Polymer Industry News

FLEXOSKIN® barrier film for protection of flexible photovoltaics

Transparent and weather-resistant protective layer opens up new areas of applications

The name says it all. Like a protective skin, the new FLEXOSKIN® barrier film from Evonik Industries covers flexible photovoltaic modules to protect them against the adverse effects of wind and weather. Although FLEXOSKIN® is highly transparent and transmits visible light; it blocks harmful UV radiation and also prevents penetration of moisture. In this way, the flexible barrier film performs a similar function to the heavy glass plates used for rigid modules.

The barrier film was introduced in Europe under its new brand name at the PVSEC photovoltaics trade show in Hamburg, Germany. The U.S. launch followed shortly after, at the Solar Power International trade show in Dallas, Texas.

Triple Decker from UPM

UPM Conveyors have established preferred supplier status to Finlay’s Fresh Produce who were the first suppliers of Fairtrade vegetables into the UK. Roger Broughton Group Engineering Manager states UPM were selected due to their ability to offer bespoke solutions to product handling in Kenya where trouble free operation and zero maintenance are priorities.

UPM were able to offer a solution to Finlay’s application based on a triple decker belt conveyor to allow four operators per side to transfer product from the lower conveyor to fill boxes on the middle conveyor with empty boxes being transferred on the top roller conveyor at a rate of 2,000 kilos per hour.

Celstran® PP LFT stabilizes award winning design chair

Reinforced polypropylene provides star designer with freedom of exclusive design

The Brazilian public enthuse over and award various contemporary design prizes for plastic chair "IC01-Chair" presented by Brazilian star designer Guto Indio da Costa. Its light weight and cost efficiency helped glass fibre reinforced polypropylene win over its conventional rivals. It gives much freedom of design, is easy to process and provides high stability.

Ticona's glass fibre reinforced polypropylene Celstran® PP LFT turns the Brazilian plastic chair "IC01-Chair" into an award winning and exclusive design model.

LS5 Materials Testing Machine Launching at Chinaplas 2012

Booth No: W1TBC, Chinaplas 2012, Shanghai, PR China, 18-21 April 2012

The new LS5 single column materials testing machine from Lloyd Instruments, is on show for the first time at Chinaplas 2012. The LS5 provides enhanced travel, accuracy and flexibility for plastics, rubber and packaging materials testing applications under 5kN force with a crosshead speed range from 0.01–1016 mm/min. Other instruments on show from the company’s comprehensive range of materials testing machines will include the LS1 single column machine and the LR10KPlus twin column materials tester, together with Davenport™ polymer test equipment and Chatillon® force measuring equipment. 

CHINAPLAS Shows its Presence at PLASTINDIA 2012

India has become the top one from more than 130 countries and regions of overseas visitors for CHINAPLAS these years.

Apart from the in-depth cooperation with local media and travel agencies, the organizer will participate at Plastindia 2012 from 1-6 February 2012 at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, India. Visitors who pre-register at the booth will receive fabulous souvenir immediately and their visitor badges, together with other redemption coupons in advance.

Borealis increases polyethylene and polypropylene prices

Borealis, a leading provider of chemical and innovative plastics solutions, announces that it will increase all polyethylene and polypropylene prices by EUR 100/tonne for January, 2012.

“This decision to increase prices reflects our assumptions on the economic development and it's necessary for the implementation of our Value Creation through Innovation strategy,” comments Gerd Löbbert, Borealis Executive Vice President Polyolefins.

Innovations in Mould making

A disposable toothbrush without noticeably burdening the environment?

A colouring pencil injected in one operation?

What sounds like a vision of the future has long since been reality at ZAHORANSKY Formenbau GmbH Formen- und Werkzeugbau in Rothenkirchen.

In research projects shared with the West Saxony High School Zwickau and the TU Chemnitz, ZAHORANSKY has realised two innovative manufacturing processes on the basis of renewable, biobased raw materials and developed them ready for series production.

WRZ-HÖRGER Sontheim: Recycler Starts Up New Post-consumer Film Recycling Line

WRZ-HÖRGER in Sontheim has launched a new post-consumer film recycling line recently. With this new wash/separation line this recycling plant is now able to increase its capacity to up to 7000 tonnes per year. DSD film waste is recycled into high-quality agglomerate or regrind.

The turn-key plant delivered by HERBOLD Meckesheim (www.Herbold.com) consists of a wet size-reduction step with an upstream separation device for extraneous materials, separation technology based on a hydrocyclone and a mechanical/thermal drying step. Downstream of the plant operates a plastcompactor in order to transform the film material into agglomerate with excellent flowing properties and high bulk density. The end product can be used for the production of moulded parts.

“Economic miracle”: Allrounder reliably in operation since 1966

• Wilh. Wissner wins "Economic Miracle" anniversary competition

• Allrounder 150 has produced suspender clips for 45 years

• Partner Eugen Hehl presents company with new electric Allrounder 370E as prize

As the highlight of the "50 years of Allrounder" anniversary, Arburg held its “Economic Miracle” anniversary competition at the Fakuma 2011 trade fair. The aim was to find the oldest Allrounder in original ownership, still being used in production. The prize was a new electric Edrive series machine. It went to the company Wilh. Wissner, Göppingen (Germany), which has been using it to produce clips for suspenders for 45 years.

Addex Introduces Industry's Most Advanced Internal Bubble Cooling (IBC) System

Digital Internal Bubble Cooling (DIBC) Method Delivers Quick Changeovers and Major Scrap Reduction

Addex Inc., a leading global supplier of blown film equipment and components, has introduced one of the industry’s most advanced internal bubble cooling (IBC) systems for blown film extrusion lines. The Digital Internal Bubble Cooling (DIBC) system delivers the fastest reaction time in the industry to ensure precise bubble control, helping processors to speed product changeovers and significantly reduce scrap.

“We have elevated the technology to a new level, offering one of the most sophisticated bubble cooling systems on the market,” said Rick von Kraus, president of Addex Inc. “At a time when resin prices are high and scrap reduction is a major concern, the DIBC represents a major advancement that helps processors realize major raw material savings.”

Songwon, Pan Gulf and Polysys signed a MoU for global manufacturing and sales of OPS

At the Annual GPCA forum 2011 in Dubai (UAE), Songwon Industrial Co., Ltd., Pan Gulf Holdings and Polysys Industries proudly announce their intention to form a global cooperation for the manufacturing and sale of Songnox® OPS. This follows the recent announcement of Songwon Industrial Group regarding the acquisition of Additives Technology Greiz GmbH (ATG), one of Europe’s largest manufacturers of One Pack Systems (OPS).

The three companies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a Joint Venture to be named Songwon Additive Technologies AG, which will become the parent company, having control over ATG, as well as a series of manufacturing and commercial JV’s in the Middle East. The partners of Songwon Additive Technologies AG will consist of Songwon Industrial Group, Pan Gulf Holdings of Saudi Arabia and Polysys Industries of Abu Dhabi.

Flexible Seal Rings Made of Solvay's KetaSpire® PEEK Resin Deliver Exceptional Ductility

Flexible seal rings from ATO S.r.L., Milan, Italy, a leading compression molder of high-performance semi-finished goods, are made of KetaSpire® polyetheretherketone (PEEK) resin, manufactured by Solvay Specialty Polymers USA, LLC, for its exceptional ductility for oil and gas, food processing, medical, and pharmaceutical applications.

KetaSpire KT-820 PEEK provides greater flexibility and elasticity than competitive PEEK grades, according to Davide Polloni, market development manager for ATO. For example, these parts can be folded or twisted in half and then twisted again into three or four small concentric rings. Compression molded seal rings made of KetaSpire PEEK can also be softer and easily machined, added Polloni.

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