news german machinery sales soar
The VdmA, the trade associa- tion representing german machinery makers, has raised its forecast for 2011 year-end of plastics and rubber process-
ing machinery sales to around E6 billion, a new record for the industry. The association reported a
total production value of E4.9 billion for 2010, up by 29% on the 2009 figure. According to VdmA
association chairman ulrich reifenhäuser, the decision to raise its 2011 year-end growth prediction is due to the on- going growth trend that began in the final quarter of 2009 and has continued into the third
quarter of this year. “on that basis, we are raising our sales forecast for the current year from 18 to 22%,” he said. Between January and
September this year, new orders for plastics and rubber processing machines in- creased by 15%, orders from customers in germany rose by 13% and orders from outside of germany by 16%, said VdmA managing director Thorsten Kühmann. However, while many machinery makers currently enjoy full order books, the current uncertain economic climate is expected to take its toll on incoming orders next
underlining this softening
trend, automotive industry analyst lmc Automotive said in early december that it was revising its forecast for western European car sales in 2012 downwards. The automotive industry is a
Ulrich Reifenhäuser: “We are raising our sales forecast.”
year, and the VdmA is predicting a 7% decline. “This will have been a record
year for many firms in the industry, but they expect the economy to slow down again next year,” said reifenhäuser.
Teijin invests in cFrTp technology
Teijin is building the first pilot plant for the fully integrated production of carbon-fibre- reinforced thermoplastic (cFrTp) components at its matsuyama site in Japan. it has also entered a joint development agreement for the technology with general motors. The new pilot plant is
expected to be complete by mid-2012 and will be able to produce components with cycles times of less than a minute. more than ¥2 billion (E20 million) is being invested in the facility, which Teijin hopes will accelerate the commercialisation of its cFrTp production technology for mass-produced vehicles and other industrial applications. Teijin is also planning to
open a technical centre in the northern part of the uSA early
12
key driver for plastics machin- ery investments, especially in germany. The market intelligence group said: “As the outlook for wider economic growth in the region continues to deteriorate and a mild economic recession now looks likely, a 5% decline in 2012 is projected.” ❙
www.vdma.org ❙
www.lmc-auto.com
BASF plans pESu plant in Korea
BASF is to build a 6,000 tonnes/year production plant for ultrason poly- ethersulfone (pESu) at its site in Yeosu, Korea. it is scheduled for completion in early 2014. The company currently
The CFRTP body structure of this concept car weighs just 47 kg
in 2012 to facilitate its collaborative development work with gm.
Speaking about the
agreement, gm vice chairman Steve girsky said: “our relationship with Teijin provides the opportunity to revolutionise the way carbon
compounding world | december 2011
fibre is used in the automotive industry.”
Earlier this year, Teijin
produced a prototype electric car using a body structure made of cFrTp that weighed only 47 kg, roughly 80% less than a conventional design. ❙
www.teijin.co.jp
only produces the high- performance engineering plastic at its ludwigshafen site in germany. pESu can withstand
temperatures up to 220˚c and has outstanding chemical stability. it is used in the electronics, automo- tive and aerospace industries for the produc- tion of heat-resistant light- weight components. ❙
www.basf.com
www.compoundingworld.com
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