Plant Expansions：Clariant opens packaging centre in Thailand

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 in the region. The Centre is home to formulation, process and analytical experts who also have in-depth knowledge of market trends and customer needs. They have access to state-of-the-art analytical equipment, a wide array of processing machines, and Clariant’s regional network of application-development laboratories in Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, India, New Zealand & Australia. The Centre is operational now, and upgrades and equipment additions will continue be added through Q1 of 2020.

“With the RPC, we want to engage deeper with customers in a co-creation process to develop breakthrough concepts and solutions in masterbatch products and processes tailored to their aesthetic and functional needs,” explains Chris Hansen, Head of Clariant Masterbatches Asia Pacific. “We are doing this in partnership with other suppliers, leading institutes and universities so that Clariant can provide comprehensive solutions to packaging convertors and brand owners.”

Clariant adds that it has a broad range of colour and additive masterbatches, and it’s expertise extends across the dozens of polymers used in packaging. Clariant masterbatches are already used in bottles, microwaveable trays, biodegradable food containers, multi-layer laminate, active packaging, durable industrial drums, tear-resistant shrink wrap and many other and innovative plastic packagings in or on the way to the market.

The RPC also houses a wide array of analytical equipment used for determining the chemical, mechanical, environmental stress cracking, anti-static and coefficient of friction properties of packaging materials. Production-scale processing machines include mono and multilayer blown film, blow moulding, cast film and injection-moulding lines. This equipment makes it possible to produce end-use application samples that allow customers to easily evaluate colour and functionality enhancements delivered by Clariant products, says the firm.