Biodegradable polymer – Toyota ‘not giving up’ on hydrogen but also ramps up production of battery electric cars 06-12-2023

Biodegradable polymer

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Sulzer expands bioplastics portfolio with new biodegradable polymer

Sulzer is expanding its commitment to sustainable solutions with the introduction of a groundbreaking technology – CAPSULTM – designed for the continuous manufacturing of polycaprolactone (PCL), a biodegradable polyester widely employed in diverse industries such as packaging, textiles, agriculture, and horticulture. The CAPSULTM innovation represents an end-to-end licensed process that facilitates the production of high-quality PCL grades at competitive rates, reinforcing Sulzer’s dedication to advancing renewable and circular plastic technologies.

The CAPSUL™ PCL technology, developed by Sulzer Chemtech, revolutionizes the manufacturing process by incorporating all purification and polymerization steps into a seamlessly integrated, highly efficient, and continuous operation.

Leveraging Sulzer’s extensive expertise in separation and reaction processes, this biopolymer technology proves to be remarkably adaptable, catering to a wide spectrum of industrial scales. Its versatility is poised to accelerate the widespread adoption of biodegradable and compostable PCL, addressing critical environmental concerns related to plastic waste.  Biodegradable polymer

High-quality PCL derived from the CAPSUL™ process finds application in a myriad of sectors, including consumer packaging, 3D printing, footwear, agricultural films, textiles, and medical devices. Uwe Boltersdorf, President of the Chemtech Division at Sulzer, emphasizes the pivotal role of PCL in reducing plastic waste, highlighting the company’s commitment to facilitating larger-scale production from both conventional and renewable resources. The introduction of CAPSUL™ reflects Sulzer’s dedication to empowering industry stakeholders to gain a competitive edge in sustainability, ushering in a new era of environmentally conscious manufacturing practices. As the world grapples with the challenges of plastic pollution, Sulzer’s innovative solution marks a significant stride towards a more sustainable and eco-friendly future.  Biodegradable polymer

Biodegradable polymer

LYB acquires minority stake in Source One

 LyondellBasell (LYB) today announced it has acquired a minority share in Source One GmbH, Leiferde, Germany, a plastic waste sourcing and engineering company, specialized in developing technical solutions for hard-to-recycle post-consumer plastic waste. Both LYB and Landbell will be shareholders in Source One. Landbell is a global service provider who operates a comprehensive network of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and take-back organizations worldwide.  Biodegradable polymer

This strategic investment provides LYB access to Source One’s engineering and plastic waste sourcing services. It also establishes a relationship with Landbell to provide plastic packaging waste volumes for LYB’s advanced recycling operations. Processing plastic waste volumes from EPR Service Providers such as Landbell reinforces the commitment by LYB to support brand owners to close the loop for plastic packaging.

“We are committed to support the growing demand of our customers for circular solutions,” says Yvonne van der Laan, LyondellBasell Executive Vice President, Circular and Low Carbon Solutions. “With the investment in Source One we are taking another important step to secure access to plastic waste for our recycling activities and to strengthen our Circulen product portfolio of material made from recyclable or renewable resources.”  Biodegradable polymer

50% of the shares in Source One will be held by 23 Oaks Investments, Leiferde, Germany, which together with LYB has formed the joint venture Source One Plastics in 2022. Source One Plastics currently builds an energy efficient, advanced plastic waste sorting and recycling facility in Germany.

“Thanks to our relationship with LYB and Landbell, we are able to optimally position Source One and successfully implement our growth strategy,” says Kai Hoyer, Owner 23 Oaks Investments.

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Biodegradable polymer

Toyota ‘not giving up’ on hydrogen but also ramps up production of battery electric cars

Japanese carmaker ploughing ahead with hydrogen despite difficulties

Toyota has reaffirmed its commitment to hydrogen power but at the same time will also ramp up development of battery electric vehicles.

The Japanese carmaker has been a pioneer of hydrogen fuel cell (FCEV) technology in recent years, and has developed two generations of its FCEV-powered Mirai saloon car, and launched the Japan-only Crown this year.  Biodegradable polymer

However Toyota has missed its own targets on sales of hydrogen cars, selling just over 3,900 hydrogen fuel cell vehicles last year, less than one per cent of its total worldwide sales of around 9.5m vehicles.

Media reports earlier this year quoted Hiroki Nakajima, Toyota executive vice-president and chief technical officer, admitting Mirai sales had not been successful, and that the carmaker would switch from building FCEV-powered cars to commercial vehicles.

But the carmaker has now reaffirmed its commitment to hydrogen-powered cars as well confirming it will diversify into commercial vehicles and other transport sectors. It will create a new hydrogen facility to produce more fuel cell systems to stimulate demand in Europe.  Biodegradable polymer

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Biodegradable polymer

Eurozone’s manufacturing PMI sees slight rebound in Nov 2023

INSIGHTS

  • The Eurozone manufacturing PMI, compiled by S&P Global for HCOB, remained below the growth threshold in November 2023, marking continuous contraction.
  • Austria, Germany, and France showed slight improvements, while Italy worsened.
  • Greece and Ireland saw growth, but overall, the sector faced reduced production, inventory levels, and staffing.

Eurozone’s manufacturing PMI, compiled by S&P Global for Hamburg Commercial Bank (HCOB), remained below the 50 growth threshold for the seventeenth consecutive month in November, indicating a continued decline in the goods-producing sector. However, there was a slight improvement, with the index rising to 44.2 from October’s 43.1, marking the highest reading since May and suggesting a less severe deterioration in manufacturing conditions.Of the eight nations included in the HCOB eurozone manufacturing PMI, six recorded in contraction territory. Austria was the worst performer in November, closely followed by Germany and France. Biodegradable polymer

All three countries recorded softer rates of decline, however, and this was also the case in the Netherlands and Spain. By contrast, Italy’s manufacturing downturn intensified. Two nations bucked the wider trend of contraction during November—Greece and Ireland—with the former seeing growth improve to a three-month high. Ireland’s manufacturing economy stabilised after back-to-back months of decline.

Factory production across the euro area continued to decrease during November. That said, while the pace of decline was strong overall, it eased to its softest since May. A slower fall in output coincided with a weaker contraction in new orders, and the slump in new export sales (which has been ongoing since March 2022) also moderated, as per S&P Global. Biodegradable polymer

Eurozone manufacturers were less aggressive with their destocking efforts, November survey data showed, with pre- and postproduction inventory levels falling at weaker rates. The fall in stocks of purchases was nevertheless the second-fastest seen since December 2012 amid another substantial month-on-month reduction in manufacturers’ buying activity.

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Biodegradable polymer

Sirmax building new compounding factory in India, expanding existing capacity

The Italy-based compounder said India is the ‘only [global region] experiencing growth’

Italian compounder Sirmax Group, known for its expertise in polypropylene compounds, engineering plastics, thermoplastic elastomers, recycled polymers, and more recently biocompounds,  announced it started building a new compounding factory in India.  Biodegradable polymer

It will be the company’s third facility in India upon completion, and its fourteenth global plant. The new facility is being built near Hosur, located in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, and is scheduled to start operations in 2026. Sirmax did not disclose the capacity of the new factory, but it said it is expanding the capacity of its existing Palwal plant, located near India’s largest automotive district, by 15,000 tonnes per year. The Padua-based company said it aims to increase its production capacity in India to over 60,000 tonnes per year, with a total investment of around $10 million.

The operations are part of the group’s strategy to boost its foreign subsidiaries, and in particular to meet increasing demand for thermoplastics compounds in Southeast Asia, it said in a statement. Biodegradable polymer

“At this pivotal moment in history, India stands out as the sole global region experiencing genuine growth,” said Sirmax’s President and CEO Massimo Pavin. “The country has a large domestic market and is an important hub for Southeast Asia.

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Sirmax building new compounding factory in India, expanding existing capacity

SABIC & CJ CheilJedang collaborate on world-first ready-to-eat rice packaging bowls made with 25% certified renewable PP in Korea

SABIC, a global leader in the chemicals industry, has announced that a food-contact grade of its TRUCIRCLE portfolio of certified renewable polypropylene (PP) resins is used in the production of Hetbahn instant white rice packaging bowls by CJ CheilJedang, a South Korea-based global food company, said the company.

The rigid bowls are the first of their kind using certified renewable PP in a ready-to-eat-rice packaging in Asia Pacific and align with CJ’s strong ‘Nature to Nature’ sustainability roadmap. Biodegradable polymer

Mohammed Al-Zahrani, Vice President of SABIC’s Polypropylene Business, comments: “Food brands around the world are increasingly looking for materials that will help them reduce their carbon footprint without compromising the performance, convenience and food safety of their packaging. We are very pleased about this opportunity to demonstrate SABIC’s vast expertise in sustainable PP resins for rigid food containers. Our certified renewable grade from our TRUCIRCLE portfolio used in CJ’s Hetbahn rice bowls meet the food-contact regulations, and offers the same ease of processing and high end-use quality as competitive all-virgin polymers.”

The Hetbahn brand, which is one of the top brands in cooked rice and now expanding its product portfolio to include porridge, frozen rice, cooked rice with soup etc., was originally launched in 1996 and means freshly harvested and cooked rice and has changed consumers’ perception of Korean rice meal culture. The rice grain is polished in a strict raw material process, cooked the same day and packed in a sterile environment so that the delicious taste of the rice can be preserved.  Biodegradable polymer
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SABIC & CJ CheilJedang collaborate on world-first ready-to-eat rice packaging bowls made with 25% certified renewable PP in Korea

Rathi Group to Install Two R4000-HD Secondary Shredders

Rathi Group has finalised the order for two R4000-HD model secondary shredders from Ahmedabad-based Fornnax Technology

“The two R4000-HD secondary shredders set to double annual capacity for tyre shredding and tyre wire cleaning,” informed Ravi Rathi, Director, Rathi Group.

Fornnax Technology continues to book orders from the domestic and overseas markets for R4000-HD shredders after its global launch at the recently concluded IFAT Expo 2023 in Mumbai.

New lines to double the plant capacity

The new installation will increase tyre shredding and tyre wire cleaning capacities to 150,000 metric tons and 25,000 metric tons, respectively. “Alongside this, there is an expansion in the works for the pyrolysis system, increasing by 40 metric tons per day, which will boost the group’s total pyrolysis capacity to 160 metric tons per day.”

This expansion is a proactive response to the anticipated demand from prospective recovered carbon black (rCB) buyers. Biodegradable polymer

As a result, the company is in the process of establishing dedicated rCB production units specifically for its major customers. Currently, the company’s rCB product, CAPITAL CARBON, is in various stages of trials with leading users in the market.

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Rathi Group to Install Two R4000-HD Secondary Shredders

Plastic pyrolysis – How to reduce the product defective rate of PET fiber? 05-12-2023

Biodegradable polymer