Strictly-Extrusion

Diamant Art Corporation is pleased to announce that through its wholly owned subsidiary, Bio-Plastics Film Inc., they have sold to Sigma Supply, Inc. a first order in excess of 22 million feet of its oxo-biodegradable pallet wrap using Totally Degradable Plastic Additive (TDPA) Oxo-Biodegradable Technology. TDPA®-based plastic products will degrade and ultimately biodegrade. Once biodegrading is complete, all that remains is carbon dioxide, water and biomass, all of which are part of the normal bio-cycle.
Diamant’s ‘Bio-Pallet Film’ is the ideal product for wrapping pallets in the most environmentally friendly way possible. As such, Sigma Supply, a nationwide provider of the finest quality packaging equipment and supplies since 1970, has committed to purchasing this environmentally friendly packaging solution for its existing product line. Sigma Supply, with offices throughout the United States, offers a wide variety of supplies ranging from stretch film to packaging equipment, adhesives to corrugated boxes, facility supplies to packaging material, and more.
Diamant is very pleased with this initial order from Sigma Supply. This development comes after Diamant announced its decision to pursue the North American market with this new biodegradable pallet wrap product line as publicized in a prior news release by Diamant.
Diamant believes this reflects that the future of packaging is with biodegradable packaging products such as those provided by Diamant’s Bio-Plastics division.

Borealis, a leading supplier of innovative, value creating plastics solutions, invites product manufacturers, designers and plastics
processors to learn more about the benefits of polyethylene and polypropylene materials at Interplastica 2007 to take place in Moscow from 30 January – 2 February 2007. Visitors can experience first-hand how Borealis is providing solutions that deliver improved production efficiency and end-product benefits to a wide range of industries and applications.
Representatives from Borealis’ Wire and Cable, Pipe, Automotive and Applications, Moulding, and Film and Fibre Business Units will
demonstrate the company’s latest innovations in a number of areas of particular interest to the Russian market. Borealis will also highlight the manufacturing and technical support advantages available to customers in the region thanks to the close proximity of its production site in Finland.
At a time when continuous improvements and expansion to Russia’s infrastructure are underway, the advantages of Borealis’ materials for energy transmission and distribution cables and pipe coatings market will come under the spotlight.
For the rapidly expanding automotive industry, Borealis will feature its solutions to raise productivity while improving impact, scratch
resistance and aesthetic performance of specific exterior and interior components. Borealis’ solutions for the packaging market will focus on the production efficiency, performance, and environmental material and waste reduction benefits that can be achieved for a wide range of applications, including carrier bags, heavy duty shipping sacks and cast film for bread packaging. Borealis’ unique innovation for vacuumformed packaging, BorForm™, developed in cooperation with converter Tommen Gram, will also be demonstrated to the Interplastica audience.
Vladimir Petrushkin, Sales Manager Borealis, comments: “With a growing tendency by Russian manufacturers to use lightweight
plastics to substitute traditional materials, Borealis welcomes the new opportunities this is bringing for our innovations to make a real
difference to production efficiency, energy reductions, material-usage, and, ultimately, to consumers themselves. We are currently the leading supplier of innovative plastics solutions in the region, and we are looking forward to further strengthening our contact with the Russian market through Interplastica.” For more information visit Borealis at Interplastica 2007 in Hall 1 Stand 1E33.

At the beginning of 2007, through two strategic acquisitions, Coperion Waeschle GmbH & Co. KG, Weingarten/Germany, will not only have access to new segments of the market for bulk mineral handling systems but will also be extending its product portfolio to include industrial filtering systems. ‘With these strategically important steps, we shall now be able to extend our strong market position in bulk materials handling systems for the plastics industry into other new markets,’ reported Axel Kiefer, Managing Director of Coperion Waeschle. ‘These acquisitions will form the basis of sustained future growth far beyond the average rate of growth in our industry and they will further strengthen our worldwide standing as the leading competence centre for materials handling – Coperion Waeschle has vast experience in this field as well as best in class technological know-how for the handling and conveying of the widest diversity of bulk materials, all of which have vastly differing behaviour characteristics.’ With effect from 1st January 2007, Coperion Waeschle Beteiligungs GmbH, a member company of the Coperion Group, Stuttgart/Germany, owned by UK private equity firm Lyceum Capital, will be taking over the business activities of Hartmann Förderanlagen GmbH, Offenbach am Main/Germany. This company, a leading manufacturer of bulk alumina handling systems, will operate within the Coperion Group in the Materials Handling Division. It will in future trade under the corporate name of Coperion Hartmann and will still have its registered seat in
Offenbach. No jobs will be lost through the acquisition. Axel Kiefer explains the reasons for the takeover as follows: ‘For Coperion Waeschle, the acquisition of Hartmann represents a strategically important step forward in the market for bulk mineral handling systems, especially in the aluminium industry. It will also accelerate diversifying the division’s sales.’ Coperion Waeschle covers the entire process chain in the plastics industry – from the reactor through to the logistical handling of bulk materials. Coperion’s declared aim is to supply system solutions covering the entire process chain in the aluminium industry, from the receiving, handling and storage of incoming raw materials through to the conveying and loading of alumina into the electrolytic cells. Coperion Hartmann is already a lead supplier of first stage receiving and handling systems, enjoying a high standing in its industry. Given this and Coperion Waeschle’s own strengths, the portfolios of the two companies ideally complement each other. The similarities between these different industries and markets give rise to synergies through the potential exchange and expansion of engineering and processing
technology. Moreover, in respect of sales and servicing activities, the worldwide network of the Coperion Group will enable Coperion Hartmann to expand, consolidate and globalize its on-thespot presence effectively and economically.
Likewise with effect from 1st January 2007, Coperion Waeschle will be taking over all the business activities of Horn Filter- und Verfahrenstechnik GmbH, Hennef/Germany, a company that worked in close association with Coperion Waeschle for many years. With its acquisition of Horn, Coperion Waeschle will be adding a further processing stage to its bulk materials handling portfolio. The processing know-how from both companies will henceforth be channelled into the further expansion of Coperion Waeschle’s range of industrial filtering systems. The resulting intensification of service and replacement parts business on a worldwide scale will generate further grown. The acquisition will also enable Coperion Waeschle to both broaden and deepen its engineering competence.

At the beginning of 2007, through two strategic acquisitions, Coperion Waeschle GmbH & Co. KG, Weingarten/Germany, will not only have access to new segments of the market for bulk mineral handling systems but will also be extending its product portfolio to include industrial filtering systems. ‘With these strategically important steps, we shall now be able to extend our strong market position in bulk materials handling systems for the plastics industry into other new markets,’ reported Axel Kiefer, Managing Director of Coperion Waeschle. ‘These acquisitions will form the basis of sustained future growth far beyond the average rate of growth in our industry and they will further strengthen our worldwide standing as the leading competence centre for materials handling – Coperion Waeschle has vast experience in this field as well as best in class technological know-how for the handling and conveying of the widest diversity of bulk materials, all of which have vastly differing behaviour characteristics.’ With effect from 1st January 2007, Coperion Waeschle Beteiligungs GmbH, a member company of the Coperion Group, Stuttgart/Germany, owned by UK private equity firm Lyceum Capital, will be taking over the business activities of Hartmann Förderanlagen GmbH, Offenbach am Main/Germany. This company, a leading manufacturer of bulk alumina handling systems, will operate within the Coperion Group in the Materials Handling Division. It will in future trade under the corporate name of Coperion Hartmann and will still have its registered seat in
Offenbach. No jobs will be lost through the acquisition. Axel Kiefer explains the reasons for the takeover as follows: ‘For Coperion Waeschle, the acquisition of Hartmann represents a strategically important step forward in the market for bulk mineral handling systems, especially in the aluminium industry. It will also accelerate diversifying the division’s sales.’ Coperion Waeschle covers the entire process chain in the plastics industry – from the reactor through to the logistical handling of bulk materials. Coperion’s declared aim is to supply system solutions covering the entire process chain in the aluminium industry, from the receiving, handling and storage of incoming raw materials through to the conveying and loading of alumina into the electrolytic cells. Coperion Hartmann is already a lead supplier of first stage receiving and handling systems, enjoying a high standing in its industry. Given this and Coperion Waeschle’s own strengths, the portfolios of the two companies ideally complement each other. The similarities between these different industries and markets give rise to synergies through the potential exchange and expansion of engineering and processing
technology. Moreover, in respect of sales and servicing activities, the worldwide network of the Coperion Group will enable Coperion Hartmann to expand, consolidate and globalize its on-thespot presence effectively and economically.
Likewise with effect from 1st January 2007, Coperion Waeschle will be taking over all the business activities of Horn Filter- und Verfahrenstechnik GmbH, Hennef/Germany, a company that worked in close association with Coperion Waeschle for many years. With its acquisition of Horn, Coperion Waeschle will be adding a further processing stage to its bulk materials handling portfolio. The processing know-how from both companies will henceforth be channelled into the further expansion of Coperion Waeschle’s range of industrial filtering systems. The resulting intensification of service and replacement parts business on a worldwide scale will generate further grown. The acquisition will also enable Coperion Waeschle to both broaden and deepen its engineering competence.

Loparex has invested in a new extrusion line in its Guangzhou plant in China. This investment is part of Loparex’s strategy to strenghten the company’s operations in Asia and to expand Guangzhou mill’s product range to polycoated release liners.
The new extruder started up at the beginning of December. ‘This is an important milestone for our business in Asia’, says Mr Andie Ho, President, Loparex Asia Pacific. ‘It permits us to significantly extend our product range and to offer release liner solutions to new business areas, and also offer better service to our current customers and strenghten our market position in this area.’
Loparex Guangzhou plant started its operations in June 2004 with production of 1- and 2-sided, solventfree direct siliconized release papers. ‘Building an extrusion line in Guangzhou was a strategic decision with many positive consequences. Our product range is now expanded to 1- and 2-sided LDPE, HDPE and PP-coated liners, that can be printed in-line with customers’ designs’, explains Tapani Laakso, Sales Director, Loparex Asia Pacific. ‘We have now excellent release liner solutions to offer especially to the Graphic Arts, Tape and Medical Industries. In Asia, there is a strong demand for polycoated products in these business areas.’
‘In addition, many of Loparex’s global customers have started production in China and our new extrusion unit will give the Guangzhou plant new opportunities as their local supplier’, Tapani Laakso continues.
Following this investment, approximately 20 new persons have been employed at the Guangzhou plant to work in production, maintenance, quality control and production planning. The total number of employees at the plant is approximately 120.

Custom screw design team improves output rate and product yield American Maplan Corporation’s custom screw-design team is currently developing screws addressing specific needs for the market including rate improvement, melt
stability and homogeneity. These benefits are paving the way for significant improvements in output rate and product yield.
The team’s knowledge in material formulations supports the intricate design criteria for each functional zone of the screws. These functional zones include the feed, preheating, mixing, venting and metering. The balance of volumes and energy input in
each of these zones is critical to the success of the final screw geometry. To complete the Total Extrusion Solution, American Maplan offers screw coating technology for all types of screws. A laser-sensor controlled PTA welder technology is used to precision coat the screw flights with tungsten carbide for parallel and conical screws. Molybdenum coating is also available.
American Maplan manufactures single, twin-parallel, twin-conical and parallel screws and screw designs for competitors’ machines, providing over 400 different screw geometries for 65 different extruder models for the top manufacturers in the world.
For more information, contact American Maplan at (620) 241-6843 or welcome@maplan.com.

Only just after launching its newly developed large-scale ZSK-NT compounding technology for difficult and highly demanding compounding applications when processing polyolefins, Coperion Werner & Pfleiderer GmbH & Co. KG, Stuttgart, has achieved an extraordinary success: within only a very short time, the company has sold four such lines, two of them with rated throughputs of over 50 tonnes/hour. This is all the more astonishing considering the fact that the ZSK-NT is based on a completely new concept. These orders again underscore the technology leadership of Coperion Werner & Pfleiderer and the trust that customers place in this company’s competence in process and machine technology. The first compounding line will go into operation in 2007. The ZSK-NT technology has already been approved by several licensors for the compounding of bimodal polyethylene for film and pipe applications.
The ZSK-NT is a two-stage compounding system comprising two ZSK MEGAcompounders, each featuring a relatively short processing section. In the first stage, the plasticizing of the polymer powder is done by means of a high-speed twin-screw compounder which is relatively small considering the high throughput, e.g. a ZSK 250 Mc with a 250 diameter screw rotating at speeds of up to 600 r.p.m. The second stage, for homogenizing and discharging the melt, is equipped with a larger ZSK extruder which operates at slower speed and high degree of fill, e.g. a ZSK 350 November 2006 Mc with screw speeds of between 80 and 150 r.p.m. For each of the two stages of the ZSK-NT, Coperion Werner & Pfleiderer have developed a whole series of special screw elements. Separating the process into two stages permits the use of screw configurations and process parameters optimally adapted to the different conditions that occur in the course of the process. The end result is an outstanding product homogeneity. In comparison with a conventional system – a compounder with a long processing unit and large diameter – the ZSK-NT achieves superior homogeneity with a reduced total energy input and hence a reduced thermal stress on the melt, especially when processing difficult products. The advantages of the ZSK-NT come into their own in particular when compounding bimodal polyethylene (PE), which, as a result of the special polymerizing process, comprises polymer chains of relatively low and relatively high molecular weight. The first stage of the compounding system gently plasticizes the polyethylene powder at a high screw speed. In the second stage, the slowly rotating screws, which are equipped with special screw elements, incorporates the high-molecular-weight PE particles and disperses them gently and evenly, and at low temperature, in the lower-molecular-weight matrix of the melt. The
result is a compound that can be processed without any further homogenizing into high-quality, gel-free products, such as pipes and films.

Georg Fischer AG, Schaffhausen, is to sell its equity holding in SIMONA AG, Kirn, Germany, to Solventis Wertpapierhandelsbank GmbH in Frankfurt, Germany. The holding, acquired by Georg Fischer between 2000 and 2003, amounts to 17 percent of the equity. It has been agreed to keep the sale price confidential. The transaction takes place with the agreement of all the companies involved. It will have no effect on the joint venture of Georg Fischer Piping Systems AG and SIMONA AG to produce pipes and mould parts from fluorine plastics.

Dow Corning® 3-0115 Automotive Sealant is a one-part, self-priming RTV silicone rubber designed for automotive powertrain sealing applications.
Formulated for sealing automotive flanges, coolant systems, engine blocks, engine and transmission oil pans, axle cover seals and where immediate pressure leak testing is required, Dow Corning 3-0115 Sealant provides an elastomeric seal that is resistant to most automotive powertrain fluids. Dow Corning 3-0115 Sealant withstands in-line pressure leak testing in assembly operation and provides low oil foaming properties when in contact with automatic transmission fluids and engine oils. Dow Corning 3-0115 Sealant exhibits excellent unprimed adhesion to properly prepared surfaces of metals and many plastics used in automotive assembly.
For more information about Dow Corning’s complete line of automotive solutions, visit www.dowcorning.com.

Enercon, global manufacturer of surface treating equipment, is committed to maintaining a comprehensive website that is used as a reliable resource for plastics and packaging professionals. Those new to surface treating processes can learn the basics while industry experts have access to the latest information on technical advancements.

To add to its ease of use, the company is excited to announce the launch of its new multi-language website access, allowing users around the globe to view information in their familiar language. In addition to English, users can now retrieve product information, basic sealing information, frequently asked questions and submit an inquiry form to Enercon experts in Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean or Spanish.

‘Enercon is represented around the world by an international sales network with local representation in all major business regions. Our website reflects Enercon’s international presence. The inclusion of eight unique languages to our website will allow business leaders around the planet to discover our innovative technical solutions in the comfort of their own language,’ says Enercon President Greg Schuelke.

Please visit www.enerconind.com/treating to experience first hand Enercon’s worldwide dedication to the packaging industry.