news
Renault to use bio-PC in new Clio
French car maker Renault is to use Mitsubishi Chemical’s Durabio bio-based polycarbonate on the facelift version of its Clio compact car, which launches later this year. The Durabio PC, which is
derived from plant-based isosorbide, will be used to produce the high gloss bezel around the entertain- ment and satnav module. It will replace a painted ABS component. According to Renault’s bio-based materials referent Alexia Roma, the Durabio resin is more costly per kilo than ABS or PC/ ABS blends but offers improved microscratch resistance, which means it can be used without the need for painting or hardcoat protection. The overall result is a reduced “system” cost, she said. Mitsubishi Chemical lists
scratch resistance as one of the outstanding features of the Durabio resin, which also offers good optical and UV performance. ❙
www.m-kagaku.co.jp
Teknor Apex buys PTS
Teknor Apex has acquired Plastic-Technologie-Service (PTS), a Germany-based custom compounder of TPEs and ETPs. Terms were not disclosed. PTS’s facility at Steinsfeld in Germany has over 20,000 tonnes/year of installed capacity, plus a technical support facility and a market- ing office 10 km away. There are about 100 employees. PTS founder and owner Uwe Stenglin will remain in place. PTS has been manufactur- ing TPE and ETP compounds for Teknor Apex under a tolling agreement for the past 12 months. Its site becomes the second in Europe for Teknor Apex, which also has manufac- turing capacity at Genk in Belgium. The company also
blends. Its particular speciali- ties include a hard/soft technology for over-moulding TPEs onto polar ETP sub- strates, such as PA and acetal, to produce a durable bond, and radiation-cross-linked grades of ETPs and TPEs. The company will continue to supply its own brands as part of Teknor Apex.
“The acquisition of PTS is a
Teknor Apex CEO Jonathan D Fain: deal a "natural fit"
produces compounds at locations in the US, Singapore, and China.
The PTS portfolio includes
block copolymers based on multiple chemistries, TPVs and polymer blends. ETPs include several types of polyamide plus PBT, PC and PC-ABS
natural fit in the strategic vision of Teknor Apex to support the market with a global footprint and local presence,” said Jonathan D Fain, Chairman and CEO of Teknor Apex. “It also brings together two companies that have shared the unique culture of being privately owned and intensively customer-centred.” ❙
www.teknorapex.com
Kingfa starts US compounding lines
Kingfa USA, the North American operation of China’s largest compounder Kingfa Sci & Tech, has brought on stream two compounding lines at its new facility in Canton, Ohio. The plant will be expanded to include four
compounding lines, four injection moulding machines and two prototype lines. A similar facility will open in Germany in June and operate as Kingfa Europe. The investment is creating about 50 jobs in
Continental Compounders extends range
www.compoundingworld.com
Canton. The plant will produce a variety of engineering thermoplastic compounds and will target electronic, automotive, power tool and toy applications, among others. This is Kingfa’s first investment in North
America, with a second scheduled to follow at a site yet to be selected by 2020. By then, the company expects to be making 200,000 tonnes/ year of material. ❙
www.kingfa.com.cn
South Africa’s Continental Compounders has added PP, PA 6,6 and PA 6 to its existing range of PVC compounds and, as part of its move to meet growing demand for engineering polymers, has opened a specialised production site for engineering polymers in Westmead, KwaZulu-Natal. The new compounds will include grades containing 20-50% talc and
calcium carbonate fillers, 20-50% glass fibre reinforcement, impact-modified, halogen and halogen-free flame retardant systems, plus various combination filled grades. Tests on offer to support the new product lines will include melt flow index, Vicat, ash content and heat deflection temperature. ❙
www.compounders.co.za
April 2016 | COMPOUNDING WORLD 5
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