NEWS JSW runs PMMA recycling trials


Researchers working on the EU Horizon 2020-supported MMAtwo project completed a week of trials at the JSW Technical Centre in Dussel- dorf, Germany, late last year to depolymerise a variety of post-industrial and post- consumer PMMA waste to high quality MMA feedstock. Thirteen European organi-


sations — including Ghent University, Ecologic, Arkema, Delta Glass, Heathland, Comet Traitements, Spei- chem, Plados Telma and JSW — are involved in the €6.6m MMAtwo project, which aims to develop a process to regenerate waste


Normec acquires OWS


Normec Group, which is based in Ghent in the Netherlands and is active in testing, inspecting, certification and compli- ance mainly in the Nether- lands, Belgium and Germany, has acquired Organic Waste Systems (OWS).


OWS is described as a


“world leader for the determination of the biodegradability and compostability of plastic packaging materials and other applications of biodegradable polymers.” The company, which generates sales of around €25m, has operations in the US, Germany and Japan. � www.ows.be


12 IMAGE: JSW EUROPE


PMMA by converting the polymer to liquid MMA monomer. JSW has constructed a special version of its TEX44αIII twin-screw extruder for the task.


Operating at temperatures between 400-600°C, it melts the polymer in the upstream section of the extruder, then decomposes it in the downstream section before capturing the decomposi-


Left: The modified MMAtwo TEX44αIII extruder at JSW’s European technical centre


tion gas at the tip of the extruder and condensing it to a liquid form. Another series of tests


are planned for the first quarter of this year to further refine the process. “We are getting closer and closer to the industrial, commercially highly interesting implementation of our PMMA depolymerisa- tion project,” said Makoto Tojo, Technical Manager of Japan Steel Works Europe. � www.jsw.de


Avient forecasts growth ahead


Avient — the polymer compounds group created from Polyone’s acquisition last year of Clariant Master- batches — posted sales of $3.24bn for 2020 and said it expects to see a revenue growth of 8% for 2021. “As the COVID-19 vaccine brings hope for a recovery from the pandemic, we anticipate our businesses will continue to benefit from new product development requiring sustainable solutions as well as demand for consumer and healthcare


applications,” said Robert M Patterson, Chairman, President and Chief Execu- tive Officer. “We will also uniquely


benefit from the Clariant Masterbatch acquisition and related synergy capture, which is well ahead of schedule.” Avient has increased its total cost synergy estimates from the Clariant acquisition from $60m to $75m. Patterson said that, looking ahead, the com- pany’s headline projection


for 2021 is to grow revenues by approximately 8% pro forma. n Late last year Avient completed an expansion of its production capabilities for colour concentrates at Binh Duong, Vietnam, adding 30% more produc- tion space and some new machinery. The plastics industry is currently said to be growing at 16-18%/year in Vietnam, making it one of the fastest growing parts of the economy. � www.avient.com


Maag set to deliver for Ravago


Switzerland’s Maag Group is to supply a complete line for polyolefin waste recy- cling to Ravago for its site at Arendonk in Belgium. The new line will be commis- sioned this year.


COMPOUNDING WORLD | February 2021


The line includes an ERF 500 melt filter, FSC 300 hydraulic screen changer, and Pearlo underwater pelletising system. “Our systems expertise, recently enhanced in


relation to digitalisation and Industry 4.0 through the acquisition of Xantec, is a clear benefit for the cus- tomer,” said Maag Group President Ueli Thuerig. � www.maag.com


www.compoundingworld.com


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66