news
European trade bodies warn over PA and TiO2
Two European trade associa- tions, Flexible Packaging Europe (FPE) and Polymers for Europe Alliance (PEA), have warned over the impact of tight supply and rising prices for polyamide precursor caprolac- tam and titanium dioxide pigment on the continent’s plastics processors. In a statement issued at the beginning of this month, FPE (whose members represent around 80% of European sector turnover) said short- ages of caprolactam in China, together with recent force majeure announcements on two PA production lines, is
likely to see smaller users facing tightening availability for the polymer over the coming months. “The current situation of so many announcements to increase margins combined with force majeure declara- tions is either the test or use of market power. Alternatively, it demonstrates the strong need for maintenance and con- tinuous investment in the European production facili- ties,” said FPE Executive Director Guido Aufdemkamp. The FPE announcement
comes just weeks after PEA (a sub-division of the European
Plastics Converters) said parts of the European plastics converting industry are facing a significant threat from limited supplies of titanium dioxide (TiO2
).
The association said that unplanned maintenance shutdowns are restricting output and driving up prices to uncompetitive levels. PEA Chairman Ron Marsh called on producers “to help our plastics converting industry to create a global level playing field to secure the development of our business in Europe”. ❙
www.flexpack-europe.org ❙
www.plasticsconverters.eu
AIMPLAS opens new R&D unit
Spanish plastics industry research association AIMPLAS has opened its new R&D building in Valencia.
The new facility, on the site
of former offices and storage facilities that suffered fire damage in 2015, provide
around 1,000 m2 on top of 8,500 m2
of R&D space, across its
six other buildings. ❙
www.aimplas.es
Lanxess invests in Belgium
Lanxess has announced a €25m investment pro- gramme at its plastics production unit at Lillo, near Antwerp in Belgium, where it produces PA and precursors including caprolactam. “Our integrated
production complex in Lillo is the backbone of our global business for high-tech plastics. Given the trend toward light- weight construction in the automotive industry, for example, this is a major future market,” said Lanxess Chairman of the Board of Management Matthias Zachert. The Lillo facility includes
220,000 tonnes/yr of caprolactam capacity and a 90,000 tonne/yr PA polymerisation unit. ❙
www.lanxess.com
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