POLYURETHANE

Foams plants across Europe closed or running at reduced rates due to Covid-19 / Situation expected to deteriorate in April / Europur and Euro-Moulders postpone conference

SPAIN

National supply chains must switch to medical supplies and protective gear to aid coronavirus fight / Prime minister Sánchez wants "Marshall Plan" for Europe / Support from 3D printing is indispensable

PLASTICS MACHINERY GERMANY

Operations continue amid production stoppages and Covid-19 measures / Supply chains largely intact / Automotive ordering grinds to a halt / Some services offered at the weekend

PETROCHEMICAL MARKETS

Fracking giant Whiting Petroleum falls victim to fall in oil prices

TURKEY

Government introduces Covid-19 measures to help out businesses / Pagev sees lack of including plastics sector as major deficiency / Polyolefin spot prices trending sharply downward

AMPACET

Compatibiliser for recycling multi-material packaging / NIR-sortable black masterbatches

RESEARCH

Scientists from German Helmholtz research centre discover bacteria that eats polyurethane waste

CLARIANT

New medical-grade ABS compounds

PACKAGING RECYCLING

Label made of 100% post-consumer polyethylene recyclate / Removable adhesive sticker makes recycling easier

NEXAM CHEMICAL

Supply agreement with Diab for PET additive / Strong growth forecast in windmill blades

LOGISTICS

EU guidance for implementing "green lanes" to ease internal transport of goods / Major disruptions at some borders due to Covid-19

EVENTS

Postponements or cancellations due to coronavirus pandemic – PIE events list for the plastics industry

LOGISTICS

New HGV toll system in the Czech Republic / Threat of heavy fines / German environment agency wants to raise toll charges

MANAGEMENT

Insolvencies for Western Europe rise in 2019 / US-China trade war and Brexit key drivers / Nearly 30% of invoices are unpaid at due date / Atradius report

MANAGEMENT

Payment risk in German automotive industry worsens / Margins fall due to higher material and labour costs / Stiff competition challenges SMEs / More European supplier insolvencies expected / Atradius "Market Monitor" 2019