NatureWorks announces recycling partners, intention to sell lactides

Orlando-Bioplastics supplier NatureWorks LLC (Minnetonka, MN) is partnering with outside firms to augment reclaim and recycling of its material in the U.S. and Europe, saying the partner businesses will offer a competitive price for post-consumer polylactic acid (PLA) scrap, according to president and CEO Marc Verbruggen.

Bioplastics: Metabolix execs say food contact approval nears; pricing of $2.25-$2.75/lb

During an earnings call on Wednesday, March 10, executives of bioplastics developer Metabolix said their joint venture with Archer Daniels Midland remains on track to start commercial supply in the coming weeks and expects to develop food contact-suitable grades this year. Telles, the joint-venture company, produces the Mirel brand of biodegradable plastic polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA).

Brazilian pipe processor doubles capacity

Corr Plastik Industrial Ltda. has jumped into the top three in the Brazil's PVC pipe processing industry following its recent purchase and installation of five new extrusion lines at a new, 60,0000m2 site near Maceió in the northeast of the country.

 

TecStar is supplier of the year for Rockwell Automation

Based on a combination of the range of services offered, support of the customer's business model, perceptible advantages as a supplier, and a solid on-time delivery rate, Rockwell Automation selected TecStar Mfg. Co., a business unit of MGS Mfg. Group to receive its Supplier of the Year award.

"TecStar's technical capabilties and global footprint provide Rockwell Automation with a strategic partner who offers a competitive supply chain advantage", says Matthew Sprader, Strategic Sourcing Commodity Manager for Rockwell. 

Industry downturn by the numbers, and where demand growth will come

For the record, the downturn that slammed the plastics industry starting in about mid-2008 and proceeding through mid-2009 was the first period since 1950 when the plastics industry saw a dramatic drop in consumption of resin globally. Until then, average annual demand growth had been 9%/year, according to figures presented yesterday by officials working for PlasticsEurope, the trade group representing Europe's plastics suppliers.

Productivity-boosting programmable robotic EOAT wins a patent

A patent recently granted to robotic tooling supplier SAS Automation (Xenia, OH) recognizes the technical achievement of its robotic EOAT, which can be programmed to automatically relocate four separate component holders within the robot's cycle with the same EOAT. What the EOAT gives the user is increased productivity and lower costs.

PETS hot runner tech now allied with DME distribution

The global sales and distribution network of DME Co. has been joined with the hot runner, processing, and analytical technology of Plastic Engineering & Technical Services Inc. in a strategic alliance aimed at improved sourcing for molders and moldmakers worldwide. First targets: new solutions for medical and high-volume consumer applications.

Recycling robot sorts six types of plastic using laser photonics

A recycling robot that uses sensors to detect five different wavelengths of laser beam light reflected from plastic materials, and will automatically sort six different polymer types, currently is being tested in Osaka, Japan.

The photonics sensing technology has been developed by the Idec Co. (Japan) and the Photonics Advanced Research Center (PARC) at the University of Osaka. Optical and robot technologies are supplied by Mitsubishi Electric Engineering Co. (MEE).

From Taipei Plas: Calcium carbonate continues to make inroads in blowmolding

Blowmolders seeking cost savings through reduced material usage in large containers might want to consider the latest coextrusion blowmolding machines from Fong Kee International Machinery Co. (Tainan).

Fong Kee

With Artificial Muscle, Bayer strengthens its E/E offerings

Research on electro-activated polymers that began at Stanford University, and was further developed at a company called Artificial Muscle Inc., has now been acquired by Bayer MaterialScience. The acquisition of the company, its patents, and its patent applications is the latest purchase by the massive plastics and chemicals supplier to focus on plastic film's surface haptics and appearance.

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  • Cavaform International LLC (www.cavaform.com) recently opened a new 22,000-ft2 facility next to its current mold manufacturing plant. The new company, Modern Technical Molding & Development LLC, will provide molding sampling capabilities using the company's five injection molding presses that range from 75-375 tonnes capacity. "We can also install a customer's molding press up to 500 tonnes in pre-prepared sites," says Robert (Chuck) Massie, VP of Cavaform.

  • Expanding the scope of recycled materials for the company's environmentally friendly decking and other green building materials, Advanced Environmental Recycling Technologies (A.E.R.T.) opened a new, state-of-the-art polyethylene recycling facility in Watts, OK. The 70,000-ft2 facility will allow A.E.R.T. to recover and utilize a wider range of polyethylene materials including plastic film and food packaging and containers.

  • Company president Maureen Steinwall was all smiles this week as a representative of Deere & Company presented a trophy naming her company, molder/contract manufacturer Steinwall Inc., as John Deere's supplier of the year, the top performer in a 4400-member supply chain.

  • Production of plastics and rubber machinery in Taiwan was down by over 30% in 2009 but the past three months has seen a surge in orders, with machine builders having to hire extra personnel to keep pace according to David Wu, chairman of the Plastics and Rubber Machinery Committee of the Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry (TAMI; Taipei).

  • Orlando-Bioplastics supplier NatureWorks LLC (Minnetonka, MN) is partnering with outside firms to augment reclaim and recycling of its material in the U.S. and Europe, saying the partner businesses will offer a competitive price for post-consumer polylactic acid (PLA) scrap, according to president and CEO Marc Verbruggen.