Materials maker Styron pulled back the curtain on eight new products at K 2010, with officials describing the new offerings as “game-changing technologies and new grades.”

The new products included:

• a high heat/high flow PC/ABS blend, a high flow/high module PC/PET/ABS blend and a high flow transparent polycarbonate, all for the TV enclosure market.

• the Inspire-brand at-press TPO system for auto parts.

• a next-generation environmental stress crack resistant grade of high-impact polystyrne for refrigerator liners.

• a customizable grade of Calibre-brand PC for LED lighting.

• a branched Calibre grade for clear sheet.

• CO2RE foaming technology for PS packaging.

“To do innovation well, you have to be attached to the market, so you can match it up with your technical ability,” President and CEO Chris Pappas said in an interview at K 2010. “It’s only through intimate relationships that you can drive technology quickly.”

Styron was formed earlier this year when Dow Chemical Co. sold its styrenics business to private equity firm Bain Capital for $1.6 billion. Styron had sales of $3.7 billion in 2009, with $2.2 billion coming from plastics.

The firm ranks as the world’s largest PS maker with a 14 percent market share, and is in the process of establishing a world headquarters in Berwyn, Pa.

Source: plasticsnews.com

Plastic is a part of our lives and will not be leaving anytime soon. Professor Fredrick S. vom Saal, a professor of biology at the University of Missouri, recommends using plastic items made with number 2 (high-density polyethylene) or 5 (polypropylene). When using the other plastics, follow these guidelines:

Recycle, do not reuse: Use the product only for what it was intended for. Do not reuse bottles or microwave trays if they were not made to be reused.

Keep the heat away from BPA: Do not warm bottles made with BPA in the stove or microwave, don\'t put boiling water in them, and do not place them in the dishwasher.

The key to using plastic safely is to use it as it is recommended

Source : Medicine Net

NUGA AG plastic granulators, Balgach / Switzerland, ® its completely revamped product line of low-wear CentriCut cutting mills for grinding plastics and rubber, which are available as stand-alone as well as in-line systems. The wide range of plastics recycling plants start at the type 33r for small-and medium-sized parts, sprues and hollow body with a maximum throughput of 500 kg / h and ranges up to type 44slr kg with a maximum throughput of 2.500 / h.

One focal point at NUGA AG plastic granulators, the wear protection. To improve this, the company has taken its own wear-test facility in operation. The reaction to the findings in the production was possible for the life of the typical parts of CentriCut ® cutting machines could now be increased and the machines would also set the industry standard in this regard, the company announced. Users could benefit from a very low maintenance, long uptimes and a reduction in costs for the plastics and rubber recycling.

The new of NUGA AG plastic granulators developed machines for shredding rubber have successfully completed their trial period. They have the structural advantage of requiring no coolant, which enables significant cost savings in rubber recycling.

The Nuga AG plastic granulators has been building for over 20 years, granulators and accessories for the shredding of plastics that are used worldwide as a central mills, for secondary in two-stage crushing plants for all types of plastics and for specialized applications such as fine crushing of fibers and rubber. The company employs approximately 40 employees.

At K 2010, also announced more than 250 exhibitors from Mainland China as well as 44 exhibitors from Hong Kong (2007: 155 from China and 31 from Hong Kong). Six Hong Kong companies present themselves in the context of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) organized national pavilions in Hall 1, Stand A25.

Hong Rita Mold Ltd.. supplies across industries, the automotive industry, medical and electronics industry with plastic molds, plastic parts and assemblies. The company covers the entire process from product design, manufacturing, dyeing and printing and quality control from up to.

The mold maker Ultratech Mold Design & Mfg.. Co Ltd. represents precision injection molds, assemblies and components for pre ago. Reflecting the high quality of products for the mobile industry, the cosmetics and packaging industries ensures Ultratech utilizes a two-step molding process, to handle different polymers. The bulk of manufactured goods went to the U.S. and Europe.

On trade and the production of pigment granules and color mixtures has Ngai Hing Hong Coltec Ltd.. specializes. The company chose to rely on the use of biodegradable polymers.

Kin fact Rubber Technology Ltd. primarily serves the electronics and motor vehicles with plastic and rubber small parts.

With TK Mold Ltd.. presents itself an injection molding manufacturer. The custom hardware is mainly used in mobile phones before, during the major components used in vehicles to come.

Since the last trade fair K 2007, at AH Chau Plastic & Mould Manufactory Ltd.. done a lot: The manufacturer of finished plastic parts for the entertainment industry, toys and office supplies in addition to meet international production standards now also the environmental standard ISO14000. 2009 he has also requirements of the automotive industry for the quality management standard under the OST / TS 16949 is connected to.

Source : Plasticker.de

Bayer Material Science produces high-quality material for an innovative robot suit to assist the human motor and power increased. The HAL exoskeleton ® developed and manufactured by the Japanese company CYBERDYNE, is now seen at Bayer Material Science at the K 2010 as an example of the mega-trend "Health".

The glossy white plastic housing of the robot suit is based on a recently thermoplastic polymer mixture of the product class Bayblend ®. "Our material combines toughness required for the HAL ® with an attractive design," said Dr. Lawrence Kramer, who is responsible at Bayer MaterialScience for the area of Robotics. "By working with CYBERDYNE we expand our global activities in the future market robotics continues."

HAL exoskeleton ® to make life easier
In Japan, HAL ® - the acronym stands for Hybrid Assistive Limb - already in a leasing model is used used in rehabilitation centers. Here the artificial legs the support to help with everyday activities such as walking, climbing stairs or getting up and support as it did when building muscle.

Given the aging of Japanese society is predicted for such service robots in the coming years, a rapid market growth. Experts tend to see significant potential in the entire Western world.

"® is thanks to the use of the functionality of HAL Bayblend ® improved significantly," said Yoshiyuki Sankai Professor, CEO and founder of CYBERDYNE, Inc. He still sees many other uses for polymers in the manufacture of robots. Here was currently still mainly used metal but I have too many restrictions. Sankai: "The strong power of innovation and technology-orientation of Bayer MaterialScience is very valuable to us, we look forward to continuing to work.."

Used in factories or in emergency
According to the ideas of the internationally renowned scientist who teaches at the University of Tsukuba near Tokyo, the robot should suit not only be used in health. Since HAL can almost tenfold ® physical strength, the system was well suited to facilitate such hard physical work in factories or on construction sites. Furthermore, it is conceivable that the exoskeleton civil protection assistance or help with sports bar.

The robot suit is strapped to the human limbs. It is controlled by a computer, the signals from electrodes on the skin of the user receives. This register again in a split second the weak bioelectric impulses that the brain sends to muscles, when a movement is intended. The whole robot suit moves so synchronized to the physical movement of the wearer.

Source : Plasticker.de

"Whether a film, a profile or a tube is made, the cooling of the semifinished product plays a significant role." According to Reisner, the cooling provides a high output of the entire system and guarantee an optimal final product quality. The refrigeration system manufacturer, be it with his new development "Epsilon (ε) is now able to design a cooling system that is flexible in every situation, the requested service and at the same time consumes a minimum of energy.

The heart of the ε-system is a magnetic bearing compressor, which works on the turbine principle - it sucks the refrigerant gas in axial and radial forces it out again. Thanks to its infinitely variable speed control can improve the performance of the entire system at any time with the current refrigeration demand of each extrusion line to be adjusted. In contrast to most screw compressors are Reisner Epsilon systems to remain in the partial load is always constant in their efficiency.

The Reisner presented during an open house of Battenfeld cincinnati, Bad Oeynhausen / Vienna, while the K 2010 in combination with refrigeration from Battenfeld Extrusion Systems-Cincinnati. The event provides the extruder specialist on three existing complete systems.

In the final pre-event briefing before the K2010 doors open on Wednesday, organizer Messe Dusseldorf said that the number of exhibitors will be down by just 12 compared to the last show in 2007 event – 3,102 exhibitors this year from 3,114 – representing a total exhibitor area of 164,125 square meters.

As at past K fairs, machinery and equipment producers account for the majority of exhibitors - 1,911 - followed by 635 raw materials producers, 271 producers of semi-finished products and technical parts and 185 service providers.

The number of German exhibitors is down slightly from 1,076 at K2007 to 1,131 at K 2010. But domestic companies still account for the largest share – 40 percent – whether measured by number or floor space.

However, 2,026 exhibitors – 60 percent of the total – come from outside Germany. Italy takes the lead among overseas countries, with 413 exhibitors, followed by China with 247. Taiwan at 139 takes third position, slightly ahead of France at 126, which is in turn ahead of India at 122 and 110 from the United States.

Well over 200,000 visitors are expected to visit the show - 242,000 visitors attended the K2007 event.

Speaking in his role as president of the K2010 exhibitors advisory council, Ulrich Reifenhäuser spoke at the briefing about the difficult times the industry has seen since the 2007 event. “We had this terrible crisis, the biggest catastrophe that the machinery industry has ever experienced,” he said.

However, Reifenhäuser said he remained optimistic and predicted the long-term average 9 percent growth rate of the plastics industry seen since 1950 will not be broken by the recent recession. “Readiness for change is much greater in a period of crisis,” he said.

Despite short-time working in the plastics machinery industry, German government measures have ensured that experienced staff are on hand to handle the strong growth now being experienced, Reifenhäuser said.

Reifenhäuser’s growth comments have since been confirmed by the German VDMA plastics and rubber machinery association, of which Ulrich Reifenhäuser is also chairman, which raised its forecast for sector sales growth in 2010 from 11 to 15 percent.

Meanwhile, Messe Düsseldorf CEO Werner Matthias Dornscheidt shared some key show data at the briefing. He said some 5,000 vehicles and 20,000 people are involved in the build up of the fair, which has seen 3,000 trucks, including 31 exceptional heavy transporters, on the showground.

Despite 23 hotel ships moored along the Rhein, Dornscheidt said rooms in hotels and private quarters have once again been largely taken up. He also said that Messe Düsseldorf has successfully managed to put a stop to a number of intermediaries that had been buying up hotel room space and selling it at twice the normal price.

Dornscheidt added that local hotels should only be applying modest premiums over their regular rates. “It is excessive if you have to pay 500 euros for a night in the Novotel,” he said.

Hotels, restaurants and taxi companies will, of course, benefit from the extra trade that a quarter of a million visitors will bring to the city of Düsseldorf. Local public transport operators will not benefit financially, however, as local transport costs are included with fair entrance tickets.

Engineered thermoplastics compounder RTP Co. has opened a new manufacturing plant in Ladenburg, Germany, the company’s second in Europe. 

Operating as RTP Deutschland GmbH, the 61,500-square-foot operation will make products including very long fiber composites and conductive compounds.  “In addition to expanding manufacturing capacity, the Ladenburg plant also houses on-site product development engineers as well as a quality assurance laboratory,” said John Van Wijk, the company’s European director of sales, in a news release. 

RTP now has 11 manufacturing sites. Other locations include Beaune, France; Suzhou, China; Singapore; Monterrey, Mexico, and six plants in the United States.  RTP bought the Beaune plant from French thermoplastics compounder Codiplast SNC in 1995. Since then, RTP has significantly expanded its global footprint. The company said a second plant in Europe was necessary because of growth in its market for engineered materials. 
Source : Plastics News

The French CIFRA announced at K 2010 the launch of two new products from recycled PVC range. The expanded product range allows you to information provider profile, pipe extruders, injection or more options and greater flexibility. Both recycled rigid PVC composites are characterized thus by a very low density (0.7 and 0.9) as well as by mechanical and UV-resistant properties of the foamed or not foamed PVC recycling are characteristic. Here, the grain size determination be customized.

The cellular and recycled rigid PVC compound RecyPVC PEX07 is considered a low temperature, easy to apply formulation presented very low density (0.7) and improved material distribution and good bonding. RecyPVC PEX07 has similar hardness and strength characteristics as standard composites of foamed PVC raw materials. Because of this composition, the CO2 production by 70 percent.

The second PVC formulation as a reduced density of 0.9 and should be suitable for processors that require a higher hardness and greater mechanical strength. The properties of PEX09 RecyPVC similar to those of foamed PVC composite raw materials will be used at the same time, however, allow a reduction in CO2 emissions by 60 percent.

Michel Py, chairman and founder of the company CIFRA, said: "The processors receive an optimal composite of recycled PVC. This is due to the different levels of MFI, but also reduced to micron-thick PVC, an infrared spectroscopic monitoring and a previous extrusion test. "

In addition, CIFRA other processors also its know-how in the utilization of recycled products. Since September of this year CIFRA partner of Green Waste plastic, one of the "Life +" projects of the European Commission. In the company\'s own laboratory, the characteristics of reusable waste to be determined. These will then be used in areas where have been for reasons of traceability and monitoring of any post-consumer products approved.

CIFRA was founded in 1989 and claims to include the leading companies in France, producing both rigid PVC composite materials and composite materials that are suitable for specialized and complex processing. Cifra is an active member of the recycling initiative Recovinyl and associations EuPR (European Plastics Recyclers), EuPC (European Plastics Converters) and UCAPLAST (trade union federation of small and medium-sized companies in the rubber and plastics industry).

Source : plasticker.de

Starlinger combine FMS technology and woven fabric .To combine these two successful concepts - on the one hand, the FFS-filling technology for bulk solids, the other packing materials from woven fabric - this challenge Dow, Starlinger and Haver & Boecker have taken on together.

Woven fabric is a packaging material stretched plastic tape. Woven fabric bags are insensitive to pressure, fracture and buckling. Even if they are moved by hook or damaged by nails, they break not occur and the valuable content is in the bag. In addition, woven fabric, in comparison to conventional films very thin, making it easy, but is still robust and durable - and with low raw material consumption. What is more, that it is completely recyclable.




The FMS technology (Form, Fill & Seal - Form, Fill & Seal) is a fully-automated, cost-effective packaging method for powder, granules, flakes and many other bulk goods. On the filling machine are made of plastic film tube endless bags that are immediately filled with the product and then sealed. The top of the filled bag and the bottom of the next bag to be welded simultaneously. The great advantage of the FFS method is that the bags are closed by welding. FFS machines do not need needles (which can easily break) or yarn (must be actual power again and again). As a result, no thread groups mingle with the medium, and the bags are hermetically sealed, because there are no stitch holes.

To date, it was not possible to use tissue from plastic strips on FFS-filling. Through joint Abstrengungen it is now the first woven fabric that was produced on machinery from Starlinger-Dow pellets to use for FFS-filling of Haver & Boecker. The so-called "woven * FFS" technology is specifically aimed at bottling plants in the chemical industry and building material and food industries.

The advantages of woven sacks * FFS include:
Robust but lightweight packaging material
Protection of the packaged goods from all around the sealed, waterproof packaging
Thanks to the fully automatic FFS machines from Haver & Boecker, the control activities are limited to roles and format changes.
Optimized bags: constant monitoring of the bulk density, and adjust the bag length.
Clean blind surfaces and greater safety during transport due to compact filled bags.
The lower consumption of raw materials helps to save resources and money.

In the development of "woven * FFS" Dow, Starlinger and Haver & Boecker claims to have paid particular attention to making the switch from PET to PE woven fabric for the bottlers as easy as possible. Customers who already have FFS systems of Haver & Boecker, should have to make any major conversions. To take advantage of woven fabric, a few minor changes to the FFS system was needed - and simply using a different material roll.

Even companies that have processed so far, due to customer and market requirements, tissue and could therefore not use FFS bottling plants, will now have the opportunity to take advantage of this fully automatic, cost-packaging concept. The high production capacity of the facilities and the time and cost savings in operation and maintenance would mean that the investment pay off in this new system in a short time.

The new packaging concept is presented for the first time at K 2010.

Source : plasticker.de

The Russian petrochemical group Salavatnefteorgsintez will increase the production of LDPE. The company is therefore currently working on a new plant to be completed by the end of 2013. This is the current annual production capacity increased by 66 percent to 200,000 tons, reports the international plastics portal eplastics.

"We have the necessary financial resources and credit for this investment," said the Director-General Damir Szawalejew. The total cost for this investment, which extends over five years amount, reported to 100 billion rubles (2.4 billion euros).

To the Group's products include styrene, which is used in the manufacture of packaging plastics. Similarly, the Russians produce ethylene, which is a basis in the production of PVC. Corporate gifts, according Salavatnefteorgsintez is one of the largest petrochemical companies in Russia.

Source : plasticker.de

Engineering plastics from Ultramid ® Family (PA), BASF offers solutions for plugs and sockets of photovoltaic systems.

Photovoltaic systems, also called solar systems to be treated as electrical systems and must therefore also with respect to the approval of their connection technology to meet high requirements. For the plugs and sockets of these plants, BASF can now offer special versions of the Ultramid ®, which not only flame retardant and highly resistant, but also very cold impact are: A property that is important for the life of the plants from wind and weather. In contactors, circuit breakers or bobbins, classical E & E applications, these special stamps are used for many years.


The Huber + Suhner, a leading global manufacturer of systems for electrical and optical connectivity with headquarters in Pfäffikon, Switzerland, used according to BASF already Ultramid ® type connectors in their latest generation of solar systems. "We decided very early on for its powerful and reliable material because it facilitates the production of our high-efficiency photovoltaic devices," said Max Goeldi, product unit manager at Huber + Suhner in Pfäffikon.

Depending on the requirements - for connectors or sockets
For the indication photovoltaic connectors BASF offers mainly Ultramid ® A3X2G7. This material is particularly rigid, so that the plugs can be very lean and still fulfill the high requirements. For example, to reach Ultramid ® A3X2G7 the UL-V0 with a wall thickness of 0.8 mm and 5VA at 1.5 mm.

For outlets of solar systems, BASF Ultramid ® A3XZG5 recommends, however. While required in the damp heat test only 1000 hours, offer the high-impact-modified Ultramid ® grade even after 4000 hours air storage at 85 ° C and 85% humidity of a stretch, which is twice as high as the previously used materials. In addition, junction boxes were made of this material with the challenging Cold Impact test according to UL 1703 easily done. This exam components if they have at minus 35 ° C after the impact of a good 500 g ball of 1.3 m height of cracks and damage. The prescribed fire protection classification UL 5VA Ultramid ® A3XZG5 fill from 2.3 mm.

Both polyamide-types are also after the interest to the solar technology f1-weathering test (UL) certification. It requires that the fire rating of the product after 1000 hours Xenon UV weathering and after seven days of water storage does not change. Strength and impact toughness after irradiation must achieve at least 70% of its initial value. This package provides the special BASF Ultramid grades well prepared for the growing market for solar technology. Initial parts will be on display at the plastics trade fair K 2010 in Dusseldorf.

Source : plasticker.de

InterTrade Industries, a full-service ISO-certified thermoforming company, has acquired the assets of Plastic Concept Inc., expanding InterTrade’s thin-gauge thermoforming capabilities and doubling its manufacturing square footage.

Financial terms of the transaction between both Huntington Beach-based companies were not disclosed.

InterTrade Industries has specialized in vacuum and pressure forming of heavy-gauge plastics as well as polyurethane foam products for a variety of industries, including aerospace, military, automotive, electronics, medical and consumer products. With the acquisition of Plastic Concept Inc., InterTrade Industries has quadrupled its tooling capabilities. In addition, it will be adding nine thermoforming lines that specialize in thin-gauge plastics, benefiting the retail packaging market, among others. This adds to the current blister and clamshell thermoforming capabilities of InterTrade Industries.

“For more than 35 years, the team at InterTrade Industries has been offering engineering insight and experience to help clients bring new ideas to life; now, we have even more technology to do so,” said Niki Kopenhaver, president and chief operating officer of American Innotek, parent company of InterTrade Industries. “This acquisition fits our strategic growth plan, and will allow us to help even more clients by providing high-quality products and unparalleled customer service.”

In order to ensure a successful transition, all current Plastic Concept Inc. employees will join the InterTrade team.

“We pride ourselves in understanding today’s competitive marketplace and our clients’ need to produce products quickly, cost efficiently and without sacrificing quality. We’re thrilled that the Plastic Concept Inc. employees who are joining our team share these ideals,” said Kopenhaver.

InterTrade Industries Ltd

The London Metal Exchange (LME) announces that it will delist its plastics contracts and that the last prompt date for all existing contracts will be Friday 29th April 2011. The formal decision to delist was taken by the Board of the London Metal Exchange following a recommendation by the Executive Committee. This announcement follows the establishment of delisting procedures.

The Exchange has decided that the costs of withdrawing outstanding warrants from the LMEsword depository will be waived. Current open interest for all plastics contracts is 228 lots, out to March 2011.

Plastics futures trading was introduced on the LME on 27th May 2005. Despite a number of changes to the contracts and the subsequent launch of regional contracts no significant volume or open interest has been established and the exchange believes that this position is unlikely to change in the foreseeable future. It has therefore decided to focus its efforts and resources on other opportunities.

LME Chief Executive Martin Abbott commented, “The Exchange and its committee members have put considerable effort into this endeavour to bring transparency and hedging facilities to the plastic business. But we must now recognise that these efforts have not attracted sufficient volume business and the time has come to bring this activity to a close.”

London Metal Exchange

The Dr. Reinold Hagen Foundation and the Hagen Engineering GmbH will be showing their extensive know-how in the entire development process for plastic products and their production, with the help of a chain of blow mould articles at Stand D76 in Hall 6: beginning with brainstorming, computer-aided feasibility studies, CAD and layout as well as material and tool sampling in their own technical centre.

A highlight of the fair is the smallest blow mould machine in the world, being presented to the public for the first time, simulated by the manufacturing procedure for plastic hollowware.

The Hagen Foundation has been committed for many years, also in matters of occupational orientation. PAI (German KAI), is the Plastics-Apprenticeship-Initiative co-founded by the foundation, with the goal to get young people excited about a career in plastics. PAI (KAI) will offer pupils and students at the K2010 interesting insight into an occupational field with best future prospects.

plasticker.de

Pelletizers and Melt Pumps for High Capacity Plants
Right on time for this year´s K show Coperion GmbH, formerly Werner & Pfleiderer, will be presenting new machine sizes in their UG underwater pelletizer and MP melt pump series for high capacity polyolefin compounding plants.





Underwater Pelletizers: Breaking the 100 t/h barrier
An eye catcher on the Coperion booth B33 in Hall 14 will be the die plate from a UG 1.250, the largest underwater pelletizer in the world. It boasts a range of superlatives: The average cutting diameter is 1250 mm and it can have up to 11,000 die holes. Manufacturing the die plate, its wear protection as well as the uniform distribution of the melt onto the cutting ring present particular challenges. The new UG 1.250 allows throughputs in excess of 100 t/h for polyethylene and water flow rates of up to 1,500 m³/h. The hydraulic control elements and the drive system are based on technology that has proven itself in long term operation on other machine sizes. The first UG 1.250 will go into operation soon. A slightly smaller but similarly constructed UG 925 for polypropylene has been in operation since the middle of 2009.




Coperion also builds exceptionally large underwater pelletizers for thermoplastic elastomers. An example of this is a UG 750 which will go into operation at the beginning of 2011. The design and method of operation reflect the fact that TPE pellets tend to be very sticky. The axial water flow along the knife shaft into the cutting chamber and the radial water flow along the pelletizing knives towards the water chamber exit minimize turbulences in the cutting chamber. This results in fewer collisions between the freshly cut, tacky pellets, which prevents agglomeration.

Melt Pumps for up to 65 t/h of Polyolefins
Coperion presented in-house manufactured melt pumps for the first time at K 2007. Following successful installation and trouble free operation, in various cases for more than three years, the next model size, the MP 450 melt pump, will achieve a target throughput of up to 65 t/h. An MP 450 melt pump is currently in the final stages of installation. When processing polypropylene it will cover a throughput range from 30 to 50 t/h. Two further melt pumps of the same type with throughputs between 40 and 50 t/h for polyethylene are close to delivery to the client.

Coperion uses a well proven design for their melt pumps: A pair of involute gears run on hydrodynamic plain bearings lubricated by the polymer melt. These components are built into the housing that is sealed to the outside on both sides by a cover containing a contact-free threaded shaft seal. The detailed process dependent design factors, for example the type of cooling and the size of the operating clearance, are calculated and specified for each project and product. The melt pumps have single or twin shaft drive options.

plasticker.de

BASF has announced plans to build a production facility for customer specific antioxidant blends (CSB) in Bahrain. The new CSB plant will come in addition to the existing tolling agreement for CSB with Astra Polymer in the Kingdom of Saudi-Arabia, which is mainly supplying local customers.

“With the new production facility in Bahrain, we will be able to support the fast growth of our customers in the Middle East region while providing the flexibility in supply and service speed that our customers require”, explains Hans W. Reiners, President Performance Chemicals Division of BASF.

John Frijns, Senior Vice President Plastic Additives Europe/EAWA, adds: “Following the evaluation of several investment options, we have decided that a new antioxidant blending facility in Bahrain will provide the highest value for both, our customers and BASF”.



As the world’s leading Plastic Additives supplier, BASF is committed to support polymer growth in the Middle East Region with local production as well as the services that customers demand.

Plastic Additives
BASF is a leading manufacturer, supplier and innovation partner of additives and pigments for the plastics industry such as light stabilizers, antioxidants and process stabilizers, flame retardants, other additives, and organic and inorganic pigments.

BASF
BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics and performance products to agricultural products, fine chemicals as well as oil and gas.
BASF

As it sets sail for Germany and K 2010, PolyOne Corp. is hoping that its recent run of good fortune can continue. The Avon Lake-based compounding and distribution firm is on track to post its second straight profitable year in 2010. And while that may seem like faint praise, it is music to the ears of Chairman and CEO Stephen Newlin. “We’ve done a whole culture transformation,” Newlin said in a recent interview in Avon Lake. “We’re now focused squarely on our customers and have higher expectations and accountability.

Our focus is on new customers and prospects, and we’re driven around customer needs.” Those changes also have produced results on PolyOne’s bottom line. In 2007 — Newlin’s first full year at the helm — the firm eked out an $11.4 million profit on sales of about $2.6 billion. The economic flameout of 2008 hit PolyOne hard, as the firm posted a loss of almost $275 million on sales of about $2.7 billion. After making some tough choices in 2009 — closing a plant in Ontario and cutting almost 400 jobs companywide — PolyOne turned the corner in 2009, earning almost $70 million on a slimmed-down sales total of $2.1 billion.

The turnaround also has been reflected in PolyOne’s per-share stock price. When Newlin joined the firm in early 2006, the price was floating just under $9 per share. It bounced between $6 and $10 through mid-2008 before descending along with most other stocks, bottoming out under $1.50 in March 2009. Since that point, PolyOne’s stock price has been on a steady upward climb, closing Oct. 14 at $13.37. “We did a customer survey right after I started, and a number of people said we were difficult to do business with,” Newlin said. “On product quality, nothing stood out. In delivery and innovation, we were right in the middle of the pack. “That wasn’t good enough. We wanted to be the best in all stages. Our on-time delivery ranged from 81 percent to the mid-90s. Why would you buy from us? We needed to capture what made our customers profitable. “I don’t think we were arrogant, but we had grown complacent with our customers.

We used to go after volume. But that’s not our game anymore.” Newlin also made a number of moves which, he said, improved the caliber of PolyOne’s management team. “I believe that we have, bar none, the best management team in the industry,” he said. “We have a lot of ideas and energy focused on innovation.” At the K show, PolyOne will be highlighting several new or recently introduced materials, including:

• OnColor Complete, an eco-friendly liquid colorant system that can help processors and original equipment manufacturers reduce their costs of operations while eliminating waste and enhancing employee safety, according to PolyOne.
• Edgetek AM-brand flame-retardant, non-halogen compounds, a new line of nylon-based compounds for thin-walled parts.
• OnFlex-brand non-halogen flame-retardant, non-phthalate thermoplastic elastomers — a line from PolyOne’s GLS unit aimed at the wire and cable market.

• Compounds, additive and colorant solutions for photovoltaics, for use in back-sheet laminates, wire and other applications in solar energy and related markets.

• Halogen-free Eccoh-brand compounds, which provide structural strength, antimicrobial controls and other properties to the medical market.

“The K show is important to us because we’re a global player,” Newlin said. “There will be a lot of suppliers and business customers there. We want to support the industry and stay connected and have visibility.”

Regarding two of PolyOne’s main end markets — automotive and construction — Newlin said the firm “is dealing with things we can control and influence.”

“We can’t control how many houses or cars are built,” he said. “We’ll never fully abandon these markets, but we need to find ways to grow when they’re down.”

Newlin pointed out that the standard U.S. auto scrap rate — how many cars are taken off the roads each year — is 12 million. That’s slightly ahead of the 11.5 million build number expected for this year.

“That’s just treading water,” he said of those numbers. “Automotive is in the right zone globally, but it’s still down in the U.S. We see continued growth in that market, but we’ve become more of a custom shop.”

Any U.S. construction market recovery “will take a while longer,” according to Newlin. Although the U.S. market eventually could get back to its 50-year average of about 1.5 million new units built per year, the peak of 2 million “won’t be seen again,” he said.

Newlin also anticipates a change in the previously close relationship between housing starts and the performance of PVC-based products such as the compounds that remain a large business for PolyOne.

“People are going to have less to spend on a new house, and we need to match that,” he said.

PolyOne also is working in a challenging market space where it’s entering into sustainable products while still being a major developer of PVC, a resin that’s been targeted by environmentalists for many years.

“We need a sustainability line that goes all the way across our product line,” Newlin said. “But PVC is really difficult to replace unless you can replace its economics.

“Everybody’s for green products — it’s like apple pie — but they don’t always want to pay a 30-40 percent premium. So there’s not going to be a sea change. We’ll continue to pursue parallel paths.”

Newlin also touched on PolyOne’s recently introduced supplier scorecard program, where the firm will assess 30 of its suppliers in a number of performance areas.

“It’s not about beating our suppliers up on price,” he said. “We want them to understand where we’re going with the company. We want to draw them in to technology, open the door and see what it means.”

Future growth also is on the minds of Newlin and other PolyOne executives.

“We’ve got the strongest balance sheet and finances in the history of the company, and we’ll be gearing up our [mergers and acquisitions] activity,” he said. “We’ll look to global growth in technology plays and bolt-on applications. We like our position in Asia, but we’ll keep building on it, and also will look to South America.”

Source: plasticsnews.com

Cellect Plastics LLC has changed its name to Cellect Technologies LLC and has licensed its I-Cell EVA and polyethylene roll business to XL Foam LLC, a private investor group.

Cape Cod-based Cellect Technologies now will concentrate solely on low-carbon-impact specialty foams, including Opflex-brand materials for oil spill cleanup and Microflex LCI for yoga mats and other consumer applications.

Scott Smith, president and owner of Cellect, said in a news release that the deal strengthens his firm’s capital position. He added that the company plans to establish a new headquarters in Florida, Alabama or Massachusetts.

Source: plasticsnews.com

The number of the largest ever built so far frank mills cutting the 600-series Rapid is now complete: From now on, the 600 series in the three Mahlkammerbreiten of 900, 1,200 and 1,500 mm offered. Due to the extensive range of modular rotors and different types of grinding chamber is the 600 series in 45 different basic designs available and can be adapted to many tasks in the plastics recycling, the Swedish manufacturer.

New series of large mills with good viedo
Bengt Rimark, marketing manager of the Rapid Group, explains: "The 600 series uses the same patented technology that has already proven successful in the 300, 400 and 500 series, which are already on the market since 2004. Operator displays simple screen change to "open door" of the new mill from the 600 series. (Image: Rapid) The concept is completely modular and can be customized for each application in the plastics and recycling industry. At K 2010, we will be exhibiting for the first time the full open-hearted series. "

All machines in the 600 series feature Rapids unique and patented the so-called "Mineral Composite Technology Base" (MCT), a virbrationsabsorbierende heavy platform that makes the 600 series to a heavy-duty granulator for the most demanding tasks, while for noise reduction during the granulation contributes.

Direct and easy access to the "heart" of the mill
"Frankly describes a design concept that allows the operator, for example, during a production change to get full access to the rotor and the grinding chamber - in just three steps and no tools required! The free view of the basic machine components allowing the reliable visual inspection for cleanliness to prevent contamination with color and material changes. To servicing and maintenance to benefit from fast access. In both cases, the downtime is reduced significantly, thereby increasing productivity, "said Rimark further.

Apart from the cost of making rapid, according to the cost of cleaning and maintenance of a saw-mill is the major cost factor in when considering the total costs over the entire useful life. and to the 600 series such time savings by enabling the easy access to the machine, each time saving that can be achieved without compromising security improved, while the cost for users.

Efficient mills specifically for large parts and tubes
The 600 series is designed specifically for grinding of large-volume injection molding, blow molding or extrusion parts designed and waste, whether as a central or beside-mill at large processing machines, and can grind up to 3,500 kg / h. The rotor of 600 mills with a diameter of 600mm and is available with three Mahlkammerbreiten of 900, 1,200 and 1,500 mm.

To the series even more flexible, can be installed in addition, the grinding chamber of Rapid supertangentiale that allows to grind parts that are larger than the rotor diameter.

About Rapid Granulator
Rapid Granulator AB, headquartered in the southern Swedish Bredaryd, employs 195 employees and claims to have an export share of about 97%. To support the sale, the company has six subsidiaries, in Cranberry Township (USA), Shanghai, Singapore, Venice, Lyon and German Kleinostheim. Add a dense network is used worldwide by over 90 representatives and partner companies.

With almost 100,000 installed on five continents Granulators Rapid continues to see as a world leader in size reduction of plastic waste and recycling of industrial and post consumer waste.

Source : plasticker.de

Bioplastics are the plastics industry's response to the demand for environmentally responsible alternatives to oil-based products. Sukano introduces the K 2010 bio-based additive solutions to improve the performance and functionality of bioplastics.

SUKANO ® Biology polymer alloys for injection molding applications
The new polymer-Alloys (English alloy) will give the successful bio-plastics for their use in injection molding applications required application properties.

Biology The product line consists of finished with Sukano technology PLA-based bioplastics. Here, the PLA is the addition of specific additives modified so that it analogous in many application areas an oil-based plastic can be processed and used. The Biology Alloys increase impact strength and stiffness and the thermal heat resistance of PLA for injection molding applications and allow for optimal processing, the provider. Geared to the needs of manufacturers and users they are made in compounding.

Sukano Biokonzentrate for film extrusion
This Biokonzentrate were developed to the functional characteristics of bioplastics in the film extrusion to improve. This PLA is now analogous to all other oil-based plastics can be produced and processed.

Sukano Biokonzentrate are highly concentrated masterbatches based on bio-polymer carriers. The user will then mixed with a small proportion of its biopolymer, to obtain the desired properties in the final product. The bio-based SUKANO Gleit-/Antiblock ® masterbatches promise to reduce the friction and thus the processability and to facilitate unstacking of the products. The controlled nucleation by masterbatches crystallization is to increase the thermal resistance of the finished film. With the bio-based SUKANO ® UV Masterbatches of UV-content protection will ensure the finished film. The patented transparent SUKANO ® impact modifier increases already substantially in a low dose, the impact strength of the molded part.

Besides functional masterbatches offers Sukano optical masterbatches to improve the visual appearance of the finished product. These include pigments and soluble dyes, as well as white and black concentrates for transparent and opaque applications.

All Sukano Biokonzentrate and SUKANO ® Biology are on the provider information industrially compostable and fully equipped with a bio-based carbon content up to 100%.

Source : plasticker.de

Superior Essex Inc. announced today the acquisition of a 70% majority ownership in Changzhou Olong Electrical Insulating Materials Co., Ltd. (‘Olong’), located in Changzhou, China. Olong is a leading Chinese producer of enamel coatings used in the manufacture of copper and aluminum winding wire for the electrical motor, transformer and power generation industries.

Superior Essex Inc., a subsidiary of LS Cable, is currently the world’s largest manufacturer of winding wire and, through its IVA operations, the world’s second largest manufacturer of enamel coating for winding wire applications. The acquisition of Olong will add strategic enamel manufacturing capabilities in China, the world’s largest and fastest growing winding wire market, and will complement existing IVA enamel production operations serving the European market from Meyzieu, France and the North American market from Ft. Wayne, Indiana.

The Company intends to operate the acquired business under the IVA name and expand the current operations to provide vertical capabilities to service the requirements of Superior Essex’s China magnet wire operations as well as certain of LS Cable’s requirements.

Valéry Mercier, VP Global Enamel, stated “this investment is a key strategic advancement for our global enamel capabilities. The combination of the Superior Essex IVA technology and enamel expertise with the manufacturing and distribution capabilities of Olong in China should yield exceptional growth opportunities for our global operations. We are also excited about developing Olong’s existing customer base by servicing them with our best quality product and service.”

Source: businesswire.com

In cooperation with the Institute of Polymer Technology (ICT) Stuttgart intends Dr. Andreas Strunk-Westermann, scientific director of MJ Additive GmbH to develop a plastic that is at least as heat resistant as nylon. The stated goal is to get a replacement for the very stable, but also expensive polyamide. "The long-term goal is to replace these with others. Preferably by polypropylene, which could then be a substitute for end products in the engine room. "Said Dr. Strunk-Westermann.

The University represents academic staff available to develop this based on the materials, models to estimate the aging effect of these materials to better. Then the results of the models with the help of specific tests are reviewed. MJ Additive takes in this cooperation, the development of new additives systems.

"We want to achieve with a combination of additives selected a very high heat resistance of polypropylene," said Dr. Strunk-Westermann. Currently, protection is sufficient up to 130 ° C. "The goal is to exceed this number dramatically. However, this target also carries risks: "It may not be the physical properties change too much," said Dr. Strunk-Westermann. The stated goal is to keep a waste of the most important physical parameters below 30%.

Another project in barrier film planned
The project, through the National Innovation Program by the Federal Office of Economics and Technology for the SME sector, is launched in the summer and runs a total of two years. "In addition to this collaborative project underway to start another project in the field of barrier films in cooperation with another university," says Dr. Andreas Strunk-Westermann.

Source : plasticker.de

The requirements for the plastic industry are becoming increasingly complex: components should always be more compact and durable and also combine several functions in it. The substitution of other materials such as metal remains an important issue. How customer-specific solutions to drive efficiency, shows the WPK Kunststofftechnik GmbH & Co. KG K 2010 on the Gemeimschaftsstand of NRW. For the first time the company is represented at this trade fair.

Since its founding over 40 years, FPC has clearly focused on complex challenges in plastics technology. All resources are available for in-house: from the construction that makes use of forward-looking 3D CAD technology covers the mold until the plastic injection molding, the WPK has a modern, own machinery. This comprehensive plastics expertise, the company claims to be able to complete projects to accompany the prototypes to mass production, to fix and assembled components.

The goals were clear added value and benefits to the user in the form of lighter yet more robust components, in the form of higher efficiency and longer-lasting quality, WPK. Industry-side cover many areas from the company and take project contracts for well-known representatives from various sectors. A current example of complex assemblies, the FPC for letter sorting are designed, developed and manufactured. At FPC stand at K 2010, a delivery unit is to be seen in action.

Source : plasticker.de

PPG Industries has announced that Thomas P. (Tom) Kerr has been appointed vice president, fiber glass, within the company’s Glass segment, reporting to J. Rich Alexander, executive vice president, Performance Coatings, effective immediately. Most recently, Kerr was director, strategic operations, fiber glass.

“Tom’s extensive manufacturing and commercial work within all of PPG’s glass businesses, including experience in North America and Europe, make him well-qualified to lead our fiber glass business,” Alexander said.

Kerr joined PPG in 1978 at the company’s former Crystal City, Mo., glass plant. In 1985, he joined the glass research-and-development function as a project leader focused on advanced insulating glass technology. Kerr joined PPG’s former automotive glass business in 1991 as director of quality, and in 1993 became plant manager at the former Crestline, Ohio, automotive glass plant. Kerr transferred to Paris in 1996 to become director of production for automotive OEM glass in Europe. In March 1998, Kerr returned to the United States to become general manager, automotive OEM products, and in August 2002, director, production, flat glass. He was named director, strategic operations, fiber glass, in 2005.

Kerr earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Texas.

PPG

Canada’s federal government has decided that bisphenol A is a toxic substance and is drafting regulations to manage the chemical. It is the first country to take such an extreme view of the byproduct of certain plastics production.

“Our science indicated that Bisphenol A may be harmful to both human health and the environment and we were the first country to take bold action in the interest of Canadians,” stated Minister of Health Leona Aglukkaq in an Oct. 13 announcement.

The verdict of toxicity was echoed by Minister of the Environment Jim Prentice.

“We are continuing our leadership on this issue and Canadians can rest assured that we are working hard to monitor and manage bisphenol A,” Prentice noted in the announcement.

Bisphenol A has been added to Schedule 1 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, which enables development of regulatory risk management measures.

The recent pronouncement strengthens Canada’s approach to bisphenol A. Nearly two years ago it banned polycarbonate baby bottles because they might contain BPA but it allowed 18.9-liter water bottles. In July 2009 it said BPA did not pose a health risk in bottled water, powdered infant formula and baby foods in glass jars with metal lids. This past summer the federal government announced BPA is present in the urine of most Canadians.

Source: plasticsnews.com

The world of thermoplastic elastomers is going through some pretty major changes.

“The shift to Asia is the single most important factor affecting TPEs in the current environment,” market analyst Bob Eller said at TPE Topcon, an industry event organized by the Society of Plastics Engineers, held Sept. 14-15 in Akron.

But Eller did not stop there.

“Some TPE markets are approaching maturity in Western markets,” he added. “They’re seeing commodity-like pricing and reduced customization, and that’s opening up the market for smaller companies and making a significant price challenge to established TPEs.

“We’re also seeing a split into commodity and specialty TPEs. That means there are opportunities for custom TPE compounders who are willing to tailor grades. Targeting higher-value applications like air-bag doors.”

Eller’s comments may not have been welcome news to North American TPE makers, who have long described their products as value-added specialty materials, residing far from the commodity realm.

On a more positive note, Eller — owner of Robert Eller Associates Inc. in Akron — also pointed out numerous growth opportunities for TPEs around the world. Vehicles in China, for example, use only 4.4 pounds of thermoplastic vulcanizate per vehicle, while India checks in even lower at 3.3 pounds. The global average is 5.7 pounds. New markets for TPVs and other types of TPEs include weatherstripping, hoses and belts and elastic fibers and films.

“We’ve seen the introduction of higher-performance [thermoplastic polyurethanes],” Eller said. “And an expanded range of [styrenic block copolymer] chemistry, with process technology allows for hard/soft combinations and foam/solid configurations.”

Moving forward, Eller said that new Asian TPE compounders may have an advatange over Western competitors, even if Western firms already have valuable automotive approvals. Automotive continues to hold a 35-40 percent share of the TPE market. U.S, automotive demand for TPEs is improving, but other regions of the world now have more growth prospects, he explained.

“Western companies need to go into Asia with specialties, not with a broad product line,” Eller said. “The global TPE life-cycle curve is changing in shape. It’s a substantially higher curve that’s more diverse, and with a higher number of compounders competing.”

If you have heard about the Plastic Continent -- the floating island of plastic twice the size of Texas in the Pacific Ocean -- then you understand how crucial it is to recycle plastic. Right now, only 5% of plastics worldwide are recycled. Some of this is ignorance: most of the world still simply doesn't understand the danger plastics pose to our environment and our food chain. But plastics themselves are complicated. Even if you want to recycle your plastics, and even if you dutifully separate plastics from the rest of your household waste and put it out on the curb in its blue or green recycle bin, your plastics might still end up in the Plastic Continent. Why is this?

Different Types of Plastic

Look at the underneath side of a plastic bottle or plastic container. Inside the familiar reduce, reuse, recycle triangle (“chasing arrows”) logo is a number between one and seven. This number indicates what kind of plastic that container is made from. Some plastics are easy to recycle, but other plastics are much harder to recycle. As a result, most municipal recycling facilities only recycle the easiest plastics: plastics 1 and 2. What happens to plastics 3 through 7? At some recycling facilities, these are gathered until they have enough to send to a larger recycling facility that does recycle these types of plastics. But at other recycling facilities, the same thing happens to plastics 3 through 7 as what would have happened at your house if you didn't have that handy recycling bin: it goes to the landfill, or the Pacific's Plastic Continent.

Plastics #1 and #2

Plastic #1 is polyethelyne terephthalate (PET). This is the most commonly used plastic, and it\'s the easiest to recycle. Your plastic soda bottle, salad dressing bottle, and cooking oil bottle are probably all made from PET. More than 2.3 billion pounds of PET are recycled annually.

Plastic #2 is high density polyethelene (HDPE). Most milk jugs, detergent bottles, and many food containers are made from HDPE. Unfortunately, some plastics marked with a #2, such as yogurt cups, are not actually recyclable. This is because other chemicals have been added to the plastic in order to mold it into the desired shape. These additives make recycling some of these #2 items basically impossible.

Plastics #1 and #2 make up 96% of all the plastic bottles produced in the United States. Nevertheless, 80% of plastic bottles still wind up in a landfill, even though 80% of Americans have access to a method for recycling these bottles.

Plastics #3 through #7

The rest of the plastics make up pretty much everything that\'s not a plastic bottle. Just think of all the plastics in your home -- your toothbrush, cling wrap, plastic bowls, plastic cups, drinking straws, last night\'s leftovers, that almost-impossible-to-open package your new iPhone came in, your computer, your DVD cases... plastic is everywhere.

These plastics can all be categorized as the plastics #3 through #7. None of them are particularly easy to recycle, so even though your recycling guy will take it from your curb, that doesn't necessarily mean it will become tomorrow's soda bottle. However, by researching recycling facilities in your area, you can find places to recycle these less common plastics.

The Bottom Line When it Comes to Plastic Recycling

Plastic is much harder to recycle than other materials. Because it breaks down during the recycling process, it can only be recycled so many times -- this is why many recyclers prefer so-called “virgin plastics”, or plastics that haven't been recycled before because they make a better product. That means that even if you do the best you can to recycle all your plastics, some of them might still wind up in the dump.

The clear conclusion we must draw is that even the most conscientious recycling is not enough when it comes to plastics: ultimately, we have to reduce our consumption. The process of producing plastics, many plastics themselves, and the aftermath of plastic use can all be described as toxic. Nearly all manufacturing processes for the different types of plastic listed above involve some degree of toxicity, and as these plastics disintegrate in landfills or in the ocean, these toxic chemicals find their ways back into our soils, our water, our food, and our bodies.

So please recycle plastic. But better yet, stop buying plastic wherever possible.

Source: amazines.com

Plastics are very important in day-to-day lives due to the numerous applications associated with them. Some of the common uses of plastics include packaging of items. Packaging industries must realize which plastics to use/avoid thus protecting the environment from harmful plastics. Generally, plastics are non-biodegradable hence they do not decay. For this reason, plastics fill the earth and cause water run off when they accumulate in soil. Because of this reason, packaging industries must use the appropriate plastic. The advantage of using plastic for packaging is because plastics offer a good barrier to many elements including oxygen and water.

Many governments, because of its pollution effects, ban thin plastic use. Thin polythene is not recycled after use; it thus ends up in the garbage heap thus polluting the environment. On the contrary, high-density plastics do not damage the environment due to recycling; this reduces pollution of the environment. Apart from conserving the environment, many employment opportunities crop up and sparing of raw materials thus boosting the economy. Another vital use plastic is in building and construction however, majority of construction work uses high-density plastic that is renewable. Polyvinyl chloride makes pipes as well as sliding sheets. Insulators, computer hardware as well as many handles are made of high-density plastics. These plastics never damage the environment because they are recycled. Apart from recycling, the plastics are multipurpose.

Industries use high-density plastics to manufacture of automobiles, trucks as well as airplanes seats and bumpers. Another use of plastics is in electric appliances and electric wire coatings. Due to inability of plastics to conduct heat or ectricity, they are widely used as insulators. Majority of these plastics are high-density plastics. Low-density plastics on the other hand lead to flooding. This is so because thin plastic fills the ground, thus no water percolation in the ground. Thin plastics harbor water that is breeding grounds for harmful insects like mosquitoes.

Thin plastics have some advantage because they are very cheap and they are produced fast. Plastics both high and low-density have general benefits to man and they include, flexbility. Tailoring plastics is easy thus attaining many different forms and shapes of products. Plastics have lightweight thus excellent for transporting purposes. This leads to reduced fuel consumption. When well kept, plastics are durable because they do not rust nor rust. Plastics are excellent building materials because they are resistant to water and chemical damage. Medical equipments and foodstuffs are packaged using plastics due to cleanliness of plastics. Plastics contain chemical compounds that are harmful to human body, thus, they are not ideal for food covering. An alternative plastic like bio-plastics solves this problem.

Scientists are researching on a new form of plastic called bio-plastic made from plant polymers. The advantage of this plastic is that microorganisms have the ability of degrading it. Bio-plastic are friendly to the environment thus it has no issues of filling the soil. Bio-plastics are also the ideal plastics because they have no harmful effects to the body due to chemicals present in the synthetic plastics. With these facts in place, an individual must decide which plastics to use/avoid depending on activity on hand.

http://www.articlesbase.com

By negligently discarding plastic, especially plastic water bottles, fishing gear and plastic bags, people are unknowingly causing the deaths of millions of mammals, fish, birds and reptiles every year.

We defile the face of the earth with plastic refuse. Since the invention of plastic earlier this century, it has become a popular material used in a wide variety of unique and innovative applications. Plastic is used to make, or wrap around, many of the items we buy or use. The problem comes when we no longer want these items and how we dispose of them, particularly the throwaway plastic material used in wrapping or packaging. Plastic is handy, lightweight and easily discarded. Too easily discarded.

Plastics are not themselves the problem. They are useful materials which can be produced with relatively little damage to the environment. The problem is the excessive use of plastics in one-time applications together with careless disposal.

Take a look around you. Plastic bags can readily be seen hanging from the branches of trees, flying about on windy days, settled amongst grasses and floating on streams. They clog up drains causing water and sewage to overflow and become the breeding grounds of germs and bacteria that spread disease.

Plastics are utilized because they are easy and inexpensive to manufacture, strong and durable. Unfortunately these same useful qualities make plastic an overwhelming pollution problem. Inferior quality and low cost means plastic is readily discarded. Plastics take around 300 years to photo degrade. Plastics long life assures it survival in the environment for extended periods where it can do great harm. Because plastic does not easily decompose and requires high energy ultra-violet light to break down, the volume of plastic waste in the world?s oceans is steadily increasing.

Plastic is now found in virtually all the oceans and rivers of the world, even the most remote and once pristine.

American oceanographer Charles Moore says the amount of plastic pollution in the worlds oceans is so extensive it?s beyond cleaning up. A toxic plastic ?graveyard? double the size of Texas swirls in the waters of the Pacific between San Francisco and Hawaii. There his crew found that the water contained over 40 parts of plastic for every part plankton, with a fivefold increase in the amount of plastic between 1997 and 2007.

Annually approximately 500 billion plastic bags are used worldwide. That is an unconscionable amount of waste, so much that more than one million bags are used every minute and their impact on the planet is devastating. Plastic bags are only part of the problem. America alone, yearly produces in excess of 800,000 tons of plastic bottle pollution. World-wide our precious planet is defaced and poisoned with more than 100 million tons of plastic pollution annually.

According to the California Costal Commission, over 80% of refuse within waterways, most of it being plastic, originates on land rather than coming from boats.

Plastic affects marine wildlife in deadly ways: entangling creatures and by being consumed.

Turtles are particularly devastated by plastic pollution. All seven of the world\'s turtle species are already endangered or threatened for a multitude of reasons. Turtles become entangled in plastic fishing nets, and many sea turtles have been found dead with plastic garbage bags in their stomachs. Studies indicate turtles mistake these floating semi-transparent bags for jellyfish and eat them. The turtles die an inhumane death from choking or from being unable to eat. A dead turtle found off the coast Hawaii was found to have more than 1000 pieces of plastic in its stomach including part of a comb, a toy truck wheel and lank of nylon rope.

There is great environmental concern about the effect of plastic trash on all marine mammals. These elegant creatures are already under threat for a variety of other reasons: e.g. seal and whale populations have been decimated by unregulated hunting. A recent study concluded that in excess of 100,000 marine mammals die needlessly each year from the deadly effects of plastic pollution.

World-wide over 100 bird species are known to ingest plastic particles. This includes 36 species found off the coast of South Africa. A recent study of blue petrel hatchlings at South Africa\'s remote Marion Island showed that 90% of the chicks examined had plastic in their digestive systems, apparently fed to them accidentally by their parents. South African seabirds are among the worst affected in the world. Plastics remain in the bird?s stomachs, impeding digestion and causing starvation.

Scientific studies are not conclusive about how much plastic birds and fish are consuming, however scientist agree that plastic in seafood is likely to be harmful for people. Plastic is compared with better understood toxic materials such as mercury. Plastic acts like a sponge when in contact with poisons such as PCBs, concentrating them at levels that are millions of time more than in seawater.

The ingredients in plastic have been linked to cancer and reproductive abnormalities. Bisphenol A, found in plastic water bottles, has been shown to produce cancer in lab rats, to disrupt hormone levels and is associated with diabetes and obesity.

Scientists also voice concerns that the massive swirls of floating plastic could contribute to global warming by creating a dense shade canopy that makes it difficult for plankton to grow.

"When you defile the pleasant streams and the wild bird\'s abiding place, you massacre a million dreams and cast your spittle in God\'s face." ~ John Drinkwater

Let?s look at a few different ways where ?Together We Can Make A Difference?.

The crisis of plastic pollution demands urgent study and action. Businesses should be encouraged to reduce the amount of plastic used in packaging and to re-cycle.

Plastic wrapping and bags should be required to carry a warning label advising of the dangers of plastic pollution and shoppers should be encouraged to use eco-friendly shopping bags of organic, natural materials or recycled plastic fibers. Tell this to our law makers. The situation only continues to worsen. We must act now!

When a tax levy was imposed on plastic bags in Ireland, usage dropped by 90 percent. Several other countries have already banned the use of plastic bags with significant impact. America must follow their example. Support re-cycling programs and promote environmental awareness in your local community. Be pro-active in asking governments to make changes and consumers to re-think their attitudes. Purchase products requiring less plastic packaging and inform store management why you are doing so. We can speak with a loud voice when we speak with our ?dollars?.

Choose to drink tap or carbon filtered water from a glass lined reusable container. If you do purchase plastic bottled, dispose to the container properly. Recycle.

With the increase in environmental awareness, it has become obvious that there is more that we can do to create a sustainable society. If everyone of us would take a few tiny steps, make a few different choices and consciously consider our impact on the planet, there might be a way to restore the world to its original beauty and resources.

Join us in protecting the diversity and quality of our environment. We can all contribute to a healthier, greener world.

http://www.articlesbase.com

Rehrig Pacific Company, a leading manufacturer of reusable plastic pallets, crates and containers for the material handling and many food & beverage industries, is pleased to announce a new line of extruded plastic sheet products including slip sheets, divider sheets, tier sheets, and pallet pads.

Made from 100% recyclable materials, the Rehrig Slip Sheet is the key product in the group providing an alternative to other shipping platforms, such as wooden pallets and corrugated sheets, used in many industries including food, beverage, bagged goods and electronics. Slip sheets utilize a push/pull device that attaches to an existing forklift and function as the shipping platform typically for one-way shipments.

Since 1913, Rehrig Pacific has developed customized products and shipping solutions for many industries. “With years of design expertise and manufacturing experience, Rehrig decided to engineer an improved slip sheet which reduces tab failures and has a higher coefficient of friction (COF) than others,” said Nathan Franck, New Product Development Manager for Rehrig. “Our new state-of-the-art equipment and material blend combination allows us to manufacture a sheet that addresses these existing problems.”

Rehrig Slip Sheets weigh approximately 2 lbs and take up virtually no space in a trailer or container. A typical 40x48 wooden pallet weighs up to 50 lbs and takes up over six cubic feet of storage space. “The slip sheets’ size and weight allows companies to ship more product, improve sanitation, save warehouse space and reduce the cost of each unit load shipped,” said Franck.

The Rehrig Slip Sheet is manufactured using nearly 100% recycled HDPE resin and may be reusable in certain applications. Rehrig offers a buy-back program which assures the value of the material at the end of the sheets’ useful life. Slip Sheets are available in standard or custom sizes to meet each customer’s requirements and with different COFs depending on the application.

Rehrig also provides asset recovery programs and reverse logistics solutions, which can further reduce the average shipping cost per unit load, through Rehrig Penn Logistics (RPL), a Rehrig subsidiary. RPL develops customized pooling solutions and provides a full service for the various products Rehrig manufactures.

www.businesswire.com

Telles™, the joint venture between Metabolix, Inc. (NASDAQ: MBLX) and Archer Daniels Midland Company, announced that Ball Innovations, a business unit of Ball Horticultural Company, received a 2010 Greener Package Award for its SoilWrap® plantable container made with Mirel™ bioplastic. In addition, both Mirel and SoilWrap are listed on the USDA Biopreferred program, which designates biobased products that are preferred for purchase by Federal agencies and their contractors.

Made with Mirel, SoilWrap is a biobased, plantable, biodegradable alternative to petroleum-based plastic plant pots. In addition to eliminating waste, internal and commercial grower trials have shown that the superior drainage and gas exchange permitted by the bottomless SoilWrap design allows many species of plants to grow more quickly than in conventional pots. Mirel also provides a more durable container than other natural fiber pots and its physical properties allow it to be easily printed with brand messaging and UPC barcodes for attractive on-shelf appearance.

The second annual Greener Package Awards were sponsored by Summit Publishing’s GreenerPackage.com. The program aims to recognize the consumer packaged goods companies, suppliers and individuals that have helped move the packaging community toward greater sustainability throughout the year.

“SoilWrap is a prime example of a product that not only leverages Mirel’s ability to biodegrade in soil and also provides added convenience and value to the consumer,” said Robert Engle, Telles general manager. “We are thrilled to be recognized with our partner Ball for developing innovative packaging that meets a significant need in the horticulture market. Mirel-based bioplastics continue to be introduced across a number of industries, from packaging to consumer goods, to meet the growing demand for reducing packaging and waste sent to landfills.”

“We are in an industry that is by nature focused on the environment, so bringing a product to market that decreases waste and offers superior performance is a huge win for us,” said Greg Trabka, product development manager, Ball Horticultural Company. “When developing SoilWrap, Ball recognized the need for a bioplastic resin that responded to the issue of unnecessary waste, maintained its performance integrity through the production cycle to the retail shelf, and met environmental certification standards. Mirel was the only biobased, biodegradable offering that met all of our business needs and we look forward to growing our relationship with Telles on future product endeavors.”

Ball plans to increase SoilWrap distribution through its grower customers in North America and to independent garden centers and mass market retailers beginning in spring 2011. SoilWrap is available in a 3.5 inch design and the company plans to produce a 4.5 inch product.

SoilWrap and the rest of the 2010 class of Greener Package Award winners will be on display in the The Showcase of Packaging Innovations® at Pack Expo International 2010, taking place from Oct. 31 to Nov. 3 at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois.

About Mirel Bioplastics

Mirel is a family of bioplastic materials that have physical properties comparable to petroleum-based resins, yet are biobased and biodegradable in natural soil and water environments, in home composting systems, and in industrial composting facilities where such facilities are available. The rate and extent of Mirel’s biodegradability will depend on the size and shape of the articles made from it. However, like nearly all bioplastics and organic matter, Mirel is not designed to biodegrade in conventional landfills.

About Metabolix

Founded in 1992, Metabolix, Inc. is an innovation-driven bioscience company focused on providing sustainable solutions for the world’s needs for plastics, chemicals and energy. The Company is taking a systems approach, from gene to end product, integrating sophisticated biotechnology with advanced industrial practice. Metabolix is now developing and commercializing Mirel™, a family of high performance bioplastics which are biobased and biodegradable alternatives to many petroleum based plastics. Metabolix is also developing a proprietary platform technology for co-producing plastics, chemicals and energy, from crops such as switchgrass, oilseeds and sugarcane.

About Ball Horticultural Company

Ball Horticultural Company is an internationally renowned breeder, producer and wholesale distributor of ornamental plants. A family-owned business since it was founded in 1905, Ball has introduced many innovative, award-winning varieties to the world of horticulture, including the Wave® petunia family and Super Elfin® impatiens. Ball is committed to sustainable practices and has highlighted its green accomplishments in its “Sustainability Report.” The company has worldwide production, sales and marketing through its many subsidiaries on six continents. For further information, log on to ballhort.com.

Safe Harbor for Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The forward-looking statements in this release do not constitute guarantees of future performance. Investors are cautioned that statements in this press release which are not strictly historical statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding expectations for Mirel market demand, constitute forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated and are detailed in Metabolix\'s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Metabolix assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking information contained in this press release or with respect to the announcements described herein.

Mirel Bioplastics