NEWS


BASF: ‘PA6 is recyclable within PE waste stream’


Multi-layer film with up to 30% polyamide 6 can be recycled in the polyethylene stream, according to research commissioned by BASF. The tests were carried out by Institute Cyclos-HTP, which assesses and certifies the recyclability of packag- ing. BASF says the result will form the basis of a review of the German Packaging Act – which lists PA6 as an ‘incompatible’ component in the LDPE packaging waste stream.


“It is time to correct the categorisation of polyamide


6 and the related PA6/6.6 co-polyamides as ‘incompat- ible’ contaminants and to put it on a solidly updated basis,” said Rolf-Egbert Grützner, senior manager technical support for Ultramid extru- sion polyamides at BASF. Cyclos-HTP has also classified PE/PA6 multi-layer films as fully recyclable when using compatibilisers in PA6-containing film structures – in addition to the PA6 content of up to 30% in original packaging films. This allows homoge- neous mixing of the polymers – which are


typically incompatible in these concentrations, it said. The compatibility of the


PE/PA6 systems that were tested applies to both new injection moulding and blown film applications. Roland Bothor, who is


responsible for ecodesign and development projects at Cyclos-HTP, said: “For us, it was surprising what positive contribution the PA6 content made to the properties of the industrial polyethylene recyclate used as a reference.” � www.basf.com � www.cyclos-htp.de


Pregis invests in $80m plant


US-based Pregis is investing US$80 million in a new blown film extrusion facility in South Carolina. The 168,000 sq ft facility


will feature a number of new lines to make packaging for


food and medical device applications, as well as a film laboratory. “We believe this will be the most technologically advanced extrusion facility in North America,” said


Kevin Baudhuin, president and CEO of Pregis. The facility will create 120 new jobs for local workers and is expected to open in September. � www.pregis.com


IN BRIEF...


US-based Spectrum Plastics Group has added capacity in blown film extrusion by acquiring KCS Plastics of Canada. KCS makes polyethylene packaging that is food contact safe, for customers across North America. Thomas Sullivan, CEO of Spectrum, said: “The addition of KCS increases our geographic reach with a company that is strongly aligned to our position as a custom, scalable flexible packaging supplier.” www.spectrumplastics.com


Canadian plastic film manufacturer Balcan is to begin production in the USA, at a new plant in Wisconsin. The company paid around US$13 million for the 215,000 sq ft facility in Pleasant Prarie, accord- ing to a report in the Milwaukee Business Journal. It says the new facility will initially create 60 jobs – which could later rise to 120. www.balcan.com


German machinery sales rising in 2021


Kühmann: “Material shortage could see machine manufacturers curbing


production despite full order books”


German plastics machinery manufactur- ers have seen a positive start to 2021, with orders almost doubling in the first four months of the year. VDMA, which represents machinery manufacturers, says order intake rose by 92% in the period, while sales rose by around 8%. It forecasts a sales increase of at least 10% in 2021. “Economically, the industry is


currently doing very well again,” said Thorsten Kühmann, managing director of VDMA’s plastics machinery segment. However, he said that a shortage in


www.filmandsheet.com


plastic materials may affect the willing- ness of manufacturers to invest. “This could lead to the paradoxical


situation of machine manufacturers having to curb production despite full order books,” he said. Although machinery exports fell by 11% in 2020, deliveries to the USA rose 8%, making it the top export market for German machinery. China was next, despite a 3% decline in exports. China, and the remaining BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia and India) together accounted for 23% of export sales. � www.vdma.org/plastics-rubber-machinery


July/August 2021 | FILM & SHEET EXTRUSION 5


IMAGE: MESSE DUSSELDORF, CONSTANZE TILLMANN


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