WL Plastics Completes Acquisition of Charter Plastics’ Titusville, Pennsylvania Site

WL Plastics Corporation has announced it has completed the acquisition of the polyethylene pipe
extrusion assets of Charter Plastics, Inc. located in Titusville, Pennsylvania. This strategic acquisition provides the opportunity for WL Plastics to further diversify its product offerings, expand its customer base, and enter new regional markets.

The Titusville site and associated assets have the capability of producing a broad range of
polyethylene pipe for numerous end-uses including potable water, reclaimed water, sewer,
geothermal, gas, irrigation, and industrial applications.

“We are delighted to bring such an established and well-positioned asset kit into the broader manufacturing base of WL Plastics,” said Mark Wason, CEO of WL Plastics. “We are excited to be a part of the Titusville community.”

WL Plastics is a wholly owned subsidiary of INEOS USA LLC d/b/a INEOS Olefins & Polymers USA,
which is part of the INEOS Group, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of petrochemicals,
specialty chemicals, and oil products.

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Guill Introduces Reciprocating Head

The automated extrusion process drastically changes the extruded

Guill Tool, a global manufacturer of extrusion tooling, has released its new reciprocating head. The traditional tip and die assembly is replaced with a linear reciprocating assembly that changes the tube’s profile within a given length.This process is repeated throughout a single extrusion run without interruptions. Cutting capability, in association with the extrusion speed, cuts the finished product to length.

While cost and value stream activities are reduced, quality is improved. Only one extrusion run is needed to produce a finished product, as opposed to multiple extrusion runs with tooling changes along with a manual assembly operation to connect different tubing shapes. Guill’s new reciprocating head eliminates an assembly operation. It also eliminates in-process inventory. Thus, there is no need for storage of various tubing shapes and connectors needed for assembly, fulfillment of orders and replenishment of finished goods.

Furthermore, the reciprocating head eliminates a connecting piece, allows JIT production and products made-to-order. Lastly, it reduces total run time from receiving the order to shipping.

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New Hot Glow Collection from Ampacet: Vibrant Translucency for Products and Packaging

Global masterbatch leader Ampacet has introduced the Hot Glow Collection, four vibrant, translucent colors for products and packaging that command visual attention.

“The fiery energy and movement of the Hot Glow Collection bringn arresting dynamism to consumer packaging and products,” says Linda Carroll, Ampacet Director of Global Insight and Innovation.

This collection of visual energy supports the messaging for products with high-alcohol-content applications such as sanitizers, alcohol-infused energy drinks and spirits. Both FDA-approved and non-FDA versions are available in four exciting colors: Fueled Yellow, Orange Oxygen, Green Energy and Red Glow.

https://www.ampacet.com/

THERMOLAST® H TPE for catheter connector applications

As the number of emergency hospital visits and surgical procedures has increased, so has the demand for catheter connectors. Furthermore, technological progress has resulted in these connectors being used for a number of applications. Catheter connectors are available in a variety of types, including needleless IV catheter connectors, suction catheter connectors, and more.

Compounds for functional performance

Catheter connectors are used to provide access to infusion and aspiration. They are important device auxiliary components for intravenous access and drug administration in order to reduce the risk of most serious consequences and improve patient compliance.

Medical devices like catheter connectors benefit from high-performance materials such as thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs), which guarantee user safety and efficiency.

TPEs are ideal material solutions for the medical industry, mainly because TPEs are halogen and latex-free and are easier to process, in comparison to other materials.

KRAIBURG TPE, a global TPE manufacturer of a wide range of thermoplastic elastomer products and custom solutions for multiple industries, has developed a new line of THERMOLAST® H compounds to meet these requirements.

Bespoke color options and material safety

KRAIBURG TPE’s THERMOLAST® H HC/AP series offers a high degree of flexibility and a strong grip, making it ideal for catheter connector applications. Additionally, THERMOLAST® H features wide hardness ranges from 30-90 Shore A and optimizable processability. The TPE compounds are translucent and can be colored in a variety of hues to meet customers’ specifications.

The TPE compounds are also biocompatible and free of animal components and other potentially dangerous substances. The materials have also been tested for cytotoxicity in compliance with ISO 10993-5 and GB/T 16886.5, as well as other approvals and standards such as China GB 4806 – 2016, US FDA CFR 21, Regulation (EU) No 10/2011, REACH, and RoHS.

About KRAIBURG TPE

KRAIBURG TPE (www.kraiburg-tpe.com) is a global manufacturer of thermoplastic elastomers. From its beginning in 2001 as a subsidiary of the historical KRAIBURG Group founded in 1947, KRAIBURG TPE has pioneered in TPE compounds, today being the competence leader in this industry. With production sites in Germany, the U.S., and Malaysia, the company offers a broad range of compounds for applications in the automotive, industrial, consumer, and strictly regulated medical sectors. The established THERMOLAST ® , COPEC ® , HIPEX ® , and For Tec E ® product lines are processed by injection molding or extrusion and provide numerous processing and product design advantages to manufacturers. KRAIBURG TPE features innovative capabilities as well as true global customer orientation, customized product solutions and reliable service. The company is certified to ISO 50001 at its headquarters in Germany and holds ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certifications at all global sites. In 2019, KRAIBURG TPE, with 645 employees worldwide, generated sales of 190 million euro.

Cosmo Speciality Chemicals– Textile division, develop 5th generation Silicone softener “LOTOSIL BHB” range

A hydrophobic softener based on block silicon chemistry can be applied to any substrate like Cotton, Polyester and blends, etc.

New Delhi, 25th October 2021: Cosmo Speciality Chemicals has developed a 5th generation Silicone
softener” LOTOSIL BHB” range which can be applied to any substrate like Cotton, Polyester and
blends, etc. These are hydrophobic and based on block silicone chemistry.

Speaking on this initiative, Mr. Anil Gaikwad, Business Head, Cosmo Speciality Chemicals said, "We
thrive on creating unique goods, and to promote meaningful innovation for the textile industry,
allowing us to bring new solutions to a wider audience at a faster speed.

“We have also developed Silicone softeners for a set of four products in LOTOSIL BHB” range which
gives excellent inner softness with soft bouncy feel stable to shear force, high liquor TDS temperature
and variation in pH. It is a hydrophobic softener based on block silicon chemistry,” he added.

Silicone softeners increase the quality of textile materials, particularly their handling. The term
“handle” refers to the mechanical behavior of fabrics that have been subjected to low pressures
similar to those experienced during garment production and usage. It is critical in this day and age
for everyone, from youngsters to the elderly, regardless of gender, to have a soft feel and be
amazed by the lightness and bulkiness of materials. In this day and age, comfort is a requirement of
society.

There are four set of products in this range: 1.LOTOSIL BHB1; 2.LOTOSIL BHB;3.LOTOSIL BHB2L;
4.LOTOSIL BHB2P

Mr. Pankaj Poddar, Group CEO of Cosmo Films Ltdsaid “At Cosmo we pride ourselves on being
specialized and niche in its offerings. Thus, innovation is comes as part of our DNA, driven by the
consumer needs and backed by strong tech infrastructure”.

The basic feature of LOTOSIL BHB ranges include excellent inner softness coupled with surface
smoothness, exhibits soft and bouncy handle, exhibits stability to shear forces, high liquor TDS and
temperature, and variation in pH.

The substrate of this 5th generation Silicone softener can be overdyed without stripping after being
finished with LOTOSIL BHB ranges, is easily miscible with water in all proportions, and is very
effective on Knits and Woven. The product is also easily miscible with water in all proportions,
suitable by exhaust and Pad application techniques apart from beingcompliant to GOTS.

About Cosmo Speciality Chemicals

Cosmo Speciality Chemicals is a 100% subsidiary of Cosmo Films Ltd with strong research capabilities
to provide the best and the most competitive products through innovations based on sustainable
science to its customers. The Company is into specialty polymers & textile chemicals and has now
launched 'Fabritizer' to safeguard consumers from the various viruses, bacteria, and germs.

About Cosmo Films Limited

Established in 1981 and founded by Mr. Ashok Jaipuria, Cosmo Films today is a global leader in
specialty films for packaging, lamination, labeling, and synthetic paper. Cosmo Films over the years
has been partnering with the worlds’ leading F&B and personal care brands and packaging & printing
converters to enhance the end consumer experience. Its customer base is spread in more than 100
countries with sales & manufacturing units in India and Korea and additionally sales & distribution
base in Japan, USA, Canada, and Europe.

Neste and Ravago plan to set up a joint venture to focus on chemical recycling of waste plastic

Neste and Ravago aim to establish a joint venture to build an industrial facility for chemical recycling in North Sea Port in Vlissingen, the Netherlands. The facility is intended to be the starting point of joint global chemical recycling (often also called “advanced recycling”) activities, built upon the advancement of the thermochemical liquefaction technology of US-based Alterra Energy, an innovative chemical recycling technology company. With this, Neste, the world’s leading producer of renewable diesel, sustainable aviation fuel, and drop-in renewable feedstocks and solutions for the polymers & chemicals industry, and Ravago, the world’s leading distributor and recycler of polymers, plan to demonstrate and advance the commercialization of chemical recycling. The transaction is awaiting for and subject to regulatory approval. 

Combining expertise along the value chain

This strategic partnership combines Ravago’s expertise in the mechanical preparation of plastic waste, Alterra Energy’s proprietary liquefaction technology, and Neste’s expertise in the processing of hydrocarbons. Neste and Ravago are aiming for a first industrial chemical recycling site in North Sea Port in Vlissingen with an annual processing capacity of about 55,000 tons of mixed plastic waste, corresponding to the plastic packaging waste generated by some 1.7 million average EU citizens* per year. The long-term aspiration of the partners is to significantly increase the processing capacity on a global scale and continuously develop the joint venture into a global leader for chemical recycling of mixed plastic waste. 

“We are truly excited about the progress of our joint project work. By fixing the investment location and scope, we are again one step closer to turning our dream into reality,” says Theo Roussis, CEO at Ravago. “Together with Neste, we have the necessary ingredients for a successful recipe to create scalable solutions, converting non-recyclable waste streams into valuable end products.”

“Chemical recycling has been a promising technology to accelerate the creation of a circular economy for quite a while,” says Mercedes Alonso, Executive Vice President, Renewable Polymers and Chemicals at Neste. “Now, it is time to take it to the next level and turn the promise into an industrial solution. By combining the expertise of Ravago and Neste, we have the means to rapidly implement the technology to start production at commercial scale. With joint and dedicated efforts, we can bring together the know-how along the entire value chain to turn waste into valuable resources. Our ambition is clear: to be a global leader in renewable and circular solutions.” 

Logical next step in cooperation between Ravago and Neste

This targeted investment is the consistent continuation of the fast-paced progress in the cooperation between the partners. In 2019, Neste and Ravago set a joint target to reach the capacity to process over 200,000 tons of mixed waste plastic per year by 2030. Ever since, the companies have evaluated technologies, the raw material market, and built joint business cases to develop chemical recycling capacities. Already in 2020, Neste also successfully conducted the first of several industrial trial runs with liquefied waste plastic at its oil refinery in Finland. 

https://www.neste.com/

The 27th Fakuma international trade fair for plastics processing celebrated an inspiring restart in Friedrichshafen from the 12th through the 16th of October, 2021. 1470 exhibitors from 39 countries came to Lake Constance for the first major international on-site event for the plastics industry this fall, and presented injection moulding, extrusion technology, thermoforming and 3D printing on a world-class level Overall emphasis was placed on the issues of sustainability, circular economy and recycling.

“We’re back! Finally an on-site trade fair again with innovations you can actually handle!” This is what everyone was saying at this year’s Fakuma 2021 in the exhibition halls in Friedrichshafen. After the compulsory one-year hiatus, the event was held live again from 12 to 16 October. 1470 exhibitors from 39 countries showcased their innovations covering all aspects of injection moulding, extrusion technology, thermoforming and 3D printing on 85,000 square metres of overall exhibition floor space. The fact that 40% of the exhibitors came from outside of Germany substantiates Fakuma’s great significance all over the world, especially in these exceptional times: “For the companies in our industry sector, Fakuma is one of the most important industrial trade fairs of all,” notes Annemarie Schur, Fakuma project manager at trade fair promoters P. E. Schall. “Fakuma was even more important this year. On the one hand because on-site trade fairs only became possible again in the fall of 2021, and on the other hand because the issues of environmental protection, circular economy and sustainability are an enormous task that we all have to tackle.” This is why Fakuma 2021 also set itself the goal of making a significant contribution to pioneering, forward-looking solutions.

“Now we want to look forward to the future together,” said Bettina Schall, trade fair organiser and managing director of P. E. Schall GmbH & Co. KG. “Fakuma is the ideal platform for tackling the current challenges faced by the industry. Record figures and superlatives don’t matter this fall. The only thing that counts is that we all cooperate to get this restart going and carry on with our work.”

“I’m delighted that something like this is possible again,” said Prof. Dr.-Ing. Martin Bastian, Institute director of the SKZ in Würzburg, at the trade fair’s opening ceremony. In his technical presentation to an auditorium full of trade press and guest listeners, he pointed out impressively what needs to be done in the industry: “We have to take more responsibility for what happens with plastic.” Martin Bastian made a passionate plea for the cause of plastics: “We have to ensure that plastic isn’t just accepted, but rather used with enthusiasm as well. And we have to do a lot more to educate people about its benefits,” says Bastian. “We have to be present in the schools and kindergartens and make it clear that the energy transition will never be possible without plastics.” The plea voiced by Dr Thomas Probst, keynote speaker of the German Federal Association for Secondary Raw Materials and Waste Management (Bundesverband Sekundärrohstoffe und Entsorgung), who offered an exclusive look behind the scenes of the recycling industry and spoke about hurdles and difficulties in recycling, was no less emphatic. “As perceived in general, plastics are not understood,” is the insight he arrives at.

The exhibition halls in Friedrichshafen were very well frequented right from the first day of the event. Interested expert visitors were able to gain an impression of the latest developments and perspectives for concrete solutions in the field of plastics processing. “Many tradition-rich global market leaders have made use of the crisis to advance their innovations.

The trend towards digitalisation is accelerating. Cross-company concepts have been developed for the establishment of a circular economy for plastic products. Every crisis presents opportunities too, and many a clever mind is taking advantage of them,” confirms Sandra Füllsack as well, managing director of Motan Holding GmbH and spokesperson for the Fakuma exhibitor advisory committee. “As a business platform for innovations throughout the value-added chain, Fakuma 2021 was once again the ideal venue for presenting new products and technological solutions, as well as for discussing trendsetting issues.” Extremely practical and with high levels of professional competence, and at the same time in a friendly atmosphere – this is how exhibitors and expert visitors regard the unique and highly esteemed industry event. 

https://www.fakuma-messe.de/

Expansion of cooperation between Coperion and Brückner Maschinenbau

Brückner Maschinenbau places major order with Coperion

Stuttgart, October 2021 – Brückner Maschinenbau, the world's leading manufacturer of film stretching lines, has placed an order with Coperion for more than 50 ZSK Mc 18 twin screw extruders. These will be integrated into plants for the production of flexible BOPET packaging films, which Brückner will install in China. The ZSK extruders have screw diameters ranging from 70 mm to 177 mm.

Brückner Maschinenbau’s substantial repeat order is based on many years of close cooperation with Coperion. With this order, Brückner is once again putting their trust in proven Coperion technology, which the company has already integrated into numerous film stretching lines. The ZSK extruders are used to melt the compounds that are fed into the lines. Thanks to their high torque, Coperion’s ZSK Mc 18 extruders achieve very high throughput rates while maintaining low product temperatures and thus ensuring first-class product quality.

“We are very pleased that Brückner Maschinenbau is once again relying on our technology and know-how” says Jochen Schofer, Business Segment Manager Recycling & Direct Extrusion at Coperion. “We very much appreciate this familiar, long-standing cooperation with the pioneer for plastic film lines. Our companies pursue very similar aspirations. We both develop high-quality technologies for plastics production with very high throughput rates. The efficient use of resources and high recyclability of the end products are important to us.”

Coperion is the international market and technology leader in compounding and extrusion systems, feeding and weighing technology, bulk materials handling systems and services. Coperion designs, develops, manufactures and maintains systems, machines and components for the plastics, chemicals, pharmaceutical, food and minerals industries. Within its two divisions – Polymer and Strategic Markets / Aftermarket Sales and Service – Coperion has 2,500 employees and nearly 30 sales and service companies worldwide. Coperion K-Tron is a brand of Coperion. For more information visit www.coperion.com or email info@coperion.com.