NEWS
EU unveils strategy for plastics
https://ec.europa.eu/commission/publications/factsheets-european-strategy-plastics-circular-economy_en
The European Commission has unveiled its new Plastics Strategy to tackle plastics pollution, setting a target of making all plastics packaging “recyclable” by 2030. The strategy includes a commitment to define design for recyclability. It also proposes measures to tackle marine waste from shipping and fishing, as well as land-generated pollution such as micro-beads. While the prime focus is
on single-use plastics prod- ucts designed, produced, used and recycled in the EU, the strategy also commits to supporting environmental projects in developing countries.
Plasgran invests in more compounding capacity
UK-based plastics recycler Plasgran is to install a new twin screw compounding line at its plant at Wimbling- ton near Cambridge, adding an additional 10,000 tonnes of capacity. The company said its original Erema Intarema line, which was installed in 2016, has been near capacity for some time. The installation of the MAS 93K 400 twin screw compounding system with laser melt filtration from Austrian machinery maker Maschinen und Anlagenbau Schulz will provide extra capacity and allow it to offer a broader product range. “This new line is de- signed for compounding and dispersion and will
allow us to produce filled PP materials up to 40% loaded, and its unique conical screw design means we are not restricted by bulk density on our input materials,” said Plasgran Managing Director Mark Roberts. “The CDF filter system is designed for recycled materials and is capable of filtration down to 90 microns without loss of throughput, and the secondary cascade extruder provides maximum de-gassing and removal of volatiles and moisture, meaning we can achieve even the most stringent of specifications,” he said. The new compounding line is the latest in a series of investments by Plasgran,
which increased sales by 30% to £22m in the 2016-17 financial year. Last summer, the company installed a 30,000 tonnes/year washing and separation facility at its plant at Newcastle-upon- Tyne as part of a joint development with Monarch Recycling. The line is focused on washing and separation of post-consum- er HDPE bottles, and PP pots, tubs and trays. It also recently invested
£40,000 in a differential scanning calorimeter. The Mettler Toledo DSC 3+ unit is used to characterise and understand the composition and morphology of polymers and post-consumer blends. �
www.plasgranltd.co.uk
Evonik adds PMMA compound line in US
Evonik is to add an addi- tional line for production of its Acrylite brand of PMMA moulding compounds at its Methacrylates business unit located at Osceola in Arkansas, US. The invest- ment will nearly double capacity and is expected to start operation in Q1 2019. The move is “the next logical step in our efforts to implement our global strategy for speciality moulding compounds,” according to Siamak Djafar- ian, who heads the Moulding Compounds product line within Evonik’s Performance Materials segment. The move will allow the company, which claims to be the only
16 Evonik is investing in PMMA compounding capacity in US
integrated MMA-PMMA producer with downstream compounding in the Ameri- cas, Europe and Asia, to offer locally made speciality moulding compound products in each region.
COMPOUNDING WORLD | January 2018
Evonik said the invest- ment will also address growing demand in the North and South American markets for PMMA com- pounds. It cites construction, lighting, and automotive
applications among the key growth markets. n In a separate move, Evonik has launched a new high-temperature PPA- based addition to its Vestamid HTplus range. The new grade can withstand mechanical stress up to 135°C, has a glass transition temperature of 155°C, and loses only 15% of it modulus of elasticity at 120°C, which the company said compares to about 80% for standard products. The new PPA grade also offers high crystallinity, which results in good chemical resistance and dimensional stability, and easy processing. �
www.evonik.com
www.compoundingworld.com
PHOTO: EVONIK
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