NEWS Sales decline in oriented film


Manufacturers of oriented film have reported a decline in both sales and profits in the first half of the year. In its latest business confidence


survey of oriented film producers, Orientate magazine – published by AMI – reported falling sales and profits. Over the last six months, two-thirds of survey respondents reported a dip in sales – though 13% reported a sales increase. Just over half of respondents saw a drop in profit margins. In the 10 years of the


Plaskolite acquires Vycom


US-based Plaskolite is to acquire plastic sheet maker Vycom from Azek. The transaction is


expected to close by early November. Based in Pennsylvania,


Vycom manufactures olefin and PVC thermoplastic sheet for markts including semiconductors, marine, industrial and graphics. Its products are often specified for their perfor- mance in fire and chemical resistance, it said. “Vycom recycles and


reuses 99% of its scrap, which will expand Plasko- lite’s involvement in sustainability and recy- cling,” said John Szlag, co-president of Plaskolite. Plaskolite, which is


partly owned by Pritzker Private Capital, supplies a range of sheet products in materials including acrylic, polycarbonate, ABS and PET. � www.plaskolite.com


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survey, these figures are unprecedent- ed, said AMI. A large imbalance between supply and demand is a major factor behind the results. Despite this, respondents have some confidence that the market is improving: a quarter of respondents believe the market will decline over the next six months. (Last year, that figure was nearly 50%.) Producers of biaxially oriented film


were more confident: 61% expect a stronger performance over the next


six months, 40% expect the economy to improve and 39% are more likely to invest in new plant and equipment. Overall, 55% of oriented film


producers do not expect to make changes to their investment plans. Those looking to increase their investments fell to 24% (from 33% last year) – the lowest figure since the survey began. Only 7% of respond- ents expect to cut their investments. � https://www.amiplastics.com/ market-intelligence/orientate


BASF app delivers CO2


BASF has released a new digital application designed to give customers a better overview of the sustainabil- ity status of the product portfolio they purchase while helping them identify solutions to reach sustain- ability targets. The app, called MyCar-


bonFootprint, contains data on more than 700 selected large volume BASF prod- ucts. Using the app, the company says customers can determine how adjust- ments in their purchasing portfolio affect their sustainability status in terms of CO2


renewable raw materials.


The MyCarbonFootprint app carries data on more than 700 BASF products


data


IMAGE: BASF emissions and use of


n BASF has also launched what it claims are the first biomass balance plastic additive offering. The first two introductions are Irganox 1010 BMBcert and Irganox 1076 FD BMBcert,


both certified by TÜV Nord for mass balance according to the ISCC Plus scheme. The grades are drop-in replacements for Irganox 1010 and Irganox 1076. � www.basf.com


Mitsubishi ups EVOH capacity


Mitsubishi Chemical Group (MCG) is increasing its annual production capacity of Soarnol ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH) resin at its plant in the UK by 21,000 tonnes to 39,000 tonnes. Construction is already underway, with the new capacity expected online in July 2025. It will take the group’s global capacity, which is spread across sites in Japan, the US and the UK, to 90,000 tonnes.


FILM & SHEET EXTRUSION | November 2023


Soarnol is a high gas-barrier resin suitable for use in long shelf-life food packaging. Multilayer films containing the resin are certified as recyclable when used with the group’s recycling compatibiliser Soaresin, according to the company. The group said it anticipates solid growth in global demand for Soarnol in the coming years. � https://mitsubishichemical.co.uk


www.filmandsheet.com


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