Sonoco launches commercial production at its new plant in the USA

(Sonoco) -- Sonoco, one of the largest diversified global packaging companies, has commenced commercial production of rigid plastic containers for personal care products at its new USD15 million plant, located in the Beauty and Home Care campus in New Albany, Ohio.

According to Rodger Fuller, vice president of Rigid Plastics, Sonoco's new 142,230-square-foot plant is currently operating 11 injection stretch blow-molding production lines, producing PET bottles for personal care products. In addition, the plant is operating four injection molding machines that are producing plastic components for wall air fresheners.

Also, as MRC informed earlier, Sonoco had completed expansion at its Waynesville, N.C., thermoforming location, where it would start up a new multilayer, trim-in-place line.

Sonoco Plastics is a leading manufacturer of mono-layer and multi-layer blow-molded bottles and jars, thermoformed cups and trays and engineered molded and extruded containers, spools and trays. The Company has 25 plastics operations in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Ireland, Netherlands and Germany. In addition to the Beauty Park facility, Sonoco Plastics operates a state-of-the-art food-grade, blow-molding and injection molding plant in Columbus, Ohio. The Company is currently reviewing plans for additional expansion of this facility as well, Fuller added.
MRC

(plastics infomart) -- ENGEL, the largest producer of injection moulding machinery worldwide and a leader in the field of injection moulding technology, introduced at Fakuma a e mac injection moulding machine series, an all-electric and highly-precise machine that requires very little floor space and is extremely economical despite being fully modular.

An ENGEL e-mac 50/50 with 50 tonne clamping force produced two-pin PBT plug housings in a 4-cavity mould in the East Foyer. Because the plug contacts are not pressed in until after injection moulding, the dimensional stability of the components is the deciding factor in economic production. The ENGEL e-mac 50/50 was equipped with a size 18 screw.

The shot weight for producing the plugs was a mere 3.6 grammes. ENGEL's e-mac 310/100 with an integrated ENGEL viper 6 linear robot is aimed to produce polypropylene (PP) and liquid silicone wine bottle stoppers. Thanks to UV vulcanisation, these two materials can now be processed in a single step. In cooperation with mould making partner Elmet, ENGEL’s low-temperature UV vulcanisation process paves the way for new multi-component technology applications.

As MRC reported earlier, Engel Austria and Cantoni have recently developed together a new intergrated inject2blow method which combines the injection moulding and blow moulding processes in one mould on one injection moulding machine. By introducing this innovative method, the two companies have set a new standard for process integration.

Engel is, as a single brand, the largest producer of injection moulding machinery worldwide and a leader in the field of injection moulding technology. Engel's integrated systems solutions include injection moulding machinery, automation, process technology, tool design, training and service. Engel supplies 50% of all large-scale machines and 35% of the small to medium-sized machines with automation included, and the figures are still rising.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- As part of BASF's major innovation investment in China, the company opened the first Innovation Campus Asia Pacific and its new Greater China headquarters at its site in Pudong, Shanghai. The investment amounts to EUR 55 million, according to BASF's press release.

With this expansion the company's site will be one of BASF’s largest outside of Germany. The further expansion of the facility is also planned. The new Greater China head office houses the administration unit, functional units and sales and marketing units. At the site, researchers will focus on advanced materials and sustainable solutions.

"Innovations based on chemistry will play a key role in providing solutions to help Asia Pacific meet the challenges of sustainable development. Through close cooperation with materials scientists, technical experts, business colleagues and customers, BASF will create innovations from Asia, for Asia and the world. By 2020, we expect to have about 25% of our global R&D headcount in this region," said Dr. Martin Brudermueller, Vice Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF SE, responsible for Asia Pacific.

BASF is the leading chemical company. It produces a wide range of chemicals, for example solvents, amines, resins, glues, electronic-grade chemicals, industrial gases, basic petrochemicals and inorganic chemicals. The most important customers for this segment are the pharmaceutical, construction, textile and automotive industries.
MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- European makers have to slash export prices for the CIS countries on the back of declining demand and drop of export PVC prices in the other regions, according to ICIS-MRC Price report.

The contract price of ethylene in Europe for November shipments was agreed by EUR20/tonne lower than the October level, which is equal to the PVC production costs reduction by EUR10/tonne. However, European makers have to cut export PVC prices for the CIS countries more significantly on declining demand and decrease of export quotations.

This week, negotiations on export prices of European PVC for the CIS countries went on. Deals for the resin to be shipped in the first half of the month are being negotiated in the range of EUR770-810/tonne, FCA, which is on average by EUR20/tonne lower than the level of the second half of October. European makers have to slash PVC prices more significantly than ethylene prices, thus reducing production margins on the back of a significant drop of export quotations in the USA.

This week, export PVC quotations in the USA kept falling. Deals for the resin shipments in the second half of November were negotiated in the range of USD910-930/tonne, CFR St Petersburg and CIF Odessa.
MRC