Plastics & Resins Blog

More proof of China's powerhouse position — two of the largest polyoxymethylene (POM) compounding lines have just been ordered from Coperion Werner & Pfleiderer for delivery to the eastern part of the country. With a combined total of 8,000 kg/hr of output, the compounding systems give the country's industry one stop for compounding, degassing, stabilizing and pelletizing — and it gets China closer to an entirely self-sufficient nation.

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When a giant bows out of the competition, does that give more playing field to the little guys? With Dow Chemical buying acrylic paint producer Rohm & Haas for more than $18 billion, it's not a definite sign the company is shutting its doors on plastics. However, it does signal the company's low tolerance for oil-dependent market fluctuations and its intentions to move away from the plastics playing field.

Will such exits and mergers of plastics giants make room for the smaller plastics manufacturers and producers to thrive?

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A planned $5 million campaign to showcase the benefits of plastics should gauge the industry's popularity in a way the millennial generation knows best — number of "friends." The U.S. Society of the Plastics Industry early next year will launch new media initiatives using Facebook, YouTube, and Wikipedia to dispel some of the recent negative publicity the industry has received for bag bans, safety concerns, and legislation issues.

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Though not on the brink of extinction, purified terephthalic acid (PTA) supplies are in position to potentially limit the feedstock for PET manufacturing. Three suppliers have been crippled by disputes and shutdowns globally. While these obstacles could hamper such end products as soda bottles, the bigger question is how the PTA crunch will affect processing.

Will potential PET customers patiently wait for restocked supplies or will they find replacement materials?

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One of the latest controversial issues surrounding plastics involves a new PVC ban in toys adopted by some retail stores. Some fear the presence of phthalate plasticizers while others argue the ban stems from politics and not science. The ban opens up the prospect of new developments in toys based on PVC alternatives like bio-based PLA polymers.

The preceding article is a "sneak peek" from Plastics & Resins, a newsletter from GlobalSpec. To stay up-to-date and informed on industry trends, products, and technologies, subscribe to Plastics & Resins today.