News Plastech
Injection moulding process efficiency largely depends on the performance of the cooling system. To optimise changeover times (SMED) and minimise failures, maintenance departments are increasingly replacing traditional hose clamps with self-gripping systems.
Turkish company Ozer has upgraded its polypropylene bubble guard board extrusion line from Colines with a retrofit package designed to improve efficiency and broaden the range of alveolar sheet products.
BASF has introduced Lupragen N 208, a reactive amine catalyst for polyurethane foams that is designed to reduce VOC emissions and meet stringent low-emission requirements in applications such as mattresses, upholstery and automotive interiors.
Alpla and NTCP have launched a four-year pilot project in the Netherlands to validate a patented solvent-based process for producing food-grade recycled HDPE, supported by the Dutch Ministry of Climate Policy and Green Growth.
The Südpack plant in Kłobuck, established after the acquisition of Bahpol in 2015, has developed over a decade into a major European competence center for flexographic printing and finishing of flexible films.
Stella Pack is implementing an investment programme worth approx. EUR 15 million, covering the modernisation of recycling plants in Poniatowa and Chlewiska and the expansion of its own regranulate production for film products.
In line with earlier ChemCourier forecasts, the December ethylene contract price in Europe remained unchanged. In the first weeks of the month, HDPE suppliers will attempt price increases in an effort to improve margins before year-end.
Wacker and SICO Performance Material have launched an application development center for organofunctional silanes in Jining, China, to support high-performance additives for plastics, coatings and adhesives and to accelerate the market introduction of new specialty silane products.
Increasing design requirements call for more resistant plastics. Electron beam irradiation can be used to sustainably improve the mechanical, thermal, and chemical properties of plastic components.
Xenia has introduced a portfolio of reinforced thermoplastic composites based on HDPE, PP and PVDF, formulated for chemically aggressive media, elevated temperatures and ATEX-classified environments in the chemical process industry.
The 30th edition of the Plastpol trade fair in Kielce, scheduled for 19–22 May 2026, is expected to have an even more international profile, bringing together leading plastics and rubber processing brands from Europe, North America, Asia and Arab countries.
Domo Chemicals has once more received the EcoVadis Platinum Medal, achieving a score of 90/100 and ranking among the top 1% of companies worldwide in sustainability performance across environment, labor and human rights, ethics and sustainable procurement.
The 30th Fakuma international trade fair for plastics processing will take place in Friedrichshafen from 12 to 16 October 2026, with organisers reporting strong early bookings and broad international participation from the plastics industry.
Syensqo has received the 2025 Society of Plastics Engineers Innovation Award in the Materials Category for the first use of its Tecnoflon FKM NFS non-fluorosurfactant fluoroelastomer in an automotive PCV valve O-ring application.
The propylene price fell by EUR 25/t in November. After a slow first week, the polypropylene market in Poland stabilised towards the end of the second week of the month.
Outdated views on regulation, environmental aspects and processing still surround PVC edgebanding. Below are five common myths contrasted with technical information and statements from the manufacturer, MAAG Polska.
tesa introduces two double-sided mounting tapes for LSE substrates: 4950 and 74515. The manufacturer notes temperature resistance, no primer required, and suitability for demanding converting processes.
Alpla is establishing the international Plastic is Fantastic association to promote the responsible use of plastics and the development of a circular economy. The organization was founded in Vienna and is open to companies that use polymers.
In the final weeks of October, several incidents at Central European petrochemical producers could tighten polyethylene supply in the region.
At K 2025, Taiwan showcased its strength in a distinctive way. Over 130 Taiwanese companies presented solutions in machinery, recycling, materials and automation, making Taiwan one of the most strongly represented non-European countries at the fair.
Interview with Antonello Ciotti, president of Petcore Europe, representing the PET value chain.
By the end of the current month, polypropylene prices are expected to remain stable with a marginal decline. Although increased activity is observed among converters, particularly in PP homopolymer, this is not a broad-based trend.
Although the October ethylene price was unchanged, HDPE, LLDPE and LDPE prices are expected to fall next week. Weak market conditions and persistently low converter activity are the drivers.
The European plastics industry faces challenges from strict regulations, rising recycling demands, and record-high energy costs. Production is shifting outside the EU, risking dependence on imports and weakened competitiveness.
Omya Performance Polymer Distribution has established its global leadership team, setting out roles across regions, product lines and functions. The company plans to introduce the team at K 2025 in Dusseldorf.
The European plastics recycling sector is sliding into one of its deepest crises to date. By the end of 2025, Europe will have lost nearly one million tonnes of recycling capacity since 2023.
At K 2025 in Düsseldorf, the world’s leading trade fair for plastics and rubber, Bole proudly presents a powerful lineup of injection moulding innovations that are setting new benchmarks in efficiency, sustainability, and advanced applications.
Interview with Thomas Franken, Director of K Show.
Röhm has commissioned a new sulfuric acid plant at its Worms site, reinforcing its global MMA and PMMA production network. The modern unit replaces a facility damaged in 2023 and supports regional MMA supply.
The situation on the Polish polypropylene market remains stable but difficult. Low demand and the presence of cheap imported material are limiting the ability of producers and trading companies to maintain polypropylene prices.
Norda and Envalior have introduced the 001A trail running shoe featuring a midsole based on Arnitel Performance. The model targets higher energy return and lower weight versus the original 001 while maintaining long-distance durability.
Radiation crosslinking opens up completely new possibilities for polymers: Precise crosslinking can improve mechanical properties, increase heat resistance and abrasion resistance, and significantly increase chemical resistance.
Rubber Street will return to Hall 6 at K 2025, jointly organised by wdk and Messe Düsseldorf. The 500 m2 special area is fully booked with a record 19 exhibitors covering the elastomer and TPE value chain, and will feature reusable flooring made from recycled tyre rubber.
If someone tried to trace their everyday life without plastic today, it would quickly prove to be an almost impossible task. Plastics have become so ubiquitous that it is difficult to notice how quickly everyday items turn into waste.
Moretto will present surprising innovations including the gravimetric batch blender DGM Gravix 50, the dryer X Comb 19, the Hyper Cut grinder, the manual manifold with wireless control and OW6, the innovative centralised system management server.
K 2025 will again host a Start-up Zone for young technology companies in Hall 7. Twenty exhibitors will present solutions spanning AI, data analytics, bioplastics, digitally supported production and the circular economy, with a Start-up Pitch scheduled for 13 October in Hall 6.