AMERICAS
ExxonMobil launches new Vistamaxx grade
ExxonMobil has introduced a new propylene-based elastomers grade, Vistamaxx3588FL. The new material offers good heat seal properties with excellent processability in cPP and BOPP film applications.
Comments: Snack, biscuit, and candy packaging in China and Southeast Asia are expected to be some of the highest growth areas globally for polypropylene film. Heat seal layer properties are an especially important parameter for producers of multilayer biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) and cast polypropylene (CPP) films in this region. PP copolymers or terpolymers have been traditionally used in the heat seal layer. The new Vistamaxx grade delivers improved packaging performance on horizontal and vertical form fill and seal machines through a lower seal initiation temperature and broader and higher hot tack window compared to standard PP terpolymers.
John Manville to boost capacity at Scottsboro
Johns Manville is set to expand the production capacity of its TPO plant at the Scottsboro, Alabama facility in April 2015. The expansion will increase the plant’s current capacity by 20%. Johns Manville presently manufactures building and mechanical insulation, roofing, glass fibers, and nonwoven materials for commercial, industrial, and residential applications. The company has manufacturing facilities in North America, Europe, and China.
Comments: Johns Manville has been a leader in single-ply TPO roofing in North America. The roofing market in the US has seen TPOs replacing traditional materials such as EPDM and SEBS over the past decade.
Schulman acquires Citadel Plastic
Schulman, a high-performance thermoplastic compounds and resins supplier based in Akron, Ohio announced the acquisition of Citadel Plastics Holdings, Inc. for USD 800 million. Citadel is a specialty-engineered plastics company that manufactures thermoset-engineered composites and thermoplastics compounds. The deal, which is expected to close in the third quarter of 2015, will allow A. Schulman to assume ownership of Citadel’s 21 manufacturing facilities worldwide.
Comments: The acquisition is in line with the A. Schulman’s aggressive growth strategy to expand product portfolio and geographic presence. In addition to strengthening A. Schulman’s thermoplastic compounds business, Citadel’s acquisition will allow A. Schulman to enter the thermoset composites business as well as expand its regional presence in South America, Europe, and China through Citadel’s manufacturing plants in the regions.
Kraiburg breaks ground on new Georgia facility
Kraiburg TPE Corp. has begun the construction of its new North American headquarters in Georgia, scheduled for completion in 2016. Kraiburg will have a total capacity of 10 KTA by consolidating current production lines and new equipment with an additional capacity of 4 KTA into the Georgia facility.
Comments: Kraiburg’s current production facility in Georgia is the only production facility that Kraiburg operates for North America and South America. The current location has had difficulty keeping up with increased demand needs and the announced expansion into a new location will alleviate some of those constraints.
Toray Plastic introduces new metalized BOPP film
Toray Plastic has introduced a new metalized BOPP film -Torayfan PWX5. The new product offers longer shelf life and other excellent performances favorable for use in food packaging markets, such as cookies, crackers, biscuits, and confectionery.
Comments: BOPP film market, a success story in the packaging industry, has been growing rapidly for years. However, BOPP film producers have been looking at the value-added BOPP films market trying to differentiate themselves from the intensive competition. Shelf life is one of the major concerns for the packaged food industry due to ongoing expanded global distribution channels. Torayfan PWX5 offering extended shelf life will help Toray Plastic further step in the specialty market and enhance its position intense BOPP film market.
EUROPE
Ufaorgstintez is upgrading to produce new polyolefin grades
Ufaorgsintez, a subsidiary of Russia-based JSC United Petrochemical Company (UPC), is currently upgrading its facilities to produce new grades of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and polypropylene (PP). The company will conduct trial runs between March and April before introducing seventeen new LDPE grades and nineteen new PP grades into the market.
Comments: UPC owns about 88% of Ufaorgsintez. Ufaorgsintez produces ethylene, propylene, ethanol, polyolefins, PVC, EPDM, phenol, acetone, and other chemicals. The plant’s current annual polypropylene (PP) production capacity is 100 KTA. The new grades will expand the company’s product portfolio and target production of products that are competitive with those ofSibur and Nizhnekamskneftekhim.
Unipetrol targets 2017 for olefins and PE start-up
Unipetrol is on track with the expansion of its cracker complex in Litvinov, Czech Republic. The cracker complex includes olefins and a polyolefin project for start-up in 2017. Construction is currently underway for a 550 KTA ethylene, a 630 KTA propylene, and a 300 KTA HDPE plant.
Comments: Unipetrol plans to go ahead with its petrochemical expansion at the Litvinov cracker complex. The expansion will almost double Unipetrol’s current HDPE capacity at the site in addition to improving the quality with Ineos’ two-reactor Innovene S process. The polypropylene plant already uses Ineos’ Innovene PP process. The cracker will become a world-class size for ethylene and propylene production, with total capacities of 1,100 KT and 900 KT, respectively, once the facility starts up.
Lanxess to shut down EDPM plant in Germany
German chemical company Lanxess will shut down its 70 KTA EPDM production facility in Marl, German by the end of 2015. The production volume in Marl will be shifted to the Netherlands plant and the new EPDM plant in China, which is expected to begin production in the 2nd quarter of 2015 with a capacity of 160 KTA.
Comments: Lanxess has been restructuring its global EDPM production through its realignment program. The consolidation of European EPDM production sites into the Netherlands facility, which is a part of the realignment program, will help Lanxess counter overcapacity, high feedstock costs, and high energy costs in Europe. The new EPDM plant in China is to cater to the growing demand driven by Sinopec and Mitsui. Once the realignment program is completed, Lanxess will have four EPDM production sites respectively in the USA, the Netherlands, Brazil, and China.
MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA
Sabic introduces new non-phthalate polypropylene grades
Sabic has launched new grades of phthalate-free polypropylene. These new materials include spun bond fiber grade introduced in February as well as BOPP film grade expected to be available later this year.
Comments: The most significant development in polypropylene products has been the introduction of phthalate-free catalysts to manufacture non-phthalate products. Environmental and health concerns have led to regulations being imposed on ensuring zero to minimal levels of phthalates in various polypropylene end uses (diapers, films, etc.). REACH has recommended that phthalate content in polypropylene resin be no more than 0.1 wt %. This is set to be enforced by February 2015 in various European countries. As a result, several PP catalyst/technology licensors are actively developing phthalate-free polypropylene catalysts, which are eventually seeing their way into end products in the market. SABIC is the newest member to join a list of producers offering phthalate-free polymer products.
ASIA PACIFIC
Synthomer to expand SBR production in Malaysia
Synthomer will boost its production of special styrene butadiene latex in Klaung, Malaysia with plant commissioning scheduled to start in the 2nd quarter of 2015. Several new specialty SB rubbers produced in Kluang are expected to be available to the customer in July 2015, aiming at growing demand in the construction, paper, and technical paper markets in Asia.
Comments: Synthomer is one of the world’s major suppliers of latices and specialty emulsion polymers in many market segments including coatings, construction, textiles, paper, and synthetic latex gloves. With the expansion of the KluangPlant, Synthomer will be able to tap into the Southeast Asian market, where there has been an increase in demand for products especially in the segment Synthomer specializes in. Synthomer’s technical center in Shanghai, China, will be able to provide technical support which will add to Synthomer ‘s advantage.
KPIC to expand naphtha cracker capacity
South Korea’s Korea Petrochemical Industry Co (KPIC) has announced plans to expand the capacity of their 470 KTA naphtha cracker in Onsan in the first half of 2017. The expansion will increase the capacity of the cracker by more than 65%. The ethylene capacity is set to rise from 330 KTA to 800 KTA and propylene from 350 KTA to 520 KTA.
Comments: Korea Petrochemical Co. (KPIC) is a petrochemical company with industrial complexes in Ulsan and Onsan. KPIC is a vertically integrated facility that can handle the production process from naphtha cracking to synthetic resin production. KPIC can therefore produce and supply a wide range of petrochemicals including petrochemical derivatives such as Propylene and Ethylene, and synthetic resins such as polypropylene and polyethylene. With the new increase in capacity of its Onsan cracker (almost doubled from 470 KTA to 800 KTA), KPIC will be able to produce more petrochemical derivatives, which is increasing in demand in the Southeast Asia region.
Mitsui Chemicals Functional Composite opens new compounding plant in China
Mitsui Chemicals Functional Composite has launched a new compound plant in Shanghai, China. The facility currently has an annual combined capacity of 11KT for thermoplastic vulcanizate Milastomer and Admer® adhesive resin.
Comments: Mitsui has located its new compound plant in China to gain market share in the country’s rapidly growing automotive and allied markets. Japanese suppliers have had their presence in China’s compounding industry for years but Mitsui’s new facility in China is indicative of the trend that resin suppliers/compounders are looking to participate in a lucrative large domestic market there.