Category: automotive industry

Cell to pack battery grow 24-02-2023

Cell to pack battery grow

-The cell to pack battery market is projected to grow from USD 5.5 billion in 2023 to USD 29.3 billion by 2030 at a CAGR of 26.9%

The growth of this market is mainly driven by the increasing demand for high-voltage batteries to achieve a longer drive range. CTP battery is one of the results of such advancement, which eliminates the usage of modules and directly integrates cells into battery packs.

Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report “Cell to Pack Battery Market by Form, Battery Type, Propulsion, Technology, Vehicle Type and Region – Global Forecast to 2030” – https://www.reportlinker.com/p06422852/?utm_source=GNW

This allows the use of larger and more cells within battery packs with reduced interconnections and a simplified assembly process resulting in an increased volumetric density of batteries and reduced cost. CTP technology is yet to be commercially launched in most EV-dominating countries. It is expected to gain traction by 2024?2025 in the US, South Korea, Japan, and European countries. Cell to pack battery grow

“Passenger electric vehicles is the largest market for cell to pack battery.”

The demand for electric passenger cars has increased in the past few years owing to the rising demand for safer personal commutes in inter-city and cross-country travel.Asia Pacific is predicted to be the largest market for the sale of passenger electric cars, with China being the major contributor in the region.

Demand for electric passenger cars in Europe and North America has also grown due to rising fuel prices and increasing awareness for decarbonized vehicles.Some electric passenger car models offer an average driving range of 500-600 km, but these are higher-ranged electric passenger cars. Cell to pack battery grow

Cell to pack batteries would help to equip economical electric passenger cars with high energy density at lower cost and reduced weight.

Further, cell to pack battery technology will support the noteworthy developments undertaken by electric vehicle manufacturers in high-voltage battery areas for the passenger cars segment to improve vehicle range and reduce charging time.For instance, Hyundai and Kia have introduced high-speed 800V architecture for upcoming passenger vehicles.

Porsche has an EV model Taycan which supports an 800 V battery architecture.Other OEMs have also announced using cell to pack batteries in upcoming models.

In December 2021, Toyota Motor Corporation partnered with BYD Company Ltd. to build an electric car with a blade battery. In October 2021, Hyundai MOBIS (South Korea) entered a partnership with CATL, wherein CATL would supply the cell- to-pack battery technology to Hyundai MOBIS. Cell to pack battery grow

This will likely bring some EV models to South Korea from 2023?2024 onwards. Further, a few Chinese OEMs – BYD Company Ltd., Neta, Xpeng Inc., etc. have either expanded or planned to expand with electric passenger car models in other parts of the world. All of these factors will help to dominate the passenger vehicle segment for cell to pack battery market

“Lithium iron phosphate chemistry to hold the largest share in the cell to pack battery.”

Lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery chemistry (a form of Lithium-ion battery) is also the most preferred choice among other chemistry for cell to pack battery technology.LFP batteries offer numerous advantages such as lightweight, lower cost, enhanced discharge, charge efficiency, durability, longer life span, minimal maintenance, and optimized safety, among others. Cell to pack battery grow

Owing to these benefits, >90% of batteries developed with the cell to pack technology use LFP chemistry across all-electric vehicles.In October 2021, Tesla declared that it would completely switch to LFP batteries in all its models owing to lower cost and easy production process rather than using NCA batteries for increasing the range of its vehicles.

Currently, Tesla has adopted the use of LFP batteries in its best-selling models like Model 3 and Model Y.Apart from passenger cars, LFP has also been used in electric buses due to its lower costs and high voltage bearing feature. Cell to pack battery grow

Thus, these factors and the need for an optimized energy density range would drive the LFP batteries’ demand for CTP technology over the coming years.

Europe is speculated to be the fastest-growing market for cell to pack battery

Europe is anticipated to grow at the fastest rate for cell to pack battery market by 2030.Europe is witnessing significant expansion in the micro-cars segment owing to factors such as the stringent carbon emission mandate, incentive boost by green recovery funds, viable charging infrastructure, and intense promotion of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles.

The market demand for cell to pack batteries will be initially driven by the entry of foreign OEMs with vehicles equipped with this technology.For instance, BYD Tang, Han EV, and Atto 3 are offered in some European countries, including Norway, Germany, Sweden, and the UK. Cell to pack battery grow

Tesla sells Model 3 and Model Y in Europe and is expected to deploy cell to pack batteries in these models in the coming years as it has started deploying these CTP batteries in China. Further, some electric commercial vehicle manufacturers (Solaris Bus & Coach sp. z o.o., VDL Bus & Coach BV) have partnered with Chinese battery supplier- CATL to receive cell to pack batteries in electric buses. However, the Russia-Ukraine crisis has disrupted the supply chain for batteries and other raw material supplies for electric vehicles and also affected EV sales to some extent.

The situation is anticipated to recover in the coming years, thereby fueling the demand for cell to pack batteries in the years to come. Cell to pack battery grow

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Cell to pack battery grow

rPET bottle – Green hydrogen 23- 02-2023

Recycled PET – Zero-CO2-car 18-02-2023

Recycled PET – Zero-CO2-car

-Recycled Rubber, Rice Husks and Plastic Bottles: Sustainable Materials in Tire Production

  • Continental consistently optimizes its tires in the direction of increasing sustainability
  • Target by 2050 at the latest: tires made entirely from sustainable materials
  • Maximum safety on the road thanks to the ideal blend of raw materials

Car tires are round, black and made of rubber. Look closer, however, and you’ll see that the design of tires and the interaction of the various materials that go into making them are extremely complex. But for some time now, the material experts and tire engineers at Continental have been bringing about a silent revolution. By 2050 at the latest, all tires are to be made of sustainable materials. There is still a long way to go until then.

But step by step, it is already becoming apparent which raw materials will find their way into tire construction in the future. These include waste products from agriculture – such as the ash from rice husks – rubber from dandelions, recycled rubber or PET bottles.

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Recycled Rubber, Rice Husks and Plastic Bottles: Sustainable Materials in Tire Production

-JEC World 2023 preview: Freudenberg Performance Materials

Freudenberg Performance Materials is presenting an extended range of surfacing veils and core materials for the production of lightweight composite parts.

A new Flex option for the Dieffenbacher (Eppingen, Germany) Fibercon system expands customers’ application possibilities by making consolidation possible independent of the tape layup geometry and layup thickness. This option is available as a retrofit or as part of a new Fibercon system.Recycled PET – Zero-CO2-car

The Dieffenbacher Fibercon system consolidates tape layups into near-net shape laminates with high quality and porosity of less than 1%. According to the company, Fibercon achieves exceptionally good material properties for high-quality components, making it ideal for large-scale production of individual component-specific tape layups. It’s even possible to process high-performance thermoplastics without further adaptation.

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Recycled PET - Zero-CO2-car

-Techmer PM’s HiTerra™ rPET Revive enhances recycled PET quality

Clinton-based compounder and materials design specialist Techmer PM has developed a solution to the short supply of recycled PET (rPET). Called HiTerra™ rPET Revive, this new concentrate rebuilds the resin’s polymer chains, thereby increasing its viscosity and reducing rPET’s resulting yellowness.

Brand owners are committed to increasing their use of recycled plastics to meet their publicly declared environmental goals, but they are facing more than just technical challenges. These challenges include the short supply and additional cost of high-quality recycled PET. Recycled PET – Zero-CO2-car

The situation is exacerbated because PET thermally degrades when it is repeatedly reprocessed, as these multiple heat histories lead to yellowing and viscosity breakdown, limiting the use of such materials. HiTerra rPET Revive aims to ease the crunch at the molecular level.

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Recycled PET - Zero-CO2-car

-Petronas green unit buys Australian renewables player Wirsol

Petronas green unit buys Australian renewables player Wirsol Image by WIRCON GmbH on LinkedIn.

Gentari Sdn Bhd, the clean energy platform of Malaysian state-owned oil and gas company Petronas, has acquired Wirsol Energy, the Australian renewable energy business of Germany’s Wircon GmbH, it was announced today. Recycled PET – Zero-CO2-car

The Malaysian buyer is getting a leading player in solar and energy storage in Australia with 422 MW in operating capacity and 765 MW of projects under development.

Financial details were not provided. Reuters recently reported that a deal was being finalised and that it could be worth up to AUD 1 billion (USD 689m/EUR 644m).

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Recycled PET - Zero-CO2-car

-It’s time to embrace complementarity

Mechanical recycling needs chemical recycling- and vice versa

We cannot meet our climate goals without addressing plastic waste. According to a sobering new report from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, businesses and governments worldwide are unlikely to deliver on their ambitious targets.

Credible, ambitious plans are needed from businesses to scale reuse, deal with the issue of flexible packaging and reduce the need for single-use packaging.

And the plastics industry says there is a way to help solve the crisis of plastic waste plaguing the planet’s oceans, beaches and lands – recycle it chemically.

Supposing the billions in investments announced by brand owners and petrochemical companies over the last year are appropriate indicators, ground-breaking solutions to the plastic recycling challenge appear right around the corner. In truth, there is work to be done. But we are doing that work. Recycled PET – Zero-CO2-car

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It's time to embrace complementarity

-European Parliament approves zero CO2 for new cars and vans in 2035

The European Parliament approved the new CO2 emissions reduction targets for new passenger cars and light commercial vehicles, part of the “Fit for 55” package. With 340 votes in favor, 279 against and 21 abstentions, MEPs endorsed the deal reached with the Council on revised CO2 emission performance standards for new cars and vans in line with the EU’s increased climate ambition. Recycled PET – Zero-CO2-car

The new legislation sets the path towards zero CO2 emissions for new passenger cars and light commercial vehicles in 2035 (an EU fleet-wide target to reduce CO2 emissions produced by new cars and vans by 100% compared to 2021).

Intermediate emissions reduction targets for 2030 are set at 55% for cars and 50% for vans.

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European Parliament approves zero CO2 for new cars and vans in 2035

-RePEaT licenses polyester chemical recycling tech to Zhejiang Jianxin

RePEaT Co has signed a deal to license its chemical recycling technology for polyester products to China’s Zhejiang Jianxin Jiaren New Materials Co, parent firm Teijin said.

RePEaT is a joint venture established by Japanese firms Teijin, JGC Holdings Corp and ITOCHU Corp to license recycling technology based on Teijin’s expertise in dimethyl terephthalate (DMT), Teijin said in a statement. Recycled PET – Zero-CO2-car

“RePEaT will provide a technology that uses the organic compound DMT for the chemical decomposition, conversion and then repolymerisation of polyester (PET),” the company said.

“Zhejiang Jianxin will use the technology in a polyester-product recycling plant it plans to start up in Shaoxing, Zhejiang province next year,” it added.

Financial details of the deal were not disclosed.

We remind, Teijin Frontier Co., Ltd., the Teijin Group’s fibers and products converting company, announced that its core base for polyester fiber manufacturing, Teijin Polyester (Thailand) Limited (TPL), launched a cutting-edge automated facility for the highly efficient production of polyester filaments. Recycled PET – Zero-CO2-car

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RePEaT licenses polyester chemical recycling tech to Zhejiang Jianxin

Eco-fibres – Electric-car alarm 17-02-2023

Freudenberg automotive industries 18-02-2023

Freudenberg automotive industries

-JEC World 2023 preview: Freudenberg Performance Materials

Freudenberg Performance Materials is presenting an extended range of surfacing veils and core materials for the production of lightweight composite parts.

A new Flex option for the Dieffenbacher (Eppingen, Germany) Fibercon system expands customers’ application possibilities by making consolidation possible independent of the tape layup geometry and layup thickness. This option is available as a retrofit or as part of a new Fibercon system. Freudenberg automotive industries

The Dieffenbacher Fibercon system consolidates tape layups into near-net shape laminates with high quality and porosity of less than 1%. According to the company, Fibercon achieves exceptionally good material properties for high-quality components, making it ideal for large-scale production of individual component-specific tape layups. It’s even possible to process high-performance thermoplastics without further adaptation.

Vacuum consolidation of the tape layups in the standard Fibercon version takes place between two frames with transparent glass inserts. In the new Flex version, the upper frame comes with a flexible sheet that automatically adapts to the contour of the tape layup. Freudenberg automotive industries

Many applications, especially in the sports and leisure and automotive industries, can benefit from the new Flex option, explains Marco Hahn, director sales of the Forming Business Unit at Dieffenbacher. “In manufacturing bicycle frames and rims with high component diversity, for example — for which the Fibercon is well suited — the new Flex option simplifies production.” Variable layup thicknesses and geometries of up to 4 mm can be consolidated with high quality but without component-specific tools.

With a temperature range of up to 250°C, the Fibercon Flex option is said to be the ideal consolidation system for all polypropylene (PP) and polyamide 6 (PA6) applications, regardless of the type of fiber used. Freudenberg automotive industries

Compared to conventional laminating presses, Dieffenbacher says the Fibercon delivers significantly higher product quality, as thickness variations in the component are preserved, and neither squeeze flow nor fiber ondulations occur. Unlike permanently heated laminating presses, the Fibercon heats the product directly, without any peripherals and only during actual consolidation. In this way, pause and setup times are bridged without energy input or long heating processes. This makes the Fibercon consolidation system energy efficient and resource-saving.

“Each Fibercon is equipped with three pairs of frames as standard.

With the new Flex option, each customer can choose how many of these frame pairs to equip with the standard glass insert and how many with the new flexible sheet. This ensures maximum flexibility,” says Hahn. Freudenberg automotive industries

“Existing installations can also be retrofitted with the Flex option at any time and with minimal effort.”

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Freudenberg automotive industries

Eco-fibres – Electric-car alarm 17-02-2023

Emissions EV CAR loser 16-02-2023

Emissions EV CAR loser

-Emissions, costs and materials: why electric is a loser

Stopping internal combustion vehicles is useless for the climate, harmful for the environment, socially impracticable and destructive for industry and the economy. The good news is that there won’t be, because in the end, consumers will decide. But now government and industry decide whether to follow science or Greta.
Useless. Emissions EV CAR loser

The climate is changing and the most accredited scientific hypothesis claims that it depends on man-made greenhouse gases, the concentration of which in the atmosphere increased from 280 parts-per-million in 1850 to 370 in 2000, the year of China’s entry into the WTO and its industrial take-off, up to the current 420. Global CO2 is 37 billion tonnes (gt).

Now, the European Parliament, the same one that decided to stop, says that “the transport sector is responsible for 30% of total CO2 emissions in Europe, of which 72% comes from road transport alone”. Emissions EV CAR loser

Cars “are among the most polluting vehicles, considering that they generate 60.7% of the total CO2 emissions from transport”.

Very high percentages. But in quantity?
The European Environment Agency, a body of the EU, reports that in 2019 European transport emitted 0.835 gt of CO2, of which 72% on the road, i.e. 0.601 gt, of which 61% cars, i.e. 0.367 gt, equal to 1 % (one-per-cent) of the total. By way of comparison, the International Energy Agency reports that in the two-year period 2020-21, while the rest of the world reduced CO2 emissions by 0.570 gt, China alone increased them by 0.750 gt. Emissions EV CAR loser

This means that if all cars circulating in Europe were to magically switch to zero emissions, the benefit for the climate would not only be minimal, but would be canceled by the Dragon in just one year. Corollary: what are we talking about?
Harmful. An electric car has zero exhaust emissions, not in the complete cycle: to compensate for the CO2 linked to the production of the battery, 80 to 150,000 km are needed with zero emissions. Emissions EV CAR loser

Then comes the issue of recycling or disposal of batteries. Then there is the generation of electricity. In the current European mix, just over half comes from nuclear power and renewables: zero emissions do not exist. To this, we must add the damages associated with the extraction and processing of the raw materials needed to produce batteries, solar panels and wind turbines.

Environmental but also social damage, due to the exploitation of territories and manpower in Africa and Asia. Emissions EV CAR loser
Impractical. Sales of electric cars have increased in recent years and account for around 15/16% in the three main markets, Germany, the UK and France, while in Italy and Spain they do not reach 4% and have also decreased in the last year. According to some, we are behind on the road to progress. In terms of cold economic analysis, the numbers say something else, that there is a different adoption of this technology, for various factors: availability of private parking space, per capita income, effectiveness of incentives, gullibility that it will be so.

But above all they say that the adoption curve tends to a limit, a ceiling, and that this ceiling is far from 100%. Why? There are various reasons, but the basic one is that the use of electric cars requires a planning of travel, depending on the time and the difficulty of recharging, which is not compatible with today’s lifestyles, made up of last minute decisions and of flexibility.
Industrial and economic suicide. The European automotive industry has engine and gearbox technology that is difficult to match in the short term by Chinese competitors. Giving up this competitive advantage means opening up the market to Dragon manufacturers. Emissions EV CAR loser

According to a recent survey conducted by the Fleet&Mobility Study Center for AgitaLab, a think tank, 38% of sector operators predict that they will be able to conquer a share of the European market between 20 and 30% in less than twenty years, while for 23 % will exceed 30%.

For reference, it took Japanese and Korean manufacturers thirty years to get to the current 21% of the market. Emissions EV CAR loser

Also, 95% believe they will be products made in China. Add to this the dependence on raw materials and batteries.

In the light of the facts, the ideological obstinacy of Parliament and the Commission seems truly incomprehensible. But now the government and industry can no longer hesitate.

They need to take a clear and definitive position: to support this economic and industrial suicide or to affirm that the heat engine will not be discontinued and to work so that the next bodies resulting from next year’s elections put things right.

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Emissions EV CAR loser

Emissions EV CAR loser

Waste-tire recycling – EU car 15-02-2023

Alkegen automotive arm 15-02-2023

Alkegen automotive arm

-Alkegen offloads automotive arm

Speciality materials platform Alkegen is to sell its Thermal Acoustical Solutions (TAS) business unit to private equity firm Regent, L.P. The TAS business manufactures high performance acoustical and thermal management insulation components for the automotive and transportation industries.

John Dandolph, Alkegen’s president and CEO said that the divestment was part of Alkegen’s long-term strategy to advance its growing portfolio of specialty materials dedicated to sustainability and human health. Alkegen automotive arm

“This divestiture allows us to focus all of Alkegen’s resources on our primary goal: advancing our unique platform of specialty materials that meaningfully help the world breathe easier, live greener and go further than ever before,” he said. “We’re excited for the future and the new opportunities this creates for both Alkegen and the TAS business as it moves forward with Regent.”

“We are pleased to have found a strong partner in Regent for the TAS business,” added Paul Vallis, Alkegen’s president of Filtration & Catalysis and General Manager of TAS, “and we look forward to seeing TAS employees and customers thrive under new ownership.” As part of the agreement, Paul Vallis will remain with Alkegen as President of its Filtration & Catalysis business group. Alkegen automotive arm

Alkegen originally acquired TAS as part of its acquisition of Lydall, Inc. in October 2021. The sale includes Thermal Acoustical Solutions locations in Hamptonville, North Carolina; Yadkinville, North Carolina; St. Nazaire, France; Meinerzhagen, Germany; and Taicang, China.

The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2023, subject to appropriate labor consultations, regulatory filings, and other customary closing conditions.

Alkegen, formerly Unifrax and Lydall Materials, creates high performance specialty materials used in advanced applications including electric vehicles, energy storage, filtration, fire protection and high-temperature insulation, among many others. It operates 75 manufacturing facilities operating in 12 countries and employs 9,000+ employees globally. Alkegen automotive arm

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Alkegen automotive arm

rPET Renewable packaging EVcars 14-02-2023

Volvo Giga Presses – Buhler-CH 11-02-2023

Volvo Giga Presses – Buhler-CH

-Here are the Volvo Giga Presses: they come from Switzerland

Volvo Giga Presses - Buhler-CH

The Scandinavian company buys two machines for megacasting from Buhler: this is how the new electric cars will be built from 2025
When Tesla presented its Giga Press, it explained the advantages of this construction technique to the whole world. Save time, save money and save materials. The other manufacturers could not remain indifferent to this sort of revolution and ran for cover. There is buzz on the issue in China, but Volvo is among the first to announce that it is ready to adopt these gigantic machines. Volvo Giga Presses – Buhler-CH

Volvo Giga Presses - Buhler-CH
In fact, the Scandinavian company has signed an agreement for the supply of two Giga Presses – they are called Carat – with the Swiss company Buhler.

Buhler, which is based in Uzwil, a small village halfway between Zurich and Lake Constance, has been operating in the die-casting field for 90 years and already collaborates with various car manufacturers.  Volvo Giga Presses – Buhler-CH

For the electric cars of the future

Thanks to a series of huge investments from Germany, and more precisely from the Handtmann foundry, it has managed to develop presses of enormous dimensions. And it is precisely in these that Volvo has shown interest, buying two.

In fact, the Scandinavian company has signed an agreement for the supply of two Giga Presses – they are called Carat – with the Swiss company Buhler. Buhler, which is based in Uzwil, a small village halfway between Zurich and Lake Constance, has been operating in the die-casting field for 90 years and already collaborates with various car manufacturers.

For the electric cars of the future

Thanks to a series of huge investments from Germany, and more precisely from the Handtmann foundry, it has managed to develop presses of enormous dimensions. And it is precisely in these that Volvo has shown interest, buying two. Volvo Giga Presses – Buhler-CH

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Polyolefin – Cellulose – Hydrogen 10-02-2023

Bioplastics Benefits – rPET-Fabric 01-02-2023

Bioplastics Benefits – rPET-Fabric

Crude Oil Prices Trend 

Crude Oil Prices Trend 

Crude Oil Prices Trend 

-Further success for Q-Cycle by Fulgar

More and more players interested in the revolutionary yarn as new certification is obtained.

Q-Cycle by Fulgar is proving to be a resounding success in an increasingly sustainable, circular and 100% European supply chain, according to Italian producer Fulgar. The result of an innovative chemical recycling technology where the raw material required for the production of yarn has been replaced by pyrolisis oil from waste end-of-life tyres, Q-Cycle is said to offer the same functional and aesthetic benefits as a virgin polyamide – light weight, endurance and resistance – but with a green plus.

The revolutionary yarn has taken its place at the forefront of developments in this field, attracting intense from across the market, including international brands that are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of eco-design, Fulgar says. Now, the Castelgoffredo based business adds, Q-Cycle is even more reliable, a quality recognised by most recent certification it has been awarded – ISCC PLUS – which guarantees sustainability, traceability and mass balance standards for the entire production system. This label is complemented by the LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) supply chain environmental impact study that indicates a significant reduction in CO2 emissions compared to conventional synthetic yarns.

The yarn also conforms to Oeko-Tex Std Class Il Std 100 Appendix 6 certification, a unique certification and monitoring standard in textile raw materials, semi-finished and end product sectors, identifying products that present no risks to consumer health.

“We’re very happy with this innovative product, which is enjoying great market success. We’re also pleased to have obtained ISCC Plus certification. All these internationally certificates validate what we are doing and declaring in terms of transparency and traceability. In this way brands approach us with greater ease and confidence, and we, at the same time, can use our skills and expertise to support them more effectively”, says Daniela Antunes, Marketing Manager of Fulgar.

Q-Cycle will be taking centre stage from 31 January to 2 February at Milano Unica, appearing in collections from some of the most important players in the textile supply chain, including Borgini, Brugnoli, Gipitex, Lemar, Luxury Jersey, Olmetex and Serates.

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www.fulgar.com

Further success for Q-Cycle by Fulgar

-Fabrics Made Out of Recycled Plastic

Freudenberg Performance Materials’ Evolon® has just taken another significant step forward in the reduction of its carbon footprint. Already designed to be durable, reusable, and versatile, the fabric, which is used in packaging, cleaning and home furnishings is now being made from used consumer PET bottles.

Freudenberg Performance Materials has recently substituted virgin PET with recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which is produced internally from plastic bottles.

In an interview with DirectIndustry, Achraf Khedimi, Head of Global Sales Evolon®, explains: Bioplastics Benefits – rPET-Fabric

“This conserves resources and decreases the company’s environmental footprint. As a consequence, the cradle-to-gate carbon footprint of Evolon® packaging textile materials has decreased by 35%.”

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Bioplastics Benefits - rPET-Fabric

-Demand for PET remains low in the US

Demand for polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in the United States at the beginning of the year is low due to high inventories in the market, according to ICIS.

However, demand is expected to increase after the Lunar New Year celebrations in preparation for the peak summer season, which is likely to put upward pressure on prices.

The Asian PET market is already seeing an increase in spot prices for different types of PET as a result of higher costs for raw materials, including monoethylene glycol (MEG), the cost of which increased by more than USD20 per ton compared to last week.

In the domestic market, there has been a rise in commodity prices, and MEG producers continue to try to restart their factories after the winter storm Elliot.

One manufacturer has announced force majeure and it is expected that it will not work for several weeks. Bioplastics Benefits – rPET-Fabric

Earlier it was reported that domestic spot prices of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) for the production of bottles in Thailand increased due to rising prices for purified terephthalic acid (TPA) and monoethylene glycol (MEG). Thus, domestic spot offers for Thai bottled PET increased by an average of 1 Thai baht (THB) per kg and were at the level of 36.5 THB per kg, DEL (with delivery) for the week ended January 20. For comparison, in the week ended January 13, price offers were at the level of 35-36 baht per kg, DEL.

According to the ScanPlast review, in January-November 2022, the estimated consumption of PET in Russia amounted to 758.69 thousand tons, which corresponds to consumption for the same period a year earlier. Compared with November 2021, total estimated consumption increased by 4% and amounted to 78.77 thousand tons against 75.44 thousand tons last year.  Bioplastics Benefits – rPET-Fabric

DAK Americas, Indorama, Nan Ya Plastics Corporation and Far Eastern New Century (FENC) are PET manufacturers in the United States.

Bioplastics Benefits - rPET-Fabric

-Electric cars, range increases by 15 percent with heated seat belts

Let’s start with a fact: during the winter electric cars can lose up to 30% of their range, and this for two reasons. On the one hand because the batteries work optimally between 20 and 40 degrees, and as soon as the first sub-zero temperatures arrive they need to be recharged at shorter intervals. Bioplastics Benefits – rPET-Fabric

On the other hand, the heat in the passenger compartment is entrusted to the air conditioning system, which in turn “sucks” energy from the batteries themselves. Indeed, in electric cars the heating system cannot draw on the residual heat of the internal combustion engine, as is the case in petrol or diesel cars.

So how to do? Here is the idea of ​​ZF, the German multinational manufacturer of components for the transport industry: very normal seat belts that give off heat using the same principle as the thermal blanket. A gimmick capable of drastically reducing the use of the air conditioning system, especially if used in combination with the heated seats. Not only. The electricity saved would, according to ZF, make the car gain 15% more autonomy.

The “heated belts” – baptized by the parent company “Heat Belt” – work thanks to very small conductors woven directly into the structure of the belt. The contact elements for the electric heating circuits are positioned in such a way as not to interfere with the rewinder. ” For the occupants there is no difference compared to a normal belt”, explains Martina Rausch, project manager. “And of course the Heat Belts guarantee the same level of safety as the normal belts we know”. Bioplastics Benefits – rPET-Fabric

ZF let it be known that mass production is practically ready, because the very thin structure of the conductors has in no way modified the thickness of the tape, which can therefore take the place of all the old generation belts. Only one question would remain, if we wanted to be picky: and during the summer? Even if the batteries work optimally in the heat, it is nevertheless impossible not to use the air conditioning system, to the detriment of the car’s autonomy. Or maybe they are already thinking about cooling belts?

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Bioplastics Benefits - rPET-Fabric

-EU’s economic growth to slow down to 0.2% in 2023: UN

Economic output in the European Union (EU) is expected to grow by only 0.2 per cent in 2023 as the region battles an energy and cost-of-living crisis that was aggravated by the war in Ukraine, as per a recent UN report. This year’s sharp slowdown comes after a surprisingly strong expansion of 3.3 per cent in 2022, when further relaxation of COVID-19 mobility restrictions and pent-up demand boosted spending on contact-intensive services even as inflation soared. Bioplastics Benefits – rPET-Fabric

In 2024, growth in the EU is forecast to accelerate to 1.6 per cent on the back of stronger internal demand and a more benign global environment. The current crisis is derailing growth at a time when several European economies are yet to recover their pre-COVID-19 output level. In the third quarter of 2022, GDP was 2.6 per cent above the pre-COVID-19 level in the European Union, but 0.4 per cent below in the United Kingdom, and 2 per cent below in Spain, according to the United Nations World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) 2023 report.

The tepid global economic prospects also threaten the achievement of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), when the 2023 SDG Summit in September marks the mid-point of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.

“This is not the time for short-term thinking or knee-jerk fiscal austerity that exacerbates inequality, increases suffering, and could put the SDGs farther out of reach. These unprecedented times demand unprecedented action,” said António Guterres, United Nations secretary-general. Bioplastics Benefits – rPET-Fabric

“This action includes a transformative SDG stimulus package, generated through the collective and concerted efforts of all stakeholders.”

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EU's economic growth to slow down to 0.2% in 2023: UN

-Don’t Overestimate Bioplastics’ Benefits

Bioplastics may avoid some of the issues associated with non-biodegradable fossil fuel­–derived plastics, but they’re no panacea.

Plastics produced from plants are often considered less environmentally damaging than plastics made from petrochemicals. But scientists are warning that we should be careful making such assumptions. 

A new literature review examining the results of around 20 scientific papers has found that bio-based plastics, most of which are made from cornstarch, can be just as toxic as their conventional cousins when dumped in coastal environments.

The review also shows that plastics marked as biodegradable often fail to break down in these environments. Bioplastics Benefits – rPET-Fabric

The paper highlights the lack of research into the environmental toxicity of bioplastics. The authors write that, for now at least, regulations on bioplastics need to be as tight as those for petroleum-based polymers.

Bioplastics-Benefits - biodegradable

-Commencement of Commercial Production at new BOPET plant in Telangana

Ester Industries Limited, India’s leading manufacturer of Polyester Films and Specialty Polymers announced that its wholly owned subsidiary Ester Filmtech Limited has commenced commercial production at new Polyester (BOPET) film manufacturing plant in the State of Telangana.

Spread over 50 acres, the 48,000 MTPA unit has been set up at an approximate cost of Rs. 650 crore (including margin money for working capital and GST accumulation). The plant is expected to generate revenues worth approximately Rs.600 crore upon achieving optimal utilization.  Bioplastics Benefits – rPET-Fabric

Commenting on the development, Mr. Arvind Singhania, Chairman, Ester Industries said “The commissioning of the new unit takes us one step closer in our journey towards transforming Ester into a leading local and global BOPET film manufacturer by offering best-in-class innovative and sustainable products. The new unit provides us the requisite scale and capabilities to help meet the growing BOPET market both in India and overseas offering a range of standard and value added products”

Commencement of Commercial Production at new BOPET plant in Telangana

Bioplastics Benefits – rPET-Fabric

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Recyclable-Compostable-Plastic 31-01-2023

Hydrogen cars 31-01-2023

Hydrogen cars

-Why hydrogen cars are not the answer

Imagine an electric car which has a range of 400 miles, can be refuelled almost as fast as a petrol or diesel car yet emits only water. Those are the upsides of a hydrogen fuel cell car (known as a fuel cell electric vehicle, or FCEV). So why aren’t they everywhere?

There is a dedicated core of FCEV supporters who insist that hydrogen-powered EVs are better than battery-powered EVs, and that the world is crazy for ignoring them. Unfortunately, a hydrogen fuel cell offers few advantages over a battery, with several deal-breaking disadvantages.

The problems that show no sign of really being overcome include cost, lack of infrastructure and relative inefficiencies in delivering hydrogen to customers.

But let’s start with a bit of background into FCEVs.

What’s a hydrogen car?

A hydrogen fuel cell car is a type of electric vehicle, using a similar electric motor system to drive the car as used by a battery electric vehicle. The key difference is how the electricity is generated and stored.  Hydrogen cars

In a battery electric vehicle – which is any EV you can currently buy on the market – the electricity to power the car comes from an external source (usually the national electricity grid) and is stored in a large battery, most often placed along the floor of the car underneath your feet.

In comparison, a hydrogen fuel cell car is fuelled with hydrogen from a fuelling station, in a similar way to filling a petrol car. The hydrogen is then used to create electricity on the go to power the electric motor.

How a hydrogen fuel cell car works

In simple terms, a fuel cell car consists of several pressurised fuel tanks which supply what is known as a fuel cell stack. The stack is made up of individual cells which each produce less than one volt of electricity, so hundreds of them are connected together to produce the necessary voltage to power the electric motor.

The fuel cell generates electricity by forcing hydrogen to react with oxygen. The only output is water.

Hydrogen is used because it’s a great energy carrier, meaning a small amount can release a lot of energy to drive the vehicle. That also means hydrogen is highly explosive if it leaks, which is why you inevitably read and see references to the 1937 Hindenberg airship explosion anytime anyone mentions hydrogen-powered cars.

However, that was 86 years ago and a lot has changed about how hydrogen is used and stored. Hydrogen cars

Modern hydrogen fuel tanks are just as safe, if not safer, than petrol tanks (another highly explosive product we are quite happy living with on a daily basis). They typically have a carbon fibre shell surrounded by a glass fibre layer. They can withstand double their normal operating pressures and are surrounded by sensors.

Tiny choice, high price

Car makers who have already built production hydrogen fuel cell cars have tended to be those who want to showcase their technical expertise rather than make a profit from them.

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Why hydrogen cars are not the answer

Hydrogen cars

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Recycled-Plastics – Lithium-batteries 30-01-2023