news news in brief
❙ US-based masterbatch producer Ampacet is to boost capacity at its two European sites. The company says the first increase will be at its Messancy facility in Belgium, which produces a range of masterbatches. The second expansion will come at its Dudelance site in Luxem- bourg. The company did not reveal the size of the investments or the capacity increases. The extra capacity is scheduled for start-up at the end of this year.
www.ampacet.com
❙ Jindal Films Europe is to increase biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) film production at its Virton site in Belgium. The company will install a 10.5m orientation line, which has a capacity of 50,000 tonnes/year. It will replace existing production lines and is expected to be completed by the end of the third quarter in 2018. Virton will be “the launch platform for our next generation products”, said Jindal.
www.jindalfilms.com
❙ ExxonMobil has begun a multi-million dollar expan- sion of its Shanghai technol- ogy centre. The centre houses analytical and testing laboratory equipment, including commercial-scale product processing equip- ment for blown film extrusion. A new seven-layer cast film line is being added soon. The new facility, to be completed in early 2018, will include an auditorium, training rooms and multiple meeting areas.
www.exxonmobilchemical.com
8
Coveris uses MuCell to banish polystyrene foam
Packaging giant Coveris has begun to use MuCell technol- ogy to produce new polysty- rene-free foamed packaging. Its says that Neocell PP+ is
the first thermoformed polypropylene (PP) sheet in the form-fill-seal (FFS) industry – which is dominated by polystyrene (PS). The PP material guarantees the same output and efficiency as PS with the addition of improved price stability, excellent thermoform- ing capabilities and a signifi- cant carbon footprint reduction. The development of Neocell PP+ was driven by the need to
provide save resources and boost cost-effectiveness. It eliminates the need for chemical foaming agents by using MuCell technology to inject inert gas – resulting in a 26% reduction in product weight compared to PS. In addition, the ability to
vary density – by injecting the optimal amount of gas – gen- erates material savings. Under the terms of the
agreement, MuCell Extrusion – a wholly owned subsidiary of Zotefoams – has licensed its technology to Coveris with a fee payable as a percentage of
cost savings. David Stirling, Group CEO of
Zotefoams, said: “We are very pleased to provide Coveris with this innovative polystyrene- free packaging solution. This partnership exemplifies the financial and environmental benefits that MuCell Extrusion technology can deliver.” Neocell PP+ has been
developed as a breakable PP FFS sheet, making it ideal for use in yoghurt pots so they can be easily detached from each other when in packs. ❙
www.zotefoams.com ❙
www.coveris.com
Evonik’s new plant will supply stretched PMMA sheet for aviation
Evonik has begun construction of a new plant in Germany – to make cast and stretched polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) sheet for the aviation industry. The company has invested “a
two-digit million Euro amount” in the plant, in Weiterstadt. The new plant will make
stretched aircraft materials from Plexiglas, and is being built next to the existing production facility for the cast PMMA blocks that are the primary products for the stretching process. The plant allows production of stretched PMMA sheets that are twice the size of currently available formats, yet meet the high standards of the aviation
FILM & SHEET EXTRUSION | March 2017
Stretched PMMA meets the high standards of the aviation industry
industry, says Evonik. “The new plant is the embodiment of our expertise in building complex technology platforms and integrated structures and operating them efficiently,” said Michael Pack, member of the management board of Evonik Performance
Materials. This is Evonik’s second
recent investment at the Weiterstadt site: in February, it announced the construction of a production plant for high- grade PMMA flat film, with a similar level of investment. ❙
www.evonik.com
www.filmandsheet.com
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