MOSCOW (MRC) -- SABIC, a global leader in the chemical industry, is making a significant contribution to the battle against COVID-19 through increased production within its LEXAN polycarbonate (PC) portfolio. The focus of the production increase has been on innovative PC sheets and films for a wide variety of high-performance products to help improving sanitation control and preventing infections, said the company in its press release.
SABIC’s efforts in combating COVID-19 are boosted by the company having production facilities across Europe, Asia and North and South America. This provides the company’s Functional Forms business with the ability to manufacture and swiftly distribute its sheet and film products across every region around the world.
SABIC and its predecessors have a long history as an innovator in PC technology, having invented polycarbonate resin in 1953, and initiated production of high-performance sheets and films in 1968. Since then, SABIC excels in polycarbonate development with a portfolio of over 350 material grades. SABIC’s Functional Forms business spearheads materials innovation, enabling applications in industries where there is a need for safety, high optical quality, durability, anti-bacterial properties and flame, chemical and impact resistance products.
LEXAN protective sheets and films have applications across an extensive range of sectors that are experiencing particular hygiene and social distancing challenges during the pandemic. These include hospitals and medical clinics, care homes, dental practices, schools and kindergartens, retail and hospitality outlets, sports centers, reception areas and mass transportation, among many others.
“There is an urgent and ongoing need around the world for protective equipment, not only to fight against this current pandemic, but also to improve safety and hygiene standards in the future ”, said Sandeep Dhawan, Global Business Director Functional Forms, SABIC. “As a company that excels in ground-breaking materials, we are driven by the ambition to innovate and are committed to providing the latest technology and expertise to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and help mitigate further infection.”
As testament to its global reach, SABIC has supplied innovative PC sheet and film solutions to some of the world’s leading organizations, for some of the most demanding applications aimed at providing increased protection against COVID-19.
SABIC’s next generation LEXAN sheet and film solutions have all been developed to bring Chemistry that Matters to the marketplace. The company's clear understanding of product needs and performance attributes supports application success for its customers. The journey of innovation will be highlighted with technology which supports anti-bacterial performance to assist in the fight against COVID-19 across its portfolio. SABIC LEXAN polycarbonate solutions are available through a large network of localized distribution centers globally.
As MRC reported previously, earlier this week, SABIC has announced a strategic partnership with KraussMaffei HighPerformance AG, KraussMaffei's Swiss subsidiary and manufacturer of high-performance injection molding systems known under the NETSTAL brand. Besides the exchange of mutual know-how in the fields of polymer technology and processing, the aim of the partnership is the joint use and further advancement of the existing application center for thin-wall packaging at the NETSTAL plant in Nafels, Switzerland.
According to MRC's ScanPlast report, Russia's overall consumption of PC granules (excluding imports and exports to/from Belarus) rose in January-October 2020 by 21% year on year to 79,500 tonnes (65,600 tonnes a year earlier).
Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) ranks among the world's top petrochemical companies. The company is among the world's market leaders in the production of polyethylene, polypropylene and other advanced thermoplastics, glycols, methanol and fertilizers.
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