Modern Plastics & Polymers - July 2010

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EDITORIAL

Innovation in ‘form’

I

nnovation takes one closer in the destination to success. A look at the recent developments in the thermoforming domain drives home this point too. From novel thermoplastic foam sheet and preshaped rigid foam inserts to secondary liquid foam, thermoformers and foam suppliers are continually coming up with ingenious ways to incorporate innovative materials for thermoformed parts. In fact, there are thermoforming machines available today that can handle custom requirements, thanks to interactive software, electronic interfaces and automation. Especially, automated robots and automated pick & place systems are aiding to reduce labour costs, increase personnel safety, gain repeatability and keep scrap rates to a minimum, while dealing with the increased demand for part inserts. A novel thermoforming process, which is apt to be mentioned here, offers a promising new method to produce highly technical micro-parts such as polymer microchips for life-science applications. Further, the microthermoforming process has the potential to let the thermoformers enter the microelectromechanical systems market, which is projected to grow at a double-digit rate through the decade. The ‘Sector Watch’ offers an insight into the above and how machines are increasingly

being built to accommodate some of the largest moulds or largest thermoformed products ever manufactured in high volumes, among others. Now, let’s look at a unique material that combines the best characteristics of wood fibres and plastics. Known as wood plastic composite (WPC), it offers a wide range of products, where durability and good weather resistance matter the most. Though WPCs are quite visible in outdoor areas like decking, cladding, park benches, etc, the market is growing for their potential indoor use as doorframes, trim, furniture, to name a few. The ‘Market Trends’ has more on this. Last but not the least, fibre reinforced plastics (FRP) is fast replacing conventional materials like metals in many crucial sectors like aerospace, marine, construction and automobiles with its unique combination of properties like light weight, high strength, non-conductivity and non-corrosion. However, its disposal and recycling face some challenges. Turn to the ‘Roundtable’ for various perspectives on this from the industry.

Editorial Advisory Board A E Ladhabhoy Plastics Technologist

Dr Sushil K Verma Former Director General, CIPET

Dr Swapan K Dhara Regional Technical Head, Basell Polyolefins India Pvt Ltd

Mohan K Jain MD, Indoplast & past president, AIPMA

P P Kharas Chairman, Ecoplast

Raman M Patel Chairman, Industrial Products Mfg Co

Vijay Merchant President, Polycraft

Manas R Bastia

Editor manas@infomedia18.in

Editor Manas R Bastia Assistant Editor Sarita Kutty Senior Correspondent Shivani Mody (Bengaluru) Features Writers Chandrashekhar Modi, KTP Radhika Jinoy (Delhi) Correspondent Geetha Jayaraman (Delhi) Copy Desk Priyadarshini Basu Products Desk A Mohankumar Group Photo Editor & Creative Head Shiresh R Karrale Design Sharad Bharekar Production Pravin Koyande, Dnyaneshwar Goythale,Vikas Bobhate, Ravikumar Potdar, Ravi Salian, Sanjay Shelar, Lovey Fernandes, Pukha Dhawan, Varsha Nawathe, Abhay Borkar, Akshata Rane Marketing & Branding Jagruti Shah, Ganesh Mahale Chief Executive Officer Lakshmi Narasimhan Associate Vice President Sudhanva Jategaonkar

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July 2010 | Modern Plastics & Polymers

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CONTENTS

46

Roundtable 36

Fibre reinforced plastics: Can the growth be sustained?

Leaders Speak 40

Amit Shah, Managing Director, Wonderpack Industries Pvt Ltd

Facility Visit 42

40

Kriti Group (India) Ltd: Evolving through extrusion

Sector Watch 46

Thermoforming machinery: ‘Form’ing a new trend

Market Trends 52

42

Wood plastic composites: Making the move indoors

Material Corner 58

PVDF and PVDF copolymers: ‘Smart’ membrane materials Mandar Amrute, Market Development Leader, Arkema India

62

Mould management: A formula for efficient production Y R Anand, Partner, Unimark

Injection Zone

52

Market Insights 66

Thermoplastic elastomers: India’s giant leap forward Vivek Patel, Consultant

Management Mantras 71

Cycle counting: The secret to inventory accuracy Satish Radhakrishnan, Consultant, Savoir Faire Management Services Pvt Ltd

REGUL AR SECTIONS Editorial......................... 17 National News............... 20 Asia News ..................... 24 World News................... 30 Tech Updates ................ 32 Events Calendar............. 74

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Technology Transfer ......... 78 Book Shelf ...................... 80 Product Update............... 82 Product Inquiry............... 91 Advertisement Inquiry.......... 93 Product Index................. 97 Advertisers’ List ............ 100

Modern Plastics & Polymers | July 2010

Cover photo courtesy : Konsens

Highlights of Next Issue Sector Watch Market Trends Industry Update

: : :

Printing & Decoration Plastic Housewares Plastics in Medical Applications

Note: $ stands for US dollar and £ stands for UK pound, unless mentioned otherwise



NATIONAL NEWS MERGER

Rajoo and Wonderpack join hands

Rajoo Engineers Ltd and Wonderpack Industries Pvt Ltd have come together with a new approach to serve the sheet extrusion and thermoforming industry, worldwide. The merged entity will now truly qualify to provide end-to-end solutions in thermoforming. Extrusion has always been the forte of Rajoo while thermoforming has been the core strength of Wonderpack. In the revised setup, Wonderpack will operate as a separate division of Rajoo Engineers at Nasik under the leadership of Amit Shah. The Founder and Managing Director of Wonderpack now joins the Board of Rajoo Engineers. PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

KET launches twin extrusion lines

Kabra Extrusiontechnik Ltd (KET), one of the leading manufacturers of plastics extrusion plants and allied machinery has launched twin extrusion lines. The KET - 135/28 extruder offers an output 1,500 kg/hr. This extruder with twin die and dual downstream equipment can be ACQUISITION

Atul Ltd acquires Polygrip

L-R: Kirti Mehta and Rajesh Bhasin

Atul Ltd, a Lalbhai Group Company has acquired Polygrip – one of the leading rubber & PU-based adhesive brands in India. The Polymers Division of Atul that manufactures and markets epoxies, adhesives and sealants under the brand Lapox has bought Polygrip brand. This acquisition will give Atul a ready access to rubber and PU-based adhesives market in India. The synergetic acquisition by 20

Modern Plastics & Polymers | July 2010

For the industry, there will now be a wider range to choose from. In addition to the Rajoo products, the portfolio of Wonderpack that would also be available through the combined entity includes sheet extrusion with in-line thermoforming, thermoforming with in-line cutting and stacking, automatic roll fed in-line trim–in place thermoforming, special purpose thick walled vacuum forming, continuous thermoforming for thick wall applications, automatic vacuum/blister making machines, shrink wrapping machines & systems and thermoform fill & seal machines. C N Doshi, Chairman, Rajoo Engineers said, “Merger of competitors is not a new phenomenon, the objective here is to synergise and enhance the technology levels. With Amit Shah joining the board of our company, we will now provide the industry a single point source for a wider range of world-class sheet extrusion and thermoforming systems. His entrepreneurial skills and technology prowess coupled with decades of experience of Rajoo and its worldwide presence will surely help Rajoo grow by leaps and bounds.”

EXTENDING REACH

Songwon on a firm footing in India

Additives maker Songwon Industrial Co Ltd recently announced that it is establishing a sales, customer service and warehouse office in India to bolster its presence in the Indian sub-continent and Southeast Asia. The Mumbai facility will be its headquarters for the two regions, Ulsan-based Songwon said in a recent press release. “We have chosen India because it is one of the key driving forces of global economic development and in particular we expect a continuous growth in the plastic related industries. Demand for our products is growing rapidly and the region is fast becoming a very important market for us,” said Dieter Morath, Executive Vice President, Songwon International AG.

used to manufacture pipes with diameter up to 200 mm. KET has installed two such large output extruders at a leading PVC pipe producer. With robust structure and reliable performance, the company claims that this line can make pipes with high quality and excellent productivity. Besides, it offers better control and is user-friendly operations, thus saving in labour costs. Atul - a large manufacturer with growing marketing network will boost confidence of the existing customers of Polygrip. Rajesh Bhasin, President - Polymers, Atul Ltd, while commenting on this acquisition, said, “Polygrip compliments the current Lapox range of adhesives and there will be no cannibalisation of any of our existing products. We will focus on strengthening the Polygrip brand in the industrial/institutional business with enhanced focus in various market segments like automobile, footwear, furniture, upholstery, ducting, carpet, luggage, OEMs & others by upgrading the product portfolio and introducing customised products for various industries. On the retail front, we plan to focus on the hardware/foam retail markets which offer immense potential of growth for Polygrip.”

Kirti Mehta, Founder of Polygrip brand said, “Polygrip was scouting for a strategic partner to grow in Indian and overseas markets. Atul will utilise the Lapox sales and marketing network to promote Polygrip in the retail markets across India. There are plans to bring in more ecofriendly products such as water-based rubber and PU adhesives which cater to the stringent norms. I foresee high growth with Atul.” Talking about the Brands business of Polymers Division, Bhasin informed, “In the next three years, our Brands business of Polymers Division alone will have sales crossing Rs 100 crore. Our product portfolio will have more than 50 brands. We are expanding into international markets as well. I am confident that by the year 2013-14 Lapox will be a dominant brand in India.”


NATIONAL NEWS NEW FACILITY

LANXESS to build new production units for engineering plastics

Specialty chemicals group LANXESS remains committed to its growth strategy in the BRIC countries and plans to expand its new production site in India. The group is now set to build compounding facilities with an initial capacity of 20,000 metric tonne/year for the production of the engineering plastics Durethan and Pocan at Jhagadia in Gujarat. Construction of the new compounding facilities will begin later this year and they are due to go on stream with a workforce of 60 by the start of 2012. “With an investment of over Euro 10 million, we COLLABORATION

DSM in alliance with ARAI to provide sustainable solutions for Indian automotive industry

Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) and DSM are in an alliance for automotive developments in India.

BLOW MOULDING

Yapp sets up JV fuel tank plant in India

Eyeing growing demand for plastic fuel tanks in India, China’s Yapp Automotive Parts Co and an Indian partner, Zoom Developers Pvt Ltd, have set up a joint venture blow moulding plant at a Ford Motor Co supplier park in Chennai. The $ 12.8 million plant will have a capacity of about 2,50,000 tanks a year, of between 30 and 100 ltr. The facility represents a significant expansion

will be strengthening our position as a premium supplier of high-tech plastics in the Asia-Pacific region. As one of the fastest-growing markets for high-tech plastics, India offers the ideal environment for these products,” said Dr Hubert Fink, Head, Semi-Crystalline Products business unit, LANXESS. To date, LANXESS has invested a total of around Euro 50 million in the 13hectare Jhagadia site. A new facility for ion exchange resins is due to start production at the end of this year. LANXESS will then have a workforce of approximately 250 employees at this site at the end of 2010. The first construction phase for the new Jhagadia production site was concluded at the beginning of March with the completion of a facility for the production of rubber chemicals. Production has now started as planned after relocation of the Thane operations in the state of Maharashtra.“Our new facilities in Jhagadia will enable LANXESS to supply its customers with high-tech plastics directly and quickly using short distribution channels,” added Dr Fink.

BIOPLASTICS

Greendiamz brings bioplastics to India

Greendiamz Biotech, manufacturer of environmentally safe plastics products recently announced that it has commissioned a plant here that produces fully biodegradable and compostable plastic material. Champat Sanghvi, Chairman, Greendiamz Biotech said that the 5,000-tonne per annum capacity facility was set up in association with Limagrain-France at a cost of Rs 40 crore. Branded as Truegreen, this will serve as an alternative to plastics for consumer and industrial products. The products are manufactured from Biolice, a biodegradable polymer. “It does not include any petroleum product in its manufacturing cycle,” Sanghvi added. Dipak Sanghvi, Director, Greendiamz Biotech informed the the company hoped to capture 5 per cent marketshare in the packaging sector alone.

This alliance will provide sustainable solutions for the automotive industry through the shared knowledge of both companies in understanding industry requirements and their interaction with applications and materials. Both DSM and ARAI deal in material sciences and automotive research, respectively, allowing for both the organisations to synergise their strengths in supporting the automotive industry in India. ”Our knowledge of the use of our materials in automotive applications and vast experience in integrating parts with engineering plastics has directly contributed in making components lighter

- hence, lower fuel consumption and reduced pollution. We will bring in our material science and application expertise to this alliance,” said Roelof Westerbeek, President, DSM Engineering Plastics. Srikant Marathe, Director, ARAI added, “ARAI will contribute through its expertise in automotive testing equipment, systems knowledge, and standards for four, three and two wheelers. For ARAI, vehicle weight reduction is a key focus area to address fuel consumption and emission concerns. This alliance will go a long way in bringing in the advantages of engineering plastics in areas that were so far the domain of metals.”

into India’s market for Yapp, China’s largest maker of plastic fuel tanks. Yapp, based in Yangzhou, Jiangsu province, reportedly owns 51 per cent of the venture, with Zoom taking 49 per cent. Mumbai-based Zoom is a diverse conglomerate with interests in engineering, infrastructure, and information technology. Its plastic fuel tank production uses JSW co-extrusion sequential blow moulding machines, and has acquired both mono-layer and multi-layer HDPE

fuel tank production equipment from Nissan Motor Co. Yapp claims to have 50 per cent of the market for plastic fuel tanks in China, and supplies to both domestic companies and the Chinese factories of global automakers like Ford, General Motors Co, Volkswagen AG, Audi AG, Hyundai Motor Co and others. The company was founded in 1988 by Chinese carmaker Shanghai Automotive Industry Co Ltd and China’s State Development and Investment Corp.

July 2010 | Modern Plastics & Polymers

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NATIONAL NEWS MOU

Israel Ministry felicitates Jain Irrigation

Jain Irrigation Systems Ltd (JISL), the largest manufacturer of drip irrigation systems in India, has been felicitated with two special awards from Israel–Asia Chamber of Commerce. The committee has conferred this award on Jain Irrigation for its outstanding activity in Israel and its investment in NaanDan Jain Irrigation. It also bestowed ‘Lifetime Achievement’ award on Amnon Ofen, Director, NaanDaan Jain Irrigation for his breakthrough Israel-India activity. In 2007, Jain Irrigation acquired 50 per cent of NaanDanJain Irrigation Ltd, a

PROJECT REVIVAL

Reliance Industries mulls revival of chemical plant

Reliance Industries Ltd may start work on a multibilliondollar chemical plant this year, reviving a project to meet India’s surging demand for the raw materials for plastics, drugs and textiles, as per Bloomberg. A decision about the final blueprint of the plant, believed to have a capacity of 1.6 million tpa of chemicals such as ethylene and propylene, is reported to being worked out. The plant will source

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global irrigation company which provides technological leadership with the widest range of cost-effective and customised solutions. With nine subsidiaries, five international manufacturing plants and a wide network of representatives, the company has a strong presence in all continents. Fuad Ben-Eliezer, Minister of Industry, Trade and Labor, Israel, handed over these awards during the Annual Event of the Israel-Asia Chamber of Commerce. The investments made by Jain Irrigation and its continuous contributions in Israel have been recognised by these awards. Ofen is Israel’s representative of Jain Irrigation who has significantly contributed to the business and financial collaboration between India and Israel. According to the company press release, Jain Irrigation is the only Asian/ Indian company to invest in an Israeli company. Ever since JISL’s collaboration with Israel’s companies in 2007, Jain Irrigation has invested $40 million in Israeli products. This is the largest investment by an Asian company in Israel in the past three years.

feedstock from gases and other by-products produced at Reliance’s Jamnagar facility, and is expected to take about four years to build. “This will come at a good time. We are oversupplied right now but beyond 2011, there will be a sharp drop-off in terms of new capacity. In the next three to four years, we could very easily be undersupplied. Demand for petrochemicals tends to grow in line with GDP. Assuming global economic growth of up to 4 per cent, the industry needs to be adding about 20 plants globally over a five year period on average to keep pace with demand,” said Sriharsha Pappu, a Dubaibased analyst with HSBC Bank Middle East Ltd.

Modern Plastics & Polymers | July 2010

PETROCHEMICALS

KPC expresses interest in Rs 22,300 crore Paradip petrochemical project

Indian Oil Corporation is all set to revive the Rs 22,300 crore petrochemical project at Paradip after Kuwait Petroleum Corporation expressed an interest in picking up a stake. As the company’s finances show better prospects, restart of the suspended petrochemical project is being considered. However, a final decision has not been taken on Kuwait Petroleum’s stake. Initially, the project was planned as a refinery-cum-petrochemical project at an investment of Rs 45,000 crore with participation from Kuwait Petroleum and Saudi Arabia’s Saudi Aramco. However, Kuwait Petroleum and Saudi Aramco did not pick up a stake as they had no marketing rights. Later, the petrochemical project was put on hold on the grounds of volatility in global crude prices, economic downturn and mounting revenue loss for selling fuels below costs. IOC has so far invested Rs 6,000 crore in the project.

INVESTMENT

Gujarat-based polymer processors to invest in Assam plastics park

At least six or seven plastics processing companies from Gujarat have decided to set up units at the upcoming Tinsukia Plastic Park in Assam for a total investment close to Rs 150 crore. This is in response to Assam Industrial Development Corporation Ltd’s (AIDCL) campaign to attract investors to the Plastic Park project. “Already around six or seven Gujarat based processors have signed the memorandum of understanding with the AIDCL”, said Bipin Shah, Vice President, Plastindia Foundation, the apex body of major associations, organisations, and institutions connected with plastics processing. Plastindia was helping AIDCL attract potential investors and had held a meeting with the plastic

processors in the state in April. A GSPMA official informed that the net investment in the Tinsukia Plastic Park from Gujarat based companies could be to the tune of Rs 150-200 crore. Shah added, “AIDCL is looking at investors from across the country, primarily from Maharashtra and Gujarat. It expects to attract around Rs 5,000 crore worth investments in the park.” AIDCL is in the process of setting up a 360 acre Plastic Park in Tinsukia, north of Guwahati that will use raw material produced at the Brahmaputra Crackers and Polymers Ltd (BCPL) unit that is likely to come onstream in around a year’s time. The idea is to utilise the 2,00,000 tonne per annum polymer produced at BCPL to produce finished products that can be sold in neighbouring markets of Myanmar, Bangladesh, Bhutan among other regions.



ASIA NEWS PLANT EXPANSION

Xaloy Inc initiates Thailand expansion project

Xaloy, the world’s leading provider of engineered melt stream components and ancillary equipment to plastics processors & manufacturers of injection moulding & extrusion equipment has announced a comprehensive factory expansion plan for its Chonburi, Thailand operations. The details of the investment include an increase in facility size, besides improvements in machinery and technology. With the rising frequency EVENT

US Pavilion to be launched at Asiamold 2010 The fourth edition of Asiamold, 2010, a dynamic trade show for mould making, tooling, design and application is scheduled to take place at the Poly World Trade Centre Expo, Guangzhou, China during September 15–17, 2010. Over 200 key suppliers have confirmed their participation at this event, which will, for the first time, feature a US pavilion. Among the industry heavyweights to showcase their latest technologies and moulding applications in this area BREAKTHROUGH TECHNOLOGY

SK Chemicals claims breakthrough in developing CO2-based plastics

The South Korean conglomerate, SK Chemicals, claims to be making

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Modern Plastics & Polymers | July 2010

of demand constraints, the project not only aims to upgrade the efficiency and value provided to Xaloy’s global customer base in terms of service and support, but also to increase manufacturing capability with an offering of larger size barrel capacities as well as increased engineering rheology and finite element analysis (FEA) competencies. Ron Auletta, President and CEO, Xaloy, said, “We expect our investment in Thailand to improve our channels of capacity and capability. Further, our recent roll factory extension into New Castle, Pennsylvania and the acquisition of Spirex Corporation, a principal provider of plasticating components coupled with the current global ERP implementation programme is a confirmation of Xaloy’s commitment to its customers, employees and shareholders.”

CAPACITY EXPANSION

Huntsman to expand its capacity in Singapore

include Nypro Tool Manufacturing Group and Diamond Tool & Engineering. Nypro is a leading global solutions provider in the field of manufactured precision plastic products serving the healthcare, packaging and consumer & electronics industries, while Diamond specialises in intricate, close-tolerance tooling for the medical, electronic, and automotive industries. Chris Smith, General Manager, Diamond Tool & Engineering said, “We are glad that we are on time for the pre-show business matching programme arranged by Asiamold. It is really impressive.”

The performance products division of Huntsman Corporation announced recently that it would expand manufacturing capacity of its JEFFAMINE polyetheramine manufacturing facility located at Jurong Island, Singapore. The planned expansion is anticipated to occur by the end of the third quarter of this year and will increase existing capacity by more than 50 per cent. Daniele Ferrari, President - Performance Products, Huntsman Corporation, said, “We have been extremely pleased with this Singapore investment and the ongoing support provided to us by our customers and the Singapore authorities. It is very gratifying to have this opportunity to invest further in the Jurong Island facility.” This facility, which began its operations in 2007, has been a critical strategic manufacturing platform in meeting the regional demands for JEFFAMINE polyetheramines in Asia over the past three years.

progress on what it calls ‘breakthrough’ technology for making polymers from carbon dioxide (CO2). The company successfully started a pilot plant in October, which it said is the world’s first continuous process manufacturing plant for a CO2-based polymer. The key to this procees is a proprietary catalyst developed by the the company. Through this process, the company has developed Greenpol, a resin which comprises 44 per cent CO2 by weight. It is currently being trialled with customers. SK sees potential for this polymer as an eco-friendly insulator,

a replacement for soft PVC or nontoxic barrier resins in food packaging. Sang Hoon Park, Head - China Operations, S K Chemicals, informed, “The company anticipates initial commercial production in the range of 20,000 to 50,000 metric tonne, but decisions on commercialising will be made after another a few years of market development.” This innovation is in line with the company’s policy of green developements to ensure sustainability in the industry and withstand competition from cheap plastics from the Middle East in the medium-term.



ASIA NEWS DEMAND TREND

Traders in China saddled with high PE stock levels

Despite steadily reducing purchases, several Chinese traders are finding themselves stuck with high stock levels of PE as they are increasingly unable to sell locally. This can be attributed to the weakening demand on concerns over the sovereign debt crisis in Europe and the Chinese government’s own tightening monetary policies, in addition to the plunging energy sector which caused buyers to step away from the market. On the lookout for alternative outlets for their excess

PRICE RISE

VCM dips in Asia as ethylene, PVC weaken

Spot VCM prices in Asia have begun to move downward after resisting the pull of the declining upstream ethylene and downstream PVC prices for sometime, as per Chemorbis. This reduction in VCM prices will help Asian PVC producers shore up their margins after they had been forced to offer below cost levels so as to attract buying interest. For much of the second half of May, Asian VCM sellers steadfastly stuck by their original price

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stocks, some traders claim to have concluded deals with customers in places as diverse as South Africa, Brazil and Southeast Asia. As import prices in China have posted steep declines over the past several weeks, large traders also complained of significant financial losses suffered on the cargoes in their warehouses, as customers begin to break their own contractual agreements and have started to refuse additional deliveries. These setbacks have prompted traders to attempt to re-negotiate their contractual agreements with overseas producers. Some traders plan to seek compensation for their losses from their suppliers in Iran since the American embargo against Iran makes it difficult for traders to re-export Iranian materials to other countries, the supply build-up of Iranian materials is said to be relatively more severe than the excess supply issues for other origins.

nomination for the month despite the sovereign debt crisis in Europe along with mounting concerns over the overall health of the global economy. However, since the middle of May, upstream spot ethylene costs have plunged by nearly $ 325/tonne in Asia, driven lower by poor buying interest and weaker crude and naphtha costs. Spot ethylene prices in Northeast Asia have only recently begun to stabilise after several major steamcracker operators in the region threatened imminent production run cuts should prices remain at their current depressed levels. Downstream PVC prices have also witnessed steep declines over the past few weeks in terms of their done deals levels in May compared to those in June.

Modern Plastics & Polymers | July 2010

MARKETSHARE

Asian cracker operators mull run rate cuts in H2-10 if earnings continue to erode

Asian naphtha cracker operators are considering a reduction in plant operating rates in H2-10, as per ICIS pricing. Though Asian operators were running their naphtha crackers at 90-100 per cent for the first few months of the year, Ethylene margins slumped by around 38 per cent ($ 134-212/tonne) and proces in northeast Asia recently plunged to $ 930-1000/tonne CFR northeast Asia, the lowest in the last seven months. This fall can be attributed to ample supply from the Middle East and limited tank space. Deal conclusion is proving unsuccessful as naphtha is over $ 650/tonne and ethylene lingers around $ 900/tonne. At these naptha levels, sellers would ideally like to target a price range of $ 950-1,000/tonne FOB China. Currently, eight crackers in Japan are undergoing maintenance, scheduled for completion by the end of August, keeping ethylene balance tight.

NEW PROJECT

World’s largest coalto-olefins project completed in China

Shenhua Baotou Coal-toOlefins Project, the world’s largest of its kind, was recently completed in Baotou, inner Mongolia autonomous region. The project is a large coal chemical project in which coal is gassified into methanol, the methanol is transformed into olefin and the olefin is then polymerised into polyethylene and polypropylene. This is China’s pilot industrialised coal-to-olefins project. This is also the first time that methanol-to-olefins technology with independent intellectual property rights owned by China was used as the core device, which opened a new technical approach for implementing alternative-energy strategies

and creating a new coal-toolefins industry. Development of the coal-to-olefins industry will reduce China’s dependency on foreign crude oil, and is a new approach to the sustainable development of China’s petroleum and chemical industries. This project was approved by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) in December 2006 and began design & construction in 2007. More than 20,000 designers from 70 units and organisations participated in the construction.



ASIA NEWS CAPACITY EXPANSION

Engel to double injection moulding machine manufacturing capacity in China

With demand in Asia, especially China and its automotive market, growing at a swift pace, Austrian injection moulding machine manufacturer Engel has decided to double the potential output of its facility in China. Engel manufactures its moulding machines at two sites in Austria and one each in the US, Korea and China. The plant EXPANSION PLAN

Rhodia boosting China capacity Rhodia Polyamide, one of French chemical giant Rhodia SA’s six enterprises, plans to increase the capacity of its Shanghai compounding plant by 40 per cent to stay ahead of competition in Asia. Frank Laganier, director - Asia Pacific zone, Rhodia Polyamide Engineering Plastics, said a capacity boost would help support the rapid growth in the presently undersupplied market, particularly in auto, home and personal care sectors. The company is studying the best timing of the expansion project on the existing site. Laganier added that the capacity increase would be completed by 2011. Rhodia’s strategic position

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Modern Plastics & Polymers | July 2010

at Shanghai makes large machines with clamp forces starting from 500 tonne. Almost all of the machines made there are sold in the domestic Chinese market or to neighbouring countries. The company has the requisite land to expand the Shanghai site, with the goal to double the size of the current facility by next year. The market for large machines such as those used in many automotive applications came back much faster than many expected following the recession during 2008-09 and the corresponding plunge in the automotive industry’s production and sales. Many market watchers had expected the supply of available near-new used machines to put a dampener on new smachine sales in this segment of the market for years to come, but in fact the used machine market for these large moulding units is already essentially empty, as per the company’s press release. in Asia has increased in recent years. About 40 per cent of its global sales of engineering plastics are generated in Asia. China alone represents half of the Asia nylon 6/6 market — currently the second largest in the world, behind the Americas. Rhodia estimates that Asia will become the largest nylon 6/6 market by 2015 and China’s share in that region will continue to grow. “It is a no-brainer to keep investing in China,” Laganier said. Demand for engineering plastics in China is growing even faster than the overall plastics resin market. Rhodia Polyamide first entered China in 1995, established a compounding plant in Shanghai in 2006, and added an R&D center in Shanghai in 2008. The Shanghai R&D center currently houses a third of Rhodia’s engineering plastics R&D staff in Asia. The polyamide unit represented 37 percent of Rhodia SA’s 2009 sales.

EVENT

First GPCA plastics summit in Dubai More than 300 key decision makers, players and stakeholders in the regional and international petrochemicals and plastics converting industry recently gathered in Dubai for the inaugural GPCA Plastics Summit. High-level delegates from more than 120 companies representing the GCC, EMEA, America and Asia, including leading producers such as Sabic, Tasnee, Equate, Borouge and LyondellBasell, attended the two-day event and discussed critical business and environmental issues affecting the plastics industry. They also highlighted the crucial role of plastics products in society. The first day of the summit was focussed primarily on the industry as a whole and initiatives promising a new wave of growth and innovation, which would ensure that by 2012, at least 25 per cent of the global plastics industry will be based in the Middle East. “Today has been a fantastic start to what promises to be a hugely successful event for us as the organisers and the delegates themselves. The enthusiastic sharing of insights and expertise has been heartening and I look forward to seeing more of this healthy dialogue and debate,” said Dr Abdulwahab Al-Sadoun, Secretary General,GPCA. IMPORT & EXPORT

China to import more polyolefins

According to Chinese analysts, China’s polyethylene (PE) production capacity is likely to grow more than 5 per cent a year between 2011 and 2016. However, this growth will be offset by the rapidly rising domestic demand. This means that the country will continue to import significant amounts of PE and other polyolefins. China has been trying to reduce its dependence on imported plastics, and is adding significant capacity of polyolefins.



WORLD NEWS MERGER

Maag Pump Systems to merge with Automatik Plastics Machinery GmbH

Ueli Thürig

Switzerland-based Maag Pump Systems AG is merging with Germanybased Automatik Plastics Machinery GmbH. Through the merger, Maag Pump Systems and Automatik Plastics Machinery will decisively reinforce their market position with around 460 employees and a turnover of about Euro 100 million. On-site presence of ACCOLADE

W Amsler Equipment Inc wins CPIA award The Canadian Plastics Industry Association (CPIA) recently awarded the Ontario-based all-electric reheat stretch blow machine manufacturer, W Amsler Equipment Inc with its Plastics Innovator Award. The award, which honours companies who have contributed to the expansion of the Canadian plastics industry through CONTRACT

NACTOR is new sales agent for PolyOne GLS TPEs in Brazil

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Modern Plastics & Polymers | July 2010

this entity will be nearly doubled and comprise over 100 countries. Both companies will appear on the market under their existing brand names for the time being. The new group is headed by Ueli Thürig, CEO, Maag Pump Systems AG. The new group is planning to increase current turnover by more than 50 per cent by 2012. The key markets should be optimally covered with customer-specific solutions, quicker service and focussed engineering. In the coming weeks, integration projects will be carried out in both companies. The objective is to be able to serve the customer better. These projects will, however, not result in employee cutbacks. To the contrary, there are plans to expand staff in individual regions as well. The production plant in Grossostheim will also serve in the future as a central location for the installation of complete systems, repairs and services, the press release added.

their innovations, was presented at the CPIA’s annual general meeting and the 2010 plastics industry

Werner Amsler (centre), Founder, W Amsler Equipment Inc with daughter Heidi and son Jason

PolyOne GLS Thermoplastic Elastomers, a business unit within the specialty engineered materials group and a global leader in highperformance, custom-formulated TPEs, recently announced that it has signed a sales agency agreement with NACTOR Consultoria & Representação Comercial Ltda of São Paulo, Brazil. Under the terms of this agreement, NACTOR will spearhead market development for PolyOne’s GLS

RENOVATION

Two filters for better fibres SILON SRO in Plana nad Luznici in the Czech Republic has been operating a new line from Gneuss Kunststofftechnik GmbH, Bad Oeynhausen, Germany, The company had installed this new, high performance line equipped with rotary filtration systems, last year to replace two older fibre spinning lines of throughput rates of 400 and 700 kg/hr respectively. This system ensures that contamination is removed efficiently and reliably, guaranteeing high quality fibres which are mainly used in the automotive industry. It houses two filters, viz, an SFXmagnus 130 an RSF genius 175. The combination of two filters is necessary as the twin screw extruder cannot develop sufficient back pressure to overcome the flow resistance of the required 40 µm filtration on the main filter and delivery to the spin beam.

awards event recently at the Toronto Congress Centre. CPIA noted that in 2009, W Amsler unveiled several innovative technologies including a fully automatic loading system for wide mouth preforms up to 89 mm, a new flexible PET machine series that allows for adjustable cavitations on PET blow machines, and a modular semi-automatic palletiser that provides fully automatic operation through the purchase of additional modules. materials in Brazil, and will assist & support customers in developing new applications. As a PolyOne sales agent, NACTOR will collaborate with customers on application development, providing services such as mould trialling, technical support and delivery logistics for GLS Versaflex, Versalloy, Versollan, Dynaflex, Dynalloy and OnFlex TPEs. Key application focus areas are automotive, housewares, personal care, food packaging and electronics.


WORLD NEWS

PARTNERSHIP

World’s largest extrusion network launched with Austrian expertise

Rainer Kottmaier, Division Manager, Battenfeld Cincinnati; Richard Füsslberger, CEO, Gruber Extrusion; Thomas Baurnberger, Area Sales Manager, Battenfeld Cincinnati; Siegried Pramberger, CEO, Gruber Extrusion; Peter Gattinger, CEO, Gruber Extrusion; and Andreas Türk, Director - Sales, Battenfeld Cincinnati

Gruber Extrusion of Upper Austria has concluded an exclusive agreement with BattenfeldCincinnati for cooperation worldwide on turnkey projects. Gruber Extrusion will use Battenfeld-Cincinnati extruders exclusively in all turnkey projects worldwide, while all downstream equipment such as extrusion

TRADE FAIR

Wittmann Battenfeld excels at Plastpol Wittmann Battenfeld presented itself for the 12th time at the recently held Plastpol in Kielce, Poland, attended by some 700 companies from the plastics industry from across the globe. Here, the company introduced its new EcoPower and the HM180 Aquamould to the general public and the response from visitors was overwhelming.

Christoph Marchhart, Regional Sales Manager, (left) and Zabrzewski Bogdan, MD of the Polish subsidiary, received the medals on behalf of Wittmann Battenfeld

lines and calibration tables will come from Gruber Extrusion. The new partnership was sealed at the AMI Conference in Vienna recently, marking the second anniversary of the cooperation between Gruber Extrusion and Cincinnati Extrusion and the brand merger of Battenfeld Extrusionstechnik and Cincinnati Extrusion (into Battenfeld Cincinnati). “Our customers worldwide can look forward to benefitting from a unique bundling of know-how and industry experience as a result of this new setup,” said Peter Gattinger, CEO, Gruber Extrusion. Cooperation with BattenfeldCincinnati now offers major advantages for Gruber Extrusion and its customers: more competence, detailed market experience, including a dense location network spread across the entire globe.

The high performance of the new servo-electric series was demonstrated by the production of an LSR O-ring on an EcoPower 110/350 in a 128-cavity mould supplied by Rico. With the Aquamould process with projectile technology, Wittmann Battenfeld has once more presented impressive evidence of its injection moulding competence. The company was also awarded a total of two medals, in the categories of ‘plastics processing machinery and equipment’ and ‘process technology’, by a jury of experts, consisting of representatives from the Polish Technical University, various plastics institutes and the organisers of the Plastpol trade fair.

TRADE FAIR

K2010 to showcase megatrends

At the ‘K 2010 Preview’, held recently, around 80 journalists representing plastics and rubber industry publications in more than 30 countries took the opportunity offered by organiser Messe Düsseldorf to get the latest update on how the preparations for the trade fair were progressing. Nine well-known exhibitors gave presentations outlining the new developments they will be showing in Düsseldorf in October. Ulrich Reifenhäuser, Chairman of the Exhibitors Council of K 2010, said, “Although it will take quite some time before we reach 2008 levels again, current trends are very encouraging for raw materials producers, machine manufacturers and processors. Our customers are again working on new projects and are showing big interest in innovations and optimised processes and products. We are now benefitting from having built on our strengths in bad times, improved our competitiveness and developed new products.”

The exhibitor’s ranges will be supplemented by future-oriented elements, which will be dealt within the special review ‘Visions in Polymers’. In daily panel discussions, top academics and experienced users will address questions such as what our daily lives will look like 20 years from now, and how plastics can contribute to solving major problems. On the basis of examples from different areas of life, speakers will explain which development trends can be discerned, and which innovations the industry has in its pipelines. Special emphasis will be placed on the themes of energy efficiency and resource conservation. The ‘Visions in Polymers’ special review is organised by the German plastics industry under the auspices of PlasticsEurope Deutschland and Messe Düsseldorf. K 2010 will take place during October 27-November 3, 2010.

EXPANSION

Borealis invests Euro 400 million at its Sweden facility

Borealis has invested Euro 400 million at its plant in Stenungsund, Sweden. A new 350,000 tpa high pressure LDPE plant along with modernised compounding and material-handling facilities were officially inaugurated recently, thereby increasing total capacity at the site from 580,000 tpa to 700,000 tpa. The company has expanded its Stenungsund facilities while maintaining a closed operation process to eliminate potential sources of impurities. The plant was designed and constructed with the highest wire and cable quality standards in mind. The capacity

expansion builds on Borealis’ existing technology platform and demonstrates its commitment to high quality, well-known brands such as Supercure and Visico. The capacity will be focussed specifically on Borealis’ latest products for high, low and medium voltage cables, which will benefit from the controlled environment in place at the facility. The expansion makes Stenungsund a world-scale polyethylene facility for advanced infrastructure applications and enables Borealis to maximise the flexible feedstock–olefin– polyolefin integration. July 2010 | Modern Plastics & Polymers

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TECH UPDATES

Glass fibre reinforced PP for automotive front end The new front end of the Volkswagen Tiguan compact sport utility vehicle (SUV) has been produced using a short glass fibre reinforced polypropylene (PP) material. Traditionally, this kind of automotive components are made from metals or more costly engineering thermoplastics. In fact, the grade chosen for this new front end is Hostacom™ G3 R05 from LyondellBasell. Hostacom™ G3 R05 provides high impact strength, dimensional stability, rigidity and heat resistance required for this application, according to the officials from LyondellBasell. The company has modified the polymer matrix in order to achieve the required properties.

Washing machine PCB made from PPE/PA-6 blend Due to the recent changes to the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 60335 standard for unattended h o u s e h o l d appliances, the Vestel Group has had to substitute the usage of halogenated flame-retardant polyamide (PA) - used for the injection moulding of PCB holders of its front-loading clothes washing machines- with a blend of polyphenylene ether and polyamide-6 (PPE/PA-6), ie, the Noryl™ NH6020 supplied by SABIC Innovative Plastics. This material that is designed for high heat resistance and thin wall flame retardance performance offers a UL94 V0 rating at 0.8mm.

PolyOne launches breakthrough liquid colour solution

The Hostacom™ G3 R05 includes glass fibre with uniform length and even fibre distribution. As a result, the front end is less prone to warpage and the material can also be used for injection-moulded parts with complex geometry, according to company officials.

Cost effective resins for solar photovoltaic panels According to a report, in 2010, global cumulative installed photovoltaic (PV) capacity is expected to grow by at least 40 percent, with an estimated compounded annual growth rate of 20 per cent. As the demand for solar power rises, SABIC Innovative Plastics is helping to drive the viability of this much sought-after energy source. Its Noryl and Lexan EXL resins offer customers ease in solar panel use with greater cost-efficiency and meet stringent global regulatory standards. Applications for SABIC

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Modern Plastics & Polymers | July 2010

PolyOne Corporation has announced the introduction of OnColor Complete™ liquid colour solutions, a revolutionary, eco-friendly liquid colourant system that helps converters and OEMs reduce costs, eliminate waste, and improve safety. By combining proprietary technology with state-of-the-art liquid colourants and refillable containers in a first-of-its-kind, closed-loop system, it helps manufacturers reduce operating costs and enhance employee safety, eliminate spillage and mess while simplifying material change outs and clean up.

Innovative Plastics’ materials range from PV frames to junction boxes to connectors and the company continues to focus R&D efforts on new back sheet solutions. SABIC Innovative Plastics’ materials contribute to the expansion of solar energy through system innovation, particularly by replacing metal to

consolidate parts, reduce maintenance and simplify installation. “SABIC Innovative Plastics is helping to make solar power more cost-effective, practical and affordable through our range of advanced, PVfocused materials. Our products can redefine the PV technology landscape to meet future demand. For the future, we see a fully integrated system – with one moulded part incorporating four functionalities, ie, frame, junction box, connectors and backsheets,” said Andy Verheijden, Global Product Market Leader, Solar Energy, SABIC Innovative Plastics.


TECH UPDATES

New micro-injection module from Arburg The new micro-injection module from Arburg now offers an efficient solution for the manufacture of micro parts. The micro-injection module combines an 8 mm injection screw with a second screw for melting the material. One problem with minute shot weights of less than one gram is that in some cases, the material dwell time in the injection unit is very long. Furthermore, the displacement distance of the screw is extremely short because of the small injection volume. Unlike other alternatives in the market which use a combination of screw plasticising and piston injection, this micro-injection module operates using two screws which ‘share’ the preparation, dosing and injection of the material.

Gel permeation chromatography for tailored resins The Viscotek TDAmax gel permeation chromatography (GPC) system from Malvern Instruments is useful for optimising polymerisation conditions. It incorporates refractive index and light scattering detectors with a viscometer. It provides direct absolute molecular weight measurement and precise intrinsic viscosity data, thus enabling comprehensive investigation of polymer properties, including structure, according to company officials.

New servo-electric series from Wittmann Wittmann Battenfeld showcased its new EcoPower and HM180 Aquamould during the Plastpol trade fair recently in Kielce, Poland. The new EcoPower is compact, has a beltless injection unit and gives accurate clamping unit with direct drive. The braking energy of the drives, normally not utilised at all or recovered by an elaborate system, is utilised as effective energy within the machine by the EcoPower. The series comes in a modular design and is pre-configured. The machine system consists of a basic platform that can be supplemented with extension packages according

KraussMaffei brings one-stop solution for optically clear sheets KraussMaffei Berstorff GmbH offers customised solutions for optically clear sheets. The core component of the production line is the flexible polishing calendar - PlanetCalander. In the production of opticalclear films and sheets made from PC, PMMA, SAN, PETG, A-PET, PS or ABS, quality and perfectly c l e a n material are of decisive importance. Since properties like high transparency, impact strength, resistance to scratches and UV light as well as favourable thermoforming properties are imerative for these applications, the sheets must be protected against dust by means of clean-room conditions and protective film lamination. KraussMaffei Berstorff sheet production lines are material dependent designed for output rates of up to 1,200kg/hr.

to individual needs. At the Plastpol, the high performance of the new servo-electric series was demonstrated by the production of an LSR O-ring on an EcoPower 110/350 in a 128-cavity mould supplied by Rico. On an HM 180/1330 with servo drive, the process known as Aquamould with project technology was shown. A media cable was produced from PA with a mould supplied by IKV Aachen. With projectile technology, it is now possible to achieve smoother interior surfaces and to form specific cavity geometries as well. Residual

wall thicknesses can be set regardless of the flow properties of the plastic material being processed, resulting in material savings and reduction in cycle times. Moreover, certain design barriers of the conventional Aquamould process can now be overcome.

July 2010 | Modern Plastics & Polymers

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TECH UPDATES

Small, lightweight insulin pump Insulet Corporation, an innovative American medical device company has developed the OmniPod® Insulin Management System in collaboration with the plastic converter Phillips Plastics Corporation. The partners have notably designed an advanced threedimensional moulded interconnect device (3D-MID) as the OmniPod™ chassis. This performing internal plastic component is injection moulded by Phillips Plastics Corporation using a two-shot moulding process. In the first shot, a non-plateable plastic is injection molded while the second shot applies a plateable plastic to the required areas. Then the parts are metallised by SelectConnect Technology, which uses its patented SelectConnect™ process to selectively plate injection moulded components with copper and nickel in order to produce 3D connections with multiple points of contact. Such a chassis allows the integration of electronic functions and provides reduced assembly time and cost reduction. This greatly enhances safety of the pump and increases the shelf-life of the product to a large extent as compared to the conventionally made insulin pumps, according to company officials.

Innovative wind turbine for homeowners and professionals As part of a three-year project, the French start-up company Nheolis SA has developed and patented an

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Locking handle with plastic-metal hybrid structure

The German hybrid component manufacturer Peter Wahl GmbH & Co, has developed a new locking handle for the soft top in the luggage compartment of the new Mini Cooper convertible. The aim is to improve the look and feel of the previous locking handle that was made from several thermoplastic parts bolted to a metallic component. The handle design has been completely modified in order to obtain a plastic-metal structure. In fact the new locking handle is based on a metallic component overmoulded with a Polyamide-6 (PA-6) material in a single step process. Consequently, it provides weight saving and very good surface aesthetics and feel, thanks to the use of a specially modified PA-6 ie an Akromid™ grade from Akro-Plastic.

Safe car control for the disabled

A collaborative project between Bozzio AG, Bern University, Dynamic Test Center and DSM has allowed designing and patenting an innovative user-friendly system allowing the disabled to drive cars with safety and confidence. This new system is available under the trade name joysteer® X-by-wire system. It is based on two joysticks that are mounted and coupled electronically to the vehicle steering mechanism and on precision gears made with polyamide-4,6 (PA-4,6) - ie a Stanyl™ grade from DSM – that translate the driver’s steering movements into vehicle control.

innovative wind turbine technology that is based on a new shape of blade. In fact, this innovation capitalises on Bernoulli’s Principle, which governs the conservation of energy in fluid dynamics. As a result, the special semi-conical shape of its blades fully exploits the air flow kinetic energy for a superior energy production compared to traditional wind turbines with a similar rotor diameter. Each Nheolis wind turbine that is commercialised under the trade name Nheowind™ is equipped with three semi-conically shaped blades that

rotate around a horizontal axis and can be oriented along two deflection angles, leading to a much more efficient use of the air-flow kinetic energy. These blades are 2-metre long and 5 mm thick and they are made from glass fibre and polyester matrix. The Nheowind® wind turbines are compact, robust and highly efficient, being able to function over a broad range of wind speeds, from 9 km/h to 162 km/h. Furthermore they are said to provide 2 to 3 times more electrical output than other turbines of similar diameter, according to company officials. This innovation has also won Nheolis the 2009 Gold European Environmental Press (EEP) award.



ROUNDTABLE

Fibre reinforced plastics

Can the growth be sustained? Fibre reinforced plastics (FRP) has set a new trend in the industry with its unique combination of properties like light weight, high strength, non-conductivity and non-corrosion. This has paved the way for replacing conventional materials like metals in many crucial sectors like aerospace, marine, construction and automobiles. However, disposal and recycling concerns contribute to the flip side of FRPs. Chandrashekhar Modi, in an interaction with the veterans in the FRP space, dissects the issue from various perspectives.

Ajit Lele CEO, Mahindra Composites Today, fibre reinforced plastics (FRP) is used in myriad critical structures like long distance pipes for carrying petroleum products, CNG cylinders, various automotive components, auxiliary parts in building & construction, besides several marine applications. Glass-polypropylene is the most common FRP used in such structures. In addition to non-corrosive and strength properties, these materials offer weight reduction and improve cost economics. In huge structures like the Airbus-380 or the Dreamliner, the usage of up to 50 per cent FRP in the body has helped achieve significant reduction in weight. The most important application of FRP in the automotive industry is to meet stringent emission norms.

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Modern Plastics & Polymers | July 2010

This is particularly true in Western European countries, where norms like Euro-III can only be met by weight reduction. The Indian automotive industry is also striving to achieve compliance with the Bharat-III norms and this augurs well for the growth of FRP industry in India. Structural failure is an issue with reinforced plastics and this is mainly due to manufacturing defects like improper coating & heating and inadequate curing process for the polymer to get thoroughly mixed with the resin. This tends to create weak links in the composites and these weak links buckle when heavy load is applied. However, today, with the advent of structure mapping techniques, these weak links can be identified in the testing process and manufacturing defects can be rectified. It is very true that FRPs pose disposal and recycling concerns, because the process involved is a thermosetting process and the polymerisation cannot be reversed. However, the waste matter can be put to alternative use by crushing it into a powder and mixing this with cement.


ROUNDTABLE

C K Narayan Packaging Consultant, Tata Elxsi Ltd The development & application of plastics and in particular of fibre reinforced plastics have shifted in the past decades to the mass market. The automotive and aerospace sectors have led the development in FRPs. Apart from these sectors, this material is also used in motorcycle helmets, sailing yachts and most of the sporting equipment. Due to safety reasons, most of these products demand high standards of quality and durability. Further, plastic resin systems determine chemical, electrical, and thermal properties. Fibres provide strength, dimensional stability and heat resistance. Additives provide colour & determine surface finish, and affect many other properties such as weathering and flame retardance. In addition, the use of additives can greatly affect the properties of FRP. Final properties are determined by many factors including the type, amount, and composition of the resin systems & reinforcements. FRPs provide high strength to weight ratios exceeding those of aluminium or steel. In addition to this, they exhibit high dimensional stability under varying physical, environmental and thermal stresses. This is one of the most useful properties of FRPs. A single FRP composite moulding often replaces an assembly of several metal parts and associated fasteners, reducing assembly & handling time, simplifying inventory and reducing

Dilip Dedhia Managing Director, A D K Corporation FRPs are typically organised in a laminate structure, such that each lamina contains an arrangement of unidirectional fibres or woven fibre fabrics embedded within a thin layer of light polymer matrix material. The fibres, typically composed of carbon or glass, provide the strength and stiffness. The matrix, commonly made of polyester, epoxy or nylon, binds and protects the fibres from damage, and transfers the stresses between fibres. Today, FRPs have become indispensable for some structures due to rising costs of conventional materials like metals. They are no longer considered materials of utility only for high-end infrastructure products. This versatile material has become a part of everyday life. For instance, 90 per cent of the man-hole covers in the US are made up of FRPs. In fact, composites are widely used in various industries & applications such as electrical, structural, reinforcement, chemical and recreational sectors. FRP offer greater

manufacturing costs. A single FRP tool can replace several progressive tools required in metal stamping. FRPs do not rust, corrode or rot and they are resistant to most industrial & household chemicals. This quality has been responsible for applications in corrosive environments such as those found in the chemical processing and water treatment industries. This provides long life and low maintenance in marine applications from sailboats & minesweepers to seawalls and offshore oil platforms. The integral construction of most FRP parts avoids joints and connections which are usually weak spots of a design. However, FRP structures undergo stress during accidents, intensive use or when they reach the maximum life span and hence, need to be disassembled. Compared to metals, FRPs can hardly be dismantled & recycled because of adhesive joining and the common use of material mixing constructions like sandwich. A further disadvantage is the partial unknown ageing of polymer materials. UV-light, heat, humidity, mechanical and chemical loads have different effects in respect of their simultaneous occurrences.

advantages due to the simple fact that they are nonconductive, lightweight, and corrosion resistant. The strength properties of FRPs collectively make up one of the primary reasons for which civil engineers select them in the design of structures. A material’s strength is governed by its ability to sustain a load without excessive deformation or failure. When an FRP specimen is tested in axial tension, the applied force per unit cross-sectional area is proportional to the ratio of change in a specimen’s length to its original length. When the applied load is removed, the FRP returns to its original shape or length, ie, it responds in a linear manner to axial stress. Though recycling is not possible in case of FRPs, the waste material bears good resale value and it can be put to many alternative usages.

July 2010 | Modern Plastics & Polymers

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ROUNDTABLE

multifunctional component, thereby lowering overall system

Jamie Tebay Marketing

cost. Further, compression moulding applications also

Manager, Structural, SABIC

exist and recently new conversion processes like injection-

Global

Product

compression moulding have become common. The

Innovative Plastics

extrusion industry also manufactures rod stock, sheet and Reinforced plastics have two distinct cost advantages over

profile extruded reinforced plastics. This leads to improved functionality and part efficiency.

metals. The first is that FRP

Reinforced plastics are no more prone to failure as

is significantly lighter in weight.

compared to other materials. Today, with latest technology,

For many applications in aerospace

a designer can correctly identify the critical specifications

or transportation, this lower weight equates to reduced

& requirements and rigorously test the prototype in real

fuel

replace

life environment. In consultation with resin, tooling and

aluminium in aircraft seating components. In addition to

moulding experts he can also build a design safety factor

weight reduction of up to 50 per cent, this resin displays

for his application.

costs.

Today,

carbon-reinforced

resins

equal or greater strength than die cast aluminium. The

The main challenge to the growth of this industry segment

second advantage is that FRP can be conventionally

seems to be in downward economic cycles. The growth

injection moulded. This helps the designer get unlimited

relies upon the active, innovative, and prospering sectors

designing freedom and cost advantage results, when

like automotive, transportation, healthcare, electronics, and

he incorporates part consolidation and results in a

consumer markets.

Vijaya Prakash Director, Aradhana Fibreglass Technologies The excellent electrical insulation properties of FRPs combined with their high strength makes them the preferred choice for many electrical and telecommunication applications. Transmission and distribution poles built with FRP are characterised by low maintenance, ease of installation, light weight and non-conductive material. Combined with alkyl varnishes, silicon resins, silicon rubber, PTFE, mica or pressure sensitive adhesives, these products continue to be used widely in electrical equipment of all kinds. Fibre glass fabrics in combination with thermosetting epoxy resins constitute the basic raw material for printed circuit boards, where the thermal, electrical and dimensional stability of FRP fabrics find maximum utilisation. Further, the superior mechanical performance of FRP comes from a greater specific resistance than that of steel. This characteristic is the basis for the development

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Modern Plastics & Polymers | July 2010

of FRP to produce high-performance composites used for electrical applications. In addition, FRP allows the alignment of the glass fibres of thermoplastics to suit specific design programmes. Specifying the orientation of reinforcing fibres can increase the strength and resistance to deformation of the polymer. Glass reinforced polymers are strongest and most resistive to deforming forces when the polymer fibres are parallel to the force being exerted, and are weakest when the fibres are perpendicular. Thus, this ability is at once both an advantage or a limitation depending on the context of use. Weak spots of perpendicular fibres can be used for natural hinges and connections, but can also lead to material failure when production processes fail to properly orient the fibres parallel to expected forces. When forces are exerted perpendicular to the orientation of fibres the strength and elasticity of the polymer is less than the matrix alone. In cast resin components made of glass reinforced polymers such as UP and EP, the orientation of fibres can be achieved in two-dimensional and three-dimensional weaves. This means that when forces are possibly perpendicular to one orientation, they are parallel to another orientation. This eliminates the potential for weak spots in the polymer.



LEADERS SPEAK

“Thermoforming is gaining entry into automotive and infrastructure sectors” …says Amit Shah, Managing Director of Wonderpack Industries Pvt Ltd, who has been contributing to the thermoforming industry for more than 25 years now. Actively involved in both thick-walled and thin-walled applications, he has pioneered many technologies for the Indian market. Further, he has worked closely with thermoforming machinery manufacturers and processors in the US & Europe and is closely associated with various plastics and packaging institutions. In this e-interview with Chandrashekhar Modi, Shah outlines the latest trends in thermoforming.

Your comments on the recent merger with Rajoo Engineers Ltd...

The industry will benefit immensely from this collaboration. Solutions from Rajoo and Wonderpack will continue to be available to the industry as before, albeit with more options. The selling, marketing and servicing networks of Rajoo and Wonderpack will now reinforce one another and come under one umbrella for unparalleled service levels witnessed by the industry. I look forward to taking this combined entity to new orbits - both in terms of technology levels & footprints and I see very certainly that it will soon become a force to reckon with at the global level. With a vision for steep growth and well understanding of the dynamics of the markets, this collaborative move promises to provide significant value propositions for all concerned. There would be significant benefit when the merged entity will take advantage of each other’s technology, developments, service network and marketing strengths. In the revised setup, Wonderpack will operate as a separate division of Rajoo Engineers at Nasik.

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Modern Plastics & Polymers | July 2010


LEADERS SPEAK

Current scenario in the global and Indian thermoforming industry…

The thermoforming industry, which is commonly known to cater to the food packaging and processing industry, has spread its wings to many other sectors with a new application hitting the market almost every day. Sectors like automotive and infrastructure are increasingly witnessing innovations in thermoforming. The developed world has already witnessed the application of technology in many different sectors and India is gradually catching up with this trend. Currently, the thermoforming industry in India is concentrated in the semi-organised sector and needs more organised large players to penetrate into other segments. The plastics industry is moving towards an era of sustainability with reduced consumption of material and energy. In line with this, extra thin-walled containers for food processing products is the latest trend in thermoforming. Wherever thick-walled containers are mandatory, there is a greater tendency towards using composites.

Recent trends in the Indian thermoforming industry with respect to choices of machinery…

Today, thermoforming machines are available with a myriad of options & capabilities and this allows thermoformers to focus on features that are specific to their product requirements. This helps them to be more competitive in the market. Due to this new emerging trend, they are shying away from all-purpose machines and focussing on machines specific to their needs. Thermoforming has benefitted from applications of engineering technology, although the basic forming process remains the same. Microprocessor and computer controls on modern machinery allow greatly increased process control and repeatability of the same job set-ups from one production run to the next, thus enabling savings on process timing settings between jobs. The ability to place formed sheet into an inline trim station for more precise trim registration has been hugely improved due to the common use of electric servomotors for chain indexing versus air cylinders, gear racks and clutches on older machines.

Electric servomotors are also used on sophisticated machines for actuation of the machine platens where form and trim tooling are mounted, rather than air cylinders which have traditionally been the industry standard, giving more precise control over closing and opening speeds and timing of the tooling. Infrared ceramic/quartz and radiant-panel oven heaters generally provide more precise and thorough sheet heating over older cal-rod type heaters and allow better zoning of ovens into areas of adjustable heat. Of late, machinery manufacturers have made great technological strides in terms of speed and automation. Machines with considerably low cycle times and higher machine speeds are available in the market and with these, manufacturers are at the forefront of bringing automation to the shop floor.

Thick gauge versus thin gauge thermoformed products…

The thin gauge thermoformed products are in vogue around the globe. In India, 90 per cent of the market is concentrated on thin gauge products, which mainly comprise cups and trays for food packaging. Thin-gauge thermoformed products are flexible & compact and the materials generally used are PP, PS, PET and EPS. Thick-gauge thermoforming on the other hand creates sturdy, rigid enclosures for enclosing products like critical electronic equipment, automotive parts, etc. Materials used in thick-gauge thermoforming include flame-retardant ABS, polycarbonate, and PC-ABS blend. Awareness - a requirement of initial capex and proper cutting systems are acting as a deterrent for the growth of the thick-gauge market in India.

On energy efficiency and sustainability…

There is a lot of focus on energy efficiency in the plastics machinery sector and the extrusion industry is no exception. Machines today have been designed to offer more output, thereby automatically bringing down energy and material consumption per kg. For example, thermoforming machines of a particular size and weight that had cycle frequencies of about 25 cycle per minute five years ago, now have reduced cycle times and give

cycle frequencies of up to 45-55 cycle per minute. Hence, if the cost of power for heater bank, electric motors or any other prime mover is considered, the cost per kg comes down significantly due to reduced cycle times. Another aspect of energy efficiency is focussed on resource consumption. The trend towards extra thin-walled thermoformed products clearly point reduced plastic consumption. However, this has an upper limit as extra thin-walled containers are difficult to recycle and even pose a stacking problem.

Wonderpack’s growth strategies for the years to come…

The overall thermoforming market in India is growing at the rate of 1.5-2 times of the growth rate of GDP. The demand for thermoforming machinery is cyclical, ie, it follows a similar pattern on a yearly basis. The demand for thermoformed cups, glasses and trays shoots up during the festive season and this cyclical nature is strongly correlated with the demand for machinery. Wonderpack is highly committed to tapping the high growth rate of the market and we believe that our strategy of creating value through innovation will help us maintain a leadership position in this market.

Your vision of this industry in India…

As mentioned earlier, there is lot of scope for Indian thermoformers to penetrate sectors like automobile and infrastructure. In the developed world, products like water drainage sheets have created ripples in the construction sector, due to their unique application for water management. However, this would require a change in the traditional mindset. Indian thermoformers are the trendsetters in thinwall tea / coffee / beverage container and do not wish to deviate from this high-growth segment. They should be educated & motivated for catering to the high-value and high-margin thick gauge segment & packaging sector. Apart from penetrating these virgin markets, the future of thermoforming lies in developing innovative products like thermoformed bottles and typically replacing injection moulded thin-walled products & flexible packaging replacement with thermoformed packaging. July 2010 | Modern Plastics & Polymers

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FACILITY VISIT

Kriti Group (India) Ltd

Evolving through extrusion From humble beginnings 27 years ago, Kriti Group (India) Ltd has achieved great heights in the arena of moulded plastic products for a wide range of markets. Today, as a leading manufacturer with a broad customer base across several states in India as well as overseas, the group continually strives to deliver cost-effective and quality products to its customers. Geetha Jayaraman takes a closer look.

K

riti Group (India) Ltd is a reputed manufacturer of plastic polymer piping systems, moulded plastic products and premium quality refined soybean products with a loyal customer base both in India as well as abroad. Through its moulding and extrusion facility located at Pithampur near Indore in Madhya Pradesh and an engineering plastics division at Ranjangaon near Pune, Maharashtra, the group offers a wide variety of products catering to myriad applications and markets.

A journey of a thousand miles‌ The Kriti Group began its journey with a single screw extruder imported from Battenfield, Germany, for manufacturing rigid PVC pipes. The initial set-up functioned from a small shed, 32 km from Indore, with a capital of Rs 2 lakh taken as

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Modern Plastics & Polymers | July 2010

a loan from Madhya Pradesh Financial Corporation (MPFC), in the year 1983. The success of its first brand, Kasta, led to the expansion of capacities and its dealership network to over 100 dealers within a few years. With the establishment of a 200 tonne per day solvent extraction plant in 1992, the group forayed into manufacturing cooking oil. In 1995, new ranges of injection moulding products were added to the basket. The range of offering of the RPVC pipes increased steadily from 63 mm to 316 mm diameter. With the advent of the telecom revolution, co-extruded internally lubricated HDPE telecom ducts for laying optical fibre cables attracted a new range of institutional customers. The company also fulfilled the need of large diameter HDPE/RPVC pipes for potable water supplies & sewage disposal.


FACILITY VISIT

The year 2004 witnessed the establishment of a new unit at Ranjangaon, Pune and set up new state-of-the-art facilities for moulding of white goods & the automobile industry. Today, the group boasts of a presence in over 17 states in India as well as internationally. In subsequent years with the increase in demand of high value added soya products, Kriti became a reputed exporter to various countries all over the world.

Kriti offers top of the line products for diverse sectors Agriculture Micro irrigation Building and infrastructure Drainage and sewage Natural gas distribution pipelines PLB HDPE ducts for telecommunication Industrial piping systems Blow moulded hollow plastic containers for industrial and domestic usage Engineering plastics mould

Manufacturing set-up The group’s manufacturing facility in Pithampur is spread over a sprawling 1,32,000 sq m and houses comprehensive extrusion and moulding facilities and focusses on the development, manufacturing & distribution of plastic piping systems. It is equipped with fully automated extrusion lines to ensure that the best quality products are delivered to the customer. Dr Kamal Bharani, VP Production, Kriti Group (India) Ltd says, “The products are sold under the brand names of Kasta, Koresil and are used for agriculture, micro irrigation, construction, infrastructure and telecommunication purposes. Superior technology in extrusion & injection moulding, form a solid base for Kriti’s high-tech products.” The company has already established itself as a preferred source

and a world-class manufacturer of plastic components. Moreover, it has a modern layout and state-of-the-art machine and equipment. Besides, it meets its customers’ expectations for sourcing high-end products through its skilled and experienced workforce and efficient production & assembly operations. This facility has fully automated loading, batching, drying and conveying systems and robust quality systems as well as testing equipment in place.

Research and development centre The company has a research and development (R&D) centre at Pithampur working on various material applications and processes in plastics. Here, the scientific procedures and latest equipment are an assurance of the product conforming to the most exacting standards. Further, this centre is well equipped with modern devices to test the strength of the product before sending it to the market. The following tests are conducted according to the Bureau of Indian Standards and ISO: Tensile tester: This is a test for tensile strength, that is, the physical make up of the product to determine if it is strong enough to withstand the most rigorous service conditions. Oxidation induction meter: This equipment tests products for their ability to stand the test of time and resist degradation by oxidation. Coefficient of friction tester: This test measures the force of friction between the inner lubricated layer of PLB HDPE duct and optical fibre cables to obviate any chances of damage that may be caused to the dainty piece of optical fibre by friction. Carbon black dispersion tester: This test determines the dispersion of the carbon black fibre in the polymer compound which is responsible for stability of the product under constant exposure to UV light.

The plastics unit has seen an expansion in pipe production and moulding capacities. Looking at the need of the hour, we have launched water conserving, high quality in-line drip systems. With the growth in demand across old and new territories we are going in for further expansion by adding new ranges and increasing our volumes. Shiv Singh Mehta Managing Director

July 2010 | Modern Plastics & Polymers

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FACILITY VISIT

Hydrostatic pressure testing machines: This fully automated computerised machine tests each product for its strength in bearing water pressure that flows through it. Discharge uniformity measurement machine: Hydrostatic testing machine to test the dripper discharge for every batch of production. Impact resistance tester: To measure the brittleness of the pipe at 0°C. ESCR tester: To test long-term property of the product to understand the weather resistance of product. Quality assurance in Kriti is not only a passion; it is a priority. Kriti is certified by BVQI, with accreditation from UKAS, Quality Management, BVQI (hokiing) SA with ISO 9001:2000 & ISO 14001:2004.

Strategies for the future Kriti Group is consolidating its existing markets through deep penetration in rural areas and multi-product selling. The company is working to become more costeffective and a very high quality producer. It is widening the product range to reach out to a larger customer base in agriculture and building sector. It has successfully launched drip irrigation systems under micro irrigation projects in various state governments’ subsidy schemes. There is also a greater focus on institutional sales in infrastructure, telecommunication and building construction sectors. Shiv Singh Mehta, Managing Director, Kriti Group (India) Ltd, elaborates, “Our marketing network is spread deep down from large to small towns in over 15 states of India. Kriti’s products are exported to various countries in South East Asia, China, Japan and Europe. Kriti is planning to extend its reach to individual customers to enhance its B&B share in total business volume. Having introduced inline drip systems, Kriti is increasing its product offering for agriculture and horticulture segments. We also have plans to introduce new products for plumbing and pipe fittings.” The group is also exploring opportunities for tieups with companies who can bring in technology and introduce it to new European car manufacturers, establishing shops in India. With continuous focus on research, Kriti continues to innovate, improve and integrate new technologies to upgrade its products, besides adding a wider range to its milieu. 44

Modern Plastics & Polymers | July 2010



SECTOR WATCH

Beyond cups, glasses and trays, thermoforming has come a long way to penetrate sectors like automobiles and building & construction. Large fibre glass products like boat hulls, bus, truck and tractor parts are now being produced by thermoforming instead of injection moulding. Water drainage systems, holding tanks and other products related to construction business are also gaining popularity and are being produced in larger volumes. With more and more companies investing in large machinery capable of forming these products, new applications and new markets continue to develop even further, finds out Chandrashekhar Modi.

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SECTOR WATCH

T

hermoforming, one of the oldest plastics processes, has the ability to fabricate thin-walled parts with large areas, using relatively inexpensive, single-sided tooling. The process can also economically produce a few thick-walled parts or many thin-walled parts. As the technology advancements have greatly improved in all aspects of thermoforming machines, thermoformers are now well-equipped to drive competition to the next level.

Developments in machinery Thermoforming machines, having undergone significant technological developments, are today available even for handling custom requirements. Interactive software, electronic interfaces and automation have brought this into reality. “Today, a thermoformer can change every machine parameter using flat panel touchscreen interfaces and innovative software within seconds. This eliminates the manual process of setting up different machine sequences, adjusting limit switches, opening and closing valves, setting oven heat configurations, setting

pressures and even reading job setup sheets. Not only can previously programmed jobs be brought up and machine parameters changed within seconds, new technology is also reducing initial set-up times and allowing the constant tweaking of jobs to make them faster and more user-friendly,” points out Rajesh Potdar, Managing Director, Europack Machines Pvt Ltd. One of the most popular objects available for every application is adjustable clampframe. This has been one of the single hottest items to hit the thermoforming machinery market. “There is no longer a need to store and replace different lengths of clampframe for the diverse sheet sizes required to run different jobs. Adjustable clampframes offer the ability to vary the length of the clampframes without having to add or remove clampframe sections from the machine, and without any tool requirement,” elaborates Potdar. Besides, not only can one change these frames in less than five minutes, but also document the position of these clampframes and easily return them to the exact position the next

Courtesy: IIig

Today, a thermoformer can change every machine parameter using flat panel touch screen interfaces and innovative software within seconds. This eliminates the manual process. Rajesh Potdar

Managing Director, Europack Machines Pvt Ltd

time the product is run. “Adjustable clampframes are continually proving to save anywhere from 1-3 hours of downtime (per mould changeover), depending on the type of machinery,” adds Potdar. Automation has also come into play due to the increased demand for part inserts. There can be various metals, foam or even wood parts that are inserted during the thermoforming process and become part of the actual finished product. “Typically these inserts are placed into a mould cavity in the form station before the sheet is formed, or they are placed between two sheets in the twin sheet forming process. Little time is given for these inserts to be manually placed in a proper manner, and safety is always a concern when personnel are required to enter a machine in production mode. Automated robots and automated pick and place systems are being incorporated to assist in this aspect to help reduce labour costs, increase personnel safety, gain July 2010 | Modern Plastics & Polymers

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SECTOR WATCH

The acceptability factor for Indian products increases in the West if they are manufactured on a European machine rather than a relatively unfamiliar indigenous brand. Cesar Rodriguez

Founder and Managing Partner, MachinePoint Consultants SL

repeatability and keep scrap rates to a minimum,” explains Potdar.

The second innings Used thermoforming machines too have been in vogue in the developing countries as they help cost-conscious thermoformers to upgrade themselves at a minimum cost. Expressing his views on used machinery, Cesar Rodriguez, Founder and Managing Partner, MachinePoint Consultants SL, says, “A good quality used thermoformer, which is often sold at affordable pricing, could take a typical Indian processor miles ahead in terms of the quality and productivity. Moreover, some special thermoformed products are in great demand in the western countries.” According to him, the acceptability factor for Indian products increases in the West if they are manufactured on a European machine rather than a relatively unfamiliar indigenous brand. Hence, a good quality used machine would ensure production 48

Modern Plastics & Polymers | July 2010

quality and keep pace with technology and competition. Cost is not the only factor that drives the demand for used machinery in the thermoforming sector. Cites Rodriguez, “The world is getting smaller, and there is a greater premium on better quality. The global market has evolved and matured considerably and will not accept substandard equipment. The people in Latin America, India and China are not just going to take any machine. With most thermoformers falling in the heavy use and moderate use categories, one can see that the lion’s share of equipment in the industry experiences a substantial amount of wear and tear. Used machinery quickly fixes this issue and helps thermoformers stay ahead and be competent.”

Materials and processes Materials with low viscosity including liquids and low melting wax have been historically considered nonthermoformable. But with the latest developments in the thermoforming machinery, thermoforming of lowviscosity polymers have been made possible. “Commodity plastics have low strengths and stiffnesses when compared to metals or ceramics, and they tend to exhibit creep under applied force. They also have temperature limitations when used as solids (most melt in the range of 100 – 250°C). The tensile moduli of commodity plastics are of the order of 1 GPa (compared to 210 GPa for steel). Significant improvement can be achieved by alignment of polymer chains. Actually the carbon-carbon bonds are very strong and single filament polyethylenes have been produced having modulus values exceeding that of steel,” informs Vir Singh, Managing Director, Sai Thermoformers. Further, at low temperatures, the polymer chains have limited mobility

and the orientation remains after stretching. This makes thermoforming of low-viscosity polymers possible. “Recent discoveries and developments in single-site metallocene-based catalysts have resulted in new grades of commodity polymers having controlled molecular architecture with improved properties,” avers Singh. A novel thermoforming process has emerged as a promising new method to produce highly technical microparts such as polymer microchips for life-science applications. The micro-thermoforming process, offers thermoformers potential entry into the market for micro-electromechanical systems, which is projected to grow 16 per cent annually through the decade. Other developments include a fourmotion plug assist for PP containers, a ‘mega’ quick-change cylinder, and the first chrome-like TPO bumper for commercial trucks. “The new process is a microscopic adaptation of the trapped-sheet forming technique. The three-part

The micro-thermoforming process offers thermoformers potential entry into the market for micro-electromechanical systems, which is projected to grow 16 per cent annually through the decade. Vir Singh

Managing Director, Sai Thermoformers



SECTOR WATCH

When rigidity is a key factor, twin sheet enables the insertion of preshaped rigid foam in between two formed cavities, thus imparting enhanced strength and security to the product. Mohammed Arif

Director, Delta Thermoformers

forming system consists of a plateshaped mould with micro-cavities, a counterplate with holes for vacuum and gas pressurisation, and a seal between the mould and the counterplate. A thin (20-50 micron) thermoplastic film is inserted in the mould assembly, which is mounted in a heated laboratory press. The press is closed and vacuum sealing is achieved although the film is not yet clamped between the mould plates. The mould is then evacuated and completely closed, thus clamping and heating the film. When the material has reached forming temperature, the film is forced into the evacuated mould cavities with compressed gas pressure of about 50 bars. When the mould cools to about 20°C below the material’s forming temperature, the gas pressure is released, the mould opens, and the micro-part is demoulded,” elaborates Singh.

‘Form’ing the product From new thermoplastic foam sheet and pre-shaped rigid foam inserts, to secondary liquid foam, thermoformers and foam suppliers are continually 50

Modern Plastics & Polymers | July 2010

developing innovative ways to incorporate innovative materials for thermoformed parts. “Although foams have been used for quite some time in the thermoforming process, new foam materials, besides innovations in foam and applications are pushing the usage of thermoformed products to new heights. New advances in foam sheet materials are also allowing thermoformers to expand their capabilities. Foams find use in shoe insoles for comfort, in interior vehicle applications for sound absorption, as well as for lighter weight and even moisture resistant applications like automotive ventilation systems. When rigidity is a key factor, twin sheet forming enables the insertion of pre-shaped rigid foam in between two formed cavities, thus imparting enhanced strength and security to the product. This process is utilised for the manufacture of floatation devices, plastic pallets and doors. Products that must be lightweight, soft and have little rigidity requirements are being produced using foam-based materials,” explains Mohammed Arif, Director, Delta Thermoformers.

consistency, avers Krishnan Ramkumar, Manager - New Projects, G Plast. Moreover, a change in the amount of time, and the part spent in the mould has a direct effect on the amount of shrinkage that occurs. The part must be held in the mould until the set temperature of the resin has been reached. A quality thermoformer typically will have digital controls on their forming equipment along with the capability to continually monitor the sheet temperatures during the heating cycle. Post-moulded CNC trimming of the part’s critical features also allows tighter tolerances and consistent parts. “For cost effectiveness, holding fixtures must be used that allow a closer tolerance. To try and hold tighter tolerances would require special fixtures and will drive the cost of parts significantly upward,” adds Ramkumar. Incidentally, the usage of different techniques in cooling design of the moulds is yet to be explored. If one is able to adapt conformal cooling techniques, much higher productivity and better quality can be achieved and also the quality of the moulds would be at its best.

Designing the mould Mould-making, as far as thermoforming is concerned, is one of the areas where maximum automation has been promoted. Usually, the moulds are required to be temperature controlled with internal cooling channels for maintaining consistent mould temperature. “Aluminium is the material of choice because it has a very high coefficient of thermal conductivity that allows consistent cooling cycle times through the entire production run. Because of the amount of shrink that takes place at the aluminium foundry when a mould is cast, the typical tolerances are maintained from the print to the mould. The forming process must be very consistent from run-to-run, in order to ensure dimensional

A quality thermoformer typically will have digital controls on his forming equipment along with the capability to continually monitor the sheet temperatures. Krishnan Ramkumar

Manager - New Projects, G Plast


SECTOR WATCH

Courtesy: IIig

Growth prospects The industry has raised its standards to accommodate recently engineered thermoplastics and new applications

are being introduced to the thermoforming market. “As the motor driven platen has replaced nearly all pneumatic platen drive systems, it has become today’s standard. The motorised systems have proven to be more accurate, more consistent, more controllable, faster and highly programmable. Not only has the bar been raised to all motor driven platens, but to multiple ways of driving them,” avows Potdar. Some of the most recent developments in large machine construction have opened new doors for the industry. It is no longer being considered a risk to purchase and implement larger machine sizes. According to Potdar, earlier there was not much advancements in large machine technology due to limited demand. Besides, machine manufacturers did not have enough experience to design & build them in a cost-effective manner. With the

latest technological advancements and increasing market demand, the scenario has now changed. Over the past several years, more machines are being built to accommodate some of the largest moulds or largest thermoformed products ever manufactured in high volume quantities. For instance, one of the higher volume thermoformed parts are pallets. Traditional pallet machines run two to four up, but as competition is growing companies are going larger with machines capable of running six to eight up. “Some of the largest new thermoforming machines manufactured over the past two years are 16” x 8”, 19” x 10”, 14” x 8”, and 21” x 9”. Some of these are straight vacuum formers, some pressure formers, and one is even the largest twin sheet thermoforming machine in the world with a 21’ x 8’ forming area,” concludes Potdar.

July 2010 | Modern Plastics & Polymers

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MARKET TRENDS

Wood plastic composites

Making the move indoors

Courtesy: LANXESS

Sturdiness, high resistance to environmental factors and weathering, besides low maintenance requirements and a long service life all speak for wood plastic composite (WPC) products. Although their primary applications continue to be decking and structural materials, the use of WPCs for interior applications is a growing market, finds Sarita Kutty.

A

unique material that combines the best characteristics of wood fibres and plastics, wood plastic composite (WPC), offers a wide range of products, where durability and good weather resistance play an important role. A major advantage over wood is the ability of the material to be moulded to meet almost any desired spatial conditions. It can also be bent and fixed to form strong arching curves. And while WPCs behave like wood and can be shaped using conventional woodworking tools, they are resistant to moisture and rot. 52

Modern Plastics & Polymers | July 2010

Avers Ronald Kaplan, Chairman, Trex Company Inc, “WPC is a composite material lumber or timber made of recycled plastics and wood wastes. However, there are applications in the market that utilise only virgin raw materials. Though the usage of WPCs is widespread in outdoor applications like decking, cladding, park benches, etc, there is also a growing market for potential indoor usages such as doorframes, trim and furniture. New parts include post ends, toilet seats, windowsills and flooring.� Typically, the production of WPC uses a fine wood waste (sawdust in


MARKET TRENDS

Pros of wood plastic composites No finishing required; colour can be added during processing Ease of moulding; can mould a finished product in one step Product consistency Improved stiffness to weight ratio Little or no moisture absorbency Resistance to rot and insects

the 40 to 60 mesh range) mixed with various plastics. This comprises a new group of materials that are generating more and more interest, and cover a wide range of polymer matrix types (including PP, PE and PVC) as well as a wide range of fillers and stiffeners (including wood flour, flax, jute and other cellulose-based fibre fillers). These materials offer added strength, lower costs and a wide range of finishes.

Industry scenario With annual growth rates of around 25 per cent, WPCs rank among the strongest growth segments of the European plastics industry. According to a study carried out by the British Applied Market Information Ltd, Bristol, a market volume of 1,40,000 tonne will be reached by the end of this year, which means twice the volume of 2007.

Avers Dr Wolfgang Oehlert, Vice President – Inorganic Pigments Business Unit – Asia Pacific, LANXESS, “The WPC segment has grown in doubledigit percentages annually for the past decade. In North America, rail and decking products have dominated the WPC market. In Europe, indoor applications including relatively cheap furniture mouldings and trim products have been developed for consumers attracted to the flexibility and the variety of shapes and configurations possible with WPCs. Likewise, in China and other parts of Asia, the WPC market is beginning to experience considerable growth along with a wider variety of product offerings including pallets, doors and architectural mouldings. Thus, WPCs are slowly but steadily making headway into flooring, moulding, cabinet and furniture arenas.”

Processing the material The new and rapidly developing generation of WPCs have excellent mechanical properties, high dimensional stability and can be used to produce complex shapes. Moreover, manufacturers claim that WPCs are more environment-friendly and require less maintenance than the alternatives of solid wood treated with preservatives or solid wood of rot-resistant species. However, the characteristics of WPCs

Courtesy: WPC Decking

Though the usage of WPCs is widespread in outdoor applications like decking, cladding, park benches, etc, there is also a growing market for potential indoor usages like doorframes, trim and furniture. Ronald Kaplan

Chairman, Trex Company Inc

are often influenced by their processing method. The material is typically extruded or injection moulded from compounded pellets. In a typical extrusion process, a concentration of wood flour is combined with melted plastic pellets at a high viscosity. A reinforcing agent is mixed into the compound, binding the plastics and wood flour together. The mixed compound is then pushed through a steel mould in the extruder. One general concern with processing the material relates to possible inconsistencies in the product. “When you have two different types of materials together such as wood pulp and plastics, without making the necessary accommodation you can get inconsistencies. Sagging, warping and twisting can occur because the extruded product is not held consistent during production. However, added tooling in the extrusion process can help,” says Walter Haeder, Managing Director – Infrastructure, BattenfeldCincinnati. July 2010 | Modern Plastics & Polymers

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MARKET TRENDS

WPCs are more rigid and have a lower thermal expansion coefficient than polymers, with the attractive appearances of wood. These can be shaped by way of extrusion, injectionmoulding or compression moulding. Dr Wolfgang Oehlert

Vice President – Inorganic Pigments Business Unit – Asia Pacific, LANXESS

As far as the processing temperature is concerned, it is less than 150oC, a temperature that allows high processing rates and low energy consumption. During production, the flow characteristics of cross-linked composite, through the extrusion system, permit the use of simple dies for even the most complex profiles. The simplicity of the die design means that lead times of six to eight weeks from design concept to production are usual. The most important strength of the WPC is its easy shaping. Whereas wood needs to be sawed, cut to size and coated, the extrusion of WPCs produces a moulded, finished decorated piece in a single step, thus reducing effort and costs. “However, the cost factor is not the only advantage of the flexible material. Its plastic component, generally polypropylene, imparts the material with mechanical properties that are superior to those of wood. It shows high dimensional stability and flexural stiffness. The material is nearly 54

Modern Plastics & Polymers | July 2010

impervious to moisture: it neither swells nor warps. It can be sawed, sanded, planed or nailed like wood. Since the material is coloured in mass, scratches, which would immediately jump out on a coated surface, are barely noticeable,” elaborates Haeder. Agrees Oehlert, “WPCs are more rigid and have a lower thermal expansion coefficient than polymers, with the attractive appearances of wood. WPCs also do not splinter and equal to wood in terms of shape formations. The composite can be shaped by way of extrusion, injectionmoulding or compression moulding to almost all types of parts: from small, complicated, or hollow parts and profiles to large three-dimensional parts.” According to him, the advantage of a WPC material is in the inherent processability of plastics. “You can injection mould a whole cabinet door exactly in the shape you need, without any added machining. WPCs also offer an improved stiffness to weight ratio over wood,” Dr Oehlart adds. Further, the material can be moulded to produce complex shapes, such as cabinetry doors, which is a fundamental advantage over wood.

Battenfeld-Cincinnati has created a new extruder, which it claims is ideal for newcomers to the WPC market. “The wide range of outputs of the conical counter-rotating machine, from 90 to 275 kg/hr, makes it possible to extrude a great variety of different profiles with only one machine – an attribute frequently demanded especially by newcomers. The fiberexK72 can produce pre-blended compounds as well as agglomerates based on PVC, PE or PP. It comes with closed-loop screw core tempering, AC drive and a vacuum unit with twin filter as standard,” says Haeder. Additional important blending system considerations in WPC processing include control & weigh system insensitivity to environmental disturbances, and the ability to reliably handle/control difficult organic components.

Additives and masterbatches WPC producers are seeking improved products, with focus on physical property retention, colour retention, mould and mildew resistance. In order to achieve

Machining considerations The dominant manufacturing technology has been extrusion and this has been supplemented by injection moulding. Compared to many other processes, on-line compounding and extrusion exhibit short performance timescales, consistent with the mixing time of the extruder. For high formulation quality, the feeding system must achieve and maintain its required blending accuracy within this brief time. Key to a feeder’s ability to attain high accuracy over short intervals is the resolution of its weighing device and response of its process controller. However, to achieve the same accuracy in the short interval characteristic of compounding and extrusion operations, a much higher weighing performance is required.

The wide range of outputs of the conical counter-rotating machine, from 90 to 275 kg/hr, makes it possible to extrude a great variety of different profiles with only one machine. Walter Haeder

Managing Director – Infrastructure, Battenfeld-Cincinnati



MARKET TRENDS

The fibre treatment technology will enhance the performance of traditional WPCs. This new technology will enable customers to differentiate products. John Van Hulle

Senior Vice President & President - Global Colour, Additives & Inks, PolyOne

good WPCs, additives are very critical and indispensible even though they are used in just small percentages, as they give WPCs sufficient stiffness, rigidity and good stability against light and heat. Additives such as colourants, coupling agents, stabilisers, blowing agents, reinforcing agents, foaming agents, and lubricants help tailor the plastic end product to the target area of application. Informs Dr Oehlert, “LANXESS offers heat-stable Colortherm® inorganic coloured pigments that have proven effective for the colouration of these materials. These pigments can be used to very accurately recreate natural wood and earth tones, giving the products a deceptively realistic wood character. The cost-effective iron oxide pigments pay off in this application because they are used in larger quantities. Their easy processing is a particular advantage: the finely powdered pigments distribute evenly into the material and can withstand temperatures up to 260°C without changing colour. This makes them particularly well suited for the extrusion process used for the composites. The UV 56

Modern Plastics & Polymers | July 2010

and weather stability of the colourants ensure that the products do not fade too quickly and convey a high colour intensity over a long service life.” On the same lines, PolyOne Corporation, a premier global provider of specialised polymer materials, services and solutions recently completed the development of a patent-pending fibre treatment technology that will enhance the performance of traditional WPCs. PolyOne also recently introduced a portfolio of customised chemical foaming agents for WPCs. “We are confident that these new technologies will help drive customer success in a variety of applications,” asserts John Van Hulle, Senior Vice President and President - Global Color, Additives & Inks, PolyOne. The company’s OnColor™ WPC line of colourants consists of fade-resistant, ‘cooler-to-the-touch’ colourants in highly loaded, small bead form for better distribution of colour during extrusion and moulding operations, and streaker technology that yields the aesthetic appearance of tropical hardwoods in WPC formulations. Moreover, the OnColor™ Smartbatch WPC line incorporates both colour and additive technology designed to eliminate

Courtesy: Backyard City

Courtesy: LANXESS

processing steps while further enhancing the performance of WPCs. Another crucial contributor to quality of WPCs is flame retardants as without flame retardants, WPCs will have very limited applications. Thus, high-performance additives transform WPCs into a true high-tech material for many demanding applications like porch flooring, railings and various profiles.

Future drivers Although their primary applications continue to be decking and structural materials, WPCs for interior applications is a growing market. “This industry is maturing into other products. I think the window and door industry, for example, is beginning to pay more attention to it,” states Dr Oehlert. Likewise, the furniture industry is increasingly using WPC for chairs and shelf elements. Volumes are growing, both in North America where the market is well established, as well as in Europe where it is now starting to get a foothold. Cites Haeder, “Demand for WPC is expected to rise in quest for minimal maintenance requirements, excellent weatherability and high resistance to wear and tear in construction applications. Playground equipment and site & leisure furniture applications are expected to register strong gains through 2011, driven by the environment-friendly profile of composite and plastic lumber, as well as their performance and maintenance characteristics.” Interior applications include furniture, windowsills, skirting and stairs. The aesthetic and low maintenance properties of WPCs are continuing to drive growth in wood replacement applications. They are being increasingly recommended for porch flooring, railings, or various profiles. The furniture industry and automotive suppliers are also increasingly using WPC for chairs and shelf elements as well as for interior components of passenger cars. In short, these recent developments in finishing and processing technologies are giving WPC producers a bright prospect for future growth.



MATERIAL CORNER

PVDF and PVDF copolymers

‘Smart’ membrane materials As the PVDF copolymer is gaining acceptance in a wide range of applications, many of the unique properties are being utilised to develop new products. As these evolve, new standards are being developed to define the copolymer resins. Read on for a brief overview of the properties, processing methods & applications of PVDF and its copolymers.

Mandar Amrute

S

ince the early 1960s, polyvinylidene fluoride resin, more commonly known as PVDF, has been well established in the chemical process industry due to its excellent chemical resistance, mechanical toughness and long-term durability. In the 1980s, the copolymer range of PVDF was introduced which complimented the erstwhile rigid product line with a more flexible product line. PVDF belongs to the fluoropolymer group. By definition, a fluoropolymer is a polymer containing fluorine in its molecular structure. PVDF copolymer is made by the use of hexafluoropropylene (HFP) as comonomer. Traditionally used in the form of injection moulded valves, fittings, nozzles, tower packing and extruded rigid pipes in the chemical industry, PDVF is a tough engineering thermoplastic that is resistant to a wide range of chemicals. It has good resistance against most acids and acid mixtures, weak bases, halogens, halogenated solvents, hydrocarbons and alcohols. PVDF homopolymers are generally resistant to chemicals up to pH 12 & PVDF copolymers to chemicals up to pH 13.5. Apart from chemical resistance, PDVF offers a unique balance of the following performance properties: Resistance to ultraviolet and nuclear radiation

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Resistance to weathering Low permeability to most gases and liquids Low flame and smoke characteristics Mechanical strength and toughness High abrasion resistance High thermal stability High purity Readily melt processable Available in both rigid and flexible versions Factors that can affect a material’s chemical resistance include (but are not limited to) exposure time, chemical concentration, extreme temperature and pressure, frequency of temperature and pressure cycling, attrition due to abrasive particles, and the type of mechanical stress imposed. Hence, one must consult the resin manufacturer and chemical resistance data regarding the PVDF resin before using the recommended specific grade for particular application.

Processing of PVDF and PVDF copolymer PVDF can be processed easily by normal processing techniques like injection moulding, extrusion, rotational moulding, transfer moulding, etc. Although the processing of PVDF compounds has evolved over the last 20 years, traditional processes like injection moulding and extrusion are still more popular. Injection moulding: Standard injection moulding equipment and



MATERIAL CORNER tooling can be used to process PVDF resins. No specialty materials of construction are required but chrome or nickel plating of polymer contact surfaces is recommended to avoid pitting. Further, melt temperatures vary based on the part geometry, tooling and resin grade. PVDF resins are highly crystalline materials and hence, exhibit significant shrinkage. Shrinkage rate is a function of part thickness,

Extruded pipes and fittings

Tower packing made of PVDF

flow direction and processing conditions. Extrusion: Smooth PVDF products of all types can be extruded at high rates without extrusion aids, lubricants or heat stabilisers. PVDF resins can be extruded on standard extrusion machines with standard machine of construction similar to those used to process PVC or polypropylene. Drying of PVDF resins is not required but it has shown to reduce some surface blemishes in film, sheet and pipe extrusion. Polyethylene (PE) can be used as a purge compound at the end of the production run. However, if the extrusion equipment is not cleaned properly after purging, PE will act as a contamination in the subsequent runs, creating weak weld lines. Cast acrylic can also be used as a purge compound. Standard metering screws with L/D ratio of 24/1 and a compression ratio of 3/1 are commonly used. Welding of PVDF and PVDF copolymer: Several methods of fusion welding PVDF components are possible. The most common and successful approaches for welding are heat contact and hot gas welding by means of a welding rod. Ultrasonic, infrared, hot lamination, spin and radio frequency welding are possible for bonding PVDF to itself. Further, to produce high quality weld, temperature, pressure and time must be controlled.

Table 1: General physical properties of PVDF

Property Melt point Specific gravity Tensile strength @ yield* Tensile strength @ break* Elongation @ break* Flexural modulus* Notched Izod impact strength* Hardness

Unit for property Deg C -psig psig % psig Ft lb / in Shore D

PVDF homopolymer 168 1.77 7,500 7,000 50 2,80,000 3 78

PVDF copolymer 158 1.78 5,000 5,000 200 1,70,000 6 74

*Values indicated above are only for reference. One must consult material manufacturer, while selecting the grade for specific application. There are ranges of performance of homopolymer and copolymer; the table only reflects data for one particular grade of PVDF.

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PVDF application areas in India PVDF resins are most commonly preferred in the paper & pulp industry, nuclear power plants, waste water treatment plants, chemical handling systems and government laboratories due to their excellent chemical resistance and good mechanical properties. PVDF resins can be fabricated into a wide range of components including pipes, fitting valves, tower packing, chemical pump parts, sheet & stock shapes, films, tubing (rigid & flexible), tanks & vessels, nozzles, etc. Apart from these traditional applications, PVDF can be used in new areas like Li-ion batteries as binder, ultra purification membranes, back sheet in photovoltaic cells and in powder coating of chemical reactors and vessels.

Conclusion PVDF and PVDF copolymers have remained the preferred choice for various components in the chemical processing industry for almost 50 years. The future holds great prospects for PVDF in application areas like Li-ion batteries, membrane and rotomoulding containers.

References 1. “The Uses of Polyvinylidene Fluoride Based Resins in Chemical Handling Systems”, T Ngawing, L Bryant, Hydrocarbon Asia 2nd NDT and Corrosion Management Conference, Singapore, December 2006. 2. D Robinson, D A Seiler, “Potential Applications for Kynar Flex: PVDF in the Nuclear Industry”, Proceedings, American Glovebox Society, 1993 National Conference, Linings, Coatings, and Materials Section 3C, pp. 10-14, Seattle, WA, August 1619, 1993. 3. Kynar & Kynarflex PVDF performance characteristics & Data – by Arkema Mandar Amrute is the Market Development Leader at Arkema India. Email: mandar.amrute@arkema.com



INJECTION ZONE

Mould management

A formula for efficient production In moulding shops which require frequent changing of moulds, there are several issues pertaning to cost, time and energy efficiency that need to be addressed. Today, there are many means to achieve reduction in time losses to manageable levels. This article takes a closer look at solutions that vary from simple logical measures that can be taken in most moulding shops to advanced solutions that help manage large mould programmes.

Y R Anand

G

enerally, there are two types of moulding shops that pose interesting questions in mould management. The first type includes those which have long runs of production with every mould requiring almost no change and very little management of moulds on the shelves. Typical examples of this include packaging moulds for producing large quantities for the Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) and medical sectors. In some cases, the mould might be welded to the machine. Moulds for such shops can be managed with simple systems.

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The second type includes those that require regular to very frequent mould changes. Requirements which increasingly face injection moulding companies include small series, different product versions, just-in-time production and delivery. A typical example is that of a moulding shop for automotive parts.

The need for mould management In the case where moulds require frequent changes of models or variations - for instance the automotive industry - machines require myriad of parts with short batches. This results in frequent changeover procedures, when machines stand idle and fail to return profits, even though they continue to consume energy. The cost implication of this is not significant while dealing with low end parts and machines. However, for machines with high clamping forces (with expensive moulds) or with advanced technology machines, these changeovers may add up to significant costs. Most companies look at the substantial number of machine hours lost, but fail to calculate the time lost for the mould costs and all the auxiliary equipment costs, all of which remain idle while changing moulds. Together, these could add up to big figures. One way to overcome the higher setup times for every mould could be to produce larger quantities to improve machine utilisation, but this would add to inventory carrying costs.


INJECTION ZONE

The first step to good management of moulds and changes is to standardise a few parameters. This can lead to substantial time savings. A mould change typically has two parts to its management: Supply lines like water, oil, air, vacuum, electric supply The actual mould change

Managing supply lines The most common supply line to a mould is the mould temperature controller. As the demand for technical parts is increasing, this is being increasingly deployed. In high speed mouldings (like packaging, PET) these supply lines could be typically cold water from chillers. In case the moulds have hydraulic or pneumatic lines for core pulls, and additional equipment like auto closures etc, then the need for quick connections also goes up. A simple way to manage fast changes is to use individual colour coded quick release couplings, preferably with non-spill shut off mechanism. Many productions shops have already adopted such practices. The next logical step is to fix good quality manifolds to the machine by the side of the machine. Certain manifolds also facilitate the connecting of all lines in one go. The basic requirement for this is to make the number of lines standard for a particular size of machines. This allows all the water/oil lines used for mould temperature controllers to be connected in one go. It is also possible to have complex manifold systems combining the temperature lines with pressure lines, pneumatic lines, vacuum and even electric connectors. However, in this case the planning must be really foresighted and should take the entire mould programme into consideration.

ergonomically, flexibly and safely? With large moulds, it is almost certain that they will be changed vertically with the help of cranes. Only with extreme automation are large moulds changed horizontally. However, a large number of moulders need to change moulds horizontally and many of them do not have overhead cranes. In such cases, the solution lies in perfect preparation while the previous job is still running. This is of crucial importance for a fast changeover. Checklists help ensure that nothing (for example the appropriate hoses) has been missed out. A well-organised cart with all the required tools and bolts should be available prior to every set-up. This means that everything is in place as soon as the machine stops. Nothing needs to be searched for or fetched, thus eliminating any possibility of time wastage. A standardised clamping system should be chosen while designing the tools. It is important that the back plates are of the same size when the moulds are mounted directly. This allows the use of same bolts and their position throughout. Work can be made even easier by using clamping elements that remain attached to the

machine and that can be used flexibly for other moulds. If a large number of in-house moulds are used, it is advisable to standardise the clamping platens. There are simple mechanical rapid clamping systems available which can be left in place on the platens permanently. With such help, moulds can be changed in just a few minutes.

Manifolds to be fixed on machine for individual connections

Manifolds for complete temperature control solutions

Types of mould change systems There are several ways to quickly clamp the mould to the machine platens. The simplest is to use quick clamping elements that are placed permanently on the machines platen in fixed positions. Other basic types of rapid clamping systems in the market include mechanical, hydraulic and magnetic mould change systems.

Mechanical mould change systems Mechanical systems always use some kind of mechanical interlocking between the machine platen and the mould back plate, without having to physically turn bolts on individual clamps. In this type of system, there exist two bayonet plates fixed to both the machine platens. Each mould is fixed with a clamping ring on each side.

Speeding-up mould change A frequently asked question among moulders is: How can the mould changes on injection moulding machines be performed economically,

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INJECTION ZONE

Their interlocking clamping rings swivel in the bayonet plate when the handle is moved, locking the two halves of the clamping ring and providing a strong bond between the mould & the machine. In these systems, there is loss in daylight of the machine to accomodate the bayonet plates. In addition, every mould has to be modified with counter bores and tapped holes to fit the clamping rings. Moreover, if it is a custom moulding shop with the moulds provided by the customer, then it is not a practical proposition to implement. In addition, the machine nozzle tip and the ejectors have to be extended to pass through the bayonet plates. And if there are multiple ejectors then it poses more challenges. These are relatively inexpensive to install for a small number of moulds. The total cost for a programme can be very high if the number of moulds is large, because clamping rings are needed for every mould.

Hydraulic mould change systems The hydraulic clamping systems use multiple hydraulic elements fixed to both sides of the machine platen. Since they are clamped at fixed positions, the mould back plates have to be necessarily of standard dimensions to fit the clamping elements’ positions. The big advantage of this system is that it is relatively well priced, needs no modification of the machine and is easy to implement. For custom moulders, the only hurdle could be to have standard size back plates. These systems can be used for horizontal or vertical loading systems.

Magnetic mould change systems One of the most interesting mould change systems is a magnetic system. This is the most expensive solution but also allows a lot of flexibility. However, there are several myths surrounding these systems. Contrary to popular belief, these are totally fail safe systems. In case of a power failure, the moulds will not fall 64

Modern Plastics & Polymers | July 2010

One of the most interesting mould change systems is a magnetic system. This is the most expensive solution but also allows a lot of flexibility. down. The magentism is permanent in nature and to open the clamp, the poles have to be reversed with power. Currently, magentic systems are being supplied for large clamping force machines up to 4,000 T. The larger the machines, the larger will be the number of poles. Further, the magnet plates need to be fixed to the machine platens, resulting in loss of daylight. The nozzle tip and the ejectors have to be extended to go through the magnet plates. Multiple ejectors can be accomodated, but the ejector positions cannot be changed subsequently. Additionally, the magnetic systems do cost significantly more than the hydraulic systems.

The alternative ‘vehicle’ Another solution for mould changing without overhead or slinging cranes could be a simple mould-changing vehicle for horizontal mould changing. The use of a mould-changing vehicle is appropriate, if no overhead crane or slinging crane is available at the location where the injection moulding machine has to be installed. This system is based on an electric forklift, which is capable of precise manoeuvring and positioning mainly due to its electric steering. Its lifting unit also makes mould changing possible on machines of different sizes. At the same time, the moulds can be put into storage on vertically-arranged shelves. For this purpose, electronics provide for smooth and precise lifting and lowering movements. Both roller conveyors are equipped with guide strips, in order to laterally align and secure the

mould on the roller conveyor during the transfer. The moulds are prevented from failing during transport by means of a front locking mechanism. A swivel device allows the roller conveyors to be moved into the required position for the transfer, which facilities manoeuvring of the mould-changing vehicle. Thus, mould changing is also possible in the most confined of spaces and is, in addition, faster, safer and more efficient. Conversions to the injection moulding machines for improvement of access are also not necessary. The roller conveyors are additionally equipped with a laser pointer for the purpose of horizontal positioning. When the correct transfer height is reached, this can be easily read off by means of suitable markings on the injection moulding machines or on the mould shelves.

Potential for process optimisation Further measures aimed at reducing setup times include the use of a pre-heating station for moulds and the provision of several cylinder modules. The advantage of the latter when changing colours to a completely transparent material is that it eliminates the cleaning process which might be very time-consuming. There still exists a lot of untapped potential for optimising the set-up process in many injection moulding shops. Besides, setup time reductions of up to 50 per cent are not unusual, if careful planning and thought is applied to all aspects of the mould and machine. Y R Anand is a Partner of Unimark - a company that sells and services machines for plastics processing, tool making, micro electronics and wire mesh welding. He has a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from University of Mysore and a master’s degree in Production Engineering from IIT, Kharagpur and has worked for over nine years in manufacturing industries in Mumbai. He has been with Unimark since 1980. Email: anand@unimark.in



MARKET INSIGHTS

Thermoplastic elastomers

India’s giant leap forward The shift from thermoset rubber and PVC to thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) in many applications has led to a rise in the demand for TPEs. India too is riding high on this growth wave with more and more end-users today preferring TPEs, as they are easier to process and recycle, besides having greater design flexibility. While the footwear industry is today the largest end-user for TPEs in India, accounting for 60 per cent of the total consumption, the future is likely to witness increased usage of TPEs in automotive sealing systems, medical products and consumer goods.

Vivek Patel

T

Courtesy: Soft touch Application

hermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) have assumed great significance in industrial and commercial applications. While these offer the functional performance characteristics of thermoset rubber, they are processed using the methods and machinery of rigid thermoplastics. Some of the types of TPE include copolyester elastomers (COPEs), styrenic block copolymers (SBCs), thermoplastic polyolefins (TPOs), thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPUs), thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs) and a variety of other types (for example, nylon-, polyvinyl chlorideand silicone-based TPEs, as well as melt processible rubber and certain elastomeric alloys). TPEs can be processed by injection moulding, extrusion, thermoforming, blow moulding as well as rotational moulding just like most other thermoplastic materials. Today, the driving force behind the popularity of TPEs include lower part fabrication cost, lower cycle time, lower energy consumption, etc. Further, it is soft to touch, offers design flexibility, can be recycled and is environment-friendly.

Developments in Indian market Courtesy: Medical Application

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India’s demand for TPEs has grown at a fast pace in the past decade. In the

next five years, both production and demand will continue to grow. This sector is also expected to achieve double digit growth to the tune of 14 per cent in 2010, thus reflecting the upbeat economy, with automotive and healthcare industry being the key growth drivers. Some of the leading players in the Indian TPE segment include Bayer, Machino-Basell, Zylog, APAR (agents for Santroprene), Technovinyl, Synoprene Polymer, Hydro S&S, Sperryplast Ltd, TIPCO, KLJ and DCM. Several MNCs too have started catering to the Indian TPE market demand. These include PolyOne, Teknor Apex, Kraiburg and TSRC, among others. While in 2008, the total Indian TPE market was valued at Rs 7207.2 (554.4 kT by volume), it is expected to grow at the rate of 18 per cent in the next five years. The average price of TPEs will range between Rs 130 and Rs 160, and will depend on end-user applications.

Applications galore The end-use markets for TPEs comprise adhesives & sealants, construction materials, consumer products, footwear, industrial products, medical products, motor vehicles and wires & cables, among others. In fact, today, the growth of TPE is 14 per cent in comparison to 5 per cent of plastics


MARKET INSIGHTS

and 3 per cent of thermoset rubbers, despite its cost being 50 per cent higher than thermoset rubber. In India, the footwear industry is by far the largest user of TPEs, and accounts for 60 per cent of the total TPE consumption. This is followed by the consumer goods segment with 13 per cent. TPV will dominate demand in the automotive market with 17 kT in next year, while stationery & personal care segment will ensure rapid growth. Similarly, the medical and E&E market too is witnessing the use of TPEs at a fast pace. In fact, TPEs can replace lowdensity polyethylene (LDPE) in the blow-fill-seal process for making bottles containing eye drops and nasal drops. TPEs enhance these applications by providing transparency and flexibility with sterilisation option at 121oC. Further, DSM has launched new co-polyester based TPE product for medical use as chronic implantation, which is biocompatible, excellent compression set, high strength and two-component moulding. In the automotive industry, TPE is replacing EPDM rubber in weather seals, car body sealing, and foamed profiles (door seals, trunk seals and tailgate seals) applications among others. Hence, TPE has large volume consumption penetration. With the introduction of flush glazing and zero gap designs, TPEs are preferred materials as trimseals & gapfillers along with an aesthetic and cosmetic aspect in-line with the overall car design. Belt line seals are the fastest growing TPE application. This is due to the potential cost savings and by the elimination of recognised issues with EPDM rubber profiles, like the difficulty to coextrude a very hard compound (>45 shore D) with a softer component (75 shore A), as well as the critical post shrinkage of the profile. Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) too are

Window encapsulation

Greenhouse Body seal moulding systems Sun roof interior trim

Passenger side airbag cover Armrest skin Instrument panel skin Driver airbag cover Steering wheel Overmoulded levers & knobs Cowl vent seal Recyclable floor mat backing

Assist grip Body side mouldings Console cover skins Door lock dust bellows Scuff plaste

Seal belt boot

HVAC control systems & gasket

Strut cover

Vibration dampening gasket

Wheel well liner

Gap hider Air duct hose Headlamp gasket

Applications of TPE in automobiles

demanding products with weight reduction, system cost reduction, design flexibility, colourability, aesthetics and recyclability that lead to the use of TPEs instead of traditional thermoset rubber. Glass run channels is another application area where TPEs add value on the basis of cost savings through elimination of complex low friction coating technology, weight reduction, zero scrap reduction, recyclability and environment-friendliness.

Investment climate Some of the major automobile OEMs like Toyota Motors, Hyundai Motors, General Motors, Audi Motors, Mitsubishi Motors and Ford Motors are using Santoprene TPEs for fixed glass gaskets suspension boots, rack & pinion boots, air induction system, fuel line covers, over slam bumpers,

In the automotive industry, TPE is replacing EPDM rubber in weather seals, car body sealing, and foamed profiles.

front & rear window sealing system, radiator airguides, hood bump stop, steering gear bellows, front & rear suspension strut boot, seat adjuster wheel, head light trim seals, weather seals, glass run channels and quarter light seals applications, among others. Then there are several heavyweight players investing in the Indian automobile sector. Recently, Mercedes-Benz invested $ 700 million to increase the production capacity of trucks at its manufacturing plant in Chennai, while the infrastructure is expected to address future expansion plans of the company. Japanese car maker Nissan has decided to shift the entire production of its small car, Micra, from the UK to India, which will involve a total investment of over $ 400 million. The move underlines the rush among automakers to rationalise production costs and move to locations that offer the best value and quality. Additionally, the world’s largest car maker, Toyota Motors, has plans to utilise the proposed Indo-Thai free trade agreement (FTA) to make India a hub for small cars to be exported to its global markets. A few

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MARKET INSIGHTS

Key drivers Gradual economic growth Replacement of thermoset rubber Replacement of PVC materials in consumer goods & medical industry Penetration in sutomotive applications Growth in co-moulding technology New product development Penetration in new applications such as medical, electrical & electronics and industrial Commercialisation of thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV) for high temperature applications such as auto under-hood, appliance and industrial parts Environment-friendly, recyclability, lower part fabrication cost, light weight, closer tolerances, greater ease of processing and design flexibility auto-parts already enjoy duty free status but the Indo-Thai FTA that is currently under negotiations will make most auto-parts used by Toyota and other car makers duty free. Toyota has earmarked $ 640 million for 2008-11 to set up a second plant in Bengaluru to make 2 lakh cars from the current 80,000 units. All these players will use TPE for part fabrication, and hence Indian TPE compounders can tap this opportunity. However, the key challenges include high raw material cost, lesser acceptance of TPE materials, few raw materials suppliers and gaps in demand & supply.

What lies ahead TPE will continue to be the material of choice for part fabrication, and the global demand is forecast to rise at 5.9 per cent per year through 2013 to 4.75 million metric tonne. Value gains will expand 6.6 per cent per year over the same period. Growth prospects through 2013 will be very strong in the BRIC nations comprising Brazil, Russia, India and China. Motor vehicles will remain the largest market for TPEs at the global level, with demand of around 1.2 million metric tonne in 2013. Through 2013, olefenics (TPOs and TPVs) will continue to see increasing penetration in motor vehicles in both interior and exterior applications. Specific areas of growth include soft-touch TPO trim, TPO airbag covers, TPV body seals, two-shot TPO or TPV overmolding of larger parts such as door panels, TPV weather seals and TPO exterior panels that eliminate the need for paints. Vivek Patel is a Consultant and is an expert in the field of polymers/plastics/chemicals/composites. He also has industry experience in market research, consultancy, technical sales & marketing, R&D, QC, IPR and business development. He has developed zero halogen flame retardant compounds and TPE compounding formulations. Email: vivekpatel@gmail.com

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An invite that rewards as well...

Dear Reader, ‘Modern Plastics & Polymers’ solicits original, well-written, application-oriented, unpublished articles that reflect your valuable experience and expertise in the plastics & polymers industry. You can send us Technical Articles, Case Studies and Product Write-ups. The length of the article should not exceed 3000 words, while that of a product write-up should not exceed 200 words. The articles should preferably reach us in soft copy (either E-mail or a CD). The text should be in MS Word format and images in 300 DPI resolution & JPG format. The final decision regarding the selection and publication of the articles shall rest solely with ‘Modern Plastics & Polymers’. Authors whose articles are published will receive a complimentary copy of that particular issue and an honorarium cheque. Published by Infomedia 18 Ltd, ‘Modern Plastics & Polymers’ is the leading monthly magazine exclusively meant for producers and user fraternities of the plastics industry. Well supported by a national readership of over 80,000 and our strong network of 26 branch offices across India, this magazine reaches out to key decision makers among the Indian manufacturers of plastics products, machinery and allied sectors. Brought out in association with Hong Kong-based Ringier Trade Media Ltd (one of the world’s largest trade publishing houses with more than 200 special interest titles and offices in every major country), it ensures that advertisers are able to promote their products and services across the globe at no extra cost. So get going and rush your articles, write-ups, etc… Thanking you, Yours sincerely,

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MANAGEMENT MANTRAS

Cycle counting

The secret to inventory accuracy Cycle counting is a popular inventory counting solution that allows businesses to count a number of items in a number of areas within the warehouse without having to count the entire inventory. These programmes are designed to eliminate or reduce unplanned stock outs. They increase inventory accuracy, improve resource efficiency, and eliminate the need for periodic physical inventory audits. Also, improved inventory accuracy allows for improving service levels while reducing safety stock levels, resulting in a reduction in overall inventory costs. An insight. Satish Radhakrishnan

C

ycle counting is a sampling technique where count of a certain number of items infers the count for the whole warehouse. This perpetual inventory control system is an established system in the world of inventory control. However, very few companies follow this system where the emphasis is more on determining the financial accuracy of book account with physical account. Even more alarming is the fact that there still exists some chinks in the armour; especially in the case of a company dealing with huge variety & volumes in parts.

Courtesy: Supply Chain Optimiser

The subsets Inventory can be broadly categorised under the subsets: raw material (RM); packing & consummables; work in progress (WIP); maintenance, repairs & others (MRO); finished goods project inventory; and parts inventory & returns inventory. Every company focusses strongly on production and hence, they are easily able to account for production inventory. Due to this, the structure of inventory practices for RM, packing & consummables, WIP and finished goods inventory is more or less well defined wherein the accuracy of inventory postings & the inventory itself at any given point is accurate. Owing to the very nature of the other categories, demand for these items is seemingly of unpredictable nature and as such they normally form a small part of the total inventory in terms of value. Hence, when the demand requirements of such seemingly insignificant inventory are skewed, the structuring of inventory for MRO items, project items, parts inventory & returns inventory forms the grey area in most companies. Unique to few companies, there are some parts that form part of RM as well as finished goods inventory. This is the inventory of parts that are used in-house and also sold as spares to the customer. For industries such as the electronics industry or the auto industry, keeping stocks of spares over and above the requirement from the production with two different pricing becomes imperative.

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MANAGEMENT MANTRAS

Returns inventory

Raw material

Packaging consummables

Work in progress

Inventory categories

Part inventory

Proiect inventory

MRO Finished goods

Figure 1: Inventory categories

As product design undergoes changes (especially seen in electronics industry) in order to cater to the old customer base, keeping stocks of parts becomes necessary. Additionally, goods under warranty may need free replacement and the inventory of return goods can increase. In the case of electronic goods where warranty is sometimes given for a period as high as five to seven years, stocking of parts becomes a necessity. Thus, over a period of time, one notices an increase in inventory of parts with little predictability of the requirement.

Causes of inaccuracy Accuracy of stocks are negatively affected in companies where stock of inventory by variety is very high (more than 10,000 varieties) and stock (in terms of quantity) is maximum for the following items: Either MRO items or project items (seen in power, chemical and similar process industries) Parts (seen in industries where stock of finished goods spares are kept – predominant in electronics or auto industry) Goods return parts (seen in the electronics industry where both warranty returns & non-warranted returns are received) A combination of the above A company following best practices may be able to maintain accuracy in the book versus actual and yet it may not get translated into accuracy of inventory items.

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Inaccuracies tend to arise when variety of similar looking parts increases. Moreover, one finds an increase in case of mistaken identities which result in stocking of the wrong item against the wrong code & issuing of wrong item against actual requirement. The person checking stock perpetually will find nothing wrong in the tally of physical versus actual. It is only during the actual demand of the item by the end user & during subsequent issue that the inaccuracy gets exposed. In a company that does not follow best practices, poor classification, nonstandard specifications and poor coding practices for stock of MRO, project & parts items in the ERP further add to the woes of the stock keeper. With complete freedom, multiple owners for new code definition for the MRO, parts, returns & project item categories and with the occasional urgency for code generation, the effect on inventory is catastrophic. Some visible and noticeable effects of these include: Multiple codes may exist for the same item Items may be specified in more than one ways Item may reflect huge variance in average price versus actual price in ERP Item required may not match code & related specifications as given in ERP Excess inventory, obsolete & nonmoving inventory stocks will increase owing to poor visibility in ERP Codes get defined for temporary items also (items with one time usage) offering no differentiation with codes of regular inventory items within the ERP

Perpetual stock checking The traditional system of perpetual inventory checking focusses more on stock of high-value items or items with higher value owing to volume. In other words, it focusses more on maintaining accuracy of A class and B class items. For most companies, the stock of MRO, projects items, parts & goods return fall under C class. Project items in stock are mostly those that do not get consumed in course

of project erection and commissioning. They reflect the stock of items that were over-planned. These stock end up as orphans which the maintenance persons are expected to consume in the (not so) near future. All audits of even the best managed companies focus to ensure accuracy of A & B class items & develop a myopic vision towards the audit of C class items. Hence, when the keeper determines the stock count for C class item to be in line with the book count, no extra efforts are made to determine the complete accuracy of this validation. Only the physical presence of the item is ascertained rather than the affirmation of it being the correct one.

A novel approach In such a situation, a new approach to perpetual inventory control system should be adopted. This approach should focus on identifying the causes of inaccuracy and resolving them. Perpetual stock checking or cycle counting can be done whenever free time is available and can be done on a daily basis for a small target inventory base every day. With new approach, the focus must be more on identifying, recording and taking preventive action for causes of inaccuracy. Thus, the target items and frequency of count must be more for cases where the chances of inaccuracy are higher rather than wasting time on taking count of items which are less prone to errors. This can be more effective by involving the end-users also every now and then.

Inaccuracy track and trap system An inaccuracy tracking system offers a plethora of benefits; for instance, it: Helps provide a cross reference among parts to identify similarities and establishing part categories. Part categories in turn, can help establish count frequency Helps determine if a given cause of inaccuracy for one part is affecting other similar parts Provides a cross reference among part wherein a given corrective action can also be effective for other similar parts


MANAGEMENT MANTRAS Helps identify & record ‘equipment where used’ for each part in stock Helps identify substitutes for MRO items and thereby reduce stock further Can help identify items that are present in excess (return from project having little or no scope of being used during life of equipment) Can identify temporary items in stock (procured for a reason that does not exist anymore) Can help identify obsolete items lying in stock (when it is realised that equipment where used is no more operative) Can help identify items with surplus stock Can bring true visibility of inventory (by combining stocks of multiple codes of same item or by determining the true nature of part by recording)

Perpetual cycle count The innocuous act of perpetual cycle count for tracking inaccuracies has far reaching consequences compared to that documented or determined with accounting figures. This system helps address the following issues: Variety reduction: Variety of spares gets identified by part categorisation Standardisation: This is possible only after area of maximum variety is identified and targeted Item specification: Poor specifications can be fixed; may result in standardisation at times Commonality of use: Spares or parts commonly used across different equipment with different codes can be determined & stocks can be reduced Stocking policy based on unique patterns of each group of items Increase in accuracy of forecasting requirements

To sum up... Adopting a new approach to cycle count and standardisation would aid companies to take important decisions regarding inventory. Existing negative consequences of inventory reduction in terms of reduced service level that seemed to bear heavily on the planner, becomes visible for what it truly is. Customer satisfaction in terms of the right item being issued or delivered in the first instance itself will show a gradual increase as more and more cases of inaccuracy gets exposed first and then resolved. Satish Radhakrishnan is a Consultant with Savoir Faire Management Services Pvt Ltd. Savoir Faire develops cost information systems to support pricing, outsourcing and control decisions using the cost excellence (CE©) model. Applying cost management methodologies and lean thinking to align process to customer value, Savoir Faire helps firms across sectors to improve their bottom line. Email: sfgroup@vsnl.com

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EVENTS CALENDAR

National

Chennai

Pune

Ahmedabad

Indore

Maharashtra

Gujarat

Madhya Pradesh

Tamil Nadu

Feb 7-10, 2011

March 11-13, 2011

Nov 19-22, 2010

Dec 17-20, 2010

India’s premier industrial trade fair on products and technologies from machine tools, fluid power, instrumentation & control, electrical & electronics, material handling, plastics, rubber, packaging, chemical, CAD/CAM, auto components, and general engineering industries.

For details contact:

Engineering Expo

Infomedia 18 Ltd, Ruby House, 1st Floor, J K Sawant Marg, Dadar (W), Mumbai 400 028. Tel: 022-3003 4649 Fax: 022-3003 4499 Email: shamal@infomedia18.in

Performance Plastics Summit 2010

For details contact:

and seminars organised by AIPMA;

Indian Institute of Technology -

January 20-24, 2011; at Bombay

This knowledge sharing platform

Kharagpur

Exhibition Centre - NSE Exhibition

by Frost and Sullivan provides the

Kharagpur, West Bengal

Complex, Mumbai, Maharashtra

opportunities to discuss the latest

Tel: 03222-255 221

developments and trends in the

Fax: 03222-255 303

For details contact:

performance plastics industry in India;

Email: rishu_chandras@yahoo.com

Sanjivini Kothare

July26, 2010; The Westin Mumbai

Website: www.icep2010.org

All India Plastics Manufacturers’ Association, Mumbai, Maharashtra

Garden City, Mumbai, Maharashtra

Plast Show

Tel: 022-2821 7324/7325

For details contact:

The unique feature of this expo is the

Fax: 022-2821 6390

Anish Charles

presence of the entire spectrum of

Email: marketing@plastivision.org,

Frost and Sullivan

plastic & rubber products manufacturers

info@plastivision.org, office@aipma.net

Mumbai, Maharashtra

from tyres to tubes, hoses, industrial

Website: www.aipma.net

Tel: 022- 4001 3419

components, extruded profiles, moulded

Fax: 022- 2832 4713

goods, latex articles etc.; Dec 03-

PU TECH 2011

Email: anishc@frost.com

06, 2010; Akota Stadium, Vadodara,

The event will focus on diverse opportunities

Website: www.frost.com

Gujarat

in the polyurethane industry which is one of the rapidly growing industries in India and has

International Conference on Electroactive Polymers: Materials and Devices

For details contact:

registered double digit growth during the past

Sunline Infotech, Rajkot, Gujarat

five years; March 09-11, 2011; at India Expo

Tel: 022-2850 3932

Centre & Mart Ltd, Greater Noida

This

Email: sunlineinfotech@gmail.com

conference

designed the

to

rapidly

is

give

specifically insights

growing

market

Indian Polyurethane Association

of

electroactive polymers with respect to

This

the

applications

21-26,

sectors;

2010;

at

For details contact:

Website: www.plastexpoindia.com

Plastivision India 2011

engineering

Tel: 044-2499 5923,

November

help exhibitors and visitors discover

Fax: 044-2499 5923

Surajkund,

the

Email: admin@pu-india.org

various

Modern Plastics & Polymers | July 2010

event

is

potential

being

Chennai, Tamil Nadu to

in

New Delhi

74

into

markets.

designed It

will

be

the 8th in the series of national exhibitions

Website: www.pu-india.org



EVENTS CALENDAR

International Rubber Plas Malaysia

The main objective of the 21st edition of this exhibition is to develop the nation’s manufacturing industry with special attention given to the small and medium industries (SMIs) to further develop and keep ahead with the competitive environment; July 15-18, 2010; at Putra World Trade Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Plastec Midwest A leading regional trade fair for the international plastics community, Plastec is considered to be the natural venue for machinery manufacturers interested in international expansion for their products throughout the world; September 28-30, 2010; at Donald E Stephens Convention Centre, Rosemont, USA

For details contact: ES Event Management Sdn Bhd Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Tel: +60-3-91321922 Fax: +60-3-91331920 Email: sales@rubberplas2010.com Website: www.rubberplas2010.com

For details contact: Canon Communications Los Angeles, USA Tel: +310-996-9495, 310-4-454200 Fax: +310-4-454299 Email: plminfo@cancom.com Website: www.cancom.com

China Plastics Exhibition & Conference

K 2010

This tradeshow will unfold innovations in plastics machinery & ancillary equipment and will serve as a platform for business networking in South Asia; September 03-05, 2010; at Taizhou International Convention & Exhibition Center, Taizhou, China For details contact: Taizhou International Convention Exhibition Center Tel: +86-576-82531122 Fax: +86-576-82531016 Email: china_pec@yahoo.com.cn Website: www.china-pec.com

&

Asiamold An international trade fair for mouldmaking, tooling, design and application development; September 1517, 2010; at Poly World Trade Center Expo (Pazhou), Guangzhou, China For details contact: Guangzhou Guangya Messe Frankfurt Co Ltd Guangzhou, China Tel: +86 20 3825 1558 Fax: +86 20 3825 1400 Email: asiamold@china.messefrankfurt.com Website: www.asiamold-china.com

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A premier exhibition that will provide the latest and the best in plastic materials for all manufacturing and processing industries alike. The unique feature of the expo is the presence of the entire spectrum of plastic & rubber products manufacturers; October 27-November 03, 2010; at Dusseldorf Exhibition Centre, Germany For details contact: Messe Dusseldorf GmbH Messeplatz Germany Tel: +49-211-4560900/4560175 Fax: +49-211-4560668/4560740 Email: k-online@messe-duesseldorf.de Website: www.k-online.de

Arabplast This event will offer an unique opportunity to the Middle East plastics & rubber industries. It is designed to help exhibitors and visitors to discover the potential markets around Middle East, Asia, Africa & CIS countries; January 8-11, 2011; at Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre

For details contact: Jeen Joshua Al Fajer Information & Services Dubai, United Arab Emirates Tel: +971-50-8535820, Fax: +971-4-3403608 Email: alfajer@emirates.net.ae Website: www.arabplast.info

European Coatings Show 2011 The European Coatings Show plus adhesives, sealants and construction chemicals is one of the leading exhibitions for the international coatings and paints industry held every two years. The aim of this exhibition is to bring together all the professionals under one roof; March 29-21, 2011; at Exhibition Centre, Nuremberg, Germany For details contact: NürnbergMesse GmbH Messezentrum, Nürnberg Germany Tel: +49 (0) 9 11. 86 06-0 Fax: +49 (0) 9 11. 86 06-82 28 Email: ariana.brandl@nuernbergmesse.de Website: www.european-coatings-show.com

INTERPLAS 2011 An international event aimed at serving the European polymer industry, which will feature the latest machinery & equipment for processing and converting polymers; September 27-29, 2011; Birmingham, United Kingdom For details contact: Reed Exhibitions Companies Surrey The United Kingdom Tel: +44 20 8271 2134 Email: rxinfo@reedexpo.co.uk Website: www.reedexpo.com The information published in this section is as per the details furnished by the respective organiser. In any case, it does not represent the views of Business Insights •Technologies•Opportunities



TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER

Technology Offered As part of our endeavour to spread the technology culture, this section provides a means to promote and facilitate exchange of select technologies. We strive to bring together suppliers of such technologies with suitable users for negotiations and industrial collaboration. Conversion of batch-poly plant to C P plant A company from China is interested in providing consultancy for the modification of batch-poly plant to C P plant like polyester plant, polyester chip or direct spinning. Areas of application Chemical fibre and plastics Forms of transfer Turnkey

Plastic recycling technologies using organic and inorganic compounds An Iranian company offers plastics recycling technologies using organic and inorganic compounds. This idea is based on the principle of water electrolysis in which sodium chloride is kept in proximity of turpentine/pine oil and plastics. Areas of application Plastics recycling Forms of transfer Others

Plastics recycling technologies An Iranian company is willing to provide plastic recycling technologies using urea and ammonium carbonate and synthetic ammonia. Areas of application Plastics recycling

Forms of transfer Technology licensing

Polyester chip plant A company from China offers polyester production plant, polycondensation plant, polymerisation line, hot melt adhesive plant (500-5,000 tpa), polyester chip plant (2,000-1,50,000 tpa) and film grade polyester plant (2,000-1,50,000 tpa). Areas of application Polymerisation and fibre lines Forms of transfer Technology licensing and turnkey

Pilot plants for small-scale production An Indian company offers pilot plants for laboratory or small-scale production purpose. The plant consists of a spinneret, metering pump, spinning beam, candle filter, extruder unit, godet unit, PP multifilament plant manufacturer, single-screw extruder machine or melt flow index tester machine for masterbatch industries. Areas of application Plastics, textiles, etc Forms of transfer Sub-contracting, turnkey, etc

Rotational moulding of plastics A manufacturer of rotational moulding machines from India offers plant and

machinery for constructing water storage tanks and other hollow plastic parts. Areas of application Chemical storage tanks, water storage tanks, material handling trolleys, pallets, containers, etc Forms of transfer Others

Recycling of PET wastes into polyester polyols A Czech Republican company is offering the technology for recycling of PET wastes (plastic PET bottles, X-ray films, etc) to produce polyester polyols. The process consists of the following steps: Collection of PET wastes, sorting out & shredding of collected PET wastes, simple chemical process of glycolysis & esterification, and production of polyester polyols. Areas of application Chemicals industry: Polyester polyol is a base material for the chemistry of polyurethanes, especially the production of polyurethane foams, which are primarily transferred into energy saving and insulating materials Forms of transfer Technology licensing, others

Share Your Technology Propositions The mission of Modern Plastics and Polymers is to spread the technology culture. We offer you an opportunity to participate in this endeavour by publishing the best technology ideas. Technology developers/sellers are invited to furnish the techno-commercial details (with environmental benefits, if any) for publication in the Technology Transfer column of Modern Plastics and Polymers. R&D organisations, technical consultancy organisations and individuals assisting small and medium enterprises send the relevant literature, indicating the scope & services and the areas of specification. Contact: Modern Plastics and Polymers Infomedia 18 Ltd, ‘A’ Wing, Ruby House, J K Sawant Marg, Dadar (W), Mumbai 400 028. Tel: 022-3024 5000 l Fax: 022-3003 4499 l Email: spedit@infomedia18.in

78 Modern Plastics & Polymers | July 2010


TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER

Technology Requested Disposal and recycling of plastics waste A Polish firm seeks the technology for dry processing of all kinds of plastic waste or a magnetic processing method in the electrostatic field. The technology should allow sorting of all kinds of plastic materials, hay-silage foils, PET, HDPE, PVC, etc, by excluding dangerous waste. Specific technical requirements include initial cleaning without the use of water, sorting of all kinds of plastic materials after cleaning in a closed system, and a maximum processing capacity of 10,000 tonne of waste per annum. Areas of application Plastics industry, waste recycling, waste management Forms of transfer Others

Lab-scale non-woven and monofilament plant An Indian company is looking for a lab-scale, non-woven and monofilament plant in a single station. Areas of application Plastics Forms of transfer Others

Plastics recycling technologies A Sri Lankan company is seeking the latest plastics recycling technologies, especially for automatic sorting, washing, metal detection, granulation process system, washing plants, crushers, extruders, etc. Areas of application Plastics recycling Forms of transfer Others

Polyacetal resins A Gulf-based organisation wants to promote projects in the chemicals and petrochemicals sectors in GCC countries. It is looking for technology suppliers for the manufacture of polyacetal resins. Areas of application Chemicals/petrochemicals industry Forms of transfer Feasibility study, know-how, equipment, turnkey plant, joint venture

PP/PET strap processing An Indian company is seeking the technology for PP and PET strap processing. Areas of application Packaging industry Forms of transfer Others

Recycled PET polyester polyols plant A Poland-based company specialising in recycled PET polyester polyols manufacturing, is looking for an alternative proposal of design and engineering of bigger (approximately 25 ktpa) production plant. It plans to start with proper quality recycled PET flakes being delivered in big bags. Hence, the company needs a complete package offer for this service. Areas of application Plastics and polymers industry Forms of transfer Others

Recycled plastic-making technology A company based in Vietnam is seeking the technology to recycle plastics.

The diameters of recycled plastic granules should range from 120 to 200 mm, while the capacity of the production should range from 150 to 300 kg/hr. Areas of application Raw materials for making plastic products Forms of transfer Others

Road filling materials for road maintenance An Indian company requires the technology to make materials by transforming waste plastics that gels uniformly with road materials. This is for filling potholes in roads. It also needs the know-how regarding products that are made from waste plastics like jumble strips, speed breakers, etc. Areas of application Road transport Forms of transfer Others

Utilisation of natural rubber in asphalt A Pakistan-based company needs knowhow regarding utilisation of natural rubber in modified asphalt covering. It needs the following information: Standards and specifications guiding the use of natural rubber in modified asphalt; appropriate proportion of natural rubber in mixture & handling of the operation; additives needed; and details of improvement in the asphalt properties by using natural rubber. Areas of application Rubber industry Forms of transfer Others

Information courtesy: Information courtesy: Dr Krishnan S Raghavan, In-Charge, Technology Transfer Services Group, United Nations Asian and Pacific Centre for Transfer of Technology (APCTT), APCTT Building , C-2, Qutab Institutional Area, New Delhi 110 016, Tel: 011 - 2696 6509, Fax: 011 - 2685 6274, Email: krishnan@apctt.org, Website: www.apctt.org

For more information on technology offers and requests, please log on to www.technology4sme.net and register with your contact details. This is a free of cost platform provided by APCTT for facilitating interaction between buyers and seekers of technologies across the globe. After submitting technology offer or request to this website, you are requested to wait for at least two weeks for receiving a response from a prospective buyer / seeker through this website, before contacting APCTT for further assistance.

July 2010 | Modern Plastics & Polymers 79


BOOK SHELF

Technology of Plastics Packaging for the Consumer Market Editors : Geoff A Giles and David R Bain Price : Rs 5,780

Introduction to Polymer Chemistry (Second Edition) Author : Charles E Carraher, Jr Price : Rs 2,650

Offering comprehensive coverage of plastics packaging for the food, beverages, household and personal care products markets worldwide, this book focusses on the manufacture of plastics packaging for the consumer market. This volume acquaints the reader with the technologies that can be used to convert a limited number of polymers into a myriad of packaging formats. Designed as a companion volume to Materials and Development of Plastics Packaging for the Consumer Market, it lays emphasis on the growth of plastics as a packaging medium vis-a-vis other materials like glass, metals & paper, in spite of environmental pressures on plastics materials in general. Further, it touches upon the technologies available to convert available materials into packs of different forms - flexible, semi-flexible and rigid - at high speed, with the option of including decoration as part of the moulding process. Some of the chapters in this book include injection moulding, extrusion blow moulding, thermoforming, blown film, filling, labelling of plastic containers, plastic closures used in the consumer packaging market, etc. This volume is directed at packaging technologists and those involved in the design and development of packaging. It will also be of interest to those involved in specifying or purchasing packaging.

With an emphasis on environment & green chemistry and materials, this second edition helps in understanding the behaviour of polymers. It offers a detailed coverage of natural & synthetic giant molecules, inorganic & organic polymers, elastomers, adhesives, coatings, fibres, plastics, blends, caulks, composites and ceramics. Using simple fundamentals, the author shows how the basic principles of one polymer group can be applied to all the other groups. This book covers synthesis and polymerisation reactions, reactivities, techniques for characterisation & analysis, energy absorption & thermal conductivity, physical & optical properties, besides practical applications. This edition also addresses environmental concerns and green polymeric materials, including biodegradable polymers and microorganisms for synthesising materials. Brief case studies are included as historical accounts to illustrate various developments and the societal & scientific contexts in which these changes occurred. As the first polymer book to receive the CHOICE Outstanding Academic Title distinction, it aims to provide undergraduate students with a much-needed, well-rounded presentation of the principles & applications of natural, synthetic, inorganic, and organic polymers. It also provides a test bank with answers for qualifying instructors.

Mehul Book Sales, Shop No 1, Lokagutchh Jain Upashraya Building, W H Marg, Fort, Mumbai 400 001 For purchase inquiries, please contact, Tel: 022-2269 4145, Fax: 022-2265 4657

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PRODUCT UPDATE

Rubber injection moulding machine

Proportional valve

Tung Yu Hydraulic Machinery Co offers rubber injection moulding machine with energy saving features. This machine has two main directions; one for carbon emission reduction and the other for energy saving. Some of the new features on the new insulator, include low thermal conductivity, high compressive strength and high bending strength. The rubber injection moulding machine is equipped with hydraulic servo energy saving system for saving energy. The system can save electricity in the range of 57.1 per cent to 80 per cent.

Yann Bang Electrical Machinery Co offers proportional valve. The unit is used for mixing virgin resin with another virgin resin or re-grinds resin in proportion via the auto loaders. It can be used with any auto loader and saves on labour and raw material costs. The special air valve structure design stops dust from entering the cylinder of the unit and thus reduces waste. If required, it can mix or feed justone resin. The controller is fitted with digital readout and setting for the mixing cycles which gives a high rate of accuracy. It is easy to set and can be set in the range of 0-9.9 second. Its features include stainless cleaning cover design for quick cleaning, besides easy changing materials and separate controller for convenient operation.

Tung Yu Hydraulic Machinery Co Ltd Nantou County - Taiwan Tel: +886-49-225-3588 Fax: +886-49-225-2998 Email: tungyu@tungyu.com

Ms Shilpa Pophale Managing Director Electronica Finance Ltd “MODERN MACHINE TOOLS covers all the aspects pertaining to machine tool industry and assists Electronica Finance to have brand presence all across India. Our advertisements makes our brand & goodwill strong in the industry. Various articles in magazines help us understand and know the latest innovations, trends & technologies in the machine tools industries, within India and across the globe. We congratulate Infomedia 18 for its excellent job & would be more than happy to grow our the relationship them”

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Yann Bang Electrical Machinery Co Ltd Taichung - Taiwan Tel: +886-4-2271 6999, Fax: +886-4-2271 1988 Email: yb@yannbang.com

Horizontal machining centre Haas Automation India offers ‘EC-550’ rugged line of horizontal machining centre. It features a 30" x 34" x 32" work envelope, 50-taper spindle, dual pallet changer with 550 mm pallets, 50-pocket side-mount tool changer and a built-in 1-degree pallet indexer. The machine's standard 6000-rpm spindle uses a unique inline direct-drive system that couples the motor directly to the spindle to provide fine surface finishes, extreme thermal stability and quiet operation. Driven by a 45 hp vector drive system, this spindle yields 170 ft-lb of torque at 1,400 rpm, and a peak power rating of 60 hp at 7,000 rpm. Each of the pallets handles a 2,205 lb load, and the servo-driven palletchanger swaps pallets quickly. A separate, protected load station allows the operator to safely load and unload parts or change fixtures on one pallet, while parts are being machined on the other - keeping spindle run-time at a maximum. It is equipped with a large-volume coolant tank and a highcapacity belt conveyor for efficient chip removal. Also standard are 710-ipm rapids, a 15" colour LCD monitor with USB port, 1 MB of programme memory, a flood & washdown coolant system and a programmable coolant nozzle. Haas Automation India Pvt Ltd Navi Mumbai - Maharashtra Tel: 022-6609 8830 Email: indiasales@haascnc.com


PRODUCT UPDATE

DC motors NBE Motors offers DC motors, that are used in applications wherever variable speed control drives are used. The speed control of DC motors by armature control or field control at constants torque helps in constant continuous operation. The V-weld imparts heavy strength to the yoke. Armature laminations are of high quality electrical grade steel. The commutator is made from silvercopper-alloy. Electrolytic copper segments are insulated from one another with mica. Riser connections are TIG welded. The armature windings are impregnated with synthetic resin and properly baked at designed temperature to give complete protection against damage from moisture, acids and alkalis. The main poles are made from thick laminations (GI sheet). For ventilation the motor is equipped with screen protected drip proof (SPDP) & are totally enclosed. External force cooling is provided with blower-mounted motor. NBE Motors Pvt Ltd Ahmedabad - Gujarat Tel: 079-2274 0467 Fax: 079-2274 1196 Email: info@newbharat.com

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PRODUCT UPDATE

Sensors Priamus -Uniplast Technology (Kunshan) Co offers sensors. Cavity pressure is the most important parameter for optimisation of the injection moulding process. Further, cavity temperature sensors and corresponding electronics have been specially designed and are very different from simple standard thermocouples. These sensors are used for process optimisation, process monitoring, process documentation, reduction of reject cost, fast mould set-up, etc. Priamus-Uniplast Technology Kunshan Co Ltd Jiangsu - China Tel: +86-512 5791 125 Fax: +86-512 5791 1238 Email: info@priamus-uniplast.com

Cast film line Bakubhai Ambalal offers cast film line manufactured by SML Maschinengesellschaft. It is provided with a material feeding dosing system, extrusion unit, chill roll unit, thickness measuring unit, corona unit, edge trim re-feeding system, winder and control system. This system is used for feeding materials using a pneumatic system. The extrusion unit comprises extruders equipped with barrier screws and are driven by water cooled AC-drives with increased power for higher output and improved melt quality. The chill roll unit is used for the adjustment of length and height, while the thickness measuring unit is used for the regulation of automatic die, which operates with a radioactive KR-85 sensor. In the edge trim re-feeding system, the first edge trim cutting is arranged upstream of the corona treatment unit to avoid damage to silicon treatment rollers. The second edge trim cutting is arranged upstream of the winder. All the trims are sucked to a mill and then to a vertical scraptruder that feeds the flakes directly to the feed opening of the main extruder. The cast film line comes with three different winders that are specially developed for winding the CPP-film - one is a horizontal sliding winder, while the other two include turret winders. In addition, the system is equipped with a clear alarm menu, recipe administration, and a short-time & long-time trend system. Bakubhai Ambalal Mumbai - Maharashtra Tel: 022-2579 1702, Fax: 022-2579 1713 Email: sonar@bakubhaiambalal.com 84

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PRODUCT UPDATE

Digital colour mark sensor Lubi Electronics offers ‘Sunx’ LX-100 series digital colour mark sensor, which can detect any marking because the sensor is equipped with red, green and blue LED light emitting element. Furthermore, to expand the functionality, the sensor comes with dual mode, ie, mark mode (ultra high-speed response) & colour mode (high precision mark colour discrimination) to suit any application. This sensor comes with 'Mode Navi' technology for enhancing features and is easy -to-use. It is provided with 4-digit digital display, 12-bit A/D converter, D-code, key lock, timer, NPN or PNP outputs, IP67 protection, etc. It is used in many applications/ industries especially in packaging, food, pharmaceuticals, textiles, plastics, etc. Lubi Electronics Ahmedabad - Gujarat Tel: 079-2220 5471-76 Fax: 079-2220 0660 Email: info@lubielectronics.com

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PRODUCT UPDATE

IML system Neejtech India offers in-mould labelling (IML) system manufactured by Hekuma GmbH. The advantages of the IML system include reduced costs, promotes hygienic production, increases decorative possibilities, offers resistant to heat & scratching, reduces in-house container inventory & overhead costs, better strain & squeeze resistance, improved sidewall strength & shelf life, etc. The application areas of the IML system include IML for cups & containers, thermoforming IML, blow moulding IML, blister decorating applications (BDA) for thermoformed PET/PVC blister packaging. The company provides complete systems for insert and take-out automation of injection moulding processes with up and downstream automation. Neejtech India Ahmedabad - Gujarat Tel: 079-2656 1312 Mob: 09825040231 Email: sales@neejtech.com

Plastic brightner/shiner Plast Fine Polymers offers plastic brightners/shiners/ whitener for natural transparent, colours and milky white end products. This is used for adding clarity and gloss finish to natural transparent polymers. It gives shining and bright finish colours to end products. This brightner/whitener removes yellowness and dullness from the end products and makes it super milky white. This product is used in virgin, second, dull natural or milky white sutli, ropes, twine, reprocess granules, HDPELDPE-PVC pipes & profiles, box strap, PET jars, spoon, container, carry bags, liners, sheet, yarns and other end products. One of the main advantages of this product is that it also saves excess use of white pigments and titanium dioxide for opaque end products. Plast Fine Polymers Ahmedabad - Gujarat Tel: 079-6524 2332 Mob: 98255 87152 Email: plastfine@indiatimes.com 86

Modern Plastics & Polymers | July 2010


PRODUCT UPDATE

Spraying guns Rohan Standox Autolack offers a variety of spray guns manufactured by ITW Industrial Finishing, UK. These spray guns are robust, lightweight and have increased finger room & an ergonomic design. The guns use a wide range of EPA compliant air caps that deliver atomisation and can handle all types of solvent, water-borne, high solid and 2K materials. The high capacity air passages with a separate balanced air valve provide an unrestricted flow of compressed air through the gun body. These guns are used in industrial applications for spraying all types of materials and are used in various industries including automotive, wood, metal, plastics, ceramics, pharmaceutical and composites. The guns are available in a wide selection from high end electrostatic & airless systems to the conventional types. Rohan Standox Autolack Mumbai - Maharashtra Tel: 022-6580 3331-2 Mob: 98215 60828 Fax: 022-2353 5122 Email: sales@spraytec.net

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PRODUCT UPDATE

EPS cup making machine Neejtech India offers EPS cup making machine manufactured by Thermoware B V. This machine is available in both vertical and horizontal expanded polystyrene (EPS) production machines for the production of cups, containers, tubs, and meat trays. It has a production capacity of up to 6,400 cups/hr. Its features include guaranteed cycle time, efficient pneumatic control, user-friendly electronics, etc. The advantage of this machine is that disposable trays, plates, containers, etc can be made easily by changing the mould. This machine is used for manufacturing drinking cups for hot & cold drinks, ice cream cups, etc. Neejtech India Ahmedabad - Gujarat Tel: 079-2656 1312 Mob: 98250 40231 Email: sales@neejtech.com

Zipper pouch making machine XL Plastics offers multiservo stand-up and zipper pouch making machine. It is equipped with a multiservo system, whereby each sealing and cooling system is actuated by an individual servo system. This results in optimum seal strength and quality as the dwell/seal time remains constant even at higher speed. The machine is used for making multiple stand-up and zipper pouches for food packaging, vacuum pouches, oil pouches, etc using barrier film. It can also be used for all combinations of laminated film (PE-PET/PE, PET/ALU, PE-PA, PE-PP/PP as well as unlaminated multilayer film). It has four shaftless unwinders, which can feed four separate films. All the four films can be run in register with the photocell. XL Plastics Vadodara - Gujarat Tel: 0265-263 8125 Fax: 0265-263 8661 Email: Info@xlplastics.com 88

Modern Plastics & Polymers | July 2010


PRODUCT UPDATE

Screen changer Rajhans Plastic Machinery offers plunger type manual screen changer for processing of thermoplastics extruders. This screen changer is manually operated. It requires 2 to 3 minute for changing from one station to second station. This screen changer is available with accessories that include special adaptors for die and barrel side as per specifications, hand trolley for mounting the screen changer, spare screens packs & heaters, hydraulic/pneumatic actuation (if required), etc. It filters the plastic material and removes impurities, thereby preventing damage to die & barrel and hence increases the life of the machine. Further, it eliminates leakages, idle time and is easy-to-operate, etc. The application of the screen changer is in tape, pipe, lamination, and sheet & film plant. This screen changer is also used in co-extrusion line, blown film plant, multi layer blown film plant and blow moulding extrusion plant. Rajhans Plastic Machinery Pvt Ltd Ahmedabad - Gujarat Tel: 079-2583 0003, 2589 5852 Fax: 079-2589 1838 Email: exports@rajhansindia.com

Giant granulator Pimco Machines offers ‘PIMCO’ giant granulator model 'PCH-1000'. It is suitable to grind rejected 200 ltr barrels, plastic containers, crates, top & bottom of suitcases, chairs, benches, car bumpers, dash boards and other reject of moulded articles. It can be provided with side chute arrangement for grinding of rigid PVC pipes & profile shapes. A sucking blower attachment sucks out all the materials and keeps the chamber cool by exhausting hot air, thus facilitating efficient grinding. The blower arrangement also enables continuous grinding process. The machine is heavy duty and gives high output. The equipment can also be provided with conveyor blower and silo to collect materials. The complete line enables continuous grinding. Pimco Machines Pvt Ltd Mumbai - Maharashtra Tel: 022-2925 7175-77 Fax: 022-2920 0351, 2678 1320 Email: pimco@bom5.vsnl.net.in July 2010 | Modern Plastics & Polymers

89


PRODUCT UPDATE

Hand extruder

Mr Hitesh Shah Managing Director H.G.SHAH & Co “We are pleased to be associated with SEARCH & MODERN MACHINE TOOLS Magazine since last 7 years. We are very much satisfied with Ad Spending as it generated relevant inquiries. The magazine is targeted to the right audience & has wider reach. We are looking forward for long-term tieups with the magazine.”

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Lipi Polymers offers ‘Weldplast S2-PVC’ hand extruder. This handy tool works not only with PP, PE-HD, PE-LD, but also welds U-PVC. With length measuring 450 mm and a weight of 5.8 kg, it manages up to 2.7 kg extrudate/hr. The multifuctional display allows simple and safe operation. The double-sided and twist-free rod feeder, the high performance extruder gearbox and maintenance-free blower are the technical highlights of the extruder. It requires a power supply of 230 V AC, 50/60 Hz and 3,000 W. It has an airflow of 320 l/min, pre-heating temperatures up to 360°C, plasticiser temperatures up to 320°C, and welding rod of length 3 mm or 4 mm. This hand extruder is especially used for welding of U-PVC in plastics fabrication. Lipi Polymers Pvt Ltd Chennai - Tamil Nadu Tel: 044-2454 3436 / 2454 3444 Fax: 044-2454 3435 Email: info@lipipolymers.com

Black masterbatch

Mr Kinjel Shah Director HI-LIFE MACHINE TOOLS Pvt Ltd “We are a regular patron of SEARCH and MODERN MACHINE TOOLS since their inception. Both these magazines are superb platform for product awareness, and information. It has wide coverage and the readership in the industry. We are thankful to Infomedia 18 for bringing out such quality publications.”

Ta Haw Enterprise Co offers different grades of black masterbatch to meet different request from customers. This is used for injection, extrusion and blown film and is available in various kinds of low grade, general grade and high grade. The company also offers white & colour masterbatches, flexibiliser/compatibiliser, transparent filler, nanometer calcium carbonate filler, nucleating clarifying agent, perfume masterbatches, anti-foam masterbatches and other functional mastebatches & agents. Ta Haw Enterprise Co Ltd Taichung County - Taiwan Tel: +886-4-2680 5031/5221 Fax: +886-4-2680 4440/4510 Email: tahawenterprise@hotmail.com

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The information published in this section is as per the details furnished by the respective manufacturer/distributor. In any case, it does not represent the views of Business Insights •Technologies•Opportunities

90

Modern Plastics & Polymers | July 2010


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First Fold Here Second Fold Here

Additive masterbatches....................................... Aerosol spray paint ............................................ Air bubble film plant .......................................... Air bubble sheet plant ........................................ Air chiller ......................................................... Air-conditioner parts........................................... Air-hot air dryers ................................................ Bed knives......................................................... Biodegradable masterbatches ............................. Black masterbatch.............................................. Blenders............................................................ Blending unit ..................................................... Blower motor..................................................... Brine chillers...................................................... Cast film line ..................................................... Chiller............................................................... Cleanroom ....................................................... Co-extrusion die ................................................ Co-extrustions blown film plant ........................... Compact chiller ................................................. Complex multi part assembly .............................. Connectors........................................................ Control panels................................................... Converters......................................................... Conveying system .............................................. Cooling tower.................................................... Core cutter machine .......................................... Counters & power supplies ................................. Cutters .............................................................. D punch machine .............................................. Data logging software ........................................ DC motors ........................................................ Dehumidified air dryer........................................ Die casting machines ......................................... Digital colour mark sensor.................................. Digital panel meter ............................................ Doctoring rewinder machine............................... Door trims......................................................... Drum roller........................................................ Drum type slitter rewinder machine...................... Dryers ............................................................... Electric injection moulding machine gearboxes..... Email marketing................................................. Encoders ........................................................... EPS cup making machine ................................... Ethyl vinyl acetate............................................... Exhibition - 8th Plastivision India 2011 ................ Exhibition - Autoplast’10 .................................... Exhibition - Engineering Expo.............................. Extruder............................................................. Extrusion coating lamination plant....................... Extrusion dies..................................................... Extrusion machines............................................. Feeder .............................................................. Flame retardant masterbatches ........................... Fully automatic strapping plant ........................... Giant granulator................................................ Granulator ........................................................ Gravimetric blender ........................................... Grinder............................................................. Hand extruder.................................................... Haul off ............................................................ HDPE pipe plant ................................................ Head lamps & tail lamps .................................... Heart valve frames ............................................. Heater, cooler, mixers and spares........................ High cavitation moulds....................................... High density polypropylene ................................ HM/HDPE/LDPE/LLDPE ...................................... Hopper dryer ..................................................... Hopper loader................................................... Horizontal machining centre ............................... Hot air dryer......................................................

o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o

Hydraustatic pressure testing machine ................. IML system......................................................... IML technique.................................................... Industrial control & sensing devices Industrial cooling systems ................................... Industrial robots................................................. Infomedia18 B2B magazines .............................. Injection moulding - general............................... Injection moulding - multi-component ................. Injection moulding - vertical................................ Injection moulding machine................................ Injection moulding technologies Injection moulds ................................................ Inspection cum siltter rewinding machine ............. Invertor/variable frequency drives Knobs & switches ............................................... Lab mixers ........................................................ Lamination/coating machine............................... Level controllers ................................................. Liner low density polypropylene .......................... Loader .............................................................. Low density polypropylene ................................. Marine air conditioners ...................................... Market research................................................. Material blender unit.......................................... Material dryers................................................... Material storage unit .......................................... Measuring & monitoring relay............................. Medical moulds ................................................. Melt flow index test apparatus............................. Mixer cooler ...................................................... Mono layer blown film plant ............................... Motion controllers.............................................. Mould temperature controller.............................. Moulding automation......................................... Moulding units................................................... Multi component moulds .................................... Multilayer blown film plant.................................. Multi-station ...................................................... Nip................................................................... Oil/coolant coolers............................................ Panel air-conditioners......................................... Paperless recorder.............................................. Parallel & right angle axes gearboxes .................. Pelletiser - dry cut strand type.............................. PET blow moulding machine............................... PET box strapping plant...................................... PET dehumidified dryers ..................................... PET masterbatches ............................................. PET recycling plant............................................. Photoelectric sensors .......................................... PID controller .................................................... Pipe extrusion line for PVC/PPR/PE ...................... Pipe making unit................................................ Pivot system....................................................... Plastics brightner/shiner...................................... Plastics converting & beverages machine ............. Plastics extrusion machines ................................. Polymer conveyer belt......................................... Polypropylene (PP).............................................. Polystyrene (PS) .................................................. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) ...................................... Post processing machines ................................... PP glass filled compounds .................................. PP mineral filled compounds............................... PP/HDPE raffia tape lines ................................... PP/HDPE semi automatic strapping plant ............. PP/HDPE/PET box strapping plant ....................... PP/HDPE/PET monofilament plant ....................... PP/PPTQ film plant ............................................ PPTQ plant........................................................ Precision moulding unit ...................................... Precision temperature controls.............................

GLUE

o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o

Third Fold Here

#

PRODUCT INQUIRY FORM o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o

Process controllers ............................................. Programmable logic controllers........................... Programmable terminals..................................... Proportional valve .............................................. Proximity sensors................................................ Pumps............................................................... PVC braided hose plant...................................... PVC suction hose plant....................................... Quick connectors............................................... Quick mould change systems ............................. Raffia tape lines ................................................. RFID ................................................................. Robot system ..................................................... Robotics ............................................................ Roll wrapping machine....................................... Rotary cutters..................................................... Rotogravure printing machine ............................. RTD .................................................................. Rubber injection moulding machine..................... Safety light curtains ............................................ Screen changer.................................................. Segmented barrels for compounding and masterbatch plants............................................. Self-adhesive tapes ............................................ Sensors ............................................................. Shaft type slitter rewinder machine....................... Single screw and barrel ..................................... Single screw and barrel with grooved sleeves ....... Single screw extruder gearboxes.......................... Solid state relays ................................................ Spares............................................................... Special refrigeration equipment........................... Spraying guns.................................................... Stack moulds..................................................... Styrene acytonitrile ............................................ Summit - Performance Plastic 2010..................... Switching relays ................................................. Synthetic string plant (sutli plant) ......................... Takeup drum ..................................................... Technical moulds ............................................... Temperature controller........................................ Temperature sensors........................................... Tensile testing machine with extension-o-meter ..... Thermocouple ................................................... Thermoplastic alloys........................................... Thermoplastic compounds .................................. Thyristorised power controllers ............................ Timers............................................................... TPE/TPU compounds.......................................... Trade show........................................................ Trade show organiser ......................................... Twin-screw co-rotating extruders.......................... Twin-screw elements ........................................... Twin-screw extruder gearboxes ............................ Twin-screw extruders........................................... Ultra deep temperature freezer............................ Ultrasonic flow meter ......................................... Universal input temperature scanner.................... Universal masterbatches ..................................... Unwinder system................................................ Used European plastics machines ....................... UV & PU masterbatches...................................... Vacuum loader .................................................. Ventilators ......................................................... Vision sensors.................................................... VSPT/HDT test apparatus.................................... Water chillers..................................................... Water/brine/hydraulic oil/chilling plant................ Web aligner unit ................................................ White/black & colour masterbatches ................... Winder.............................................................. Zipper pouch making machine ...........................


Please complete the following Đ get a quick effective response from suppliers: 1. Your company’s business function is (Pone only) q Wholesalers q Manufacturer q Distributor q Agent q Other, please specify ______________ 2. Your role in your company’s buying process can best be described as: q I buy q I identify potential suppliers q I approve purchases q I negotiate contracts q I select suppliers. 3. Your line of business Name: Designation: Company Name:

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o Kabra Extrusion Technik Ltd......................

o Procon Technologies Pvt Ltd .....................

o AIPMA ...................................................

o Kant Plastology .......................................

o Rajoo Engineers Ltd ................................

o Blend Colours Pvt Ltd ..............................

o Konark Plastomech Pvt Ltd.......................

o Sacmi Engineering India Pvt Ltd ...............

o L & T Plastics Machinery Ltd.....................

o Shree Ganesh Converting Machinery .......

o Livewire18..............................................

o Shree Radhekrishna Extrusions Pvt Ltd.......

o Loxim Industries Limited ...........................

o Shyam Plastic Industries...........................

o Machine Point.........................................

o Sreelakshmi Traders ................................

o Matsui Technologies India Ltd. .................

o Steer Engineering Pvt Ltd .........................

o Engineering Expo ....................................

o Messe Dusseldorf India Pvt. Ltd. ...............

o Toshiba Machine (India) Pvt. Ltd...............

o Ferromatik Milacron India Ltd ..................

o Modern Plastics & Polymers .....................

o Unimark (Maguire Inc) ............................

o Frost & Sullivan.......................................

o Neejtech India (Braunform)......................

o Unimark (Staubli Faverges Sca)................

o Glaves Corporation ................................

o Neejtech India (Hekuma).........................

o Werner Finley Pvt Ltd ...............................

o Grundfos Pumps India Pvt Ltd ..................

o Neejtech India (Niigata) ..........................

o Windsor Machines Limited .......................

o Haas Automation India Pvt Ltd .................

o Nu-Vu Conair Pvt. Ltd..............................

o Wittmann Battenfld India Pvt. Ltd..............

o JEC Asia ................................................

o Ocean Extrusions....................................

o XL Plastics...............................................

o Jing Cheng Mold Machinery Co., Ltd .......

o Omron Automation Pvt. Ltd. ....................

o Zambello Riduttori Group........................

o Jon Wai Machinery Works Co., Ltd. .........

o Plexium International...............................

o Chilton Refrigeration ............................... o Danfoss Indus Pvt Ltd .............................. o DMT International................................... o Dongguan Alfa Automation Machinery Ltd

First Fold Here

o Adinath Controls Pvt Ltd ..........................

o Business Development Bureau India P Ltd .

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Second Fold Here Please complete the following o get a quick effective response from suppliers: 1. Your company’s business function is (Pone only) q Wholesalers q Manufacturer q Distributor q Agent q Other, please specify ______________ 2. Your role in your company’s buying process can best be described as: q I buy q I identify potential suppliers q I approve purchases q I negotiate contracts q I select suppliers.

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Third Fold Here

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Special Projects

INFOMEDIA 18 LIMITED

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PRODUCT INDEX

To know more about the products in this magazine, refer to our ‘Product Index’ or write to us at spedit@infomedia18.in or call us at +91-22-3003 4685 or fax us at +91-22-3003 4499 and we will send your enquiries to the advertisers directly to help you source better. Product

Pg No

Product

Pg No

Product

Pg No

Additive masterbatches ........................... 16

Digital panel meter .............................. 10

Hopper loader ............................... 13, 59

Aerosol spray paint .............................. 85

Doctoring rewinder machine ................. 81

Horizontal machining centre ................. 82

Air bubble film plant ............................ 84

Door trims ..........................Front gate fold

Hot air dryer.......... 11, 13, Front gate fold

Air bubble sheet plant .................... 25, 65

Drum roller.......................................... 49

Hydraustatic pressure testing machine ... 87

Air chiller ..................................... 27, 59

Drum type slitter rewinder machine ....... 81

IML system.............................................. 86

Air-conditioner parts ............Front gate fold

Dryers ........................... Front inside cover

IML technique ...................................... 35

Air-hot air dryers ............ Front inside cover

Electric injection moulding

Industrial control & sensing devices ......... 5

Bed knives .............................................. 39

machine gearboxes................................... 7

Industrial cooling systems ..................... 83

Biodegradable masterbatches ............... 16

Email marketing ................................. 103

Industrial robots ................................... 55

Black masterbatch ................................ 90

Encoders ............................................... 5

Infomedia18 B2B magazines ................ 12

Blenders .................. 15, Front inside cover

EPS cup making machine ..................... 88

Injection moulding - general................. 83

Blending unit ......................Front gate fold

Ethyl vinyl acetate................................. 61

Injection moulding - multi-component ... 83

8th

Blower motor ....................................... 49

Exhibition -

Plastivision India 2011 .. 77

Injection moulding - vertical ................. 83

Brine chillers ........................................ 83

Exhibition - Autoplast’10 ...................... 87

Injection moulding machine......................

Cast film line ..............................25, 65, 84

Exhibition - Engineering Expo................ 75

9, 55, 69, 101, Front gate fold

Chiller ................................................. 11

Extruder ............................................... 49

Injection moulding

Cleanroom ......................................... 35

Extrusion coating lamination plant... 25, 65

technologies ...................Back inside cover

Co-extrusion die .................................. 25

Extrusion dies............................... 84, 104

Injection moulds................................... 83

Co-extrustions blown film plant ............. 25

Extrusion machines......................... 19, bc

Inspection cum siltter rewinding machine ..81

Compact chiller ............................. 13, 59

Feeder .................................................... 49

Invertor/variable frequency drives ............ 5

Complex multi part assembly .................. 8

Flame retardant masterbatches ............. 16

Knobs & switches ................. Front gate fold

Connectors .........................Front gate fold

Fully automatic strapping plant ............. 65

Lab mixers ............................................. 84

Control panels ..................................... 85

Giant granulator ..................................... 89

Lamination/coating machine ................. 81

Converters ........................................... 85

Granulator ..11, 13, 59, Front inside cover

Level controllers ..................................... 5

Conveying system................................. 11

Gravimetric blender ............................. 13

Liner low density polypropylene ............ 61

Cooling tower...................................... 27

Grinder ............................................... 59

Loader........................... Front inside cover

Core cutter machine ............................ 81

Hand extruder ........................................ 90

Low density polypropylene ................... 61

Counters & power supplies ..................... 5

Haul off............................................... 49

Marine air conditioners ........................... 27

Cutters ................................................ 49

HDPE pipe plant .................................. 25

Market research ................................... 45

D punch machine ................................... 81

Head lamps & tail lamps.....Front gate fold

Material blender unit ............................ 11

Data logging software .......................... 85

Heart valve frames ............................... 51

Material dryers..................................... 15

DC motors .......................................... 83

Heater, cooler, mixers and spares.......... 84

Material storage unit ............................ 13

Dehumidified air dryer..............................

High cavitation moulds......................... 35

Measuring & monitoring relay................. 5

13, 59, Front gate fold, Front inside cover

High density polypropylene .................. 61

Medical moulds ................................... 35

Die casting machines ........................... 55

HM/HDPE/LDPE/LLDPE ........................ 65

Melt flow index test apparatus .............. 87

Digital colour mark sensor.................... 85

Hopper dryer ....................................... 59

Mixer cooler ........................................ 49

CRACK THE BEST DEALS! July 2010 | Modern Plastics & Polymers

97


PRODUCT INDEX Product

Pg No

Product

Pg No

Product

Mono layer blown film plant ................. 25

PPTQ plant.......................................... 65

Summit - Performance Plastic 2010....... 99

Motion controllers .................................. 5

Precision moulding unit .......Front gate fold

Switching relays...................................... 5

Mould temperature controller....11, 13, 59

Precision temperature controls............... 85

Synthetic string plant (sutli plant) ........... 25

Moulding automation ............................. 8

Process controllers.......................... 10, 85

Takeup drum........................................... 49

Moulding units..................................... 35

Programmable logic controllers............... 5

Technical moulds ................................. 35

Multi component moulds ...................... 35

Programmable terminals ......................... 5

Temperature controller................5, 10, 85

Multilayer blown film plant.............. 25, 65

Proportional valve ................................ 82

Temperature sensors ............................. 85

Multi-station......................................... 83

Proximity sensors .................................... 5

Tensile testing machine with

Nip ......................................................... 49

Pumps ................................................. 23

extension-o-meter................................. 87

Oil/coolant coolers ................................. 83

PVC braided hose plant ....................... 29

Thermocouple...................................... 85

Panel air-conditioners ............................. 83

PVC suction hose plant ........................ 29

Thermoplastic alloys ............................... 6

Paperless recorder................................ 10

Quick connectors .................................... 57

Parallel & right angle axes gearboxes ...... 7

Quick mould change systems ............... 57

Pelletiser - dry cut strand type ............... 39

Raffia tape lines...................................... 25

PET blow moulding machine................. 29

RFID...................................................... 5

PET box strapping plant........................ 65

Robot system ....................................... 59

PET dehumidified dryers ... Front inside cover

Robotics .................. 68, Front inside cover

PET masterbatches ............................... 16

Roll wrapping machine ......................... 81

PET recycling plant ............................... 25

Rotary cutters ....................................... 39

Photoelectric sensors .............................. 5

Rotogravure printing machine ............... 81

PID controller....................................... 85

RTD..................................................... 85

Pipe extrusion line for PVC/PPR/PE ...... 101

Rubber injection moulding machine ...... 82

Pipe making unit .................................. 83

Safety light curtains .................................. 5

Pivot system ......................................... 81

Screen changer.................................... 89

Plastics brightner/shiner ........................ 86

Segmented barrels for compounding and

Plastics converting & beverages machine ..89

masterbatch plants ............................... 84

Plastics extrusion machines ................... 55

Self-adhesive tapes............................... 85

Polymer conveyer belt........................... 59

Sensors................................................ 84

Polypropylene (PP) ................................ 61

Shaft type slitter rewinder machine ........ 81

Polystyrene (PS) .................................... 61

Single screw and barrel ....................... 84

Vacuum loader ....... 11, Front gate fold

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) ........................ 61

Single screw and barrel with grooved

Ventilators............................................ 85

Post processing machines ..................... 14

sleeves ................................................ 84

Vision sensors ........................................ 5

PP glass filled compounds .................... 16

Single screw extruder gearboxes.............. 7

VSPT/HDT test apparatus...................... 87

PP mineral filled compounds................. 16

Solid state relays .................................. 85

Water chillers.......................................... 83

PP/HDPE raffia tape lines ..................... 65

Spares ................................................. 39

Water/brine/hydraulic oil/chilling plant .. 27

PP/HDPE semi automatic strapping plant ..65

Special refrigeration equipment............. 83

Web aligner unit .................................. 81

PP/HDPE/PET box strapping plant ......... 25

Spraying guns ...................................... 87

White/black & colour masterbatches ..... 16

PP/HDPE/PET monofilament plant ......... 25

Stack moulds ....................................... 35

Winder ................................................ 49

PP/PPTQ film plant .............................. 25

Styrene acytonitrile .............................. 61

Zipper pouch making machine................ 88

Thermoplastic compounds ...................... 6 Thyristorised power controllers .............. 85 Timers ................................................... 5 TPE/TPU compounds............................ 16 Trade show .......................................... 73 Trade show organiser ........................... 44 Twin-screw co-rotating extruders............ 51 Twin-screw elements ............................. 51 Twin-screw extruder gearboxes ................ 7 Twin-screw extruders ............................. 51 Ultra deep temperature freezer............... 27 Ultrasonic flow meter ........................... 10 Universal input temperature scanner...... 85 Universal masterbatches ....................... 16 Unwinder system .................................. 81 Used European plastics machines ......... 89 UV & PU masterbatches ....................... 16

CRACK THE BEST DEALS! 98

Pg No

Modern Plastics & Polymers | July 2010



ADVERTISERS’ LIST Advertisers’ Name & Contact Details Pg No Adinath Controls Pvt Ltd

85

Advertisers’ Name & Contact Details Pg No

Advertisers’ Name & Contact Details Pg No

Engineering Expo

Jon Wai Machinery Works Co., Ltd.

75

T: +91-2764-286573

T: +91-09819430607

T: +886-2-2595-4867

E: info@adinathcontrols.com

E: shamal@infomedia18.in

E: jonwai.mc@msa.hinet.net

W: www.adinathcontrols.com

W: www.engg-expo.com

W: www.jonwai.com.tw

AIPMA

77

Ferromatik Milacron India Ltd

59

Kabra Extrusion Technik Ltd

T: +91-22-28271678

T: +91-79-25890081

T: +91-22-26734822

E: marketing@plastivision.org

E: salesfmi@milacron.com

E: nivedita@kolsitegroup.com

W: www.plastivision.org

W: www.milacronindia.com

Blend Colours Pvt Ltd

16

Frost & Sullivan

T: +91-40-2436 1499 / 2436 0887

T: +91-22-40013419

E: info@blendcolours.com

E: anishc@frost.com

W: www.blendcolours.com

W: www.frost.com

Business Development Bureau India P Ltd

45

Glaves Corporation

T: +91-20-27010321

T: +91-141-2460324

E: info@bdbmr.co.in

E: sales@glaves.biz

W: www.bdbmr.co.in

W: www.glaves.biz

Chilton Refrigeration

27

Grundfos Pumps India Pvt Ltd T: +91-44-24966800

E: chilton@sify.com

E: salesindia@grundfos.com

W: www.chiltonindia.com

W: www.grundfos.in

19

W: www.kolsite.com 99

Kant Plastology

87

T: +91-79-25895727 E: info@kantplastology.com W: www.kantplastology.com 39

Konark Plastomech Pvt Ltd

65

T: +91-79-22891670 E: sales@konarkplastomech.com W: www.konarkplastomech.com 23 L & T Plastics Machinery Ltd

T: +91-484-2544571

83

FGF

T: +91-44-26812000 E: handigolg@larsentoubro.com W: www.larsentoubro.com

Danfoss Indus Pvt Ltd

49

Haas Automation India Pvt Ltd

T: +91-44-66501555

T: +91-22-25706316

E: danfoss.india@danfoss.com

E: snair@husky.ca

W: www.danfoss.com

W: www.husky.ca

DMT International

61

JEC Asia

T: +91-22-25896148

T: +33-1-4578-8737

E: dmtindenting@gmail.com

E: prevost@jeccomposites.com

W: www.dmtinternational.net

W: www.jeccomposites.com

Dongguan Alfa Automation Machinery Ltd

68

Jing Cheng Mold Machinery Co., Ltd

BIC Livewire18

103

T: +91-22-30245000 E: b2b@infomedia18.in 44

Loxim Industries Limited

6

T: +91-2717-308000 E: polymers@loxim.com W: www.loxim.com 104

Machine Point

89

T: +86-769-8318-0326

T: +86-576-8402-5800

T: +91-79-65492585

E: info@alfarobot.com

E: jc@JC-times.com

E: rshahane@machinepoint.com

W: www.alfarobot.com

W: www.JC-times.com

W: www.machinepoint.com Our consistent advertisers

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Modern Plastics & Polymers | July 2010



ADVERTISERS’ LIST Advertisers’ Name & Contact Details Pg No Matsui Technologies India Ltd.

11

Advertisers’ Name & Contact Details Pg No Plexium International

T: +91-120-4243862

T: +91-20-26650219

E: sales@matsuiindia.com

E: info@plexiumindia.com

Messe Dusseldorf India Pvt. Ltd.

73

W: www.toshiba-machine.co.jp 10 Unimark (Maguire Inc)

E: infomum@unimark.in

W: www.procon.co.in Modern Plastics & Polymers

12

T: +91-22-30245000

Sacmi Engineering India Pvt Ltd

T: +91-79-26561312

T: +91-2717-250397

E: info@neejtech.com

E: sales@negribossi.in

W: www.neejtech.com

W: www.negribossi.com 8

Shree Ganesh Converting Machinery

T: +91-79-26561312

T: +91-79-32447499

E: info@neejtech.com

E: rotoganesh@gmail.com

W: www.neejtech.com

W: www.shreeganeshconverting.com

Neejtech India (Niigata)

9

Shree Radhekrishna Extrusions Pvt Ltd

E: infomum@unimark.in 69

81

Windsor Machines Limited

Shyam Plastic Industries

E: nuvu@conairgroup.com W: www.conairgroup.com Ocean Extrusions T: +91-79-22902200

Wittmann Battenfld India Pvt. Ltd. 29

E: info@wittman-group.in

E: info@shyamplastic.in

W: www.wittmann-group.com

Sreelakshmi Traders

XL Plastics 85

T: +91-44-24343343 E: sreelakshmitraders@gmail.com

W: www.oceanextrusions.com

W: www.sreelakshmitraders.com 5

Steer Engineering Pvt Ltd

FIC

T: +91-44-42077009

T: +91-79-25841459

E: oceanextrusions@gmail.com

Omron Automation Pvt. Ltd.

E: hrs@wml.co.in W: www.windsor-imm.com

W: www.shyamplastic.in 25

101

T: +91-79-40200300 84

13

T: +91-79-25841181

E: info@wernerfinley.com W: www.wernerfinley.com

W: www.radhekrishnaexports.com Nu-Vu Conair Pvt. Ltd

83

T: +91-80-23289889 / 8369 / 8371

E: mail@radhekrishnaexports.com

E: contact@niigataindia.com

W: www.unimark.in Werner Finley Pvt Ltd

T: +91-79-25842509

T: +91-9909974224

57

T: +91-22-25506712

W: www.rajoo.com 35

W: www.unimark.in Unimark (Staubli Faverges Sca)

E: rel@rajoo.com

W: www.infomedia18.in

Neejtech India (Hekuma)

BC

T: +91-09825312700

E: spmktg@infomedia18.in

Neejtech India (Braunform)

Rajoo Engineers Ltd

15

T: +91-22-25506712

E: info@procon.co.in

W: www.md-india.com

55

E: dineshlja@toshiba-machine.co.in

T: +91-79-27492566

E: messeduesseldorf@md-india.com

Toshiba Machine (India) Pvt. Ltd. T: +91-11-43291111

W: www.autoplas.in Procon Technologies Pvt Ltd

T: +91-22-6678-9933

87

Advertisers’ Name & Contact Details Pg No

14

T: +91-265-2638125 E: info@xlpalstics.com W: www.xlplastics.com

51

Zambello Riduttori Group

T: +91-80-40726400/41466400

T: +91-80-23723309 / 10

T: +39-0331-307-616

E: srirams@ap.omron.com

E: info@steerworld.com

E: info@zambello.it

W: www.omron-ap.com

W: www.steerworld.com

W: www.zambello.it

7

Our consistent advertisers

102

Modern Plastics & Polymers | July 2010





July 2010

106

Modern Plastics & Polymers

Regn. No. MH/ MR / WEST / 234 / 2009-2011 RNI No: MAHENG / 2008 / 25265 Allowed to Post At Patrika Channel Sorting Office, G.P.O., Mumbai 400 001. Date of Mailing: 1st & 2nd Of Every Month Issue.


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