RTP launches 2nd European production site

Engineered thermoplastics compounder RTP Co. has opened a new manufacturing plant in Ladenburg, Germany, the company’s second in Europe.



Operating as RTP Deutschland GmbH, the 61,500-square-foot operation will make products including very-long-fiber composites and conductive compounds.


“In addition to expanding manufacturing capacity, the Ladenburg plant also houses on-site product development engineers as well as a quality assurance laboratory,” John Van Wijk, European director of sales, said in a  news release.

Winona, Minn.-based RTP now has 11 manufacturing sites. Others include Beaune, France; Suzhou, China; Singapore; Monterrey, Mexico; and six plants in the U.S.

RTP bought the Beaune plant from French thermoplastics compounder Codiplast SNC in 1995. Since then, RTP has significantly expanded its global footprint. The company said a second plant in Europe was necessary because of growth in its market for engineered materials.

In an interview at K 2010, European sales and development manager Colin Rooney said RTP has seen strong demand for compounds based on nylon and polypropylene for the automotive sector.

“If you want to be in automotive [in Europe], Germany is the place,” he said, adding that a number of customers had asked RTP to locate a facility there.

RTP’s long-fiber products and other materials can be used in automotive battery trays, front-end parts and door panels. The first extrusion line at the Ladenburg plant was commissioned in late October, with the second line set to begin production in the first quarter of 2011.

Business in 2009 “wasn’t good for anybody,” Rooney said. “But it came back this year.”

Earlier in 2010. RTP entered the South American market with a sales office and warehouse in Alphaville, Brazil, near São Paulo. Officials said they are needed because of increased demand for domestically made products from the automotive, consumer-goods and energy markets.

RTP ranks as one of North America’s 30 largest compounders and concentrate makers.

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What should I do when using plastics?

Plastic is a part of our lives and will not be leaving anytime soon. Professor Fredrick S. vom Saal, a professor of biology at the University of Missouri, recommends using plastic items made with number 2 (high-density polyethylene) or 5 (polypropylene). When using the other plastics, follow these guidelines:

Recycle, do not reuse: Use the product only for what it was intended for. Do not reuse bottles or microwave trays if they were not made to be reused.

Keep the heat away from BPA: Do not warm bottles made with BPA in the stove or microwave, don\'t put boiling water in them, and do not place them in the dishwasher.

The key to using plastic safely is to use it as it is recommended

Source : Medicine Net

Biopolymers & Biology bring function in PLA

Bioplastics are the plastics industry's response to the demand for environmentally responsible alternatives to oil-based products. Sukano introduces the K 2010 bio-based additive solutions to improve the performance and functionality of bioplastics.

SUKANO ® Biology polymer alloys for injection molding applications
The new polymer-Alloys (English alloy) will give the successful bio-plastics for their use in injection molding applications required application properties.

Biology The product line consists of finished with Sukano technology PLA-based bioplastics. Here, the PLA is the addition of specific additives modified so that it analogous in many application areas an oil-based plastic can be processed and used. The Biology Alloys increase impact strength and stiffness and the thermal heat resistance of PLA for injection molding applications and allow for optimal processing, the provider. Geared to the needs of manufacturers and users they are made in compounding.

Sukano Biokonzentrate for film extrusion
This Biokonzentrate were developed to the functional characteristics of bioplastics in the film extrusion to improve. This PLA is now analogous to all other oil-based plastics can be produced and processed.

Sukano Biokonzentrate are highly concentrated masterbatches based on bio-polymer carriers. The user will then mixed with a small proportion of its biopolymer, to obtain the desired properties in the final product. The bio-based SUKANO Gleit-/Antiblock ® masterbatches promise to reduce the friction and thus the processability and to facilitate unstacking of the products. The controlled nucleation by masterbatches crystallization is to increase the thermal resistance of the finished film. With the bio-based SUKANO ® UV Masterbatches of UV-content protection will ensure the finished film. The patented transparent SUKANO ® impact modifier increases already substantially in a low dose, the impact strength of the molded part.

Besides functional masterbatches offers Sukano optical masterbatches to improve the visual appearance of the finished product. These include pigments and soluble dyes, as well as white and black concentrates for transparent and opaque applications.

All Sukano Biokonzentrate and SUKANO ® Biology are on the provider information industrially compostable and fully equipped with a bio-based carbon content up to 100%.

Source : plasticker.de

Superior Essex Announces Acquisition and Expansion Of IVA Enamel Manufacturing into China

Superior Essex Inc. announced today the acquisition of a 70% majority ownership in Changzhou Olong Electrical Insulating Materials Co., Ltd. (‘Olong’), located in Changzhou, China. Olong is a leading Chinese producer of enamel coatings used in the manufacture of copper and aluminum winding wire for the electrical motor, transformer and power generation industries.

Superior Essex Inc., a subsidiary of LS Cable, is currently the world’s largest manufacturer of winding wire and, through its IVA operations, the world’s second largest manufacturer of enamel coating for winding wire applications. The acquisition of Olong will add strategic enamel manufacturing capabilities in China, the world’s largest and fastest growing winding wire market, and will complement existing IVA enamel production operations serving the European market from Meyzieu, France and the North American market from Ft. Wayne, Indiana.

The Company intends to operate the acquired business under the IVA name and expand the current operations to provide vertical capabilities to service the requirements of Superior Essex’s China magnet wire operations as well as certain of LS Cable’s requirements.

Valéry Mercier, VP Global Enamel, stated “this investment is a key strategic advancement for our global enamel capabilities. The combination of the Superior Essex IVA technology and enamel expertise with the manufacturing and distribution capabilities of Olong in China should yield exceptional growth opportunities for our global operations. We are also excited about developing Olong’s existing customer base by servicing them with our best quality product and service.”

Source: businesswire.com

MJ Additive: Project "Heat-resistant polypropylene"

In cooperation with the Institute of Polymer Technology (ICT) Stuttgart intends Dr. Andreas Strunk-Westermann, scientific director of MJ Additive GmbH to develop a plastic that is at least as heat resistant as nylon. The stated goal is to get a replacement for the very stable, but also expensive polyamide. "The long-term goal is to replace these with others. Preferably by polypropylene, which could then be a substitute for end products in the engine room. "Said Dr. Strunk-Westermann.

The University represents academic staff available to develop this based on the materials, models to estimate the aging effect of these materials to better. Then the results of the models with the help of specific tests are reviewed. MJ Additive takes in this cooperation, the development of new additives systems.

"We want to achieve with a combination of additives selected a very high heat resistance of polypropylene," said Dr. Strunk-Westermann. Currently, protection is sufficient up to 130 ° C. "The goal is to exceed this number dramatically. However, this target also carries risks: "It may not be the physical properties change too much," said Dr. Strunk-Westermann. The stated goal is to keep a waste of the most important physical parameters below 30%.

Another project in barrier film planned
The project, through the National Innovation Program by the Federal Office of Economics and Technology for the SME sector, is launched in the summer and runs a total of two years. "In addition to this collaborative project underway to start another project in the field of barrier films in cooperation with another university," says Dr. Andreas Strunk-Westermann.

Source : plasticker.de