NEWS
Daicel delays project and rethinks COC plan
Japanese chemical com- pany Daicel is reviewing its business plan for cyclic olefin copolymer (COC), which is manufactured and sold by its consolidated sub- sidiary, Topas Advanced Polymers in Germany, in response to changes in the market environment. The review has already resulted in a postponement to the start of operations at its new COC resin plant in Germany from this April to the fourth quarter of 2027. Daicel said the reason for
the review and subsequent postponement of operations is that the company had anticipated an increase in demand for COC resin, widely used in packaging and healthcare, and had been constructing a new (second) COC resin produc-
Topas cyclic olefin copolymer is a clear material used in medical and other applications
IN BRIEF...
Specialty polymers and bio-based chemical producer Kraton has appointed Sangwoo Ryu as Chief Executive Officer. He has previously been serving as CEO of Cariflex, a Kraton spin-off under DL Chemical.
https://kraton.com
tion plant to meet expected demand. However, following the enforcement of the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) in February 2025, the market’s shift towards environmen- tally friendly packaging is now progressing and the anticipated increase in demand has not arrived. In addition, the valuation of the new plant has
increased significantly due to a surge in construction and labour costs. The company said that there is a significant risk that the profitability of the COC resin business could decline. Daicel said it plans to
reassess future demand trends and make further announcements in due course. �
www.daicel.com
Selenis set to expand facility
Polyester materials producer Selenis said it is planning to double capacity at its Portalegre facility in Portugal by the third quarter of 2027. Spurred by EU regulatory developments, the invest- ment will accelerate the
industrial scale-up of bio-based, medical-grade, and circular co-polyesters, according to the company. In the project, Selenis is adding a continuous polymerisation (CP) plat- form alongside its estab-
lished batch technology. By combining both systems, it will enhance flexibility and enable a continuous, highly consistent production flow that also improves energy consumption. �
www.selenis.com
Aimplas said it is involved in the Poly-ML project, an R&D initiative that applies advanced machine learning techniques to predict material properties based on their composi- tion and processing conditions, thereby by-passing the traditional “trial and error” phase of polymer development.
https://aimplas.net
Birla Carbon has an- nounced a new production line at its carbon black facility in Trecate, Italy.
www.birlacarbon.com
Bio-based materials producer Ecovia Bio has closed a Series B funding round led by investor group Pointe Angels to support expansion of manufacturing capacity at its multi-product facility which is located in Livonia, Michigan, US.
https://ecovia-bio.com
Hexpol consolidates thermoplastics and TPEs
Compounding group Hexpol has brought its thermoplastics and TPE companies together into a single business area, making it easier for customers to access material expertise and accelerate R&D, regulatory and sustainable development projects.
6 COMPOUNDING WORLD | March 2026 Jan Wikström, President of Hexpol
Thermoplastics, said: “Our thermo- plastics business is growing, but the goal is not just scale. It is about improving material performance and pushing boundaries.” The group is meeting challenges with application,
technology and sustainability targets. Hexpol, which has 14 thermoplastics sites in the US, China and Europe, said the move means it can offer ready- tested material combinations for multi-component applications. �
www.hexpol.com
www.compoundingworld.com
IMAGE: TOPAS
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