NEWS
Shintech gets new investment
Shin-Etsu Chemical is bolstering the integrated production capabilities of Shintech, its subsidiary in the US, with an investment of $3.4bn. The investment includes a second ethylene produc- tion unit, and a fourth chlor-alkali and vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) production plant at its existing site in Plaquemine, Louisiana. The decision aligns with Shintech’s strategy to ensure reliable and cost-effective supply of key feedstock for the PVC Business, strengthen- ing its market position. According to the company, worldwide demand for PVC is expected to increase by an average of more than 750,000 tonnes/yr over the next five years. By leverag- ing favourable raw material availability and economy of scale, Shintech intends to further expand and enhance business relation- ships with customers in the US and around the world. �
www.shinetsu.co.jp
Registration opens for expo in Frankfurt
Visitors to Compounding & Recycling Expo, taking place on 23–24 September 2026 at Messe Frankfurt, Germany, can now register for the event online. The free-to-attend
exhibition showcases the growing overlap between polymer compounding and recycling, bringing the full value chain together for two days of innovation, collabo- ration and technical insights. Attendees also gain free entry to two focused conference theatres offering expert-led sessions on market trends, technical developments, innovative applications, and Europe’s evolving regulatory land- scape. The organiser AMI (which publishes Compounding World) said that the event offers a unique platform for the industry to explore the future of polymer perfor- mance, sustainability and circularity. The exhibition will showcase cutting-edge solutions from leading
suppliers of compounding machinery, raw materials, additives, recycling technol- ogy, and testing equipment. Exhibitors already con- firmed include Wacker, BASF, Sun Chemical, SI Group, JSW, Hosokawa Alpine, Farrel Pomini, Van Werven, Maag, Invista, Orion, Gneuss, Theysohn and many more. “We recognise that the
futures of compounding and recycling are closely interconnected,” said Andy Beevers, Events Director at AMI. “Our team has worked closely with the industry to understand its evolving
needs, and this expo is the result; the only platform in Europe that truly reflects the importance of this shared direction. We’ve created an unmissable opportunity for the entire supply chain to come together, collaborate, and drive the next genera- tion of materials forward.” Frankfurt is an ideal host
city, said AMI, as Germany is the continent’s largest plastics market and a global leader in materials science and recycling develop- ments. With its global transport connections, the location is an ideal meeting point, said AMI.
Visitors can register for free at the official expo website
www.compoundingrecyclingexpo.com Fraunhofer IAP wins funding for pilot
The German federal government and the state of Brandenburg are providing the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research (IAP) with €53.3m for a new pilot plant in Guben, Germany, to enable the production of bio-based carbon fibres. The plant will be part of the Carbon Lab Factory Lausitz, and will make an important contribution to the transformation of the Lausitz region
8 COMPOUNDING WORLD | April 2026
from a traditionally raw material- and basic industry-oriented region to a hub for innovative high-performance materials. “We are also establishing a laborato- ry-scale carbonisation facility that converts the new precursor fibres into carbon fibres at the kilogram scale,” said Dr Jens Erdmann, Head of the Polymer Engineering Division at Fraunhofer IAP.
“This allows us to efficiently evaluate process behaviour and potential, optimise the processes, and gather valuable insights for larger scales.” The Carbon Lab Factory Lausitz is embedded in the Lausitz research infrastructure, where Lausitz Science Park will serve as a future hub for joint initiatives. �
www.iap.fraunhofer.de
www.compoundingworld.com
IMAGE: MESSE FRANKFURT
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