Increasing demand from transportation, consumer goods, and electrical/electronic applications to catalyze growth in the short fiber thermoplastic (SFT) composites within the next five years, as per Lucintel. The global short fiber thermoplastics market is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 4.5% from 2016 to 2021. The major drivers for the growth of this market are recyclability, ease of processing, and better capability of making parts with complex geometry. In this market, fiber (glass fiber, carbon fiber) and resin (polyamide, polypropylene, and polybutylene terephthalate) are the major raw materials used for producing short fiber thermoplastic composites. Lucintel predicts that the demand for SFT is likely to experience a good growth during the forecast period supported by growing demand in end-user industries. On the basis of comprehensive research, Lucintel forecasts that the transportation segment is expected to show above average growth during the forecast period.
Within the SFT market, the transportation segment is expected to remain the largest end use industry by both value and volume. Increasing government mandates for higher fuel economy, higher strength to weight ratio, recyclability, and ability to mold complex shapes are the major driving forces that spur growth for SFT in this segment over the forecast period. Glass fiber is the most commonly used reinforcement material for SFTs and is expected to remain so over the forecast period. By resin type, polyamide based SFT is expected to remain the largest segment by both value and volume. Growing use of SFT in automotive under the hood applications is likely to drive the consumption of polyamide based SFT over the forecast period.
Asia Pacific (including Rest of the World) is expected to remain the largest market and is expected to witness highest growth rate during the forecast period due to the anticipated growth in the end user industries and increasing focus on high performance thermoplastic composites.
For market expansion, this report suggests innovation and new product development, where the unique characteristics of SFT can be capitalized. The report further suggests the development of partnerships with customers to create win-win situations and development of high performance products for the end use industries.
Emerging trends in the global SFT market which have a direct impact on the dynamics of the industry are establishment of manufacturing facilities in high growth markets and integration of operational capabilities. BASF SE, DSM NV, DuPont, Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC), and Lanxess are among the major suppliers of SFT.
Lucintel, a leading global strategic consulting and market research firm, has analyzed the global short fiber thermoplastic composites market by end use application, reinforcement type, matrix type, and region, and has come up with a comprehensive research report, "Global Short Fiber Reinforced Thermoplastic Composites Market 2016-2021: Trends, Forecast and Opportunity Analysis." The Lucintel report serves as a spring board for growth strategy as it provides a comprehensive data and analysis on trends, key drivers, and directions. The study includes a forecast of the global short fiber reinforced thermoplastic composites market through 2021, segmented by end use application, reinforcement type, matrix type, and region as follows:
PET usage in pharmaceutical packaging does not pose a threat to human health
Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) usage in pharmaceutical packaging does not pose a threat to human health and can be practiced with assurance of safety, as per a report of a high-level committee, as per IANS. "There is no conclusive, reproducible evidence to suggest that use of PET or additive used with it such as antimony, for pharmaceutical packaging may leach substances beyond limits that pose threat to human health," said the report submitted to the National Green Tribunal (NGT).
The committee was constituted by the health and family welfare ministry to assess the health and environmental impact of PET usage, after NGO Him Jagriti Uttaranchal Welfare Society petitioned NGT that PET usage leaches harmful chemicals like phthalates and heavy metals owing to extreme temperature variations in India.
The NGO sought restriction on the usage of plastic bottle and multi-layered plastic packaging including PET bottles for carbonated soft drinks as well, saying unrestricted use has significant health and environment impact. But the report said: "Within a robust regulatory system and process with clearly defined standards and requirements, the use of PET as a packaging material for pharmaceuticals can be practiced with assurance of safety."
It said PET does not need the use of phthalates or any plasticisers in its manufacturing process, but however, highlighted that both treated and regular soda-lime glasses are susceptible to leaching. "Treated soda lime glass is characterised by high hydraulic resistance and is more susceptible to leaching than borosilicate glass. Regular soda-lime glass is untreated soda-lime glass with moderate hydraulic resistance is more leachable oxide than treated soda-lime glass," it said.
But it revealed the lack of consistent rigourous methods in estimations, reporting of results and choice of standards by National Test House and Indian Institute of Toxicological Research (IITR) labs in their PET bottle tests. The HLC recommended establishing better standards, strengthening of regulatory guidelines and prescribing specific methods for pharmaceutical packaging waste disposal. Earlier, NGT noted that the Central Pollution Control Board and the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSO) have sought a ban on using PET bottles or plastic containers for primary packing in liquid oral formulations.
But two earlier separate tests by international testers SGS and India's Shriram Institute for Industrial Research (SIIR) have not found any traces of harmful leaching in PET containers packaging tested at varied environments.
27-Apr-16 
