Europe

Orlando-Bioplastics supplier NatureWorks LLC (Minnetonka, MN) is partnering with outside firms to augment reclaim and recycling of its material in the U.S. and Europe, saying the partner businesses will offer a competitive price for post-consumer polylactic acid (PLA) scrap, according to president and CEO Marc Verbruggen.

For the record, the downturn that slammed the plastics industry starting in about mid-2008 and proceeding through mid-2009 was the first period since 1950 when the plastics industry saw a dramatic drop in consumption of resin globally. Until then, average annual demand growth had been 9%/year, according to figures presented yesterday by officials working for PlasticsEurope, the trade group representing Europe's plastics suppliers.

During the opening session of this year's 25th International Plastics Technology Colloquium, organized by Germany's Institute for Plastics Processing (IKV; Aachen), the prestigious Georg-Menges prize, awarded to individuals who promote research and development in the plastics processing field, was presented to Hartwig Höcker. He is emeritus professor for textile chemistry and macromolecular chemistry, as well as former director of the Interactive Material Research Institute (DWI), at the RWTH Aachen University.

Polymer costs are up, but monomer costs have risen higher. That was the perspective on the polyolefin market given by LyondellBasell in a March 5 teleconference detailing the company's January performance. Jim Gallogly, LyondellBasell CEO, and Kent Potter, the company's CFO, laid out the financial performance for the firm in the first month of the new year, for the first time utilizing new business units.

Many plastics processors are as yet unfamiliar with nanoparticle-sized additives and fillers, but that may soon change as suppliers rapidly ramp up capacity for these in anticipation of continued strong demand, primarily at first in the electrics/electronics industry, but also in sporting goods and other markets. 

Swiss extruder manufacturer Maillefer has chosen a new CEO, promoting Peter Roos to the position. His predeccesor, Pentti Hätälä, recently turned 65 but will continue as the chairman of the board of the Maillefer Group. 

Fraunhofer Institute researchers have developed an injection molded biocompatible and biodegradable screw to replace titanium versions used in a variety of surgical operations. The moldable composite is made from polylactic acid and hydroxylapatite, a ceramic that is the main constituent of the bone mineral and promotes the growth of bone into the implant.

Husky Injection Molding Systems (Bolton, ON) finished 2009 with a 19% decline in revenues, watching sales fall from $1.2 billion in 2008 to approximately $1 billion last year. According to the financial filings by the company's private equity owner, Onex Corp. (Toronto), revenues were down in all regions, except Latin America, where they rose 13%. Elsewhere, Asia (-3%), North America (-23%), and Europe (-31%) all experienced declines.

Houston, TX—Massive amounts of new capacity hitting the market at a time when demand for basic plastics and chemicals actually contracted on a year-over-year basis likely mean that pricing power will not return to resin producers until 2013. Gary Adams, president of industry consultant Chemical Market Associates Inc. (CMAI; Houston), delivered that viewpoint during his keynote address to the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) 2010 International Polyolefins Conference (Feb. 21-24; Houston).

LyondellBasell Industries (Rotterdam, Netherlands) will cease polypropylene (PP) production in Terni, Italy, announcing plans to permanently shut down the unit since it's "no longer economically viable." The polyolefins supplier has been undertaking a company-wide assessment of its manufacturing footprint as it works to emerge from bankruptcy. In a statement, LyondellBasell said the site had approximately 120 permanent employees and a nameplate capacity of 255,000 tonnes/yr.