The window profile company Dalian Shide, China has placed the worldwide biggest order in the field of extrusion lines with the german-austrian consortium Greiner / Cincinnati Extrusion/Reimelt. The DM 110 million deal comprises a mixing plant and 138 extrusion lines for the production of PVC window profiles. With the new production facility the total capacity will rise to 450.000 tonnes p.a. by end of 2001.
Elenac, France invests Euro 230 million in two further PE production plants. With the total capacity of 500.000 tonnes p.a. in France and in Germany Elenac would become number 1 in Europe.
Retailers and PVC makers in the UK have drawn up a code designed to reassure the general public that PVC products have been manufactured in “an environmentally responsible way.” This code is the first step in a wider Environmental Charter effort, which includes leading national supermarket chains and two PVC manufacturers with plants in the United Kingdom: EVC International NV and Norsk Hydro ASA.
Conair, USA has developed a new cooling tank that offers the fastest water cooling yet for heavy profiles like composite lumber. Special feature of this cooling tank is a high-intensity water spray that optimizes evaporative cooling to quickly release heat that can get trapped in thick profiles. While conventional spray tanks simply shower water on profile surfaces, the new High-Intensity Spray Cooling Tank creates a full-cone spray pattern of atomized mist that covers all profile surfaces to maximize cooling.
Petrokemya in Saudi-Arabia, a sister company of Sabic, is planing a new PE production plant with a capacity of 400.000 tonnes p.a. The new plant is due to be commisioned end of 2002. Sabic already operates drei plants in Saudi Arabia with a total capacity of 2,6 million tonnes p.a. on basis of the Unipol-Process of Union Carbide.
Doelken-Kunststoffverarbeitung GmbH, Germany has purchased Australian A.S.L. Plastics Pty. , a leading supplier of corner profiles made of PVC and ABS and other technical profiles. Doelken, already a leading producer of thermoplastic corner profiles worldwide, is now also market leader in Australia.
SMS Kunststofftechnik, Germany has signed a seven-year licence agreement with the the Indian Kabra Extrusiontechnology. Kabra has already been licensee in the past producing twin-screw extruders and downstream equipment according to Battenfeld Technology. In the future Kabra will also manufacture single-screw extruders and tooling for window profiles and pipes.
Uponor A/S, the Danish subsidiary of the international plastic pipe systems group Uponor Oyj,Finland has been awarded a significant contract for the supply of telecom ducting systems to Tele Danmark. The deal is a framework agreement for over 3 years and worth EUR 1.3-2 million per year. Deliveries to all Tele Danmark’s domestic projects will start 1 July 2000. Uponor Oyj is a global market leader in pipe systems for buildings and municipal engineering and in residential under-floor heating systems.
Extrusion Solutions LLC, USA has launched a new measuring device for the measurement of small-diameter tubes. Main feature of its Micro Center is an adjustable opening, called a weir. Three micrometers are used to position the weir in relation to the extruder. The distance between the weir opening and the extruder, and the vertical and lateral position of the weir opening within the water bath, now can be controlled within 0.001 inch. The company custom-makes each MicroCenter to fit any water trough. A transparent Lexan mounting plate helps the user set the desired water level. Tel. +1(702) 451-4332, fax +1(702) 837-7688.
ColourTone Masterbatch in collaboration with PVC distributor CJP has developed a polymer specific colour masterbatch. It works in flexible PVC, but it can also be used in rigid PVC without the compatibility and homogenisation problems which can affect physical properties. The free-flowing granular masterbatch can be dosed at 1 - 2 per cent in filled or unfilled materials, and can be overdosed without danger up to 5 per cent. UV stabilisers and absorbers can be added to further improve the weatherability of material containing this masterbatch.
