Clariant to reorganise masterbatch plant in Poland

(plasteurope) -- Swiss specialty chemicals producer Clariant (Muttenz) has confirmed that it plans to reorganise its masterbatch activity in Poland. The group will build a new plant at Konstantynow Lodzki in the Lodzka Special Economic Zone and in early 2014 move the current production of subsidiary Colex from Zgierz / Poland to the location.

The new EUR 9.5m plant will have 6,500 m2 of floor space with room for expansion. Output is to be marketed in central and eastern Europe. The portfolio of Colex, in which Clariant acquired 100% in 2011, manufactures masterbatches that can be used to colour a wide range of polymers including PE, POM, EVA, PS, SAN, ABS, PET, PC and PVC products.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) – Last week the prices of PET bottle surged by USD40/tonne from the previous week. The prices started to grow on a feedstock price increase, report MRC analysts.

In July Chinese and Korean PET markets are showing upward dynamics. The changes in the downward trend of paraxylene (PS) and terephthalic acid (TPA) prices resulted in a price growth of PET bottle granulate and increase of converters’ buying activity.

Most South-Korean PET producers voiced their quotations at the level of USD1,320/tonne, FOB Korea. They did not want to sell below this price-level.

In China, one of the major local producers concluded deals in the range of USD1,280-1,290, FOB China. At the same time the Chinese maker reported weakening of consumer activity from the local bottlers which might result in an increase of competitiveness among local PET producers.

Many market players believe that prices are more influenced by feedstock market dynamics, than by PET demand and supply in the region.

Last week PS spot prices in the Chinese port grew by USD60-65/tonne and made USD1,405-1,415/tonne, CFR China. PTA prices rose by USD5/tonne.
MRC

(Plastemart) -- US propylene and propane inventories in USA rose 1 mln barrels, to 63.2 mln barrels, during the week ended Friday, data from the Energy Information Administration.

Midwest supplies rose 200,000 barrels, to 26 mln barrels, East Coast supplies were up 100,000 barrels, to 5.4 mln barrels, and Gulf Coast stocks climbed 800,000 barrels, to 29.8 mln barrels.

Stocks of propylene for non-fuel use rose 100,000 barrels, to 4.2 mln barrels.
MRC

(Plastech) -- Bayer MaterialScience and Solid Composites GmbH are partnering to develop thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) powders for selective laser sintering.

This innovative method for fabricating three-dimensional structures is based on the use of a laser beam to sinter powdered starting materials. The start-up company based in Voerde, on the Lower Rhine, will be awarded a brand license to market the new high-tech materials under the name Desmosint.

This opens the door to numerous potential applications, for instance in the automotive industry, in sports goods, robotics or aerospace engineering. Solid Composites is a spin-off of the Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety and Energy Technology (UMSICHT).

Selective laser sintering is becoming a firmly established digital manufacturing method in the additive manufacturing of plastic parts. A part is made from a thermoplastic powder based on the part’s structural design data. Guided by CAD software, a laser fuses successive layers of a powder bed at selected points where the part is to emerge. In other words, the part “grows” layer by layer.

“The method eliminates the use of molds, and that cuts costs considerably. Furthermore, in contrast to injection molding, even parts having complex geometries with cavities and undercuts can be rendered,” explains Marcus Rechberger, general manager of Solid Composites.
MRC

(Reuters) - Belgian PVC window frame maker Deceuninck on Thursday posted an increase in second-quarter sales, aided by strong demand in Russia, Turkey and the United States.

In the United States, where sales increased 15.5 percent at constant exchange rates, Deceuninck said it saw solid demand from the renovation market, while new construction was still at historic lows.

Sales for the second quarter came in at 156.3 million euros (USD191.46 million) a 2.6 percent increase compared to the same period last year.

The group, which has not yet given a full outlook for 2012, said that the economic environment remained challenging for its European markets.

Deceuninck said that while the costs of PVC resin hit a high in April, costs eased towards the end of the second quarter.

The group will publish profit figures for the first half on August 23.
MRC