It is all too easy to assume that food packaging suppliers create a ton of the waste that goes into Australian landfills each year. However, the industry relies heavily on paper and cardboard, which are both recycled at very appreciable degrees. It is smart to begin by learning how much paper and cardboard are used each year in Australia. As a data point, between the years 2002 and 2003 Australians used approximately 4 million tonnes of the materials. Incredibly, that number is a 10.2% increase over the previous year which reflects the steady rise in popularity of these materials.

How Much Of Those Materials Is Recycled? When presented with the huge numbers outlined above, many people are quick to assume that most of it ends up as waste. The truth is, though, that about 1.9 million tonnes of that cardboard and paper waste is collected for recycling. That is a very significant percentage and demonstrates how J A N U A R Y 2012


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ENVIRONMENT useful those materials are in terms of being reused. Furthermore, the vast majority of that recycled material was made up of packaging materials. It is clear that the industry does a lot to reduce, reuse and recycle.

Creating New Packaging Materials From Old Products After being recycled, where does most of that material go? It is important to note that approximately 83% of all recycled paper and cardboard materials are used to created packaging supplies of various sorts. This fact closes the loop and clearly outlines the interesting way that the packaging industry does its own part to help save the planet. Rather than relying on brand new paper and cardboard from freshly felled trees, the packaging industry makes a concerted effort to rely mostly on recycled materials.

How Much Does That Recycling Help? When looking at all of these numbers, it can be difficult to put the benefits for the planet into perspective. For every one tonne of recycled cardboard or paper: => 31,780 litres of water are saved => 4100 KwH of electricity is saved => 13 trees are left standing => 4 cubic metres of landfill aren't built => 2.5 barrels of oil aren't used As you can see, the packaging industry does a whole lot when it comes to recycling and reusing paper

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and cardboard materials. In this way, it has a direct - and positive - impact on the health of Australia and the world

Going Green in the Foodservice Industry Going green is the biggest issue on everybody’s mind, including the food service industry! With Americans spending their money on food from restaurants, it’s good to know the facts about where you’re eating. One restaurant can produce nearly 100,000 pounds of garbage a year. The upside to this is that 95% of it is either recyclable or compostable. There are many ways for people to change their habits to go green! Restaurants use some of the largest amounts of electric energy compared to office and retail jobs. One piece of kitchen machinery uses up an amount of energy equivalent to that of a household! Thirteen percent of a restaurants energy usage is solely from lighting. An easy way to save money with lighting is to replace your old light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs). To install 20 CFLs into one restaurant, the cost could amount up to $110. On the flip side, the money saved with using these new bulbs could save more than $560! When looking for appliances, Energy Star approved ones are where to look! They are priced lower and save you even more money to use them! There are many other ways to save money and energy with a few small changes. In bathrooms or storage spaces, motion lights help to regulate when you really need the light on. In

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the kitchen, turn off ventilation hoods when they’re not in use, replace leaky gaskets in walk in doors or coolers, and only turn on the appliances and lights that you will be needing. When it comes to water, kitchens use 300,000 gallons of water a year! To save some water, servers should only be serving water when it is asked for. Also, drippy water faucets need to be fixed! They send thousands of gallons of water unused down the drain. Replacing old spray valves on sinks can save 90,000 gallons of water. This can also lead to saving $2,200 a year, while replacing them only costs you about $55. Low flow faucet aerators also help to save you lots of money and gallons of water! They only cost about $30 each. Replacing four in a kitchen could save 173,00 gallons of water and $2,800 a year! When you recycle one ton of paper, you’re doing a lot of good! In doing this you could save 12-17 trees, nearly 2000 gallons of water, a little over 1000 pounds of waste, 3 cubic yards of land fill space, nearly 2000 pounds of greenhouses gasses and nearly 400 gallons of oil. Many things that are recyclable are paper, glass, plastic, metal, and many other things found commonly around kitchens. Restaurants should be looking into starting recycling and composting programs. The advantages of composting would be to create fertile soil for future crops to grow. Jacqueline Cook has been writing for quite a long time and the article was posted on http://escoffier.com/ index.php

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Plastic for Modern Life For a quite a long time there have been huge rounds of discussions about plastics and the way it pollutes the environment. There are hardly any recycling groups and / or forums world over that make people understand about Plastics as an alternate matter that makes life possibly simpler. ne juts needs to log on to internet and could find as many numbers of sites complaining about plastics. But to be honest, is it possible to spend a normal life without using plastics?

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Right from our tooth brush to the cell phone, everything is made up of plastic. Be it our car, our laptop / tablets, our offices. You name it and we have it perhaps, made up of plastic. Imagine if you were to spend a day without using plastic.

Plastics: Making Modern Life Possible Plastics are responsible for countless facets of the modern life we enjoy today- from health and well being, nutrition, shelter and transportation to safety and security, communication, leisure activities and innovations of industry. Plastics improve our lives; bring us joy, convenience, efficiency and connection to others. Sometimes these materials even save our lives. In short, plastics’ flexibility and adaptability enable them to provide many different solutions in an increasingly complex world. From sunrise to sunset, as you go through your typical day, take note of the role plastics play in your life- a role often taken for granted: You awaken P L A S T I C S N E W S

to the sound of your alarm clock/ radio, you make coffee, your use your toothbrush and hairbrush, you put on clothing, you fill your reusable lunch bag, you drive your car (putting your toddler in a child safety seat) or ride your bicycle (don’t forget that helmet!), you listen to your iPod, you make a few calls on your smartphone, you work at your computer, you enjoy a bottle of water, you remove the protective film from around the meat and vegetables you’ll prepare for dinner … And that only begins to touch the surface of the importance of plastics in your everyday life.

Economic Benefits With an abundance of beneficial uses that touch every aspect of modern society, it certainly makes sense that the plastics industry is the third largest manufacturing industry in the United States. The U.S. plastics industry employs more than 1 million workers located at more than 17,600 plastics facilities. In fact, the plastics industry has a presence in every state and contributes $374 billion in annual shipments to their economy. Whereas in India the plastic industry though fragmented is growing at a phenomenal pace. Major international companies from various sectors such as automobiles, electronics, 101

telecommunications, food processing, packing, healthcare etc. have set-up large manufacturing bases in India. Therefore, demand for plastics is rapidly increasing and soon India will emerge as one of the fastest growing markets in the world. The per capita consumption of plastic products in India is growing and is moving towards 8% GDP growth. Today in India there are about 22000 plastic processing units and 150 plastic processing machinery manufacturers. India is likely to dominate the rest of the world’s Plastic with the domestic per capita consumption set to double by 2012. India is currently on the 8th position for Plastic Consumption in the World It is expected to be the 3rd largest consumer of plastics in the world by 2012

Benefits of Plastics Can you imagine if everything you depend on in your life that is made of plastic suddenly disappeared? Most likely, cherished items that you did not even realize were made of plastic would be gone. Plastics are a vital component of thousands of products we rely upon every day.

Food ■ From polyvinylidene chloride (that

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FEATURES wraps meats, fruits and vegetables) to high density polyethylene (molded into milk and juice containers) to polypropylene (most butter/ margarine and yogurt containers), plastic food packaging is specially designed to extend the shelf-life of food, change colors if the food is adulterated or spoiled, preserve the quality and nutrient content of food and prevent serious food-borne illnesses like botulism. ■ Well before food arrives at our grocery stores, vinyl is used in agricultural weed barrier films and conveyor belts, as well as gloves used in food processing, food wrap, and can liners. ■ When being transported in refrigerated trucks, polyurethane foam, sandwiched between layers of copolymer plastics, provide the thermal insulation necessary to maintain cold temperatures at reasonable levels of energy expenditure.

Health care ■ Polyvinyl chloride (vinyl) has been the material of choice for the health care industry for over 40 years. Over 25 percent of all medical plastics and over 70% of all disposable medical applications are made of vinyl, including blood and IV bags and the supporting tubing. ■ Examination gloves, intravenous containers, dialysis equipment, inhalation masks and thermal blankets are also made of vinyl or polyurethane. ■ Plastic syringes, used in hospitals and by millions of insulin-dependent diabetics at home, are made from P L A S T I C S N E W S

polypropylene or acrylic. ■ Stethoscopes are made using polypropylene and polystyrene. ■ Thermoplastic polyurethane is used to make complex, robotic prosthetic limbs. ■ Polypropylene is used for lab ware, Petri dishes, IV and specimen bottles, food trays, bed pans, sharps containers and even nonwoven fabric for use in diapers, wipes and gowns. Polypropylene has also been formulated to enable parts to undergo radiation sterilization and still retain sufficient physical properties to perform as intended. ■ In addition, plastics provide many tools — retractable canes, bathmats, elevated toilet seats, nightlights, pill boxes — that help the elderly maintain independent lives or prevent injury. ■ Recently a "total artificial heart" was approved for use by the FDA that is comprised of semi-rigid polyurethane housing with four flexible polyurethane diaphragms. Other plastics used in the heart’s manufacture are nylon, polyester, polyethylene and PVC.

Shelter ■ A walk through your house will reinforce how excellent plastic is for both thermal and electrical insulation. Consider all the appliances, cords, electrical outlets and wiring that are made or covered with polymeric materials. ■ Vinyl siding and PVC pipe for plumbing are obvious examples, but countertops and floor materials also may be made of plastic 102

materials. ■ PVC pipe is corrosion resistant, has good chemical resistance, has tremendous strength to weight ratio, is resistant to wear and abrasion, provides watertight joints, is a good thermal insulator and provides great flame resistance. ■ Fluoropolymers insulate wire and cable placed in the air space between a suspended ceiling and the structural floor above. Fluoropolymers play a key role due to their excellent durability in fire situations to meet and exceed safety codes. ■ Plastic foam insulation expands to insulate mid-to larger-size areas of homes such as walls, attics and roofs. This insulation improves a home’s energy efficiency, and helps keep rooms at the desired temperature. ■ Polyurethane foam is the foundation for seat cushions, office chairs, mattresses and pillows. ■ Polyurethane carpet backing holds the carpet together and provides cushioning and sound absorption, and the carpet pile itself could be made from nylon. ■ Rigid polyurethane is used in ceiling and wall insulation, as well as in insulated windows and doors.

Construction The Construction sector is the second highest user of plastics after packaging. Plastics are used in a growing range of applications in the construction industry. They have great versatility and J A N U A R Y 2012


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FEATURES combine excellent strength to weight ratio, durability, cost effectiveness, low maintenance and corrosion resistance which make plastics an economically attractive choice throughout the construction sector. Plastics in construction are mainly used for seals, profiles (windows and doors), pipes, cables, floor coverings, and insulation. Potentially, plastics have further uses as they do not rot, rust or need regular re-painting, they have strength with lack of weight, they are easily formable, and their light weight enables them to be easily transported and moved on site.

Areas of use Piping and Conduit Piping and Conduit are the largest users of polymers in construction and consume 35% of production. Producing cabling, rainwater goods, large diameter pipes for sewage, drainage and potable water made from PVC and Polyethylene.

Cladding and Profiles Cladding and profiles for windows, doors, coving, and skirting made from PVC-U, exterior cladding using phenolic is replacing timber rather than traditional resins which have a minimum fire risk.

Insulation Insulation is generally produced from Polystyrene rigid foam which is incorporated into panels or sandwiched into construction of walls and roofs. The insulation combines lightness and strength and is simple to install, and enables contractors to meet energy conservation regulations. P L A S T I C S N E W S

Seals and Gaskets Seals and Gaskets are made from Elastomers whose main construction use is for weather strips, aperture seals, gaskets and expansion joints. The polymers used are chloroprene and EPDM which have weatherability, resistance to deformation and retain elasticity, and PVC in windows and doors, also as a membrane for roofing and linings. In addition, 250,000 tonnes of polymers are used as a base for adhesive systems and sealants.

The future of Plastics in Construction The construction industry has a tendency towards traditional materials, tried and tested methods and products - but plastics offer opportunities for innovation.The future of the construction industry has always been dependent on economic conditions. Changes to the industry are now being accelerated through an increase in demand for housing coupled with new regulations which are intended to make the industry more energy efficient, manage waste, recycle and take LCA (life cycle analysis) into consideration. The future will see the growth of intelligent buildings and methods such as prefabrication which will move work away from construction sites and into factories. New materials and a range of polymeric composites and glass reinforced plastic materials have implications for structures. One of the principal advantages of plastics are their ability to be designed to a wider range of uses. Their resistance to corrosion, light weight and strength

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make the potentiality of load bearing structures as opposed to architectural features a possibility.

Plastics in Transportation Progress in Motion On land and on sea, in the air and in space - plastics are on the move. Durable, lightweight and corrosion resistant, plastics offer fuel savings, design flexibility and high performance at lower costs to designers facing today's complex transportation needs. In automobiles, light trucks, trailers and motorcycles; in marine craft from canoes to minesweepers; in trains, buses and other mass-transit vehicles; in airplanes and space shuttles everywhere, plastics are on the move.

On the Fast Track During the oil crisis of the '70s, automakers discovered that plastics make cars more energy efficient by reducing weight. With that discovery, plastics began finding their way into automobile components such as bumpers, fenders, doors, safety and rear-quarter windows, headlight and sideview mirror housings, trunk lids, hoods, grilles and wheel covers. Auto makers choose plastic parts for their durability, corrosion resistance, toughness, ease of coloring and finishing, resiliency and light weight. Plastics reduced the weight of the average passenger car built in 1988 by 145 pounds. That saves millions of gallons of gas each year and will save the energy equivalent of 21 million barrels of oil over the average lifetime of those cars. By the 1993 model year, over 250 pounds of plastics were used

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FEATURES in the average vehicle. Automobile designers also discovered that plastics solve one of their most complicated design problems: what to do with the fuel tank. Using plastic gives them the freedom to fit tanks into the overall concept rather than designing around the unwieldy but essential part. Bus manufactureres, too, are turning to plastics for exterior and interior components to provide dimensional stability and impact resistance in long sections. Trains and buses use plastics in seating, window/door frames and other interior applications that require durability, cleanability and low maintenance. Subway commuters in many cities owe much of their comfort to plastics, sitting on plastic-foam seats with plastic seat covers, standing on polyester carpets and holding securely to plastic handles. The moldings, window casings and interior panels of subway cars are also plastic, and the windows are polycarbonate. Modern over-the-road trucks owe much of their sleek design to plastics. The contoured cowls over the cabs reduce air resistance and improve fuel efficiency. Truck tanks made of advanced composites offer the same benefits.

On the Not-So-Fast Track Bicycles (seats, handlebars, trim and accessories), motorcycles (helmets, seats, windshields and instrument panels), roller skates, skateboards, canoes, kayaks, skis and ski boots, surfboards, snowboards and advanced athletic shoes - when people move, plastics move with them. P L A S T I C S N E W S

Advanced composite kayaks, for example, powered the U.S. Olympic team to gold medals in Seoul. Composites help achieve the required shape with minimum weight and allow better weight distribution.

Making Waves Plastics made a big splash in the nautical world when America's Cup entries began using advanced composites in futuristic designs that set the boats soaring. Stars and Stripes '88 took the Cup using composite materials originally created for aircraft, while New Zealand featured a 17-storyhigh mast made from advanced plastic materials. Both were harbingers of marine design undreamed of when 19th-century sailors first raced for the "Auld Mug." The real plastics revolution in boatbuilding began in the 1940s, when fiberglass hulls made their debut. Boats were sleeker, better looking, more fuel efficient, more maneuverable and easier to maintain. No more long weekends spent scraping and repainting. Plastics, marine designers learned, put the pleasure back into pleasure boating. Today, boatbuilders looking for strength and lighter weight turn to plastics for sails, rudders, dagger boards, centerboards, slats, spars and wings, as well as hulls.

Cleared for Takeoff The oil crisis of the '70s taught the airline industry the same lesson it taught automakers: lightweight plastics save fuel. The oil crunch forced aerospace companies to design aircraft that used less fuel. Translated,

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that meant more efficient engines, improved aerodynamics and reduced aircraft weight. It also meant a role for plastics. Today, jet engine manufacturers are increasing their use of plastic materials for the same basic reasons: reliability, efficiency, fuel savings and improved performance. In the interiors and functional parts of aircraft, plastics are meeting more and more design requirements, and as the needs increase, new plastic materials are being created to meet them. In aircraft design and production, plastics are used in the tooling process, cutting costs and enhancing flexibility.

All Systems "Go" The air and space craft of the next century increasingly will be made of plastics. Commercial aircraft will soar with plastic wings and tails, and small composite planes will flourish. The military will continue to depend on plastics to create even lighter aircraft with fewer parts and the ability to evade detection. The Stealth bomber, for example, uses composites of graphite-like substances mixed with resins to soak up radar energy and transform it to heat, rather than reflect it. (In a more down-to-earth application, the U.S. Army is using a composite heavy-assault bridge that spans 106 feet, supports 70 tons and folds.) And plastics are expected to answer many of NASA's calls for materials to create and perfect high-performance supersonic/hypersonic aircraft, nuclear space power systems and space stations.

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Plastic industry In U.S. recovers slowly Frank Esposito

Washington-based SPI hosted the webinar last month to introduce new versions of its Size and Impact of the US Plastics Industry and Global Business Trends studies. ddressing the webinar Bill Carteaux, president of Society of the Plastics Industry maintained that the US plastics industry is continuing its slow recovery from the recession of 2008-9, and industry officials are optimistic about the future. He said “The plastics industry is faring better than other manufacturing sectors in the US. Export growth continues to be a bright spot.”

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Low-priced natural gas and the lower value of the US dollar are helping the US to remain competitive in the global plastics market, added Michael Taylor, SPI’s senior director of international trade. During the webinar, based on 2010 results, Carteaux and Taylor highlighted data showing the statistics as to where the industry stands. The Findings included:

Shipments of $341.4bn, employing 876,000 at almost 17,000 facilities.

Value of shipments was essentially flat vs. 2005.

Number of employees fell almost 24% vs. 2005.

New capital expenditures fell almost 9% vs. 2005.

The above items do not include wholesale trade data. The number of plastics jobs and facilities has declined as a result of the recession and of industry consolidation and increased

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productivity, Carteaux and Taylor explained. California led the country in number of plastics jobs (with 75,800), followed by Ohio, Texas, Michigan and Illinois. Based on concentration of jobs, Indiana ranked first with 15.2 plastics jobs per 1,000 non-farm employees. Next up were Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, Kentucky and South Carolina. The US average was 6.8. In the state concentration rankings, Connecticut made a leap from 24th to 15th because of gains in wholesale trade jobs, officials said. Alabama went from 20th to 16th because of gains in manufacturing, while Pennsylvania climbed from 15th to 11th because of what officials described as “recessionresistant businesses.” Going back to 1980, officials said US plastics employment was essentially flat based on per-year growth. The industry’s value of real shipments and productivity growth each increased by more than two percent annually over that 30-year period. US plastics exports increased more than 24% between 2009 and 2010, with imports increasing 23%. Plastics exports accounted for almost five percent of all US exports in 2010. The industry posted a trade surplus of $16.2bn in 2010 – up almost

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28% vs. 2009. But – as has been the case in recent years – all of the industry’s surplus came from the resin sector. Plastic products, moulds and machinery each posted deficits in 2010, as they have every year since 2002. Although the trade deficit in plastics products remains sizable, Carteaux said that the deficit in machinery and moulds “has levelled off and is not worsening.” The US plastics industry’s top five export destinations in 2010 were Mexico, Canada, China, Belgium and Japan. Exports to Japan and South Korea each grew more than 40% vs. 2009, while exports to Taiwan, Brazil and Belgium each surged more than 30%. The country’s top five import sources for plastics trade were Canada, China, Mexico, Germany and Japan. In the first 10 months of 2011, exports were up almost 11 percent, with imports increasing almost 10%. The industry’s trade surplus was on pace to be slightly higher in 2011. Carteaux and Taylor also praised recent new US free trade agreements with South Korea, Colombia and Panama. Those agreements should make US plastics exports “even brighter,” Taylor said. (courtesy Plastic News)

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Petrochemical markets in Asia to see increasing competition Petrochemical markets in Asia are likely to see increasing competition in 2012, amid low levels of economic growth in developed nations leading to redirection of products towards emerging regions, according to a news report from ICIS he report mentioned lower domestic gas prices amid shale gas development have led to the emergence of USA as a key player in the chemicals export market. This has changed the dynamic of global export flows, according to a report by HSBC Global Research. Since 2008, the US averaged polyethylene (PE) exports of 2.5 mln tpa is four times the average over 1990-2007.

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Shale gas development in USA has been accompanied by capacity additions in the Middle East, significantly adding to the base of lowcost product available for export. Last two years have witnessed demand growth and restocking that has allowed increased volumes from the Middle East to be absorbed, with limited impact on the market. Volumes of developed market are estimated to shrink in 2012. This will led to rerouting of products towards growth markets, putting pressure on prices and volumes for high-cost exporters. As this low-cost base now includes both the US and the Middle East, we expect to see intensifying competition for business in export markets – particularly in Asia, HSBC Global Research said.mAsian chemical markets, meanwhile, will continue to be weighed down by the expected

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slowdown in the world economy in 2012, led by the eurozone that continues to struggle with its mounting debts and the US economy that remains unstable. Problems are particularly acute in the developed world, where economic growth of just 1.3% is expected in 2011, and 1.4% in 2012. “The emerging nations are not doing so badly. We remain positive on the outlook for China and India, even if China has lost some of the momentum it exhibited in 2010,” the research firm said. However, some of the smaller emerging nations – particularly some of the Asian exporters – are doubtless vulnerable to the deteriorating external economic environment. “If Europe goes into a recession, Asia’s income and exports will suffer,” DBS Group Research said in a research report. Demand for petrochemicals will likely be flat in some sectors, and slower in others that are directly linked to consumer goods, said Jurong Aromatics Corp CEO, adding that demand recovery will be underpinned by the strong momentum of growth in emerging market economies, such as China and Brazil. Leading into 2012, China is expected to dominate the global chemical scene with the highest revenue increases on a percent basis, 106

with markets such as India, Brazil and South Korea not lagging far behind, according to Deloitte. Although China’s chemical industry still has some challenges to overcome, including low levels of industry concentration, limited capacity for innovation and energy efficiency, the Chinese government’s 12th Five-Year Plan will play a vital role in advancing the country’s chemical industry. Due to the highly cyclical nature of the refinery and petrochemical industries and their strong correlation with GDP growth and oil prices, gross refining margins (GRM), gross integrated margins (GIM) and petrochemical spreads in Asia are expected to fall in 2012, supported by lower demand and oil prices, according to Yousseff Abboud, analyst at Thailand-based Thanachart Securities. The restart of operations at refineries in Japan following the 11 March earthquake and tsunami will weigh on GRMs, with the remainder of shuttered units expected to come back online by the summer of 2012. Shell’s refinery complex in Singapore is expected to return to its normal rate in early 2012. This will impact GRM that is starting to fall and is expected to continue into 2012, supported by lower demand and oil prices.

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Polymer Consumption in 2011 An article analyzing polymer consumption during the year 2011 lobal polymer consumption for the year 2011 was earlier anticipated to be either stagnant or weak. Global polymer demand in 2011 was estimated to grow by 2% at best or could decline by 2% in the pessimistic scenario. Moreover Indian polymer industry in 2011 was expected to be either stagnant or show some modest growth with an overall Indian plastic consumption in 2011 could be around 9.7 mln tons compared to 9.5 mln tons in 2010. A clearer picture of actual consumption in 2011-2012 would emerge only at the end of financial year after March 2012. An article analyzing polymer consumption during the year 2011.

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The year 2011 will be remembered as the year with the highest catastropherelated economic losses in history. Natural and man-made catastrophes cost the world economy a whooping US$350 bln. Preliminary estimates peg total insured losses for the global insurance industry from disasters at US$108 bln in 2011. An earthquake of magnitude 7 on the ritcher scale that struck a rural area of northern Argentina ushered in the New Year 2011.Other disasters in the first quarter of 2011 included flooding in Brisbane and Rio de Janerio, powerful cyclone in Queensland, and a 6.3 magnitude earthquake in Christchurch. This list was topped by an earthquake of magnitude 8.9 in the East Coast of Honshu, Japan, accompanied by a 23 foot (7 meter) tsunami that washed far inland and led to a huge blast at nuclear power plant P L A S T I C S N E W S

and a meltdown alert at the nuclear reactor that finally led the disaster to be declared on Chernobyl level. Q2-2011 started with one of the largest singlesystem tornado outbreaks in US history resulting in 178 confirmed tornadoes across 16 states, volcano eruptions in Iceland, Chile and Indonesia along with deadly floods that affected South China. Q3 saw Hurricane Irene lashing the US coast followed by huge storms across New York, floods in Pakistan that killed over 200, a powerful typhoon hitting Philippines. The final quarter saw a 7.2 magnitude earthquake in Turkey, severe floods in Thailand that threatened its capital city Bangkok. A victory against terrorism for the world, and for USA in particular, was the killing of Osama Bin Laden in a ground operation based on US intelligence in August 2011.

Impact of disasters on the petrochemical industry Revolts in the Middle East and North Africa in Q1-2011 led to severe upheavals in the global scenario. The turmoils in the Middle East led to volatility in oil prices, while the earthquake in Japan impacted the global petrochemicals, automotive and allied industries. The earthquake which rocked Japan on March 11 mostly impacted the northern portions of Honshu Island, resulting in a 20% reduction in refining capacity in Japan which makes up 3.5% of Asia’s and 1% of

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the global refining capacity. Following polymer plants were shut for days: Japan PE's 260,000 tpa LLDPE and 60,000 tpa LDPE plants in Kashima, Japan PP's 640,000 tpa PP plant at Kashima, Sun Allomer's 127,000 tpa PP plant at Kawasaki, Kaneka's 178,000 tpa PVC plant at Kashima, Shin-Etsu's 550,000 tpa PVC plant at Kashima, Taiyo Vinyl's 90,000 tpa plant at Chiba. Of the country's 15 crackers, 9 were near the areas affected by the earthquake including crackers of Maruzen, Mitsubishi Chemical, JX Nippon. Maruzen shut two naphtha crackers at its Chiba plant with capacities of 480,000 tpa and 690,000 tpa of ethylene. Kyokuto Petroleum shut its 175,000 bpd Chiba refinery. Tonengeneral shut the main units at its 335,000 bpd Kawasaki refinery near Tokyo. Crude oil demand was dented as refineries remained offline, because Japan is the third-largest crude importer in the world and is the largest importer of naphtha. Automotive production, electronics and white good along with other industrial production also experienced shutdowns. Companies that had to shutdown included Sony Corp, Nissan Motor Co, Toyota Motor Co, Honda Motor Co, Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd, and many more. Besides production, exports of Japanese vehicles and auto parts were heavily impacted. Sony suspended operations at 6 production facilities, Nissan halted production at all 4 of its car assembly factories, Toyota halted production at

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Volatility in 2011 Oil prices on the Nymex started the year at US$88, persisted at that level till it crossed the 100 dollar mark in March, and remained at US$112 till end of April, rising on reaction to Libyan leader Gaddafi’s strike back as fighting in Libya intensified, supported by positive jobs data from USA. Prices flitted at US$100 in May and then dipped to hover around US$90-98 until July on gloomy U.S. inflation report, renewed Eurozone worries. Oil prices dipped below US$90 in August amid stock market volatility and the first-ever downgrade of USA’s P L A S T I C S N E W S

credit rating. Fears that US is heading for another recession triggered fears of a drop in oil demand that brought down prices to US$76 levels. In an unprecedented move, credit rating agency Standard & Poor's (S&P) downgraded credit rating of the US federal government from AAA to AA+ on August 5, 2011. This reflected the inability of political leaders to come up with a long-term plan to reduce the federal budget deficit. Oil prices stayed at August levels in September and most of October. In November and December, oil hovered between US$90 and 100. In December, the UN nuclear regulator IAEA detailed evidence that Iran is developing technology needed to build a nuclear weapon, triggering USA to impose additional sanctions against Iran's petrochemical industry. Speculations that global economic growth could slow and curb fuel demand amid rising supplies have caused volatile oil prices to continue to weaken. Global demand is expected to slow down due to an estimated slowdown in economic growth in China, the fiscal crisis in Europe and deteriorating demand in USA. Brent Crude Oil futures contracts rallied 18 dollars or 20.7% during the last 12 months.

European Plastics Industry According to AMI's recently published European Plastics Industry Report 2011, most sectors reported continuing growth in the H1-2011, by mid-year signs of a slowdown were beginning to emerge and full year is expected to pan out at about half the rate achieved in 2010 and only slightly ahead of GDP.

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The European market still has some way to go to regain all the volumes lost from the 2007 peak when the market reached over 41 mln tons. The recovery in demand over the past two years has also at times been challenged by issues around availability of raw materials and pricing volatility in addition to polymer prices rising on an almost constant basis from December 2009 through to June 2011, because of increasing feedstock costs. Whereas a few years ago Germany was seen as a mature, slow growing market with its plastics processing industry moving into Central Europe, the strength of its manufacturing industry and economy is now the engine for growth in Western and Central Europe. The bright prospects expected for Europe's Southern countries, Spain, Portugal, Italy and Greece, have now all faded away in the face of bursting asset bubbles and massive government deficits. Per capita use of polymer in 2011 stands at just short of 74 kg/head compared with over 82 kg/head in 2007. UK now has the lowest level of per capita demand for thermoplastics in Western Europe highlighting the decline in plastics processing that has occurred there over the past decade. The Benelux region continues to have the largest per capita consumption largely because of the presence of some major exportoriented processors in plastics film, fibre, compounds and masterbatch. Petrochemical producers are now focusing on attaining both economies of scale and geographic expansion to gain a competitive advantage. J A N U A R Y 2012


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FEATURES Petrochem producers from the developed economies are seeking to create a presence in demand-rich geographies and are diversifying their portfolios to achieve higher growth rates. They are setting up joint ventures with Asian or Middle Eastern companies to sustain their profit margin.

Dominant US petrochem industry Gas prices spiked in USA in 2011. As a result, a larger percentage of household income was spent on gas bills in 2011 than in any year since 1981. In response to rising oil prices, companies such as Dow Chemical, Chevron, Westlake Chemical, and Nova Chemicals announced major shale gas based expansions of nameplate petrochemical production capacity, including various ethylene cracker projects. Shale production in the U.S. has increased from practically nothing in 2000 to more than 13 billion cubic feet per day, or about 30% of the country’s natural-gas supply, heading toward 50% in coming years. The US petrochemical industry is announcing significant expansions of petrochemical capacity, reversing a decade-long decline. US shale gas will reduce competition for LNG supplies from the Middle East and thereby moderate prices and spur greater use of natural gas, reduce dependency on the Middle East for natural gas, combat the long-term potential monopoly power of OPEC. The rise of US corresponds to a period of increase in prices of natural gas feedstock in Saudi Arabia. This move is likely to have its greatest impact on Sipchem, SAFCO

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and SABIC, with Tasnee and Sahara facing the least impact. KSA petrochemical firms procure natural gas at one of the lowest prices globally. However they are facing difficulty in gaining new allocations of ethane at the current subsidised price of USD0.75/mmbtu for their capacity expansion plans, due to increasing domestic consumption of gas.

Indian Economic Scenario India's aspiration of economic growth acceleration in 201, many say, turned into deceleration on several factors in the international and domestic market. The recent unprecedented depreciation of Indian rupee vs the US dollar failed to transform lower international commodity prices into lower prices in rupee terms. 2011-12 GDP growth forecasts have been trimmed down to 7-7.5% from the original 8-9% mainly caused by a global economic slowdown, inflation, the Eurozone crisis, a total of 13 interest rate hikes since March 2010, falling rupee and slowing growth, fiscal deficit and steady withdrawal of foreign institutional investor (FII) funds from the stock market. Economic activity has been sluggish and industrial output growth in September fell to two-year lows, with any solid recovery unlikely for the next couple of quarters.

Polymer scenario in 2011 Global polymer consumption for the year 2011 is forecast to be either stagnant or weak. Global polymer demand in 2011 is estimated to grow by 2% at best or could decline by 2% in the pessimistic scenario. Indian polymer industry in 2011 is expected to be either stagnant or show some modest growth. Generally 109

the second half of financial year (from April- March) in India shows better performance compared to the first half. Overall Indian plastic consumption in 2011 could be around 9.7 mln tons compared to 9.5 mln tons in 2010. Polyolefin comprising of PE & PP could show consumption of around 5.7 mln tons. PVC and Styrenics could show consumption of about 2.4 mln tons. PET film and bottle consumption could reach about 0.8 mln tons. All other plastic resins including thermosets could have consumption of another 0.8 mln tons. A clearer picture of actual consumption in 2011-2012 will emerge only at the end of financial year after March 2012. The table gives estimates of Indian polymer consumption in 2011 financial year, based on current conditions.

Global economy in 2011 Flaws in China's growth model are becoming obvious. Falling property prices are starting a chain reaction that will have a negative effect on developers, investment, and government revenue. The construction boom is starting to stall, just as net exports have become a drag on growth, owing to weakening US and eurozone demand. Having sought to cool the property market by reining in runaway prices, Chinese leaders will be hard put to restart growth. GDP in China is projected to grow at less than 9% in 2011. To achieve growth in 2012, China will focus on expanding domestic demand to counter a slowing global economy. Compared with 2011, fiscal policy in 2012 will be more proactive and monetary policy will be eased on the margin. Global economy in 2011 is expected to be weaker compared to 2010 World GDP growth of 5%. The BRIC countries are expected to be drivers J A N U A R Y 2012


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KT

LDPE/EVA

400

LLDPE

1025

HDPE

1525

KT

Total PE

2950

PP

2750

KT

(%)

30

Total Polyolefins

5700

59

PVC

1950

20

PS/EPS

325

3

ABS/SAN/ASA

150

2

Commodity Polymers

8125

84

Other Polymers ETP (PC, PA, POM, High performance ETP)

250

3

PU

225

2

All other (including thermosets)

300

3

Other polymers

775

8

Commodity & other polymers

8900

92

PET (Bottle, film, APET)

800

8

Total polymer estimated consumption

9700

100

of the World economy in 2011. As per IMF, global GDP Growth is forecast at 3.79% for 2011. Countries

our forecast for real GDP growth in 2012 is 3.2% and 4.1% for 2013. •

We expect growth to slow in the US, although we still do not expect a recession.

We h a v e m a d e t h e b i g g e s t adjustment to our 2012 forecasts in the Euro area, where we now expect a deeper recession and only gradual stabilization late in 2012. But this is conditional on major policy changes in the region, probably involving a partial ‘mutualization’ of the existing debt stock supported by the European Central Bank.

In the emerging world outside Europe, and especially in China, we expect the spillovers to be smaller, although a key risk to this forecast lies in more substantial disruptions to global capital flows.

GDP growth %

US

1.5

Eurozone

1.4

Japan

-0.7

China

9.1

Brazil

2.1

Russia

4.8

India

6.9

Canada

3.4

South Africa

3.1

Source: Tradingeconomics.com

Goldman Sachs released a new global outlook for 2012 and 2013 in a period of substantial economic and financial market uncertainty for the Euro, on December 2 2011 •

For the world economy as a whole,

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To conclude The global GDP growth is projected at 3.2-3.5%. The impact on China, India and some of the developing Asian countries is expected to be small. Indian market players are convinced that India has robust longterm growth prospects. Consumption of petrochemicals is projected to hit 53.2 mln tons by 2016-2017, up from 31.9 mln tons in 2011-2012. The low per capita consumption levels point to the potential of the Indian polymer market and helps growth forecasts remain optimistic. India’s infrastructure sector is expected to draw nearly US$100 bln (€74 bln) in investment in 2011. Additionally, the Indian government plans to spend US$16 bln in the agricultural sector in 2011 (Source Plastemart)

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Do you really know your melt temp? By Bill Tobin

The melt temperature is only slightly controlled by the heaters and is a main determinate in your entire process. Guest author Bill Tobin offers his tips on best practices for measuring melt temperature. uring the past few weeks I was in three different countries and five molding shops. I'm always asked to look at some problem. One of the first things I do when I'm in a molding shop is ask if the molder has the material spec sheet and if he is molding the material at the proper temperature.

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Interestingly enough, each shop proudly showed me the technical data. Sadly, they all pointed to their machines, noted the temperature on the heaters and pronounced it to be the material's melt temperature. Really? Guest author Bill Tobin offers his tips on best practices for measuring melt

temperature. The melt temperature is only slightly controlled by the heaters. The primary determinant of melt temperature is the screw and back pressure. Why this is a less-than-commonly-appreciated/ known fact isbeyond me. Melt temperature is a main determinate in your entire process. Too hot or too long residence time (where the heaters will become a factor) and you'll burn the material. If the melt is too cold, you'll get brittle parts, weld lines and have to use higher than normal pressures to fill and pack the part. There's little sin to work on either

end of the material's melt point range. The resin companies publish the data conservatively. However, being far below or above the temperature range is never a good practice. Melt temperature measurement mistakes come from two basic causes: CAUSE #1 - Reading the machine's output Never believe the machine settings as a measure of melt temperature. The machine's heaters are there to melt the material in contact with the barrel to provide a lubricant layer for the screw to do its job. What you see in the temperature setting of the front, middle and rear zones is the barrel temperature, not the temperature of the material. In-line melt pyrometers are a bit costly but probably are the best measure of the shot's temperature. Unless you specifically ask for it, it is not a common accessory for your machine. CAUSE #2 - Technique

Injection-moulding machines. Picture for representation purpose only P L A S T I C S N E W S

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Most techs simply back off the barrel and squirt purge onto the machine or a container, and then put the pyrometer needle into the puddle. When the temperature ceases to increase, they declare the highest temperature recorded to be the melt temperature. There are a few things J A N U A R Y 2012


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FEATURES dramatically wrong with this approach: Problem #1: Startup - If you take the material temperature after the machine has been idle for a few minutes, you've let the material 'cook' under the influence of the heaters. The temperature you get immediately will be higher than the process temperature of the material in production. If you purge a few shots and then take the temperature, the melt temperature will be lower than the process temperature in production because it didn't have the luxury of sitting under heat when the screw was idle during packing and cooling.

you will see they take their readings at different time intervals and with various stirring, poking or other movements. Most purgings are a thick liquid. Stirring it introduces air pockets that will lower your reading. If you have a large enough purge puddle and you put the pyrometer's needle in the center of the mass, it will equilibrate and hold its temperature. Putting it too close to the air or too close to the bottom of the puddle (that is perhaps sitting on the steel of the machine) will also give you a false reading.

Problem #2: Te m p e r a t u r e - L e t ' s assume your material should be 480°F. Let's further assume the molding area is at 80°F. This means you're plunging a COLD pyrometer into a HOT melt. For purposes of comparison, the differences in temperature is very close to plunging your needle into liquid Picture for representation purpose only nitrogen that boils at -320°F. Since plastic RJG Associates many years ago cannot conduct heat very well, we recognized this problem. Scientific or generally call it an insulator. When we any other kind of Molding is based on plunge a very cold needle into a molten the premise of temperature control mass of plastic, the plastic coats the of the material. Because of this the pyrometer's needle immediately and company developed the '30-30insulates it from the rest of the melt. 30' method for determining melt Because of this insulating layer, you're temperatures. probably getting a false (lower) reading THE FIRST '30' - Let the machine than the actual melt temperature. stabilize for 30 shots or run for 30 Problem #3: Time - Watch five minutes. This will give you a production techs take the melt temperature and melt temperature.

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THE SECOND '30' - Preheat the pyrometer's needle to within 30°F of what you believe the melt temperature to be. This eliminates the thermal shock of a cold needle into a hot melt that will produce the insulating layer mentioned previously. THE THIRD '30' - Put the pyrometer's needle into the center of the purge and DON'T MOVE or WIGGLE IT. Take your reading 30 seconds later. This method minimizes the instrumental and people errors induced in measuring the actual melt temperatures. For those of you measuring in metric, instead of '3030-30' you convert to '30-15-30' and measure in Celsius. The fastest adjustment to the melt temperature is with back pressure. The shops I visited measured 'good' melt temperatures doing it Their Olde Waye, and repeatedly obtained a temperature 20°F lower using the 30-30-30 method. More importantly, the 'Olde Waye' showed a 25°F difference between technicians. Using the 30-3030 method showed only a 5°F spread. The next time you think you're molding properly, take the melt temp - first your way and then using the 30-30-30 method. You'll be surprised what you find. The author is a Consultant can be contacted at Bill Tobin (bill4012@ hotmail.com) J A N U A R Y 2012


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Plastic bridges Plastics can be one of the most substitute materials available today and can help improve the infrastructure. With its unique properties it has immense opportunities says Dr. S.S. Verma Institute of Technology, Longowal, (Punjab) ridges are one of the most important part of infrastructure for growth and - development of civilization. They make important linkages, of human convenience over small rivers in hilly and urban areas. Bridges are built from almost every substance known -- stone, lumber, iron, concrete, even ice. Till now bridges in remote areas on small rivers are generally made of wood which require frequent maintenances and people are waiting for concrete bridges. Plastic has already revolutionized human life style and with the development of cheap and strong (as steel) and has already replaced many other materials from the human use. Plastic is everywhere imaginable, molded into cars, houses and aircraft. Now

B

the material has been incorporated in an invironmentally safe and durable plastic bridge. Plastic could soon replace concrete as the added bonus of safely and creatively disposing of solid waste. Moreover easily constructed and cost effective these small plastic bridges will enable previously easy transportation to inaccessible place.

Re-use Plastic A large amount of plastic is used worldwide and equal amount is discarded with some as landďŹ ll waste. Recognizing the environmental and potential economic beneďŹ ts of reusing some of the waste plastic, several entrepreneurs started making plastic

lumber and timber products. But unstable market demands for plastic lumber led to the failure of many start-up companies. Companies have been working since the early 1990s to improve product quality band develop standards and speciďŹ cations for the materials. Historically, markets for mixed plastics have been weak, which has greatly limited recycling of these materials. The success of projects such as plastic bridges will open new markets for these materials and provide the opportunity to increase the overall recovery rate for plastics. Recycled plastic lumber offers a replacement for wood products, many of which are treated with chemicals to resist rot and insects. Chemically treats wood can require special handling and disposal, and chemicals can leach into the environment if not disposed' of properly. Wood structures that are not treated with chemicals have to be maintained periodically be coating with preservatives, which can release gases into the atmosphere. Plastic lumber requires no such maintenance. The plastic lumber industry is very new and does not yet have design codes or a design manual. The bridge is both a symbolic and a practical model for projects to come.

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FEATURES Latest development Rutgers University (USA) scientists have developed the material used to build the one-lane bridge. They say that recycled plastic is already technically and economically competitive with wood, which is used in more than half a million bridges in the U.S., But not yet ready for use on heavily traveled spans, such as those in the interstate highway system. A 56- foot long bridge crafted from recycled soda bottles, coffee cups and similar refuse has been carrying traffic over the Mullica River in New Brunswick, New Jersey for more than a year. The price tag for the bridge was $75,000 far less than the $350,000 a conventional wood bridge might have cost. Recently civil and graduates Jennifer Grubb and Jennifer Preston have made a bridge from environmentally friendly Ecoboard (manufactured by American Ecoboard Inc.), a wood alternative produced from the plastic cast-offs and reinforced with fiberglass. Although they resemble pressure treated lumber, the nearly

maintenance free Ecoboard planks, which on the bridge are commerected with aluminum and stainless steel fasteners, do not leach chemicals into the environment as lumber does. The 40- foot long bridge allows access to about one third of the land that previously was inaccessible. Although previously used for footbridge, it is the first time FRP has been used by the agency on the motorway network. The £2m Mount Pleasant bridge was erected in Lancaster last year. It was the first time the Highways Agency had used fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) instead of concrete, which is lighter than concreter but twice as strong. The use of modern techniques was essential to maintaining a modern road network. The bridge has the ability to carry vehicles up to 40 tonnes in weight.

The benefits of the technique are:

A plastic bridge shows the potential for recycling waste plastic, while providing an alternative to

conventional wood construction

Lightweight bridge allows rapid installation reducing disruption during construction.

New bridge has a superior strength/ weight ratio to steel or concrete.

Non-corrosive properties with water and salt, thus reducing future maintenance

Reduced future maintenance means road users will see fewer road works and experience less disruption.

Reduces whole life costs

Demonstrates the use of innovative techniques to help stimulate further innovation which will lead to cheaper and more durable bridges.

All materials used in the construction of the bridge will have minimal impact on the on the environment and will greatly resist deterioration.Thus the bridge is expected to have a much longer lifespan then traditional wooden bridges, which can leach chemicals and require regular maintenance. By successfully demonstrating recycled plastic lumber in a largescale, structural application, i.e., plastic bridge, the project open up a world of potential for diverting waste plastics to beneficial use -- and the supply of raw materials is virtually limitless. The cananga is to promote the acceptance of these materials in the regulatory, design, and construction communities. The future of industry demands the use of alternate materials for construction, and the reuse of discarded materials is an obvious benefit to society.

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Europe’s plastics industry recovers The European plastics industry saw a recovery in demand for most thermoplastics, after two of the worst years he year 2010 saw a recovery in demand for most thermoplastics, after two of the worst years the European plastics Industry has seen since the oil shocks of the 1970s.

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According to AMI, after a drop in demand of over 15% over the period of the recession, volume demand showed a modest 4% recovery in 2010 bringing total demand to just over 37 mln tons. The market has been driven by a strong recovery in German-speaking Europe and by a reversal in the fortunes of the automotive industry, which had been one of the sectors hardest hit by the downturn. This was evidenced by a sharp bounce back in demand for engineering polymers which had tended to see the highest percentage drops in demand. While most sectors reported continuing growth in H1-2011, by mid-year signs of a slowdown were beginning to emerge and full year is expected to pan out at about half the rate achieved in 2010 and only slightly ahead of GDP. The recovery has in general been erratic and patchy and means that overall the European market still has some way to go to regain all the volumes lost from the 2007 peak when the market reached over 41 mln tons. The recovery in demand over the past two years has also at times

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been challenged by issues around availability of raw materials and pricing volatility. In addition to polymer prices rising on an almost constant basis from December 2009 through to June 2011, because of increasing feedstock costs, converters have also had to contend with record high prices and severe shortages for a whole range of pigments and additive materials used in plastic products. The European plastics industry operates as part of a global industry which is heavily inuenced by buying patterns around the world. Booming demand in Asia, particularly in China, but also in Russia and India, sucked raw materials away from European markets. Supply was further constrained by delays in new polymer capacity coming on stream in the Middle East and cutbacks in capacity within Europe, various plant outages caused by feedstock shortages and strikes (in France) which all contributed to periods of tight supply through 2010 for various materials but particularly grades of LDPE, PP and polystyrene. While certain applications regained nearly all the volumes lost through the effects of the destocking and low consumer confidence seen in 2009, others are witnessing more fundamental structural changes which have impacted their demand trends.

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Trends in light weighting, recycling, environmental and sustainability issues continue to challenge plastics usage in a variety of applications, but particularly in packaging. PET, for example, is seeing much slower growth now even though there are still lots of developments in new markets and applications e.g. in beer and wine packaging, because of growing availability of recycled PET, constant drives to reduce bottle weights and changing consumer drinking patterns. The recession and its recovery has also brought about a reversal in fortunes for some countries. Whereas a few years ago Germany was seen as a mature, slow growing market with its plastics processing industry moving into Central Europe, the strength of its manufacturing industry and economy is now the engine for growth in Western and Central Europe. The bright prospects expected for Europe's Southern countries, Spain, Portugal, Italy and Greece, have now all faded away in the face of bursting asset bubbles and massive government deďŹ cits. Growth in plastics processing in these markets, if there is to be any, will mainly be driven by manufacturing exports as local building and consumer markets remain weak. Another impact of the downturn has been a shrinking in per capita demand J A N U A R Y 2012


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FEATURES of thermoplastics (based on plastics conversion, rather than the demand for plastic goods). Per capita use of polymer in 2011 stands at just short of 74kg/head compared with over 82kg/head in 2007.

oriented processors in plastics film, fibre, compounds and masterbatch. For 2011, AMI expects that polymer demand growth will stay slightly ahead of GDP growth at just over 2% bolstered by the stronger demand achieved during the first half of the year

producers are seeking to create a presence in demand-rich geographies and are diversifying their portfolios to achieve higher growth rates. This has led to an increase in the number of partnership between companies of different regions. Since European and North American producers are grappling with declining demand, they are setting up joint ventures with Asian or Middle Eastern companies to sustain their profit margin. In the recent past, the majority of joint venture deals have happened in the Middle East and Asia Pacific. The growing Chinese demand provides opportunities for producers from other regions to utilize this demand by setting up joint ventures with Chinese companies.

As would be expected levels are generally higher in Western Europe than in Central Europe, although countries such as the Czech and Slovak Republics, Slovenia and Hungary are now higher than many West European countries highlighting the shift eastwards of polymer consumption. UK now has the lowest level of per capita demand for thermoplastics in Western Europe highlighting the decline in plastics processing that has occurred there over the past decade. The Benelux region continues to have the largest per capita consumption largely because of the presence of some major export-

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to counteract the weakening sentiment in the second half of the year. The growing maturity of the plastics processing industry in Europe means that future growth will increasingly be pegged to GDP. After experiencing difficult times during the downturn, petrochemical producers are now focusing on attaining both economies of scale and geographic expansion to gain a competitive advantage. The petrochemicals industry has entered a transitional phase after the global economic slowdown in 20082009 severally affected the growth of the industry.

The Middle East has also become an important destination for petrochemicals production. The Middle East governments provide subsidies on the feedstocks used for petrochemicals production which makes production significantly cheaper compared to other regions. This has made it difficult for producers in other regions to compete. To d e a l w i t h t h i s s i t u a t i o n , companies from other regions are increasingly partnering with the Middle East companies to gain a cost advantage. Joint ventures in these two regions are expected to increase in the next five years as many of the planned projects in these regions are established under joint ventures.

As per GlobalData, petrochem

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Polymer scientist devises air-cleaning clothes An eminent polymer chemist has helped develop “catalytic clothing” which can break down harmful atmospheric pollution such as nitrous oxide arising from industrial and automotive sources. o you know that the jeans that you are wearing could absorb pollution?

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You don't believe it,? yes but that's true. The denim jeans not ony helps you to look good, but apart from giving you comfort it also helps absorbing pollution.

have been worn by Madonna, Michael Jackson and Prince. He based the idea on rough calculations done while attending a "really boring meeting" at the UK's Royal Society of Chemistry, working out that the fibres of his suit had a total surface area of about 80 square meters.

This is the new discovery made by An eminent polymer c h e m i s t . To n y Ryan has helped develop “catalytic clothing” which can break down harmful atmospheric pollution such as nitrous oxide arising from industrial and automotive sources.

Storey said: "Rather than going down the traditional fashion route, which makes a brand a precondition for something to happen, it's taking advantage of human behavior as it exists – we all wash our clothes, we all walk in the street. "We are empowering people's existing wardrobes with a technology that will allow them to have a significant impact on the quality of air we

Professor Tony Ryan, a provice chancellor at the University of Sheffield, drew on existing selfcleaning technology for paints and glass, which employs photocatalysts. These harness energy from ambient ultraviolet light to promote pollutant breakdown reactions.

Ryan said: “The fibres are long and thin, so they have a very high surface area per unit mass. We already knew that we could get self-cleaning windows and paints. But I thought if I put a [titanium dioxide] catalyst on [the fabric] surface I can do a lot of environmental clean-up.”

Ryan collaborated with fashion designer Helen Storey, whose creations

Working with Ecover, manufacturers of ecological cleaning products,

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Storey and Ryan hope to deliver the technology through a fabric conditioner, with titanium dioxide nanoparticles attaching themselves to clothes during a normal laundry cycle.

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breathe." Storey discovered that the process works particularly well on denim jeans. She pointed out that there are more pairs of jeans than people on the planet. Ryan reckons that a 500 gramme pair of jeans could absorb around two grammes of pollution.

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How safe are your plastic material Study says most of the BPA-free plastics in US still show estrogenic activity hough most of cosumer major have opted for BPA free labelling on their products in US the fact remains that majority of commercially available BPA-free plastic materials and products "readily leach chemicals having estrogenic activity (EA)," according to a new study published in the Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP) journal.

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Picture for representation purpose only Researchers from PlastiPure, CertiChem, and Georgetown University tested products made from polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polylactic acid (PLA), polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG), and polyethersulfone (PES) and said that all show detectable EA levels.

conference in Houston, PlastiPure presented preliminary testing that it says showed EA in various plastics. The researchers used what they called a "sensitive, accurate, repeatable" testing method, built around a roboticized MCF-7 cell proliferation assay to quantify the EA of chemicals that leached into saline or ethanol extracts. MCF-7 is a breast cancer cell line that was isolated in the 1970s and is accepted as estrogen responsive. Some of the plastic samples were exposed to common-use stresses for the products they were contained in, including microwaving, UV radiation, and/or autoclaving. The plastic samples consisted of 4-mm squares cut from various products and sterilized prior to testing to remove any bacteria. The researchers claim that even when EA-free monomers and additives are used in the production of a resin, the final plastic item must still be tested for release of chemicals having EA because manufacturing processes or common-use stresses can convert EAfree chemicals to chemicals having EA.

PlastiPure (Austin, TX) has created and markets a line of plastics it says are EA free called PlastiPure-Safe. CertiChem, also based in Austin, develops testing assays for detecting hormonal activity in different materials, including plastics.

EHP, which is a peer-reviewed journal published by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, published the paper. The paper's authors say their research is groundbreaking because its quantifies levels of EA across multiple BPAfree materials and consumer plastic products.

At the 2010 SPE Polyolefins

The paper found that 92% of the

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Picture for representation purpose only individual plastic product samples that were tested came back positive for EA, even when not exposed to common-use stresses, including baby bottles, water bottles, rigid food packaging, bags, deli containers, and flexible wrap. Material Samples

EA positive

HDPE

13

4

PP

23

15

PET

30

26

PS

13

11

PLA

10

4

BPA, or bisphenol A, which is a component of polycarbonate (PC) plastic, had successfully been targeted by consumer, environmental, and public health groups, resulting in a de facto ban on PC for use in items like water bottles, with makers of such bottles switching to new materials and prominently displaying "BPA-free" labeling on their products after many retailers announced that they would not carry BPA-containing bottles.

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BIOSENSORS: FUTURE TRENDS Prof. (Dr.) Sanjay K. Nayak Ph.D., D. Sc., Director General, CIPET Preamble Biosensors are assembled miniaturized device that employs biological elements (antibody, enzyme, receptor, protein, nucleic acid, tissue section, whole cell) as a signaling element conjugated to a transducer for detection purpose. A biosensor can be generally defined as a device that consists of a biological recognition system, often called a bioreceptor, and a transducer. Due to their selectivity, potentiality, rapid response time and environmental and user friendly assay system, biosensors are appreciable in medical field. Different types of biosensors are developed in recent years among which major are Electrochemical, Immunosensor, Piezoelectric and DNA sensors. In medical field, these sensors are effective to detect the cholesterol, blood glucose and other health biomarkers. Different types of polymers but limited types of biopolymers from those which are conducting are massively segregated for the fabrication of the biosensors. The Figure 1: Schematic selection of biopolymers is very crucial for designing the matrix of biosensor. Among the representation of a Biosensor biopolymers, Chitosan/Nafion, Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) are vastly used for the fabrication of biosensors. The electrically conducting biopolymers in the transducer phase are modified by nanoparticles, CNT, clay etc. The formation and properties of a nanobiointerface depend on several factors such as surface area, surface charge, energy, roughness and porosity, valance/conductance states, functional groups, physical states and hygroscopic behavior. The first description of a ‘Biosensor’ was established in 1962 by Prof. Leland C Clark in New York, Academy of Science Symposium. There after lots of developmental work has been done for the development of biosensor as represented in the Table below. Table 1. Some defining events in the history of biosensor d development Date

Event

1916

First report on the immobilization of proteins: adsorption of invertase on activated charcoal

1922

First glass pH electrode

1956

Invention of the oxygen electrode

1962

First description of a biosensor: an amperometric enzyme electrode for glucose

1969

First potentiometric biosensor: urease Immobilized on an ammonia electrode to detect urea

1970

Invention of the ISFET

1972-1975

First commercial biosensor: Yellow Springs Instruments glucose biosensor

1975

First 'microbe-based biosensor First Immunosensor: ovalbumin on a platinum wire Invention of the pO2/pCO2 optode

1976

First bedside artificial pancreas (Miles)

1980

First fiber-optic pH sensor for In vivo blood gases

1982

First fiber- optic- based biosensor for glucose

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Event First SPR Immunosensor

1984

First mediated amperometric biosensor: ferrocene used with GOx for the detection of glucose

1987

Launch of the MediSense ExacTech blood glucose biosensor

1990

Launch of the Pharmacia BLACore SPR-based biosensor system

1992

i-STAT launches handheld blood analyzer

1996

Glucocard launched

1996

Abbott acquires MediSense for $867 million

1998

Launch of LifeScan Fast Take blood glucose biosensor

1998

Merger of Roche and Boehringer Mannheim to form Roche Diagnostics

2001

LifeScan purchases Inverness Medical's glucose testing business for $ 1.3 billion

2003

Abbot acquired by Abbott for $392 million

2004 Abbott acquires TheraSense for $1.2 billion ISFET, ion-selective field-effect transistor; SPR, surface plasmon resonance; GOx, glucose oxidase. The interaction of the analyte with the bioreceptor is designed to produce an effect measured by the transducer, which converts the information into a measurable effect, such as an electrical signal as elaborated in the Figure 2. Biosensors consist of:

Bio-recognition systems, mainly the analyte-the enzymes or binding proteins such as antibodies, vitamin, sugar, biomolecules, toxins, peptides and metal ions.

Transducer or the detector elements-which converts the signals that develops from the interaction of the biological molecules and the analyte.

Signal processors-that are responsible for the display of the results in a most user accepted manner.

Figure 2: Schematic structure and operating principle of biosensor

Depending upon the analyte biosensors are categorized as - Enzyme Biosensors, Immunosensors, and DNA sensors respectively. Similarly, based on sensing technology, biosensors fall under Calorimetric, Potentiometric, Amperometric, optical and Piezo-electric biosensors.

Polymers in Biosensors Polymers draw attention for the coating of biosensors. These coatings are typically used to improve the selectivity and biocompatibility (Figure 3). Conducting polymers and redox active polymers are being utilized for this purpose. Most commonly used polymeric materials are fluorinated ionomer (Nafion) and cellulose acetate. These two polymeric materials enhance the biocompatibility to permit small molecules into the sensors. Nafion coated glucose oxidase based biosensors have been extensively used for this purpose. The biopolymer, chitosan, is also utilized to increase the surface to volume ratio for better immobilization of enzymes to the surface. It has excellent film forming ability, high mechanical strength, non-toxic, high permeability towards water, that also induces the selectivity of the biosensing application. Various other polymers such as polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane, silicon rubber based materials have been used for solid state ion sensors. The modification of PVC membrane with anionic surfactants also improves biocompatibility and has been utilized in the development of amperometric enzyme electrodes. P L A S T I C S N E W S

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FEATURES Nanomaterials in Biosensors The nanoparticles play an effective role for the modification of biopolymer matrix. Conducting biopolymers conjugated with nanoparticles act as potential high performing biomatrix for fabrication of biosensors. Biosensors’ sensitivity and specificity highly depends on the biocompatibility and bio-recognition element/system which is successfully connected to a suitable transducer. Nanomaterials based biosensors which are the overall combination of molecular Figure 3: Conducting polymers in amperometric engineering, chemistry, biotechnology and material science can inevitably enhance the scope of wide range application. Biosensors

Figure 4: Application of Biosensor – Blood Glucose Monitor

Various kinds of nanomaterials such as gold (Au), CNTs, magnetic nanoparticles and quantum dots are being increasingly applied for sensors and biosensor application. Metal nanoparticles has the tendency of scattering light at different wavelength that property is used for the construction of Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) based biosensors. Natural nanosystems like pigment containing cells (present in certain fishes and frogs) sense the cell membrane receptors.

A layer of olfactory proteins on a nanoelectrode react with low-concentration odorants applicable for diagnosis of diseases at earlier stages.

Nanosphere lithography (NSL) derived triangular Silver (Ag) nanoparticles are used to detect streptavidin down to one picomolar concentrations.

The school of biomedical engineering has developed an anti-body based piezoelectric nanobiosensor to be used for anthrax, HIV hepatitis detection.

Nanobiosensors play a very important role for cancer detection in body fluids.

Applications Biosensors find wide arena of applications in the following areas, (a) Blood glucose monitoring; (b) Artificial Pancreas; (c) Industrial Process Control; (d) Food analysis; (e) Environmental Monitoring; (f) Air and Water Monitoring; (g) Miniaturization; (h) Network systems; (i) Bioengineering

Conclusions & Outlook There has been an increasing demand for efficient analytical tools for bioassays in the fields of clinical analysis and biochemical studies. Based on this requirement, biosensor is a new scientific field linking between bioanalytical techniques with microelectronics technology. The development of electrochemical biosensors gives a platform towards effective immobilization of proteins or ligands on solid surfaces. The utilization of nanoparticles and polymers in biosensors find application in environmental and bioprocess control, quality control of food, agriculture, military and particularly medical field. The ability to detect pathogenic and physiologically relevant molecules in the body with high sensitivity and specificity offers a powerful opportunity in early diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Early detection and diagnosis can be used to greatly reduce the cost of patient care associated with advanced stages of many diseases. P L A S T I C S N E W S

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Why Blame Plastics – Time for Introspection S. B. Dangayach, Managing Director Sintex Industries Limited, Mumbai

In our present scheme of things there is no other family of materials that can bring about a sustainable and holistic solution as against plastics. material gets into the category of ‘waste’ when it has no economic and practical value. The very same material becomes ‘resource’ when it gains economic value.

because of its utility as a substitute to clinker in cement.

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Our Hon’ble Supreme Court has studied the problem of waste management in detail and has strongly recommended that we, as citizens must assume responsibility for segregating waste generated by us into two simple categories – dry and wet. Dry waste which consists of paper, plastics, construction debris, metal, glass etc. can be sorted out easily for use as resource at nominal cost.

Nature has been wise in lending two sides of the same coin – making its creations useful to some and useless to others. Thus, we see wastes of yesterday becoming resources of today. For instance, fly ash was a menace a few decades back, but is a great resource now

Segregated wet waste coming out of kitchens or gardens can be converted into compost, biogas or organic manure, effectively. It is our callous and careless attitude towards discharging our responsibility that is responsible for the present mess. By putting all the wastes together; we not only decrease or nullify economic value of segregated waste, but cause huge nuisance of mixed waste that can, at best, be dumped in landfill sites.

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FEATURES In other words, the problem does not relate to materials, but to our wrongful habits as citizens and collective responsibility of the stakeholders to carry out effective and efficient management.

Plastic materials are an integral part of our modern life where we are striving for convenience and comfort. Whether we like or not our present lifestyle is impossible without the use of plastics in different types of activities. We can blame packaging materials but cannot really find an alternative for the convenience, time

saving and comfort that they bring us. In our present scheme of things there is no other family of materials that can bring about a sustainable and holistic solution as against plastics. Fortunately, most of the plastics used in day – to - day life belong to group of thermoplastics, which are also recyclable. It is the problem associated with segregation, collection, transfer and conversion that is today responsible for our difficulties.

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‘Plastics’ are not the only materials in the waste stream. Plastics constitute 4-5% of the mixed waste. 95% comes through a variety of materials like construction debris, paper etc. Construction debris is again nonbiodegradable and creates many problems. It is found that nearly 85% of paper waste does not get collected and recycled. Proportion of non-recyclable paper is more than non-recyclable plastics, but escapes scrutiny and criticism because of the label of being biodegradable. Seen from a holistic perspective, we have to avoid putting the waste into vacant ground thereby making the question of biodegradability irrelevant. Time has come for us to look at several possible solutions. One possible solution could be to provide incentives to people that segregate waste into dry and wet, and demand higher charges from people that deliver mixed waste as against people who 123

segregate waste at collection point. All the wet biomass from the kitchens, canteens, restaurants, hotels etc. could be converted into biogas and organic fertilizer through deployment and popularisation of biogas plants of different sizes. Converting garden waste into compost is a very well

known and cost effective technology and can be popularised on a bigger scale. ‘Polluter pay principle’ is applied to industries and institutions and has brought very good results in many parts of the country. This principle has

to be extended to individual citizens and families so as to make everybody accountable for the waste that is generated and brought into public space in total contravention of the laws of the land.

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US prices fall for solid PS and PET bottle resin orth American prices for solid polystyrene and PET bottle resin each have dropped since 1 November, as demand for both materials cooled as the year draws to a close. PS prices fell an average of 3 cents per pound, although some buyers reported smaller drops for general-purpose PS, while others reported larger drops for high-impact PS. The decrease followed a 6-cent October drop and once again was tied in to weak demand and lower prices for benzene feedstock, which is used to make styrene monomer. Benzene prices fell 5% in November to $3.15 per gallon. Prices in October had fallen 18% as against the previous month. High-impact prices are dropping more quickly than general purpose grades, according to PS market analyst Stacy

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Shelly, because of steeper drops in price for butadiene feedstock that is used to make HIPS. Regional prices for butadiene fell about 18 percent in November Butadiene prices for December also came down further 13 percent, In PET, prices had fallen an average of 5 cents per pound since 1 November. That drop comes on the heels of a 2-cent dip in October. The November price drop pulls the number of price drops seen by North American PET even with the number of increases. The market has seen four of each.Lower prices for paraxylene feedstock also affected November pricing. Even factoring in the November drop, regional PET prices remain about 11% above where they were at the start of the year.

Repak raises Christmas recycling target to 35,000 tonnes ublin-based the Irish recycling organization Repak, hopes to collect and recycle nearly half of all the used packaging generated in the Republic over the Christmas period hoped to collect and recycle 35,000 tonnes of used packaging, much of its plastic, and beat last year’s figure of 34,000 tonnes at the same time. A third of the 220,000 tonnes of household waste generated in Ireland during Christmas is believed to be used packaging, said Repak,

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amounting to 51 kilos per household. Dr. Andrew Hetherington, Repak’s chief executive, said that despite last year’s severe weather his organisation scored a huge success in recovering and recycling more than 34,000 tonnes of used packaging.To help consumers Hetherington said Repak had developed the smartphone Recyclemore app on iPhone and Android to help people access information on Ireland’s 2,000 recycling centres.

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Mexico's oil and petrochem ports closed for 2 days due to storm ll of Mexico's oil and petrochemical ports were closed to shipping on the first day of the year on account of severe weather. According to the Ministry of Communications and Transportation Winds of up to 70 kph and 10-foot waves were whipped up by a seasonal cold front that swept the Gulf of Mexico, forcing the closure of the key crude-loading ports of Dos Bocas, Cayo Arcas and Pajaritos, as well as the petrochemicals port of Altamira. Pajaritos ships petrochemicals in addition to crude. Salina Cruz, the only oil port on Mexico's Pacific Coast, was also closed as the stormy conditions swept over the Isthmus of Tehuantepec between the Gulf and the Pacific. All Mexican oil and petrochemicals ports reopened to shipping early Wednesday after a 48-hour closure by bad weather. The stormy conditions were provoked by a seasonal cold front that swept through the Isthmus of Tehuantepec from the Gulf to Salina Cruz, Mexico's only Pacific Coast oil port.

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UK Government spells out revised recycling targets roposals for tougher packaging recycling targets that will stop 400,000 tonnes of packaging going to landfill by 2017 were announced by Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman.The new targets for packaging producers will also ease the demand on raw natural materials and improve resource efficiency by making more recyclable materials available for businesses. Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman said: “Christmas is a time when, more than ever, we all notice the amount of packaging that comes with the things we buy. An alarming amount of this is still going to landfill.

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“These new, more ambitious targets will deliver real environmental and economic benefits. They will give a new incentive to companies to cut down on excess packaging and increase efforts to have their materials recycled.” The proposed new targets are:

Increase the steel recycling target by 1% per year, from 71% in 2012 to 76% by 2017; Increase the aluminium recycling target by three per cent per year, from 40% in 2012 to 55% in 2017; Increase the plastics recycling target by five per cent per year, from 32% to 57% by 2017; and Increase the overall packaging recovery rate by 1% each year, from 74% in 2012 to 79% in 2017. The proposed targets would also see glass recycling split into sub-categories to boost the amount of glass that is remelted. This is more environmentally friendly than using it as an aggregate in such things as building materials. These targets have been drawn up following recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Packaging and fulfil a commitment in the Waste Review,

CPC forges strategic alliance with 15 local firms, research centers and higher education institutions aiwan’s state-run CPC Corp. forged a strategic alliance with 15 local firms, research centers and higher education institutions, ushering a new era of value-added petrochemical industry output, as reported in Taiwan Today. The partnership will see CPC set up centers for green energy research and innovative materials certification. CPC is considering an increase in

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its annual R&D budget from NT$1.7 bln (US$56.12 mln) to NT$5 bln over five years, including NT$2.5 bln on forward-looking research. Results of the projects will be shared by CPC with subsidiaries and other local firms. Subsequent technology is expected to be the basis of three major investment plans with a projected output of NT$70 billion by 2017.

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published in the summer, to consult on increased recycling targets. This balances the need for environmental ambition and affordability for businesses and government. A consultation on the new packaging recycling targets will run for eight weeks, closing on Friday 10 February 2012 with a final decision on the new targets announced in the 2012 Budget.

Israeli academics uses polyacrylamide to mitigate damage to burnt soils sraeli academics have demonstrated how applying polyacrylamide (PAM) can following forest fires.Following a wildfire, forest soil often erodes rapidly because, deprived of its usual vegetative cover, it cannot absorb intense rainfall. Erosive run-off results and the forest’s natural regeneration is delayed.PAM is already widely used in agriculture to prevent soil erosion. Working with the material, Assaf Inbar, a graduate student at Tel Aviv University's Porter School of Environmental Studies, tested his method in Israel's Birya forest following a wildfire. Inbar and his colleagues tested PAM on samples of burnt soils both in the laboratory and under natural rainfall. The experiments demonstrated that burnt soils remained much more stable with PAM than without, reducing erosion by as much as 50%.

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Revolution celebrations cloud polymer demand in Egypt n 2011, the Egyptian people took to the streets in order to bring democratic change to the country by unseating the president Hosni Mubarek, who ruled the country for nearly 30 years, as per ChemOrbis. The violent protests against the government lasted about 20 days and halted trading activities in the country along with everything else. A year after the political unrest, Egypt is preparing to celebrate their revolution on January 25, a date when it all started. The approaching celebrations have raised some concerns amongst polymer players since they are worried that this day might spark some additional protests given the fact that the political situation remains uncertain in the country.

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A distributor, who is active in the PP, PE and PS markets, reported

that overall demand is generally disappointing. According to him, seasonal reasons are hampering demand, especially for LDPE applications. “However, there is another factor weighing down on the general buying interest. The approaching celebrations for the Egyptian revolution cause buyers to act cautiously in the market. These converters think that the celebrations might lead to another round of social protests,” he commented. The distributor believes that the market will be clearer once the celebrations are over. Another distributor, who saw slightly better buying interest for locally held PP injection cargoes after they reduced prices in line with the lower import costs, also reported that the buyers are hesitating to commit to new purchases in large

volumes. “Apart from the generally slow demand conditions, hazy political conditions inside the country and the approaching revolution celebrations have dampened the overall buying interest in the market,” he complained. The overall political situation is still fragile in Egypt in the aftermath of the turmoil. The country is going through a layered government elections process with the final round for the presidential elections taking place in late June. Meanwhile, Egypt had already concluded a round of elections in the month of January but results signal for lingering political instability in the country. The elections are likely to be finalized in favor of Islamist domination, which is igniting concerns amongst the secular activists.

Iran expects petrochemicals exports to EU to reduce due to Eurozone debt crisis ran expects 2012 petrochemicals exports to the EU to fall mainly due to the eurozone debt crisis rather than international sanctions against its energy sector, as per Mehr news agency in Platts. “Due to the economic recession and the crisis in Europe, high petrochemical exports cannot be expected, as per Abdolhossein Bayat, deputy oil minister for petrochemical affairs.

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Referring to the fresh sanctions, he said that there were "some challenges

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in the way of money transfers," though he added that this was not the reason for lower exports of petrochemicals products to Europe. Sanctions imposed against Iran by the US, the UN Security Council and the EU restrict financial dealings with some Iranian banks and institutions though there is no ban on exports of petrochemicals. EU sanctions passed last year threaten penalties against foreign companies that invest in Iranian petrochemicals projects.

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Last week, USA imposed new sanctions targeting Iran's central bank, effectively making it harder for Iran to receive payment for its crude oil and petrochemicals exports, the bulk of which is sold into Asia. The EU is set to announce a new round of sanctions against Iran at the end of the month, with France urging a ban on oil exports unless there is progress in diplomatic efforts to resolve the nuclear row between the world powers and Tehran.

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Chinese apprehensive over the rise in polymer market, many feels it might improve this year layers in China’s polymer markets are expressing mixed forecasts for 2012.

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While there is general agreement that upstream costs will continue to support polymer prices, players hold divergent opinions about the macroeconomic outlook, as per ChemOrbis. Producer sources are generally confident that the macroeconomic outlook will turn around this year while traders and converters remain hesitant to commit to firm positions. A source at a major Chinese polymer producer reported, “We expect to see an improving macroeconomic situation for 2012. Recent economic news from the US suggests that America will achieve higher growth rates this year and we are confident that a solution will be found to the European sovereign debt crisis. Domestically, we believe that the Central Bank will reverse direction this year and move to encourage growth as the economy has started to slow down and inflation is no longer the most pressing problem confronting China’s economy." Many believe that China’s polymer demand will see strong growth this year if the global economic outlook starts to improve. A source at a South Korean producer also expressed optimism for the coming year. “We believe that the Chinese government will pursue more pro-growth policies this year and that this will stimulate China’s demand for P L A S T I C S N E W S

polymers. We hope to achieve better operating margins this year although we will remain cautious in our business until we see some definite signs of improving demand,” the source commented. A trader offering Saudi Arabian PE and PP reported, “We believe that prices will remain firm this year as political tensions in the Persian Gulf and a significant number of scheduled maintenance shutdowns will support higher prices. Demand will need to improve later this year if the current firmness in prices is to remain in place in the months ahead,” the trader added. A source from a large trading house commented, “Our outlook for 2012 is for prices to remain firm in line with stronger upstream costs. We will be more cautious with our purchases this year as we are not feeling sufficiently confident about the global demand outlook,” the source added as per the pricing service of ChemOrbis. A distributor selling South Korean polymers to China stated, “there are too many uncertainties on the horizon for 2012 for us to take a firm stance on the outlook for the coming year. We are planning to keep our stocks at low levels this year so as maintain maximum flexibility in the market.” A converter in the plastic bag and film sector stated, “We are not feeling very optimistic about the year ahead as we feel that demand from our European customers will remain depressed. We expect to see some

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increases in polymer pricing after the Chinese New Year holidays but we do not believe that these increases will prove sustainable unless global demand begins to pick up. Demand might improve in the second half of the year if the macroeconomic situation stabilizes, but we are not optimistic about the demand outlook for the first half of the year.” A trader stated, “We believe that demand will be worse in 2012 than it was in 2011. We believe that polymer prices will gain ground in February and March but that prices will begin to move lower again by April, although firm upstream costs and a large number of maintenance shutdowns should keep the size of the price decreases limited.”

Indonesia’s first Butadiene plant inaugurated ndonesia’s first ever Butadiene plant was inaugurated in Cilegon, Banten, as per The Jakarta Post. “The plant’s production capacity is 100,000 tons a year,” the ministry’s press release stated as quoted bykompas. com. The plant is part of publicly listed petrochemicals producer PT Chandra Asri Petrochemical (CAP) and will be managed by the company’s subsidiary PT Petrokimia Butadiene Indonesia.

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India lifts anti-dumping duty on import of polypropylene from Saudi Arabia ndia has lifted an anti-dumping duty imposed on polypropylene imported from Saudi Arabia. No reason has been given for this amendment. In November 2010, India imposed a 6.5% anti-dumping duty on polypropylene imports from Saudi Arabia, Oman and Singapore. The statement does not mention the tax on polypropylene imports from Singapore and Oman. The change is effective from the day the notification is published in the Gazette of India, the official record of

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government rules, the Central Board of Excise and Customs said in a statement dated Dec. 30 on its website. According to inputs Major Saudi Arabian Polypropylene makers target increase in PP exports to India following the lifting of the anti-dumping duty. The duty imposed by India covered imports from companies including SABIC, the world’s biggest petrochemicals maker, Advanced Petrochemicals and National Industrialization Co. (NIC).

Royal Interpack to make recycled PET containers angkok -based Royal Interpack Co. Ltd. and San Antoniobased Worldwide Plastics Co. have agreed to start manufacturing and selling PET containers made from 100 percent recycled PET. In early 2012, Royal Interpack will expand and start making the containers in the United States. The company currently has a

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200,000 square foot plant in Chonburi, Thailand.Royal Interpack makes PET sheet and thermoformed containers. Worldwide Plastics distributes stock and custom plastic and pulp containers to North American fruit and vegetable growers, shippers, re-packers, and other food suppliers.

Flambeau buys Partners in Plastics lambeau Inc. has purchased Partners in Plastics LLC, an industrial blow molder in Sharon Center, Ohio, with 15 dual-head extrusion blow molding machines. This acquisition allows the company to better serve our contract customers

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with additional blow molding capacity in Ohio and the Midwest, Flambeau completed an asset purchase of PIP out of receivership from Key Bank in Cleveland.Partners in Plastics was founded in 1993, initially as a blow molder for then-startup Step2 Co., a

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Exports boost Italy's plastic sector in 2011 taly’s plastics and rubber trade association expects domestic turnover to have risen by 11 per cent in 2011. Assocomaplast said production value rose from €3.6bn in 2010 to €4bn this year. While exports grew more strongly than overall production value, up 19.3 per cent to €2.4bn, the value of imports grew by only 5.9 per cent to €600m.The domestic market has also been relatively weak, up by 1.9 per cent to €2.2bn in 2011, the organisation said. In terms of export markets for Italian plastics and rubber machinery, Germany headed the list with sales of €253.1m, followed by Poland, up 54.5% increase to €78.1m, and Turkey, with 46.2% growth to €65.7m.The association claims Russian, Polish and Turkish markets for Italian machinery have grown strongly as a result of the machinery producers having paid particular attention to these areas, such as participation at the recent plastics fair in Istanbul.

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rotational molder of toys. Since then, PIP has grown to be a major industrial blow molder serving the Midwest and Northeastern United States in the healthcare, lawn and garden, agriculture, consumer products, industrial and fuel tank markets.

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China, ASEAN implement another round of duty reductions for 2012 hina and the ASEAN-6 nations (Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, Singapore and Brunei Darussalam) have implemented another round of customs duty reductions this year under the China-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement. With effect from January 1, 2012, customs duties were eliminated on PP and PVC exports from Southeast Asia to China, ASEAN-6 nations have also

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abolished customs duties on Chinese PVC. The current duty status of PP exports from China to the ASEAN-6 nations remains unconfirmed as China is not a regular source of PP supply for any of the countries in question. According to reports from ChemOrbis several Southeast Asian producers have already managed to conclude January import deals to China at prices standing at the upper end of the overall

Lubrizol acquires Merquinsa's TPU activities he acquisition of Merquinsa's TPU activities by specialty chemicals manufacturer Lubrizol has been completed, as agreed in November 2011. Located in Barcelona, Spain, Merquinsa serves the most technically demanding segments of the specialty polymer market used

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in automotive, sports and leisure, furniture and textile coatings. Lubrizol will be assuming approximately 100 Merquinsa employees. All Merquinsa products will be integrated with Lubrizol, combining the product offerings under the Lubrizol Engineered Polymers business.

Shell Chemical to invest US$2 bln in gas cracker in either West Virginia n a bid to tap shale gas deposits, Shell Chemical is finalizing plans to build a US$2 bln cracker complex in either West Virginia, Pennsylvania or Ohio, three states that overlay ancient shale beds rich in natural gas. While Ohio is a relative newcomer to the shale gas industry, with production

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levels well below those established in Pennsylvania and West Virginia, the state’s re-emerging auto industry and its well-established polymer and chemical industries pose ready markets for the new petrochemical plant.

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range after the removal of customs duties on Southeast Asian origins. Southeast Asian PP had been subject to a preferential duty of 5% prior to the removal of customs duties at the start of this year. China’s PVC market has been quiet in the first week of the year as most January business has already been concluded and new prices for February have yet to be announced.

Sinopec pays US$2.2 bln for one-third stake hina Petrochemical Corp (Sinopec) has forayed into American shale with payment of US$2.2 billion for a onethird stake in five emerging oil fields operated by Devon Energy Corp., according to a story in Shanghai Daily. This is the latest effort by Chinese companies to gain critical know-how on extracting oil and gas from shale rock formations in a bid to gain experience to unlock similar resources domestically. Devon is one of the first companies to economically extract gas from shale fields. As part of the investment, Sinopec will pay US$1.6 billion to drill wells in the five projects in Alabama, Ohio, Michigan and elsewhere.

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FPC buys a 12% stake in Gulf Petrochem's project at Fujairah ulf Petrochem Group, has signed an investment agreement with the Government of Fujairah’s subsidiary Fujairah Petroleum Company (FPC). Under the agreement, FPC will buy a 12% stake in Gulf Petrochem's 412,000 cubic meter storage terminal project in Fujairah. The project is scheduled for completion in September 2012. According to the release the agreement was signed

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by Dr. Salem Abdou Khalil, Technical Advisor, Government of Fujairah, on behalf of the Fujairah Petroleum Company, and Harshavardhan Sinha, Executive Director, Gulf Petrochem Group, on behalf of Gulf Petrochem, Fujairah. Ashok Goel, Chairman, Gulf Petrochem Group, said: “Participation of Fujairah Petroleum Company in our project underlines the importance of the storage terminal business as a

tool for socioeconomic progress in the emirate and across the region. Such strategic partnerships complement our aggressive growth plans, and help us create new economic possibilities for the communities we serve. This agreement reaffirms the commitment and trust various stakeholders have in this project.”

Petrochemical markets in Asia likely to see increased competition in 2012 etrochemical markets in Asia are likely to see increasing competition in 2012, amid low levels of economic growth in developed nations leading to redirection of products towards emerging regions, according to a news report from ICIS.Lower domestic gas prices amid shale gas development have led to the emergence of USA as a key player

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in the chemicals export market. This has changed the dynamic of global export flows, according to a report by HSBC Global Research. Since 2008, the US averaged polyethylene (PE) exports of 2.5 mln tpa is four times the average over 1990-2007. Shale gas development in USA has been accompanied by capacity additions in the Middle East, significantly adding

to the base of low-cost product available for export. Last two years have witnessed demand growth and restocking that has allowed increased volumes from the Middle East to be absorbed, with limited impact on the market. Volumes of developed market are estimated to shrink in 2012.

Monomer markets end 2011 on a stable to firm note in Asia pot monomer markets ended the year 2011 on a steady to slightly firmer note in Asia. Values were flat for ethylene and styrene but there were gains for propylene when a weekly comparison is made, as per Chemorbis. At the same time, the most recent spot levels for ethylene and styrene represented cumulative

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increases since early December. Spot propylene costs recorded consecutive decreases since the beginning of December mainly due to slower downstream demand at the year end. However, the decreasing trend lost pace in the latter part of last month due to relatively stronger crude oil and naphtha prices. Spot naphtha 130

costs surged by over US$20/ton on CFR Japan basis during December. However, some end users believe that the rebound may not last long since Chinese players will be out of the market during the Lunar New Year Holiday which will take place from January 22 to 29, 2012.

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Petrochemical prices set to rise in Saudi Arabia rice of natural gas feedstock is on the rise in Saudi Arabia. This move is likely to have its greatest impact on Sipchem, SAFCO and SABIC, with Tasnee and Sahara facing the least impact. KSA petrochemical firms procure natural gas at one of the lowest prices globally. However they are facing difficulty in gaining new

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allocations of ethane at the current subsidised price of USD0.75/mmbtu for their capacity expansion plans, due to increasing domestic consumption of gas. This low price was set at 1998, when crude was at US$13 a barrel, compared with over US$100 today. Thus the profitability of Saudi Arabia's petrochemicals companies could be

reduced in 2012 if the government increases its gas prices, NCB Capital says. As per the national.ae, the secure availability of feedstock at a low cost has offered a competitive edge to the Saudi producers when compared to their global peers. All this could change, impacting the global supply dynamics of the petrochemical industry.

Andhra Pradesh state inks MoUs over 60,000 cr for funding refineries, petrochem complexes emorandums of understanding (MoUs) for projects worth Rs 1,00,000 crore were signed on the opening day of Andhra Pradesh’s Partnership Summit. Two big proposals are from the GMR group- from GMR Holdings for a Rs 30,000 crore refinerycum-petrochemicals complex. The other, a Rs 3,000 crore multi-product SEZ, was from GMR Infrastructure.

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Another MoU for a petroleum refinery was inked with BR Shetty group for a Rs 30,000 crore project near Visakhapatnam, as per Financila Chronicle. GMR’s 30,000 crore investment will be towards a refinery with a downstream petroleum complex with an annual capacity of 15 mln tons in an SEZ.

GMR will look for a strategic partner to implement the project. This will be the GMR group’s second project in the petroleum sector. The first will be in the Kakinada petrochemicals complex from which ONGC has withdrawn. The group will pick up the divested stake and be a 51% equity partner in Kakinada Refinery & Petrochemicals.

Formosa Plastics Group report Q4 losses nits of Formosa Plastics Group - Formosa Petrochemical Corp. and Nan Ya Plastics Corp., have reported fourth-quarter losses, as a slowing global economy cut demand. Missing estimates,Formosa Petrochemical posted a pretax loss of NT$4.39 billion (US$145 mln) for the three months ended Dec. 31. Processor Nan Ya reported a

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loss of NT$1.57 billion on a pretax basis, compared with the NT$8.87 billion pretax profit that analysts expected. Group Chairman William Wong said last month he is downbeat on the first-half outlook for the oil and petrochemical industry because of the European debt crisis and the U.S. economy. GDP growth in China, Taiwan’s biggest overseas market, is

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expected to slow down to 7.9% in 2012, the slowest pace in 13 years. Chemical producer Formosa Chemicals & Fibre Corp. posted a pretax loss of NT$2.21 billion. PVC maker Formosa Plastics Corp. posted a pretax profit of NT$942 million in the fourth quarter, less than the NT$9.12 billion average of three analyst estimates compiled by Bloomberg.

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BASF-Sinopec inaugurates second phase of Nanjing Petrochem ASF and Sinopec have inaugurated the US$1.4 bln second phase of their integrated petrochemical site in Nanjing, which includes expansions of existing plants and construction of new facilities. BASF-YPC Co., Ltd. is a 50-50 joint venture between BASF and Sinopec, founded in 2000 with a total investment of US$2.9 bln in the first phase. Located in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, it produces chemicals and polymers for

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the Chinese market. “Through this successful partnership, we are able to bring vital chemical products and solutions to China that will directly support local industries as they strive to meet the needs of a rapidly developing p o p u l a t i o n , ” s a i d D r. M a r t i n Brudermüller, Vice Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF SE, responsible for Asia Pacific.

China's petrochem to grow 31% hina's petrochemical sector is expected to post a 31% y-o-y rise in the value of its output to Yuan 11.2 trillion (US$1.7 trillion) in 2011 when figures for the year are collated, as per the China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation reported by Xinhua. Output of large petrochemical enterprises increased 32.6% y-o-y to Yuan 10.24 trillion over

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the first 11 months of last year, mainly due to industrial upgrading. Over the January-November period, the output of non state-owned enterprises surged 35.8% y-o-y to Yuan 5.12. These figures are estimated to rise over 20% to over Yuan 13 trillion in 2012, with profits expected to climb 15% to around Yuan 950 billion.

Global demand for processing machinery projected at 6% According to a new market study Global demand for plastics processing machinery is projected to rise 6 percent annually through 2015,.According to “World Plastics Processing Machinery” from Cleveland’s Freedonia Group Inc. Demand will reach to $28.9 billion by 2015, thanks to an acceleration in

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plastic product manufacturing, as well as by a favorable fixed investment environment worldwide. China will account for more than 40 percent of all additional global demand through 2015, according to the report.Among major product types, extrusion equipment will post the strongest gains 132

Harrington Industrial buys ProTec alifornia based Harrington Industrial Plastics has acquired ProTec Construction Services & Supply for an undisclosed price. The deal will give Harrington a much larger presence in Texas. In addition to San Antonio, ProTec operates warehouses in Dallas and Austin. The firm distributes high purity piping systems based on PVC and other materials.. All ProTec employees also will be retained. The firm’s Texas customers include Samsung Electronics. Harrington president and chief executive officer Jim Swanson said,“Our customers nationwide know what makes Harrington their first choice for high purity and corrosive solutions, and we’re confident that in Texas we will continue to provide the same level of service and expertise” . Harrington operates 45 locations across the U.S. and claims to be the country’s largest distributor of industrial plastic piping systems.

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Harrington’s 2011 sales total of $180 million was the highest in its 52-year history. through 2015, benefiting from growth in construction spending. Injection molding equipment will remain the largest segment, accounting for 40 percent of demand in 2015.

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Flame retardant tapes for aerospace industry olyonics has recently introduced a family of flame retardant engineered tapes that have been tested for compliance to the UL94 VTM0, FAR 25.853 flame retardant and BSS 7238/7239 smoke and toxicity standards. These tapes have proven to be effectively in helping aerospace customers prevent fires in avionics. The risk of fire from electronics, electrical and electromechanical devices (batteries, power supplies, motors, etc.) is real and not going away. This is especially true in avionics where more power is being housed in smaller spaces, duty cycles are ever increasing and the need to protect lives is paramount. Designing with materials that do not propagate fire such as flame retardant tapes effectively addresses this need. Polyonics flame retardant tapes help prevent the propagation of fire through

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the unique FlameGard™ technology. The technology includes advanced resins, polymers and adhesives that both increase the dimensional stability of the tapes and create a unique char layer that acts as a heat shield to:

Lower temperature

Remove oxygen

Reduce concentration of flammable gasses

Slow rate of thermal oxidation

Minimize thermal degradation

Prevent propagation of fire

Tapes are also available that offer both flame retardant and ESD HardCoat™ static dissipative performance. The tapes include a wide variety of liners to compliment different die cut processes.

MicroGreen Polymers introducing thermoformed products rlington-based MicroGreen Polymers Inc. will introduce thermoformed hot and cold food trays made from its InCycle sheet this year InCycle relies on MicroGreen’s Ad-air technology to reduce the amount of plastic required. Ad-air creates bubbles within solid-state plastics to expand the materials and improve their functionality, creating an internal microcellular structure that the

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company claims is lighter in weight, more insulating, strong and more highly reflective than other materials. The hot and cold food trays are singlecompartment containers. The hot food trays are microwaveable. Tom Malone, CEO of MicroGreen Polymers, said “We are excited to unveil these first food packaging containers and bringing them to market with our sustainabilityfocused customers in 2012.” 133

Copco releases a hard, airless tube opco Industrial Co. Limited, a renowned packaging supplier in China, has released its new take on the airless tube, which combines a hard and sturdy plastic tube with acrylic and and airless pump to offer a luxury packaging solution for high end or masstige products.The structure of this new product features a plastic tube which has an ABS shoulder set into an acrylic cover. The whole thing functions with an airless pump and there is an AS overcap put on the pump to round out the offering.

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There are 2 capacities, one is 30ml, and the other is 50ml. This special design is different from the regular tube; the airless structure insulates the cosmetic material from air, which translates into a milestone with regard to keeping fresh. As for decoration, the tubes accept injection colour of the plastic tube and acrylic cover, painting on the inner acrylic cover, and hot-stamping and silk-screen printing are available for the surface. Copco has a broad range of experience in offering its clients the right product at the best price, as the company's core mission is to give each client the best packaging solution possible.

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Flexible extruders for thermoforming sheet lines on the advance eifenhäuser EXTRUSION is recording a remarkable increase in incoming orders for thermoforming sheet extrusion lines featuring production capacities between 700 and 1500 kgs/hr. Ten lines of this type used for the production of drinking cups and deli containers of polypropylene (PP) and cups of polystrene (PS) for the dairy industry have been sold since the K 2010 show. And there are further prospective projects on hand. The great interest in these lines is mainly based on the flexibility required by the market. Soaring raw material costs, smaller orders from customers, and

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a strong pressure on end user prices which has even been increased as a result of the global financial crisis are forcing producers to rapidly adapt themselves to new market situations. This is only possible to a limited extent using high-performance, single-purpose extruders that are optimised for processing a specific raw material recipe. Michael Beckhoff, sales manager at Reifenhäuser EXTRUSION says: "Single-purpose extruders were discussed as upcoming trend before the financial crisis. Now it seems that a more differentiated view on this subjet is being taken since there is an increased demand for flexible

solutions instead of high performance for a single product. Reifenhäuser thermoforming sheet lines are designed for a medium speed range which allows to process a large spectrum of raw materials such as Polypropylene (PP), Polystyrene (PS), Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) und Polylactide (PLA), with one and the same screw. Thanks to the modular concept, the line can be tailored to the specific requirements of the customers without compromising flexibility. For the production of finished cups, an automatic in-line vacuum former can be integrated in the system.

Solutions for a highly efficient production of high performance BOPET film rückner has worked out on efficiency and for an efficient production of thin flexible BOPET packaging film, Brückner presents a wide range of lines, comprising various working widths and outputs. The unique multi-gap MD stretching with stretch ratios up to 1 : 4,65 ensures best and unique film properties, e.g. high MD tensile strength and E-modulus, to satisfy the challenging requirements for perfect convertibility in the future. Reduced pinning speeds and advanced direct drive technologies

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guarantee superior film surfaces and optical qualities. The advanced twin screw extrusion system eliminates the expensive resin preparation steps and reduces energy consumption. BOPET film for industrial and optical applications in a thickness range up to 400μm has unique requirements regarding transparency and film surface – especially for optical applications. Brückner offers innovative stretching technologies, providing film producers comparative advantages. Besides high-class technology and machinery, 134

film manufacturers are also requiring an optimum commissioning for their early return on investment: Excellent quality film on the winder shortly after start-up – and from then on after a continuous high output-production. Brückner`s excellent reputation for achieving exactly that has been recently proven with numerous film producers’ new lines. All these successful projects underline: When it comes to BOPET, Brückner provides technologies and services which add value to film manufacturers’ production. J A N U A R Y 2012


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Extrusions tackle complexity, cost of medical devices By Doug Smock new, integrated extrusion eliminates the traditional timeconsuming hand lay-up manufacturing process to produce medical guide catheter shafts. The announcement reects a rapidly developing trend to produce medical devices that are less complex and less expensive.

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Called Tri-Tie extrusion technology, Putnam Plastics' continuous technology builds the three-layer composite shafts without manual assembly and staff, resulting in improved product reliability and lower cost.

and at the union of the outer layer segments, where hinge points occur. In the new approach, a threelayer composite shaft with maximum adhesion between the layers for improved performance is produced through a continuous extrusion. It also provides a more gradual transition of the varying durometer outer layer without bonding or hinge points, according to Rilling. Putnam Plastics operates a medical extrusion facility with more than 30

"Tri-Tie guide catheter shaft manufacturing rethinks the conventional approach to achieve a more integrated and reliable component," says Ray Rilling, director of R&D at Putnam (Danville, CT).

also be printed on the shafts. Earlier this year, Putnam opened a 500 square foot center for custom printing of medical tubing used in catheter devices. The center houses four dedicated pad printers capable of printing catheter shafts up to 32 inches in length with 360 degree printing roll options. The facility has plasma heat surface treatment equipment for preparation of hard surfaces of resins such as PEEK and polyimide before printing and a variable temperature oven with conveyor for ink curing after printing. In another development this year, Putnam introduced wire reinforced, multilumen tubing for minimally invasive procedures that require multiple working channels and high mechanical performance. Reinforcements are available in coil or braid form, depending on therapeutic procedure requirements.

Guide catheters are commonly used to Components of the shaft include a lubricious inner layer, a access endovascular braided stainless steel middle layer, and a variable durometer sites and deliver balloons, outer layer. stents, guide wires, extruders in a range of sizes up to 2 contrast media and other devices. "Endoscopic devices are at the inches, (50.8 mm), There is dedicated Requirements are generally complex, forefront of leveraging the beneďŹ ts of clean manufacturing space within the making the catheters expensive and 37,000 square foot (3.5 square meters) wire reinforced, multi-lumen tubing difďŹ cult to manufacture. for minimally invasive gastrointestinal facility. Components include a lubricious procedures," according to Byron Flagg, Catheter devices often require inner layer, a braided stainless Putnam Plastics product manager. printing along the length and around steel middle layer, and a variable "While the procedures are becoming the circumference of the shaft with durometer outer layer. more complex, companies are markers for use in medical procedures. requesting solutions for today's devices Product performance can vary due Instructional markings, device company that are less complex and costly." to poor bonding between the layers information, or other information may

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CP trading bags award for it plate holder --Stick it tick-iT, a portable beverage holder made by the Belgian company CP Multi Trading, received the golden innovation award at the 2011 International Exhibition of Inventions in Geneva, Switzerland.

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The stand, which serves as a holder for plates, glasses, bottles or cans, is made of the plastic Terblend N NG-02 EF, an ABS+PA blend produced by Styrolution. According to the company, this Terblend grade has been specially designed for applications where aesthetics are important.

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Another advantage of Terblend N is that it is easy to process, added Styrolution. In particular, the EF (excellent-ow) grades are especially free-flowing, allowing the creation of geometrically complex injectionmolded parts, such as the filigree details of the beverage holder. This plastic also offers the requisite dimensional stability under heat as well as chemical and UV resistance, making the beverage holder stabile and robust. It can easily withstand exposure to sun, rain and other liquids, lending itself to outdoor use.

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Hand-operated injection molding machine By Clare Goldsberry ohn Warobi has invented a small-sized own hand-operated plastics injection molding machine! The model 20A PIM-Shooter from LNS Technologies fits nicely on the kitchen counter with its compact size, and operates from standard 110V AC and consume less than 200W of electricity.

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variety of plastic resins including ABS, acetal, LDPE, PP, PS, PVC, and TPEs. In the field, a user would attach the PIM-Shooter (essentially an injection unit) to a drill press, tightening the shaft into the drill press chuck. The company's primary business is making electronic and robotic kits for schools and students. Elaborating fruther on the machine Warobi said, "We were trying to get a special gear part for one of our machines but couldn't get it commercially, and so, we decided to mold our own gear parts, but couldn't find a molding machine in our price range, under a thousand dollars. Since we have a machine shop and make machines anyway, we decided to make our own molding machine." Warobi said the little machine was up to the gear molding task and could fulfill a broader role in the low-volume molded part market.

To maintain accurate temperature setpoints, it includes a dual-display digital temperature controller with thermocouple feedback.

"Then it dawned on us that there may be a hole in the market for a low-

Despite its compact size, the model 20A is a very capable machine, according to Warobi, President, LNS Technologies.

The model 20A PIM-Shooter sells for $595 and includes a sample aluminum mold and 10 oz. supply of polypropylene pellets and pellet dispenser, purging block, safety glasses and gloves so you can begin molding as soon as you get the machine. "That's an offshoot of our kit business," said Warobi. "When we sell a kit to a student or a school, we include all they need so they can actually use it without buying extras. Ultimately the people that buy the molding machine will get their own mold, but at least they can try it out when they get it."

Molding your own fishing lures LNS has already sold several of the PIM-Shooter injection molding machines, primarily to people making their own fishing lures at home. But he believes inventors are a great market to sell the PIM-Shooter into as well. "We were right about there being a niche for a machine under the one thousand dollar price point," Warobi added.

The injector features a heated barrel with a manual ram and a full 0.5 cubic inch resin shot capacity.

The model 20A PIM-Shooter can be ordered through the company's web site or you can write to the company at info@techkits.com.

It works with steel, aluminum or epoxy molds and can operate with a

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cost machine to do prototype parts, to test your parts in different materials, or just mold parts when you need low volumes.

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Nanotubes kill bugs better in polymer composite niversity of Houston researchers led by Debora F Rodrigues have found that mixing carbon nanotubes with a particular polymer can boost their bactericidal action in thin films.Carbon nanotubes can kill bacteria and prevent the formation of virulent and corrosive biofilms, probably by puncturing the microbes’ cell walls.However, nanotubes are difficult to turn into effective coatings, toxic to people at high concentrations, and expensive. Now researchers led by Debora F Rodrigues at the University of Houston carried experiments and have said that mixing nanotubes with a specific polymer can produce thin films that are still effective at killing bacteria, but use very low concentrations of nanotubes.

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According to researchers when mixed into a solvent or applied to a surface alone, carbon nanotubes tend to clump together. These nanotube clumps produce uneven coatings and have relatively small surface areas exposed to the environment, decreasing their ability to kill microbes. Also previous research showed that mixing nanotubes with polymers could help break up these clumps. The Rodrigues team wanted to know what proportion of nanotubes they needed to add to such a mixture to retain the nanotubes’ antimicrobial properties.They chose the polymer called polyvinyl-N-carbazole, because they could easily use it to form thin films on metal surfaces through electrodeposition. They tested a

mixture of 3% nanotubes with 97% polymer by weight. In a liquid suspension containing the nanotube-polymer composite along with Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis cells, the nanotubes damaged or killed 94% of the E. coli and 90% of the B. subtilis. When they used the mixture to produce a thin film, the scientists found that it completely inhibited the formation of biofilms on the metal surface. The nanotubepolymer mix also killed up to 90% of both species of bacteria added to the surface, about the same effect as that produced by a coating of carbon nanotubes alone.The results are reported in the journal Environmental Science and Technology.

Dow selects Honeywell UOP C(3) Oleflex™ technology for US plant OP LLC, a Honeywell company, has been selected by Dow Chemical Company to provide technology to produce propylene at a Dow production site in Texas. Dow Texas Operations will use Honeywell UOP C(3) Oleflex™ technology in a new propane dehydrogenation unit to convert shale gas-derived propane to propylene, a product used in the production of packaging, adhesives, coatings, cleaners and many other end-use applications. The facility will produce 750,000 metric tpa of polymer-grade propylene. The unit is scheduled to start up in 2015. It will be the first of its kind in the United States

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and the largest single-train propane dehydrogenation plant in North America."There is a unique opportunity in today's market where shale gas development is driving lower prices and greater availability of propane as a feedstock for petrochemicals," said Pete Piotrowski, senior vice president for Process Technology and Equipment at Honeywell's UOP. "This, along with global growth in propylene demand, makes the Oleflex process a highly attractive solution.""This agreement represents another significant milestone in our comprehensive plan to further connect Dow's U.S. operations with cost138

advantaged ethane and propane feedstocks, based on the abundant shale gas deposits in the U.S.," said Jim Fitterling, Dow Executive Vice President and President of Feedstocks & Energy and Corporate Development. "The Oleflex process uses UOP CCR™ continuous catalyst regeneration technology to dehydrogenate propane to propylene over a platinum catalyst. Compared with alternative propane dehydrogenation processes, Oleflex technology provides the lowest cash cost of production and the highest return on investment.

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Nanostructured copolymers release drugs right on target ingapore scientists have designed the chemical and physical properties of a new copolymer to target drugs straight to disease sites, improving efficacy and reducing side effects.Yiyan Yang and Jeremy Tan from the A*Star Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, Singapore, working in collaboration with researchers from the IBM Almaden Research Center and Stanford University in the USA, have prepared biodegradable, water-soluble

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copolymers that can be loaded with the cancer drug Paclitaxel and injected directly into tumour tissues.Warming to body temperature causes the drug carried by the polymer to be released. The system shows improvement in killing cancer cells over treatment with the drug alone.The system works through a careful balance on the nano-scale of the hydrophilic (“water loving” and hydrophobic (“water hating”) properties of the different monomer

blocks making up the copolymer.The scientists’ nanoengineering approach also results in copolymers with a narrow distribution of molecular weights – an important factor in producing consistent properties throughout a sample. Thermoresponsive polymers are not new. According to Yang and coworkers, the critical difference between their new materials and previous ones is that the former are both non-toxic and biodegradable.

Purpose-built polymer solves caffeine conundrum hinese scientists have developed a novel polymer to extract valuable pharmacological products from green tea Chunhong Wang, Zhi Yuan, Ning Ma, Peng Wang, Xia Kong and Rongfu Shi from Nankai University, Tianjin have designed a new polymer with a modified structure (and hence changed physical properties) to act as adsorbent. This should increase the selectivity of the process towards caffeine, so that it is not purified in the same fraction as the polyphenols.The polymer was tested on tea extracts containing different proportions of polyphenols and caffeine, ranging from 79:1 to 2:1. In all cases, complete separation was achieved, demonstrating the broad applicability of the method. Laboratory-scale extractions of caffeine and polyphenols use specialised chromatographic methods – but their high production costs and low capacity preclude them from use in industry. Techniques such as solvent extraction and metal ion precipitation can be employed

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industrially, but polymeric adsorption is often preferred due to its high efficiency, low use of organic solvent and simplicity. However, conventional polymer methods using commercial

adsorbents have poor selectivity between polyphenols and caffeine in the tea feedstock, resulting in inefficient separation requiring more than one processing step.

Multi-sensor sorting system separates contaminants from PET material flows +S has developed the FLAKE PURIFIER multisensor sorting system that separate contaminants from PET material flows and sort these material flows into unmixed fractions. Using stateof-the-art sorting technology that is able to separate huge mass flows into various secondary raw materials in a very short time is an important element for an economically efficient recycling process. The FLAKE PURIFIER multi-sensor sorting system is based on a modular concept and combines

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up to three sensors for contaminant detection. In addition to sensors for metal and colour separation, S+S has also equipped the Flake Purifier with a high-performance module for the detection of contaminants which also include different plastic types. The system thus for example removes PVC parts or bio plastics such as PLA from PET flakes. S+S is one of the world's leading manufacturers and developers of inspection, separation and sorting systems.

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Integrated aromatics complex in South Korea first to employ UOP’s latest energy efficient-designs OP LLC, a Honeywell company, announced that it has been selected by Samsung Total Petrochemicals Co., Ltd. to provide technologies for the production of key petrochemicals and high-quality diesel and jet fuel at its complex in Daesan, South Korea.

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The integrated aromatics complex will be the first to employ the latest energy-efficient designs from UOP, allowing Samsung to reduce energy consumption by 33% and offering significant savings in greenhouse gas emissions compared with earlier designs. "This facility will play an

important role in meeting the significant demand growth in the region," said Peter Piotrowski, senior vice president of Process Technology and Equipment for Honeywell's UOP. "Our proven and reliable technology, combined with the new savings in energy and emissions we have incorporated into the design, will offer Samsung a distinct advantage." The facility will use several integrated UOP technologies to produce 1 mlnn metric tpa of paraxylene and 500,000 tpa of benzene. UOP will provide engineering design, technology licensing, catalysts, adsorbents,

equipment and technical service for the new units, which are expected to start up in 2014. The integrated aromatics complex will use the UOP Parex, Sulfolane, Tatoray, Isomar and CCR Platforming processes to produce high-purity para-xylene and benzene. The UOP Distillate Unionfining and Merox processes will be utilized to to produce 2.6 million metric tons per year of high-quality distillate products, including diesel and jet fuels. UOP also provided the technology for Samsung's first aromatics complex, which started operation in 1996.

Ultra-Soft TPVs Replace EPDM Foam Seals wo new PP-based Sarlink thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs) are said to provide the first practical alternative to EPDM foam or sponge in automotive seals, construction weatherstripping, gaskets, and other profiles requiring high resilience. Teknor Apex Co., Pawtucket, R.I., introduced these materials at the recent Fakuma show in Germany. Sarlink 5725B and 5735B have Shore A hardnesses of 25 and 35, respectively. They are said to be the softest TPVs available for extrusion and exhibit the lowest compression set, making them competitive with EPDM foam, but with the advantages of a thermoplastic over a thermoset. In addition, TPVs can be coextruded with stiff polyolefins for rigidity or attachment

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requirements, while EPDM requires the costly step of encapsulating metal. Like other compounds in the Sarlink

5700 Series, they boast high UV resistance and improved anti-fogging properties.

'Crash-Optimized' Nylons for Cars ASF AG (U.S. office in Wyandotte, Mich.) at the recent Fakuma 2011 show in Germany, introduced three new members of its “crash-optimized” nylon 6 family. They are Ultramid B3ZG7 CR (35% glass), B3ZG3 CR (15% glass), and B3ZG10 CR—the company’s first impactmodified nylon 6 with 50% glass fiber. Tougher than earlier CR grades, these are initially aimed

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at auto body parts for pedestrian protection, but are also relevant for other energy-absorbing applications such as steering wheels, seats, or structural inserts. BASF developed a bending and torsion test specimen specifically for the CR grades. While the earlier grade, Ultramid B3WG6 CR (30% glass), can be twisted almost 150° without breaking, the new grades withstand twisting up to 240°

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Shoe in for TPU laser sintered sole he Fraunhofer Umsicht institute in Oberhausen displayed a sport shoe at Euromold 2011 with a prototype outer sole made for the first time by selective laser sintering (SLS) of a thermoplastic polyurethane powder developed by the institute.

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parts to be built up with very elastic foam structure interiors through to firm outer surfaces.

Rapid Product Manufacturing, based in Helmstedt, Germany, produced the sole using the new TPU, which is available in the market from this month (Jan 2012).

One of the Fraunhofer material development specialists, Marcus Rechberger, said: "Automotive hoses can be optimally produced with the material, as much as can pneumatic structures for robotic tooling. In the orthopaedic area, tailor-made shoes are conceivable that grow around the foot."

According to Fraunhofer, the new material combines high strength, flexibility and wear resistance, opening up new application areas for the SLS additive technology process for TPU parts that can be made in "several hours". The SLS process enables TPU

On the Fraunhofer stand at Euromold, properties of the material displayed were: tensile strength of 30MPa, elongation up to just over 400%, Shore A hardness of 90 and density 1.2. The TPU "cake powder" was said to be 100% re-usable.

Kumho P&B Chemicals ask UOP LLC to provide technology for cumene and phenol OP LLC has been selected by South Korea’s Kumho P&B Chemicals, Inc. to provide technology to produce cumene and phenol. Honeywell’s UOP Q-Max and UOP Phenol process technologies will be integrated at Kumho’s Yeosu facility to produce high-quality phenol. The new units, expected to start up in 2013–2014, will produce 900,000 tpa of cumene and 300,000 tpa of phenol. UOP will provide engineering design, technology licensing, catalysts,

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adsorbents and technical service for the project. The UOP Q-Max process produces high-quality cumene through the alkylation of benzene with propylene. The cumene is subsequently converted to high-quality phenol, with low feedstock and utility requirements, using the UOP Phenol process. The UOP Q-Max process uses a robust and efficient catalyst system, which maximises on-stream time, and minimises raw material and energy consumption.

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Greater 'Flexibility' for Silicone Extrusion xtruders of silicone rubber tubing and profiles are offered what is said to be unprecedented flexibility and convenience with the new Sil-X-Shin silicone elastomers from Shin-Etsu Silicones of America, Akron, Ohio. These HCR (high-consistency rubber) products in Shore A hardnesses from 30 to 80 all use the same 10:1 mix ratio of base compound to catalyst. What’s more, all six bases use the same “universal” platinum catalyst.

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In a conventional 1:1 HCR system, if a customer stocked 1000 lb of each base material, it would need 6000 lb of bases and 6000 lb of catalysts, amounting to 12,000 lb of inventory and a total of 12 different products. With SilXShin, the processor would have 6000 of bases and only 600 lb of a single catalyst—that’s 6600 lb of inventory and just seven products. These products are USP Class VI compliant and are designed for healthcare, beverage, and architectural glazing applications.

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A P State Government grants incentives to two oil refineries proposed in PCPIR he State Government of Andhra Pradesh has issued orders granting incentives to two oil refineries proposed in Petroleum, Chemicals and Petrochemical Investment Region (PCPIR) developed between Vi s a k h a p a t n a m a n d K a k i n a d a . According to reports from the daily The Hindu, GO Ms. No. 7 mentions the incentives being given to Amerind Petroleum Pvt. Ltd. for relocating a closed oil refinery from the United States near Atchutapuram, about 50 km from Visakhapatnam. The company will relocate the machinery to launch 7.5 mln ton refining at a cost of Rs.2,500 crore in first phase. It will invest Rs.7,750 crore for adding another 7.5 mln ton in second phase along with a petrochemical complex. GO Ms. No. 6, also issued on the same day (i.e. 10.01.2012) grants the

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incentives to Al Qebla Al Waytya Inc. (A.K. Group), Kuwait for setting up a crude petroleum refinery. It sought 1200 acres near a deep water port for its proposed 4,00,000 bpd in two phases at a an investment of US$2 billion. For the project by Amerind being a second-hand refinery benefits under Industrial Investment Promotion Policy (IIPP) 2010-15 will be offered by giving an exemption. The report further adds that Being second-hand unit, it is not entitled to mega project status as per GO Ms. No. 29.06.2010. The GOs give the Kuwaiti company 25% VAT/ CST and CST for five years, 45% VAT and CST thereafter limited to two times the investment made by the company whichever is earlier. The company is eligible to VAT reimbursement only if the sale price of its product is same as the index price of Government of

Seattle petition seeks vote on bag ban eattle ban single-use plastic carryout bags -- scheduled to go into effect on July 1 -- may still be overturned. According to reports a local activist has launched a petition drive to put the question up for a voter referendum. The ninemember city council passed the ban unanimously Dec. 19. According to a Seattle Times report, Craig Keller, who the newspaper describes as a Republican activist, is behind the petition effort. A website set up for the effort, at www.saveourchoice.

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us, points out that Seattle residents rejected a similar restriction on plastic bags. You have disrespected the wishes of the great majority of Seattle residents,” the website states. It calls the council vote “but one in a history of injury and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny.”According to the Times story, the petition needs 16,503 signatures of registered Seattle voters by Jan. 17 to qualify for the August primary election.

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India. In case of disbanding of index price, market price as decided by the Commercial Taxes Department should be taken into account. Amerind, as per the GO relevant to it, gets 100 per cent reimbursement of stamp duty and transfer duty paid by the industry on purchase of land meant for industry use, 25% VAT/CST/State Government Sales Tax for five years from date of production and 50% reimbursement on skill upgrading. Incentives listed in IIPP will be extended to both the projects. As per the AP Infrastructure Development Enabling Act, 2001, mega projects should follow competitive bidding

Saudi Arabia in talks with Turkey over claims of MEG dumping by SABIC audi Arabia and Turkey are in talks over a claim that Saudi Basic Industries Corp (SABIC) is dumping exports in the Turkish market. Turkey’s government has agreed to reevaluate the case after the European Union and India dropped similar claims last month. Further clarifications are expected.

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Church made up of plastic, cardboard plastic and cardboard church, designed by a firm of Japanese architects, will temporarily replace the Christchurch Cathedral that was extensively damaged in the New Zealand city’s February 2011 earthquake. While the new structure will not be permanent, its designer says it could be in place for up to 20 years. The novel design, a style for which Tokyo-based Shigeru Ban Architects is renown, uses cardboard, corrugated polycarbonate sheets and shipping containers. Shigeru Ban’s brief was to design a building that would be sustainable, environmentally friendly, safe, durable, beautiful, innovative and versatile.The firm designed a US$3.1 million tentlike, A-frame structure, constructed predominantly from cardboard tubes. It will seat more than 700 people. Twenty-foot long shipping containers will form the building’s base. There are 64 cardboard tubes, each 30

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inches in diameter and 55 feet long. The roof will be manufactured from corrugated PC sheets.Shigeru Ban’s Yoshie Narimatsu, who is in charge of the project, said PC is a thermoplastic polymer and easily worked, molded and thermoformed. “[The sheets are] easy to handle, cheaper than glass and translucent,” Narimatsu said. Construction starts in January and will take three months. Shigeru Ban started work on the project in May and is not charging a fee. The Christchurch Earthquake Appeal Trust, an official, global fundraiser for recovery efforts for the city and the wider Canterbury region, funded the project’s US$389,000 feasibility study. Shigeru Ban’s owner, Shigeru Ban, said cardboard is an ideal building material because it is readily available, recyclable and surprisingly strong. “The strength of the building has nothing to do with the strength of the material,” he said.“Even concrete buildings can be

UK into recession during 2012 says Standard Chartered he UK economy is predicted to shrink by 1.3% during 2012 partly as a result of the eurozone crisis, according to economists at Standard Chartered bank.Other negative factors include a drop in consumer and business confidence, a tighter control on credit by banks and Europewide cuts to government budgets. However, this will not spread into a world-wide recession as a result of the

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continued, albeit slowed, expansion in Asia, which is predicted to growth by 6.5% next year – down from &.3% in 2011. Standard Chartered’s chief economist, Gerard Lyons, said: “It will be a recovery made in the East and felt in the West. If ever one needed to illustrate the shift in the balance of power, this is it.” Treasury forecasts still expect Britain to narrowly avoid recession next year. 143

destroyed by earthquakes very easily. But paper buildings cannot.“Normally after disasters, the price of building materials goes higher but, since this is not a traditional building material, it’s very easy to get,” he said. Shigeru Ban’s buildings are weatherproof, fire resistant and secure, and have lasted more than 20 years. Narimatsu said the cardboard structure would be in use for “several years” while the Anglican Church decided whether it was feasible to repair the damaged cathedral.

Cardia bags major Chinese kitchen waste trial ardia Bioplastics has won a contract for a six-month trial to supply household kitchen waste bags made from its Biohybrid material to the city of Nanjing, China. The initial order of 10 million bags will be delivered by the Nanjing Government to 60,000 household.Jackie Chen, Cardia’s director of China operations, said he is also working with governments in other major Chinese provinces. “The Cardia range of renewable Biohybrid and certified compostable products also meet the Chinese packaging regulations enacted in June 2008,” he explained.

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West Bengal Government to question HPL management on defaulter notice from RoC est Bengal government is likely to question Haldia Petrochemicals (HPL) management on non finalization of accounts following defaulter notice, issued by Registrar of Companies (RoC). RoC had issued show-cause notice to the petrochem firm for non filing of balance sheet and not holding annual general meeting AGM. Commerce and Industries (C&I) minister Partha Chatterjee has reportedly said that it is keeping a close watch on the development of HPL, the flagship of new industrialization in

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the state. The state government is a co-promoter of HPL with 43% stake. HPL is not filing annual accounts to RoC which is mandatory under company law since 2005 because of legal disputes. The battle between two promoters - TCG and the state government – that started in 2005 in Company Law Board, continued till September 2011. From CLB, the case was taken to Calcutta High Court and finally to Supreme Court. The SC verdict on HPL was delivered on September 2011.

GTMA to hold toolmaker forums around the UK K based Guage and Tool maker association GTMA is to hold a series of regional Toolmakers’ Forums – a series of informal meetings designed to offer toolmakers an opportunity to discuss issues with the association and receive advice and feedback. GTMA director Peter Barnes, who will be chairing all the meetings, said: “I have been fortunate enough to travel widely and have experience of toolmakers in Europe, America and Asia. This gives me a wealth of knowledge as to how technology is developing and provides me with a global benchmark to stimulate the understanding necessary

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to plan for the future and inevitable changes that will come over the next decade.“Without any doubt investment needs to be made in equipment and technology. I believe that if you move with technology as an early adopter then that is the opportunity to maximise profit.”Although many toolmakers compete they also need to pull together, believes Barnes. He therefore sees the forums as the foundation of a network of companies willing to use the resources within their businesses and realise there is strength in numbers by networking through the GTMA.

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Canada fines foam maker $12.5m for price fixing he Canadian Competition Bureau has fined foam makers Domfoam International Inc. and its associated unit Valle Foam Industries (1995) Inc. a total of $12.5 million for participating in a price-fixing cartel for polyurethane foam. CCB said that Domfoam and its affiliate, Valle Foam, pleaded guilty at the Ontario Superior Court in Ottawa to agreeing with competitors to fix the price of polyurethane foam products made at plants in Brampton, Ontario; Delta, British Columbia; and Montreal, over a period of 11 years. The company’s products are used mainly in carpet underlay, furniture and bedding. Melanie Aitken, Commissioner of Competition, in an official statement said that “This investigation highlights the Bureau’s reinvigorated mandate to stop consumer harm caused by price-fixing, and to secure significant fines for these serious criminal offences.” CCB said the charges are the first to arise from the its investigation into pricefixing in the polyurethane foam industry. Anyone with information relating to this investigation is encouraged to contact the Competition Bureau.

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Plastics SME’s in Japan struggle to keep the competition With the appreciation of Yen Japan’s business seems to be decreasing and SME's in the country are struggling ith the appreciation of Yen Japan’s business seems decreasing and according to reports small and medium-sized plastics processors and mold makers in the country are struggling with both a record-high Japanese yen and competition from low-cost countries. H but some said they see technology and greater international involvement as key to future growth.

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Japanese automotive injection molder and mold maker Meiji Gosei Co. Ltd., for example, said it has developed technology with a partner in the chemical industry to use lasers to improve the bonding of plastics and other materials, requiring less surface area than before to join them together. That innovation opens up more possibilities in designing plastic parts, and will be an important part of the company’s growth strategy, said Imai Nobuyoshi, head of the sales department for the Osaki City-based company, which has 80 injection molding machines and 125 employees. “In general terms, the Japanese economy depends on exports, and with the appreciation of the yen, business is decreasing,” Nobuyoshi said. “It is also very important for Japanese companies to reduce prices to compete with the Chinese, [but] it is very difficult to do that. “In our case, we are presenting a new technology — using lasers to bond plastics,” he said. One application the company is targeting

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with the bonding process is designing better plastic sensors in radiators, steering systems and other automotive systems, Nobuyoshi said. About 80 percent of Meiji Gosei’s business is in Japan’s car industry. The company was exhibiting in a pavilion of 43 plastics-related small- and mediumsized (SME) Japanese firms at the International Plastic Fair, the country’s largest plastics show, held during Oct. 25-29 in Tokyo. Many SME manufacturers in the country face a shrinking domestic market and need to better reach out to global markets, according to Shigenori Nada, a senior manager for overseas sales and marketing for the Organization for Small and Medium Enterprises and Regional Innovation, a Japanese government agency. The agency of the Japanese government organized the IPF pavilion. “These kinds of small- and mediumsized companies, when the yen is strong, it is very difficult for them,” said Yasuo Hiruma, also a senior manager for overseas sales and marketing in the Tokyo office of OSMERI. With the yen hovering at a postWorld War II high of 75 yen to US$1, large Japanese firms who have gone overseas can shift production to the most cost-effective country, but smaller firms have more difficulties doing that, Hiruma said. One molder and mold maker exhibiting at IPF has expanded overseas, and said it is pursuing higher technology used in lens manufacturing and biochemical products.

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Nagatsu Precision Mold Co. Ltd. employs 120 at two factories in Japan making molds, and 700 people at two joint-venture molding and assembly factories in China, where it has 51 Fanuc injection molding machines and 23 Sumitomo machines, said Kiyoshi Yamanoi, chief operating officer with the Kawasaki-based firm. The company is trying to broaden beyond its main business making parts for cameras and mobile phones, and into medical, automotive and nano-markets, he said. It’s important for the company to both expand into new technology and, in a term used frequently by Japanese executives at IPF, “cost down” its operations, Yamanoi said. “In Japan the future of making molds is not good, because the mold user in Japan goes to the global market, to China, Thailand, the Philippines, and Vietnam, so the need in Japan is decreasing,” he said. It’s been a tough year for some of the companies. Meiji Gosei’s Nobuyoshi said its automotiverelated business is only at 70 percent of the level it was before Japan’s March 11 earthquake and nuclear crisis, which stopped much of the auto production in the country for more than a month. Despite the challenges, Japanese manufacturing can remain competitive. “Manufacturing companies do have a future in Japan but of course it depends on the production of new technology,” Nobuyoshi said. (Courtesy: Plastic News)

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BRY-AIR ........................................................................................................................................................ cover Madhu Machineries .............................................................................................................................inside cover R R Plast Extrusions.................................................................................................................................Fan Fold Anupam Heaters...................................................................................................................................................5 National Plastic .....................................................................................................................................................6 NU - VU CONAIR India. .......................................................................................................................................8 Ferromatik Milacron. .............................................................................................................................................9 Flamingo Additives .............................................................................................................................................10 Devanshi Electronics ..........................................................................................................................................12 Polymechplast ....................................................................................................................................................14 Kabra Extrusion ..................................................................................................................................................15 Steer Engineering ..........................................................................................................................................16-17 FITCO. ...........................................................................................................................................................18-24 Lanxess. .............................................................................................................................................................25 GMS Plastics Machines.................................................................................................................................26-33 Vora Packaging. .................................................................................................................................................34 Plastochem Fabrication ......................................................................................................................................35 Trimurti Cad Cam ...............................................................................................................................................47 Doll Plast Machinery ...........................................................................................................................................48 S &S Engineers .............................................................................................................................................50-51 JJ International ...................................................................................................................................................53 BJS Engineers ....................................................................................................................................................55 Mamata Machinery .............................................................................................................................................56 Jagmohan .............................................................................................................................................Book Mark Mamata Brampton ................................................................................................................................Book Mark Swastik Sales Corporation .................................................................................................................................62 Goradia Impex ....................................................................................................................................................67 Orbitz ..................................................................................................................................................................76 KBMP .................................................................................................................................................................85 Arihant ................................................................................................................................................................86 Sri Lanka Plast ...................................................................................................................................................87 Boolani Engineering ...........................................................................................................................................88 Plastic Technologies. ..........................................................................................................................................89 Plast India ...........................................................................................................................................................90 LOHIA Starlinger.................................................................................................................................................91 Reliance Polymers..............................................................................................................................................92 Merit Polyplast. ...................................................................................................................................................93 Worldline.............................................................................................................................................................94 Plastivision Arabia 2012 .....................................................................................................................................95 JOMSONS ..........................................................................................................................................................96 KMG ...................................................................................................................................................................97 Multiow Instruments ..........................................................................................................................................98 Manan Enterprise ...............................................................................................................................................98 JKP Masterbatches ............................................................................................................................................99 Pioneer Engineering Corporation .....................................................................................................................100 Plastivision Arabia ............................................................................................................................................100 TAGMA .......................................................................................................................................Inside back cover Rajoo Enginners ................................................................................................................................... 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