NEWS


Dow-Elmet LSR turnkey


solution Dow has developed a turnkey system for production of liquid silicone rubber (LSR) optics for adaptive beam (ADB) LED headlights combining its Silastic LSR with Elmet’s dosing and cold runner technology. Elmet said that consist- ently high part quality is ensured by a combination of its high-precision Smartmix TOP 7000P dosing system with the mould’s Smartshot E cold runner system. The Smartmix TOP 7000P dosing system is the first commercially avail- able dosing pump designed to be FDA-com- pliant. The result of the


collaboration is a turnkey system for manufacturing ADB multiple light guide lenses from the Silastic MS-5002. Elmet’s contribu- tion includes designing the sophisticated mould for injection moulding of the geometrically highly complex parts. The part’s volume is around 35 cm³, and weight is 37.5 g. � www.elmet.com � www.dow.com


ABC Technologies to buy Plastikon Automotive


ABC Technologies, the US-based manufacturer of lightweight plastic automo- tive systems, is to acquire Plastikon Automotive, part of Plastikon Industries, for $130m. Plastikon Automotive’s full-service portfolio ranges from the production of battery module housings, headliners, door assemblies, centre console assemblies and cluster meters. Its


technical expertise covers injection moulding, com- pression moulding, plastics welding, wrapping and fusing, adhesive bonding, painting and robotic assembly. The business has three facilities in the US: Hayward, CA; Austin, TX; and Leitch- field, KY. Last year the revenue from the business was around $280m. “Welcoming Plastikon


Automotive into ABC Technologies will represent a significant step forward for our company,” said Terry Campbell, President and CEO, ABC Technologies. “It amplifies our position as an industry leader in light- weighting and plastic injection moulding [and] gives ABC a stronger foothold in the EV space.” � https://abctechnologies.com �www.plastikon.com


Kurz opens facility in Vietnam


IMD foil specialist Leonhard Kurz has opened a 60,000 m² production facility near Quy Nhon, Vietnam. The plant will primarily manufacture for the plastic finishing of products in the automotive, consumer electronics and home appliances sectors. The company said it is investing a total of around


€37m in the new site. The facility in Vietnam will join the company’s existing 12 production facilities in Europe, Asia and the US. Although the focus is on the Asian market, international orders will also be served from the plant in the Vietnamese province of Binh Dinh with immediate effect.


The high quality and


environmental standards that also apply at all other Kurz sites worldwide were applied in the design, planning and construction of the Vietnam plant. (Read more on Kurz in the IMD feature in this issue starting on p13.) � www.leonhard-kurz.com


LyondellBasell to close Italian PP unit


LyondellBasell has announced plans to close one of the two polypropylene production units at its Brindisi site in Italy. “After thorough analysis, we believe


that closure of this unit is the most sustainable solution from a strategic and


6 INJECTION WORLD | October 2023


financial standpoint,” said Jim Guilfoyle, senior vice president Olefins and Polyolefins EAMEI of LyondellBasell. “This unit is the oldest of its kind in the world and it has become uncom- petitive. The market environment for our polypropylene products of this


Brindisi unit has become increasingly challenging, and the outlook provides little improvement. The intention of our group is to strengthen the position of the company’s other assets in higher value markets.” �www.lyondellbasell.com


www.injectionworld.com


IMAGE: KURZ


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