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| ITALIAN DIVISION MEETS FOR FIRST TIME The official presentation of EPDA’s Italian division took place 27 June, 2005, on Maurizio Adreani’s (former EPDA President) initiative. The group met at the Hotel Una Tocq, located in one of the trendiest areas of Milan. Representatives of the leading firms in Italian distribution met for an aperitif and discussed the opportunity of creating a local branch for EPDA, all in an informal environment. Adreani said the reason for creating the Italian division was to allow distributors who might not speak English (the official language during EPDA conferences) or who do not have the time to attend the European conference to take advantage of EPDA’s benefits, such as a forum for discussion, the possibility for networking and access to information and educational programs, directly in Italy. The other reason for a local division is the possibility to discuss specific issues related to the Italian plastic distribution industry. “Certainly, having a country forum will give the local feel on one side,” Adreani said. “But being part of EPDA and IAPD will also give the global view, another important advantage in the business environment today.” The EPDA Italian members, as well as new potential members, have
welcomed the idea of starting a more formal procedure to establish
the Italian division and will meet again in the fall to proceed
and expand the member base. ANNUAL CONFERENCE PHOTOS AVAILABLE Photos from EPDA’s Annual Conference in Berlin, Germany, are available online. To view the photos, go to: www.epda.com/activities/berlin.htm. If you have not yet completed the evaluation form for the conference, please go to www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=754781102137 to do so online. EPDA BENEFITS During the EPDA Annual Conference, attendees were asked to name two to three of the top benefits of becoming an EPDA member. Of the 107 items listed, networking was overwhelmingly named as the greatest benefit, especially networking with other European companies. Access to product and market information was the second highest rated benefit. News on the industry and education were ranked third and fourth. |
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PLASTICS PLUS LTD. NOTTINGHAM BRANCH HAS MOVED Plastics Plus Ltd. in Nottingham, UK, has moved to a new location. The new warehouse has more space and easier access in order to offer an even better level of service to its customers. The new contact details are: Plastics Plus Ltd. (Nottingham), Unit 6, Centurion Business Centre, Dabell Avenue, Blenheim Industrial Estate, Bulwell, Nottingham NG6 8WA, UK Telephone: +44 (0) 1159 755968. Fax: +44 (0) 1159 755973. E-mail: sales@pplnotts.co.uk. For more information, go to www.plasticsplus.co.uk. TICONA WINS UK POLYMER PRODUCER AWARD Ticona’s reputation for delivering outstanding products and services to the plastics industry has been rewarded. Processors in the UK chose Ticona as “Polymer Producer of the Year 2005.” The title is awarded annually to producers in recognition of highest material quality and performance, outstanding technical support, customer service and delivery, and innovation in materials. Ticona had already been shortlisted for the award in previous years, due to its continuous commitment to meeting customer needs.
The other finalists nominated for the 2005 award were Arkema, Bayer MaterialScience and DuPont Engineering Polymers. For more information, go to www.ticona.com. |
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Articles reporting on plastic
products are prepared from information furnished by BRETT MARTIN GOES ONE-SIDED Brett Martin Semi-Finished Products, one of the world’s leading producers of semi-finished plastic sheet, has expanded its range of premium quality substrates for the signage and point-of-sale markets with the launch of Foamalux Xtra S1. The new material is another development in the Foamalux range and features a base of black recycled material with a co-extruded top surface of premium white Foamalux.
Foamalux Xtra S1 is available in 3 mm and 5 mm thicknesses, in both 1220 mm x 2440 mm and 1220 mm x 3050 mm, and can also be produced with a coloured top surface subject to minimum order quantities. Foamalux, the leading brand of foam PVC sheet in the UK, has an excellent surface finish for graphic reproduction that will simultaneously provide resistance to knocks and scratches. It also offers a Class 1 fire rating and a high strength-to-weight ratio. It can be folded and thermoformed without detriment to the surface quality. Foamalux Xtra was developed in 2004 and is a composite foam PVC containing a black core of recycled material with co-extruded smooth surfaces of white Foamalux. Its high density, hard surface is ideal for the increasing use of digital technology, and has all the performance characteristics of Foamalux. “Brett Martin is becoming acknowledged as a major supplier of plastic sheet throughout Europe. We work closely with our customers to develop innovative, premium quality materials in line with changing market criteria,” Duncan Smith, European sales director, said. “Foamalux Xtra S1 is the latest example of that commitment to the supply network: to provide products that will sell, profitably, for all parties in the chain.” For more information, visit www.brettmartin.com. REFLECTION ON SUCCESS AT ‘BBC GARDENER’S WORLD LIVE’ The “BBC Gardener’s World Live” show held in Birmingham, UK, in June featured a Show Garden by BALI, in which the key focus was a large acrylic mirror supplied by Plastics Plus Ltd.
BALI chose acrylic mirror from Plastics Plus due to the safety and construction requirements of the installation. The mirror features the BALI logo etched onto the surface. The garden was a great success at the show, which was visited on the opening day by the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall. For more information, go to www.plasticsplus.co.uk. MURTFELDT KUNSTSTOFFE GMBH & CO. KG INTRODUCES DIALEN-LINING® Diamond and Polyethylene together are the namesakes of the new supplier Dialen-Lining® for wear-resistant linings, mainly used in bunkers and silos. It is as durable like diamond, and wear resistant like polyethylene, while also promoting flow. Dialen-Lining® is a new name on the European market, but it comes from Murtfeldt Kunststoffe GmbH & Co. KG, who has decades of experience in lining technologies. Dialen-Lining® offers more than just a lining material or a service. Due to the good wear resistance and sliding properties as well as the latest assembly techniques, users can be sure of unique flow-promoting devices for their bulk materials. A team of skilled experts from many engineering fields are continuing to perform research to discover new methods of bulk material handling with internationally renowned specialists like Prof. Dr. Zegzulka. Through practical experience and scientific research, Dialen-Lining® has optimised geometrical shapes and has selected suitable materials to obtain a dynamic flow for bulk materials. For more information, go to www.dialen.de or www.murtfeldt.de. DISPLAY DEVELOPMENTS USES PERSPEX® FROM LUCITE® IN SPEAKERS Display Developments has earned a reputation for its outstanding fabrication, moulding and technical development work – skills that were all required when they were asked to produce high definition speakers from leading acoustics designers Ferguson-Hill.
Perspex® was chosen not only because it would mould in a single piece, but also because of the superb quality of the sheet and its excellent optical clarity. “Ferguson-Hill is renowned for the quality of its speakers, and we wanted to ensure that the product we chose to create the speakers would match its exacting high standards,” said Alan Boyce, sales director at Display Developments. “We knew that Perspex® would not only provide the quality we needed but would also give the long-term performance that is essential in a product of this calibre.” The new speakers have been critically acclaimed and are aimed at people who take a serious interest in both their music and their interiors. “These speakers are not only a fabulous piece of acoustic engineering,” Boyce said. “They are also really beautiful objects in their own right. With their polished edges and crystal clarity, they enhance and improve any interior environment.” For further information on Perspex® from Lucite®, visit www.lucitesolutions.com. |
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ACRYLIC SHEET MARKET TIGHTENS “The acrylic sheet market is getting even tighter” – that is the observation of Bryan Welch, sheet commercial manager with acrylics producer Lucite International, owners of the Perspex® from Lucite® brand. With the significant increases seen in the cost of many of the raw materials used in the production of this acrylic sheet, it is not surprising that the company is feeling the pressure. “We have seen a steady increase in the price of raw materials, as well as an increase in energy costs, which so far we have largely been able to absorb,” he said. “But I don’t believe that we can continue to contain these costs.” Most significant amongst the raw material price hikes is that of monomer, the main building block in the manufacture of acrylic sheet, which has risen by a staggering 21 percent in the last year. Perspex® is a key material in the signs, point-of-sale, display and fabrication. For further information on Perspex® from Lucite® and the full range of Lucite® solutions, visit www.lucitesolutions.com. |
| 49TH IAPD
ANNUAL CONVENTION 21 to 25 September 2005, Hyatt Regency Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA The IAPD Annual Convention features the latest information on trends and events in the plastics distribution industry. Manufacturers of plastics materials and equipment display their products at the IAPD Plastics Exhibition, and seminars and workshops educate and inspire. Networking opportunities are provided for meeting people from around the world who work in the industry. For more information on the convention, please visit www.iapd.org. PLASTICS ELECTRONICS CONFERENCE AND SHOWCASE 2005 THE ART OF PLASTICS DESIGN MULTILAYER FILMS CONFERENCE Brampton Engineering will be describing practical experience of its AquaFrost system of downward extrusion into water, while a new approach to thickness control from Switzerland allows for improved process control. Developments in materials will be explored by Borealis and DSM. Coating technology as applied to multilayer film will also be considered together with the role of additives and tie layers by Engelhard, DuPont and Mitsui. Other topics to be discussed will include markets, modified atmosphere packaging, metallisation, testing and environmental aspects. The conference will be of interest to all those involved in multilayer film from material suppliers to equipment manufacturers, processors and end-users. Visit www.rapra.net/conferences/MultilayerFilms05/index.asp for more information. |
“Ticona
has been working closely with existing and potential customers to
come up with innovative and problem-solving ideas and concepts,”
Jamie Wordie, managing director of Ticona UK, said. “We are
very proud that industry recognizes our performance. This prestigious
award really motivates us to keep up the good work and to stay focused
on our customers.” 
The
resulting product provides a lighter, more cost-effective alternative
to standard Foamalux. The black base disguises dirt and gives a
dramatic contrast on routered or etched signs, while the white top
layer provides a premium quality, consistent surface for graphic
reproduction and printing. 
The
show garden was the result of a design competition run by BALI (the
British Association of Landscape Industries) and was titled “Reflections,”
hence the need for a mirror. The garden was awarded a RHS Bronze
Medal, which is a great achievement since BALI was there for the
first time.
Made
from perfectly clear 8 mm Perspex® acrylic sheet supplied by
Perspex Distribution Ltd., the speakers were created by moulding
the sheet in one single piece, leaving no tooling marks nor unsightly
joints to mar the visual aesthetic nor the acoustic purity of these
beautiful pieces. |
Copyright 2005 |
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