RIL's Nagothane plant gets clean-chit

(plastemart) -- Reliance Industries' Petrochem plant at Nagothane has received a clean-chit from Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) in connection with allegations of harmful radiation emitting from the plant. As per a letter issued by AERB's Radiological Safety Division, radiation levels in the plant have been brought down to the acceptable limit by use of shielding and cordoning of the area and the propylene and polypropylene plants are also working safely. Medical examination of those working in the propylene and polypropylene plants is not necessary, since the general radiation levels observed in both the plants are very low.

Raigad Collector had issued a notice to the company seeking explanation on the issue after an employee complained of radiation from the plant, as well as approached the AERB to inquire about the suspected radiation in the plant.

MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- The first signs of PVC insufficiency appeared in the Russian market. Tight resin supply from Russian producers in conditions of increasing demand push the prices up - according to MRC Price reports.

Week ago PVC demand was very low in the Russian spot market. Prices for imported resin were in the range of RUB 44.000 - 46.000/mt, including VAT, FCA. At the beginning of this week serious increase of buying activity and price growth were observed.

Anomalous heat in the most of Russian territory affected the PVC consumption. The heat is slowly decreasing, and many converters started to accumulate suspension consumption. Preschedule suspension for maintenance of Sterlitamak facility has led to serious decrease of PVC supply into the domestic market. At the same time, there's no clarity about the terms of the plant restart.

From August 6 "Common range of goods dutiable to prophylactic-epidemiological control at custom borders and custom territory of custom union." came into effect in terms of Common custom union. Single market players tell that the procedures of PVC custom examination and DOP plasticizer became more complicated after this document came into effect.

All these factors have caused a smal panic in the Russian PVC market. Some converters started actively fulfilling their stocks. Price offers for imported resin have grown to the level RUB 46.000 - 47.000/mt, including VAT, FCA.

MRC

More information about PVC market in Russia is available in MRC Price reports.

(Plastics News) -- German injection molder Kunststoff Helmbrechts AG has announced plans to install its first production facility in Mexico by the end of 2010. This will be located in Queretaro at the company's Mexican sales and service subsidiary, which was established in April.

KH CEO Axel Zuleeg said the Mexican site will start by laser etching lacquered push buttons made by the company's Unikun subsidiary in China, but that ⌠should all go well, injection molding and lacquering will be added in Queretaro already in 2011.

According to Zuleeg, the company is adding production in Mexico because of the importance of the North American Free Trade Area.

MRC

(prw) -- Avon Rubber has reported a positive performance for the first half of 2010, showing improved results for the third quarter of the year (Q3), compared with the same period last year.

In the company's protection and defence business, year-to-date revenue to the end of Q3 was up 20%, compared with last year.

Strong operating cash generation, seasonal fluctuations in working capital, the investment in additional filter capacity and the US$ exchange rate have combined to result in a decrease in net debt to ?13.5m (┬16.4m) at 30 June 2010 (31 March 2010: EUR14.4m). This gives headroom of ?9.9m against facilities of EUR23.4m.

MRC

(Kunsthoffe) -- TechnoCompound GmbH, Bad Sobernheim, Germany, is investing in an additional facility for production of long glass fiber-reinforced polypropylene (PP) compounds. This will increase overall production capacity by 10,000 tpa to a total of 60,000 tpa. The start of construction is targeted for the first quarter of 2011, with production slated to begin already in the summer of 2011.

According to information from the company, the facility is necessary to satisfy the growing demand especially for odor-and low-emission PP compounds (brand name: TechnoFiber PP-LGF) for production of instrument panels, door modules and other components in the automotive sector. Double-digit growth rates are anticipated in the long term.

MRC