Markets Processing

BOPA film production set to increase in Canada

PU soft foam manufacturer's warehouse expansion now operational / Further capacity increase planned

Italian Karton group poised to acquire Polish panels manufacturer

Polish firm converts grey EPS production to graphite

Potential as low-cost plastics processing hub / New investments to drive growth in export-oriented processing / AMI database

EuPC and BPF release joint position paper on Brexit / EU-27 exports EUR 6.6 bn to UK / Importance of duty-free trade and border efficiency / Circular economy should include the UK

Investment in BOPP film production in Krakow / Second Brückner line will be installed in 2019

3D printing heads for small series production / "Formnext" exhibition in Frankfurt a "centre of gravity" / Market expected to triple by 2023 / Quality assurance a difficult issue

Production value up by almost 4% / Industry association expecting a positive outcome for the year

Production volume stagnates in 2016 / Shift towards PE and away from other materials / Earnings still under pressure / Industry association hopes for positive impetus from Berlin

"Brexit" and plastics industry / BPF fears high trade costs with the EU / Priorities include access to skills / European chemical industry signs joint statement / Plastics exports to UK particularly important for Ireland

Catalonia's quest for independence clouds economic prospects / Region is plastics industry heavyweight / Strikes and demonstrations ahead of new elections

Carbon fibre producer takes sole ownership of Benteler-SGL / Deal expands serial production capabilities and gains sites in Austria

New automotive plant in Mexico opens / VW and Daimler among first customers

Japanese chemicals giant to open new European automotive centre / Facility will develop and supply advanced materials

Use of plastics in agriculture increasing worldwide / Reaction to shortage of land area and water / Biodegradable mulch films included in EU fertilisers regulation for first time / Biopolymers and recycling associations have conflicting opinions

"Plast Eurasia" 2017 in Istanbul in December / Pagev forecasts Turkish plastics consumption in 2017 will be more than 9m t

Expansion of 3D printing facilities in Belgium and Poland / Plant in Wroclaw to be country's largest

European market for thermoforms applications reaches 1.1m t / Further growth / Recyclates are important / Petcore Europe report

Follow up: Contaminated PU foams do not pose a health hazard / Agitation in German mattress industry

Acquisition of Structil complete / Aerospace and industrial composites production in France

Prepregs manufacturing for wind power rotor blades to be concentrated in Spain / UK production will be shut down

Follow up: BASF confirms quality problems in production / Ludwigshafen facility temporarily taken offline / Price rollover nonetheless likely in October / Numerous plant stoppages among converters

Volume of GRP processed in Europe grows by 2% / European share of global production declines again / "Composites Europe" attracts far fewer visitors and exhibitors

TDI contaminated by dichlorobenzene / Production halted at PU foam manufacturers / "Tremendously damaging for the industry"