IAC Group taps KraussMaffei for major molding machine order

(Plastics Today) -- The IAC Group has selected KraussMaffei as the system supplier to equip the automotive components supplier's new plant in Bals, Romania. As sole contract partner for plastics processing equipment, KraussMaffei will supply the new production facility with 28 injection molding machines, systems for polyurethane foaming and punching, and the required PUR tooling.


IAC Group announced early this week it would build a ┬58 million,15,0002 meter facility in Bals. The facility will produce instrument panels, door panels, headliners and other interior trim components to support Ford Motor Company's production of two new passenger cars at its plant in Craiova, Romania.


MRC

Lummus Technology has been awarded a contract for phenol plant

(Arabian Oil and Gas) -- CB&I announced that Lummus Technology has been awarded a contract by Formosa Chemicals and Fibre Corporation (FCFC) for the license and engineering design of a grassroots cumene and phenol plant to be built in Ningbo, China. This is a fourth quarter 2010 award.


The plant, which is expected to start up in 2013, will use Lummus Technology's Polimeri Europa/Lummus cumene and phenol technologies to produce 450,000 metric tonnes per annum (MTA) of cumene and 300,000 MTA of phenol.


Cumene is used to make phenol, which is mainly used in the manufacture of liquid and solid resins.


MRC

ICIS and MRC to jointly produce polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride reports for FSU and global markets

(ICIS) -- ICIS is extending its presence in the FSU's plastics market through a joint venture with specialist Russia-based benchmark price provider Market Report Company. ICIS and MRC have announced their intention to jointly produce pricing reports for polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride for the FSU and global markets.


The polyethylene report will contain domestic prices and import offers for the following grades: HDPE; injection; film; blow moulding; pipe 80 & 100; shrinkable; hexane; and butene. Quotes cover Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.


The PVC report will deliver domestic prices and import offers (PVC-Suspension and PVC-Emulsion) for Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.


Both reports give detailed commentary and a price history for each domestic market, international price commentary on Europe and Asia markets, and related news in FSU countries and international markets.


Russian and English versions of the reports will be available, with domestic and import price assessments by locally based expert editors in touch with all key players in the market.


⌠Using the trusted methodology ICIS is renowned for, these new reports offer a unique opportunity to benefit from the international expertise, prices and commentary provided by ICIS editors, together with local and international news coverage of markets, said Christopher Flook, Managing Director of ICIS, a part of Reed Business Information.


⌠We are very pleased to be working with ICIS, the global leader in the market information field, said Sergey Yaremenko, CEO of MRC. ⌠MRC's specialist expertise in these markets is a natural fit with ICIS' breadth and depth of coverage.


MRC

ABS resins imports to Russia in 2010 exceeded 37 KT

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Regarding the results of 2010 the Russian companies increased ABS resins imports up to 37,7 KT, according to MRC DataScope. The crisis of 2008 resulted in considerable reduction in ABS consumption in Russia. 2009 as well didn't show the signs of the market recovery. And only in 2010 demand for ABS became to grow in the Russian market.

Import supplies last year grew by 68% compared to 2009 and exceeded the record for the Russian market 37 KT. Plastik (Uzlovaya), the only Russian producer of ABS, also increased the production capacities by 83%, having reached 13,2 KT at the end of 2010.


MRC

American government introducing labels for bio-based products

(PLASTICS NEWS) -- With companies and retailers today using an endless number of ways to tout their products as bio-based, the new federal labeling and certification program is being welcomed by many in the industry as an approach that will bring clarity to consumers.


⌠We are very pleased with it. It has been a long time coming, said Steve Davies, global marketing director for NatureWorks LLC in Minnetonka, Minn., in a phone interview. NatureWorks makes the plant-based resin Ingeo that is made from polylactic acid.


Under the final rules of the labeling program, published Jan. 20 in the Federal Register, manufacturers and distributors can only use the label after they submit an application to the USDA, and the product or package is certified to have at least 25 percent of its content made from renewable resources.


ASTM will do the certification work for USDA, but the cost of that ASTM testing will be shouldered by the companies applying to use the label.


Although a number of companies, including NatureWorks and Metabolix Inc., had urged USDA to set a threshold of 50 percent and the agency had initially set 51 percent as the threshold for the label, the consensus is that the labeling program will provide a boost to bio-based products and end some of the confusion that exists today.


MRC