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Company News

Plastics market turbulence

Turbulence on Europe’s polymer markets is hitting plastics processors in the region with full force. Sufficient quantities of granulate are unavailable and prices have risen significantly since the beginning of the year, with some approaching all-time highs.

New square carbon construction solutions Refitech

Refitech has expanded its range of smart square carbon fibre construction solutions. The RefiFLEX® programme now also includes the new 40x40 mm High Precision tube with a standard length of 1600mm, as well as the corresponding connectors RefiFLEX 40S. Further Refitech can now supply the construction system UD carbon fibre pultrusion profiles from its Italian partner CarboSix’ to the its customers in the Benelux. The profiles have integrated mounting slots allowing them to be screwed rather than glued together to form frames, using a variety of fixing materials.

Next level composite solutions

AMAC is pleased to announce its cooperation with the Netherlands-based engineering company Pontis Engineering, as of March 1st, 2021. This collaboration focuses on the business development of medium volume niche applications in e-mobility based on advanced composites. The applications range from the development of lightweight over structural battery housings to complete electric vehicles for road, industry, water and air transportation.   

Light-diffusing masterbatch

Many LED light sources have a problem to create uniform diffused light, resulting in brightness concentrations – so-called "hot spots" – on backlit surfaces. Light-diffusing (LD) masterbatches from Tosaf Color Service effectively prevent this undesirable phenomenon. In extensive laboratory trials, the micro-fillers it contains were optimized with regard to material, refractive index, transparency, geometry and dimensions. As a result, only very small amounts of masterbatch – namely 1-2 % – are needed to effectively scatter the light in originally transparent material, predominantly polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) and polycarbonate (PC). At the same time, the light transmission and mechanical properties of the base material are largely retained. In addition to color-neutral grades, combinations with specific colorings and other functional properties such as UV stabilizers are available.

Arburg at Chinaplas 2021

At Chinaplas, which takes place from 13 to 16 April 2021 in Shenzhen, China, Arburg is presenting its extensive portfolio for plastics processing in hall 10, stand J21. The Chinese market, and thus the trade fair, is of great importance for Arburg. This is reflected in the first-class trade fair appearance, even though the visitors are likely to be limited to interested locals this year, due to the coronavirus pandemic. Those who can attend get to see high-end machine technology and turnkey solutions, which are highly sought-after in the important Chinese market. Arburg is focusing on the topics of digitalisation and resource conservation. Other highlights at the fair are the Freeformer for the industrial additive manufacturing and a smart Allrounder in the “Factory of the Future”.

Coperion and RenCom AB

Swedish innovation company RenCom AB announced the start of production of RENOL®, an innovative thermoplastic biomaterial that can be used to replace fossil-based plastics. Following comprehensive studies in Coperion’s extrusion test lab in Stuttgart, Germany, RenCom and Coperion have developed the innovative extrusion process of RENOL®, a lignin-based material. Using Coperion’s ZSK twin screw extruder technology lignin can be transformed into durable, reusable biomaterial.

ALPLA: 50 million euros a year for recycling

Expansion and globalisation of recycling activities to be expedited between now and 2025.

VDMA Hybrid Lightweight Technologies

At the annual meeting of the VDMA Hybrid Lightweight Technologies working group, which took place on 12 February, 2021, it became clear that the industry is intensively addressing holistic concepts of lightweight construction, offering its customers worldwide customized solutions for CO2 reduction. In the automotive sector in particular, there is growing pressure from supply chains to live up to the guiding principle of climate-neutral manufacturing and to be able to prove this with data. In the context of taxation based on CO2 intensity, monetary benefits can also be generated through CO2 savings.

K.D. Feddersen distributing PA compounds Ascend

Hamburg-based plastics distributor K.D. Feddersen is now distributing polyamide compounds from Ascend Performance Materials, the world's largest fully integrated manufacturer of polyamide 6.6, in Germany and most other European countries.
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