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Methanol Economy and its Relevance to Net-Zero Emissions
International Trade Show for Plastics, Petrochemicals, Packaging & Rubber Industry 15 - 18 November 2021
Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai, UAE
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Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hasher Al Maktoum, Founder of Al Fajer Information and Services and, organisers of ArabPlast, H.E. Butti Saeed Al-Ghandi, Vice Chairman of Dubai World Trade Centre, opened the world’s largest plastics, petrochemicals, packaging and rubber industry exhibition, and the sector’s first live event since the start of the pandemic.
ArabPlast supported by Messe Düsseldorf, Germany and Plexconcil, India attracted over 200 exhibitors from 30 countries, and featured six international pavilions - Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Turkey and India. The latter was inaugurated by Indian Consul General in Dubai H.E. Aman Puri.
The show generated a footfall of 11,230 trade visitors from 129 countries over the 4 days, starting 15th November, 2021.
“After the challenging times faced by the world, the 15th Edition of ArabPlast was a golden opportunity for the manufacturers to capitalise and enhance their business prospects,” said Nadhal Mohamed, A. General Manager, Al Fajer Information and Services,
ArabPlast 2021 Hailed a Success
as the Sector Resumes Live Events Post-pandemic
The market for engineering plastics in the MENA region too is expected to grow due to the multiple uses and benefits, and we are optimistic that ArabPlast will create the much-needed impact as being the first global exhibition for The show generated a footfall of 11,230 trade visitors from 129 countries over the 4 days, starting petrochemicals, plastics, 15th November, 2021. packaging and rubber postpandemic to contribute for the restoration of the industry.
OPINES
Manish Chawla Editor POLYMERS Communiqué
Back to the Aisles
ArabPlast 2021 Nostalgia of Sorts!
ArabPlast 2021 truly was one of the first few comeback events for the plastics industry, if we can take the liberty of calling it the post-pandemic era! The exhibitors were excited, the visitors were eager and the organisers heaved a happy sigh of relief when the event was thrown open at 11:00 am on Monday, the 15th of November, 2021.
The days that followed witnessed high quality, purposeful buyers from a number of countries! Detailed discussions and active roundtables became a common sight. An exhibition would always want the ‘right crowd’ rather than just ‘a crowd’, an objective well achieved at ArabPlast 2021!
I must congratulate the Al Fajer Team for taking this big step forward to get the event going and set the tone to make the event even larger than the pre-COVID times in the coming years!
This feature will highlight more specifics on the show, followed by details on a few companies who exhibited there and have their advertorials here.
Dubai, organisers of ArabPlast 2021. He further added, “The demand in the health and medical sector for commodity plastics rose considerably during the pandemic and hence, the supply for the same too grew at a steady pace.”
“The incredible steps taken by the UAE government to ensure a safe environment post-pandemic has helped organisers like us to restart the exhibition industry and invite international participants,” said ArabPlast 2021 Exhibition Manager, Rasheed Mbayed.
Global Data’s latest report states that the MEA’s market for the health and medical sector for commodity plastics is forecast to grow at a rate of 2.53% until 2027. There are 1,158 plants slated to come online in the next nine years, primarily in Asia and the Middle East.
Likewise, the market for engineering plastics in the MENA region too is expected to grow due to the multiple uses and benefits, and we are optimistic that ArabPlast will create the muchneeded impact as being the first global exhibition for petrochemicals, plastics, packaging and rubber post-pandemic to contribute for the restoration of the industry.
While technology and innovation formed the basis of the mega event, the show also served as a networking platform.
“After months of being confined to our homes, ArabPlast 2021 offered innovative solutions, latest technologies and knowledge-sharing to open up new avenues for collaborations and business opportunities,” said Talal Al-Awfi, OQ Group CEO. “We feel proud to be the leaders in the Middle East to attract the industry audiences,” he added.
Croda Showcases Slip and Anti-static Effects
at ArabPlast 2021
Croda’s Smart Materials business exhibited at ArabPlast 2021 showcased their range of polymer additives and bio-based building blocks for plastics. Croda is known for being a leader in innovative and sustainable solutions for plastics through their use of biobased chemistries.
After pandemic restrictions forced all customer interactions online, the team were delighted to be able to speak face-to-face to valued customers and new industry contacts in this highly important region.
Celebrating 50 Years of World Leading Slip and Antiblock Additives
Croda recently celebrated over 50 years producing and selling slip and anti-block additives under the Crodamide™ brand. These products are well-known around the world to deliver optimised friction control in a range of polymer applications, such as packaging films and injection moulded parts. Improved friction control can result in increased output, improved film quality, and easier handling, processing and conversion. During the show, Croda were able to reconnect with valued customers including resin producers, masterbatchers and compounders to discuss how slip additives can bring value to all parts of the supply chain. Croda are also looking forward to the delivery of their highly anticipated capacity expansion project which is entering its final stages, and will double the capacity of its amide manufacturing site in the UK. This will result in increased security of supply for customers and ensure even higher quality and more consistent products. This large investment in their flagship production site demonstrates their long-term commitment to the polymer market for years to come.
Increasing Options for Static Control
Croda has strengthened their offering into the anti-static sector in recent years with the acquisition of Ionphase™, a permanent static dissipative polymer technology, and development of new amine free anti-stats under the Atmer™ brand. They were able to showcase these grades during the show as well as demonstrate the performance with a portable static resistivity meter on the stand.
The Ionphase range of inherently dissipative polymers (IDPs), give a high level of anti-static performance in a range of polyolefins and engineering polymers. They are particularly effective for when EX safety is a priority or in ESD production for electronic applications. The wide range of products ensures a solution is available for most polymers and applications, while the immediate and permanent effect ensure performance even in the most challenging conditions.
The Atmer range of amine free anti-stats offer a safer alternative to ethoxylated amine chemistry. Recent changes to the hazard classification of ethoxylated amines have resulted in some industries actively moving away from these products and Croda can now offer customers the performance and safety they desire within the Atmer range.
Croda recently celebrated over 50 years producing and selling slip and antiblock additives under the Crodamide™ brand. They are also looking forward to the delivery of their highly anticipated capacity expansion project which is entering its final stages, and will double the capacity of its amide manufacturing site in the UK.
To know more, visit www.crodasmartmaterials.com
NATPET Quality Products
With Global Reach
Welcome to the National Petrochemical Industrial Co. (NATPET) downstream companies; NATPET is a large producer of polypropylene in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region with exports all over the world, producing the highest quality of products.
The company’s downstream operating model includes two commercial business units, namely GEO NATPET and Natpet Schulman Specialty Plastic Compounds (NSSPC).
100% Virgin PP Staple Fibres
GEO NATPET Geosynthetics
It was formed to cater to the geosynthetics world for infrastructure reinforcement. The industrial company (GEO NATPET) was previously known as BONAR NATPET company.
GEO NATPET have PP staple fibre and geotextile production plant in Yanbu, North West Saudi Arabia and Sales offices in Jeddah, Dammam, Riyadh, Dubai and Cairo. We are covering the markets of GCC, Europe, Egypt, Asia for geosynthetics, while we are selling internationally our high quality virgin polypropylene fibres to well-known manufacturers.
We also provide technical solutions regarding soil improvement, quality improvement and cost reduction for any kind of infrastructure and construction projects, namely roads, railways, tunnels, land reclamation, shore and river bank protection, landfills, landscaping, asphalt reinforcement, soil reinforcement (geogrids), water drainage etc.
To know more, visit www.geonatpet.com
NSSPC - a joint venture between A. Schulman (now part of LyondellBasell) and National Petrochemical Industrial Co. (NATPET) have built a polyolefincompounding plant in Yanbu, North West Saudi Arabia. The facility is the single largest PP compounding site in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, with an annual PP compounding capacity of 60,000 MT.
The portfolio of PP compounds includes coloured, mineral-filled, glass fibre-reinforced, hybrid-filled PP homo- and PP co-polymer compounds as well as impact-modified, low-emission grades for automotive interiors and flame retardant V2, V0 GWFI- and 5VA UL-listed grades under the trade name of Polyfort®, Polyflam® or PP compounds.
We have the deep market knowledge and technical expertise that helps our customers succeed. Our highperformance polypropylene compound with a broad range of characteristics is used as raw material in a variety of markets for various applications.
To know more, visit www.natpetschulman.com
Additives for More Efficient and Economical PET-packaging from REPI
REPI Group operates globally since 1973 as a global supplier of high-performance liquid colours and additives for plastics and thermoset resins that find applications in a wide variety of industries.
Special focus is on packaging applications that face the big challenge of providing solutions to reduce and recycle polymers without compromise on packaging quality and performance.
In this context, REPI is established with a series of liquid additives and special solutions for PET and r-PET packaging, as a support to the market needs.
Anti Yellow Additives
Anti Yellow additives, in liquid form, dosed both in the r-PET resin production stage and in r-PET packaging production. These additives can adjust off-shade r-PET acting on Lab values enabling to add higher percentages or recycled content in the packaging.
REPI IV Enhancers
REPI IV Enhancers are chain extenders widely used to enhance the physical and mechanical characteristics of an r-PET bottle as well as of r-Pet sheets for thermoforming, where it optimises the process parameters, enables better thickness distribution and allows for a less frequent cleaning of calendars.
REPI Blowing Additive
The above-mentioned ‘process additives’ are closely followed by others no-less successful, the first one being REPI Blowing Additive. This product improves and controls the absorption of infrared in the blowing stage, giving customers the possibility of reducing blowing temperatures. At the same time, the blowing line works in a smoother way, without unplanned stops, and the productivity of blown bottles per hour is increased.
REPI Process Aid
REPI Process Aid as well acts at the blowing stage by creating a better slip effect between preforms and as a result, up to +10% of preforms can be stored in a box, with consequent advantages in terms of storage and transport costs.
All the above additives can be also supplied as ‘All-in-one’ solutions with colours that can be a light blue or green, as well as amber, white or black.
As far as the packaging content is concerned, some additives offer valid protection enabling brands to preserve taste and aesthetics of its products on the shelves.
This is the case with SenzAA™ acetaldehyde reducers that act to avoid the unpleasant off-taste of waters bottled in PET. The reduction performance goes up to +85%.
REPI UV Absorbers
REPI UV Absorbers instead create a barrier to the harmful UV-rays and visible light. It is used especially for transparent preforms meant for sensitive liquids like vitaminic waters, juices and sauces in the food industry as well as for fabric conditioners, detergents and household products.
The world of packaging is under unceasing innovation and REPI plays a part offering smart solutions where nature and production processes do not come yet.
To know more, visit www.repi.com
Methanol Economy and its Relevance to
Net-Zero Emissions
The carbon dioxide refinery to Methanol manufacture is crucial for our modern economy as produce a variety of fuels, chemicals it is employed as a building block for synthesising several chemical intermediates, hydrocarbons, energy storage and materials using green hydrogen mediums, solvents and fuel. The methanol synthesis technology can for reaching the sustainable future will be a reality very soon. Methanol be divided into three sub-processes, i.e. feed gas production including power plant emissions, advanced catalysis and reactor technology. It is necessary to focus on innovative CO2 capture technologies is part of this grand economic cycle. It is hoped that ultimately the netto mitigate climate change, dry reforming and biogas generation processes, membrane reactor technologies, and above all, implementation of renewable energy for (green) hydrogen production carbon-zero goal will be achieved to reduce the cost of methanol and aid these advanced scientific much before 2050. concepts to promote societal acceptance. It will be in tune with the net-(carbon)-zero goal which has been advocated by the Paris Agreement of 2015 and recently echoed in the Leaders’ Summit on Climate in April, 2021.
Prof. (Dr.) G. D. Yadav
Emeritus Professor of Eminence, and J. C. Bose National Fellow (GoI) Former Vice Chancellor & R.T. Mody Distinguished Professor, and Tata Chemicals Darbari Seth Distinguished Professor of Leadership & Innovation Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai
Net-Zero Emissions
Alcohol has been used as a means of fuel for a long time. Butanol, ethanol, methanol and propanol can be chemically or biologically synthesised and can be used in internal combustion engines. Methanol has been a favourite fuel for race-car drivers and teams for decades, for many reasons. Methanol has less energy content than regular petrol, so vehicles get about half the distance out of the fuel. Methanol is an effective fuel
