MATERIALS | CONSTRUCTION
PVC recycling rates flat
Recycling rates of PVC in Europe remained at around 27% in 2022, according to VinylPlus. The construction market is a major user of PVC products such as roofing membranes and window profiles. For the year as a whole, VinylPlus reported that 813,266 tonnes
of PVC waste were recycled and used in new products in the EU-27, Norway, Switzerland and the UK. This compares with a total of 810,775 tonnes recycled in 2021 – a rise of around 0.3%. Of this, 62% was pre-consumer waste – where factories repro- cess their own waste internally – and 38% post-consumer waste (where PVC is collected after use). In 2022, the amount of pre-con- sumer recycling fell by around 1.5%, while post-consumer recy- cling rose by nearly 3.5%. Recycling of flexible PVC and films appeared to decline by
around 19%, from around 262,000 tonnes in 2021 to 212,000 tonnes in 2022. Under its VinylPlus 2030 commitment, the organisation has a
target to recycle 900,000 tonnes/year of PVC by 2025, and 1m tonnes/year by 2030. �
www.vinylplus.eu
industrial use. The researchers hope to make greenhouses incorporating organic solar cells commercially available in future.
Solar pontoon BASF has installed a proof-of-concept floating solar pontoon at its manufacturing site in McIntosh, Alabama, USA. The system, from Noria Energy, uses renewable energy to power three aerators that improve the water quality of a scenic pond at the facility. BASF’s hindered amine light stabiliser (HALS) additives are used to protect the polymer against degradation of harmful UV light. “The additives and antioxidants used for the pontoons – and produced at our McIntosh site – im- prove durability and extend the lifetime of the systems,” said Marcus Pezent, site director at BASF. Alex Mayer, chief technology officer at Noria
Energy, added: “We set out to develop an innova- tive floating solar system to reduce capital require- ments, including logistical costs. Working with BASF was instrumental in getting the system from concept to pilot installation in under a year.”
Adding capacity Duro-Last, a supplier of custom-fabricated thermo- plastic single-ply roofing systems, opened its seventh manufacturing facility in the US earlier this year. The 16,000 sq ft facility in Largo, Florida will make custom-fabricated membrane up to 60 feet
34 FILM & SHEET EXTRUSION | November 2023
in length and custom accessories for thermoplastic single-ply commercial roofing installations. “As one of the largest single-ply roofing markets in the US, the needs of Florida contractors are complex,” said Tom Saeli, CEO of Duro-Last. “This new location will allow us to better serve our customers in the Florida market.” As well as membrane and accessory manufactur-
ing, the facility also hosts the company’s paints, coatings and caulk manufacturing operations – plus an on-site training space for contractors. Prior to this, the company was acquired by construction products supplier Holcim. The transaction was valued at around US$1.3 billion. With the acquisition, Holcim roofing systems says it will now exceed US$4bn in net sales. Duro-Last’s sales are around US$540 million.
Plaskolite acquisition US-based Plaskolite is to acquire an acrylic sheet- manufacturing facility in Mexico, from Trinseo. The plant, in Matamoros, specialises in the
production of cell cast acrylic sheet, which is used in display, signage, construction, marine and sanitary products, says Plaskolite. The facility is located on an 11-acre site. Its
location – on the border with the USA – enables Plaskolite to serve the North American market with a full range of acrylic sheet technologies – includ- ing extruded, continuous cast and cell cast. Deliveries from the Matamoros plant are expected to begin in the second half of 2023. The facility complements Plaskolite’s cell cast
operations in Gerona, Spain. “We look forward to expanding our North American footprint with the acquisition of this highly strategic facility,” said Ryan Schroeder, president and CEO of Plaskolite. “It will strengthen our product offering for our customers, who value an extensive range of manufacturing methods.”
CLICK ON THE LINKS FOR MORE INFORMATION: �
www.exolongroup.com �
www.tosaf.com �
www.simona.de �
www.econcore.com �
www.solarge.com �
www.heliatek.com �
www.ucla.edu �
www.basf.com �
www.duro-last.com �
www.holcim.com �
www.plaskolite.com �
www.trinseo.com
www.filmandsheet.com
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