Jan H. Schut
Resin Prices Bottom Out
The free fall in resin prices appeared to end with a thump last month.
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Shining Opportunities In Solar Films
Photovoltaic markets are growing explosively, and so are opportunities for specialty film producers. Solar cell and module production, which was forecasted to grow at 50% a year for the next few years before the recession hit, is now expecting slightly more healthy 30% annual growth, according to DuPont, a major supplier of photovoltaic film materials. Solar cell and module manufacturers are expanding, and large numbers of new companies are entering the field.
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Your Business Pricing Update - January 2009
With demand for all commodity resins exceedingly weak, and feedstock prices fallen through the floor, there appears to be nothing to stop resin tabs from shrinking further in 2009.
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Bio-Resins Tackle Durable Applications
Bioplastics were initially created for single-use applications like packaging and hotel key and gift cards.
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Robots Manage Logistics For Entire Packaging Plant
Inventory management may be too important to be left to people.
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Your Business Pricing Update - December 2008
Weak domestic demand, crumbling exports, and plunging feedstock prices brewed a “perfect storm” driving down commodity resin prices in the fourth quarter.
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Air/Water Cooling Die Doubles Output of PE Pipe
A new high-output extrusion die for large HDPE or PP pipe (110 to 2000 mm OD) combines water-cooling of the melt before it leaves the die with air cooling inside the pipe.
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PLA Biopolymers: New Copolymers, Expandable Beads, Engineering Alloys and More
Up to now, the number-one biopolymer in commercial use, polylactic acid or PLA, has been available mainly from one supplier and in a limited range of varieties. But there appear to be a number of new sources waiting in the wings, who are preparing a profusion of new PLA variants—copolymers, alloys, “engineering” PLA and even “do-it-yourself” PLA.
Read MoreYour Business Pricing Update - November 2008
All commodity resin prices are down and still falling, thanks to weak global demand and soft feedstock prices.
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High-Speed Extrusion: Are You Ready for the Fast Lane?
Around three dozen, mostly European, processors are pushing commercial development of high-speed single-screw extrusion. They have installed more than 100 of the small hyper-drive machines whose screws turn at up to 1500 rpm, about eight to 10 times faster than standard extruders. At least two German machine builders are working on machines that will go to 2000 rpm and even higher. The goal is to raise output without increasing extruder size.
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Your Business Pricing Update - October 2008
At press time in mid-October, the impact of Hurricane Ike on Gulf Coast refineries and resin plants was still being assessed.
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Investing in Planet-Friendly Packaging
Clear Lam Packaging Inc. is a mid-sized, family-owned packaging company with an enviable growth rate of over 20%/yr, unusual at a time when many mid-sized packaging companies are being bought out and disappearing. The secret, Clear Lam believes, has been its aggressive investment in R&D.
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