MOSCOW (MRC) -- US plastics additives supplier Milliken plans to double production capacity for the "Millad" NX 8000 clarifying agent for polypropylene (PP) at its Allen facility in Blacksburg, South Carolina by 2015, as per Plastemart.
The unquantified investment will include an additional redundant manufacturing line, which the company said will “ensure ample global supply.”
The capacity upgrade underscores the company’s intention to remain a leading global player, said Allen Jacoby, vice president, Plastics Additives. Jacoby said the fast adoption of the Millad NX 8000 technology over traditional clarifiers has been driven by the material’s cleaner, fresher look and inherent sustainability, along with its improved solubility that enables clarified PP to be processed at cooler temperatures. This, the company claims, enables energy savings of up to 13%, with cycle times accelerated up to 18% and carbon emissions reduced by as much as 13%.
Milliken said the clarifying agent allows manufacturers to replace high-density resins such as PC, PS and PET with lower-density PP to reduce costs and weight and help the environment.
As MRC reported earlier, last September, Kiefel, SML, Braskem and Milliken unveiled their plans to combine their machine and material innovations to bring the powerful material substitution possibilities of clear PP to life. Highly transparent, deep-draw cups produced live by Kiefel on its productivity-boosting systems will let visitors experience first-hand the exceptional high clarity and performance that can be achieved with Braskem’s Inspire 224 PP containing Milliken’s innovative clarifying agent, Millad NX 8000.
Milliken is an innovation company that has been exploring, discovering, and creating ways to enhance people’s lives since 1865. The company creates coatings, specialty chemicals, and advanced additive and colorant technologies that transform the way we experience products from automotive plastics to children's art supplies
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