Strictly-Extrusion

Huhtamaki is to invest €17m in a flexible packaging manufacturing facility in Thailand as part of plans to grow its position in the Asian consumer packaging market. The facility, which will be located on Samutsakorn Industrial Estate in Bangkok and is expected to begin production in mid 2008, will supply the local food and consumer goods industry with advanced flexible packaging. The new Thai plant will strengthen the company’s position with its existing customer portfolio as well as supporting Thailand’s growing food-related export activities, according to the company. Headquartered in Finland, Huhtamaki is a leading manufacturer of consumer and specialty packaging. Net sales in 2006 totaled €2.3bn.

Klöckner Pentaplast has been sold by its owner Cinven to another private equity firm, Blackstone Group, for €1.3bn. Managing director of the Blackstone Group, Lionel Assant, said: “The group’s high-quality films, superior technical expertise and support, and its global manufacturing platform have earned its position as a recognised industry leader. We will continue to support Klöckner Pentaplast’s aggressive growth and investment strategy.” Klöckner Pentaplast was acquired by Cinven and its minority partner, JPMorgan Partners, in 2001. Cinven said investments and its strategy since then had increased sales from €833m to more than €1.2bn, and employee numbers had grown from 3,100 to more than 3,400. Chief executive of Klöckner Pentaplast, Thomas Goeke, said: “We look forward to working with our new owners in taking the business forward.”

Battenfeld Extrusion Systems Ltd. is going to celebrate its 10th anniversary and host an open house just prior to Chinaplas May 20 - 21, 2007 at its facility in Shunde, Guangdong, PR China and will also exhibit in hall 1 booth number B611 at Chinaplas 2007 in Guangzhou from May 21 - 24, 2007.
On May 21, 2007, Battenfeld Extrusion Systems will demonstrate its latest technology in pipe, profile, film and sheet extrusion in its laboratory in Shunde. Local and overseas customers and potential customers have been invited to attend the anniversary celebration. Four extrusion lines will be on display, and experts from sister companies in Germany and the U.S. will be on hand for discussions.
Machine demonstrations at the open house will include an extrusion line for PE-RT pipe with diameters of 16 mm - 32 mm. The line comprises a high-performance BCE 1-60-30B single-screw extruder, a PE-RT die, a swarfless flying knife cutter, and a twin-station coiler. Due to their higher temperature resistance and lower overall costs than other plastic pipe, PE-RT pipe are gaining popularity in floor heating and hot water supply systems.
Also on display will be Battenfeld China’s techBEX profile extrusion line which has also been successfully presented to the public last year at Battenfeld Extrusion-stechnik’s 25th anniversary open house. Introduced to the market in early 2006, the techBEX line was very well received and more than 30 lines have already been sold, mainly to manufacturers of technical profiles.
A 3-layer PET sheet extrusion line with 850 mm finished product width will complement the presentation. The co-extrusion line will be equipped with BCE 65 mm and 90 mm single-screw extruders, a feedblock and flat die from Cloeren, a 45 degree slant roll stack and a 4-station cantilever center winder. The company is also planning to demonstrate a 3-layer blown film line for the production of stretch hoods.

Corotec Corporation has introduced a new combination roll-to-roll and sheet-fed corona treating system with integral HFT-Series power supply, power density control, and adjustable speed control, all pre-wired and mounted to a portable frame. The unique self-contained system is designed for processing a wide variety of materials in either sheet-fed or roll-to-roll format. It is designed especially for use in in-house test laboratories for evaluating the effectiveness of corona discharge surface treatment on customers’ materials. ‘This new system is the latest Corotec product to be developed as an all-in-one, self-contained unit,’ said Bruce Stobbe, President of Corotec. ‘It helps our customers save time and money by allowing for fast installation and operation. We ship the unit completely pre-wired and pre-assembled, and ready to run.’
The Corotec HFT-Series Power Supply is controlled either manually or by the company’s Power Density Control, which features automatic speed feedback to ensure consistent treatment throughout the material run. The sheet feed and the roll drive are both variable speed and include a stepless control system and web tension control. Customers need only add incoming power and provide ozone exhaust, and the system is ready to go.
Because even the most affordable corona treatment system represents a substantial capital investment, Corotec offers their customers the opportunity to evaluate virtually any Corotec product or accessory in their plant, on their application, and with their materials. It is a unique opportunity to try the industry’s best and most advanced corona treating equipment for narrow web, wide web, 3D parts, blown film or sheet applications.
Corotec designs and manufactures a complete line of standard and custom corona discharge surface treating equipment of narrow web and wide web applications, systems for controlled atmosphere testing, ozone generators for coating and laminating processes, and other advanced applications.

Russian window profile volumes are expected to triple by 2010 to reach a total of 1.12m tonnes, according to a study commissioned by machine manufacturer Cincinnati Extrusion. The research was carried out by Moscow-based institutes, Akademija Konjunktury Promyshlennyh Rynkov and Okna Marketing. From 2003 to 2006 the study found that the consumption of window profiles had risen by more than 250% to a total of 382,700 tonnes. Hans Berlisg, Cincinnati Extrusion marketing director, said: “Thanks to the building boom and the many public renovation projects underway, the Russian market will certainly continue to grow at least until 2010.” The increase is also thought to be due to a trend towards saving energy and Berlisg added: “An annual growth rate of 10% is estimated for the following five years up to 2015, thereafter the market is expected to stabilise at a more moderate rate of about 5%.”

Borouge today announced the launch of the Gulf Plastics Pipe Academy (GPPA), of which it is a founding member. The GPPA, formally launched by Harald Hammer, CEO, Borouge Pte Ltd at Dubai PlastPro, is set to play an important role in increasing the use of high quality plastics pipe systems in the Middle East.
The GPPA is an independent, non-profit organisation that has been formed to promote the use of specified plastics pipe systems and good installation practices in
the greater Middle East region. A unique organisation, the GPPA represents all stakeholders in the plastic pipe value creation chain – such as polymer producers,
pipe and fittings producers, pipe system designers and contractors, pipe installers and utility providers. The goals of the organisation have been discussed with many other companies in the Middle East and beyond, and the response to this initiative has been very positive in every case.
The GPPA is committed to raising the knowledge and skills required to develop high quality plastics pipe systems. This will be achieved through developing education and training programmes, promoting standardisation and certification and by encouraging best practice in health, safety and environmental matters.
It is well recognised that there is a need for more durable and reliable pipe systems to be installed in the greater Middle East region. Borouge believes that adopting better high quality plastic pipe systems will benefit all stakeholders and, ultimately, result in advanced pipe networks that provide real benefits to communities in the Middle East.
Harald Hammer, Chief Executive Officer of the Borouge marketing company commented: “We are proud to be a founding member of the Gulf Plastics Pipe
Academy – promoting the use of specified plastics pipe systems and good installation practices in the Middle East has never been more important. Robust and
leak-free pipe networks are a fundamental element in any country’s infrastructure. Borouge recognises the role it can play to address the global challenge of clean
water availability and sanitation, and ensure the sustainable development of the communities in which we operate.”

Rob Lawrence, Chief Executive, GPPA commented: “We are pleased to have the support of Borouge during our establishment period. The GPPA will offer a range of services based on the needs identified by those working throughout the plastics pipe value chain and we expect to be able to address many of the concerns that will come from the exceptionally tough environment in the region. The GPPA’s unique strength is that its members represent all interested parties, enabling it to be a powerful lobby group on behalf of the industry and its customers.” “The GPPA model also has relevance in the significant pipe markets in India and China where the full benefits of specified plastics pipe systems have yet to be realised,” adds Bjorn Klofelt, Vice President Plastics Pipe Academy Project “We have had very positive responses to this joint industry educational initiative from several major Indian and Chinese companies.”