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EPDA MEMBERS MEET IN BERLIN FOR ANNUAL CONFERENCE A record number of 110 attendees met in Berlin, Germany, 20-23 May for EPDA’s annual conference. In the annual general meeting, members approved the proposed bylaws and the formal registration of the association in Germany. Members also voted that the 2007 annual conference will take place in Torino, Italy. During the conference, delegates heard a dynamic sales presentation from Shaun Thomson of Sandler Sales Institute and an informative presentation on the PETG market by Michael Hartmann of Eastman Chemical Deutschland GmbH. One of the highlights of the conference was the Distributor-Manufacturer Relations Meeting. After a presentation by Nils Krüger, Arthur Krüger Technik in Kunstoff, and Andreas Reinhold, Lucite International Ltd., attendees were given the opportunity to discuss their own thoughts on current distributor-manufacturer relationships in what became a constructive and informative debate.
Additionally, the gala dinner’s charity auction raised 3445 Euro for UNICEF. Thank you to the following companies who donated an auction item: Adreani Spa, Amari Plastics Plc, ARacryl S.A., Brett Martin Semi-Finished Products, European Plastics Distributors Association, The Global Plastics Letter, International Association of Plastics Distributors, Lada-List Ltd., Lucite International Ltd., Quadrant Engineering Plastics Products — Europe, Regal – Piedmont and Sustaplast KG. EPDA would also like to thank the following sponsors for helping to make the conference possible: Amari Plastics Plc, IBG (Insigne Berg Groep BV), Lucite International Ltd., Murdotec Kunststoffe GmbH & Co. KG, Poly Hi Solidur Deutschland GmbH, Quadrant Engineering Plastic Products — Europe and Zell-Metall GmbH. And also thank you to the 11 tabletop exhibitors: Brett Martin Semi-Finished Products, International Association of Plastics Distributors, Gevacril, IBG (Insigne Berg Groep BV), Kaysersberg Packaging, Madreperla Spa, Manifattura Cattaneo Spa, ORBILAN GmbH Kunststoffwerk, Specchidea Srl, Sustaplast KG and Zell-Metall GmbH. The 2006 EPDA annual conference will take place in The Midlands, U.K., in May. Dates and other specific information are coming soon. |
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RIGHTON LIMITED ANNOUNCES RECORD PROFITS, NEW LEEDS FACILITY Righton Limited, the U.K.’s leading supplier of plastics and metals, is pleased to announce a strong trading performance in 2004 across all product ranges, which has seen sales increase by almost 20 percent to £49 million (75 million Euro). Volume throughout the company increased to over 25,000 tonnes, producing record profit results. The company’s success is attributed to its ability to provide customers with a competitive raw material acquisition cost and optimum product mix to suit the dynamic and changing environments in which they operate. The company continues to invest heavily in its service centre network and has invested £1.8 million in a new 22,000 sq. ft. purpose built facility for its Leeds operation, which opened on 3 May 2005. This takes the company’s total warehousing space to over 225,000 sq. ft.
For more information, visit www.righton.co.uk. SILWOOD PLASTICS INSTALLS MOST MODERN CUTTING EQUIPMENT AVAILABLE Silwood Plastics has completed installation of two state-of-the-art beam saws, which the company believes will put it at the forefront of precision plastics cutting in the U.K. A third machine is scheduled for August 2005.
Silwood Plastics, part of the Silwood Group of companies, is a major stockholder, processor and distributor of rigid plastic sheet, offering one of the broadest product ranges in the U.K. Brian Coxall, managing director of the Silwood Group, said “The opening of this new cutting hall for Silwood Plastics complements our existing four wall saws that are used for quick, single cut turnarounds. Two further computerised beam saws are also available in the manufacturing side of the group. While we have always been able to fulfill more complex or unusual orders, this new capacity on-site will make our response time even faster with unbeatable speed and accuracy.” For more information, visit www.silwoodplastics.co.uk. IBG’S FLEXFIT FITTINGS RECEIVE INDUSTRY AWARD IBG started its new product line of PVC fittings for swimming pool installations (FlexFit), a simple way to connect flexible PVC pipe with fittings, only a few years ago. Recognition for its innovation in the pool industry did not take long. The product has been recently awarded with the “Golden Wave” decoration.
When the product was first launched, pool installers were skeptic to this new way of installation. With time, though, the FlexFit product has proven that it really does prevent future leaking problems, while also reducing installation time. FlexFit products are available in d50 and d63 metric sizes. For more information, visit www.ibgfittings.nl. |
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Articles reporting on plastic
products are prepared from information furnished by PERSPEX® FROM LUCITE® ILLUMINATES SYMPOSIUM HALL Perspex® acrylic sheet has been chosen to create five exquisite chandeliers to illuminate the Royal College of Surgeons Symposium Hall in Edinburgh, Scotland, U.K.
The chandeliers have a base made from clear 12 mm thick Perspex® sheet, etched in parts to give a frosted appearance to softly diffuse the light down while the 5 mm thick Polar Frost Perspex® boxes diffuse and direct light up and sideways for a stunning overall effect. The chandeliers themselves were designed by Mike Stoane Lighting and Benjamin Tindall who were the architects for the project — using the expert fabrication skills of Perspex® fabricators QD Plastics of Glasgow. Mike Stoane Lighting also manufactured the luminaries. For further information on Perspex® from Lucite® visit www.lucitesolutions.com or call +44 1254 874000. COLOUR-LIGHTED USES FOR CAST ACRYLIC TUBES Created by an internationally-known lamp producer, these lamps become a source for well-being. This innovative concept required the high-quality of PMMA cast tubes that are easily workable and have a high break resistance (11 times more than glass). But this is only one reason why the producer chose GEVACRIL®’s cast tubes. The opal tubes used also have a perfect smooth and brilliant surface, and they diffuse light extremely well. A wide range of transparent, translucent, opaque and fluorescent colours makes cast acrylic tubes from GEVACRIL® the ideal material for colour-lighted applications. Cast tubes are available in a wide range of diameters, thicknesses and colours. For more information, visit www.gevacril.com. PERSPEX® PRISMEX® SETS THE SCENE AT SELFIDGES The colour-changing light panels were designed and produced by Scriptus, who is becoming renowned in cutting-edge displays using Prismex® — in this case combined with ultra modern LED’s with stunning results. Twenty slim Prismex® panels are suspended from the ceiling on either side of the store’s magnificent central staircase, giving the illusion that the panels are suspended in mid-air. The colour-changing units allow the Selfridges in-store design team to accentuate seasonal or product line changes by simply re-programming the system. “The new display was installed late last year as part of a complete re-design of the menswear department” said store marketing manager Sarah Jones. “The colour-changing effect has proven to be really popular and allows us to echo new season colours or to support in-store promotions” she concludes. The Prismex® panels are lit from one side using RGB LED’s linked to a DMX control unit, which can create a variety of colours and shades in each panel and exciting light changing sequences throughout the display, while the soft and even diffusion of light across the panels gives a unique effect. For further information on Perspex® Prismex® visit www.lucitesolutions.com or call +44 1254 874000. |
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EUROPEAN PLASTICS AND RUBBER DIRECTORY NOW AVAILABLE The European Plastics and Rubber Directory is a unique directory that serves as an essential buyers’ guide, allowing companies to source the major players involved in materials, semi-finished products, machinery and ancillary equipment, processing and those offering consultancy and testing services. This makes identification and location of a product or service, and therefore supplier, simple and quick. The European Plastics and Rubber Directory now contains approximately 5,000 European organisations, all individually contacted annually for up-to-date information about their business. As a result this report has collated the most up-to-date and comprehensive guide to the European plastics market available. The report may be purchased for €158. For a complete copy of this report, click on www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c17293. |
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LEADING EUROPEAN COMPANIES PARTICIPATED AT PLASTEX 2005 PLASTEX 2005 witnessed a strong European presence 26 to 29 May 2005. Exhibitors from Germany, Spain, Sweden, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, Greece, Switzerland, Austria and Turkey gathered for the four-day event, which provided an ideal meeting point for manufacturers, suppliers, traders, distributors, investors and consumers. With the plastic and rubber industry in the region projected to remarkable annual growth over the next five years, traders and investors from around the world have been showing keen interest to tap the Middle East market. “The growth of the Middle East plastic and rubber market in the last few years has been remarkable, and it is set to grow further in the coming years. Investors from around the world are eager to take advantage of this booming market, particularly those from Europe. The large number of exhibitors from Europe at PLASTEX 2005, as well as the fact that the largest European manufacturing companies are participating at the show, is testimony to the global attention the market has been inviting. European investors have been watching the Middle East market to tap its vast potential,” said Ahmed Ghozzi, chairman of ACG-ITF, organizers of the event. 320 exhibitors from 31 countries came under one roof at PLASTEX 2005, including three leading companies from the plastic and petrochemicals industry in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region — Sidi Kerir Petrochemicals Company (SIDPEC), the main sponsor to the event, Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC), and Qatar Petrochemical Company (QAPCO). For more information, visit www.plastex-online.com. PLASTICS ELECTRONICS CONFERENCE AND SHOWCASE 20054 to 5 October 2005, Hall 4.1, Messe Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany The Plastics Electronics Conference and Showcase will focus on the latest research, which is opening up totally new possibilities and applications in the area of electrically-conducting polymers. Facilitating an exchange of ideas between scientists, manufacturers and specialist visitors is crucial if new research discoveries are to be transformed into industrial applications and consumer products. The event provides that forum by offering the opportunity for visitors and exhibitors to make new contacts and initiate partnerships. For more information, visit www.plastictronics.org. 49TH IAPD ANNUAL CONVENTION |
The
conference closed with the gala dinner at the Castle Glienicke,
where Maurizio Adreani of Adreani Spa was presented with the Pacesetter
Award by president Lida Arageorgis of ARacryl S.A. 
The
new Leeds Service Centre will continue to provide the excellent
level of service customers have come to expect from Righton, along
with the most comprehensive range of plastics and metals available
from a single source. Efficient processing of material, delivery
on Righton vehicles and a dedicated sales force will ensure the
highest levels of quality and service are maintained. 
The
saws are the FLM 330 model manufactured by Schelling, who specialises
in precision beam saws for the plastics industry. The saws feature
the latest developments in technology and automation, one example
being a special new cutting process that enables the handling of
material as thin as 0.8 mm without any corner slippage. The machinery’s
special clamping system allows a whole variety of sizes to be cut,
and a turntable linked to a computerised control desk allows large
material stacks to be moved from the rip cut to cross cut position
automatically, further enhancing speed and accuracy. Silwood Plastics’
configuration of the machinery also incorporates an exceptionally
long table and feed roller to enable handling and production of
larger dimensions. Both installed machines utilise the latest processes
to ensure maximum accuracy and cleanest possible operation.
The
award selection committee (formed by of a wide range of European
pool installers) for the leading German swimming pool magazine “Schwimmbad
& Sauna” awarded IBG this prize for innovation. 
These
custom-made contemporary chandeliers were designed to gracefully
combine function and form — giving an abundance of diffused
light in the Symposium hall, a fantastic venue used for conferences
and other special events.
Cast
acrylic coloured tubes from GEVACRIL® were used for this lamp,
which combines the principles of colour therapy with the pleasant
power of aromatherapy.
Perspex®
Prismex® has been chosen by Selfridges, the flagship store in
Manchester’s Trafford Centre, to create a stylish and eye-catching
in-store display in its menswear department. |
Copyright 2005 |
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