BP&R October 2016 by BP&R Magazine

British Plastics

and Rubber

bp&r OCTober 2016

Your Ideas — Our Solutions! IN TOUCH WITH PLASTICS

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bp&r BRITISH PLASTICS &RUBBER

www.britishplastics.co.uk EDITORIAL

group Editor: Leanne Taylor T: +44(0)1244 680222 E: leanne@rapidnews.com

SALES

Group Advertising Manager: Lisa Montgomery T: +44(0)1244 680222 E: lisa@rapidnews.com sales executive: kirsty wilcox T: +44(0)1244 680222 E: kirsty.wilcox@rapidnews.com

ART SAM HAMLYN T: +44(0)1244 680222 E: sam@rapidnews.com

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PUBLISHER

duncan wood T: +44(0)1244 680222 E: duncan@rapidnews.com British Plastics & Rubber is available on free subscription to readers qualifying under the publisher’s terms of control. Those outside the criteria may subscribe at the following annual rate: UK, Europe and rest of the world £249 British Plastics & Rubber is published monthly (8 times/year) by Rapid Plastics Media Ltd, Carlton House, Sandpiper Way, Chester Business Park, CH4 9QE T: +44 (0) 1244 671074 F: +44 (0) 1244 671074 © 2016 Rapid Plastics Media Ltd While every attempt has been made to ensure that the information contained within this publication is accurate the publisher accepts no liability for information published in error, or for views expressed. All rights for British Plastics & Rubber are reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without prior written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. ISSN 0307-6164

40 years in plastics...

his time 40 years ago, the first issues of BP&R were landing on desks. Launched Launched as a leading technical journal for the UK as a leading plastics industry, fasttechnical forward to 2016 and we are still reporting journal on the latest ideas for the UK and applications, technical and market plastics reports and practical processing insights. industry, This issue is no fast-forward different, with features on specifying the right to 2016 and filled PTFE material we are still (page 28), how to get value from recycled reporting on PET bottle fines (page the latest 46) and the key factors that affect polymer ideas and prices (page 27). applications, In addition, our commitment to the technical UK plastics industry remains firm, and and market we are highlighting reports and the most interesting applications, practical technologies and processing products on offer from the British exhibitors at insights. the K Show this month. This issue will be distributed on sight at the show, so if you are new to the magazine and interested in what the UK has to offer to the global plastics industry, our coverage starts on page 49. We are, of course, not the only ones celebrating a milestone in 2016. In recognition of the companies across the industry that are enjoying anniversaries, we are profiling some of those with the most interesting stories to tell

in our spread starting on page 35. As you will see, times have changed over the last four decades, however, all of the companies we have profiled are positive about the future of the plastics industry. We here at BP&R look forward to many more years reporting on it. Enjoy the issue,

Leanne Taylor, Group Editor

bp&r

THE BIG STORY The Golden Touch JUBILEE MILESTONES, JOINT VENTURES AND PLANS FOR NEW INVESTMENT MARK OUT A GOLDEN 2016 FOR ALBIS PLASTIC. AS PART OF OUR SPECIAL ANNIVERSARY ISSUE, BRITISH PLASTICS AND RUBBER LOOKS AT HOW A SERIES OF EVENTS – FROM THE LAST MONTH TO THE LAST 50 YEARS – ARE PAVING THE WAY FOR THE COMPANY’S FUTURE.

rdinarily, one milestone in a company’s history is cause for celebration. For ALBIS Plastic, however, 2016 sees no less than four. Thanks to a history of making strong partnerships with some of the world’s biggest materials manufacturers, the company is celebrating the 50th year of two of its longest-standing distribution agreements, with Covestro (formerly Bayer MaterialScience) and Lanxess. Additionally, this year marks the 50th anniversary of the creation of its subsidiaries in the UK and France.

Partnerships with purpose

The partnership with Covestro and Lanxess, signed on May 1, 1966, started with handling distribution for a majority of what was then Bayer’s plastics portfolio to around 1,400 small customers in Germany. Over the course of the last 50 years the agreement has expanded to include collaboration across international markets. “In three words: We are proud. In 2016 there is no end in sight for what we started in 1966,” commented Philip O. Krahn, Chief Executive Officer of ALBIS Plastic. “We are looking forward to many more years

of working closely with Covestro and Lanxess - there are still things that we can achieve together. There won’t just be new opportunities in the distribution sector, but also in license and toll compounding, which cover additional divisions to distribution.”

Subsidiaries mark 50 with investment

As part of its plans for the future, ALBIS says it will continue to invest in its existing production sites around the world – not least in Knutsford, where the company’s UK subsidiary is based. Since it was established on 2 September 1966, ALBIS UK has grown significantly, boasting a turnover of over £65m and supplying more than 850 customers across the UK and Ireland in core markets including automotive, healthcare, E&E and packaging. The company is marking its 50th anniversary with a series of investments that will facilitate further future growth. “Investment plans at Knutsford include adding 60 tonnes of silo capacity for finished goods, as well as increasing the production capacity by installing a new compounding line in early 2017. Additionally, we’re improving our site with a new roof extension, which will allow us to add height, enabling us to improve our automation and handling capabilities,” explained Ian Mills, Managing Director of ALBIS UK. “Total investment is approaching €2m in our Knutsford site.”

Ongoing internationalism Aside from the areas of the business celebrating golden anniversaries, ALBIS Plastic in

WWW.BRITISHPLASTICS.CO.UK

Germany has made 2016 even more of a significant year through international expansion in the form of a new Joint Venture in the United States. On 1 September the company founded a partnership with William Barnet and Son, LLC, a specialist in the production, recycling, and trading of fibres, yarn and polymers. The new business, known as ALBIS Barnet Polymers LLC, will be located in Duncan, South Carolina, and will recycle, repelletise and market post-industrial raw materials, as well as use them in the compounding of ALBIS’ range of ‘ALTECH ECO’ products. This move sees both ALBIS and Barnet investing heavily in recycling technology for the production of sustainable compounds in near-to-prime quality. In addition, ALBIS will also be constructing a production facility for engineering compounds at the Joint Venture site, which can initially handle an annual capacity of 15,000 tonnes, as well as taking over Barnet Europe’s existing polymer business, including the production sites in Europe. Through these investments, ALBIS will increase its global production capacity – both compounding and repelletisation – by 60,000 tonnes per year. WWW.ALBIS.COM

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bp&r BRITISH

contents

PLASTICS &RUBBER

october 2016

on the cover The Golden Touch Jubilee milestones, joint ventures and plans for new investment mark out a golden 2016 for ALBIS Plastic. As part of our special anniversary issue, British Plastics and Rubber looks at how a series of events – from the last month to the last 50 years – are paving the way for the company’s future. SEE PAGE 4

EDITOR’S LETTER 40 years in plastics...

feature Details of cuttingedge composite oil pan unveiled Plastic car parts manufacturer, Nifco UK, has released details of a cutting-edge new thermoplastic composite product, designed as part of the Jaguar Land Rover ‘ALIVE6’ Project, which utilises materials from DuPont’s Vizilon portfolio.

feature PURGING EVERYTHING BUT PROFITS

feature Committed to UK Plastics for 40 years After it was established in October 1976, this year will see British Plastics and Rubber reach a milestone anniversary of 40 years in circulation. We mark the milestone by profiling some of the other companies who are celebrating anniversaries in 2016.

REGULARS

INDUSTRY NEWS materials machinery Reclamation and Recycling BUYERS’ GUIDE SOFTWARE NEWS FROM THE FRONTLINE

feature PET FINES FROM RECYCLED BOTTLES: A VALUABLE RAW MATERIAL Karl Miller, Managing Director at Motan Colortronic Limited, looks at how using the right processing technology for PET fines from recycled plastic bottles can result in the production of a higher quality, useable product and a significant commercial impact.

feature @K 2016: The UK Edit As this is our edition on site at K 2016, we highlight some of the newest solutions and services being offered by UK exhibitors, as well as a full stand finder.

Duncan Scott, Business Development Manager at Plastribution, looks at how using the most effective commercial purging compounds can help processors make significant savings.

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INDUSTRY | NEWS LANXESS TO ACQUIRE CHEMTURA FOR €2.4 BILLION Lanxess has announced its intention to acquire US-based Chemtura Corporation, a major global provider of flame retardant and lubricant additives. In the biggest acquisition in the German company’s history, the move will see Lanxess move away from core business unit as the world’s largest producer of synthetic rubber and significantly expand its additives portfolio. The transaction, worth €2.4 billion, will be financed by Lanxess mainly through existing funds and new debt. Under the terms of the agreement, Chemtura shareholders will receive USD 33.50 per share. Headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Chemtura has 20 sites in 11 countries and approximately 2,500 employees worldwide. In the last four years it has reported sales of €1.5 billion, with 45 percent of revenue generated in the US. The acquisition of Chemtura will vastly increase Lanxess’ presence in North America. Chemtura’s two additive segments form the main pillars of the company’s business. Both will, together with Lanxess’ Rhein Chemie

LANXESS’ acquisition of US-based Chemtura Corporation is the largest in its history

Additives business unit (ADD), form the new ‘Performance Additives’ segment after the closing of the transaction, expected mid 2017. In addition to additives, Chemtura’s portfolio includes urethanes and organometallics. “With this acquisition, we are forming a champion in the field of additives and are strengthening our already profitable portfolio,” said Matthias Zachert, Chairman of the Board of Management of Lanxess

AG. “Through the acquisition, we are further implementing our strategy to become a more resilient and profitable chemical company. We are significantly building on our competitive positioning in mediumsized markets and increasing our presence in North America. Lanxess is taking a next and major step forward on its growth path.” WWW.LANXESS.COM

Mills succeds outgoing CSO, Carsten W. Wörner, who left the company by mutual agreement on 30 September. “Ian Mills is an industry expert and very familiar with the ALBIS corporate group. We are very pleased to have such an experienced manager to take on the CSO position,” commented Philip Krahn, CEO at ALBIS Plastic.

IAN MILLS NAMED NEW CSO OF ALBIS GROUP The Managing Director of ALBIS (UK) Ltd. has been named as the new Chief Sales Officer (CSO) for the overall ALBIS Plastic Group, based in Hamburg, Germany. Ian Mills, who has worked for ALBIS’ UK subsidiary in Knutsford since 2007, will commence the new role from 1 October 2016. Initially, he will also continue with his management role at ALBIS (UK) Ltd. “This is a very exciting opportunity for me coming at a time when ALBIS is continuing its international expansion and I am looking forward to contributing to its further development and working with the strong team around me,” Mills told BP&R.

WWW.ALBIS.COM

Ian Mills

WWW.BRITISHPLASTICS.CO.UK

Teachers undertaking the various activities on the course

PLASTICS SET TO ENTER THE EDUCATION SYSTEM AS ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL STUDY TOUR CONCLUDES Earlier this summer, teachers from schools across the UK took time out from their holidays to embark on a four-day residential course designed to change their perceptions of polymers. The Polymer Study Tours (PST), organised under the auspices of the Worshipful Company of Horners in a joint effort with the BPF and IOM3, have been successfully running for over 30 years and have seen more than 3000 secondary level Design and Technology and Science teachers attend in that time. Held at Edinburgh Napier University, London Metropolitan University and the University of Manchester, the teachers undergo a hands-on experience that includes lectures, laboratory sessions and visits to polymer processors. The Tours are designed to improve the teachers’ knowledge and understanding of the aspects of the curriculum relating to polymers, in order to encourage more confident teaching and raise achievement. The courses provide valuable

teaching resources and promote the knowledge of polymers and their importance to the quality of everyday life, therefore enhancing the image of polymers and the polymer industry in the eyes of the teachers’ students. Following the conclusion of this year’s tours, one teacher said: “This was one the best continued professional development (CPD) experiences I have had in thirty plus years of teaching.” Another commented: “I have no doubt that polymers will be included in a

Prisma Colour Ltd has acquired two new businesses

PRISMA COLOUR LTD TARGETS GROWTH WITH TWO NEW ACQUISITIONS Prisma Colour Ltd, a manufacturer and global supplier of colour and additive concentrates to the rubber, plastics and surface coatings industries, has announced the acquisition of two new businesses, Emsar Polymers and Adam Polymer Ltd. Prisma Colour says the strategic acquisition brings together three innovative companies with complementary capabilities, product portfolios and operations. Cheshire-based Emsar Polymers, a supplier of additive masterbatches, will retain its brand and trading name, whilst Bredbury-based Adam Polymer Ltd, a rubber chemical manufacturer and supplier, will take on a new identity as Prisma Additives Ltd, retaining all existing staff. “As a company with active sales to over 40 countries we are always looking to add to our already diverse product offering,” commented 10

larger part of my teaching next year, purely because the resources and experiences provided on the tour were inspiring.” The PST’s joint organisers are calling for the plastics industry to help them to continue to run the tours, which are free to attend for teachers, by becoming a sponsor, or by encouraging local STEM teachers to attend. For more information please contact Dr Diane Aston, Diane.aston@iom3.org

Mark Wood, Sales Director at Prisma Colour Ltd. “The two recent acquisitions allow us to offer new products through our existing distribution networks, resulting in a stronger Prisma Colour Ltd which is well positioned to excel in an evolving global marketplace.” WWW.BRITISHPLASTICS.CO.UK

Following the completion of the acquisitions, Prisma has recently installed a 2000 tpa mixing and compounding line at its Stalybridge site, which will be dedicated to the manufacture of additive masterbatch. WWW.PRISMACOLOUR.COM

INNOVIA OPENS MANUFACTURING FACILITY FOR POLYMER BANKNOTES

Staff at Innovia’s new plant in Wigton

Innovia has opened a new, startof-the-art, high security plant at its Wigton site in Cumbria for the manufacture of the substrate used for polymer banknotes. Following the launch of the Bank of England’s new polymer £5 note, on September 13, the substrate for the new polymer £10 banknote is being produced at the new facility, ready for circulation in the summer of 2017. Both notes are manufactured using Innovia’s unique ‘Guardian’ polymer substrate and high-security ‘Clarity C’ film, which means that the new banknotes are uniquely identifiable due to an in-built ‘fingerprint’ in the polymer film. “This is a proud moment for everyone at Innovia,” said Mark Robertshaw, CEO of Innovia Group. “We are delighted and honoured to be a key part of the Bank of England’s introduction of polymer banknotes and to inaugurate a truly state-of-the-art plant that will also

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drive future export business for the UK,” The opening of the new plant brings the total amount invested in the past two years by Innovia for its polymer banknote business in the Wigton site to well over £40 million and has led to the creation of an additional 80 skilled jobs. Rory Stewart, MP for Penrith and The Border and Minister of State for International Development, who attended the opening said: “It is a huge honour to be opening Innovia’s state-of-the-art facility which is fundamental to the production of the UK’s new polymer notes.” Innovia has manufactured approximately 50 billion banknotes for central banks around the world, which represents more than 99 percent of all the polymer banknotes ever circulated. This new facility in Wigton will also be central to Innovia’s plans to manufacture Guardian polymer banknote substrate for global export. WWW.INNOVIAFILMS.COM

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Business Improvement Techniques (BIT) training has enabled Ramsay Rubber in the West Midlands to improve production efficiency.

FIRST SHIPMENT OF US SHALE GAS ARRIVES AT GRANGEMOUTH

RUBBER MANUFACTURER SAVES PRODUCTION COSTS THANKS TO UPSKILLING WORKFORCE A UK rubber manufacturer has saved thousands of pounds in production costs after enhancing the skills of its workforce. Ramsay Rubber, based at Bilston, near Wolverhampton, has increased productivity and reduced waste through training employees in Business Improvement Techniques (BIT). The company says one change alone – where two jobs were moved into a continuous process on a single machine – has resulted in saving 108 hours of production time, valued at more than £3,000. “The BIT training has made the already experienced team more open to new ways of thinking about how to improve their efficiency and contribution,” explained Paul Killeen, Ramsay Rubber’s Managing Director. The 12-month bespoke training programme, delivered

by independent apprenticeship provider, Skills Training UK, enabled employees to develop their knowledge in areas including health and safety, effective team work, visual management systems and continuous improvement techniques. Designed to create a more structured and formal working environment involving all employees - from the CEO to assembly line workers - the approach aims to eliminate waste and encourage ‘lean’ manufacturing, resulting in cost savings and quality and production improvements. “Since starting the training, our employees have been much more interactive – they aren’t afraid to ask questions and instead of them being individuals at their stations it’s much more of a team feel now and things run a lot smoother. I feel this process has been invaluable to the company and for the employees who took part,” explained Ian Maydew, Ramsay Rubber’s Operations Manager.

WWW.INEOS.COM The first shale gas shipment arriving in the UK. (Image via Fleetmon.com)

WWW.SKILLSTRAININGUK.COM

CORAL MERGES SUBSIDIARIES TO CREATE NEW PLASTICS MANUFACTURING BUSINESS

Coral Products has merged two of its subsidiaries to form Tatra Rotalac

The first shipment of US shale gas has arrived at Ineos’ refinery at Grangemouth, despite a fresh debate about the future of fracking in the UK. A tanker carrying 27,500m3 of ethane extracted from reserves beneath Western Pennsylvania in the US arrived on Tuesday 27th September, and is the first fruit of a £1.6bn investment by Ineos. The ethane, which has travelled 3,500 miles via a ‘virtual pipeline’ of eight tankers to reach Grangemouth, will be transferred to crackers where it will then be converted into ethylene, used in the production of a range of plastic products. “This is a hugely important day for Ineos and the UK,” said Jim Ratcliffe, Ineos’ Founder and Chairman. “Shale gas can help stop the decline of British manufacturing.” However, the arrival of the gas came days after the Labour party followed its Scottish counterparts in announcing it would ban fracking, the process used to extract shale gas, if it wins the next general election. There is currently a moratorium in place by the Scottish Government banning fracking, despite the UK Government’s pro-fracking stance.

Merseyside-based Coral Products plc, which designs, manufactures and supplies injection moulded plastic products, has merged the business and operations of two of its whollyowned subsidiaries, Tatra Plastics Limited and Rotalac Plastics Limited. The newly merged entity will be known as Tatra Rotalac Ltd and Coral says it will combine the strong respective market positions of both individual companies in the fields of injection moulding and plastic extrusion, as well as bolster the companies’ customer service offerings. WWW.BRITISHPLASTICS.CO.UK

Since being acquired by Coral in 2014 and 2016 respectively, Tatra and Rotalac have been operated as standalone businesses until they were fully established in the Coral Group. Tatra has relocated its operation from Halifax to Rotalac’s Wythenshawe premises. Rotalac has a 40,000 sq. ft. office and production facility with 25 production lines providing a 24-hour operation. Synergies, says Coral, are expected to arise from the merger in the form of saved premises and overhead costs as well as providing for the aforementioned merger benefits. WWW.TATRA-ROTALAC.COM 13

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The Skills Series

Skills and Training – what does the future hold?

cute skills shortages are holding back businesses and there is a growing concern about not only IN THE FOURTH how the skills INSTALMENT OF OUR NEW gap will be filled, SERIES FOCUSING ON but also where the pipeline is SKILLS AND TRAINING, for the workers RICHARD BROWN OF RJG of the future. TECHNOLOGIES DISCUSSES Unless the IMPORTANT AREAS THAT industry takes NEED CONSIDERATION a proactive AND ACTION IN ORDER approach to training the TO SECURE THE SKILLS shortage NEEDED FOR THE of skilled SUCCESSFUL FUTURE OF workers, then THE INDUSTRY. it will continue to restrict the future growth of the plastics sector. However, are the career paths available in the plastics industry widely known and are we communicating succinctly the subjects relevant to future careers to the workers of the future? To address this, we need to look at what actions are needed to ensure we have a steady stream of skilled workers for the future and where to start.

Education, Education, Education

To ensure the pipeline is being filled we need to be changing the perception of the industry by supporting schools, offering careers advice and investing in workplace training – we need to promote our industry more in these areas. The BPF has launched the ‘Polymer Zone’, a vehicle to support teachers

to help children and young people to learn about why plastics are important as part of the curriculum. It has established a network of polymer sector ‘Ambassadors’, who will visit schools and give students an insight into jobs and the wider polymer industry. In addition, as is highlighted in the earlier pages of this issue of BP&R, the Worshipful Company of Horners promote Polymer Study Tours to educate teachers on the science, technology and applications of polymers to provide information and create interest, which it is hoped will promote recruitment into the industry via the education system. However, getting the skills and education system right across the country will be a big challenge for the Education Minister to ensure that the Apprenticeship levy supports and delivers what our industry requires.

Training Needs Assessment

In the here and now though, we need to maximise the efficiency of any current programmes and determine what additional training is needed. The starting point for this is to identify the gaps of knowledge in our workforce through a Training Needs Assessment. This is a series of questions aimed at determining the individual knowledge of the employee and analysing the answers to ensure training is aimed at the right areas. A training matrix can then be developed so that the employee can see the way that training can be of benefit to their progression so they understand

the areas where their knowledge needs to improve, with their progress monitored as their skills develop.

A marathon, not a sprint

We do need to acknowledge that training is a process, not a one off event. Training has to be a structured process and planned to ensure that the best return on investment is achieved. Training needs to be championed from the top of an organisation and the importance communicated to employees. We also have to recognise that learning does not happen instantly and if we try to compress training into a tight timeframe, because business demands dictate, we will frustrate the learner and bring the training into question. Therefore, we should view training as a marathon, not a sprint. The performance of the individual, the benefits to the business and the impact the training has had, must be measured with respect to key performance indicators e.g. faster cycle times, reduced rejects, less downtime etc. These results will reinforce the impact that well trained staff have on a business and send a formidable message that training works.

About the Author Richard Brown is Managing Director of RJG Technologies, a provider of comprehensive tools and training for the plastics industry. WWW.RJGINC.COM

About the RAPRA Training Programme Drawing on its experience of providing technical support through a unique network of Preferred Service Providers, RAPRA have launched its comprehensive training programme representing the best of rubber, plastics, composites and related industrial training available in the UK, of which RJG is one of those providers.

RAPRA will continue to identify where the gaps are and will be on the lookout for high quality, relevant training courses to add to the training programme. The RAPRA Training Programme can be viewed at WWW.RAPRA.ORG/CAPABILITIES/TRAINING

WWW.BRITISHPLASTICS.CO.UK

COMPOSITES | NEWS The Mini 6.5 successfully launched on the ocean earlier this year

BOAT CONSTRUCTED FROM RECYCLABLE THERMOPLASTIC COMPOSITES CARRIES OUT SUCCESSFUL SEA TRIALS A prototype boat that features a mono-hull constructed entirely from recyclable thermoplastic composites has been successfully launched on the ocean. The ‘Mini 6.5’ is the latest project resulting from an ongoing partnership between from Francebased chemicals company, Arkema, and Lalou Multi, an SME specialising in ocean racing, which aims to develop the latest materials innovations for sailing boats. The hull and the bridge of the 6.5 m boat are made entirely from recyclable thermoplastic composite, thanks to the use of Arkema’s ‘Elium’ resin, infused with carbon fibre. This liquid acrylic resin is processed in the same way as the resins traditionally used in boat building, and features all their mechanical properties, but is, unlike those resins, recyclable. “This is an answer to the major issue of the treatment of end-of-life composites,” explained Daniel Le Bouvier, Head of the Nanopolymers Department at Arkema. “Arkema is the first company to be marketing a resin of this type, and the Arkema 3 Mini 6.50 is the first boat built with this type of resin to be sailing the oceans.” Elium, available worldwide, is the first liquid thermoplastic resin to

Solvay has doubled its carbon fibre manufacturing capacity for aerospace applications

SOLVAY DOUBLES CARBON FIBRE MANUFACTURING CAPACITY FOR AEROSPACE APPLICATIONS Solvay has inaugurated a new carbon fibre production line at its facility in the United States that will enable it to double its production capacity of a key raw material

be used to manufacture composite parts. It is processed using straightforward methods identical to those used for thermoset resins, and features mechanical properties that are similar to epoxy resins. Its thermoplastic nature makes the Elium resin post formable and recyclable. In addition to the use of composites produced with Elium, the boat also features other new materials innovations from Arkema, including adhesives from its Bostik business unit, used for the structural assembly of the boat. In particular,

the bulkheads and the bridge are glued to the hull with methacrylate and MS Polymers adhesives, and the foamed structures are assembled using polyurethane adhesive. The cockpit windows and the hood are made from ‘Altuglas ShieldUp’, an acrylic material that is transparent like glass, but lighter and able to withstand extreme conditions. Following its successful launch in the summer, the Mini 6.5 is now undergoing further testing and sea trials before being entered in the Mini-Transat race in 2017. WWW.ARKEMA.COM

to make carbon fibre-reinforced composite materials. The new production line, based in the company’s Piedmont facility in South Carolina, comes as a result of increasing demand for lightweighting composite materials in the aerospace industry. It has won qualification by The Boeing Company to manufacture secondary structures, such as wing movable flaps and engine nacelles, as well as interior applications. The expansion covers the facilities and equipment to convert acrylonitrile monomers into standard modulus carbon fibres. This type of fibre is used to manufacture composite materials that have been pre-impregnated for use in applications on commercial and military planes. “Through this strategic capacity expansion we offer our customers

greater supply capabilities and contribute to their increased needs for reinforced composite materials to reduce weight and fuel consumption and to reduce assembly costs by integrated part design. For Solvay, this production expansion results in greater flexibility to strengthen our growth in innovative composite materials and our leading position in the industry,” said Jean-Pierre Clamadieu, CEO of Solvay. Carbon fibre composite materials’ durability, strength and fatigue life allow them to increasingly and securely replace metals on aircraft, reducing their weight, noise and CO2 emissions. In addition, composites enable the moulding of multiple sub-components into one assembly part, lowering the number of parts required as well as the assembly costs. WWW.SOLVAY.COM

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The new group pools all the expertise of Lanxess and Bond-Laminates

LANXESS CREATES AUTOMOTIVE PROJECT GROUP FOLLOWING INCREASED DEMAND FOR ITS THERMOPLASTIC COMPOSITES Lanxess says an increase in the demand for its range of thermoplastic composites and a growth in their use in applications in the automotive industry has led it to create a dedicated project group. The group is designed to be targeted to the needs of the global automotive industry and supports partners through all stages of component development right through to production launch using its ‘Tepex’ brand of continuous-fibre-reinforced thermoplastic semi-finished composites. It combines the expertise of both Lanxess and its subsidiary, BondLaminates, in materials, processes, and the selection of suitable components for automotive lightweight construction with Tepex. “Our main job is to work with partners right from the concept phase and to lay the groundwork for ensuring that component development is successful in terms of material, weight, processing and costs,” explained Martin Klocke, Head of the new group. The Tepex composite has become established in a variety of applications in automotive lightweight construction over the last few years, says Lanxess. Used initially to locally reinforce plastic areas in front-ends, today it is used to manufacture seat shells, back rests, brake pedals, battery carriers, infotainment brackets and underbody panels. Recently, the world’s first hybrid-moulded rear bumper beam went into production for the Clarity Fuel Cell, the new fuel-cell car from Honda. Lanxess says the success of the Tepex materials is also a result of the continuous expansion of the product range, including the most recent addition, multiaxial Tepex. “This helps to enhance the mechanical performance of components, because the orientation of the reinforcing fibre layers can be adapted to the flow of forces in a component and thus to stress scenarios,” explained Klocke. Lanxess says the new structural material is production-ready and will soon be introduced to the market in its first applications. “The application range of Tepex is also expanding because more and more methods for processing it are being developed, such as hybrid moulding, compression moulding and form pressing in combination with other materials like DLFT and LWRT,” Klocke added. Due to the interest in Tepex, Lanxess is publishing a brochure on Tepex processing which it is launching this month at K 2016. It provides information on the advantages of the thermoplastic composite, its potential in lightweight construction and the many methods for processing. WWW.LANXESS.COM

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The new press and cell at CCP Gransden

CCP GRANSDEN INVESTS IN ENGEL TECH AS IT DEVELOPS COMPOSITES MANUFACTURING A Northern Ireland-based specialist composites and thermoplastics manufacturer has invested in machinery and equipment from Engel as it looks to develop and advance. CCP Gransden, which operates in the aerospace, automotive and defence sectors amongst others, has invested in an Engel v-duo vertical machine for the production of precise fibre composite applications as the business evolves from industrial composites manufacturing towards more advanced composite engineering. “The Engel press stands out as being the highest quality product on offer in what is a competitive and growing market. In particular, Engel, because of their background, make machines, which are more aligned to injection moulding machine quality than traditional press quality, making them a much higher standard than others available in the market,” commented Robert McConnell, Engineering Director at CCP Gransden. The company identified key technologies it wanted to integrate into its new ‘Advanced Composites Division’, which include faster-curing thermoplastic composites. Following a visit to Engel’s Lightweight Technologies Centre in Austria, the Engel v-duo was recognised for its ability to manufacture lightweight, high strength parts. The Engel v-Duo is a vertical, large-scale machine. Highly sensitive and powerful, it is said to deliver extremely precise results, especially

Andrew Harvey, new Business Development Manager for Norco Composites

with fibre composite applications and high cavity pressure processes. It utilises gravity and therefore facilitates, for example, inserting reinforcing elements such as organic sheets or tapes. “We were very keen to provide a solution for what is clearly a very exciting and challenging project. CCP Gransden visited our Lightweight Technologies Centre in Austria and together we concluded that their operation would benefit from the large vertical v-duo 1100, combined with a smaller injection unit,” explained Graeme Herlihy, Managing Director at Engel UK. “These machines have formed the foundation of the new cell, together with the integration of a high temperature oven, high pressure RTM unit and the addition of a 6-axis robot.” McConnell added: “Such high levels of control and automation

are not the norm for compression moulding presses. Engel’s ability to assist in the development, integration and operation of a complete manufacturing cell was also a key consideration. In fact, the ability to futureproof aspects of the machinery, i.e. to revisit and add equipment in the future, was really important to us.” Going forward, CCP Gransden plans to carry out further development of the cell. “Even at this early stage in our progression, it is clear that this will be particularly applicable to automotive, aerospace and defence-related manufacturing. Its high levels of control, data recording and quality engineering distinguish this cell from other capabilities currently available,” McConnell concluded. WWW.ENGEL.AT WWW.CCP-GRANSDEN.COM

NORCO RECRUITS BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER TO DEVELOP ADVANCED COMPOSITES UNIT

its Advanced Composites business, which manufactures lightweight structures using state-of-the-art carbon fibre material for key clients in the aerospace, defence and automotive sectors. “This appointment comes at an exciting time for Norco as we expand both our Composites and our GRP divisions,” explained Mark Northey, Norco’s Managing Director. “Andrew’s experience and knowledge of the industry will be invaluable and we have already seen an upturn in business enquiries in the short time Andrew has been with us.” WWW.NORCO.CO.UK

Norco Holdings, a manufacturer of lightweight composite structures and GRP mouldings based in Poole, Dorset, has recruited a new Business Development Manager to develop its Advanced Composites business unit. Andrew Harvey joins the company following a 32-year career in the composites industry, with firms such as Cytec Advanced Materials and Gurit. He will help Norco capitalise on the growth it has recently seen in

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Nifco unveils details of cutting-edge composite oil pan as part of JLR project

orth East-based Nifco – part of global brand Nifco Inc – has shared details of an innovative new oil pan that is built to be stronger and lighter than any of its steel counterparts. PLASTIC CAR PARTS The thermoplastic composite MANUFACTURER, NIFCO UK, part weighs in at 1kg less than a HAS RELEASED DETAILS steel equivalent, and has been OF A CUTTING-EDGE engineered with continuous glass fibres that are infinitely NEW THERMOPLASTIC longer than those used in normal COMPOSITE PRODUCT, reinforced plastics, to deliver DESIGNED AS PART OF optimum performance while THE JAGUAR LAND ROVER remaining lightweight.

‘ALIVE6’ PROJECT, WHICH UTILISES MATERIALS FROM DUPONT’S VIZILON PORTFOLIO. HERE, BRITISH PLASTICS AND RUBBER LOOKS AT THE DETAILS.

The ALIVE6 project

The part is one of the outcomes of the Jaguar Land Rover ‘ALIVE6’ project, which was launched last year, to create a prototype engine incorporating many new and cutting-edge technologies. It involves nine work packages being delivered, each designed to unlock the potential of UK supply chain businesses, enabling them to access funding to support the research and development of new products that help with light-weighting and improved fuel economy. “Metal was once considered to be the only material resilient and heat resistant enough to withstand the loads within a car engine, but with new technology comes the opportunity to create ever-more effective and efficient products,” explained Mike Matthews, Managing Director of Nifco UK. “Nifco has invested heavily in R&D facilities and equipment, at a cost of many thousands of pounds, and we believe that our role as a Tier One supplier is to proactively support OEMs to make the most efficient cars possible. Getting involved in this project has given us a means of accessing support to create a product that has the potential to be in every car made in this country in the future. It’s been a great opportunity for us.” The JLR ALIVE6 project, which has received Government funding from the Advanced Propulsion Centre, the initiative set up to position the UK as a global centre of excellence for low carbon powertrain development and production, is worth more than £20million. JLR and the Government hope that the technologies demonstrated as part of the project will lead to lighter and more fuel-efficient powertrains in the near future.

integration. DuPont says that with strength and stiffness properties comparable—and in many cases superior—to most metals, Vizilon TPC offers “a worthy replacement” to metal parts in automotive body and structural components. “We have worked very closely with DuPont to adjust the design and optimise the process to answer the cycle time requirements of the mass series production. This part has been developed using its Vizilon product line, including a thermoplastic composite and specific overmoulding resin. We are proud that this collaboration has produced a part that we know will add real value for our customers,” explained Matthews. Anthony Loth, Programme Leader at DuPont, added: “This is a major success for a new material and a new technology that has been possible through our selected partnership with Nifco becoming an innovative leader in the oil pan market. We believe Vizilon lightweighting solution will thrive in the future composite oil pan business.”

A result of teamwork

Craig Norrey, DuPont Global Technical Programmes Manager for Vizilon application developments, added that a large part of the programme’s success was down to the close teamwork demonstrated by Nifco and DuPont. “Involving product designers with material and processing specialists from the outset is key to successfully replacing metal with new materials,” he said. Concluding, Nifco’s Mike Matthews added: “We have committed two members of staff to this project, on a full time basis, and many other members of the team have contributed to its development, so it’s fantastic to see this project making progress.” WWW.NIFCOEU.COM WWW.VIZILON.DUPONT.COM

s ike Matthew gth Nifco’s M en tr s e es th n, demonstrat pa il o mposite of the co e full th g in ar be e shown her the vehicle weight of

“A major success for a new material”

Nifco has worked in partnership with plastics materials manufacturer, DuPont, to create the new part, and it hopes to see the part produced for mass use over the next few years. It is based on DuPont’s Vizilon TPC thermoplastic composite, which is a growing family of complementary technologies that include continuous-glass fibrewoven reinforced consolidated sheets. The sheets can be stamped or thermoformed into various shapes, with the shaped part suitable for overmoulding with additional resin for added stiffness and to allow for part

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AUTOMATION & ROBOTICS | NEWS Japanese headquarters, in order to improve the competitiveness of its products and services. Some of these products and services will be demonstrated at the K Show this month, where Fanuc is showing some of its latest innovations for the first time in Europe. These include an automated, modular three-component (3K) solution using the company’s new SI-300HA horizontal injection unit, SI-20A vertical injection unit and a Roboshot α-S130iA. “With just a few adjustments, a standard machine can be turned into a 2K or 3K machine,” explained Product Manager, Wolfgang Haak, highlighting the modular approach

Shinichi Tanzawa, new CEO of Fanuc Europe

Fanuc’s latest innovations will be at K 2016 this month

FANUC EUROPE APPOINTS NEW PRESIDENT AND CEO Fanuc Europe Corporation, supplier of robotic and factory automation technologies, has appointed Shinichi Tanzawa as the company’s President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Tanzawa, who took over the role from 1 September, was formerly CFO of Fanuc Robotics Europe from 1992 to 1995 and CFO of Fanuc Corporation from 2000 to 2008. He succeeds outgoing CEO, Olaf Gehrels, who had been in the position since 2012 and whom Fanuc says led the company to “rapid profitability growth

in the highly competitive European market” during his tenure. Fanuc says Tanzawa’s extensive experience at both its headquarters in Japan and in Europe will “greatly strengthen” Fanuc Europe’s organisation. Part of his responsibility will be to intensify the company’s direct support of its European customers from its

from Fanuc as a major benefit to end users. “Attaching the additional injection units is as easy as integrating a Fanuc robot. This will be a major benefit for end users who want to have flexibility, high functionality together with Fanuc reliability.” WWW.FANUC.EU

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kes over the The robot ta illing tasks on m strenuous s d plastic pipe the oversize

Grippers in the new 100 series

FIPA LAUNCHES NEW GRIPPERS WITH HNBR ELASTOMERS FOR GENTLE DEMOULDING

CASE STUDY: SOUTH WALES FIRM INSTALLS KUKA ROBOT SYSTEM FOR MILLING OVERSIZED PLASTIC PIPES Manufacturer of plastic pipes, Asset International, has installed a new Kuka robot system designed to relieve workers of strenuous milling tasks. The system was developed by German integrator, Eugen Riexinger GmbH (Riexinger), and is comprised of a Kuka 120 R2700 extra HA robot, a KL 1500-3 T linear unit, and two Kuka MG 360 servomotors for the external rotational axis and the Kuka CNC controller. The Kuka 120 R2700 extra HA robot, part of Kuka’s KR Quantec series for payloads of up to 120 kilograms, is designed for highprecision requirements such as milling and laser applications. At Asset International, it machines the large plastic pipe components with a specially designed high-speed milling spindle. Prior to machining, workers clamp the components to a multifunctional clamping table or a large, self-centering table controlled by the rotational axis. As a result of the barrier-free system, the robot, mounted on the KL 1500-3 T linear unit, can move directly to the plastic pipe to be machined and then flexibly

carry out the job on the component as required. “Thanks to the Kuka 120 R2700 extra HA robot, our employees are relieved of very strenuous manual work involving strong vibrations and the solution has enabled us to increase productivity by more than 40 percent,” explained Graham Bennett, Operations Manager at Assest International. “In addition, shorter production times have allowed us to boost capacity by more than 50 percent. At the same time, there has been a significant improvement in quality and precision,” he added. According to Riexinger, the system has a modular design tailored to Asset’s current requirements, however, it can be adaped at any time. “We are very proud to have designed the first system worldwide that can process such large plastic parts with this precision and speed – all the while increasing occupational safety,” explained Manuel Kratz, head of the project at Riexinger. Kratz added that for this reason, he believes that robot-based automation in the plastics sector “will be seeing further growth.” WWW.KUKA-ROBOTICS.COM

FIPA has introduced a new series of grippers with HNBR elastomers that are designed for the gentle removal of sensitive injection moulded parts. Grippers in the new ‘100’ series are equipped with temperatureresistant HNBR pads or fully coated gripper jaws to avoid scratching or damaging applications such as chromed or painted plastic parts, or those with restricted space. The HNBR elastomer has a high operating temperature range from -30 °C up to 160 °C and is also elastic, low marking, wear-resistant, with low abrasion and free of paint wetting impairment substances (PWIS) and silicone. FIPA says worn pads can be replaced “within minutes”, eliminating the time-consuming installation and removal of the complete gripper, as well as the subsequent testing and possible reprogramming work on the gripper system. The housing and jaws of both grippers are made of an anodised, high-strength aluminium alloy. FIPA says occasional contact of workpieces with the gripper jaws will not scratch the sensitive surfaces. A wide jaw opening facilitates secure gripping of large sprues and due to its gap-free closing, can even reliably grip flat sprues. WWW.FIPA.COM

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WEMO INTRODUCES ‘PERFECT ALL-ROUNDER’ X-LINE-ROBOTS Wemo has launched new X-Line linear robots that can carry out fast removal of most different plastics parts thanks to their dynamic motion sequences. The robots have three servo-driven axes that are designed for fast movements with repeat accuracy, resulting in an increase in productivity by nearly 20 percent. The new robots feature powerful components designed for stability and precision, including the different axes made of laser-welded square profiles of heavy-duty steel. These, say Wemo, are extremely rigid and have a lower weight compared to usual aluminium profiles, making the motion sequences faster and more dynamic as less mass needs to be moved. The steel square tubes allow a slimmer design of the axes, saving opening strokes, reducing cycle times and increasing working load. The free-released axes function eliminates forces on the vertical arm ensuring a longer life of bearings and linear guides and reduces the need for

maintenance. A planetary gear guarantees fast acceleration of the belt drive of the X-axis and the Z-axis is driven by a rack. The complete in-house gripper system has been revised and improved. All drives, gears and the fast changing system have been optimised. For all its handling units, Wemo said it paid particular attention to cost and energy savings. With the integrated, electrically-powered vacuum unit, for example, the company claims compressed air consumption can be reduced by nearly 80 percent compared with conventional systems. The Ethernet Powerlink-BusSystem ensures fast reactions and precise synchronisation with response time below 0.5 milliseconds. Wemo X-Line-robots are available in six different sizes for injection moulding machines from 750 up to 5,000 kN clamping force and the company says they are “the perfect choice” for flexible, highend automation solutions. They are also well suited for further operations such as assembly, quality control or palletising of parts in boxes. WWW.WEMOGROUP.COM

Wemo X-Line 400 for injection moulding machines with clamping forces from 800 to 1,500 kN

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Doing the robot – The automation range with the right moves

ittmann Battenfeld (WIBA) estimates that it maintains some two thirds of the market share for moulding automation in the UK. Repeat business is a key THE WITTMANN GROUP IS SET driver for sales and TO UNVEIL A RAFT OF ROBOTICS the customer base is INNOVATION COME OCTOBER diverse, ranging from 19TH IN DÜSSELDORF. IN THE medical moulders FOLLOWING ARTICLE, BARRY placing small orders HILL, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF periodically to large moulding shops THE WITTMANN GROUP’S UK regularly placing orders SUBSIDIARY, TELLS BP&R IT for robots to help IS THE CONSTANT LISTENING produce commodity TO CUSTOMERS THAT HAS components. “Our ENABLED IT TO MAINTAIN ITS brands continue to LEADERSHIP OF THE UK AND IRISH thrive because of the constant product MARKETPLACE IN MOULDING innovation – currently in AUTOMATION. the eighth generation – and because all of our small improvements are based on field experience and what the customer actually wants,” Hill told BP&R. The Wittmann Group’s 40th anniversary celebrations in Vienna in June this year, for example, unveiled an intelligent EcoVacuum function on the new, larger-sized Wittmann robots. “Customers are increasingly looking for low operational cost over the equipment lifetime,” Hill continued. “The new EcoVacuum function allows for a shutdown function of the vacuum producer, thus minimising the robot’s demand for compressed air. Very significant weekly saving of operation costs can WIBA UK’s therefore be achieved and these new Wittmann robots come equipped with the R8.3 robot control system as Barry Hill standard.”

New additions to the series

Wittmann has extended its robot range at both ends of the payload spectrum: For example, the compact WL80 robot is now available - a totally new product with a 2 kg payload. Another first is the redesigned large series W853 robot, which is now available in the ‘pro’ configuration. The Group’s W863 pro robot model with a payload of 75 kg is also a new addition that fills the gap between the W853 pro and the W873 with 50 kg with 100 kg payload, respectively. The W853 pro and W863 pro are based on the same mechanical concept. Both, the Z-axis and the X-axis of these two robots are driven by a gear rack. Carriage guidance is assured by an all-purpose high-precision recirculating linear ball bearing system. The vertical drive is transmitted via a combination of gear rack and belt, whereby strokes ranging from 2,000 to 3,000 mm are available. “The two new models are different in regard to the length of their axes and their payloads. The W853 pro is designed for a payload capacity of 40 kg – whereas the W863 pro is rated for 75 kg, which makes it particularly well suited for use in the large machine segment,” Hill explained.

Flexibility driving innovation

During the last few years, much flexibility was offered within the machine range of up to 300 tonnes clamping force – a fact that had led to the development of the company’s W822 robot. Now Wittmann has transferred this flexibility to machines with up to 1,600 tonnes of clamping force. The new robots shown at the 40th anniversary are the result. These new robots also close the gap between the W843 pro with a payload of 35 kg and the W873 with a payload of 125 kg – the company’s largest robot. “Finally, of course, the networking of injection molding machines with robots and peripheral equipment –referred to as Wittmann 4.0 – is also well underway. The benefits of this are something we will showcase at K 2016 this month,” Hill concluded. WWW.WITTMANN-GROUP.COM

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The n Wittman ro p 3 6 8 W robot

MATERIALS | NEWS Aquapak’s new manufacturing facility is under development

NEW POLYMERS HAVE “POTENTIAL TO TRANSFORM” MAINSTREAM PACKAGING APPLICATIONS UK-based plastics manufacturer, Aquapak Polymers Limited, has unveiled a major new green plastics technology that it says has the “potential to transform” mainstream packaging applications. Over the last five years the Birmingham-based company has been developing a library of fully fully recyclable, mono-material polymers said to have “outstanding functionality and performance” and that are suitable for a wide range of film-based packaging applications including food, paints and coatings and electronics. Aquapak says the product range is based on a suite of patented technologies and expertise and has been rigorously tested. The film is both tear and puncture resistant and at said to be least twice as strong as high-density polyethylene film of equivalent gauge. In addition, it has multiple use capabilities, excellent barrier properties, is anti-static and impervious to most solvents, oils and gas. Furthermore, the material is fully recyclable within existing waste streams, biodegradable,

compostable, and water-soluble. The company says it is also “completely harmless” in marine environments. Aquapak has specifically designed the pellet and process so it can work with most standard polyethylene equipment in order to minimise additional capital expenditure for blown film producers. “We strongly believe Aquapak’s range of super polymers can replace many of the current industry standard materials at comparable cost with, often enhanced, functional performance in a number of sectors,” explained Mike Everard, the company’s Managing Director. “Food packaging, for example, is one of the first commercial applications being

POLYSTAR PLASTICS MAKES £5MILLION INVESTMENT IN UK POLYTHENE CAPACITY

Southampton-based polythene manufacturer, Polystar Plastics, is set to produce an additional 2,000 tonnes of polythene per month in the UK

Southampton-based polythene manufacturer, Polystar Plastics, is set to produce an additional 2,000 tonnes of polythene per month in the UK – giving them an overall capacity of 40,000 tonnes per year and offering buyers “an alternative to the currently uncertain European market.” This increase in production volume is the end result of a £5m investment that will see the company become one of the largest independent polythene producers in the UK. “Our absolute belief in what we are doing and the resulting growth of the company is something for the UK manufacturing industry to be WWW.BRITISHPLASTICS.CO.UK

tested. The material is FDA approved and capable of significantly extending the shelf life of certain foods due to its superior barrier properties.” Paint packaging is another commercial sector that the company is focusing on and Aquapak is working with a leading packaging company to develop a range of prototypes. The company is building a 52,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility in Birmingham, which is set to employ up to 70 people. The plant is expected to start manufacturing plastic pellets in early 2007 and has the capacity to scale up production as demand for products increases. WWW.AQUAPAKPOLYMERS.COM

proud of – especially considering the uncertainty that’s been caused by the Brexit vote,” explained Suchin Talwar, Commercial Director at Polystar Plastics. The firm says 30-40 new jobs, ranging from Sales Executives to Technical Engineers, will be created in order to fully staff the new buildings that have created an additional 2,000m2 of factory and office space. The company hopes the new phase in its expansion will allow it to move into sectors such as food, beverage and pharmaceutical markets. The two new factories/extrusion halls will eventually house a number of brand new CO-EX machines (ranging from 3-7 layers), each with a fully automated profile control system and full BRC and ISO 9001 certification. WWW.POLYSTAR.CO.UK

@POLYMERMAN ON PRICES What are the drivers of polymer prices? IN THIS EDITION OF OUR LATEST FEATURE LOOKING AT THE KEY ISSUES THAT INFLUENCE POLYMER PRICES, MIKE BOSWELL LOOKS AT THE EXTENT TO WHICH A RANGE OF EXTERNAL FACTORS HAVE AN EFFECT.

he infographic to the right provides a useful summary of the multitude of factors that influence polymer prices and the main categories into which these factors fall. The extent to which any factor influences the market price of a polymer will be a function of how sensitive that polymer is to a given factor at that point in time. In general terms, higher value polymers are more influenced by ‘external factors’ and volume polymers more influenced by ‘feedstock’, ‘polymer producer’ and ‘market factors’. In the case of some polymers, such as PVC and PET, other markets can also be highly influential, such as for PVC the price of Caustic Soda and for PET the demand for polyester (PET) fibre, which in turn may be influenced by the amount of cotton available for textile production. In order to get some insight into the complexity of price drivers it is worth looking at the movement in PP prices since December 2013 up until August 2016, which includes the period of tight supply commencing in February/March 2015. The graph to the right looks at both input and selling prices and the so called ‘spreads’ terminology used to look at what margin PP producers are attaining over feedstock. Depending on the type of producer, the feedstock type will vary as, typically, producers are categorised as ‘integrated’ by using Naphtha or Crude Oil as feedstock, or ‘non-integrated’ by buying C3 (propylene) on a spot or contract basis as a feedstock. A further key principle of polymer economics is that of the highest cost marginal operator: the producers with the highest costs set the market price and the lower cost operators on this basis enjoy enhanced margins. In the graph we see that the

graph 1

market operates very much in line with expectations and following a period of stable PP pricing there is a significant reduction, which appears to coincide with an increase in feedstock costs. Thereafter the PP market becomes tight and producers enjoy exceptional premiums, as it is the supply-demand balance for PP that dominates pricing, rather than the economics of the highest cost marginal operator. More recently we can see that margins have declined and that the devaluation of the GBP following Brexit means the highest marginal cost operators are now operating with sub-normal margins.

So where are PP prices likely to be heading?

FEEDSTOCK INCREASES SEPTEMBER 2016 (OVER PRIOR MONTH)

FEEDSTOCK

CHANGE (CONTRACT)

C2 (Ethylene)

£0.00

C3 (Propylene)

£17.03

Styrene

-£17.03

Benzene

-£21.29

Brent Crude Exchange Rate

£5.26 1.17

“More recently we can see that margins have declined and that the devaluation of the GBP following Brexit means the highest marginal cost operators are now operating with sub-normal margins.” WWW.BRITISHPLASTICS.CO.UK

Here in the UK there is the combined pressure of an increase in C3 contract prices taking effect from the beginning of September plus the circa 10 percent devaluation of the GBP vs. Euro. On this basis, there is clear inflationary pressure on UK PP prices to enable PP producers, who use C3 contract priced feedstock, to recover margins to a more ‘normal’ and sustainable level.

Who is @polyerman? Mike Boswell is Managing Director of UK materials distributor, Plastribution, as well as the Chairman of the British Plastic Federation’s Polymer Compounders and Distributors Group. He has a broad knowledge of both materials and the issues affecting the wider industry, with over 20 years experience in the field. @polymerman is the title used for announcements made via his Twitter account.

A specifier’s guide to choosing the right filled PTFE material

ince its accidental invention in 1938, PTFE has been successfully integrated into a plethora of environments from electronics, aerospace and healthcare to THE SELDOM-RIVALLED cookware and industrial applications. HYDROPHOBIC, Produced by the freeLOW-FRICTION AND CORROSION- radical polymerisation RESISTANT PROPERTIES OF of tetrafluoroethylene, POLYTETRAFLUOROETHYLENE this thermoplastic (PTFE) MAKE IT A HIGHLY polymer is white at DESIRABLE ENGINEERED room temperature and widely regarded as POLYMER, WHICH IS WIDELY having one of the lowest USED IN THE MANUFACTURE co-efficiencies of friction OF COMPONENT PARTS. ever recorded in a solid WHEN IT COMES TO MEETING material; currently THE DEMANDS OF MORE ranking third in the world with a co-efficiency AGGRESSIVE ENVIRONMENTS rating of 0.05 – 0.10. THOUGH, MANUFACTURERS ARE Consisting wholly of EMBEDDING OTHER COMPOUNDS high-bonded carbon and WITHIN THE PTFE MATRIX fluorine, this material has TO FURTHER ENHANCE ITS a high molecular weight PERFORMANCE CAPABILITIES. and is almost completely non-reactive. Couple this low HERE, PHILLIP CHARLTON coefficient of friction and FROM GLOBAL MATERIALS its inherent non-reactive ENGINEERING COMPANY, nature with the fact that MORGAN ADVANCED MATERIALS, PTFE is also completely EXPLORES THE MAIN TYPES hydrophobic, and it is no surprise that it has OF FILLED PTFE COMPOUNDS, long been used as a DETAILING THE ENHANCED tribological material PROPERTIES DELIVERED to reduce energy BY SOME KEY MATERIAL consumption in frictionCOMBINATIONS. intensive machinery, as well as reactive and corrosive applications. PTFE performs significantly better than rival products such as engineering plastics, nylon and acetal, and

in many ways is comparable in performance to UltraHigh-Molecular-Weight-Polyethylene (UWHMPE) for the manufacture of application-specific component parts. However, on the flip side, its poor wear properties, low strength and modulus, inferior thermal expansion and conductivity ratings and tendency to creep, makes it less appealing for particularly harsh environments.

Filled PTFE

In order to meet an increasing requirement for component parts that offer all the key benefits of PTFE, without the associated drawbacks, leading manufacturers of engineered polymers are producing filled PTFE. By combining a carefully balanced mixture of alternative compounds and embedding it within the PTFE matrix, it is possible to reduce PTFE’s performance limitations to create a polymer that behaves incredibly well in very specific and highly aggressive environments. Some common compound additives used in the development of filled PTFE include; glass fibre, bronze, copper, molybdenum disulphide, zinc oxide, carbon and graphite. Filled PTFE grade materials often have complex formulations, having been fine-tuned for very specific applications, which means specifiers face the unenviable task of identifying which compound mixture best suits their project. While there is no replacement for a wellestablished relationship with a reputable manufacturer in which materials information can be exchanged on a project-by-project basis, upholding a general working knowledge of the common filled PTFE compound additives and their associated performance benefits can aid the specification process and often the client or specifier relationship too. Let us explore a number of key filler compounds currently on the market that satisfy the needs of a number of specialist, often highly aggressive, applications.

Carbon and graphite filled PTFE

The addition of carbon and graphite to PTFE can increase the material’s wear resistance and thermal expansion properties, making it between two and eight times more effective against thermal expansion, and up to 1,000 times more resilient to wear damage in applications such as air compressors up to a discharge pressure of 20 bar. It is important to remember, however, that the quality of a particular additive can alter the performance of the material, impacting its suitability for certain applications. This can make specification even more challenging because there are multiple variables at play when selecting the right product. The use of carbon and graphite is a great example of this. A high carbon and graphite filled PTFE offers low coefficient of thermal expansion, making it ideal for the manufacture of water turbine bearings and labyrinth seals. Slightly less carbon graphite (a medium to high filler) won’t offer the same thermal expansion properties, but will yield optimum wear rates, making it more

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PTFE filled with different compounds can have different end properties

beneficial to air compressor applications. Additionally, a premium medium to high carbon and graphite filled PTFE, which benefits from lower porosity can be ideal for light gases in lubricated high pressure duties up to 100 bar. Finally, a standard quality medium graphite filled PTFE is ideal for any application requiring flexibility.

Bronze

A bronzed filled PTFE cannot compare with its carbon-graphite counterpart for wear resistance, but nevertheless still performs well in this area and is more suitable for air compressors where gas exceeds 20 bar. This is particularly the case in air compressors with piston temperatures, due to the preferential thermal conductivity of bronze as a compound. Compared to traditional PTFE, a bronze filled alternative can deliver thermal conductivity ratings that are up to ten times greater.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;PTFE performs significantly better than rival products such as engineering plastics, nylon and acetal, and in many ways is comparable in performance to Ultra-HighMolecularWeightPolyethylene (UWHMPE) for the manufacture of applicationspecific component parts.â&#x20AC;?

The addition of a special filler to enhance a medium bronze filled PTFE can improve its wear resistance enough for it to operate effectively in an application that combines high air pressure and high air temperature.

Glass fibre

Glass fibre is used alongside a number of other compounds to produce filled PTFE grades suitable for chemically aggressive environments and those applications requiring a low co-efficiency of thermal expansion. A medium glass fibre and copper filled PTFE, for example, provides low thermal expansion, while the addition of glass fibre on its own can create a PTFE material that is almost chemically inert and suitable for oxygen-focused applications.

Maximising Relationships

Understanding the variables at play during the manufacture of filled PTFE materials will undoubtedly benefit any specifier looking to identify or commission the design of component parts for highly hazardous environments. Above all, the most important thing is to maximise relationships with manufacturers, who take the time to understand each project to ensure that the components specified meet the exacting criteria of a complex brief. WWW.MORGANADVANCEDMATERIALS.COM

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PURGING COMPOUNDS | NEWS RESINEX EXTENDS EUROPEAN PORTFOLIO OF PURGING AGENTS WITH RAMCLEAN Resinex has extended its Europewide portfolio of purging compounds with the addition of the Ramclean range of agents from Israel-based Polyram Plastic Industries. The products, which are said to be suitable for almost any thermoplastic materials, from polyolefins to highperformance polymers, are designed to help plastics processors save time and money through proper cleaning of their machines. The application possibilities range from injection moulding by cold and hot runner technology, compounding and extrusion to multi-layer blown film extrusion, with the granules being non-corrosive, non-toxic and non-abrasive to materials and machinery. Benefits of Ramclean for processors, says Resinex, include assisting with quick material and colour changes, helping with the removal of machine-related black

CHEM-TREND ANNOUNCES ULTRA PURGE ACQUISITION Chem-Trend has announced the acquisition of the Ultra Purge business from Moulds Plus International to widen its product portfolio for thermoplastics processing operations. The purchase includes the ‘Ultra Purge’ brand, a well-known, high performance line of purging Chem-Trend is expanding its high performance purge compound solutions to provide advantages for thermoplastics processors

specs and and contributing to to reduced colour/material streaking for more stable production processes. In this way, Resinex added, it ensures higher productivity and makes production shutdowns and start-ups more reliable. All types are based on a proprietary formulation using ingredients that are REACH and – depending on the type – also FDA compliant. They are also safe to use for operators and machinery. The product range of the Ramclean purging agents starts with types for processing temperatures of 150°C to 260°C and extends via types for transparent thermoplastics and temperatures up to 300°C or 320°C. It is also available for high-temperature materials, PVC processing and blown film extrusion. According to Polyram, application examples have shown significant potential in time and material savings. For example, a complete purging process in (five-layer) blown film production required the use of 100kg LDPE and took around 60

compounds, along with product and processing technologies and other business assets. “This move allows Chem-Trend to provide an even greater portfolio of purging compounds to enhance the value, efficiency and productivity that we currently offer to processors of thermoplastics,” said Chem-Trend President and CEO, Devanir Moraes. “By acquiring the Ultra Purge business and combining it with our existing Lusin brand of purge compounds, release agents and mould maintenance products, Chem-Trend significantly increases its ability to address processing needs in the thermoplastic market and strengthens its position for customer support and service.” Headquartered in Villalvernia, Italy, Moulds Plus International established Ultra Purge in 1998. The compounds in the range cover a broad range of thermoplastics applications, including injection moulding, hot runners, caps and closures, PET preforms, blow moulding extrusion, film extrusion, automotive and more.

Example of injection moulded part production both with and without the use of Ramclean agents.

minutes. When Ramclean 600 was used, these figures were reduced to 4kg and 30 minutes. In an example using injection moulding, a colour change from a deep, dark red to natural required 650g of unfilled PP and took around half an hour. Using Ramclean the process used 210 g and took slightly more than 10 minutes. WWW.RESINEX.CO.UK

“Ultra Purge was initially developed as a value-adding purging compound line for injection moulders, so we focused on creating product technologies and developing innovative manufacturing processes that would provide premium results for our customers,” said Gian Paolo Repetto, Founder and President of Moulds Plus International SRL. “We’re excited for the next chapter in the Ultra Purge legacy, and we’re confident that Chem-Trend can take this product line to the next level.” Chem-Trend also recently announced the planned expansion of its European headquarters in Germany. When complete, the new complex will feature a logistics centre, state-of-the-art laboratory and testing facilities with additional office space and onsite storage capabilities. Chem-Trend says the expanded site, which is expected to be completed in 2017, further enhances its global presence and capacity to support growth throughout the region. WWW.CHEMTREND.COM

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sales@cjpsales.co.uk

T 01656 644907

PVC COMPOUNDS MASTERBATCH ADDITIVES PURGE NYLON TPE ABS PE PP PS

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We assure the optimal shape!

Purging compounds are ideal for processors keeping a close eye on costs

Economical, fast, reliable processing. With innovative FRIMO technology, you set the benchmark in thermoforming. Rely on the competence of the technology specialists.

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SALES OF PURGING COMPOUNDS GROW AFTER BREXIT DECISION The Managing Director of a UK-based distributor of plastic raw materials says sales of purging compounds continue to grow as processors keep a close eye on costs following Brexit. Nikki Benyon from South Wales-based CJP Sales says that the DynaPurge1 range from Shuman Plastics is becoming an increasingly popular choice amongst its customers for its ability to solve a number of processing issues, not least reductions in materials scrap and wastage. “It is fair to say the UK manufacturing market has suffered a lot of uncertainty of late – Brexit has been the source of a general lack of confidence and price increases as suppliers adjust to the fluctuating exchange rate. It has never been more relevant to keep a watchful eye on your costs of production,” Benyon explained.

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The Dynapurge range is extensive and offers a grade for each specific purging application, with each proven to cut waste and significantly reduce costly down times. Additionally, DynaPurge supports hot and cold runner systems, sheet extrusion and blown film processes. Black specs, contamination and colour residue are eliminated without the need to strip down machinery and once equipment is clean, Benyon says Dynapurge can be used to maintain, thus ensuring optimum results time after time. “Dynapurge offers a solution to so many issues facing processors, and since being awarded the distributorship in 2008, we have supplied more and more manufacturing companies, as the market realises its value.” WWW.CJPSALES.CO.UK WWW.DYNAPURGE.COM 1 DynaPurge is a registered trademark of Shuman Plastics, Inc.

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comment

PURGING EVERYTHING BUT PROFITS

t is a long time since I completed a colour change in a busy mould shop, but I can remember spending large amounts of time, and a lot of polypropylene, becoming increasing frustrated IN DEMANDING PRODUCTION by the tiniest amount of red ENVIRONMENTS, PURGING compound that just would not AN INJECTION MOULDING shift. I also remember planning MACHINE CAN BE A TIME boards in the mould shop CONSUMING AND COSTLY looking three weeks into PROCESS. HERE, DUNCAN the future – perhaps I am SCOTT, BUSINESS wrong – but I don’t think that DEVELOPMENT MANAGER is possible any more. Even AT PLASTRIBUTION, LOOKS with the very best planning we can’t avoid unplanned tool AT HOW USING THE MOST changes in our efforts to meet EFFECTIVE COMMERCIAL customers’ high expectations. PURGING COMPOUNDS CAN Machines and people HELP PROCESSORS MAKE are expensive and can’t be SIGNIFICANT SAVINGS. unproductive, so spending unnecessary time purging a bright red nylon out of a machine is not an option. So how can processors ensure that the purging compounds they choose are going to be the most effective?

Blitzing the competition

The negative effects of carbon build up

When talking about carbon we refer to the build up of fully degraded materials and plate-out that arises from processing concentrated pigments or additives. The build up of these unwanted deposits do not happen uniformly across the screw, in the majority of cases it starts at the compression zone and gets worse through the metering zone. This results in a reduction in the depth of the metering zone, which means that you are trying to force the same amount of material from the feed zone through a smaller volume metering zone. This either succeeds, or you get a measure of screw slip, which results in an extended screw back time. In either case, you get an increase in shear placed on the melt, which results in increased melt temperature, a longer cycle, different flow characteristics through the mould and unwanted voids, flash, splash and gassing. It goes without saying that these in turn result in rejects and wasted time. Like a domino effect, this causes a reduction in the processing window and extended set-up times, as processors will have to change conditions from their set-up sheets to get the same quality result, which means less machine utilisation, lower output or higher cost, which, ultimately, means less profit.

In order to answer the question, I’m going to use Barrel Blitz Universal (BBU), developed by Aquapurge, as an example of a compound that offers multiple benefits, not only in reducing scrap and downtime, but also when it comes to extending the life of machinery by keeping it optimally clean. BBU is a purging compound made up of a stable, easily clearing polymer and the Aquapurge’s proprietary Scrubber Concentrate. The compound’s three primary uses are colour changes, material changes and, where I think it comes into its own, carbon removal.

BBU used on a 200 tonne Engel with PMMA. The brown shown at the bottom of the purge is Carbon.

Effect on machine utilisation and output

However, by using BBU, such carbon deposits can easily be removed to transform a moulding operation. BBU is a mechanical purging compound, and is selfclearing, meaning that all traces of carbonised material will be completely removed without the need to pull the screw. Processors, therefore, can not only ensure the effective change of both colour and material, but also guarantee that every time that BBU is used that any carbon build up is removed, meaning machinery stays in better condition for longer. The use of this purging compound can ultimately have a huge effect on machine utilisation and output. WWW.PLASTRIBUTION.CO.UK

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The Polymer Study Tours are free 4 day residential courses for teachers and were initiated in 1987 by the Worshipful Company of Horners. They are now run in partnership between the Company, the BPF, IOM3 and the three centres that host the events (Edinburgh Napier University, London Metropolitan University and the University of Manchester) and since inception over 3000 teachers have attended to improve their knowledge and understanding of polymers. The organisers would like to thank the following organisations for their support which enabled the 2016 Tours to take place.

For more information regarding sponsorship opportunities please contact Ms Fozia Ghadiali on 020 7457 5003 or email fghadiali@bpf.co.uk

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BRITISH

bp&r PLASTICS &RUBBER

Committed to UK Plastics for 40 years

British Plastics

fter it was established in October 1976, this year will see British Plastics and Rubber (BP&R) reach a milestone anniversary of 40 years in circulation. The publication was born when Polymer Age, Britain’s oldest plastics and rubber journal at the time, joined forces with Findlay Publications to create a leading technical journal specifically for the UK market. Headed up by Polymer Age’s Publisher, Alan Pickett, along with Bob Findlay, owner of Findlay Publications, BP&R launched as an authoritative monthly magazine. Since then, the publication has developed, evolved and transformed under different Publishers, Editors and Staff. However, the core principles of a journal for Britain’s plastics and rubber processors combining technical and market reports, new ideas and applications, as well as practical processing economics has, and will, remain at its heart. The archives from the past 40 years house a wealth of information charting the progress of the industry and its demands and needs. The selection of pages highlighted here display only a fraction of the wealth of information contained in the magazine’s vast back catalogue, but it is safe to say that the magazine has always been at the forefront of developments, trends and events. As we look forward to another 40 years in the British plastics industry, over the following pages we mark the milestone by profiling some of the other companies who are celebrating anniversaries in 2016. and Rubber

bp&r APRIL 2016

METRO G – COMBINING the best of two worlds PE FILM EXTRUDER CLOSES THE LOOP WITH NEW SYSTEM

PAEK POLYMER COMPOSITES SET TO TAKE ON AEROSPACE

VDI CONFERENCE: A PLATFORM FOR AUTOMOTIVE PLASTICS

BIGHEAD CELEBRATES 50 YEARS OF ENDURING ENGINEERING DESIGN bigHead, the UK manufacturer that conceived and designed the bonding fastener, celebrated its 50th anniversary in July 2016. Established in 1966, the original ‘bigHead’ solved a common problem – how to securely, reliably and consistently fix and position plastic moulded components in an aesthetic and economic way without unsightly fixings that protruded through the material. Since the production of the original fastener, the design has evolved to include different manufacturing techniques, such as surfacemounted products with super-strength adhesives through to advanced automotive carbon composite panels on supercars. “bigHead’s continued success since 1966 can be found in our passion for all things fastening and a desire to work closely with customers from the earliest stages of a project on an engineerto-engineer basis,” said Managing Director, Matthew Stevens. Earlier this year, the company relocated to a new purpose built factory in Verwood, Dorset, doubling the manufacturing and design capability of its previous facility.

www.bigHead.co.uk

AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY PART OF BOROUGH PLATING’S PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE Chrome-plating specialist, Borough Plating, says its place in the automotive supply chain forms a large part of its past, present and future. The Southend-based company is celebrating 50 years of business in 2016, and says the evolution of automotive design has seen it develop new moulding and plating techniques to provide high quality finishes to plastic parts. “The biggest advantage of the process we developed was to offer automotive designers more freedom with plastic components than they typically experienced with die-casting. Chrome was still required for embellishment, but now they could combine this greater design freedom, with the ability to save weight,” explained Borough’s Managing Director, David Coombes. Over the years, and to improve the quality of the finished chrome-plated components, Borough helped develop new design techniques for the ABS mouldings to be plated. The company has since continued to invest in new technology to enhance its own injection moulding capabilities at its production facility. “Borough will still be an important member of the supply chain when 2066 arrives,” Coombes concluded.

COLOUR TONE MASTERBATCH SAYS FLEXIBILITY IS KEY TO SUCCESS South Wales-based manufacturer, Colour Tone Masterbatch, is celebrating twenty years of operation and technical innovation in the plastics industry. The company, which most recently developed NIR detectable pigments to facilitate an increase in mixed-materials recycling, says that it intends to continue to develop new, innovative products to bring to market, as well as delivering a highly responsive service. Managing Director, Tony Gaukroger, said the company “prides itself on a flexible approach that allows it to meet demands from a wide variety of plastics processors, including injection moulders, blow moulders, profile/sheet extruders and processors of film and fibres.” In addition to its newest products and flexible service, Gaukroger says he will continue to encourage processors of PVC to self-colour their material – something that he has written several technical articles about – in order to demonstrate the savings to be made.

www.colourtone-masterbatch.co.uk

www.borough.co.uk

COVESTRO CEO “VERY PROUD” OF FIRST YEAR ACHIEVEMENTS Materials manufacturer, Covestro, marked one year of business as an independent company last month. Following the official separation from the Bayer Group on September 1, 2015, the former Bayer MaterialScience established itself on the international capital market with the largest stock market flotation in Germany since 2000. The company says the past 12 months have been “extremely gratifying” from a financial standpoint. “We have completed a complex transformation process in a short time and shown what we are capable of. We are very proud of that,” said CEO, Patrick Thomas. “An XL startup, Covestro has developed to the great satisfaction of its customers, investors and other stakeholders.” Thomas pointed out that the operating result (adjusted EBITDA) has been increased each quarter since the company became independent. Relative to the issue price of EUR 24, the share price has approximately doubled now. The company says it will focus on developing innovative products in the future.

www.covestro.com

Dyneon celebrates 20 years of materials in space, sports and seals 3M subsidiary, Dyneon, is celebrating 20 years of providing fluoropolymers for industries ranging from space to sports. The company, founded on 1 August 1996, today produces around 17,000 tonnes of fluoropolymers per year. The high-performance material is extremely resistant and universally usable, with applications ranging from nonstick coating for frying pans or baking trays to astronauts’ space suits, roof films, seals and much more. “For us, 20 years of successful company history also mean a certain responsibility for the future. Continuous investment in research and development is only natural for 3M and Dyneon,” said Burkhard Anders, Managing Director of Dyneon GmbH. “That is why a pilot plant for the world’s first fluoropolymer Up-Cycling process was put into operation a year ago. Now, fully fluorinated polymer waste from the industry no longer needs to be disposed of at the refuse tip, but can be recovered as a fully fledged new material.”

www.solutions.3m.com

ELASTO looks forward to next step in its evolution ELASTO Sweden says its 40th anniversary is an opportunity to celebrate the company’s successful past and look forward to its future evolution. Founded in 1976, the company originally produced thermoplastic elastomers as a compound for injection moulding and extrusion. Over the years that followed, the company has been acquired by a number of different owners, eventually being bought by British Vita PLC in 2002. The company then became known as VTC Elastoteknik AB and got a sister company in England, Vita Thermoplastic Polymers (VTP), also producing TPE. The Mediprene brand of TPE compounds for medical applications was launched in 2004. In 2010, the company returned to Swedish ownership as HEXPOL AB acquired the UK and Sweden sites, which became known as ELASTO. “Our 40th anniversary gives us an opportunity to look back and celebrate the great journey we’ve been on,” commented Thomas Nilsson, Managing Director at ELASTO Sweden AB. “As we celebrate our first 40 years, we look forward to working together on the next step in our evolution.”

www.hexpolTPE.com

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Demand for more automation and hygienic production will shape ILLIG’s future

Molecor credits “thinking differently” for decade of success

Thermoforming systems supplier, ILLIG, celebrated its 70th year of operation during an open house event in June. During the event, Managing Director, Karl SchКuble, told delegates that 2016 has seen the highest number of orders received in the company’s history, something he attributes to developments in technology, increase in market demand for in-mould labelling decoration and good economic development in non-European markets. Looking to the future, SchКuble said he sees the demand for more automation and hygienic production processes as the main driving forces of development in the thermoforming industry. “We expect the increase in the cycles per minute of ILLIG machine lines will continue to be a decisive factor in the near future for high lot-size productions and highly automated production processes. To accommodate this market demand, we will continue to improve the cpm-speed in the thermoforming and trimming process, as this will further improve the quality and reliability of the formed parts,” he explained.

Developer of molecular orientation technology for plastic pipe systems, Molecor, credits “thinking differently” in an uncertain economic environment as the reason for its successful first decade in business. The Spain-based company, which is present on five continents, has won a number of industry accolades since it was established in 2006 for its groundbreaking technology for enhancing the properties of PVC pipes. The two business lines of the company, Molecor Tech and Molecor Canalizaciones, have achieved a number of milestones, the most recent of which has seen the development of technology capable of manufacturing PVC-O pipes up to DN800 mm. “We started our journey in 2006,” said Ignacio Muñoz, Molecor CEO. “The change of environment, the uncertainty and the lack of financial resources sharpened our instinct to think differently. And thinking differently was not thinking like a micro-SME, which is what we really were, but thinking as an international company.”

NGR celebrates 20 years with focus on a sustainable future Plastics recycling machinery manufacturer, NGR, marked its 20th anniversary in May this year by outlining its goals for the next 10 years. The Austria-based company, that to date has sold more than 900 plastics recycling solutions in more than 80 countries worldwide, says its future focus will be on the transition to the circular economy. “It is my profound belief that we must leave a livable planet for our children, and I have dedicated myself to this goal professionally,” CEO, Josef Hochreiter, said during an event held to mark the milestone earlier this year, adding that his goal is to actively pursue the direction the company has taken to make sustainable use of resources in the plastics industry. NGR says the biggest challenge for the future success of the company will be to understand the increasingly complex structures of plastic products in order to be able to provide optimal processing solutions for the best possible recycling qualities.

www.ngr.at

www.molecor.com

www.illig.co.uk

Omega celebrates 10th anniversary with automotive accreditation

Biesterfeld Petroplas looks forward to a “bright future”

North East-based tooling and plastic injection moulding manufacturer, Omega Plastics, is celebrating its tenth year in business with the recent awarding of ISO/TS 16949:2009, the global standard for the automotive sector. Since its launch in 2006, The Omega Plastics Group says it has experienced “significant growth” in the sector by producing components for Tier One suppliers to various manufacturers, including Aston Martin and Nissan. Last month, the company announced it was forecasting a 50 percent increase in turnover this year to around £8.5m. “The business has grown exponentially since I launched it at Team Valley, Gateshead in 2006,” explained Group Managing Director, Dave Crone. “Since then, we have moved into additional and larger premises, creating more than 70 jobs and expanding our production capability. Our 2015 merger with Signal Plastics brought two successful and innovative businesses together, further strengthening our position in the market for prototype development, specialist tooling and plastic injection moulding. Achieving ISO/TS 16949:2009 provides a great springboard into our second decade.”

Independent polymer distributor, Biesterfeld Petroplas Ltd, says it is “looking forward to a bright future” as it celebrates 30 years of business in the UK and Ireland. Originally founded in 1986 Petroplas become one of the UK’s largest independent polymer distribution businesses. In 2006, the company entered into a joint venture with European market leader in polymer distribution, Biesterfeld Plastic GmbH. With the addition of world-renowned suppliers and market-leading branded products, Biesterfeld Petroplas says it has been able to grow substantially over the past 10 years and has established itself as a “major player” in distribution across the UK and Ireland. In 2014 the company diversified into Speciality Chemicals business with the addition of Silicone Elastomers from Dow Corning. Future plans are in the pipeline for new suppliers, products and markets, according to Managing Director, Guy Payne. “With the forward-thinking management of the Group, the future continues to look bright for Biesterfeld Petroplas,” he commented. This year also represents a bumper year for parent company, Biesterfeld Group, as it celebrates 110 years in business later in 2016.

www.omega-plastics.co.uk

www.biesterfeld-plastic.com

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Rutland Plastics marks 60th anniversary with biggest investment in company’s history Injection moulder, Rutland Plastics, has just completed the biggest single investment in its 60-year history with the installation of a new £2.2m warehouse facility. The East Midlands-based company, which celebrated its 60th anniversary in June 2016, says the investment came as a result of storage requirements for large mouldings. “As part of the overall factory redevelopment, which has included an additional production bay and new offices, we always planned new warehousing. The growth we have seen over the last couple of years convinced us now was the right time to build it,” explained Managing Director, Steve Ayre. The new 30,000 ft2 addition to the company’s site in Oakham not only provides much needed space for raw materials and finished goods, but will also help with reducing the company’s electricity consumption, with the addition of more than 900 PV solar panels on the roof. “We’ve immediately benefitted from the efficiencies the new warehouse provides. It is further evidence of our commitment to the future,” Ayre added.

www.rutlandplastics.co.uk

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Kongskilde offers complete systems for conveying and handling large volumes of plastics materials generated from todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s production lines. These systems ensure a high efficiency, significant savings and an improved working environment. Please contact Kongskilde for more information on how we can improve your product/waste handling.

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Life begins at 40: Anniversary marks new chapter for Belgrade Polymers WORDS | LEANNE TAYLOR

rom essential construction infrastructure for some of the UK’s biggest installation projects, to bespoke liners used in antique toilet cisterns for a high-end bathroom company, the variety FOLLOWING MAJOR of items in Belgrade Polymer INVESTMENT TO MARK Products’ portfolio can certainly ITS 40TH ANNIVERSARY, be described as diverse. The company, based VACUUM FORMER AND in Wellingborough, INJECTION MOULDER, Northamptonshire, produced BELGRADE POLYMER some 900,000 products in PRODUCTS, IS READY TO 2015, many bespoke. Recent MARK A NEW CHAPTER IN investments made upon the th ITS HISTORY AS IT GEARS occasion of its 40 anniversary in both equipment and infrastructure UP FOR GROWTH. means Belgrade now has the capacity to produce over one million products annually. “Our recent financial investment will allow us to grow the business, by providing enhanced capacity,” explained Patrick Burke, Belgrade’s General Manager. “This in turn means we can produce an increasing variety of products in addition to the diverse portfolio we already supply.” The business has made investments in the region of £250-300,000 on products including a new Welex extruder, a new automated former and a completely new IT system, enabling it to effectively manage and streamline its operations.

Many markets, many materials

Broadband cabinet bases, one of the many products produced by Belgrade

Currently, the company’s key product offerings are supplied into water treatment, plumbing and heating, building products and telecoms markets and include media segments for water treatment machines, loft kits for hot and cold-water tanks and lids and bases for fibre optic broadband meters. It produces in a range of thermoplastic materials, including PP, LDPE, HDPE, HIPS and ABS, and has recently taken on projects in new materials it hasn’t previously worked with, such as Homo PP, in order to provide customers with full flexibility. “Flexibility is the name of the game,” continued Burke. “We pride ourselves on providing our customers with a service that adapts to their needs. Our customers often come to us with new challenges and we pride ourselves on being able to help them find solutions.” Alongside products that make up bulk orders in vast quantities, the company prides itself on the unique items it supplies for customers. “We produce a number of bespoke items

A prototype lid mould being produced by Belgrade’s technical team

for customers across a huge number of industries and markets, including household names and big brands,” explained Dougie Black, Belgrade’s Business Development Manager. “When customers come with new concepts, we can utilise our in-house prototyping facility and the skills of our engineers to design and produce complex and highly accurate moulds for products that can be quickly converted into large scale production.”

Securing exclusive UK manufacturing contracts

In addition to its mainstream investments, the company has also established a sideline manufacturing facility for the production of the ‘BIBA’, or ‘Bag In Barrel’ liner, following the exclusive UK manufacturing agreement it secured with the product’s Norway-based developer. The BIBA is a strong and pliable LDPE multi-layer inner liner that is said to eliminate contamination risk from rust, condensation and bacteria in 216-litre steel barrels. It is suitable for the transportation and storage of all types of fluids - from chemicals and inks to fuels and foodstuffs – and is specially designed to reduce waste, as well as overcome environmental issues associated with disposal of the drums. “The BIBA is an ingeniously simple solution that has proved extremely popular with our customers who benefit from savings through preventing the contamination of a drum’s contents, as well as re-use,” explained Black. “Not only is it a hugely beneficial product in terms of its ecocredentials, it is extremely cost effective, with ROI less than one month.”

Looking forward to the future

Following on from its investment and now with extra capacity, Belgrade says it is ready to start a new chapter in the company’s history, one in which it hopes to experience growth in new markets and sectors. “We are confident in our staff, confident in our capabilities and confident in our future,” Burke explained. “We are ambitious as well as optimistic, as we have a unique service to offer customers and can be completely flexible to suit their requirements. We are proud of our achievements since 1976 and look forward to increased investment and sales in the future.” WWW.BELGRADE-POLYMER.COM

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United Unique Labotek is offering a wide range of system solutions, including conveying, dosing or the intelligent Gravi-Dryer® material handling systems for the modern plastics processor. The Labotek solutions are offering massive energy saving potential. During K’2016, we are highlighting the following technologies as the “United Unique” combination:

Gravi-Dryer

The only system available which manages gravimetric drying and conveying. The system adjusts the drying capacity, and therefore energy consumption, according to the actual demand, providing documented energy savings, through the SQL database.

Labo-Net

Fully integrated control for complex materials handling systems, controlling Gravi-Dryer®, -gravimetric dosing and External Heat Recovery (EHR), Labo-Net is based on intelligent ASi field-bus components and latest Siemens PLC solutions. The large colour touch screen gives easy access to all parametres. The SQL data base will track & trace the historic process data for the processing machines, surely you are also able to retrieve relevant data for documentation purposes.

EHR - External Heat recovery

EHR systems are used to introduce external heat from processes in the production plant, such as compressor cooling units or other relevant heat generating sources. The system provides energy savings up to 85%.

Labotek A/S Telephone +45 4821 8411 info@labotek.dk - www.labotek.com

Meet us in Hall 9, booth B73

PLASMA TREATMENT FOR PLASTICS AND RUBBER

passionate about plasma

The widest range of plasma processes & plasma surface modification equipment from the UK’s leading manufacturer

HENNIKER PLASMA TREATMENT AT THE HEART OF UK MANUFACTURING • Surface activation to improve adhesion • Surface functionalisation • Permanent hydrophilic & hydrophobic coatings

Solutions for aerospace, automotive, composites, medical device manufacture & much more. Tel: +44 (0)1925 830 771 | info@plasmatreatment.co.uk | www.plasmatreatment.co.uk

British plastics and rubber ad artwork - henniker plasma.indd 1

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21-Sep-16 10:21:52 AM

RECYCLING MACHINERY | NEWS MUNCHY LAUNCHES NEW HIGH OUTPUT AIR RECYCLING MACHINE Plastics recycling machinery manufacturer, Munchy, has introduced a new, high output air recycling machine. The ‘Munchy 150 Air’ is capable of reprocessing scrap plastics into high quality pellets at up to 150kg/hr. The pellets can then be re-used in the main production operation. Using Munchy’s Dual-Diameter Screw Technology, the scrap plastic material is not subjected to any unnecessary thermal degradation normally associated with a size reduction operation, allowing for air cooling to be performed at higher outputs. The direct feeding onto the screw also ensures a higher quality of pellet is produced, allowing for a greater percentage to be used back into the main production operation, therefore increasing cost savings and efficiency. The Munchy 150 Air is designed to be compact with simple, low cost operation. Direct Drive AC Technology reduces energy consumption whilst reducing operating noise levels and routine maintenance. The machine has been designed so that all routine maintenance can be carried out by the operator, which eliminates both the need for expensive maintenance personnel, as well as incurring downtime waiting for assistance to arrive.

ving ergy sa The en e new t f l o h potentia r is increased to granula use of to the s k n a th stem y s tegra the In

The new Munchy 150 Air

Munchy Managing Director, Simon Brookes, stated: “Air as a cooling method is preferred over water pelletising systems because it reduces the machine footprint and overall is a ‘cleaner’, more simple

operation. Machine clean down is easier and quicker so the ability to switch materials without the risk of cross contamination is made easier.”

ENERGY SAVING SYSTEM INSTALLED ON NEW GRANULATOR COULD SEE UP TO 20 PERCENT USAGE REDUCTION

comes as a result of the granulator being fitted with an ‘Integra’ energy saving system from Suresense, a company with which Renmar announced a partnership at the end of 2015. According to Suresense, the Integra is a single speed motor control system that is designed to save energy. It has good soft-start and braking abilities - just like traditional soft starters - but unlike other systems, energy is saved when the energy requirement varies. Given the nature of machinery such as granulators to be running throughout the day but only working hard occasionally, the ability of the Suresense Integra to reduce the current requirement enables it to bring down the overall energy usage.

A new granulator installed at a plastic caps and closures manufacturer could achieve energy savings of between 10 and 20 percent, thanks to the use of a system in conjunction with the equipment. Massmould, a division of Global Closure Systems (GCS) based in Flitwick, Bedforshire, has recently taken delivery of a new Cumberland 4050 granulator complete with an attached FIBC filling system from ancillaries provider, Renmar Plastics Machinery Limited. The potential for energy saving above and beyond the built-in efficiency of the Cumberland model WWW.BRITISHPLASTICS.CO.UK

WWW.MUNCHY.CO.UK

WWW.RENMARLTD.COM 41

RECYCLING Solutions Efficient + Flexible Granulator SB Series with Forced Feeding Device ■ 30 % - 100 % more capacity with the same granulator cutting chamber size. Up to 50 % less power consumption. Suitable for dry and wet operation. Plastcompactors Series HV ■ Agglomeration of bottle flakes, powders, fibres, film and foam materials ■ Re-crystallisation of PET flakes ■ Thin-film drying from post consumer washing lines

PLANTS for washing, separating and drying of dirty and mixed plastic waste ■ Agricultural films ■ Plastics from post consumer waste ■ PET bottles ■ Bottles and hollow components out of PE/PP ■ PE films, also stretch films

Motan Colortronic Limited Tel: 01246 260222 Email: sales@motan-colortronic.co.uk

www.motan-colortronic.co.uk

EREMA’S NEW INTEGRATED AUTOMATION SYSTEMS TO BENEFIT RECYLERS AND PRODUCERS Building on the success of its Interema recyling system, Erema has developed a four-pillar automation system that it says will help both recyclers and producers get value from data. The new Careformance system works as a ‘smart factory’ network of four individual parts that communicate data and intelligence to operators about the performance of their recycling machinery and systems. “Building on the high degree of automation of the Intarema systems we have developed a smart factory package which enables us to give our customers a clear competitive edge and make them fit for the future,” explained Erema’s CEO, Manfred Hackl. Sitting alongside the Interema system, the new Careformance package incorporates specially intergrated sensors, known as the ‘Quality On’ package, which can be used to record and evaluate melt volume rate (MVR), colour and moisture. Erema says the Quality On package enables recyclers and producers to create recyclates with consistent quality in accordance with the requirements of their customers, as well as document them transparently using online data acquisition and analysis. Additionally, recipes recorded electronically can be compared with each other and modified. In order to make use of the vast

The Careformance package is based on Erema’s Interema recycling system

amount of machine, quality and process data, Erema has developed a user-friendly MES (Manufacturing Execution System), which makes up the third aspect of the package. It says ‘re360’ allows users to keep track of the productivity of an entire range of machinery in five modules. “A key benefit of re360 is that it works independently of the plant manufacturer,” explained Hackl. “Customers can integrate not only different systems but also their global production locations. re360 gives you an overview of the capacities/ stoppage times of the systems for management, documents key quality data of the recyclates for the location manager and informs the operator about upcoming maintenance jobs.” Finally, the fourth aspect of the Careformance package works in conjunction with the re360 system, with a direct link to Erema’s spare parts catalogue online. Any upcoming

KRONES RECYCLING TECHNOLOGY TO BE INSTALLED AT NEW PLANT FOR GERMAN DRINKS PRODUCER

Krones technology will be installed at MEG’s new recycling plant

Germany’s second largest beverage producer, and part of the company that owns supermarket brands Lidl and Kaufland, has chosen recycling technology from Krones for installation in its new PET bottle recycling plant. Mitteldeutsche Erfrischungsgetränke GmbH & Co. KG (MEG) has domestic sales of more than 25 million hectolitres, and also exports throughout Europe. Since 2010, MEG has taken back the deposit-bearing, non-returnable bottles from the DPG system (German deposit system;

WWW.BRITISHPLASTICS.CO.UK

maintenance work detected as necessary by the re360 system can be ordered in advance, allowing users to lessen downtime and uphold maximum productivity. Erema says the ‘smart factory’ is not a futuristic ideal, moreover, through the use of specially designed software and systems the concept can be applied to recycling operations in the here and now in order to maximise productivity and efficiency. The company is officially launching its new technology system at the K Show this month, where it will demonstrate the individual aspects of the package by recycling plastic waste on site at a special Careformance recycling centre in the outdoor area of the trade fair, with machine, quality and process data being transferred in real time to Erema’s booth in Hall 9, Stand C05. WWW.EREMA.AT

Deutsche Pfandsystem GmbH) handed in at Lidl supermarkets and has been processing them into regranulate at both its own recycling plant and through various contract recycling companies. In order to be able to increase regranulate quotas still further, MEG is now building another recycling plant near Aachen, Germany. As part of this project, Krones was awarded the order for the installation of a module that grinds bottles into flakes, as well as a washing module. The regranulate has to meet the most stringent of quality stipulations and MEG says the intensive washing process offered by the Krones system was one of the key elements in awarding the order. WWW.KRONES.COM

9 & 12KW PRESSURISED MOULD HEATERS Renmar is the UK home of the AEC TCU and VCU temperature-controlled mould heater range and holds stock of some of the most popular models so that delivery can be as little as seven days from placement of order. The standard TCU and VCU range of mould heaters provide a continuous supply of temperature-controlled water up to 120c, units can be ordered to handle up to 150c, with standard units have a heating capacity of 9 & 12kw up to 48kw is available to special order. Designed for injection moulding, both the TCU and VCU models can be easily adapted for other industries such as the food and pharmaceutical industries.

w renmar.co.uk

• Off-the-shelf microprocessor based PID Eurotherm temperature controller with Process and Setpoint LED readouts • 9-48kw Heaters • 1-10HP Pumps • Graphic control panel with indicator and warning lights • Compact cabinet • Independent high temperature safety thermostat • Flow rates of 132 to 284 litres per minute with 2.0 to 3.7 bar pressure Other changes can be made to factory built units to suit customer requirements such as painted in different colours, controllers with extra parameters, communication ports (RS232/RS485 Modbus), auto purge, audible & visual alarms and more.

e info@renmar.co.uk

Prices for the mould heaters start from £1,150.00 + VAT Ex wks UK For more information contact Renmar on 0844 6933225 or go to www.renmar.co.uk

t +44 (0)844 6933225

Renmar Plastics Machinery Ltd, Unit 2 Sanders Close, Finedon Rd Industrial Estate Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, NN8 4HQ

Electrostatic and Process solutions for Pharmaceuticals, Print, Packaging, Plastics and Food

Electrostatic Innovations

CHARGING

DISCHARGING

WWW.BRITISHPLASTICS.CO.UK

NEW INCREASED CAPACITY MACHINE COMBINES EXTRA CAPACITY WITH EFFICIENCY Starlinger Recycling Technology has unveiled what it says is one of the most efficient polyolefin recycling machines on the market, combining a larger machine with energy saving technology. The recoSTAR dynamic 215 has an output range of 2,200 to 2,600 kg/h and power requirement of 0.2 to 0.35 kWh/kg. This was achieved through the development of Starlinger’s ‘rECO’ concept for optimum energy use, where energyefficient motors are used, energy recuperation systems are integrated into various process steps and the extruder barrel is heated with infrared emitters. In addition, the Dynamic Automation Package (DAP) developed by Starlinger keeps the line working at the optimum operating point, maintaining not only constant production of consistent quality pellets, higher output and greater flexibility in material processing, but also reducing energy consumption. Together with the rECO concept, Starlinger says this amounts to energy savings in excess of 10 percent. “With this line we have again increased our capacity range for polyolefin recycling,” explained Paul

LINDNER WASHTECH LAUNCHES NEW PRE-WASH SYSTEM FOR PLASTIC WASTE Lindner washTech has launched a new system for efficient pre-washing of highly contaminated postconsumer plastic waste.

The new Rafter takes its place in the recycling line between the Micromat WS wet shredder and a downstream Loop Dryer

The new recoSTAR dynamic 215, shown with C-VAC module

Niedl, Head of Sales for Starlinger Recycling Technology. “The recoSTAR dynamic 215 was purpose-built to customer specifications regarding output and minimised operator involvement. The high degree of automation makes it possible to operate even a line of this size with the same personnel as the smaller lines, working efficiently with minimum energy consumption.” Starlinger says the recoSTAR dynamic recycling lines are capable of processing a wide range of plastics and are especially suitable for moist, hygroscopic or highly contaminated input materials. Depending on the line configuration, plastic waste with up to 25 percent moisture can be

recycled. By integrating Starlinger’s optional C-VAC high-capacity degassing module into the line, the company says even heavily printed or heavily soiled input materials such as post-consumer plastic waste or agricultural films can be reprocessed into valuable secondary material. The first recoSTAR dynamic 215 recycling line equipped with C-VAC will be supplied to a customer in Spain, where it will be used for reprocessing post-consumer EPS packaging waste. In test runs with this material, a throughput rate of over 2,800 kg/h was achieved.

The new Rafter system is a gentle, yet highly efficient solution for the thorough cleaning of highly contaminated, pre-shredded plastic waste – for example packaging, bottles or film – by removing extraneous material and pre-washing the charge in one single step. When used in conjunction with Lindner’s Micromat WS wet shredder, the company says the system marks the rise of a new generation of plastic washing equipment with a more compact design and superior economic efficiency. With a nominal throughput of 1,500 to 2,500 kg/h Lindner says the Rafter matches the capacity of today’s recycling lines, supporting continuous in-line reconditioning of plastic waste through to the finished granulated recyclate or recycled film. The machine’s actual throughput can be adapted to the pace of upstream and downstream equipment by means of a frequency converter. Moreover, the Rafter is said to be

particularly cost efficient to operate, thanks to an energy-optimised drive system and a water usage of only 3 to10 mД/h. “By integrating the Rafter into a recycling line to pre-wash the plastic waste, operators gain an effective and also economical method of reducing wear in downstream reconditioning equipment and hence, boosting the line’s cost efficiency as a whole,” explained Harald Hoffmann, Managing Director at Lindner washTech. “Moreover, all systems in Lindner’s innovative washing system portfolio are distinguished by a characteristic, exceptionally rugged design. This feature, in conjunction with the use of stainless steel for water-wetted parts, contributes to a high longterm system availability and low maintenance needs.” Lindner washTech products are available in the UK through John Wood & Associates Ltd. WWW.LINDNER-WASHTECH.COM

WWW.BRITISHPLASTICS.CO.UK

WWW.RECYCLING.STARLINGER.COM

The ECO continuous melt filter manufactured by Ettlinger

PET Fines From Recycled Bottles: A Valuable Raw Material

oday’s modern PET recycling facilities create high quality flake from post-consumer bottles. The process starts with automated sorting equipment, which is used to remove unwanted IN THE FOLLOWING products from the incoming ARTICLE, KARL MILLER, material stream. After the bottles have been pre-sorted and the MANAGING DIRECTOR AT labels have been removed, they MOTAN COLORTRONIC are visually inspected and sorted LIMITED, LOOKS by polymer type and colour. Once AT HOW USING THE separated into clear and coloured RIGHT PROCESSING streams, the bottles are ground TECHNOLOGY FOR and washed. During this process, PET fines are generated and PET FINES FROM removed along with other residues RECYCLED PLASTIC such as paper, aluminium, or PVC. BOTTLES CAN RESULT The purity requirements of the final IN THE PRODUCTION product vary depending on the end OF A HIGHER QUALITY, user. The below table represents the purity levels typically required USEABLE PRODUCT for flake used to produce AND A SIGNIFICANT thermoforming sheet. COMMERCIAL IMPACT. The final quality of the PET flake is dependent on the composition

Metal: Paper: Polyoleﬁns: Others: Coloured ﬂakes: Light blue: PVC: Adhesives: Additives: 46

of the incoming bales, as well as the sorting technology used in the recycling facility. This represents a daunting challenge for the melt filtration system in re-pelletising, thermoforming and packaging tape lines, especially if the aluminium fraction dramatically exceeds the specified 10 ppm. The challenge is all the more intriguing when it comes to applications for the fines that are obtained when the PET bottles are ground. These fines contain a much higher percentage of contaminants because more paper, aluminium, and PVC are separated during the screening and hot washing processes. It is exactly this that makes them so difficult to utilise as a valuable raw material. Due to the small size of the PET particles, they have a larger surface area and hence absorb more moisture. Even with efficient degassing technology during the extrusion process, the IV values tend to drop significantly. Additionally, higher contamination levels block static screens quickly, making it a challenge to process this material, even with sophisticated back-flushing screen changers. As a result, a large majority of the PET fines are sold off at a very low price. When considering that even a small recycling facility can produce more than 20 tonnes of fines per month,

Clear PET, thermoforming sheet <10 ppm <50 ppm <50 ppm <25 ppm <500 ppm <50,000 ppm (5%) <10 ppm <400 ppm <1200 ppm WWW.BRITISHPLASTICS.CO.UK

Karl Miller

When melt ﬂows through the filter, contaminants are retained on the outside of the screen

finding a solution to filter this product could have a huge commercial impact on the bottom line. With a proper pre-screening system in place combined with a dryer, extruder and continuous melt filter, customers can now create a useable product from these fines.

High performance and a long service life

The ECO continuous melt filter manufactured by Ettlinger plays a major role in processing highly contaminated feed streams. The central component of the ECO melt filter is a rotating, cylindrical filter screen with millions of conical holes that can be supplied with a wide variety of screen sizes. When melt flows through the filter, contaminants are retained on the outside of the screen – in addition to solid contaminants such as aluminium and black specks as well. Highmolecular and cross-linked fractions, which arise due to high temperature stresses, are efficiently separated from the melt stream along with gels. The cleaned melt on the inside of the drum is supplied to the downstream die via a system of flow channels.

“When considering that even a small recycling facility can produce more than 20 tonnes of fines per month, finding a solution to filter this product could have a huge commercial impact on the bottom line. With a proper pre-screening system in place combined with a dryer, extruder and continuous melt filter, customers can now create a useable product from these fines.” WWW.BRITISHPLASTICS.CO.UK

The contaminants are wiped clean from the filter surface after each rotation of the screen. They are then discharged from the unit by means of a discharge shaft. If contamination levels spike causing the pressure to rise, the drum automatically increases. This ensures a steady pressure at all times. Unlike many backflush systems, the purge from the ECO contains a high percentage of contamination. The ECO filter not only has a very compact design but is also extremely durable. The interval between screen changes can last several weeks or even months depending on the material and level of contamination. During this time, the melt pressure remains stable. The unit is designed to remove contamination levels as high as 1.5 percent by weight. Two sizes are available depending on the capacity requirements: The ECO 200 is for throughputs up to 1,500 kg/h and as the ECO 250 for a maximum of 3000 kg/h. In addition to polyolefin melts, it is also suitable for filtering easy-flowing materials such as PET or PA. With their compact, space saving design, ECO melt filters can be retrofitted in existing extrusion lines without any problems. WWW.MOTAN-COLORTRONIC.CO.UK

1915

Solar Determinator®

1927

Original Weather-Ometer®

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1995

Ci4000 Weather-Ometer®

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The New Ci4400 Weather-Ometer®

Our Latest Milestone. The Atlas Ci4400. For over 100 years, Atlas instruments have revolutionized the science of weather durability testing. The new Atlas Ci4400 WeatherOmeter® is our most advanced instrument yet - providing easy and effortless operation, unmatched uniformity, increased capacity and a sleeker design, delivering unparalleled value and performance. With its user-friendly touch screen interface and ergonomic features, the best-in-class just got even better. Learn more about the new Ci4400 Weather-Ometer at atlas-mts.com.

Visit our stand 10/D41

www.motan-colortronic.co.uk

K 2016: The UK Edit

he UK occupies a strong position in the global plastics industry. From specialist machinery and materials manufacturers to experienced consultants and service providers – exhibitors will be promoting their expertise at the K Show in Düsseldorf this month (19 – 26 October). As this is our on-site special edition of BP&R, we highlight over the following pages some of the newest solutions and

AB SYSTEMS JOINS COOLING AND MATERIALS HANDLING SUPPLIERS

VICTREX TO SHOWCASE AN ENHANCED RANGE OF PAEK POLYMER PRODUCTS AND SERVICES Victrex, a provider of high-performance PAEK*-polymer solutions, is to present its significantly extended portfolio at K 2016. In addition to new types of Victrex PEEK polymers and their various applications, the focus will be on forward-facing integrated offerings and, in particular, new technologies. These will include the new Victrex AE 250 composites, developed for the aerospace industry, whose manufacture utilises hybrid moulding technology. Solutions for gears and e-motors are to dominate the automotive section of the stand, while new types of PEEK polymer and a record length PEEK structure for composites will be the highlights in the oil-andgas industry section. Victrex, whch is based in Thornton Cleveleys, UK, says its objective across its focus industries is to support its customers with the development of reliable, highly durable applications even under extreme conditions, and whose implementation involves the shortest possible development period at a competitive total cost. The Victrex stand at K 2016 will showcase such new PAEKbased solutions, technologies and services and examples of their growing use in critical applications. FIND THEM - HALL 5, STAND B09 WWW.VICTREX.COM *) PAEK, Polyaryletherketone, a family of highperformance thermoplastics, such as VICTREX PEEK

Process cooling and materials handling specialist, AB Systems, will be supporting three of its suppliers - manufacturers Avian Granulator, Lorandi Silos and Nova Frigo - at this year’s K Show, giving visitors the chance to explore AB Systems’ ‘onestop’ solutions. Directors of AB Systems, Jeff Day and Steve Payne, will be offering guidance on equipment across the three manufacturers’ ranges – for each of whom AB Systems is the exclusive UK distributor - including design, installation and maintenance of standalone and integrated systems. While Lorandi Silos, Nova Frigo and Avian Granulator are all known names in the industry, K Show visitors may be less familiar with the latter since the company is based in Shanghai as opposed to the other two which are European. The K Show, therefore, will be the first opportunity that many visitors have to inspect Avian Granulator kit in the flesh. “Avian Granulator will have a full range of their equipment on display at the K show. There is incredible demand for high quality and very competitively priced granulators, pulverisers and shredders in the market, so we anticipate that the stand will be very popular with plastics manufacturers that want to check the kit out for themselves,” explained Day. In addition to talking to show visitors about products and system solutions, Payne and Day will be offering consultation on energy and

WWW.BRITISHPLASTICS.CO.UK

services being offered by UK exhibitors at the fair, as well as providing a full rundown of the stand numbers for visitors. Aside from the UK companies exhibiting at the show, we also share insight from a visitor’s perspective, with advice for UK plastics companies heading out to the show on what to expect, key trends and things to consider.

cost saving techniques that can help manufacturers to meet budgetary, performance, environmental and plant expansion targets. “AB Systems is sole UK distributor to a number of OEMs in addition to those exhibiting at the show,” explained Payne. “We have experience with equipment from nearly every materials handling and cooling manufacturer in the market – an achievement few companies can lay claim to – making us best placed to help visitors looking for a wide variety of brand-specific technical services for both materials handling and cooling systems.” Visitors to the show will be able to find the team from AB Systems on the stands listed below. FIND THEM HALL 11, STAND D04 (AVIAN GRANULATOR) HALL 10, STAND B58 (LORANDI SILOS) HALL 10, STAND B42 (NOVA FRIGO) WWW.AB-LTD.CO.UK

SPOTLIGHT

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CERAMICX TO LAUNCH NEW INFRARED HEATING MACHINES Ceramicx will exhibit and demonstrate a range of IR (infrared) heating products and engineering solutions for the worldwide plastics industries at K 2016. The company will use its presence at the show to launch its latest range of IR heating products, following the successful introduction of its Herschel IR test instrument – technology that is able to map and predict the invisible spectrum of the Infrared energy field – at K 2013. The company, headquartered in West Cork, Ireland, designs and manufactures infrared heating components and systems for industrial and commercial use. It is unique in making and supplying all three kinds of IR components – ceramic elements, quartz elements and quartz tungsten elements. Key users in plastics of Ceramicx technology include thermoforming and blow moulding processors and machinery builders, together with those involved in drying, curing, materials welding and bonding, conveying and furnace ovens. During the show Ceramicx representatives will be on hand to deliver advice on the kinds of process control and Infrared heating options best suited to plastics industry customers. “At Ceramicx you will find a company that is not satisfied with the established standards for the industry. We have developed many new products that better fit the needs of today’s manufacturer who has no choice but to be reliant on process heating,” explained Founder, Frank Wilson. “We set out to give our plastics industry customers a much superior product at a competitive price and we look forward to offering all a very warm welcome at our K 2016 booth.” FIND THEM - HALL 11, STAND A01 WWW.CERAMICX.CO.UK

BUNTING TO DEMONSTRATE WORKING METAL SEPARATION EQUIPMENT FOR PLASTICS Bunting Magnetics will be showing visitors the benefits of using separation equipment for the effective removal of metal contaminants from plastic waste streams. On its stand at K 2016, the company is running a working metal separator (a combination of a drawer magnet grate followed by a metal detector), as well as a ‘Quicktron’ metal detector. Also on the stand will be productionsized examples of FF Drawer Magnets, Plate Magnets and Tube Magnets, where customers can experience the strength of the magnetic force by attempting to pull steel bolts off the surface of a magnet. “Metal contamination is a common problem within the Plastics and Rubber industries, causing product defects and damaging processing equipment. The type of metal can range from small, fine metal to larger screws or nuts and bolts. Effective removal is essential and achieved by using the right metal separation equipment installed in the correct location,” explained Dave Hills, Bunting’s Head of Sales. “When customers visit our stand we want to show them the separation capabilities of our equipment. It is one thing to say a piece of ferrous or nonferrous metal will be separated, but another to actually show it happening,” he continued.

SYSTECH INSTRUMENTS TO INTRODUCE COMBINED OXYGEN AND WATER VAPOUR ANALYSER Systech Instruments, experts in moisture, oxygen and gas analysis, will introduce its new combined oxygen and water vapour station, the DualPerm, at K 2016. This new combination package offers substantial savings compared to the initial purchase cost of two separate permeation analysers, says Systech, and provides a shared computer interface, shared nitrogen supply and reduced

WWW.BRITISHPLASTICS.CO.UK

Bunting’s Global headquarters is located in Newton, Kansas, USA and the European manufacturing headquarters in Berkhamsted in Hertfordshire, UK. Hills says the company’s involvement in K Show is an important platform for the global plastics industry to find out more about the usefulness of its products. “The K Show is the number one exhibition for the Plastics and Rubber industry in Europe and one of the premier events on the global calendar,” he said. “We [Bunting] have been helping the industry solve their metal contamination problems for decades. Having a stand and demonstrating our metal separators is really important and we look forward to helping companies address this costly issue.” FIND THEM - HALL 10, STAND G16 WWW.BUNTINGEUROPE.COM

SPOTLIGHT

installation costs. Systech, which is headquarted in Oxon, UK, has been designing and manufacturing oxygen permeation and water vapour permeation analysers for many years, offering reliable and versatile testing of all films, packages and bottles. Its analysers offer a wide sample temperature range of 5° to 50°C and a measured and controlled relative humidity range of 20 to 90 percent RH. FIND THEM - HALL 10, STAND G13 WWW.SYSTECHILLINOIS.COM

Heavy Duty Pull Out Mould Tool Racking Designed for unit loads from 100 Kgs to 10,000 kg, also available in various widths and heights to suit customers requirements.

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Rack Storage (UK) Ltd 1310 Solihull Parkway, Birmingham Business Park, Solihull, Birmingham B37 7YB Tel: 01527 910965 Email: dean@rack-storage-uk.co.uk Web: www.rack-storage-uk.co.uk

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TMW Mould Temperature Controller

TMW water heaters heat the mould and maintain set temperature. Direct cooling and high pressure pump ensure constant temperature. With our optimised design, water can reach 120˚C and the accurate PID control maintains accuracy of ±1˚C. Features: • Accurate PID control maintains temperature within ±1˚C. • Multiple safety devices with visible alarm. • Accurate temperature control achieved by direct cooling. • 5 BAR 42 litres/min • Max temp 120˚C.

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ASTROPOL AND COLOURPOL TO SHOWCASE BESPOKE MASTERBATCHES Astropol and Colourpol will be promoting their capabilities in the production of bespoke masterbatches at K2016. Astropol and the new division of Colourpol, based in Lancashire, UK, has expanded to double in size in recent years, and has increased capacity to produce colour masterbatches for a wide range of products using unique polymeric dispersion techniques. Both divisons have chosen to attend this high profile event with the BPF in order to extend their opportunities to introduce their bespoke

ATLAS CELEBRATES “BUMPER YEAR” FOR SLITTING AND REWINDING EQUIPMENT Atlas Converting Equipment Ltd. (UK) will present its range of primary and secondary slitter rewinders at K 2016 as it celebrates 40 years in business. Atlas specialises in the design and manufacture of slitter rewinders for a wide range of flexible materials, including plain and metallised plastic film. The company, which has its global headquarters in Bedford, UK, says 2016 is looking to be another “bumper year”, with orders significantly ahead of the previous year and with the scheduled delivery of three 10.5m primary slitter rewinders in 2016. “We will be using the K-Show to celebrate our 40 years of slitting and rewinding innovation and welcome customers old and new, as well as anyone else, to join us in celebrating our anniversary and discussing any slitting and rewinding challenges they are facing,” commented Stan Braycotton, Sales Director at Atlas Converting. FIND THEM - HALL 3, STAND B91 WWW.ATLASCONVERTING.COM

masterbatches – PVC based in the case of Astropol, and more diverse polymers in the case of Colourpol – to a wider audience. “Our attendance at K2016 is yet another positive investment in our future,” explained Managing Director, Chris Wright. “I am really looking forward to establishing what extra business we can create for our growing companies. Our masterbatches are proving to be products that clients want. The aim is to offer them to a wider audience through our presence at K2016.” FIND THEM - HALL 05, STAND A28 WWW.ASTROPOL.UK.COM

ELG CARBON FIBRE PRESENTS MARKET’S FIRST 2.7M WIDE RECYCLED CARBON MATS At the K Show, ELG Carbon Fibre will be promoting its new range of 2.7 metre nonwoven recycled mats, the first available at this width. These products have recently gone into full-scale production on a newly installed, specialist machine designed to process recycled carbon fibres at its UK facility in the West Midlands. The company believes the new ‘Carbiso M’ and ‘TM’ product ranges will strongly appeal to OEMs in the transportation sector seeking cost effective alternatives to virgin carbon fibre for vehicle lightweighting. “With the correct design, nonwoven recycled carbon fibre can be used very successfully to manufacture low cost, lightweight structures using most high-volume manufacturing processes. It seems that new applications for these materials are being identified every week, making this an exciting and progressive time for the company and our technology,” explained Frazer Barnes, Managing Director of ELG Carbon Fibre. ELG says the Carbiso M and TM materials demonstrate excellent drapeability and performance whilst delivering cost effective lightweighting and significant environmental benefits compared to virgin carbon fibre. The materials may be used either on their own, or with selective use of virgin carbon fibres to provide tailored

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structural properties. ELG Carbon Fibre’s Carbiso M mats are ideally suited for closed mould processes and can also be used for the manufacture of intermediate products such as prepregs and sheet moulding compounds for composite manufacturing. The thermoplastic Carbiso TM mats are designed for fast cycle times in press moulding applications. In addition to the 2.7 metre Carbiso M and TM mats, of which there will be small sample sizes on display, ELG will also highlight other key products within its range. These include its ‘Carbiso MF’ (Milled Fibre), which is compatible with most thermoset and thermoplastic matrices and its ‘Carbiso CT’ Chopped tow carbon fibre, suitable for use with most thermosetting resins. FIND THEM - HALL 5, STAND A33 WWW.ELGCF.COM

SPOTLIGHT

NEC BIRMINGHAM, UK | 26-28 SEPTEMBER 2017

INJECTION MOULDING

EXTRUSION

ROTATIONAL MOULDING

BLOW MOULDING

RECYCLING

THERMOFORMING

MATERIALS

VACUUM FORMIN G

D ES I G N

FILM EXTRUSION

EXHIBIT NOW

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GILLARD TO LAUNCH NEW EXTRUSION SERVO CUTTER Gillard Cutting Technology will be exhibiting a new extrusion servo rotary cutter on its stand at K 2016. The new Servo-Torq Plus extrusion cutter is designed for plastics and rubbers, as well as many non-polymer materials. The unit combines the latest Lenze brushless AC servomotors with a fully digital multi-axis control system to activate the rotating knife blade. According to Gillard, based in Gloucestershire, UK, very high cut rates are possible, with precise cut length accuracy. The company says that the new Siemens widescreen touch panels allow easy operator control of the machine. The new Servo-Torq cutters are available with maximum diameter cutting capacities of up to 150 mm. All types of plastic and rubber extruded material can be cut with the machine. Integral twin-belt Accra-Feed caterpillar infeeder/puller machines are provided to match every cutter model. These feature direct drive AC motors and planetary gearboxes. Gillard says that this gives improved speed control at high extrusion speeds. A high level of connectivity is standard. Remote support is available via the Internet using the built-in VPN router. Profinet communications allows networking with the rest of the extrusion line. FIND THEM - HALL 16, STAND C77 WWW.GILLARDCUTTING.COM

CRODA TO OFFER LIVE DEMONSTRATIONS OF NEW ANTISCRATCH ADDITIVES Croda Europe Ltd. is running live demonstrations of its new range of anti-scratch additives at K 2016, which are targeted at applications in the automation and packaging industries. These additives not only reduce scratch width, depth and visibility, but also offer no negative impact on parts, low visible bloom, low odour and maintained gloss. The range offers products for a variety of polymers and applications from high gloss surfaces to transparent parts. Croda, which has its global headquarters in East Yorkshire, UK, launched the new range of anti-scratch additives to meet the demand for improved quality of plastic parts in high-end applications. The additives include high stability products that work from within the formulation to enhance plastics’ surface properties. They can withstand challenging processing conditions and give long-term in-use performance in the finished products. Additionally, their low usage levels do not cause any detrimental effect on mechanical properties. “We have undertaken a significant project in the area of anti-scratch so that we are able to advise our customers which product and addition level will give optimum performance in their formulations. We are pursuing this work and would like to engage further with our customers to continue this process and meet future needs in the

PREA OFFERING FREE CONSULTANCY SERVICES FOR GLOBAL POLYMER INDUSTRY

British-based consultancy, PREA, is offering visitors exclusive, free-of-charge services at K 2016. The company, based in Manchester, UK, was established over 25 years ago and now has offices worldwide. It specialises in recruitment and consultancy services for the global polymer, chemical and manufacturing industries. During the show, PREA is inviting visitors to its stand to receive free CV/Resume reviews for candidates, free consultation to employers

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area of anti-scratch for a wide range of plastics,” explained Croda’s Applications Team Leader, Martin Read. During the K show, Croda’s technical experts will be using scratch testing equipment to demonstrate how scratch visibility is reduced in a variety of polymers by the addition of small amounts of their speciality additives. Experts will then be able to work with customers and discuss specific projects. Croda will co-exhibit with its Coatings and Polymers division, which will be showcasing its range of bio-based building blocks and speciality additives. FIND THEM - HALL 7, STAND C22 WWW.CRODAPOLYMERADDITIVES.COM

SPOTLIGHT

wanting to discuss hiring personnel and free consultation to companies looking to sell, buy or restructure their companies. “We provide a unique service to the polymer industry, across plastics, rubber, composites, adhesives, polyurethanes and textiles and in a number of sectors, from automotive and aerospace to oil and gas,” explained Pravin S. Mistry, PREA’s Global CEO. “We are inviting visitors to our booth for confidential discussions that will be beneficial to both sides.”

FIND THEM - HALL 5, STAND A29 WWW.PREA.CO.UK

think materials management

K 2016: Business opportunities, busy halls and bratwurst - a visitor’s viewpoint How many Dugdale delegates are attending K2016 and what do you expect the mood to be like at the show?

Four employees will be attending for three days each, and between us, we have partaken in numerous K WITH THE WORLD’S BIGGEST exhibitions. Two COMPANIES, THE VERY of the attendees LATEST DEVELOPMENTS have visited AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO eight times, MEET NEW AND EXISTING the others four times. One of CONTACTS - THE K SHOW our staff, prior to OFFERS A PERFECT joining Dugdale, PLATFORM FOR VISITORS was a regular FROM THE UK PLASTICS exhibitor at the INDUSTRY TO FIND OUT KEY exhibition. In terms of mood, INFORMATION AND MARKET we are expecting INTELLIGENCE THAT CAN exhibitors and BENEFIT BUSINESS. delegates to be generally BRITISH PLASTICS AND optimistic RUBBER SPOKE TO DR. JEFF after what has been an RYAN, TECHNICAL DIRECTOR unpredictable AT UK PVC COMPOUNDER, year.

DUGDALE LIMITED, ON WHAT HE EXPECTS TO GAIN FROM THE SHOW, AS WELL AS KEY ADVICE FOR OTHER VISITORS.

From a visitor’s perspective, what do you regard the main benefits of attending the show to be?

It is generally an ideal venue to discuss and often see some of the latest technologies available with regards to machinery, software and special effect additives/products. Our Sales and Marketing Manager, who will also be attending, will be looking at marketing trends and exhibitor stand layout, as well as meeting potential clients. We shall be discussing with existing and new suppliers/manufacturers generally about the latest technology 56

and trends regarding mixing, compounding and additives. This will include laboratory/test equipment.

As a UK plastics company, what business opportunities are you looking forward to?

We are particularly looking forward to networking with industry professionals. Some meetings have been organised with overseas agents already and with increased interest in purchasing from the UK, especially since the recent fluctuations regarding the exchange rate, we expect more meetings to be finalised in the coming weeks.

What do you think the key trends affecting your business from a materials development angle will be?

Firstly, recycling and waste stream management. The requirement for good quality feedstock is critical for reuse/recycling and the ways/methods for achieving this will be on show at K. Also, trends around performance engineering, where the general move to develop materials for more demanding uses where traditional polymers or alternative materials are used. The use of alloys to enhance properties will be something interesting for us as a business to see at the show, including the search for synergies and new technologies by exploring the combining of polymers and additives or other polymers. I am also hoping to see developments on the advances in nano technology. New nano-fillers are appearing on the market and the latest development vision for these materials will be on show, hopefully in actual product applications and offering practical functional solutions. Of course, the latest developments in compounding technology – including melt compounding and high speed

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mixing – will be of great interest, as well as the latest laboratory facilities and research test services. With the installation of new laboratory facilities at Dugdale during 2016, there is a keen interest to explore new trends in both development and quality control test equipment/methods.

What do you expect will be the main additive technology trends at K?

I expect to see information on REACH/’ROsH2’-compliant additives, as customers seek advice about the use of particular additives and possible alternatives. Also, I expect cost effective anti-microbial/anti-bacterial technology to be a trend this year, as new, more effective additives are being introduced as a result of this area seeing some growth. I’d also expect to see stabilisers/ additives for more technically demanding applications - i.e. HDT, UV, fire/smoke performance (particularly antimony replacement). This will include more cost effective stabiliser technology and the possible introduction of more innovative methods to improve processability. Finally, special effect pigments/ surface finish modifiers, and “It is generally an better methods as ideal venue to discuss to how these can be incorporated into the and often see some of final product, are likely the latest technologies to be a trend at the available with regards show.

What advice would you give first time visitors to the show?

to machinery, software and special effect additives/products.”

It is critical that you plan your visit, ditch the tie and wear comfortable shoes. It’s always good advice to pace yourself in the evening! The bratwurst stand is always worth a visit too!

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K SHOW: UK EXHIBITOR LIST COMPANY

HALL

STAND

COMPANY

HALL

D14

Listgrove Recruitment

A28

Accrapak Systems Limited

E43

Lloyd Instruments Ltd.

D41

Addivant Uk. Ltd

E24

Longfield Chemicals Ltd.

A49

Aerogen Co., Ltd.

E48

Maguire Europe Sales Limited

A26

AGC Chemicals Europe Ltd.

C10

Mexichem Specialty Compounds 8b

E31

Almo / ADDmix

A31

Michael Ballance Plastics Ltd

A25

AlphaGary Limited/Mexichem

E31

MSA Engineering Systems Ltd

D35

ALS Limited

G14

Munchy Ltd.

B22

Applied Market Information Ltd.

C11

NDC Technologies Ltd.

H42

Arto Chemicals Limited

E38

Nextool (UK) Ltd

E54

Ashe Converting Equipment Ltd. 3

B54

Omya UK Limited

D75

Astropol Ltd.

D39

A28

Pan Stone Europe Ltd

Atlas Converting Equipment Ltd. 3

B91

Plastics Consultancy Network

A28

B&M Longworth (Edgworth) Ltd

E48

Peter Gillard & Co. Limited

C77

Barwell Global Ltd

B48

Plasmac Ltd.

A74

BMC Controls Ltd

F22

Plastics Machinery Group Ltd.

E50

Boston Matthews Machinery Ltd 16

B22

PLATTS

7.1

C54

Brett Martin Ltd.

C31

Polydist (EUROPE) Limited

7.2

E07

British Plastics Federation

A28

PREA LTD

A29

Bühler Sortex Limited

E81

Precision Instruments Ltd

B48

Bunting Magnetics Europe Ltd

G16

Prescott Instruments Ltd.

B48

C L Rye Trading Ltd

A41

Progressive Components Ltd

D36

CARTER Brothers (Rochdale) Ltd. 11

B44

Proto Labs Ltd.

D59

CCS Technology Limited

E46

Q-Lab Europe Ltd.

D50

Colloids Limited

D01

Ray-Ran Test Equipment Ltd.

B68

ColorMatrix

J15

Ridat/First Pride Ltd

A28

Colourpol Ltd.

A28

Riverdale Global

A26

Corona Supplies Ltd.

G65

SATAKE

C44

Croda Europe Ltd.

C22

SEVENSEAS INTERNATIONAL LTD 5

A37

ELASTO UK Ltd

H18

Shell International.

E80

ELG Carbon Fibre Ltd.

A33

Silberline Ltd.

A35

7.2

E06

Silex Ltd.

C39

Euro Exim Limited

A27

Silicone Engineering Limited

B02

First Pride Ltd.

A28

Stemaco (Raw Materials) Ltd.

E76

Formech International Ltd.

F46

Symphony Environmental Ltd

B40 G13

EU Mirror Ltd

Fothergill Coated Fabrics Ltd

7.1

C44

Systech Instruments Ltd.

Fraser Anti-Static Techniques

H75

Tinius Olsen Ltd.

A11

Great Lakes Solutions (UK) Ltd.

E24

TITAN ATLAS Ltd.

B91

Hubron (International) Ltd

A39

BESTON INTERNATIONAL Group 15

A19

Huntsman P & A UK LTD

K11

UNITE INTERNATIONAL LTD.

H75

ICIS

C20

Useon Extrusion (Europe) Ltd

C71

Impact Solutions

A34

Valtris Specialty Chemicals Ltd.

E36 B48

Intouch Monitoring Limited

A28

Wallace Instruments Ltd

Invista Textiles (UK) Ltd

B21

Wells Plastics Limited

A26

IQMS Ltd.

A30

Zotefoams Plc.

A24

7.1

D24

Keystone Europe Limited

Opportunities for the UK plastics industry at K 2016

STAND

2KM UK Limited

comment

IN THIS MONTH’S COLUMN, KEVIN HORNE, CHAIRMAN OF THE POLYMER MACHINERY MANUFACTURERS AND DISTRIBUTORS ASSOCIATION (PMMDA) AND MANAGING DIRECTOR OF RENMAR PLASTICS MACHINERY LIMITED, LOOKS AT THE OPPORTUNITIES PRESENTED FOR THE UK PLASTICS INDUSTRY AT K SHOW AND REMINDS VISITORS AND EXHIBITORS ALIKE THAT THE KEY TO SUCCESS COULD BE DOWN TO YOUR CHOICE OF SHOES.

ith the holiday season out of the way and in a post-Brexit era (whatever that means, I’m still not sure myself) let’s hope the UK can get back to some sort of normality heading towards the final quarter of 2016. Having spoken with a number of other members over the last few weeks it appears that the level of interest in machinery is good, but there is a distinct lack of ‘pen to paper’ when it comes to placing orders. In terms of upcoming events, this month brings the K Show from 19th – 26th October. Once again, there will be big push from all the manufacturers to get all their latest developments on show. As many of you will know if you have visited this event before, it covers a huge area, with many facets and industries covered. For me, I will need to spend time on some five different stands during the show to show our support for the principles we represent, just like many of my counterparts in the industry. That said - I do hope you all have some comfortable shoes! With regard to the number visitors expected from the UK, I haven’t seen any projected figures, however, no doubt there will be many companies taking the opportunity to finalise

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projects or indeed see specific equipment they are interested in purchasing in the coming months or years. I can only speak for Renmar, but we have around nine or 10 customers coming over to discuss major projects - so the opportunities are there for growth within the UK plastics sector. I will be interested to hear after the show from the other members of the PMMDA as to how successful the show was for their individual companies. Let’s hope that the last quarter of 2016 is as good as the first. Finally, may I take this opportunity of expressing my adoration for all the athletes from Team GB in both the Olympics and Paralympics. They did a fantastic job and certainly made me proud, well done all. WWW.PMMDA.ORG.UK 57

Engineering Passion

MACHINERY | NEWS CUSTOMISED PIOVAN BLENDER BRINGS NEW BENEFITS TO MEDICAL MOULDER Medical injection moulding specialist, polymermedics, has teamed up with Piovan to produce a modified version of its Quantum Q7 gravimetric blender, achieving new levels of reliability while minimising dust creation. The variant of the standard Q7 was a result of observations made by Cornwall-based polymermedics’ team as to how the blender

Sharon Mitchell, Process Engineer at polymermedics

could be adapted for the needs of the medical moulding industry. “I looked at the system from an operator’s point of view, and how I want it to work,” explained Sharon Mitchell, Process Engineer at polymermedics. By feeding regrinds directly back into the throat of the blender and ensuring a perfect blend of material is fed into the barrel, Mitchell realised she could dramatically simplify the process – further improving reliability, efficiency and colour consistency, while reducing dust generation in the company’s clean moulding environment. “We have an excellent working relationship with Piovan, so I knew they’d be interested in hearing our suggestions for the system,” explained polymermedics’ Technical Manager, Neil Skyba. Following discussions with Piovan in Venice, the modifications were made and the customised Q7 is now installed in polymermedics’ moulding hall. “Thanks to Sharon and Piovan, the Quantum Q7 now perfectly meets the needs of our industry, and helps us to produce our products in a cleaner, more accurate and more efficient way,” Skyba continued. “It’s another major investment for us, and it’s already working really well.” WWW.POLYMERMEDICS.COM

BODDINGTONS TO OPEN £4.6M STATEOF-THE-ART INJECTION MOULDING PLANT Kent-based Boddingtons is set to open a new £4.6m state-of-the-art injection moulding plant on the morning of Tuesday November 1st. Former Government Minister and CBI Director General, Lord Digby Jones, will officially open the new factory, which incorporates Class 7 cleanrooms, reducing bioburdens and particulates; white room(s) with less fibres and contiminants; disaster recovery safeguards and other benefits. “From the outset we envisaged nothing less than a state-of-the-art operation in order to further grow our business and welcome in new clients - from blue chip OEMs to start up product innovators,” commented Andy Tibbs, Boddingtons’ Managing Director. “I am pleased to say that the quality of the design and build has exceeded our expectations. We now offer manufacturing services and a moulding destination that can cater to the best customers in the world. We are really looking forward to our big day on November 1st.” WWW.BODDINGTONS.CO.UK 58

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www.kraussmaffei.com Delegates inspect the machinery at the new training facility

SUMITOMO (SHI) DEMAG OPENS NEW TRAINING FACILITY FOR UK MOULDERS Sumitomo (SHI) Demag has opened a high-class training facility in order to ensure UK moulders are getting the most out of their machinery investments. Based in Daventry, the new academy, hosted by longstanding project partner, Mouldshop, is designed to give new and existing customers and their machine operatives access to practical demonstrations, as well as product trials and tool testing. Starting with the installation of a 100 tonne Systec hydraulic system and a 160 tonne all-electric Smart machine, Aylesbury-based Sumitomo (SHI) Demag has already confirmed that it will continue to add to the centre. There is also the potential to create a clean room if demand requires it. Nigel Flowers, Managing Director of Sumitomo (SHI) Demag, said that the facility, which formally opened on 14th September 2016, would not only help UK-wide moulders to de-risk projects, it will also focus on helping people in the trade to develop their skills and optimise production processes. “We are offering customers everything from the very basic to advanced level training, including inductions for new starters, machine and technology awareness training and installation and process optimisation workshops. What’s more, content can be tailored to each

EAGERNESS FOR NEW NETSTAL MACHINE SERIES CLEAR WITH PRE-ORDERS AHEAD OF OFFICIAL LAUNCH A major Austrian automotive parts supplier has demonstrated its confidence in the capabilities of Netstal’s latest injection moulding machine by placing one of the first pre-orders ahead of its official launch. Pollmann International GmbH, a manufacturer of complex and intelligent mechatronics assemblies used in vehicles, has ordered an ELIOS 6500 for the production of thin-walled, lightweight plastic parts. The machine series, which is to be officially launched by Netstal at K

customer’s requirements,” Flowers explained. Last year, Sumitomo (SHI) Demag launched a new ‘Machine and Process Appreciation’ UK training programme. It initially focused on up-skilling machine users on how to operate the company’s NC5 and NC5 Plus control panel, however, it quickly evolved into a beginner, intermediate and advanced level programme, with all customers embarking on the training reporting huge productivity improvements. Using the Machine and Process Appreciation training framework, Sumitomo (SHI) Demag will run group induction, intermediate and advanced workshops from the new centre. Customers will receive personal invitations and notifications of the schedule as training dates are released. These workshops will enable customers to interact with industry counterparts and share good business practice. Sumitomo (SHI) Demag’s process and training engineer, James Hines, and the company’s newest team member, Darren Vater-Hutchinson,

will deliver most of the training. Combined, the two experts have more than 50 years industry experience, including trade moulding, automotive, pharmaceutical, telecoms and IT consumables. Since joining the company this time last year, Hines has made site visits to a number of customers and has observed a steady growth in demand for bespoke training, especially in relation to addressing production weaknesses and making efficiency gains. “Manufacturing stability and product integrity are paramount for moulders today,” he said. “The ability to demonstrate the latest technology, run mould trials and train both technical and non-technical operatives on top-of-the-range machinery will help to advance the knowledge and skills that tomorrow’s UK plastics workforce needs. These skills will be fundamental to maintaining a competitive edge in an increasingly global injection moulding marketplace.” UK.SUMITOMO-SHI-DEMAG.EU

2016 this month, also includes the larger 7500 machine, which features the fastest dry cycle in its size class. “The specified technical performance features of the new machine fully convinced us beforehand. That is why, on the basis of trust and experience, we placed an order to be able to produce on a new ELIOS as quickly as possible,” explained Manfred Jäger, a buyer of capital goods for Pollmann. With the ELIOS 7500, Netstal says it has succeeded in transferring the high speed and precision to a 750-tonne clamping unit with electrical movement. As a result, according to Euromap, the new machine currently offers the fastest dry cycle in its size class. During the eight days of the trade fair, more than 43,000 domed lids

with a part weight of 2.8 grams will be produced per hour in a 24+24 stack mould. This corresponds to a cycle time of just four seconds.

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WWW.NETSTAL.COM The new ELIOS 7500 features the fastest dry cycle in its size class

RECLAMATION AND RECYCLING | NEWS EUROPEAN PLASTICS ASSOCIATIONS UNITE IN THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CIRCULAR ECONOMY PACKAGE Three of Europe’s plastics trade associations and representative bodies have united to outline their recommendations for the Circular Economy Package in order to enhance sustainability within the plastics industry. In a joint statement, EuPC, PlasticsEurope and PRE called for decision makers to seize the opportunity to build a package that incorporates the whole value chain, giving clear direction for the future of sustainability, recycling and the environment. The main recommendations include zero plastics to landfill by 2025 and the mandatory separate collection of all packaging from residual waste by 2025. It acknowledges the “challenging” 55 percent plastic packaging ‘preparing for re-use and recycling’ target by 2025, and calls for the Commission to establish a uniform methodology for the calculation of the targets of preparing for re-use and recycling and the measurement

point for recycling performance. EU-wide quality standards for plastic waste and its treatment should be developed, it says, including specifications for sorted waste, harmonisation of test methods for recycled plastic materials and certification of plastic recycling operations. Finally, the recommendations call for the stimulation of innovation in technologies throughout the whole plastics value-chain to increase the potential for recycling. “This circular economy package is the right way forward for the plastics industry to further enhance

sustainability in our way of doing business,” commented Michael Kundel, EuPC President. “It will also guide consumers and public authorities in the same direction. Industry will develop innovative tools and new business models as well as products that will contribute to the new circular economy within the next decades. We will work together to develop quality recyclates to fulfill the future needs in our plastics industry markets.” WWW.PLASTICSCONVERTERS.EU WWW.PLASTICSEUROPE.ORG WWW.PLASTICSRECYCLERS.EU

PLASGRAN EXPANDS INTO MUNICIPAL SERVICES SECTOR Cambridgeshire-based plastics recycling specialist, PLASgran, has announced it is to extend into the municipal wheelie bin and associated services sector as part of its ongoing growth. The company’s newly incorporated ‘Municipal Services Division’ will offer a full range of services to wheelie bin manufacturers, local authorities and waste management providers for the on-street delivery and collection of wheelie bins, together with a ‘one-stop-shop’ for end of life bins and containers. PLASgran has employed the services of an experienced team, headed by David Barber and John Exley, to set up and run the new Division, who bring with them more than 30 years of experience in this sector. PLASgran Managing Director, Mark 60

Left to Right - John Exley, Mark Roberts, David Barber

Roberts, said: “We are delighted to bring on board this new capability, which further enhances our complete offering to our customer and supplier base. The experience in this area that David and John bring is invaluable and will ensure that the quality of service our customers WWW.BRITISHPLASTICS.CO.UK

receive will be second to none.” This recent addition to the business follows a series of investments in new equipment, capabilities and resources throughout 2016. WWW.PLASGRANLTD.CO.UK

FESTIVAL BRINGS TOGETHER A ‘FUSION’ OF PLASTICS RECYCLING AND MUSIC Close to 10,000 plastic bottles were collected and recycled from one of the UK’s leading music festivals last month in an initiative to promote recycling outside of the home. The scheme, implemented at Fusion Festival in Liverpool, was a collaboration between soft drinks company, Britvic, and recycling association, RECOUP, designed to encourage festivalgoers to recycle their empty plastic drinks bottles at the event. For the collection, RECOUP installed a network of plastics recycling units across the festival site, as well as arranging for the sorting and reprocessing of the material at the end of the event. As an incentive to recycle their plastic waste, attendees were offered a gift bag made from three recycled PET bottles, which contained environmentally friendly essential items. They were also given the opportunity to win a festival VIP ticket by answering a plastics recycling-based question. The emphasis was to create highly visible messaging at each of the recycling points where the RECOUP

The recycling points in place at the festival were a success, despite the weather

recycling team was able to engage with the consumers on a one-toone basis and encourage positive recycling behaviour change. The Fusion Festival Manager, Charlie Lock, commented that “encouraging our visitors to recycle

The free recycled bags given to attendees

in the units provided has the added benefit of reducing litter on site and makes the festival experience a much cleaner, more environmentally friendly one for everybody.” RECOUP says it would like to see effective and practical resource management plans in place for all music, sports and entertainment events and is planning to work with brand owners and events organisers to implement further future plans. Commenting on its partnership with RECOUP, Lauretta Lamont, CSR Manager, Britvic, said: “Packaging is an essential component of our products and making best use of this resource is an important focus for us and our Sustainable Business programme, as it is for our customers like Fusion. “The partnership with RECOUP has successfully promoted the importance of recycling, encouraging consumers to recycle their empty bottles to ensure a clean, green festival event and experience for everyone.” Anne Hitch, RECOUP Communications Manager, said the partnership was a “fantastic opportunity” to be able to engage with festivalgoers and re-enforce the plastics recycling message. “It is great that we have been able to work with Britvic again to help reduce the volume of waste normally sent to landfill from out-of-home consumption,” she concluded. WWW.RECOUP.ORG

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PLASTIC SCRAP COLLECTION SERVICE FOR THERMO- AND VACUUM-FORMERS LAUNCHED Vanden Recycling has started a new scrap collection service from plastics manufacturers that it says offers a sustainable solution for a variety of materials. It is targeting thermo- and vacuumformers based in South and South East England, East of England and the Midlands and will provide a collection service for a full spectrum of high quality polymers from manufacturing processes. As long as the material meets its quality specification, Vanden Recycling says it is confident that it will be able to find an efficient recycling solution for a wider range of plastics than any other company in the sector. Once collected, Vanden Recycling will process the material at its facility in the East of England before selling its product to manufacturing customers. “Our experience, expertise, our own recycling capacity and over

Co-Op is the first retailer to sign up to PIRAP

CO-OP BECOMES FIRST RETAILER TO COMMIT TO PLASTICS RECYCLING ACTION PLAN The Co-Op has become the UK’s first retailer to sign up to the ‘Plastic Industry Recycling Action Plan’ (PIRAP) and is urging others to do the same. The food retailer has pledged its support to the plan, which was launched collaboratively by the British Plastics Federation (BPF), PlasticsEurope and the Packaing and Films Association (PAFA) in 2015. In doing so it volunteers to

200 customers in 15 countries means that we are able to find a sustainable recycling solution for almost all plastics,” explained David Wilson, Vanden Recycling’s Managing Director. “We will also pay up-front for this material in most circumstances,

promote increasing plastics packaging recycling, in both its own operations and through supply chain collaboration. “We are proud to support this initiative as we recognise it is essential that everyone plays their part in increasing plastic packaging recycling,” commented Iain Ferguson, Co-Op’s Environment Manager. “We are committed to significantly increasing the recyclability of our packaging, but know that so much of the change needed must come from working together as an industry. We may be the first retailer to sign up to PIRAP but we also want to use this opportunity to call on other retailers WWW.BRITISHPLASTICS.CO.UK

meaning that customers can benefit from improved cash flow and the knowledge that their waste material is being recycled in the most environmentally appropriate way.” WWW.VANDENRECYCLING.COM

and suppliers to move with us. “We’re already working on some interesting innovations with our packaging and we have a history of doing the right thing when it comes to making recycling easier for our customers – the PIRAP plan includes work we have already started and also lays out some targets for us to focus on.” By signing the action plan, Co-Op becomes the 47th supporter of the initiative. Other companies that have recently commited include LINPAC Packaging, Surrey Waste Partnership and Monoworld Recycling. Helen Jordan of the British Plastics Federation said: “PIRAP was launched in 2015 to provide a collaborative approach to meeting the Government’s plastic packaging targets. PIRAP was the first time that the whole plastic packaging supply chain was brought together and shows how each stage of the supply chain can impact on recycling. “There are 47 supporters of PIRAP and progress has been made by all parts of the supply chain. We encourage more companies and organisations to get involved in PIRAP.” WWW.WRAP.ORG.UK/PIRAP

BUYER’S GUIDE

MATERIALS

HEATING EQUIPMENT

ASSEMBLY

MOULD RELEASE

hot plate welding Branson Ultrasonics

MASTERBATCH

158 Edinburgh Avenue, Slough, Berkshire SL1 4UE T: 01753 756675 F: 01753 551270 E: bucuk.sales@emerson.com W: www.bransoneurope.eu

BLACK & WHITE MASTERBATCH Compounding

Recycling

Moulding

Film

Pipe

Conduit

pulse staking H.T.E Engineering Ltd

Unit 9, St Ives Enterprise Centre, St Ives, Huntingdon Cambridgeshire, UK, PE27 3NP T: +44 (0) 1480 467321 M: +44 (0) 7435 967632 E: john@hte.ie W: www.pulsestaker.com

Whitelands Mill, Whitelands Road Ashton-under-Lyne, OL6 6UG, UK Tel: +44 (0)161 308 2550 Fax: +44 (0)161 343 2026 E-mail: aml@abbeymb.com Web: www.abbeymb.com

ultrasonic welding

CONTROL SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT quality monitoring control Kistler Instruments Ltd

T: 01256 741550 F: 01256 741551 E: sales.uk@kistler.com W: www.kistler.com Pressure transducers and associated monitoring/control equipment for new and existing injection moulding applications.

Accurate colour systems for the PVC and additives industries t: +44(0)1942 254006 e: sales@astropol.uk.com www.astropol.uk.com

DRYERS

MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT InControl Ultrasonics Ltd (FFR Ultrasonics Ltd)

Unit 5, Martindale, Hawks Green, Cannock, Staffs, WS11 7XN Replacement Coils New platens T: 01543 570642 F: 01543 574460 E: sales@mfinduction.com W: www.mfinduction.com

HOT RUNNER SYSTEMS hot runner controllers

Matilda House, Carrwood Road, Chesterfield Trading Estate, Chesterfield S41 9QB T: 01246 260222 F: 01246 455420 E: sales@motan-colortronic.co.uk W: www.motan-colortronic.co.uk

PO Box 10380, Sileby, LE12 7ZX T: 01509 621992 E: enquiries@ffr-ultrasonics. co.uk W: www.ffr-ultrasonics.co.uk

TO ADVERTISE IN THis SPACE CONTACT LISA MONTGOMERY 01244 680222

Telsonic UK Ltd

12a - 15 Birch Copse Technology Road, Poole, Dorset BH17 7FH T: 01202 697340 F: 01202 693674 E: info.uk@telsonic.com W: www.telsonic.co.uk Blog: telsonicuk.wordpress.com

MATERIALS HANDLING AND STORAGE gravimetric/volumetric blending

Eclipse Buyers Guide_Layout 1 07 vibration welding PL Machinery BG 2015_Layout 1 2

colour masterbatch

Polymer Specific and Universal Colour and Additive Masterbatches. Fastmatch colour matching service. 1 mm Easysperse MicroPellets to 4 mm MaxiPellets. Standards second to none.

MF Induction Heating

Motan Colortronic Ltd

ANCILLARIES

Units 3E + 3F, Hillam Road Industrial Estate, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD2 1QN T: 01274 731552 F: 01274 738118 E: sales@eclipsecolours.com W: www.eclipsecolours.com

induction heating for platens and tools

Motan Colortronic Ltd

Branson Ultrasonics

Whatever your ancillary needs – we have the solution

158 Edinburgh Avenue, Slough, Berkshire SL1 4UE T: 01753 756675 F: 01753 551270 E: bucuk.sales@emerson.com W: www.bransoneurope.eu

DRYER HIRE

CHILLERS/TEMPERATURE CONTROLLERS

Hire from one month Monthly rolling contract Opportunity to purchase

Motan Colortronic Ltd

Telephone: 01582 883666 Email: sales@plmachinery.com Web: www.plmachinery.com

TO ADVERTISE IN THis SPACE CONTACT LISA MONTGOMERY 01244 680222

Matilda House, Carrwood Road, Chesterfield Trading Estate, Chesterfield S41 9QB T: 01246 260222 F: 01246 455420 E: sales@motan-colortronic.co.uk W: www.motan-colortronic.co.uk

Range of models Preventative Maintenance Visits

Matilda House, Carrwood Road, Chesterfield Trading Estate, Chesterfield S41 9QB T: 01246 260222 F: 01246 455420 E: sales@motan-colortronic.co.uk W: www.motan-colortronic.co.uk

AM&LT PUGH KONGSKILDE FACEBOOK

Suction Blowers pipework cyclones New and Used recycling Equipment Kongskilde Spares, Parts and Pipework Suppliers industrial BLOWERS FLAKE/REGRIND Friendly Expert advice Les 01568 611338 Hereford W: WWW.GRAINBLOWERS.CO.UK

FOR SALE We have prime, reprocessed, regranulated, pulverised in various grades / colours flexible PVC compound for sale.

DEHUMIDIFIERS Motan Colortronic Ltd

Matilda House, Carrwood Road, Chesterfield Trading Estate, Chesterfield S41 9QB T: 01246 260222 F: 01246 455420 E: sales@motan-colortronic.co.uk W: www.motan-colortronic.co.uk

WWW.BRITISHPLASTICS.CO.UK

We also buy flexible PVC and associated raw materials, redundant stocks / scrap for reprocessing. Please send us your detailed enquiries / offers. Vinyl Ltd Tel: 01625 500912 Email: vinyl_ltd@mail.com 63

BUYER’S GUIDE SCREWS & BARRELS

MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT LABORATORY MACHINES

Magnetics Separators Metal Detectors Eddy Current Separators

Bunting Magnetics Europe Ltd European Design & Manufacturing Facility

Plastics Processing Machinery Bought & Sold, Thornhill, South Marston, Wiltshire SN3 4TA T: 01793 827666 F: 01793 823826 E: sales@transxl.co.uk W: www.transxl.co.uk

TRAINING

for

ulders injection mo c.co.uk www.rjgin

11 )1733 2322 P. +44 (0

Northbridge Road Berkhamsted Hertfordshire HP4 1EH, UK Tel: +44 (0) 1442 875081 Email: sales@buntingeurope.com www.buntingeurope.com www.magneticseparation.co

TransXL International Ltd

/magnetic_separation_and_metal_detection/

Contact: Carlton Hicks

NOZZLES & NOZZLE TIPS 3D PRINTING

Engineers to the Plastics & Rubber industries, specialising in the following: Screw & Barrel Manufacture Screw & Barrel Refurbishment Tie Bar Repair & Manufacture Screw Tip Assemblies Feed Liners, Plain & Grooved 100 Tonne Screw & Barrel Press Bimetallic Barrel Blanks up to 50 mm In Stock Please e-mail or phone Karl for more info. E. info@tws-mail.co.uk T. 01706 655402 W. www.tws-ltd.com Technical Welding Services (Rochdale) Ltd

MATERIALS HANDLING AND STORAGE hopper loaders

PRINTING MACHINES pad

SECONDHAND AND RECONDITIONED ANGLO PLASTICS LTD

Buy/Sell Used Plastics Machinery Rutland Road, Scunthorpe, DN16 1HX T: +44 (0) 1276 470910 T: +44 (0) 7740 632907 E: information@ angloplastics.com W: www.angloplastics.com

thermocouples

RECYCLING SYSTEMS EREMA Engineering Recycling Maschinen und Anlagen Ges.m.b.H.

MIXING, FEEDING & DOSING Motan Colortronic Ltd

Matilda House, Carrwood Road, Chesterfield Trading Estate, Chesterfield S41 9QB T: 01246 260222 F: 01246 455420 E: sales@motan-colortronic.co.uk W: www.motan-colortronic.co.uk

METAL DETECTION & SEPARATION EQUIPMENT Motan Colortronic Ltd

Matilda House, Carrwood Road, Chesterfield Trading Estate, Chesterfield S41 9QB T: 01246 260222 F: 01246 455420 E: sales@motan-colortronic.co.uk W: www.motan-colortronic.co.uk

Unterfeldstraße 3 4052 Ansfelden / Austria Phone: +43 (0)732/31 90-0 Fax: +43 (0)732/31 90-71 sales@erema.at www.erema.at

CHOOSE THE NUMBER ONE.

SCREEN CHANGERS Industrial Plastics Ltd

Unit 13 Canterbury Industrial Park, 297 Ilderton Road, London, SE15 1NP T: 020 7252 9600 F: 020 7252 9601 E: sales@ipl-london.co.uk W: www.ipl-london.co.uk

DM Machinery Ltd

Used Injection Moulding Machine Stockists 40 Thorne Lane, Wakefield West Yorkshire, WF1 5RR T: 01924 290206 E: sales@dmmachinery.co.uk W: www.dmmachinery.co.uk

DTL Machinery UK

- We buy / sell all makes / age / sizes of Plastic Injection Moulding Machinery & Ancillaries equipment. - We also buy redundant, nonrunners & faulty machinery. - Machinery repair and maintenance services available. T: 01925 596170 M: 07838138342 E: info@dtlmachinery.co.uk E: douglastrading@gmail.com

in Plastic & Rubber

BILL CARRINGTON

Regular quantity of Nylon/Polyester mixed fibre based in bales of 300400 kilos per bale. Contact 01253 736963

Motan Colortronic Ltd

Matilda House, Carrwood Road, Chesterfield Trading Estate, Chesterfield S41 9QB T: 01246 260222 F: 01246 455420 E: sales@motan-colortronic.co.uk W: www.motan-colortronic.co.uk

STATIC CONTROL

Tel: 01420 88645

www.projet3d.co.uk

SERVICES MOULDFLOW ANALYSIS

Arrowquint Ltd

Unit 2 Sanders Close, Finedon Road Industrial Estate, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire NN8 4HQ T: 08450 655455 F: 08450 655456 E: sales@arrowquint.co.uk W: www.arrowquint.co.uk Static control solutions, equipment sales and rental, repairs and on-site servicing. UK/Eire agent for Eltex – market leaders in static control systems.

TESTING EQUIPMENT

Injection

Moulding

Trainingancy Consultow fl & Mold c.co.uk www.rjgin

8 Lyall Court, Flitwick, Bedfordshire MK45 1UX T: 01525 850610 F: 01525 218008 E: cooperplastics@googlemail.com W: www.cooperplastics.co.uk Extruders, water baths, haul-offs, fly knife cutters, conveyors/tip tables, in-line punches, coilers etc. New and used. Repairs, servicing or rebuilds. UK agent for Lyons Electronics.

FOR SALE

211 )1733 232 P. +44 (0

Cooper Plastics Machinery

3D Printing

Ray Ran Test Equipment Ltd

Kelsey Close, Attleborough Fields Industrial Estate, Nuneaton, Warwickshire, CV11 6RS T: 024 763 42002 F: 024 766 41670 E: Polytest@ray-ran.com W: www.ray-ran.com

hardness - IRHD and shore MAPRA Technik Co — BAREISS For Bareiss of Germany IRHD & SHORE hardness testers, Abrasion & Rebound testers. T: 020 8508 4207 F: 020 8502 5107 E: info@mapra.co.uk W: www.mapra.co.uk

inspection & measurement MAPRA Technik Co – DOSS – MARCEL AUBERT – KAFER

For DOSS visual solution of Italy – Inspection & sorting machines for O’rings, Seals, Gaskets. T: 020 8508 4207 F: 020 8502 5107 E: info@mapra.co.uk W: www.mapra.co.uk

WWW.BRITISHPLASTICS.CO.UK

TO ADVERTISE IN THis SPACE CONTACT LISA MONTGOMERY 01244 680222

BUYER’S GUIDE

SERVICES SOFTWARE

PRINTERS

Gammadot Rheology Testing & Consultancy Services

printers of plastic mouldings Total Print Ltd

Specialist Pad Printers Station Road, Gedney Hill, Lincolnshire PE12 0NP T: 01406 330122 F: 01406 330123 E: info@totalprintltd.com W: www.totalprintltd.com Sub-Contract Pad Printers to the Plastics Industry

PARTS & SERVICE

TESTINg/CONSULTANCY

Component PRINTERS

Unit 5C, Leaton Industrial Estate, Bomere Heath, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY4 3AP T: 01939 291677 E: enquiries@gammadot.com W: www.gammadot.com Providing independant testing solutions to all your quality control, failure analysis & flow simulation data needs

TO ADVERTISE IN THis SPACE CONTACT LISA MONTGOMERY 01244 680222

TAMPO.SCREEN.FOIL

c.co.uk www.rjgin

211 )1733 232 P. +44 (0

Contour Marking Co Ltd Albert house, Gledrid Industrial Park, Chirk ,Wrexham, LL14 5DG T: 01691 770093 F: 01691 770023 Sub Contract Tampo, Screen & Foil Printing to the plastic moulding industry E: sales@contourmarking.com W: www.contourmarking.com

SOFTWARE DIRECTORY A listing in the Software Directory costs £160 per programme per year. Call Lisa on 01244 680222 for details. real time production monitoring, scheduling and process monitoring Epicor Mattec Real-time MES (Microsoft Windows™ PC Servers & “Web Based”) Epicor Software (UK) Ltd T: +44 (0)1344 468 468 E: info.uk@epicor.com Modules: Production Monitoring, Process Monitoring, “Drag and Drop” Scheduling/Planning, “Family Moulding”, Preventative Maintenance, Bar Coding/Parts’ Trace-ability, Operator Visual Aids, Process Parameter Profiling, E-mail/Public Address System Alerts, Stand-alone “Drag and Drop” Scheduler, Stand-alone SPC “Machine Analyzer”, Machine Energy Monitoring, KPI Dashboards, Visual Manufacturing (Large LED Displays), Automatic Data Import/Export Functions (For Integration with Epicor ERP & Other Manufacturing Systems/Software Packages). PlantMaster BMS Vision Ltd T: 01254 662244, E: sales.bla@visionbms.com Website: www.visionbms.com/ plastics. Affordable and flexible MES system for the plastics/rubber industry. Real-time production monitoring features wireless data units and OPC Ethernet machine connections. “Drag & drop” job scheduling supports frame/insert level family tooling plus KAN BAN. ERP system integration, SPC/ SQC, Touch Screen Data Units, Machine Maintenance, Operator Tracking, Traceability, DNC, Energy

Monitoring, Bar Coding, Pager Alerts. Easy to use systems from a €600m company with over 30 years experience. intouch T: 01604 646144 E: enquiries@ intouchmonitoring.com Website: www.intouchmonitoring.com Real-time production monitoring systems. Designed to be easy to use and providing affordable solutions to all sizes of businesses. Production monitoring, scheduling, reporting, data import/export, databases for parts, tools and operators, integration with other software packages. ProHelp EPM (for Microsoft Windows™ PC Servers) Mattec Ltd T: 01909 561544 F: 01909 560675 E: a.jewell@mattec.com Real-time Modules: Production Monitoring, ‘Drag and Drop’ Scheduling/Planning, Preventative Maintenance, Bar Coding/Parts Traceability, Operator Visual Aids, Process Parameter Profiling, Pager/ Tannoy Alerts, Stand-alone ‘Drag and Drop’ Scheduler, Stand-alone SPC Machine Analyzer, Automatic Data Import/Export Functions (for integration to Manufacturing Systems and other software packages). SYSCON – PlantStar Tel: +44 (0)7747 014545 E: ianh@syscon-intl.com W: www.mtec-services.co.uk W: www.plantstar.org

PlantStar systems provide customised, scalable applications that deliver real-time plant floor data from any machine, shift, and plant anywhere in your business. Affordable systems available for all size of processor. Browserbased software and hardware, and wireless Ethernet technology make for highly versatile and configurable systems providing information wherever needed. Standard systems include realtime alarms, downtime & reject analysis, capacity scheduling , ERP integration and more. With options including SPC/SQC, Labour tracking and Scheduling, Family Tooling, Materials traceability, barcoding. New QuickShot entry level system, provides real-time data collection & reporting, plus drag & drop scheduling and much more for less than £500 per machine!

enterprise resource planning Epicor ERP Manufacturing Software (For Plastics’/Rubber Processors) Epicor Software (UK) Ltd T: +44 (0)1344 468 468 E: info.uk@epicor.com Epicor ERP software for the polymer converting industry covers the full range of back office operations from on-line and off-line sales and quotations to production planning, inventory management and finance through to logistics, warehousing and distribution. Available on-site, hosted & SaaS it seamlessly integrates with Epicor Mattec Real-time MES to provide a single system that offers a complete quote-to-cash solution for the plastics’/rubber industries.

WWW.BRITISHPLASTICS.CO.UK

Process Optimisation Software RJG Technologies Ltd Moulding Technology T: +44 (0)1733 232211 E ingo@rjginc.co.uk Zero Defect Moulding – What’s your target? • Cycle time reduction • Reduced scrap rates • Improved process capability • Higher yield and OEE PRO-OP™ software provides a stepby-step procedure for optimising the injection moulding process to deliver optimum quality products at the most favourable cycle time. PRO-OP™ is a server based application which, by setting an optimum moulding process, highlights weaknesses and problems in relation to part design, mould design, mould construction, moulding equipment efficiency, moulding equipment specification and material selection. The moulding process is documented with explanations for each key process parameter setting demonstrating the processing conditions and equipment contributions to the final result. PRO-OP™ is aimed at companies whose focus is quality and consistent part manufacture. PRO-OP™ supports companies by providing a documented and structured validation protocol which is recognised in the in the pharmaceutical and medical sectors.

comment

NEWS FROM THE FRONTLINE

bp&r BRITISH PLASTICS &RUBBER

ASSOCIATED ORGANISATIONS

he K fair is looming. BPF will have a strong presence with 25 companies in the British Pavilion based in Halls 5 (materials) and 12 (machinery). With the Brexit vote causing consternation in the EU, I IN THIS MONTH’S EDITION believe it is important that OF HIS REGULAR COLUMN, the UK plastics industry is ‘all over’ the K fair. Trade PHILIP LAW, DIRECTOR- fair participation has been GENERAL OF THE BRITISH dismissed by some as a PLASTICS FEDERATION (BPF), mere flag waving exercise, HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPORTANCE but positive people can turn OF A UK PRESENCE AT every circumstance into an K SHOW AND OUTLINES opportunity. It very much depends on your outlook. EXACTLY WHAT THE INDUSTRY Let’s make K 2016 HAS TO OFFER. an occasion where we make the positive imprint we warrant. We are one of the largest UK manufacturing industry sectors with a £23.5 bn GBP turnover and employing some 180,000 people. We export £7.5 bn of plastics materials, products and equipment. Our productivity, measured by value-added, is one of the highest in Europe. We have considerable strengths in specialist materials, technical mouldings, extrusion technology, rotational moulding, ancillary equipment, design and energy management to name but some! We have sources of feedstock for polymer manufacturing here, in the form of oil, associated gas and shale gas. Our geology produces a wide range of additives. We have universities with specialisms in plastics Bradford, Loughborough, Belfast, Leeds, Durham, Sheffield, Imperial - the list rolls on. Yes, we have our weaknesses, but we have to focus on the positives and reinforce our areas of vulnerability. Add to this our heritage of having originated the commercial plastics industry, discovered PE and PEEK, it’s a pretty formidable offering. The UK is actually where the plastics industry is happening.

In my estimation there is no other national plastics industry community in the world as vibrant and cohesive as that in the UK, represented through the BPF. These are the messages we need to project at ‘K’ and I hope that all UK visitors will communicate these to their interlocutors not only on the fairground, but also in the bars, restaurants and hotels of Düsseldorf. Regarding Brexit, a topic that will inevitably be discussed during K Show, the uncertainty continues. The BPF is clear in its requirements for the UK plastics industry, confirmed by a survey of its 500-plus member sites. We want free access to the Single Market. We are an international industry with a substantial degree of foreign ownership. There is a strong two-way ebb and flow of plastics raw materials and products which we don’t want interrupted. We also want continuing access to skills. We have some 18,000 EU migrants as employees and we want immediate confirmation of their working status. Regulatory equivalence with the EU is also key, as the EU is a major export destination and we are habituated to working within its legislation. Finally, we are looking for increased support for overseas business development – particularly for SMEs – and incentives to encourage re-shoring. Increased support for innovation is also key to help keep us at the cutting edge. So the ‘K’ fair is an opportunity to tell the world’s manufacturing industry that not only that it can’t do without us, it actually needs a lot more of us! For a preview of the UK exhibitors at K, read the feature in this issue starting on page 49. You can also find more information online. If you are attending, do visit the BPF stand 5A28 to say hello. WWW.BPF.CO.UK

www.kraussmaffei.com/px

Electrifying Power meets innovation Benchmarks are set when power meets technical expertise. The new PX series from KraussMaffei impresses in any application â&#x20AC;&#x201C; all-electric, all-flexible. Come see for yourself at the K2016! Hall 15, booth B27/C24/C27/D24

Engineering Passion

@plastribution

0845 34 54 560

plastribution.co.uk

years of management team polymer industry experience

3500T UK Stock

Polymer related degrees

900 UK Customers

Global Suppliers

A distributor of substance

UK based staff