news


Researchers find way to recycle PEX


Researchers at the Univer- sity of Akron have devised a method of recycling cross-linked plastics. Avraam Isayev and


Keyuan Huang, of the department of polymer engineering, presented a paper on the subject at the recent Antec conference. They said that the


presence of three-dimen- sional networks in cross- linked plastics such as PEX prevents the ability to flow and shape them on heating and shearing. They used an ultrasoni-


cally aided, single-screw extruder at 20Hz with a twin-screw extruder at 40Hz, applying different levels of ultrasonic energy. Studies showed that the technique broke the cross-links rather than the polymer chains, they said. “Significant reduction of


the extruder torque, die and barrel pressures was seen during de-crosslinking,” they said. ❙ www.uakron.edu


German machine sales to rise for next two years


German plastics and rubber machinery manufacturers expect sales to increase by 2% this year – with a similar rise predicted in 2017. Production of extrusion machinery grew by more than 9%, while exports rose by more than 25%. Strong trade within the


European Union was the main reason for the rising figures, according to the VDMA trade association. “Business with EU custom-


ers continues to develop well, as it did last year, and North America is gaining momentum again,” said Thorsten Küh- mann, VDMA’s managing director. “The US tops the sales market rankings, followed by China, Poland and Mexico.” Deliveries to Russia were


down 15%, but this may mark the low point, he said. VDMA expects sales to customers outside the EU to grow by 1% both this year and next, said Kühmann. Production of extrusion machinery in 2015 reached


Reifenhäuser: “Chinese machinery suppliers now account for 15% of world exports”


nearly €1.1 billion, a rise of 9.4%. (By comparison, injection moulding machine production was slightly lower, but up nearly 15%.) Exports of extruders grew 25.6% to reach €768 million. (Injection moulding was up nearly 7% to €839m.) The latest figures are an


increase on earlier expecta- tions, according to VDMA chairman Ulrich Reifenhäuser. “Back in October 2015,


VDMA forecast that sales in 2016 would remain broadly


unchanged from those seen in 2015,” he said, pointing out that 2015 output was up by 4.7% and exports were 1.6% higher.


“Business then picked up


markedly, prompting the positive forecast for 2016.” Although export volumes


were slightly ahead of the previous year’s level (€4.7bn), Germany’s share of the world trade in plastics and rubber machinery declined to 22.2%, he said.


“China is catching up and the gap is narrowing: Chinese suppliers now account for 15% of world exports,” said Ulrich Reifenhäuser, chairman of VDMA. Total machinery imports


into Germany in 2015 remained at the previous year’s level (€1.1bn). Austria and Switzer- land remained the main suppli- ers, but both saw deliveries decline.


At the same time, the US and China sold more machines to German converters than in the previous year. ❙ http://plastics.vdma.org


Battenfeld-Cincinnati has a new owner


Extrusion specialist Battenfeld-Cincinnati has a new owner, in the shape of private equity firm Nimbus. Details of the purchase price have not been disclosed. Battenfeld-Cincinnati says that the takeover will give it new financial resources and equity capital. “After our successful organisational


restructuring in the middle of last year, we can now focus on further product develop-


www.pipeandprofile.com


ments and investments that will strength- en and expand our market leadership with Nimbus’ support,” said Gerold Schley, CEO of Battenfeld-Cincinnati. “Nimbus will actively support and advance the new developments and growth plans of our group.” Ed van Dijk of Nimbus, added: “Nimbus


invests in companies that have a healthy core. At Battenfeld-Cincinnati, this core is


the technical know-how and the quality of the team – whether in Europe, Asia or America.” Battenfeld-Cincinnati is planning to


show new developments in the area of pipe and profile – as well as thermoform- ing sheet extrusion – at the forthcoming K2016 show in Dusseldorf in October. ❙ www.battenfeld-cincinnati.com ❙ www.nimbus.com


July/August 2016 | PIPE & PROFILE EXTRUSION 5


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