A CUSTAGE I N I T I A T I V E Apr - May 2022 l Issue 8.4 l ` 150
POLYMERS Communiqué
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April - May 2022
CONTENTS April - May 2022
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Issue 8.4
Under the Cover
It’s all about being focused; coupled with flexibility further ensures
capitalising on the right opportunities that the markets offer.
Success is all about identifying opportunities. Many-a-times, these opportunities are presented by micro-sectors within a larger framework. With business being ‘the agenda’ for POLYMERS Communiqué, this issue endeavours to highlight some such prospects. This will set the tone for the coming issues as well, wherein readers to POLYMERS Communiqué will be privy to such market related knowledge. Notwithstanding such data or opinions are individual or derived, and need to be deliberated by the readers themselves to ascertain its suitability. Driving business, POLYMERS Communiqué continues to be the torch bearer of industry growth, knitting the industry together for over 8 years now! If you feel that you would like to share your opinion on a business opportunity presented market sector, please feel free to write to me at manish@custage.com.
RE-SEARCHED
32
Global Manufacturing Recovery is Bumpy and Deceptive
Adrian Lloyd, CEO, Interact Analysis, UK
Lithium-ion Battery Market is Moving into Surge Mode and
Cobot Market Set for Annual Growth Rates of 20 - 30% Maya Xiao, Senior Analyst, Interact Analysis, UK
big move
40
40
60
India: A Compelling Place for Business
Dharm Vahalia, Managing Director, South Asia, Ascend Performance Materials India Pvt. Ltd., Chennai
adding sharper focus to marcom +91-91366 00573 Communication Services
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Business Forums POLYMERS Communiqué
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April - May 2022
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74
KNOCK-KNOCK
THE BIG NICHE
Shailesh Sheth, Corporate Strategy Advisor, Management & Manufacturing Technology, Ahmedabad
Harish Rai, Managing Director,
44
64
India: A New Market Now
Performing With Performance Polymers
R.E PolyTechnologies Pvt. Ltd., Vadodara
ADVERTORIAL
70
THE CHEM BOND
48
Thriving Chemical Sector: A Vital Link for Atmanirbhar Bharat
CHARGED UP
56
Dr. Sachin Jain
Managing Director, SKYi FKuR Biopolymers Pvt. Ltd., Pune
MOVING ON
EV Battery Film Separators: A Big Boom Ahead
Subodh Jindal, Global CEO, STEER Engineering
Pvt. Ltd., Bengaluru
74
DIZZY ROTATION
83
Forward Looking Rotomoulding Technology for Defence Applications
Prashant Trivedi, Head Operations, BU: Engineering Plastics, Loxim Industries Ltd., Ahmedabad
ECON: A Knowledgeable and Reliable Partner
Sponsored by
Chintan R. Joshi, Kaushalya Reputation and Brand Consultancy, Mumbai
78
Conveying Systems: No Longer a Luxury
Rajiv Trivedi, Freelancer, Trivedi Associates,
MEDICAL MAGIC
90
Capitalising on High-Growth Medical Opportunities
Source: Husky Technologies
ADVERTORIAL
100
Aerodry Process Automation: Integral to Our Recycling Business
Ahmedabad
THUMBS UP
60
Big Growth Spurt Anticipated in Agro and Liquid Packaging
Bharatkumar V. Siroya, Director, Parth Poly Woven Pvt. Ltd., Junagadh
Sponsored by
DIFFERENT CONNECT
78
Jeevaraj Pillai
Market Trends in Holography
Joint President, UFlex Packaging Division, UFlex Ltd., Noida
Yogesh Kapur, Executive Vice President, Holography Business, UFlex Ltd., Noida
Digital Gallery
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April - May 2022
Printed and Published by Manish Chawla
manish@custage.com
Chief Editor Jyoti
jyoti@custage.com
Editorial Advisory Board
102
122
SIVARAM SPEAKS
94
Lithium-ion Battery Fires: How Can Polymers Help?
Dr. S. Sivaram, Former Director, CSIR-NCL,
Honorary Professor Emeritus and INSA Emeritus Scientist, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune
ARCHIVES
102
Create Wealth by Making Something New and Better
Kairav Engineer, Vice President - Business Development, Astral Poly Technik Ltd., Ahmedabad
ADVERTORIAL
106
Arvind Mehta Chairman and Managing Director Welset Plast Extrusions Pvt. Ltd.
Omyaspace: Improved Hiding Power at Lower Cost and Reduced Carbon Footprint Sponsored by
Prof. (Dr.) N. C. Saha formerly Director at Indian Institute of Packaging
EASTERN DELIGHT
122
East India Polymers Industry Poised for a 12% CAGR
Pradip Nayyar, Chairman, Indplas’22 - Exhibition Organising Committee, Kolkata
In series...
110
Sustainability through Recycling of Materials and Waste as Feedstock Part I: Chemical Recycling of Waste Plastic
Professor (Dr.) G. D. Yadav, Emeritus Professor of
Pushp Raj Singhvi formerly Vice Chairman and Managing Director at Borouge (India) Pvt. Ltd. Rajesh Nath Managing Director, German Engineering Federation (VDMA) India Office Rakesh Shah formerly Managing Director at Windmöller and Hölscher India Pvt. Ltd. S. K. Ray formerly Sr. Executive Vice President (Polymers) at Reliance Industries Ltd.
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
Designed by
117
Printed at
Supply Unbounded
Ruby Thapar, A Reputation and Sustainability
Custage Marketing Solutions LLP 406, Vikas Centre, Dr. C. G. Road, Chembur, Mumbai 400 074, INDIA
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Consultant and an Executive Coach, Mumbai
Advertising Sales - National
124
Hyderabad Vani
Fight Pollution, Not Plastics
S. K. Ray, Hon. Secretary & Member of Executive Committee, Indian Centre for Plastics in the Environment (ICPE), Mumbai
And The Rest
N. K. Balgi formerly President & Director at Ferromatik Milacron India Pvt. Ltd.
Mumbai Vinisha New Delhi Vijay
+91-93924 28927 vani@polymerscommunique.com +91-88790 50327 vinisha@custage.com +91-98100 15111 vijay@polymerscommunique.com
News.................................................................. 24
Weekend Delights................................. 120
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RETRO.................................................................54
Golden PAGES........................................... 127
Advertising Sales - International
Business Toons..........................................88
Events............................................................ 129
Dubai Pritam
Printed and Published by Manish Chawla, and printed at Silverpoint Press Pvt. Ltd., A-403, TTC Industrial Area, Near Anthony Motors, Mahape, Navi Mumbai - 400709, District - Thane and published from 406, Vikas Centre, Dr. C. G. Road, Chembur, Mumbai 400 074, INDIA. Editor: Manish Chawla. Domestic Subscription: Single Issue Price: Rs. 150; Annual Subscription: Rs. 1200 (including shipping) Overseas Subscription: Annual Subscription: USD 60 (including shipping)
Views and opinions expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of POLYMERS Communiqué. Readers are advised to seek specialist advice before acting on information contained in this publication, which is provided for general use and may not be appropriate for the readers’ particular circumstances and so POLYMERS Communiqué does not take any responsibility for any loss or damage incurred or suffered by any of its subscribers / readers / advertisers of this magazine. The publisher makes every effort to ensure that the magazine’s contents are correct but do not take any responsibility for the absolute accuracy of the information. Subject to Mumbai Jurisdiction. Some of the images used in this issue are from Shutterstock. The maps, if used, in this document are only a pictorial representation, not to scale and do not indicate any geographical boundaries. No part of this publication or any part of the contents thereof may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form without the permission of the publisher in writing. POLYMERS Communiqué reserves the right to use the information published herein in any manner whatsoever. The ownership of trademarks is acknowledged.
USA Manisha
+971-5548-32330 pritam@polymerscommunique.com +1-908-720-3510 manisha@polymerscommunique.com
Subscriptions Bhavesh
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Content Alliance Partners
Mind Speak N. K. Balgi
Rajesh Nath
formerly President & Director Ltd. at Ferromatik Milacron India Pvt.
Managing Director German Engineering Federation (VDMA) India Office
in post-COVID period that was on the recovery path ting from disruptions resul ion inflat by ered has got shatt war. In such a situation, people’s caused by the Ukraine - Russia ntials’ with the mindset that spending gets restricted to ‘esse environment, manufacturing an such In . wait’ ‘discretionary could for national development. es ramm gets driven by Government prog ing consumption of ongo be Market-driven opportunities will goods through retail umer cons and items food essentials i.e. segment growing. Health and networks will keep the packaging to g the pandemic will continue hygiene awareness created durin ent. segm ical med drive growth of the experienced spurt in demand The automotive sector that had remain moderated. will d during the post-pandemic perio nt programmes are agriculture, Sectors driven by the governme truction of roadways and cons ent lopm deve infrastructure sectors will drive demand e Thes es. water distribution to villag gs in a big way. for PVC/CPVC, HDPE pipes and fittin able explore opportunities in renew It will be good to watch and les. energy and electric vehic
Economy
Automation and artificial intelligence (AI) are transforming businesses and will contribute to economic growth via contributions to prod uctivity. They will also help address societal challenge s in areas from health to climate change. These techn ologies will transform the nature of work and the work place itself. Machines will be able to complement the work that humans do, and even perform some tasks that go beyond what humans can do. As a result, some occupations will decline, others will grow, and many more will change.
S. K. Ray
formerly Sr. Executive Vice President (Polymers) at Reliance Industries Ltd.
Despite prevailing narrative clouding its future prospects, demand for plastics is unlikely to slow down because of the versatility of this new age material. While the demand could get subdued in a few sectors, there would be growth in all those areas associated with food and healthcare applications. This would include both, packaging materials and primary articles needed in these sectors.
Pushp Raj Singhvi
Arvind Mehta
Rajesh Nath
Rakesh Shah
N. K. Balgi
S. K. Ray
Prof. (Dr.) N. C. Saha
SL
SL
R
Mind Speak Arvind Mehta
Chairman and Managin g Director Welset Plast Extrusions Pvt. Ltd.
Numerous plastic segments by end use are aut omotive, construction, pharma ceutical, packaging, electronics and consumer goods.
Prof. (Dr.) N. C. Saha
formerly Director at Indian Institute of Packaging
The global plastics ma rket size was valued at USD 579.7 billion in 2020 and is exp ected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.4% from 2021 to 2028. When it comes to revenue, the packaging segme nt has outplayed all the segments due to rising demand for plastic packaging in the last two years. Plastic packaging is used for making food containers, bag s, plastic films, dru ms, crates, fruit juice bottles etc. The Indian packaging sec tor is one of the fastest-growing segme nts in the country , owing to the e-commerce boom. Packaging consumptio n in India has surged 200 per cent in the last decade, from 4.3 kilograms per person per annum (pp pa) to 8.6 kgs pppa, according to the Indian Institute of Pac kaging (IIP). During CO VID-19, it was the plastic packaging seg ment which experience d a growth on an everyday basis and , in the coming years, due to a lighter molecular weight and its favourability, plas tic packaging segment is expected to grow at the rate of 25%.
The 21 century is the era of technology which would lead to innovation. Innovation in all kinds of businesses including plastic packaging is all about doing things differently in order to provide better products and solutions, and an improved service to customers. New technology will always help leverage the business and boost the return on investment. However, identifying the right technology and its deployment becomes st
very crucial in business growth.
While choosing the right technology, one has to keep in mind a few important points like the future needs of the company, how the new technology would improve the existing business process, process of deployment, any kind of challenges during deployment, its reliable security and cost benefit analysis.
After identifying the right technology, there are certain steps to be considered for deployment such as creating an expert team for implementation of the new technology, implementation through a pilot programme, train the concerned employees for new tools or techniques and thereafter launch and fine tune the technique to make it suitable to meet the needs of the company in order to support business success.
Rakesh Shah
Director formerly Managing scher India Pvt. Ltd. at Windmöller and Höl
Pushp Raj Singhvi
formerly Vice Chairman and Managing Director at Borouge (India) Pvt. Ltd.
Once again POLYMERS Commun iqué has raised a very pertinent point of grow th of the market segm ents and sub-market segments. Our immediate attention goe s to EV of 2, 3 and 4 whe elers. With growth of this sector, there will be automatic growth of the sub-segm ents like batteries and other spar e parts. If the renewab le energy sector is poised for great growth, compon ents like batteries are certainly not going to lag behind. Grow th of the telecommunication sector is distinctly visible, so also sub-segment like mobile phones. Big industrialists have already lined up for the sub-sector growth of elec tronic chips to cater to needs of the four wheelers. Like these examples, many more can be added and yet these will be beyond our imagination.
ng high energy and lace materials requiri will continue to rep utilising more water int, tpr foo ating greater carbon l load that will be nta material inputs, cre me iron senting any other env pre and sing the trend that ces for pro e. This is following a long period of tim es, composite fibr l ura unsustainable over nat , tals me in plastics replacing tions such as lica app has existed so far, tions, special Besides these applica dose medication, d materials, glass etc. fixe s, tem sys ry kaging, drug delive ds that will pharmaceutical pac rapidly growing fiel etc. are major and n atio dic lower than me be ic l iatr wil ger niche areas ile the volumes in including less s efit see high growth. Wh ben IP and n high value additio l continue to commodities, the h profit margins wil ence of it and hig abs or n l continue to itio wil pet com packaging films se. Mono-material will spur all and make eminent sen ing kag pac t interest in flexible ne design chi ma , nce command the highes ymer scie s and growth in pol h temperatures, in hig round development at g rkin wo als practices. Materi ents for and manufacturing act plastics developm temperatures will attr low . With at tion and lora exp uum ce vac and spa in defence, aviation uction in weight red applications such as jor ma d nee l rkets, automotives wil inent role to expansion of EV ma s will play a preem ranges and plastic ger lon ich will see e wh iev a ach are to s is another delivery, cloud kitchen achieve that. Food rs. yea ing ed growth in the com significant and sustain
Plastics
Feedback I must appreciat e the layou t, excellent quality of ar printing and ticles in PO LYMERS Co industry need mmuniqué. s such publ The ications. Cu well covere rrent topics d with mea are ni ng fu l content. Ku Publisher - Ke dos to the ep it up! It would be great if yo u can inclu features / to de regular pics on sust ainability / will shape recycling w the industry hich in future. Al include a pa so, you may ge on buyers -sellers for us ed machine ry. Surendra Ke
Manjushree
Your magazine covers almos t all the cu topics and in rrent forms about new change markets relat s in the ing to techno lo gi es , products et best wishes c. My to the entire team and ho other magazin pe that es follow you as an exampl e. Maulik Patel
Gayatri Micron
dia
Ventures LL
s Ltd.
P
a wonderful iqué and it’s ERS Commun M LY ledgeable PO ow of kn ader very I am a regular re les published in the magazine are tic e ar ialists. magazine. Th rs and industr eshwari r entrepreneu Deepak Mah t. Ltd. and useful fo Pv nk eli ad Tr i Maheshwar
ve uniqué. They ha POLYMERS Comm siness. bu association with e nc g ha lon en a t tha en s It’s be publishing article ustry growth by Vijay Kumar contributed to ind President sociation As ers lym Po Karnataka State iation) soc As s stic Pla a State (Formerly Karnatak
text with The magazine balances out the of them, all not if les, artic the pictures. Most of h go along with the actually have pictures whic very informative for it ing mak content not only ng. resti inte also but ers, read the very high-definition Classic paper quality with e a world-class azin mag the printing makes magazine from India.
always Communiqué rmative fo in ry Ve t. conten have quality od articles, ich covers go magazine wh s and upiew rv te in rts’ industry expe e plastics th rmation of to-date info ep up the ke d an st e be sector. All th good work!
POLYMERS
Nilesh Joshi
aly)
AMAPLAST (It
Sekar V.
Formulated Polymers Ltd.
ds of high standar ght forward ou and br s les ha ty artic uniqué ith the quali POLYMERS Comm ding s industry. W tic clu as in pl y str an du di of in r the In stakeholders publication fo t read for all cus, it’s a mus rs. lie pp technology fo hinery su Shah ders and mac Padmanabh nies processors, tra mpa Co of p ou Gr Giriraj
r all the int source fo is a single po e in az ink the ag th m d an ad it uniqué POLYMERS Commrelated to our industry. I regularly re dates. It’s a good up ion g technical cs latest informat job of givin d crucial topi es a great t relevant an os m e magazine do th rs by the ve n co ke ta ich ts wh or m iu iate the eff reference med stry. I apprec perfectly. polymers indu is information th all around the g tin esen a pr d an g lin mpi Gaurav Sharmd. PC team in co ch Pvt. Lt Galaxy Packte
6
We find P OLYMER S Comm and uniq uniqué ue as it extreme provide topics o ly inform s insigh n the p ative ts on a o ly mer ind polymer broad ra ustry. T nge of industry h e insigh stalwart an inspir ts abou s and th ing take t the eir succ for all th essful jo as a on e reade u e-stop rn ey is rs . We see guide o develop the mag n mach ments, azine inery, ra te c h w nology trends in materials advance the poly , new ments a mer ind nd upco ustry. ming Last, bu t not th e least, aestheti it s design c, as a C is highly offee Ta appealin ble Boo g and k. We ap preciate and c Commu ongratu niqué te late th am for c e POLY onsisten MERS tly exce llent wo rk. HPCL-M
M. S. Ba
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POLYMERS Communiqué
ttu
rgy Ltd.
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April - May 2022
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RADICIGROUP HIGH PERFORMANCE POLYMERS Founded in 1981 in Italy on the cornerstone of RadiciGroup’s polyamide upstream integration, RadiciGroup High Performance Polymers has grown into a global manufacturer of a complete range of engineering plastics to meet the needs of many industries including Automotive, Electrical & Electronics, Furnishing, Consumer Goods.
WE ARE GLOCAL: GLOBAL THINKING, LOCAL ACTION. This has been our motto for the last 20 years’ growth. Today, with eight plants strategically located in 4 continents and 7 countries, and a worldwide sales network, RadiciGroup High Performance Polymers provides high-quality product standards on a global scale, besides offering state-of-the-art support in research & development and processing technologies. RadiciGroup’s Upstream integration in polyamide, coupled with the high flexibility of its polymerization plants has represented the basis for the continuous expansion of our polyamide-based product range, from long chain to high temperature polyamides. Expansion is a keyword for our future. We keep exploring new horizons, by expanding our product range and global presence, to promote the growth of RadiciGroup High Performance Polymers.
, , PPA A6.12 nd P , 0 a .1 , PA6 rature PA e PA6.6 PA6, igh temp h s other l PA blend ia spec
ial PA
Spec
nd o
a PA6.6
re PA
eratu
temp
PBT
ds
poun
d com
ase 6.6-b
TPEs
POM
and d PA6
cycle
ial re dustr
-in Post PA6.6
igh ther h
e T flam nd PB
PA a
PPS
MAIN APPLICATION SECTORS
Automotive
Electrical/electronic
Technical Industrial
RADICI PLASTICS INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED 501, DLF Tower, Shivaji Marg, New Delhi - 110015 – INDIA. Tel. +91 11 41638170 E-mail: info.plastics@radicigroup.com
Sport
dants
retar
News Digest ALPLA Group has developed a new returnable PET bottle together with Vöslauer, Austria’s leading company in the mineral water market
RadiciGroup Expands in India by Acquiring the Engineering Plastics Business of Ester Industries Ltd.
R
adiciGroup
is
The of
continuing
will
year
2023,
transfers
of
following tangible
the
and
Many of the products sold by Ester
strategy. Through its high performance
and certified under UL94, the globally
polymers business area - a multinational manufacturer
and
supplier of engineering polymers
based
in the acquisition of the engineering plastics business of Ester Industries Ltd.,
an Indian company founded by the Singhania family in 1985 and currently listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange.
Industries Ltd. has a strong market
presence in polyester packaging films,
a business the Indian firm intends to continue and strengthen. the
Indian
market,
a
strong
presence is required to react to growth and
responsive
accepted
standard
for
flammability
testing of polymeric materials.
polymers division of Ester Industries
polyester
invested approximately EUR 35 million
“In
Industries Ltd. are in fact approved
With the acquisition of the engineering
on
opportunities in sectors with short
A
site
to
Besides engineering polymers, Ester
Avery Dennison to invest over €60 million in capacity expansion and manufacturing efficiency in Europe
production
intangible assets.
and other materials - the Group has
Andaltec advances in the ‘ad-lighting project’ to develop parts that reduce condensation in transport lighting systems
the
various
strengthen its internationalisation
polyamide, Amcor and Danone present a revolutionary label-less recyclable bottle for the Villavicencio water brand, reducing the carbon footprint by 21%
acquired
become operational at the beginning
production
chains,”
Maurizio Radici, Vice President and
COO of RadiciGroup, concluded. “From
the start, the strategy of our high performance polymers business area
Ltd., RadiciGroup High Performance
Polymers will also become a prominent
partner in the Asian market for customers in the E&E and lighting sectors.
Somaiya Vidyavihar University Organised a National Symposium on Polymer Science and Technology on the Occasion of Dr. S. Sivaram’s 75th Birthday
S
omaiya
organised
Vidyavihar a
2-day
University National
Symposium event on Polymer Science and Technology between 6th and 7th
May, 2022. It was in collaboration with The Society of Polymer Science, India (SPSI) and the Department of
Polymer Science, S K Somaiya College. The inaugural address was given by
has been based on working locally in the closest proximity to customers in order to offer not only products, but also prompt and efficient service near to their industrial sites. Presently, the
compounding business accounts for one-third of the Group’s total sales; it has
helped make the Radici name become recognised worldwide.”
24
POLYMERS Communiqué
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April - May 2022
H 17 C71
Prof. M. M. Sharma, FRS, Institute of Chemical
Digest BASF to wind down activities in Russia and Belarus except for business that supports food production
Technology,
Mumbai.
It
was followed by keynote speeches from Dr. R. A. Mashelkar, FRS, Former
Director General, Council of Scientific
and Industrial Research, New Delhi;
Ashwin Dani, Director, Asian Paints, Mumbai; Prof. S. Ramakrishnan, Indian
Institute of Science, Bangalore and Dr. Ashish K. Lele, Council of Scientific and Industrial
Research - National
Chemical Laboratory, Pune.
the Festschrift Session commemorating
the 75th birthday of Dr. S. Sivaram,
Ex-Director
of
National
Chemical
Laboratory, Pune. He is one of the
Founding Members of The Society
of Polymer Science, India and has DOMO Chemicals invests to expand production capacity of Technyl® polyamide in China to meet growing market demand
significantly
contributed
to
the
development of the polymer science discipline special
organised
in
India.
Additionally,
Endowment by
of Chemistry.
Lecture
the
Royal
a
was
Society
EconCore and ThermHex Waben reduce energy consumption in honeycomb production by up to 65% and double capacity
academicians,
researchers
and
science
and
industrial practitioners in the diverse fields
of
polymer
technology to get together, present
and discuss the recent academic and
industrial innovations. Spread over two days, it featured plenary talks, invited
lectures, discussions and deliberations
by eminent speakers from academia and industry across India. The event was Equipolymers, a PET manufacturer, moves closer to circular economy solutions with new Rittec technology
B-E
supported by a large number of industry giants
across
sectors
like
Reliance
Industries Limited, Pidilite Industries, PRAJ Industries, American Chemical
Society, Gharda Chemicals Ltd. and Royal Society of Chemistry. Some of the topics
that were discussed during the event consisted of polymer synthesis and
packaging
the
by
for
Innovation Dow
sustainable Modern
coveted
global was
Packaging
2021
organised
‘EcoLamHighPlus’, developed
an
more
packaging
consumers
are
solution
conscious
about what they eat and how they access their
food
items.
In
this regard, Constantia
Flexibles and Hershey
India joined hands to create an offering for ‘conscious
indulgers’
who want to relish greattasting
chocolate
that
is ‘good to them and Hershey India decided to
launch its latest offering,
‘Hershey’s Kisses Milk Chocolate 30%
Less Sugar’ with recyclable mono-
material packaging. Now Constantia Flexibles was awarded with the silver
medal for the laminate’s sustainability aspects at the Packaging Innovation Awards sponsored by Dow.
Constantia Flexibles’ EcoLamHighPlus
is a more sustainable barrier packaging solution
economy.
designed
polymer
synthesis,
sustainability
among
supramolecular
is
(PE)
a
for
the
circular
mono-material-
laminate
solution
designed to be fully recyclable in the PE stream while satisfying all
functional and aesthetic requirements of the product.
key aspects:
for
additives,
It
polyethylene
processes
and polymer processing, new chemical
polymers,
a
manufacturer,
Awards
indigenously
The
polymer
Flexibles,
conferred
characterisation, polyolefins, rheology
many others.
26
onstantia
better for the planet too’.
The symposium offered opportunities for
C
committed to a circular economy.
A special feature of the symposium was Covestro will expand its Paint Protection Film (PPF) capacity in 2023
Constantia Flexibles India Wins Packaging Innovation Awards for ‘Recyclable PE Pouches’
developed
packaging NN
solution
EcoLamHighPlus delivers
three
Delivers key brand aesthetics even
with a recyclable laminate. There is
no compromise on the colour, finish
POLYMERS Communiqué
l
April - May 2022
or perceived quality of the material. NN
Essentra Packaging and AMD announce smart packaging collaboration to boost cold chain pharma security
1055303 has been optimised in such a
process
impact
or
on
any
product
Ensures ease of use with similar or
enhanced tearing and maintains pack structure / shape across the supply chain.
K
Industries
polycarbonate
based
light
masterbatch.
has
and
diffuser
This
polystyrene
additive effect’
diffuses harsh light into softer form without
significantly
light transmission.
reducing
the
This additive can be used in the extrusion
and
injection
way that the components made from it have good mechanical and tribological
properties
as well as being easy to detect.
high-
performance plastics
developed
‘special
processing industry. TECACOMP POM ID
Detectable
Kandui Now Offers Light Diffuser Masterbatches
masterbatch effectively scatters and
Lummus and Braskem announce partnership for green ethylene technology
injection-
adverse
andui
Kraiburg TPE makes waves in surfing gear innovation
for
Ensures no change in the current
integrity / shelf-life. NN
developed
moulded components used in the food
manufacturing
Digest
specially
moulding
processes. It is mainly used in the
making of the window pane, LED light LyondellBasell licenses Lupotech T technology to Jiangsu Hongjing New Material Co. Ltd.
increase safety in food production.
They
are
used in all situations where
the products being processed
must not be contaminated with
plastic fragments from the equipment, cable ties or transport boxes. Even
small particles of the filled Ensinger ID compounds can be reliably detected and separated out using metal and X-ray detectors. They are also visually
noticeable, thanks to their inherent blue colour.
A high proportion of the additives ensure good detectability, but may also
have
a
negative
impact
on
processability during injection moulding and on the mechanical properties of the component.
Consequently,
Ensinger
has optimised the formulation of the Plastic Omnium acquires Varroc’s automotive lighting systems business
new POM ID compound in such a way that the material has significantly improved
ProAmpac launches highperformance retort pouches containing post-consumer recycled materials
E-P
Eliminates hot-spots.
NN
High light diffusion.
NN
Lowers refractive index.
NN
Very good dispersion.
NN
Results in energy saving.
NN
High heat stability.
E
is
launching
namely the engineering plastic POM-C,
stands out for good sliding friction properties and a good combination of toughness and strength. With these
special characteristics, TECACOMP POM
ID 1055303 is suitable for applications in the food industry, which place high
a
new
detectable compound. The material,
which is based on POM-C, has been
28
as
The base polymer of the compound,
Ensinger, Launching a Compound for Detectable Injection-moulded Components nsinger
detectability
yet can still be processed very easily.
Salient Features NN
inductive
compared with available products, and
profile and LED light panel.
demands on safety, tribological and mechanical properties.
Milliken Prepares to Launch a Major Clarifier Plant
M
illiken & Company will begin production at its new clarifier
plant soon in Blacksburg, S.C. This
POLYMERS Communiqué
l
April - May 2022
Covestro Launches a New Production Line for Desmodur® 15 Prepolymers
C
Digest
ovestro launches the production of Desmodur® 15 prepolymers at
Siegwerk, one of the leading international suppliers of printing ink for packaging applications and labels, has signed a contract to purchase the Italian ink manufacturer, La Sorgente Spa
Solvay and Carbios demonstrate enzymatic depolymerisation in PET/ PVDC barrier film
its Spanish site of Barcelona. With this new production line, the company significant
additional
capacity
will
address strong worldwide demand for clarified plastic products. The company,
a global manufacturer with plastic additives
and
colourants
expertise,
addresses the growing demand for its high-performance elastomers and
can serve an ever wider range of very demanding applications. “With
this
strategic
investment,
says this new, world-class facility will
Covestro aims to further enlarge the
market-leading
its global supply of Desmodur 15 based
increase production capacity of its
capacity and improve the reliability of
polypropylene clarifier by more than
products,” says Philip Bahke, Head of
Millad®
NX®
8000
50 per cent.
Operations at Covestro Elastomers.
“This represents the largest clarifier
plant investment in Milliken history,” says Cindy Boiter, President of Milliken’s Chemicals
Business.
“Engineering
is
complete, and we are in the process Stratasys introduces stateof-the-art 3D printer for high-end fashion and design
of commissioning the plant. When we launch production in the fall, it will allow us to address both, current
market needs and increasing demand for
these
products
well
into
the
future,” continues Cindy Boiter. Tetra Pak partners with leading beverage brands to launch the world’s first tethered caps on carton packages
“Global demand for Millad NX 8000 clarifier has grown at an 11 per cent compounded
annual
years,”
Cindy
growth
rate
(CAGR) for each of the past nine clarifier
adds
demand
Boiter.
grew
“Global
by
16
per
growth
rates
for
contributed
to
the
cent in just the past two years,” outstripping
the
global polypropylene (PP) resin. “All Trelleborg accelerates product development and small batch production of LSR parts
S-T
regions
have
growth of clarified PP, with Asia leading the way.” “Brand
owners
and
producers are seeing how Millad NX 8000 can contribute to improve the environmental results.
It
important in
Vice
recent
is
and
one
clarifier
memory,”
President
-
Wim Van de Velde.
30
packaging
manufacturing
of
the
more
developments says
Plastic
Global
Additives,
“On top of addressing our customers’
demand, Covestro’s Barcelona site has been operating entirely on renewable energy since the beginning of 2022,”
says Sucheta Govil, Chief Commercial
Officer at Covestro. “This approach is part of our ambition to reduce our
environmental impact while offering
our customers greater access to our solutions and speciality products,” adds Sucheta Govil.
“We are opening the new production
unit for our Desmodur 15 prepolymers in Barcelona in parallel to the ongoing expansion
of
our
Asia-Pacific
region
naphthylene
diisocyanate (NDI) capacities in the with
the
Map
Ta Phut plant in Thailand,” explains Thomas
Braig,
Head
of
Covestro
Elastomers. “This new production unit will help us to support our customers’ growth
in
the
cast
polyurethanes
high-end applications segment,” says Thomas Braig.
POLYMERS Communiqué
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April - May 2022
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RE-SEARCHED
Going into 2022, we have
a number of factors at play. Order books may be full in the machinery sector, for
example, but supply chain
issues persist and owing to
the globalised nature of the manufacturing economy, very few segments are
likely to escape unscathed.
C
OVID-19 saw different regions and industrial sectors suffer at varying rates. At a country level, much depended on the local strategies adopted to deal with the virus. Some were effective and some weren’t.
Despite strong growth, the way out of this crisis is proving to be just as bumpy, as the hangover from the pandemic persists in the shape of disrupted supply chain, labour shortages, and high shipping and energy costs.
And, as I write, Russia (one of the largest natural gas and petroleum producers in the world) is invading Ukraine (one of the largest agricultural producers in the world). So, the general air of disruption isn’t going away. Sanctions will cause price rises, hitting both manufacturers and consumers. After COVID-19, this new Adrian Lloyd CEO, Interact Analysis, UK
32
crisis is something manufacturers could do without.
2021: Reciprocal Pressure Puts India Up Top The global manufacturing economy grew 8.3% in 2021. This does not reflect a manufacturing boom: it’s a recovery from the depths of the pandemic. I call
POLYMERS Communiqué
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April - May 2022
Global Manufacturing Recovery is Bumpy and Deceptive
it reciprocal pressure. And it’s a far
The surge in the cost of living is likely to have a negative effect on consumer-orientated manufacturing sectors. And we are expecting to see growth stabilise in 2022 at a much lower level than 2021 - 3.8% for the US, 4.2% for China and 1.5% for India, for example, but it is not necessarily going to take the form of a slowdown. We don’t anticipate that happening until late 2023 or early 2024.
smaller
rebound
than
we
saw
in
2010 after the financial crash, when manufacturing growth hit 16%. Why is
this? It’s because the COVID-induced manufacturing collapse simply was not half as bad as many (including myself) feared it would be. In 2009, the global To know more, please subscribe to Polymers Communiqué at
subscriptions@polymerscommunique.com
read on at page 38
POLYMERS Communiqué
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April - May 2022
33
Lithium-ion Battery Market is Moving into Surge Mode
The global li-ion battery market is moving into surge mode. Just look at the figures for
2020 - 2021. According to our newly released li-ion battery database, global shipments in 2021 equated to 476.3 GWh, amounting to a 72.6% increase on 2020, and that wasn’t
a blip. We’ve identified it as being part of a
longer-term trend. Let’s have a look at some more figures and identify the drivers to the li-ion battery revolution.
Demand from EV Outstrips All Others, but Energy Storage is the Growth Story Unsurprisingly, it’s the electric vehicle sector
that is driving demand for li-ion battery
technology. In 2021, EV battery shipments accounted for 354.5 GWh, representing 74.4%
of total battery shipments and a phenomenal
year-on-year increase in EV battery shipments of 90.2%. But the increase of shipments in the
same period to the energy storage sector (ESS)
was even more marked - 113.3%. Accounting for 11.8% of total battery shipments, ESS is way
behind the EV sector in terms of demand, but the huge 2021 increase is a clear pointer to
sustained future growth. Meanwhile, consumer electronics (CE) battery shipments totalled
65.5 GWh, representing 13.8% of total shipments, a year-on-year increase of 6.3%.
Impact of Ukraine Conflict will be Limited Russia and Ukraine have vast untapped lithium
reserves, and Russia is currently a big exporter of nickel, palladium, aluminium, platinum,
steel and copper. The situation in Ukraine and the resultant sanctions on Russia, therefore, will inevitably lead to shortages in the supply
of some industrial raw materials. The li-ion
battery market will be impacted to some APAC region extent, but we do not think the gobbled up 75.1% effects will be massive. In of all battery shipments terms of lithium, the in 2021, and will almost key point is that maintain its share going up to most reserves 2026, when it will hit 74.3%. But in Russia and Ukraine are as yet untapped. The war has we expect the li-ion battery market delayed plans to extract it, in the Americas to enjoy the highest but it has not taken much growth rate over the next 5 years, existing production offline. when it will see a CAGR of 29.5%. EMEA will follow, with a 27.9% Looking Out to 2026 CAGR, and only then APAC We estimate that global demand at 27.6% for li-ion batteries will rise to over 1.6 TWh by 2026, representing a 5-year
CAGR of 27.9%. The share of shipments to
Maya Xiao Senior Analyst, Interact Analysis, UK
34
EV manufacturers will remain stable, standing To know more, please subscribe to Polymers Communiqué at
subscriptions@polymerscommunique.com
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Cobot Market
Set for Annual Growth Rates of 20 - 30% The pandemic hasn’t exactly gone away. So there’s uncertainty. 2022 has seen new waves across the
globe. People don’t know if it will come back again. So cobots are being used as a form of future-
proofing. Maya Xiao discusses how the collaborative robot market is performing.
Q. What impact has the pandemic had on demand for cobots? It’s had a positive impact...if we can talk about ‘positives’ coming from the virus. It’s true 2020 was the first ever year of negative growth for the cobot market, but 2021 saw a sharp recovery. And our forecasts for the mediumterm are better than we had previously predicted. We now calculate the average ROI on a cobot is just 2 - 3 years, down from 5 years.
There are several reasons for this recovery. The first is that the pandemic
has encouraged more companies to try automation as a solution to virus-related disruption. And now, as we come out of COVID, we have
on-going labour shortages. Even emerging economies such as China and Mexico are feeling the pinch of rising labour costs.
The growing number of real-world examples has played its part too. When one company invests in cobots, and the solution is seen to work, competitors follow suit. Many pioneering companies have already deployed cobots, and now there’s a ripple effect.
And finally, the pandemic hasn’t exactly gone away. So there’s uncertainty. 2022 has seen new waves across the globe. People don’t
know if it will come back again. So cobots are being used as a form of future-proofing. In this respect, COVID is not just a short-term driver. It’s a medium and even long-term one as well.
Q. So what’s the long-term outlook for the cobot market?
Up to 2025 and 2026, the outlook for cobots remains strong. Our final numbers are about to be released and it’s clearly looking like a larger market in the medium-term than we had previously forecast. One interesting thing to be aware of, and what sets them apart from industrial
robots, is that cobots have broken out of manufacturing and into the wider service sector. For this reason, the cobot market will start to be more closely related to the performance of the wider macro economy.
Q. What’s the single most interesting thing you’ve learned about cobots in your research? Maya Xiao Senior Analyst, Interact Analysis, UK
38
It’s hard to pick one thing, but one interesting element is to do with the To know more, please subscribe to
Polymers Communiqué at subscriptions@polymerscommunique.com
POLYMERS Communiqué
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April - May 2022
BIG MOVE
India
A Compelling Place for Business
Dharm Vahalia Managing Director, South Asia, Ascend Performance Materials India Pvt. Ltd., Chennai
40
We are committed to reducing our environmental footprint and have a goal of reducing our greenhouse gas emission by 80% by 2030. Furthermore, we see sustainability as being more than environmental responsibility. Our strategy has three pillars, which are empowering people, innovating solutions and operating without compromise.
POLYMERS Communiqué
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April - May 2022
Q. Ascend comes with a huge product portfolio; please share if all of those would be available to the Indian market? We are focused on serving our customers in India by bringing products that promote growth in a socially and environmentally responsible manner.
Given the growth in electrification and e-mobility, our Starflam flame-retardant engineered materials and our Vydyne PA66 will be among the first products
we will produce in Chennai. FPL (our recent acquisition in India) was
already producing Starflam products, and we expect to bring more of that
“Our investment
hypothesis in India is
predicated on a steady
expansion of the market at nearly 2 - 3x global
portfolio to the market. We will also introduce our HiDura (speciality
demand growth in
We also intend to expand our market offerings in performance chemicals
end-use applications. We
polyamides) products to target a variety of highly engineered applications.
and sustainable specialities (nitriles, amines, esters, acids and some niche
relevant chemistries and
specialities) that cater to a variety of industrial, pharmaceutical, agricultural
also anticipate that rising
Finally, we will augment our efforts to promote Acteev anti-microbial solutions
lead to demand creation in
and personal care applications.
that, I believe, will solve myriad hygiene and contamination-related issues in
discretionary income will
the medical and speciality textile segments.
value-added, more durable
Q. Please share with the readers as regards the production plans at the recently acquired FPL facility.
applications. Finally, India’s
We will continue to serve FPL’s customer base with the same reliable service they have counted on for decades. We will also find new opportunities in the region
and expand capacity (production, warehousing) and capabilities (product and
and highly engineered large domestic market supported by its
application development) as needed to meet the demands.
unmatched demographic
Q. In the first phase of your setup, what market segments do you wish to address?
terms of its young and
Our Starflam flame-retardant portfolio has been a big part of the production at
the site. The product range has a variety of markets it serves, including mobility, appliances, electrical, infrastructure and electronics.
Very soon we will start making Vydyne PA66 compounds onsite that will cater
to a broad array of applications in automotive, industrial and consumer segments. To know more, please subscribe to
Polymers Communiqué at subscriptions@polymerscommunique.com
POLYMERS Communiqué
l
April - May 2022
dividend particularly in
energetic talent will make
India a compelling place to do business for many years to come,” believes Dharm Vahalia, in dialogue with
POLYMERS Communiqué.
41
KNOCK-KNOCK
India
a New Market Now It must be said that marketing is a complex subject. But approach to markets in the
‘New India’ will require differentiators and out-of-the-box solutions, keeping the six strategic directions in mind. The next five years are likely to be the best India has ever seen; but one will have to grab this opportunity with insightful approaches.
T
he consumption-led growth of the Indian economy contains many silent drivers of change within its fold. They have gone unnoticed so far. Today’s India is vastly different; today’s customers too are more demanding, more
selective and more value conscious. Producers no longer drive the market. It is in
fact markets (customers) drive the creation of capacities. Dynamics of this new consumerism have started to playout. Will Indian producers benefit or will this
Shailesh Sheth Corporate Strategy Advisor, Management & Manufacturing Technology, Ahmedabad
44
demand be satiated by imports? Just see what lack of batteries are doing to the
market of electric vehicles or semi-conductors are doing to automobiles or, for that
matter, high precision components are doing to capital goods. Thus, it is no longer going to be ‘more of the same’ market. Offering wider choice to the consumer is
the key. If you don’t do it, your competitor will do and your growth will languish. So, looking at the Indian market with a traditional prism may be a recipe for failure. Let us examine some of these ‘hidden drivers’.
POLYMERS Communiqué
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April - May 2022
and old age. Today’s younger generation wants
to live (enjoy) life here and now. Not tomorrow
and day after. They see their future, in a new India,
very positively and, thus, are not driven by fear
Saturated Urban Markets
and insecurity. They want to enjoy what life has to
Urban India has been the of
spendthrift
the
family.
fellow They
already possess all key
products
and
consume
all important services. They
have
no
offer. This is the main reason behind mushrooming of super markets and malls, even in smaller towns and overgrown villages. This will demand wide product choices and off-the-shelf delivery. Are
your scales and logistics efficient enough? If not, the youngistan will go elsewhere.
appetite for more.
To know more, please subscribe to
status, brand or one-
subscriptions@polymerscommunique.com
But they do yearn for
Polymers Communiqué at
upmanship. Thus, the
demand has shifted to
lifestyle products. are
It is the rural markets that being
empowered
now.
Direct benefit transfer, Jan Dhan bank
accounts,
MGNREGA
scheme,
massive
drive to build roads and other infrastructure has put in the hands of the rural population much
before.
more
Daimler
disposable selling
cash
one
than
hundred
ever
luxury
high-end Benz cars in a single day in Aurangabad is not a stray incident. Such stories are playing out across India, more to Class B and C cities,
district centres and mandi villages. “This is ‘real’
India,” said Gopal Krishna Gokhale to Mahatma Gandhi upon his arrival from South Africa. In
pure economic terms, these words proved to be prophetic. So rural is the way to go.
Spend, Rather than Save The next-gen have not seen the weak economic conditions,
shortages
and
demand
curtailing
taxation. These forced people to save, rather than spend. Future for them was uncertain and saving for the rainy day was the survival motto. But
those fears and apprehensions have given way
to optimism and security for post-retirement life
POLYMERS Communiqué
l
April - May 2022
Today’s younger generation wants to live (enjoy) life here and now. Not tomorrow and day after. They see their future, in a new India, very positively and, thus, are not driven by fear and insecurity. This is the main reason behind mushrooming of super markets and malls, even in smaller towns and overgrown villages. This will demand wide product choices and off-the-shelf delivery. Are your scales and logistics efficient enough?
45
THE CHEM BOND
Thriving Chemical Sector A Vital Link for Atmanirbhar Bharat
There are so many norms that the government is bringing in to make sure that the Indian industries follow world standards and are ready to play at the global scale.
Proactive steps by the industries / clusters in ensuring these are followed not only on
paper, but in spirit will make the industry more trustworthy, the environment greener, stakeholders more collaborative and, finally, the sector more growing.
T
he recently released Annual Report 2021-22 by the Ministry of Chemicals
and Petrochemicals outlines the Vision 2024 of the Ministry to establish the
Indian chemicals and petrochemicals sector as a leading hub that will contribute significantly to India’s growth story by reducing import dependency, attracting investment in manufacturing quality products and using cutting-edge technology in specified clusters with the focus on sustainability in the manufacturing sector. Chintan R. Joshi Kaushalya Reputation and Brand Consultancy, Mumbai
48
The vision is very well articulated and attempts to underline the thriving chemical sector as a vital link towards making Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-reliant India).
The chemical sector is the main contributor to the growth of industrial and agriculture
sectors in any economy. In addition to this, it is the basic industry in which other
POLYMERS Communiqué
l
April - May 2022
downstream adhesives,
segments
healthcare,
like
textiles,
medical
Indian businesses have an immediate opportunity to upscale themselves from sustainability and a larger ESG perspective that will open up the flow of sustainable business growth as the world looks for an alternative or addition to China.
paper,
devices,
polymers, automotive and construction can
grow and contribute effectively to the overall success of any economy.
The current pandemic challenges have made
it absolutely clear that India needs to develop more indigenous capabilities to protect, support and grow the chemicals and speciality chemical
chemical sector must adapt it sooner to make
build a sustainable and growing ecosystem of
product standards perspective. Another step the
sector in India. Only then will India be able to interdependent industry clusters that will help ‘Make in India’ for captive consumption and the
world. In the vision document of the Ministry, there are few key attributes that if dwelled
deeper would lead us to opportunities where the industries can look for growth and investments. And these attributes are backed by committed
efforts of the Government of India from all aspects. These steps have opened up a
Benchmarking
lot of opportunities for domestic as well as
will help us
international players to profitably invest in
understand if we
the sector.
have domestic capacities
available for key raw materials,
opportunity to
of materials that can be sourced domestically.
available for key raw materials, steps to enhance their competitiveness and the opportunity to
reduce the import of materials that can be sourced
domestically. And finally, this step will ensure that we have only the priority chemical products
imported from various countries and take policy steps towards creating domestic capacities and
sector, the speciality chemicals sector, which is
and investment in any of these sectors, will
a
policy frameworks, have opened up the sector
for more investments and will take India towards self-reliance.
knowledge-based
opportunity
to
not
sector, only
has
reduce
immense import
dependency for the chemical sector, but the
larger manufacturing sector as well. While the government has announced setting up PCPIRs
and recently announced dedicated plastic parks and medical devices parks that will help increase
domestic capacities as well as capabilities, the
government will also have to be collaborative,
With the Vision 2024 document of the
agile and constructive in its approach such that
industry prepare itself for the opportunities as
time. The government has announced setting up
progressive and sustainable development.
the upgradation of the domestic plastic processing
Government, some attributes will help the
these announcements are materialised in a finite
well as support the industry in moving towards
of 9 such plastic parks across India that will ensure
Reduction in Import Dependency India largely is a net importer of key raw materials
ecosystem with all the required facilities available within these dedicated parks.
for downstream industries and the same is valid
Quality Products
years, the government has taken an important
standardising and improving the policy frameworks
for the chemical sector. During the last couple of
As
step to move the industry towards standardisation
comprehensively, the industry needs to focus
and have begun implementing globally accepted
standard codes. While there may be teething problems in getting all the organised as well as
unorganised players in the sector on board to maintain the standards in paper and spirits, the
50
us understand if we have domestic capacities
Within the larger chemical and petrochemicals
sector. All these steps, coupled with enabling
reduce the import
domestic capabilities. This benchmarking will help
sector, with an outlay of INR 1.97 lakh crores;
over the next five years period for the chemical
and the
this will help India as a country to benchmark its
invite investments in those segments.
investment to the tune of INR 18,000 crores
competitiveness
get the import data component for each element;
schemes for 14 sectors, including the chemical
The PLI scheme was launched in 2021 for
enhance their
government has taken consciously since 2019 is to
The Government of India has announced PLI
need a stable and strong chemical sector.
steps to
the industry competitive from a world-class
the
government
is
working
towards
on improving the quality of the products it is To know more, please subscribe to Polymers Communiqué at
subscriptions@polymerscommunique.com
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MAKING MARCOM
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1
99
7
Pankaj Poddar CEO, Cosmo Films Ltd.
It’s a journey that few can emulate; a Trainee at E&Y 25 years ago, Pankaj today spearheads Cosmo Films and is today one of the Captains of the industry.
Change being the only constant, we thought it
would be wonderful to capture this and freeze
‘time’. We associate with the ‘current look’ of
our industry colleagues and would it not be
exciting to know of their persona, decades
ago. That’s what we did, had them dig deep into their archives and share this just for your ‘read’... or should we say ‘see’!
1
A visual delight!
98
4
Mukesh Mishra COO-India & Vice President, IPG Asia Pvt. Ltd.
Hopefully a journey full of smiles for Mukesh! The retro picture was when he was in his 7th grade and today, with his 7-star performance, he leads IPG Asia. Kudos!
54
POLYMERS Communiqué
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April - May 2022
1
97
6
Anil Kumar Mehta
1
Advisor, PLUSS Advanced Technologies Pvt. Ltd.
99
A true retro; the 1976 picture is just before the start of Anil’s professional career and the current one is post his retirement. The astuteness remains evident then and now!
1
Sanjay Sharma Director Operations, Megaplast India Pvt. Ltd.
1
Birgunj, Nepal then to Daman, India today is what this photo story captures. Steel then, and plastics today, is the enriching experience that Sanjay possesses.
2 8 9
Pankaj C. Shah CEO, Shri Gurujyot Plastics
40 years ago, Pankaj was with Monal Plastics and thereafter set up his own company, Shri Gurujyot Plastics for plastic moulded components. A lot for Pankaj beyond business; be it, IPI, Rotary and so much more. POLYMERS Communiqué
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April - May 2022
55
CHARGED UP
EV Battery Film Separators A Big Boom Ahead
As the EV market continues to grow, the expectations from the industry are set to boom. EV producers are
increasingly exploring the large capacity li-ion battery to ensure longer mileage of vehicles.
W
ith the electric vehicle (EV) segment growing exponentially the world over, especially in the developed countries, the demand for
lithium-ion batteries is at an all-time high. However, this demand
also brings to the fore several important issues, such as performance,
Dr. Babu Padmanabhan Managing Director & Chief Knowledge Officer STEER Engineering Pvt. Ltd. Bengaluru
56
reliability, safety and durability of batteries, as the expectations from the consumer market as well as the awareness levels increase. Under such
circumstances, manufacturing practices of lithium-ion batteries is critical, as
the components and other materials have to be of high quality. One such crucial component of the lithium-ion battery is the battery separator film,
which is responsible for the battery’s safety and reliability. Let us review this.
POLYMERS Communiqué
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April - May 2022
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The battery separator market has been growing between 16% to 17% CAGR with EVs and mobile phones expected to drive the demand up to 2026. From US$ 5.3 billion in 2020, the market is expected to expand to US$ 12.4 in 2026.
faulty batteries. At present, most of the battery separators are produced using polyolefins.
These separator films are produced using a
twin-screw extrusion process to achieve the highest
required
level
of
wetting
homogeneous
without
mixing
degrading
to
with get
the highest level of performance. But, producing polyolefin films is not an easy task as it involves a complex process. Consequently, battery films are produced through a proven and reliable
process involving twin-screw extrusion. Yet again,
producing polyolefin (battery) films through twin-
screw extrusion is challenging because degradation
Understanding the Separator Film The battery separator film is used between
results in black specs, which need to be eliminated to maintain the film quality.
electrodes - anode and cathode - and it is a key
Technology Behind the Separator Film
of the separator film is to separate these two
polyolefin
component of every li-ion battery. The function
There are two standard methods of producing
electrodes from each other to prevent internal
involves
short circuits to avoid fire or explosion, a major
cause for worry, as being witnessed in many parts of the world. EV manufacturers have been forced to recall their vehicles from the market due to
POLYMERS Communiqué
l
April - May 2022
(battery)
extrusion,
films.
high
The
dry
stretching,
process
cooling,
To know more, please subscribe to Polymers Communiqué at
subscriptions@polymerscommunique.com
59
THUMBS UP
Big Growth Spurt Anticipated
in Agro and Liquid Packaging
Q. How do you see the penetration of mulch film usage? I
see
significant
potential
here...the
current
penetration in the market is less than 10%; primary reason being the lack of awareness. It
will slowly increase with more and more farmers
using it, and benefitting from it...this word will soon
spread
its benefits.
amongst
the
fraternity
about
PAN India, the awareness is on the rise and I see a lot of growth potential in the coming years.
We can see mulch film usage as essential to the
growth of quality products, maximised production and satisfaction for the farmers. It will help the overall growth of the Indian market as well.
Q. What are the trends in the adoption of biodegradable mulch films in India today? How do you see the next 3 years?
also easily removable without tearing after the crop is completed. I do see the famers investing in quality products in coming times.
Q. With a lot of reforms in the agro industry in India, how do you see the market trends for mulch films, crop covers and similar products? I
have
been
working
very
closely
in
the
agriculture sector and I see a significant growth potential in this sector. Some products that I have
been manufacturing are drip systems, greenhouse films, blow tunnels, and films used for creating
artificial lakes or water bodies. There are other accessories used in agriculture also made in
PVC, PET and HDPE as well, and used for storage and transport.
I do not see any challenges that would slow down or retard the growth in this sector as there is
In the current market scenario, biodegradable
excellent support from the state and the central
been some enquiries; however, they have not
sector in terms of subsidies, policy reforms and
early to talk about biodegradable mulch films.
The agro produce is a perennial requirement
mulch films have not been in use. There have
government that is beneficial to the agriculture
translated into continuous business. I feel it is too
knowledge sharing.
We continue to focus on producing premium
across the society and there is a demand which,
our mulch is sustainable till the crop demands and
business related to this sector shall keep growing
quality mulch films with a guaranteed life; hence,
I think, shall only keep growing; hence, my too. With reference to today’s market scenario,
people are connecting more and more with
ve in investing We truly belie d technology in the high-en eet the tomation to m and support au t. We are d in the marke an m de ng si increa e equipment y the cost of th not deterred b ts of this e of the benefi ar aw e ar e w as investment.
60
agriculture. Agriculture is not just an occupation; it has become a business. If farmers want to earn healthy money, they need to use modern
techniques and it’s not possible without the use of
mulch films, crop covers and other necessary items. To know more, please subscribe to Polymers Communiqué at
subscriptions@polymerscommunique.com
POLYMERS Communiqué
l
April - May 2022
“The agro produce is a perennial
requirement across the society and there is a demand which, I think, shall only keep growing. With
reference to today’s market scenario, people are connecting more and
more with agriculture. Agriculture is not just an occupation; it has become a business,” believes
Bharatkumar V. Siroya, in dialogue with POLYMERS Communiqué.
Bharatkumar V. Siroya Director, Parth Poly Woven Pvt. Ltd., Junagadh
POLYMERS Communiqué
l
April - May 2022
61
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THE BIG NICHE
“In my personal opinion,
there is going to be a huge
demand for this segment and the growth is going
to be phenomenal. The future is bright for this
niche, yet ever-expanding sector called engineering
polymers. There is a reason for this...the big driver
being that the engineering polymer parts come with much longer life and
much lower maintenance; this significantly impacts
the project commercials,” suggest Harish Rai, in
dialogue with POLYMERS
Communiqué.
Harish Rai Managing Director, R.E PolyTechnologies Pvt. Ltd., Vadodara
Performing With
Performance Polymers Q. Share with us in a snapshot about your business today... We are majorly, or may say totally, into engineering polymers (and sometimes commodity), but catering to engineering applications. Our singular focus is on
material replacement of metals with polymers. This, I believe, is our forte and we consciously focus on a meaningful replacement, adding technical and commercial
value to our clients. With a satisfying journey this far, the company started business with a mere Rs. 1,400 as capital investment making hand moulded toys in the year 1987, and in the last FY, we clocked a turnover of Rs. 150 million.
Q. What is the growth that you envisage in performance polymers and its applications in the engineering sector over a horizon of next three years? According to me, most MNCs having their bases in India are hesitant in working
64
POLYMERS Communiqué
l
April - May 2022
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with local companies to innovate on the subject of
metal
parts
/
spares
replacement
with
performance polymers. Some Indian companies are willing.
In my personal opinion, there is going to be a huge demand for this segment and the growth is going to be phenomenal. The future is bright
for this niche, yet ever-expanding sector called engineering polymers. There is a reason for
this...the big driver being that the engineering polymer parts come with much longer life and much
lower
maintenance;
this
impacts the project commercials.
The current market trends in use of polymers for engineering applications clearly shows a growth of 25% YoY; to add, post pandemic, there is a steep growth at the rate of 40 - 45% YoY that we as a company have witnessed.
significantly
The current market trends in use of polymers for engineering applications clearly shows a growth
in engineering polymers has also registered
Q. Apart from the application categories that you have earlier mentioned, which other categories do you think are the future growth sectors?
market is slightly retarded due to the issue I
electronics
of 25% YoY; to add, post pandemic, there is a
steep growth at the rate of 40 - 45% YoY that we
as a company have witnessed. The global growth some strong numbers; the growth in the Indian
I see a huge opportunity in the electrical /
mentioned earlier; but the future is great.
conductive segments are yet untapped. We have
Q. Which are the top 4 applications that contribute significantly to your business? The four major applications in their order of contribution are cryogenics, paint industry, bath accessories and in the security sector wherein we
the
conductive
and
non-
done a few projects wherein we have researched
and provided the prototype which has been approved and cleared, but the production is awaited as the demand is yet to be created in the market.
parts. To sum it up, I have these segments and my
limited customer base have immense confidence
Q. For your various engineering applications or newer applications, which types of materials have you used?
in us and give us new business each year; we do
a lot of new product development along with
Compounded materials used are called speciality
our customers.
polymers; they are based on end application of components.
supply engineering polymer fabricated spares /
Q. In your opinion, what is the prime reason for the MNCs’ hesitation in giving business for the engineering polymers applications in India?
Bioplastics are not used in speciality polymers;
Traditionally,
Q. Changes over the next 2 - 3 years in the field of material science that you foresee shall strongly influence the engineering polymers / applications?
the
MNCs
have
always
been
apprehensive about the quality aspect. I feel it’s more to do with the mind-set, and slowly that
is changing with time. I have been supplying
some material to MNCs as they faced challenges that could not be resolved and I provided them
with solutions that were both, suitable and cost-effective, and of the required quality.
Another issue that we face here is the availability
of the raw material required for certain niche applications; these are only available overseas.
66
sector;
however, it is widely used in commodity plastics where
the
application
polymers is good.
acceptance
of
these
The material science sector is going to radically change the application scope; materials that are
specifically made based on the applications is To know more, please subscribe to Polymers Communiqué at
subscriptions@polymerscommunique.com
POLYMERS Communiqué
l
April - May 2022
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ECON
A Knowledgeable and Reliable Partner A good quality underwater pelletiser is an important part of the
whole plant as the shape, size and consistent quality of the end
product is solely dependent on the pelletiser. Importantly, it also helps to increase the output of the production.
Q. What was the single most reason for you to take the plunge into a business based on bioplastics / biopolymers? I believe we have borrowed our planet from our next
generations and we have obligations to hand over to them this Mother Earth in a better shape than we have
Indian market, but also to the surrounding countries.
Q. What are the challenges faced whilst forming the company and the most crucial milestone this far?
received it - sustainable materials is one of the solutions
More than challenges, I would like to call them learning.
play a key role in this segment.
realisation of time scale whilst working in a complex
which we can offer and, hence, I believe biopolymers After spending a decade and a half outside India, I
believe it is time to pay back Mother India what we owe to this lovely country. A lot of developments
We had several interesting learnings, especially on environment like ours. Ease of business is still a
distant dream; however, it has opportunities for young entrepreneurs.
have happened across the world and if we can
The most difficult phase was when we actually
opportunities will be endless. I sincerely believe that
March, 2020 and by the end of that March, COVID-19
adapt
some
of
them
for
the
Indian
markets,
if you are passionate about something and really believe in it - which I do - in sustainable materials -
then success is guaranteed. We found a reliable and supportive partner in FKuR - who is a market leader in this segment. This journey of SKYi and FKuR started
way back in December, 2010 and here we are in 2022 with a dedicated biopolymer plant set up as a joint
70
venture between SKYi and FkuR to cater not only to the
decided to set up the manufacturing plant - it was restrictions struck India, so all our planning went for a toss. Be it banks, machine suppliers, vendors etc.,
everyone was in a panic mode and in the same boat. However, I must appreciate our partners - machine
manufacturers - who had a lot of patience and supported us to realise our dream. Our very young
and relatively less experienced team worked day and
POLYMERS Communiqué
l
April - May 2022
In the coming years, different geographies will grow in different business segments; e.g., India is pretty focused currently on offering alternate solutions to conventional banned single-use plastics so compostable biopolymers will see growth. In other countries, it is a mix of compostable and non-biodegradable / recyclable polymers as well. These may open up different well-established applications; e.g., toys.
Dr. Sachin Jain Managing Director, SKYi FKuR Biopolymers Pvt. Ltd., Pune
night during the month of June - till August, 2020 - when COVID restrictions
were strict, especially in Maharashtra
and that too in Pune. This was a very important milestone in our biopolymer business history.
It was a record that within a span of two
and a half months, our team, definitely with the support of machine suppliers,
set up the whole plant. What started with a lot of hesitation in the first week of June, 2020, got completed and we had our first successful production trials on 18 August, 2020 - ECON and other th
suppliers’ engineers stayed with us for a couple of weeks without complaining
about the external environment. I think
this is the spirit of India and we are proud of it.
Q. As a material, what is the biggest hurdle facing biopolymers for its large-scale adoption?
POLYMERS Communiqué
l
April - May 2022
How can the industry address or circumvent this impediment? I think it is a question of time and
biopolymers will overcome the hurdles it
is facing. Any change is difficult to accept and adopt. Some changes evolve over time, some are forced and some have no choice but to accept. Biopolymers
have
different
challenges;
however,
when I look back some 20 odd years ago, biopolymers have come a long way. It has started to find commercial applications,
a lot of innovations have happened on the material side, application / product side
and
are
unforeseen areas.
fast
penetrating
the
currently are in the very infant stage in
Yes, there are still challenges and
it has not reached its maturity yet.
solutions,
India, and also in developed economies, Fortunately, I have been a part of the
early history of biopolymers - both, durable and compostable - and both
certain hesitation in adopting these especially
when
people
compare conventional plastics, which have existed for a century now, with
biopolymers which are only a couple
71
of decades old. Obviously, biopolymers
solutions in India and are in line with
chances of getting it right the first time.
an established material. Secondly, due
Bharat’ mission; secondly, we want to
in India, their business network has
have to compete with plastics - such to the very nature of biopolymers, they are different in terms of processing; be it in blown film or thermoforming or any other manufacturing process. Even the processes and machines need to be optimised for biopolymers so that we
come to the same level of productivity as that of conventional plastics. I
believe in certain areas this is already happening. This is part of evolution. Embracing
new
solutions
such
as
biopolymers by the plastics fraternity
will certainly help it to grow faster and it
is an extension of the existing solutions. For a new entrant, the learning curve is
longer. I have started seeing this change happening across the country. This is part of adopting a change.
Another important role is that of regulations.
I
believe
the
scientific
community in India, including CIPET
the Government of India’s ‘Atmanirbhar
be closer to our business partners our customers - whom we can better serve when we are present in the same geography.
Now that we have set up a plant, we
have started adding more product lines
that can be manufactured at the India plant and are gearing up for future
growth. We would like to be competitive and yet offer the best quality. Quality is
our prime focus and we would like to offer the best to our customers.
Looking at various challenges which will come due to the ban on singleuse plastics, we are offering several
solutions to customers by supporting them with technical expertise not only on materials, but also on processing so that they are well prepared for the upcoming times.
and
Likewise, we are also adopting our
problem and providing technical and
regulations of different countries and
and
CPCB,
did
an
excellent
commendable job in identifying the
product
portfolio
to
comply
with
environmentally-friendly solutions. If the
that’s why many MNCs like to work
spirit and regulatory framework, this
Europe (Willich, Germany) and Asia
to benefit. This is part of forced change
advantages
implementation is enforced in the right
with us as we have manufacturing in
will speed up the change for everyone
(Pune, India). Both plants have different
and, I believe, it is inevitable.
features; e.g., produce similar quality of
Q. Biopolymer, as a material, is here to stay and with the plethora of products that you have in your portfolio, you have all your bases covered; what next?
and
yet
few
common
products and proximity to customers.
Q. What role has ECON played this far to be your business enabler? ECON has played a significant role in our journey. If I remember correctly, we
With
multiple
machine
installations
become vast; with their reference,
the possibility of a connect becomes very high.
We bought state-of-the-art ‘underwater
pelletiser’ along with the online screen changer from ECON India. A good quality
underwater
pelletiser
is
an
important part of the whole plant as the shape, size and consistent quality
of the end product is solely dependent on the pelletiser. Importantly, it also
helps to increase the output of the production. The online screen changer
ensures that the line runs uninterrupted during changing of the screen and
the melt flow is passed through the second screen without disturbing the
operation. This helps to run the machine continuously and ensures consistent quality products for our customers. This
is indeed very critical as our customers’ production lines run continuously and
we need to assure them the material supplied by us will run smoothly without any breakdowns.
In ECON, we have found a reliable
partner who is helping us through our journey.
Q. What is your analysis of the market leadership position attained by ECON in its business segment? Not a very difficult question to answer!
I think business is done by people,
obviously quality of product is the
Yes, FKuR has one of the broadest
have been discussing about setting up
biopolymer
we
was patient with us until we actually
One of the major reasons for ECON’s
have products which are suitable for
period, ECON shared a lot of their
management
thermoforming, injection moulding etc.
a real partner. This is the key to long-
product portfolios amongst all the
a plant in India since 2018 and ECON
are proud to bring them to India. We
released the PO in 2020. During this
flexible
learnings and also business insights like
manufacturers
packaging,
rigid
and
packaging,
By setting up a manufacturing plant
term success.
basic criteria.
success is the accessibility of Indian to
their
customers.
ECON India team is fantastic and very
supportive
business growth.
in
every
step
of
in India, we clearly wanted to make
ECON brought the experience of its
Second
about business to provide sustainable
which gave us confidence and high
response to help support customers. We
a
72
statement
that
we
are
serious
Austrian facility and people to India
important
reason,
I
would
say, is that they are very fast in their
POLYMERS Communiqué
l
April - May 2022
had some hiccups post installation of the
machines,
and
ECON,
without
hesitation, sent us the replacement tool which was very expensive; they made sure that our production did not
stop and eventually they sorted out the challenge we were facing. Service to customers is key to success.
and technology at affordable prices
in India. Adoption to Indian market demand keeping in mind the price
expectation is another success factor which is making ECON the market leader and far ahead of its next competitor.
Q. How do you see the market trends from here on within your business verticals over a period of 3 years? Which is the segment / sub-segment that you feel shall contribute significantly to your business growth? In general, the biopolymer market is growing. New applications are opening
up and that is propelling business growth. It is an exciting time and yet
also of caution that it should not go in the direction of conventional plastics and ruin its reputation. the
coming
geographies
will
years,
grow
in
different
different
business segments; e.g., India is pretty focused currently on offering alternate solutions
to
conventional
banned
single-use plastics - so compostable biopolymers will see growth. Obviously,
it will depend on acceptance by the plastics industry and how seriously
the government would like to enforce the regulations.
In other countries, it is a mix of compostable and non-biodegradable / recyclable polymers as well. These may open
up
different
applications; e.g., toys.
well-established
Q. How do you see the evolution of your global partnership? Do we see a big foray into manufacturing
POLYMERS Communiqué
l
in the coming years? Global
partnerships
important.
First,
differences
are
the
between
very
culture
two
countries bring in a lot of synergy -
obviously till you understand and
integrate cultures, it is very difficult.
However, once you understand, working
Third reason, of course, is the quality
In
Biopolymers currently are in the very infant stage in India, and also in developed economies, it has not reached its maturity yet. When I look back some 20 odd years ago, biopolymers have come a long way.
April - May 2022
can be smoother.
our recent failures is that you should
For customers who are present across
focus on your strength, rather than
beneficial
sought-after.
expected market is doing. There is
proximity to customers and sometimes
focus and build on what we offer
communication language makes the
share that every competitor would be
the globe, such partnership is very
chasing what your competition or
Cultural understanding of business and
always room for everyone and if we
simple
best, I think we can get the market
and
also
things
difference
in
such
as
building
common
customer
-
supplier partnerships. This also helps
us to bring our combined strengths
to the market by offering solutions that
are
both
commercially
technically attractive.
and
Importantly, as I mentioned earlier,
envious of. We
need
to
be
alert
about
developments around us and in the market; however, only focusing on what
others are doing is bound to fail us in the long term.
every geography has different needs,
Q. What does competition mean to you?
internally than your own partner so that
Just like customers, competitors are
market relevant products.
important to have competition in the
and
who
best
can
convince
you
future growth is secured by offering
In the past couple of years, we had several challenges; however, I foresee that
with
opportunities
upcoming and
business
regulations
your best teachers. It is always very market as it helps to grow the market.
No customer would like to work with a product which is offered only by one supplier.
and
Competition for us is not only from
manufacturing and we will surely like to
products, but also from the solutions
being more
implemented,
investments
will
more
come
into
be ahead to serve our customers.
Q. A failure that you have experienced, that has taught you the most. No one likes to fail, me neither. However,
it is a part of our life and of the business
as well. It is bound to happen - whoever gets up first and starts again by quickly learning from what went wrong -
will succeed. Sometimes, learning is
small and can be ignored; at times, it is hard and expensive.
One of the things which I learnt from
our peers who are in the similar providers who offer alternatives to even
compostable polymers such as paper, pulp based products etc.
I believe there are more and more
business opportunities and there are
a lot of innovations needed and also
happening all across - which may bring competition. If we are alert, we will innovate some and at the same time also adopt some.
Competition will help us grow the
business and together we can help better serve the cause of a sustainable and green environment.
73
MOVING ON
“Conveying systems are an
essential part of automation
and production. Each conveying system is developed to fit a
specific application. Considering
all the factors and benefits, from an entrepreneur’s point of view, investing in conveying systems is a very important concept to survive in today’s highly
competitive market,” suggests Rajiv Trivedi, in dialogue with POLYMERS Communiqué.
Rajiv Trivedi Freelancer, Trivedi Associates, Ahmedabad
74
POLYMERS Communiqué
l
April - May 2022
Conveying Systems No Longer a Luxury
Q. What according to you is the role of conveying systems?
Q. Any additional highlights of a conveying system that you would like to share?
Conveying systems are at the very heart of
The alarm system of the hopper notifies the
revolutionised manufacturing by well developing
consistent level, thereby increasing productivity.
manufacturing and industrialisation. They have
the assembly lines. Without conveying systems, many of the raw material and plastic processes that we take for granted today would not have been possible.
hoppers was considered luxury in the initial ’90s. The machinery sourced from Europe had hopper loaders with a capacity of 50 - 100 kg/hour. changing
advancements higher
the-hour. use
output
of
This
and
times
machine
demands
is
conveying
resins in processing.
and
are
reflected of
technological
by
plastics
population,
the
need-of-
the
rising
granules
/
The current scenario of highly emerging one-
stop purchase malls and e-commerce portals
has decreased the dependency on skilled / unskilled labour. Today, with a single operator working on 2 - 3 machines together, conveying is
a huge saviour. In normal machines, the hopper’s height results in wastage and spillage of the raw
material. Unlike this, conveying has vacuum and
pressure which helps granules to be routed without wastage, regardless of the height of the machine.
POLYMERS Communiqué
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April - May 2022
making well-timed use of raw materials. Conveying lines have a centralised system with a coupling
station which eases process flexibility to convey assures an important attribute of maintaining clean
Raw material conveying between machines and
with
The conveying system works on the FIFO method,
material with the help of piping as well. This
Q. Usage of conveying systems for raw material handling. Your thoughts please.
But
level of the material and helps in maintaining a
room conditions.
With these benefits, conveying continues to gain
popularity in transporting materials to machines, to
the store, covering the distance to godowns as well. Furthermore, the centralised systems are available
with SCADA for supervisory control and monitoring even remotely. Being automated, this approach of
‘no manual touch’, is well accepted by the medical and pharmaceutical sector.
Q. Do you see the importance of conveying systems for finished goods as well? Conveying of finished goods is equally important, wherein the end products are transferred to the nearby machines in collection bins, directly to storage areas or to the next assembly section. In
the
process,
conveyor
belts
of
suitable
To know more, please subscribe to Polymers Communiqué at
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75
We Stretch to Meet
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DIFFERENT CONNECT
A
ttractive packaging is usually the
first line of strategic marketing in order to maximise sales for
organisations. However, in addition to
focusing on the look of the product, organisations today also want to assure
consumers of the authenticity and
quality of their products. Brands strive to
adopt various innovative mechanisms to make their products more secure. One of the major avenues to achieve this is with the use of holographic solutions and labels.
What are xxxxxxxxxx Holographic Solutions and Labels? Holography is essentially a technique that allows the material to have an iridescent
effect
giving
Yogesh Kapur Executive Vice President, Holography Business, UFlex Ltd., Noida
stunning
rainbow-like images to the viewer. These images are completely customisable and can store a plethora of information
like the manufacturing date, batch number or any other information that the supplier may choose to store - all
in a single holographic image, instead of multiple labels. Moreover, they are
visually appealing and can be made highly secured with attractive colour combinations
and
patterns,
them impossible to replicate.
making
Holographic labelling solutions help
to protect products from the threats of counterfeiting and ensure that the
product outshines on the retail shelves and reaches the end consumer in its most pristine state.
How does Holography Secure Product Packaging? Due
to
advances
in
holographic
technology, holographic solutions offer
myriad features that not just facelift the
overall look of the packed product, but also alarm about the unwanted acts the pack may have suffered at any stage
of handling. Holographic packaging
78
POLYMERS Communiqué
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The demand for holographic product
Market Trends
packaging and labels is expected to witness growth momentum in the
in Holography can make a product come to life in
the fiercely competitive world and can
protect the brands from fakes or lookalike products.
developed and developing nations. It is
encouraging to see a rise in purchasing power of consumers that will prompt affordability of holographic solutions
by brands that will help them earmark the legitimacy of products for the end consumers, and fight the fakes.
Intelligent Labels
can be assured, which is helpful to
Holographic labels and solutions not only enhance the overall look and feel of the product, but also open a world of
Enhance the Visual Appeal
possibilities and added functionalities.
Today, brands are aggressively relying
Subsequently, these intelligent labels
products stand out on the retail shelves
information as required by the brands
The holographic solutions used by
chain
are made by integrating a wide variety
that could provide information useful
which can be attractively patterned,
such as information about product
the product packaging requirements.
and so on. It acts as direct
on holographic solutions to make their
and solutions can store customisable
and catch the consumers’ attention.
and consumers. They boost supply
packaging manufacturers and brands
a linked digital bank of information
of eye-catching colour combinations,
to any stakeholder of the product,
differently shaped and sized to suit
development, packaging journey
Holographic
communication
solutions
can
make
a
product look unique, exclusive and visually aesthetic, allowing brands to
be easily identifiable and different from the others. The superior and creative
finishing adds an element of premium quality giving a sense of pride in owning the product.
Holographic solutions are economically
priced and can be incorporated into the product packaging without significant addition of costs, given the quantum of benefits they provide.
POLYMERS Communiqué
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April - May 2022
performance
monitored
with
prevent unfair business practices and fraudulent returns.
Enabling Authenticity Holographic solutions are high-quality, water-resistant
and
heat-resistant
solutions that ensure no deterioration during the course of transit. Holographic To know more, please subscribe to Polymers Communiqué at
subscriptions@polymerscommunique.com
A recent technology that uses augmented the consumer and reality to project the ultra-realistic the brand. hologram from within the product Today, beyond packaging ensures seamless interaction aesthetics, the scope between brands and consumers. The inbuilt of holographic tool is activated using a smartphone and solutions in packaging the hologram can be viewed through the is growing manifolds. mobile phone camera. This technology Due to its traceability is serving as a self-help handy kiosk that helps trace for intelligent and data-curious reverse logistics for the consumers. e-commerce sector, the legitimacy
of
between
transactions
79
e-Bulletin For An Impregnable
BondWith
The Global Markets
DIZZY ROTATION
Forward Looking Rotomoulding Technology
for Defence Applications Rotomoulding has vast opportunities. It’s only an individual’s imagination for
applications to move ahead with development. Defence provides huge business potential not only in India, but from India to the world.
R
otomoulding, a legendary technology, has had a strong base in developing the plastics industry for many innovative and successful products. The most popular being water storage tanks. This technology was first adopted
to make hollow products, especially PVC toys. The properties of being hollow, seamless and stress-free are the unique proposition of this technology.
Rotomoulding has seamlessly transited to other materials and products. The primary
material being used today is LLDPE and has also been the highest contributor this far. New materials have been developed for rotomoulding and we now see their contribution increasing with many new, innovative products in various fields.
With water storage tanks business being stable, business owners and new entrants have now started looking forward to newer avenues such as materials and technologies which have good potential, advanced properties as well as efficient and advanced manufacturing.
Some of the few industries and sectors wherein the rotomoulding industry is
looking forward to include infrastructure, telecom, waste management, logistics,
marine, automotive, defence and many more, where many other technologies are not able to serve or economics are not justified. We will talk about an important sector which has high potential, and has also been an important sector for any country, for safety reasons - the defence sector.
For the Armed Forces The defence sector of any country has multi-facial activities, over and above safeguarding the country. Their services are always requested during natural Prashant Trivedi Head Operations, BU: Engineering Plastics, Loxim Industries Ltd., Ahmedabad
POLYMERS Communiqué
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April - May 2022
calamities, disaster management and during the country’s internal disturbance. They need to be ready 24/7 for any such situation and are also required to be
well equipped. Defence also needs products which can be helpful to them in adverse
environmental
conditions,
even
at
remote
places.
Rotomoulding
technologies have been offering many such products which can be of great help
and assistance to the defence in order to face and handle situations as well as
83
conditions. Due to statutory requirements, it
restricts us to showcase the product details; though we will be discussing here the product needs and those developments for the required usages.
Defence also
needs products which can be
helpful to them in adverse
environmental
conditions, even
at remote places. Rotomoulding technologies have been
offering many
such products which can be of great help
and assistance
to the defence
in order to face and handle
situations as well as conditions.
There are two types of rotomoulded defence
boxes - one for storage of equipment and
ammunition which needs to be carried along and
The first area we shall look for products which
thus needs to be light and strong. The other one is
is securing the borders in cold regions that are
(carrying ammunition and other contents) also
can help our defence, especially the army who
used for dropping at site or air lifted. These boxes
covered by snow throughout the year and
need to be light and designed much stronger so
are rough and tough to survive.
All-terrain Vehicle Body Parts
temperatures nearing -35° C. The conditions
Insulated Shelters
as to withstand the impact.
The all-terrain vehicle needs to be light as well
They are in the shape of an igloo and have
as feasible to operate in an adverse surrounding
insulated shelter keeping the habitat safe.
and also should have the ability to be camouflaged.
similar
applications;
their
double-layer
The material is LLDPE and can be moulded with a single shot, large enough to take care
of 6 - 10 people to stay inside comfortably. The insulation thickness is enough to take
care of the outside temperature. This can be made in a camouflaged design as well. There is also an underground shelter designed where needed.
Safety Guards at Posts / Stations There are shelters designed such that they can be placed to safeguard the posts / stations.
Designed
with
reinforcements,
these shelters ensure safety of guards in case of insurgency.
Insulated Water Tanks Availability of drinking water is challenging
in such adverse conditions. Thus, insulated water tanks which can keep water in a
environment. The body parts need to be replaceable
Surveillance Drone Body In today’s scenario, drones are playing a very important part in surveillance as well as for transporting
light
shipments,
especially
for
medical support, and during disaster management or while providing medical assistance to the
remotest part where no other mode of transport is available. The fundamental need here is to
make the drone body as light as possible so that its lifting capacity can be increased.
Medical Stretchers These have been very useful during war scenarios, natural calamities or any internal disturbances. They are fast to manufacture and can be delivered in a very short time.
Specifically for the Navy
Speed Boats and Rescue Boats
liquid state for a sufficient period of time is the
Rotomoulding plays a crucial role in making
is again built with LLDPE along with a thick
meet the functional requirements. These can be
need of the hour. This double walled structure
single moulded boats which can be designed to
insulating material.
used by the navy to transport its teams to the
Insulated Fuel Storage
in danger. The lifesaving boats, which are not speed
These are double walled with different outer and inner materials so as to restrict the oozing out of the
fuel through the tank as well as ensuring that it does not freeze.
Waterless Toilet Blocks These toilets are an essential part of the defence
camp as they have a self-decomposing mechanism
and do not discharge water thereby safeguarding the environment.
Listed here are some other products that play a crucial role in the defence sector.
84
Defence Boxes
required sites and also be useful to save incumbents boats though, have been used extensively during floods by the navy for saving citizens in distress.
Defence Barges and Floats These are seamlessly designed floats which can be
self-assembled
capabilities.
for
required
load-bearing
Naval Buoys To know more, please subscribe to Polymers Communiqué at
subscriptions@polymerscommunique.com
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B u s in es sToon s
More than just ordinary, BusinessToons take content to another level in POLYMERS Communiqué. Reading this, some may laugh, some may smile, some may read it and just put the magazine on the
side. In either case, it has achieved its intent to help you unwind and reset your mind...make it fresh, as green as it can get; essential isn’t it...as possibilities with polymers are endless...circular nevertheless!
88
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89
MEDICAL MAGIC
Capitalising on
High-Growth Medical Opportunities Source: Husky Technologies
Today it’s important that companies deliver integrated systems as a total system solution which has singlesource responsibility and is specifically configured
for an application as these solutions not only offer maximum part performance, but also precision
and repeatability in high-cavitation manufacturing processes, bringing validated medical parts to the market at unimaginable speeds and volumes.
M
edical
injection
moulding
continues to enjoy strong growth as worldwide demand
increases for medical devices, according to industry observers. New business opportunities are emerging globally as
the industry expects the medical device sector to see compounded annual growth of greater than 10%.
The rising prevalence of chronic disease and the ageing population are the key market drivers. In addition, emerging economies with higher GDPs are seeing increasing expenditures for healthcare.
Another major influence has been the COVID-19 pandemic, which has spurred
the explosive growth of laboratory consumables for testing, vaccinations and other diagnostics. Among the growing
90
business
opportunities
are
POLYMERS Communiqué
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April - May 2022
Today, it’s important that companies deliver integrated systems as a total system solution which has single-source responsibility and is specifically configured for an application.
pipette tips and blood collection tubes, utilising integrated
manufacturing
approaches
which
assure the highest levels of certainty, scalability and fastest time-to-market.
Identifying the High-Growth Opportunities Processors and end users are poised to capitalise on potential growth applications. Selecting the
right application means balancing the risk and opportunity. Making a risk / rewards evaluation is important in selecting business opportunities that
present a reasonable risk and complexity level, combined with high volume for fast payback. Amidst the pandemic, the production of pipette
tips, blood collection tubes and pre-filled syringes have emerged as high-growth tracts that are ripe for expanded penetration.
Pipette tips - which dispense medical fluids and liquids - are a high-volume application which are predicted to see a 9.7% compounded annual growth
rate
opportunities
(CAGR) are
through
fuelled
2025.
by
Growth
COVID-19,
nationalisation and demand for quality parts. Pipette tip design has several critical quality
criteria including dimensional tolerances, part
filling (especially below 0.5 mm wall thickness), concentricity (run-off or run-out), inside and outside flash and insert split lines positioning.
Another promising application is blood collection tubes which have seen dramatic growth due to To know more, please subscribe to Polymers Communiqué at
subscriptions@polymerscommunique.com
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91
SIVARAM SPEAKS
Lithium-ion Battery Fires
How Can Polymers Help? One of the key components of the battery is the
Cylindrical
polymer separators.
Polymers are critical to
safer lithium-ion batteries. Aromatic polyimides are emerging as promising
separator materials. The ultimate solution is to
18650 Round
flammable electrolytes.
Cathode Anode Separator Cell Case
develop intrinsically nonPoly (ionic liquids),
low molecular weight
Prismatic
polyfluoropolyethers and
perfluorinated polyethylene oxide have shown promise as intrinsically safe
electrolytes for LIB.
Figure 1: Lithium-ion battery formats.
E
lectric scooters catching fire have captured headlines several times in newspapers and television in recent months. Between March and April
2022, as many as six events have been reported; some even leading to
loss of life. This has led to heightened anxiety in the minds of consumers on
the inherent safety of e-vehicles (EV). For the nascent Indian market, where electric mobility is just taking roots, apprehensions in the minds of consumers regarding the safety of EV is not desirable. These are not the first instances of
reports of fire with EVs. There have been recurring instances of fire associated with mobile phones,
laptops, automobiles, aircraft, marine vessels and
grid energy storage systems since 2003. China reports as many as 30 fire instances per year of EVs. The US Federal Aviation Agency has reported as
many as 250 fire incidents involving lithium-ion batteries (LIB) in air cargo Dr. S. Sivaram Former Director, CSIR-NCL, Honorary Professor Emeritus and INSA Emeritus Scientist, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune
94
or baggage since 2006. More than 20,000 occurrences of fire in consumer products have been reported in the US between 2012 and 2017. Although
statistically rare, LIB fires are a source of concern because they are ubiquitous in modern societies and also because they pose fire hazards which are unique in their character.
Why are LIB inherently hazardous? How can we make them more rugged
and fire-proof? Is there a role for polymers to enhance the operating safety of LIB? We will address some of these issues in the flowing paragraphs.
POLYMERS Communiqué
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April - May 2022
What Causes the Fire?
and anode and a liquid electrolyte
which is typically a 50:50% weight
Since the introduction of LIBs by Sony
mixture of dimethyl carbonate and
Inc., in 1991, the energy density of a
ethylene carbonate. One of the most
battery has seen relentless increase. The
current
state-of-the-art
catastrophic failures of an LIB system is
lithium
the cascading thermal runaway event
ion cells can reach a specific energy of
which proceeds in three stages (Refer
250 Wh per kg. This, coupled with
Figure 3 and 4) [1,2]. During stage 1,
the need of the consumers to rapidly
overheating occurs due to faulty battery
charge the batteries, has resulted in
charging (being charged beyond the
design changes that has sometime
designed voltage), exposure to high
compromised the safety of the battery.
temperatures, external short circuits
Thus, safety is an essential prerequisite for
large
scale
application
of
due
LIB,
to
faulty
wiring
and
internal
short circuiting due to defects in the
especially in large format applications.
individual cells. One of the frequent
Several issues need to be resolved before
causes for internal shorting is due to
the widespread deployment of such
cell crush occurring during vehicle
batteries in high energy applications.
collisions. Other defects in the cell
The basic configuration of an LIB is
may arise due to the needle shaped
as illustrated in Figure 1. The battery
lithium dendrite formation under high
pack of a car such as the Tesla Model S
current density which results in the
is shown in Figure 2. The battery
contact of the anode and the cathode
essentially consists of a solid cathode
are very volatile and are inflammable. At room temperature and atmospheric pressure, their flash points are about 25° C.
In
high
presence
and
of
oxygen,
flammable
organic compounds, all confined in a sealed container, is nothing short of
an explosive device and results in an explosion and fire.
involved in thermal runaway reactions,
the onset of stage 2. At stage 2, due to
overheating, many chemical changes
occur internally. Lithium salts used as
the electrolyte decompose leading to flammable gases and oxygen. During this stage, the pressure and temperature
inside the battery increases and oxygen
the initiation and propagation processes
many approaches are being explored to enhance battery safety through rational
design of battery components. Herein, we will restrict the discussion to areas where polymers can play a critical role in
enhancing
battery
safety
minimising the incidence of fire.
and
Polymers...A Game Changer One of the key components of the battery
Decomposition heat
the
temperature
insulating barrier between the anode
battery begins to overheat leading to
is
the
polymer
separators.
Polymers are critical to safer lithium-
Combustion heat
ion batteries. I had earlier discussed this subject in an issue of POLYMERS Heat generation
Heat dissipation
Safe Operation: Heat balance
Quick heat generation Internal causes
External causes
stage 3. The organic liquid carbonates
Based on significant understanding of
and the cathode. During stage 1, the
Figure 2: 85 kWh battery pack of Tesla Model S consisting of 7,104 cylindrical 18650 cells mounted on a cooling pad.
accumulates. Combustion begins in
leading to short circuit and defective
polymer separators which provide an
Joule heat
To prevent damage due to mechanical crushing, shear thickening polymeric additives have been recommended for the electrolyte solution. Reducing flammability of electrolyte liquids by flame retardant additives, commonly used in the polymer industry, is another option.
Communiqué, December 2016 - January 2017. For higher energy density large battery
formats,
polyolefin
based
flammable
and
the
suitability
separators
of
is
increasingly being questioned. Nonhigh
temperature
resistant polymers have been explored
for this application. Such polymers are amorphous (hence do not shrink), Electrical Mechanical Thermal abuse abuse abuse
Defects Self-heating ignition
Unsafe Conditions: Fast temperature increase rate Thermal Runaway
Figure 3: Abuse conditions that can lead to LIB thermal runaway. (Source: B. Diaz, et al, J. of the Elecrochem, Soc., 2020, 167, 090559)
96
stable to temperatures beyond 200° C and
possess
adequate
mechanical
To know more, please subscribe to Polymers Communiqué at
subscriptions@polymerscommunique.com
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ADVERTORIAL
Sponsored by
Aerodry Process Automation Integral to Our Recycling Business
“If we must implement the recently announced EPR,
then we would need around 1,500 recycling plants of
medium-scale capacity. Currently, there are less than 50; hence, there is a big opportunity for the industry to come forward and invest in this area,” opines Jeevaraj Pillai, in dialogue with POLYMERS Communiqué.
Q. UFlex continues to invest in its recycling business. Please share with the readers the latest updates. We have recently commissioned an MLP recycling
plant of 1,000 kg/hr and a PET bottle recycling plant of 2,000 kg/hr at our Mexico site. We have also
commissioned an MLP recycling plant of 1,000 kg/hr at our Poland location. We have increased the capacity of the MLP recycling plant at our Noida location. We
also intend to equip all our global manufacturing
Jeevaraj Pillai Joint President, UFlex Packaging Division, UFlex Ltd., Noida
100
locations with a recycling facility.
We are currently recycling around 20,000 MT of
PCR and PIR MLP per annum and intend to reach a
level of 1,00,000 MT per annum by 2024-25.
Q. With increased awareness across the industry on sustainability and circular
POLYMERS Communiqué
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April - May 2022
economy, what kind of business opportunity do you think this sector offers? The recycling plant is a self-sustaining business with an ROI of 8 - 10%, very similar to that of the packaging industry.
India consumes something like 1,25,000 MT of flexible packaging material, mostly in the
Aerodry process automation the recently announced EPR, then is helping us produce we would need around 1,500 high-quality recycled PET chips. recycling plants of mediumIt is designed to reduce the PPM scale capacity. Currently, there PET flakes crystalliser and levels of the external contaminants are less than 50; hence, there dehumidifying drying systems. is a big opportunity for the like organic compounds in the r-PET industry to come forward and granulates. This improves the invest in this area. of the r-PET chips. line productivity of the filmThis helps in using manufacturing line which Q. Role of packaging to a larger proportion produces the change the future of the of r-PET granules in r-PET film. industry and the environment. film production. form of MLP. If we must implement
Your views.
EPR has laid an emphasis on recycling. Structures that have a better recyclability index would
Q. How does automation from Aerodry impact your recycling business?
be encouraged by the industry to have better
compliance with the EPR norms. Mono-polymer
Aerodry
structures would be preferred by them in the future.
produce high-quality recycled PET chips. It is designed to reduce the PPM levels of the external
Q. PCR MLP recycling continues to be a challenge. What solutions / approaches are available? We, at UFlex, have been recycling PCR MLP for a
process
automation
is
helping
us
contaminants like organic compounds in the r-PET granulates. This improves the line productivity of the film-manufacturing line which produces the r-PET film.
long time. The technology is available. There is a
Q. Who is your role model that you look up to and why?
to suit the needs of the Indian PCR waste.
Way back in 1993-94 when UFlex was putting
need to customise the washing and recycling line
Q. In your crucial process of converting flakes to chips, what is the role of the solution deployed from Aerodry? Aerodry process automation enhances the quality
up a massive infrastructure for manufacturing the flexible packaging material, the concept of circularity did not exist. That’s the time when our
Group Chairman, Shri Ashok Chaturvedi envisioned the need for recycling the MLP waste. Since then,
we have been recycling the MLP waste to make all
our packaging plants zero-discharge. We received the ‘Best Paper’ award from Davos Recycling
At UFlex, we intend to equip all our global
manufacturing locations with a recycling facility. We are currently recycling around 20,000 MT of
PCR and PIR MLP per annum and intend to reach a level of 1,00,000 MT per annum by 2024-25.
Association way back in 1995 and were awarded
with the ‘Best Technology’ award by the then Finance Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh.
Today in the times of circular economy, the vision of Mr. Chaturvedi has come to the fore and is helping the industry meet the challenges of recycling.
He is my role model, and we look up to him for all types of sustainable developments.
POLYMERS Communiqué
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101
ARCHIVES
“As regards
business, India’s piping
category is expected to grow at
14% CAGR between 2017 to 2024;
we think 15 - 20% volume growth
would be possible this year,” shares a confident Kairav Engineer, in dialogue with POLYMERS Communiqué.
Kairav Engineer Vice President Business Development, Astral Poly Technik Ltd., Ahmedabad
Create Wealth
by Making Something New and Better Some articles don’t have a shelf-life. For the ‘Archives’ section, we pick a select few for your ready-read. The article published is reproduced on an as-is basis.
102
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Q. You have been a part of the CPVC business in very early days. How do you see the evolution of this industry?
applications of CPVC still further?
The industry has evolved to a great
advanced CPVC piping for automatic
extent. In a vast country like India, it
was
a
huge
task
to
replace
galvanised iron (GI) pipes completely
with CPVC for hot and cold water. Yet
riginal pipes. This duplication of piping
We are continuously improving the compound to make it more versatile. Astral Fire Pro is one such example. This
fire sprinkler systems has now got wide market acceptance. Not only that,
CPVC Pro, our plumbing piping system
leads to many adversities.
Q. The impact of education is immense in your business. How do you see this need as regards consumer education and education of plumbers?
for hot and cold water, is also going
Astral trains over 80,000 plumbers every
The CPVC prowess has also enabled us
knowledge about new products, new
industrial piping system for transporting
so that they can be more efficient and
improvements.
year across the country. We impart
to manufacture Astral Chem-Pro - the
techniques and new plumbing methods
various chemicals.
effective. Astral has developed specific
manufacture good quality CPVC and
Q. Any areas of its development that concern you?
keep on updating the same.
Today, the range of fittings and pipes
There
can suit any market requirement. Not
manufacturing
selling plumbing piping system.
a direct impact on the health and
Q. Any developments underway to enhance chemical resistivity of CPVC to broaden the horizon of
quality piping can lead to un-wanted
today, there are pockets where GI pipes are still found in use. Earlier, there
were many players producing CPVC,
but the quality standards were not maintained. Today, over a period of
time, those players have emerged who offer the same at competitive prices.
through
continuous
are
local
concerns players
in
who
terms
of
being manufactured is very wide and
many
only that, CPVC today is the highest
quality. Plumbing and drainage have
products
of
are
video content for this purpose and we
still
sub-par
hygiene of the residents and the sub-par troubles. There are many local players who engage in counterfeiting of o
Q. What kind of growth do you expect in your CPVC pipes business in FY20? How sustainable is this growth? India’s piping category is expected to To know more, please subscribe to Polymers Communiqué at
subscriptions@polymerscommunique.com
Your Partner for High-Performance Plastics The Ensinger Group is engaged in the development, manufacture and sale of compounds, semi-finished materials, composites, technical parts and profiles made of engineering and high-performance plastics. To process the thermoplastic polymers, Ensinger uses a wide range of production techniques, such as extrusion, machining, injection moulding, casting, sintering and pressing. Ensinger India Engineering Plastics Pvt Ltd. · 2205, 22nd Floor, SOLUS Building Hiranandani Estate · Thane West – 400607, India · sales.in@ensingerplastics.com 2021_High-performace-plastic-180x110-print.indd 1
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April - May 2022
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April - May 2022
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POLYMERS Communiqué
form of shells or skeletons. Commercial grades
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62
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Ec
ol
107
kg CO2 eq. 3500 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0
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PP
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locally from sources being widely available around the world.
Low Abrasion and Metal Wear Omyaspace is far less abrasive than TiO2 and any other
oxide pigment, and will allow longer life of extruders, slitting machines and all metal tooling involved in the manufacturing of plastic articles.
Reducing the Carbon Footprint of Plastic Products Omyaspace is a natural calcium carbonate and has
a significantly lower carbon footprint compared to polymers and most pigments. Use of Omyaspace, thus, reduces the ecological footprint in the colour masterbatch and also that of the end product.
Calcium Carbonates, Adjacent Minerals & Speciality Chemicals Paper & Board
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Nilesh Bendale Senior Segment Manager - Polymers Mobile: +91 90045 35504 eMail: nilesh.bendale@omya.com
108
Ashish Bhatt Head of Technical Service - Polymers, RAP Mobile: +91 91670 3268 eMail: ashish.bhatt@omya.com
POLYMERS Communiqué
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POLYTHINKING
Sustainability through Recycling of Materials and Waste as Feedstock
Part I: Chemical Recycling of Waste Plastic
There is tremendous scope for further upgrades in the
management of waste plastics, especially through chemical
recycling. Chemical recycling is an excellent idea and its time
has come. Catalytic processes to
recycle or upcycle plastics will also be hotly pursued.
S
ustainability is just now a buzzword, but must be a practice to be
adopted by all stakeholders. The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) has covered 17 of them, but my personal opinion is
that many of these might have been derived from the grand engineering
challenges mentioned in the US National Academy of Engineering’s 1999 report. We are all concerned about sustainability, health, vulnerability
and joy of living. The material needs of society will require 3 Earths if recyclability is not adopted in the so-called circular economy. I am going
to
cover
some
issues
related
to
material
recycling
sustainability in the next few issues of POLYMERS Communiqué.
and
Facts and Figures of Waste Generation The world generates 2.01 billion tonnes of municipal solid waste (MSW) annually, in which it is predicted that one-third is not managed in an environmentally safe manner. Currently, waste generated per person per 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
110
day averages 0.74 kgs, but ranges widely anywhere from 0.11 to 4.54 kgs depending on the income level and place of residence (Refer Figure 1).
Even though they only account for 16 per cent of the world’s population,
high-income countries generate about 34% or 683 million tonnes of the total waste.
Approximately 1.6 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent greenhouse gas emissions was generated from solid waste treatment and disposal
POLYMERS Communiqué
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April - May 2022
800 700 600 Millions of tonnes per year
714
661 516
500 400
396 342 289
369
300 200
177 129
100 0
290 231
269
255
174
Middle East South-Saharan Latin North America and North Africa America and Africa Caribbean 2016
2030
602 490 440 392
466 334
South Asia
Europe and Central Asia
468
East Asia and Pacific
2050
Figure 1: Solid waste generation.
(Source: World Bank)
lying all over, including plastics, tires, food, animal manure, woody biomass, construction debris and
2 2
the like. Generation of heterogeneous and toxic MSW, heaps and heaps of it presenting an ugly
12
site, is the real cause of concern. Among these solid
wastes, plastic has received the maximum attention due to the widespread littering, production scale
44
and visible environmental damage. Plastic was
17
supposed to be a cheap and better alternative to
paper which was responsible for denudation of forests. However, the benefactor became a curse
14 4
Food and green Other
over a period of time. Plastics are usually used for packaging because of their lightweight, low
5
cost, processability, high performance and easy
Glass
Paper and cardboard
Rubber and leather
availability. Polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene
Metal
Wood
(PP) are some of the most commonly used
Plastic
plastics in multilayer film packaging, among other applications. The single-use plastics (SUP) polythene
Figure 2: Global waste composition.
(Source: World Bank)
in 2016, or 5 per cent of global emissions (Refer
Figure 2). Disposing of waste in open dumps and landfills without landfill gas collection systems is
very common. Food waste accounts for nearly
50% of emissions. Solid waste-related emissions are anticipated to increase to 2.38 billion tonnes of CO2-equivalent
per
year
by
2050
improvements are made in the sector.
if
no
Plastics in Perspective The moot question is, “Can we live without plastics?” The answer is resoundingly ‘no’, but what
about the pollution? We must convert the waste into wealth by using technology (Refer Figure 3).
There are enormous quantities of solid wastes
POLYMERS Communiqué
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April - May 2022
bags
available
freely
are
mainly
responsible for their being discarded after use.
High durability of plastics leads to huge quantities of waste accumulation in landfills and oceans because most synthetic polymers are designed for
longevity
and
performance,
rather
than
recyclability and degradability. The single-use plastics are used for sterile packaging, storage, transportation which
and
contribute
disposable to
medical
parts
global
waste.
worldwide
resulting
Approximately 380 million tonnes of plastics is
produced
annually
in huge contributions to global waste and To know more, please subscribe to Polymers Communiqué at
subscriptions@polymerscommunique.com
111
INSIDE OUT
Supply
Unbounded Supply chain will have to
do the delicate balancing act, to juggle success,
sustainability and efficiency
to meet disruptions, growth targets, supplier networks, customer needs and the ever-changing future.
I
t amazes me how the infrastructure fell in place for a virtual life during the pandemic, with adaptation to zoom and virtual working and shopping seamlessly. AI and
robots enabled a stream of COVID-19 vaccines to be produced in record time. Similarly, some foods can now be generated in a laboratory rather than grown or reared in fields. I believe the world was
reinventing itself way before the pandemic and it came full circle during the pandemic.
The world order has altered Ruby Thapar A Reputation and Sustainability Consultant and an Executive Coach, Mumbai
POLYMERS Communiqué
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April - May 2022
and that is nothing new. The
difference this time, though, is an
According to the Oxford Economics Survey, 2021 of worldwide supply chain decision makers across industries: 88% have either created a clear mission statement around sustainability or they’re in the process of writing one; but, only 52% have put those words into action.
unprecedented pace of change in
an increasingly flat world. The call to re-
fashion the ways of conducting business and
redefining markets is now an exercise in real time.
117
MAKING MARCOM
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This chip monopoly and shortage is threatening to derail many industries. Governments and companies are stepping in to find longterm solutions, given that chips are a way of life now. The Widening Base of Supply Chain The Metal Story In the last few months, the prices of metals including steel, nickel, aluminium and others have been on a sharp rise. These metals are critical for infrastructure
development
from
construction
of roads to airports. Russia - Ukraine contribute
15 - 20% of global export of steel products. The
conflict between the two countries is having a huge impact on global steel demand and
POLYMERS Communiqué
l
April - May 2022
trade, coupled with China’s decreasing steel
production due to COVID and raw material
challenges like iron ore as well as power shortage. The two situations have led to a hike in steel price and supply chain restrictions, leaving the
infrastructure sector and developers vulnerable.
What kind of innovation and diversification will this lead to? Wait and watch! More
the
economic
activities
are
being
globalised, more is the ask for harmonisation of complex processes in production and supply. This complexity could be because of factors such as differences in cultures, economic systems, government
regulations,
international
rules
and agreements. Additionally, pandemics, trade wars, real wars, climate wars, water wars and more continue to contribute to this complexity.
The environment of business decisions has been To know more, please subscribe to Polymers Communiqué at
subscriptions@polymerscommunique.com
119
Weekend Delights Friday night to Monday morning, a time to unwind, rejuvenate and be geared to face another grueling week. Each one of us use this ‘my time’ is different ways. And why not, weekend is a time for expressing ourselves. We all have known the personalities featured here as astute business stalwarts; as life is more than just business, we at POLYMERS Communiqué, have started this section called ‘WEEKEND DELIGHTS’. Live life...
Chandrakant B. Patel Jt. Managing Director
Mamata Machinery Pvt. Ltd.
For me, unwinding is always worship of God and meditation. That always gives me strength and time to think without any distractions. Therefore, it has always been my favourite activity. I am blessed to receive full support from my family for these activities. So it becomes a family event by default. Having support from family and blessings of God, what else would one need to recharge on a weekend!
Balkrishna Bajaj Director
Sonali Group
Weekends, for me, are meant for getting away from the day to day hustle. To take a pause, focus on my own fitness activities which includes cycling, yoga, walking and running, and spending quality time with family and friends. It is also the time to reflect on the overall direction of the company and the strategic interventions it needs in order to be better planned for the upcoming week in general.
120
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April - May 2022
Varun Bajaj
Executive Director Luk Plastcon Ltd.
Weekend is the time to get refreshed. I generally start my weekend by watching a movie in a theatre. All weekends, I like to indulge in different activities. I like going off-roading in my Mahindra Thar. There are a lot of jungles (national parks) around Nagpur and I visit these parks on some weekends. A South Indian breakfast, spending time with family and friends coming over, are other elements of my weekend.
Tuhit Katariya Director
Skills Engine Projects
Travelling, boating and exploring new places with family and friends rejuvenates me. To me, family and friends are the most important part of spending time over the weekend. A gettogether of friends and families provides a lot of insights and energy to step forward; be it, personal or professional life. So, to sum up, the weekend is used to power up energies to work during the coming week.
Umang Shah
Business Development Manager - Healthcare Polymer Solutions, Medical & Pharma Segment
PolyOne Polymers India Pvt. Ltd.
Weekends are for relaxing and spending time with my family. Each weekend is different for me depending on my mood. I prefer different leisure activities like walking, watching movies, exploring new restaurants, visiting beaches and enjoying the food varieties. I also like to explore electronic gadgets and sometimes do a little photography. Occasionally, I also attend some interesting webinars on the weekends to learn new things. It’s also enjoyable to have a nice cup of tea with some old Bollywood melodies.
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April - May 2022
121
XXXXXXX DELIGHT EASTERN
East India Polymers Industry
Poised for a 12% CAGR
“Industry 4.0 standards, new polymer manufacturing technologies, polymer recycling and the upcoming
government initiatives will be the focus areas that you
would witness at Indplas’22. I must emphasise that you
need to be here to feel the magic,” urges Pradip Nayyar, in dialogue with POLYMERS Communiqué.
Q. The pandemic has posed some serious challenges to business operations? How can the industry manage to mitigate the prevailing challenges in your views? The polymer industry has taken a giant stride forward inspite of the pandemic. Common perception of plastics
has now changed. PPE kit, disposable masks, syringes for vaccination etc. have all helped humanity in these
testing times. Consumer behaviour too has changed in general. We now need to accelerate and make up
for the lost opportunity and cater to the wants of the consumers.
Pradip Nayyar Chairman, Indplas’22 - Exhibition Organising Committee, Kolkata
Q. Please share with us some salient points on how the eastern India market is unique when compared to the rest of India. Any specific opportunities you wish to share? To know more, please subscribe to POLYMERS Communiqué at
subscriptions@polymerscommunique.com
122
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PIN POINT
Fight Pollution
Not Plastics The environmental costs in terms of material, water and energy use, plastic products are
invariably found to perform better. This begs us to question the rationale of making a switch from plastics to alternatives.
R
epresentatives countries session
Environment
from
assembled
of
The
Assembly
193 for
United
member
the
fifth
Nations
(UNEA-5)
at
Nairobi during February and March’22. One of the agenda was a plan to
fight plastic pollution. This had an ambitious target of a legally binding
agreement like the Paris Agreement on climate change. On 2nd, March’22,
a resolution was passed to forge a
legally binding agreement by 2024
to end plastic pollution. While the
objective of reducing plastic pollution
S. K. Ray Hon. Secretary & Member of Executive Committee, Indian Centre for Plastics in the Environment (ICPE), Mumbai
124
is laudable, its strategy remains fragile.
Most multilateral initiatives are complex
and
their
consultation
process
POLYMERS Communiqué
l
time-
April - May 2022
consuming. This initiative is no different and
suffers from many infirmities and contradictory action plans, making it vulnerable to failure. One
of them is an attempt to curb production of plastics at its sources. This simplistic approach to reduce
flow of plastic products at its source or ‘closing the
tap’ is both, impractical and counterproductive. Let us examine.
Growth in Demand Gave Rise to... Plastic products are used for their utility value. Demand
for
all
products
(including
plastic
products) and services are governed by consumer
demand. From the early fifties, when most of the commodity plastics were commercialised, to date,
the size of global consumer base has increased by over three folds and the average affluence of
Ironically, the ‘Meta Life Cycle Analysis’ carried out by UNEP acknowledges that plastic carry bags, termed as SUP, has the lowest environmental impact compared to the alternatives like paper, cloth, or the so-called biodegradable plastic bags. It is the single-use and littering that are the problems and not plastics as a material, the report concludes.
people around the world has increased many
folds. This has pushed the demand for all
products and services, consequently demand for
more affordable, their limited availability
metal, to its current level. Being a new class of
segment of the population.
all resources and materials like paper, glass and material with versatile property profile, the growth
would
disproportionately
impact
this
of reducing use of
in demand was fastest for plastics. It is important
The Analysis Brings Forth...
in demand that eventually has an impact on all
carried out by UNEP acknowledges that
to take cognisance of this basic feature of growth
Ironically, the ‘Meta Life Cycle Analysis’
pollution, including plastic pollution, when these
plastic carry bags, termed as SUP, has the
are discarded into nature. Poor civic sense, coupled with mindless littering and inadequate waste
management infrastructure in various countries,
particularly the low-income countries, aggravates the problem.
The narrative on ‘single-use plastics’ (SUPs) has introduced another complexity and ambiguity
in addressing the issue of plastic pollution. Any product used once and then discarded is the precise and accepted definition of SUP. This simple
expression of SUP gets complicated when social context is factored in. Large number of plastic products that are typically ‘single-use plastic
alternative
the single-use and littering that are the
problems and not plastics as a material, the
needs are important from the societal equity perspective. Plastic products being comparatively
POLYMERS Communiqué
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April - May 2022
of the use of
material
report concludes. This clearly brings out the
considered. The
unleashing a bigger problem by aggravating
factor is often
paradox. With this initiative, we might be global
warming
and
contributing
to
climate change. In terms of material, water
affordability
overlooked or
ignored.
and energy footprints, plastic products score better than products made from alternative materials.
be counterproductive to use alternative material
Their numbers are fairly large. Factoring their
the impact on
so-called biodegradable plastic bags. It is
impact
in low-income countries and households. Products
multiple use amongst this segment of consumers.
sectors, rarely is
the environment
environmental
to the alternatives like paper, cloth, or the
Most plastic products used in the food and
like beverage bottles and shopping bags are of
plastics in these
compared
lowest
products’ amongst consumers in high-income countries and affluent households may not be so
In the discourse
packaging sectors are technically SUPs. It would due to their functional deficiencies as compared To know more, please subscribe to POLYMERS Communiqué at
subscriptions@polymerscommunique.com
125
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n Ancillary Equipment
and Recycling
n Colour Pigments & Masterbatches
Bry-Air (Asia) Pvt. Ltd.
Rakesh Chandra Jha, National Sales Manager
419-420 Udyog Vihar Phase 1, Gurgaon-122016, Haryana. T: +91-124-4184444 E: rcjha@pahwa.com W: www.bryair.com
Blend Colours Pvt. Ltd. Sharad Rathi, Director
Plot No.35, IDA Kattedan, Hyderabad-500077, Telangana. T: +91-40-24361499 / 24360887 M: +91-9885118511 E: info@blendcolours.com W: www.blendcolours.com
Nu-Vu Conair Pvt. Ltd.
Pradeep Chudasama, Asst. Manager - Marketing Plot No. 147, 148 & 154, Devraj Industrial Park, Piplaj-Pirana Road, Piplaj, Ahmedabad-382405, Gujarat.
T: +91-79-29708147 M: +91-9712928201 E: marketingindia@conairgroup.com W: www.conairgroup.com/india
Deep Plast Industries Ramesh Patel, Partner
Block No.553, Rakanpur (Santej), Kalol, Gandhinagar, Ahmedabad-382721, Gujarat. T: +91-2764-286032 / 286450 M: +91-9825035472 E: rameshpatel@deepplast.com W: www.deepplast.com
n Blow Moulding Machines Davis-Standard, LLC
Debbie Crowley, Global Marketing Administrator 1 Extrusion Drive, Pawcatuck-06379, CT T: +860-599-1010 E: dcrowley@davis-standard.com W: www.davis-standard.com
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April - May 2022
Sonali Polymers Pvt Ltd
Suresh Bajaj, Managing Director
G1/17, H21, H22, RIICO Industrial Area Bassi, Jaipur - 303301, Rajasthan, India M: +91-9001093913 E: jaipur@sonaligroup.in W: www.sonaligroup.in
127
n Extruders & Extrusion Lines
n Machinery for Foam, Reactive or Reinforced Resins
Davis-Standard, LLC A-One Enterprise
Dilip Prajapati, Proprietor
49, Gajanan Indl. Park, Ambica Mill Compound, Vatva, GIDC, Ahmedabad - 382445, Gujarat T: +91-79-29628850 M: +91-9724308850 E: dilip@bladesandblowers.net W: www.bladesandblowers.net
Davis-Standard, LLC
Debbie Crowley, Global Marketing Administrator 1 Extrusion Drive, Pawcatuck-06379, CT T: +860-599-1010 E: dcrowley@davis-standard.com W: www.davis-standard.com
n Injection Moulding Machines
Debbie Crowley, Global Marketing Administrator 1 Extrusion Drive, Pawcatuck-06379, CT T: +860-599-1010 E: dcrowley@davis-standard.com W: www.davis-standard.com
n Machines & Equipment for Preprocessing and Recycling
Davis-Standard, LLC
Debbie Crowley, Global Marketing Administrator 1 Extrusion Drive, Pawcatuck-06379, CT T: +860-599-1010 E: dcrowley@davis-standard.com W: www.davis-standard.com
n Parts and Components Davis-Standard, LLC
Debbie Crowley, Global Marketing Administrator 1 Extrusion Drive, Pawcatuck-06379, CT
Yizumi Precision Machinery India Pvt. Ltd. Pramil Das, Sales Manager
No.7, Mahagujarat Ind. Est., Moraiya Patiya, Village Moraiya, Ahmedabad-382210, Gujarat. M: +91-7575009363 E: sales.india1@yizumi.com W: www.yizumi.com
n Integrated Automation
T: +860-599-1010 E: dcrowley@davis-standard.com W: www.davis-standard.com
n Raw Materials
APAR Industries Limited
Kamal Sharma , GM- Business Development
No 303, Welworth Regency, S. No. 24/3, Near Shivaji Nagar Bus Stand, Shivaji Nagar, Pune-411005, Maharashtra.
Himanshu Sharma, Head - Marketing & Corporate Communication
T: +91-20-25514720 M: +91-9823311662 E: agency.polymers@apar.com W: www.apar.com
T: +91-20-41478999 M: +91-9979888790 E: himanshu.sharma@br-automation.com W: www.br-automation.com
Masand Associates
B&R Industrial Automation Pvt. Ltd.
8, Tara Heights, Mumbai-Pune Road, Wakdewadi, Pune-411003, Maharashtra, India
Mifa Systems Pvt. Ltd. Abhay Upadhye, Director
703, Akik, S. G. Highway, Opp. Rajpath Club, Bodakdev, Ahmedabad-380015, Gujarat. T: +91-79-26870825 M: +91-9327220008 E: au@mifasystems.com W: www.mifasystems.com
Hassanand N.Masand , Proprietor
Shed B, Khasra No. 2/11, Nr. Bharat Petrol Pump, State Highway No. 26, Gurgaon-Patoudi Road, Jamalpur, Gurgaon - 123503, Haryana, India. M: +91-9373067103 E: masandautomotives@ymail.com
Be a part of the exclusive Golden Pages for as low as Rs. 2500 Call Bhavesh at +91-96640 61103; bhavesh@custage.com to book your slot.
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POLYMERS Communiqué
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April - May 2022
Events IPLAS International Plastics Exhibition 2022
Plastics & Rubber Indonesia 2022
Interplastica
28th Fakuma
10th - 13th June, 2022
16th - 19th November, 2022
24th - 27th January, 2023
17th – 21st October, 2023
Indoplas
Chennai Trade Centre, Nandambakkam, Chennai
IEC Expocentre, 14, Krasnopresnenskaya Naberezhnaya, Moscow, Russia
Messe Friedrichshafen, Germany
Plast Eurasia Istanbul 2022
PLASTINDIA 2023
PLASTIVISION 2023
31st August - 3rd September, 2022
23rd - 26th November, 2022
1st - 5th February, 2023
07th - 11th December, 2023
TAIPEI PLAS 2022 27th September 1st October, 2022
Jakarta International Expo (JI Expo), Kemayoran, Jakarta, Indonesia
Jakarta International Expo, Kemayoran, Indonesia
Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, India
Bombay Exhibition Centre, Mumbai, India
VietnamPlas
HIPLEX International Plastics Expo - 2023
Plastfocus 2024
23rd - 26th November, 2022
04th - 07th August, 2023
1st - 5th February, 2024
Tüyap Fair Convention and Congress Center, Istanbul
Hitex Exhibition Centre, Hyderabad, India
India Expo Centre, Greater Noida, Delhi NCR, India
NPE 2024
Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center Hall 1, Taipei, Taiwan
Saigon Exhibition & Convention Center (SECC), Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
K 2022
Indplas 2022
T-PLAS 2023
25th - 28th November, 2022
20th – 23rd September, 2023
19th - 26th October, 2022
Düsseldorf, Germany
Milan Mela Ground, Kolkata
BITEC - Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre, Bangkok, Thailand
06th – 10th May, 2024
Orange County Convention Center OCCC, Orlando, Florida, United States
*Status as on 15th May, 2022
POLYMERS Communiqué
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April - May 2022
129
BEYOND JUST MACHINES IT’S THE JOY OF BUSINESS
Sustainable Packaging
Customers partner with Mamata beyond just looking for a machine. They trust us to discuss business opportunities, they share their plans with us to know how we could assist them to realise their vision in flexible packaging and they come to us to experience sheer engineering delight.
“The New Normal” Talk to us!
And why? As an organisation, Mamata Group is always in the forefront of sharing knowledge. We see sharing our team experience as a benefit to the industry; and what’s good for the industry is good for us. Our position of leadership is just the end result!
BLOWN FILM PLANTS
CONVERTING MACHINES
PACKAGING MACHINES
Total Solutions for Flexible Packaging Survey No. 423/P, Sarkhej Bavla Highway, Moraiya, Tal: Sanand, Gujarat 382213. +91 2717 630 800 sales@mamata.com www.mamata.com
R
Desiccant Masterbatch Moisture Absorber Compliant with WELSET QC - DA 201 Test
Residual moisture removal. Solves and avoids problems during the process, such as fisheyes, holes and silver streaks. Highly recommended for polyolefin reprocessed polymer.
An ISO 9001:2015 Certified
Welset Plast Extrusions Pvt Ltd Arvind Mehta Group Company
8, New Metalage Industrial Premises, Subhash Marg, Off Caves Road, Jogeshwari (E), Mumbai 400 060 Maharashtra, INDIA,
: : : :
+91-22-6822 6822 +91 77158 17733 marcom@welset.com www.welset.com
Milliken awarded 2021 SIES SOP STAR AWARD for Millad® NX® 8000 UL Eco Label The SIES SOP Star Awards recognizes the talent among the Packaging Sector for its continuous efforts in Innovation / Creativity / New Developments across various product segments such as Beverage, Food, Home + Personal Care, Pharma among others. This label communicates to customers that products have been audited by a credible third-party and independently validated to have been manufactured and/or perform in accordance with its environmental claims.
Milliken Chemical’s team accepts SIES SOP award April 2022
Having started in the year 2017, this 5th Edition of the SIES SOP Star Awards saw better participation and increase in number of entries as compared to 2020, the year of the first wave of pandemic. This year onwards, the award categories in SIES SOP Star Awards have been aligned with the WorldStar categories to simplify the application process for winning companies to participate in WorldStar Awards. Among the entries, developments in sustainability and materials were witnessed with maximum entries received in the Health + Personal Care category,
closely followed by Food + Packaging Materials, showcasing the market trends for these sectors. The Millad NX 8000 value proposition for low temperature processing has a strong impact on energy energy savings and sustainability, which are important for the green industry landscape and unique for Millad NX 8000 as a clarifier. Milliken has chosen to work with one of the world’s most trusted names in third-party product safety, validation and standards development — UL — to validate sustainability claims through a label.
The UL Label will enable convertors, that pass the validation procedure requirements, to visibly demonstrate their positive contribution to the environment on product packaging and marketing materials.
• MILLAD® NX® 8000 ENABLES AN AVERAGE OF 10% ENERGY SAVINGS FOR PRODUCTION OF CLARIFIED PP PARTS ULCOM/ECV
Millad NX 8000 clarified household container validated by UL.
For more details and information please contact us at asiachem@milliken.com or visit us online at milliken.com © Copyright 2022. All rights reserved. Milliken is a trademark of Milliken & Company.
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PROTECT YOUR
PLASTICS from Rodent & Termite ATTACKS
FEATURES :
Long-lasting effectiveness due to controlled release of active ingredients increasing life of finished product.
Good dispersion in the final product due to high surface area without affecting polymer properties.
Effective at very low addition level.
No change in physical, chemical or mechanical properties of base polymer.
Approved by third party laboratory.
RoHS Compliant.
Human safe, Environmental friendly.
KANDUI KANDUIINDUSTRIES INDUSTRIESPVT. PVT.LTD. LTD. MANUFACTURER OF MASTERBATCHES
KANDUI
Plot No. 112, Minerva Industrial Estate, Near Hercules Hoist, Mulund (West), Mumbai-400080, India. www.kandui.in | masterbatchinfo@kandui.in | +91-22-62673500
Stall A-60
