PRA News

The plastics industry is undergoing a change that started a few years ago with digitalisation and networking and Industry 4.0 not just buzzwords these days. This year’s Chinaplas show in Guangzhou had companies rolling out the latest smart manufacturing technologies. Digitalisation comes into the main frame German injection moulding machine…

In the run-up to the world’s largest plastics show, K2019, to be held from 16-23 October, German plastics and rubber machinery association VDMA is running a series of interviews with its members on the circular economy VDMA says it will “shine the spotlight” on circular economy at the K2019 on how closed…

Shedding off its “polluter” image, the cosmetics industry is showing its new true colours by going green, says Angelica Buan in this report. The latest Mintel report on beauty and personal care trends has emphasised that more beauty product consumers are now “questioning brands’ ecoethical practices”. It is evident that the plastics…

China, currently mired in a trade conflict with the US, is betting on development plans of advanced manufacturing and sustainability to keep its clout in the global economic arena. At the recent Chinaplas, held from 21-24 May in Guangzhou, more than 3,500 local and foreign companies showcased their wares, with…

The global plastic waste trade row, which has seen plastic waste from Western countries being dumped in Southeast Asia, especially in Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam, has exposed the recycling woes of these so-called more developed countries. At the same time, it reinforces more sustainable solutions than a plastic ban, looking…

Swiss chemical firm Clariant Masterbatches is ramping up its support for packaging industry customers in Asia Pacific by creating a Regional Packaging Centre (RPC) in it’s Phanthong manufacturing facility in Thailand. The RPC is part of a Clariant programme to provide a higher level of service to the packaging industry…

India’s Polyplex, which manufactures biaxially oriented polyester (BOPP) film for packaging, electrical and other industrial applications with facilities in India, Thailand and Turkey, has set up an arm in Indonesia. A new company named PT Polyplex Films Indonesia was set up in 2017 as a wholly owned subsidiary of Polyplex…

Danish plastic company Inter Primo A/S has acquired British-owned Essentra Extrusion BV, located in Buitenpost, the Netherlands, to strengthen the company’s position in the European market. With the purchase of Essentra, Inter Primo becomes one of Northern Europe’s largest companies in customised plastic extrusion and can continue its specialisation, development…

German films manufacturer Renolit has established a new joint venture in China in the aim of furthering strengthening the group’s position in the Chinese market. The deal with the Chinese trading partner Citiking and the former owner Dongtang was officially agreed and signed in Guangdong in March and registered in…

Chevron Phillips (CP) Chemical Company, the US petrochemical company jointly owned by Chevron Corporation and Phillips 66, has made a bid to acquire Canada’s Nova Chemicals for more than US$15 billion including debt, according to a Reuters report. The report says that Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth fund Mubadala Investment Co,…