Davis-Standard Egan Film & Coating Systems, USA has introduced a new side-fed configuration for small spiral dies with a up to 15% higher output and better thickness distribution in LLDPE and LDPE blown film. The company has built 4-, 8-, and 12-in. StatPak dies so far. StatPak uses a coat-hanger distribution around the circumference and is well suited to small bubbles for seamless can liners and sacks.
Huntsman Packaging Corp., USA has changed its name to Pliant Corp. The company was bought by Chase Capital partners and a management team when former Chairman Jon Huntsman decided to liquidate his controlling interest to fund various charities.
Uponor (UK) Ltd, a subsidiary of Uponor Oyj of Espoo, Finland, have been offered a contract by BG Transco plc, a gas distribution and transmission company, for the supply of polyethylene gas pipe and fittings. Uponor have been offered the contract, which is subject to final detailed arrangements, after a tendering process. The contract is the largest ever in Uponor’s history. The contract builds on the previous 5-year supply agreement between BG Transco and Uponor, whereby Uponor supplied two third of Transco’s demand in the UK. In the new contract, it is Transco’s intention to take 100% of its requirements for polyethylene gas pipe and fittings from Uponor which is three years duration with the possibility of two one-year extensions. The new contract could yield in the order of £100m to £160m (EUR165m-265m) dependant upon actual duration and demand levels.
Rhodia Engineering Plastics has increased its nylon production in Europe. It has recently made production investments in Korea, Poland and North America. The company has invested approx. EURO 23 million to increase nylon 6 and 66 polymerisation and compounding capacity at three sites in France, Italy and Poland. The investment will raise Rhodia’s capacity by 20 per cent.
Film distributor Soretrac has taken on representation of the biaxially oriented polypropylene films (OPP film) made in Germany by Bayer group subsidiary Walothen. The films are used in a variety of markets including print laminating, wrapping of durable items like CDs and in form, fill and seal applications such as for bakery goods.
Michael L. Rademacher has been appointed group vice president of PolyOne Distribution, the new name for the Hanna distribution unit. PolyOne is the new firm created from the the merger of Hanna and the Geon Co.
SMS Kunststofftechnik (Battenfeld group) has increased its turnover by 21 per cent to EURO 522 million in the financial year 1999/2000. Beside internal growth the purchase of Cincinnati Extrusion has contributed to this result. Incoming orders of EURO 525 million are divided into 63 per cent extrusion machinery and 27 per cent injection moulding machinery. According to chairman Heinrich Weiss the company is also interested in parts of Mannesmann Demag Krauss Maffei (MDKM) AG.
K-Tron International, USA has purchased Colormax Ltd., U.K., a firm that makes vacuum hopper loaders, dryers, blenders, mixers and micro-ingredient feeders. Colormax becomes part of K-Tron’s New Businesses group, which was established in June to extend K-Tron’s product range beyond its traditional feeder business.
The European Commission has approved the purchase from receivership in Germany of the Koemmerling extrusion/adhesives/sealants group by HT Troplast, Germany. The EC has decided that the merger will not create or strengthen a dominant position. HT Troplast has a market share of 23 per cent with a turnover of EURO 615 million in window profiles. The company employs more than 3.000 people with a consumption of 200.000 tonnes p.a. in this field.
MKF UK Ltd has closed its money-losing PVC sheet plant in Northern Ireland. Due to the effects of high polymer prices, fierce foreign competition and a recent labor strike, MKF has shut down this production facility with a loss of 61 jobs.