ARTICLES

  • Engineering Plastics offer superior mechanical, chemical and thermal properties along with light weight and high strength characteristics, allowing metal substitution in many applications. They offer dimensional stability with high impact, temperature, flame and moisture resistance, making them suitable for use in myriad and diverse applications. On a global level, electrical and electronic applications, followed by consumer goods, transportation and construction are amongst the most important sales market for many engineering plastics. However, growth factors differ on a regional level- differences are apparent in demand from emerging regions such as Asia, South America, Middle-East and matured markets like Europe. Read more in Engineering plastics continues to grow-estimated to rise to over 29.1 mln tons globally in 2020
  • PVC, a versatile, durable and low-maintenance material, is the third most widely produced plastic and is used extensively in construction. Global PVC demand growth is estimated to average 3.5% pa until 2014. An average oversupply of 18 MMT is projected annually during the next 10 years. Two different scenarios exists in te current chlor-alkali and vinyls industry—one for producers operating outside North America who are grappling with rising energy and raw material costs, and the other for those operating inside North America who are able to leverage the low-cost energy from shale gas. Read more in Shale gas propels new investments, profitability for US vinyls producers as other regions face overcapacity
  • Developments in consumer electronics are being driven by environmentally-conscious manufacturers who are continually striving for more sustainable material alternatives. Natural and inexpensive methods such as biodegradation in water are the future of biodegradability. New bio-based products offer enhanced flow, better mechanical performance, higher renewable content, increased heat resistance, improved impact resistance, excellent high gloss finish and stable, precise processing. This is of critical importance for the large scale consumer electronics market, which also includes applications such as mobile phones, laptops, games consoles and tablets, etc. Read more in Solutions to reducing consumer electronic waste with biodegradable polymers
  • Although biodegradable polymers have been commercial for several decades, this niche market is beset with a variety of roadblocks led by high prices and lack of an industrial infrastructure along with varying standards in several regions of the world. The industry has been characterized by new technologies, tightening environmental restraints and unstable oil prices among other issues. Increasing demand in packaging, launch of new types of biodegradable polymers, concerns over depleting landfills, are some of the factors that continue to drive demand for biodegradable polymers. Read more in Global volume for biodegradable polymers to grow to 3 bln lbs by 2019 at a CAGR of over 10%
  • World demand for protective packaging is forecast to increase amid an acceleration in global manufacturing output, increased consumer spending on packaged goods, increasing popularity of Internet shopping, etc. Foamed plastics will continue as the largest product segment, followed by bioplastic and non plastic packaging, protective mailers, insulated shipping containers. Developing regions are expected to see fastest gains in demand. Read more in Global demand for protective packaging rise by over 6% pa till 2016, driven by growth in e commerce
  • Growth in global demand for packaging machinery is expected to rise amid an improved business climate, which will be reflected in expanding fixed investment spending, manufacturing output and packaging demand. Packaging of chemicals, pharmaceuticals and personal care products will post the fastest sales gains in percentage. USA is currently the largest national market for packaging equipment globally, but is expected to be surpassed in size by the much more rapidly expanding Chinese market. Read more in Global demand for packaging machines to rise by 4.6% pa to US$41.8 bln in 2017