Archive for September, 2011

IAPD recognised the EPDA Board of Directors for its outstanding leadership and hard work during the past year at the General Session of the 2011 IAPD Convention on 14 September. The President’s Award gives special recognition to an individual, group or company who has gone above and beyond the call of duty to IAPD.

“This past year, under the leadership of the EPDA Board of Directors, EPDA has transformed its association,” 2010-2011 IAPD President Howard Natal said during the presentation of the award. “The Board has led the association through significant strategic and structural changes, including developing a new association brand and website, and the translations of IAPD’s Introduction to Plastics into three additional languages. As we all know, change usually begins with a small group of dedicated and passionate individuals. The EPDA Board represents what the power of a few can do to promote positive change and revitalise an industry and an association.”

Pictured above: 2010-2011 IAPD Vice President Robert Bacon, EPDA Vice President David Ladyman, EPDA Immediate Past President Bryan Heath, EPDA Board Member Gunnar Råvik, EPDA Board Member Tan Ali, EPDA Board Member Sumayyah Mahomed and 2010-2011 IAPD President Howard Natal. Not pictured: EPDA President Steffen Oellers.

Burgkirchen/Gendorf, Germany – September 6, 2011 – The Klöckner Pentaplast Group announced today the launch of its new center of excellence for decorative-surfaces films at its Burgkirchen/Gendorf, Germany site. The new center of excellence is part of Klöckner Pentaplast’s €40 Mio ($54 Mio) investment in new state-of-the-art manufacturing equipment in Europe. Klöckner Pentaplast offers the broadest range of polyester and PVC decorative-surface films available on the market today. Read the full release.

Kirn, 20/09/11. Effective from 1 January 2012, Fredy Hiltmann (56) is to be appointed as a new member of the Executive Board of SIMONA AG. He will oversee the area of Corporate Finance (Chief Financial Officer). Having completed a vocational training programme in the field of business, Hiltmann studied Economics & Business Administration (HWV). He held senior positions at a number of global corporations, including Siemens AG and Georg Fischer AG. Most recently, Hiltmann was employed as Chief Financial Officer by the Metalor Group. Hiltmann is Swiss national. Read the full release.

A new report from AMI gives details of over 1,240 polyethylene film extruders in Europe.

AMI, Bristol, 25th August 2011 – Leading plastics industry consultant, AMI, has just published the ninth edition of its Guide to the Polyethylene Film Extrusion Industry in Europe. As can be expected with recession hitting Europe in 2008, the PE film extrusion industry took a downturn. Between 2007 and 2009 PE film production fell by 1 million tonnes. About half of this lost volume was recovered during 2010 and the industry continues to make steady progress in 2011. With a volume demand in excess of 7.5 million tonnes for 2010 PE film extrusion still represents one of the largest plastics processing sectors, accounting for 19% of polymer consumption in Europe during 2010. Read the full release.

Exeter, 20 September, 2011 – On Friday, the University of Exeter opened its Centre for Additive Layer Manufacturing (CALM) to the public. VIPS, including business leaders, joined CALM’s partners, university engineers and managers at this event. CALM houses machines that can work in several materials, allowing for a huge range of possibilities in potential products. Professor Ken Evans, Dean of the University’s College of Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences, says: “Additive Layer Manufacturing is already a strength at the University of Exeter and we are extremely proud of this new centre, which is unique in the UK. It includes the UK’s only EOSINT P 800, which can build parts at temperatures up to 385°C and is the world’s first system that enables production using high-performance polymers.” The University will use the system to research applications across industries. Read the full release.