Association News

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EPDA members are invited to submit news on their company and products for publication in EPDA’s E-Update newsletter. Submissions should be about 100 words and may include photographs. News may be submitted in any language, to be translated by EPDA staff.

Please e-mail news (in a Microsoft Word document or as text in an e-mail) to epda@epda.com. Please note that submissions may be edited for length and clarity.

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Company News

IBG FLEXFIT AWARDED AS MOST INNOVATIVE PRODUCT OF 2005

Schwimmbad und Sauna, a German magazine for the pool and spa industry, has designated IBG FlexFit products the most innovative product of 2005. Before FlexFit, PVC flex pipes and PVC rigid fittings were joined together with PVC solvent cement. As this joint would remain flexible, leaking problems could occur in the future, causing great damage and expensive repair costs. To avoid these problems, IBG developed a patented system to join PVC flexible metric pipes to PVC rigid metric or imperial fittings, all without using PVC solvent cement. The IBG FlexFit system is time saving and can be used in all weather conditions. For more information, please go to: www.ibgfittings.nl.

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Product Showcase

Articles reporting on plastic products are prepared from information furnished by
members of EPDA. It should not be assumed that the publisher has reviewed or tested
any of the products. For more information, contact the companies listed.

LINING PROJECT FOR THE HARD COAL POWER STATION ECK GENERATING S.R.O. KLADNO, CZECH REPUBLIC

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® is a full-service supplier in the area of lining technique for bulk material processing industries. Dialen-Lining, as a competent partner, will manage the whole project, including all planning and mounting of the linings, as they did with the hard coal power station Kladno in the Czech Republic.

It was due to this comprehensive service that in March 2003 the experts from Dialen-Lining were contacted regarding the renewing of the deep bunker (in picture) with wagon delivery in Kaldno, Czech Republic. The energy supplier ECK Generating s.r.o., which is part of Swiss Atel A.G., runs the 372mw hard coal power station. The existing deep concrete bunker did not have any lining (which would have improved flow properties and wear protection).

Repeatedly, coal was sticking in the bunker, disturbing operation of the power station, which is an important lifeline to the area. Stanislav Klanduch, managing director and technical director, stressed that an uninterrupted supply of coal from the deep bunker would be the most important, as interruptions mean they would have to use their buffer stock in the generator, and during peak times the stocks could become very low.

As they did not want to take any risks at this critical part of the material flow chain, they chose two companies with different lining techniques to present their ideas. Depending on the results achieved, a decision would be made and then the construction would be changed to the chosen technique. The first company made the proposal to make the lining out of stainless steel (material 1.4016, thickness 4 mm, gloss sheet) as only this would enable them to get a grip on the baffle abrasion. As the second company, Dialen-Lining offered its plastics lining system (Dialen® AST, 12 mm). The objections from the first company were understandable, as the hard coal has a fall of up to 6 meters when emptied from the wagons, before it hits the bunker walls. This fact had to be considered for choosing the correct material. But because the material used for Dialen-Lining Dialen AST offers a notched impact strength of 170 kJ/m², it meets the requirements to resist the hard application conditions.

The rest of this article is available at http://www.dialen.de/pdf/dialen_flow_promotion.pdf in English or http://www.dialen.de/pdf/dialen_reibungsloser_abfluss.pdf in German.

For more information on Dialen-Lining, go to www.dialen.de or www.murtfeldt.de.

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FOAMALUX SUPPORTS SUPERBIKES

One of the leading British Superbike teams, Virgin Mobile Samsung Yamaha, is achieving a glossy image — even at trackside — through the use of Brett Martin’s signage substrate, Foamalux Ultra.

Leighton Signs Ltd. is using Foamalux Ultra, gloss foam PVC with a co-extruded gloss layer, to create both the pit system, which tours the British Superbike venues nationwide and brands the team’s garage/pit area at each circuit on race days, and the pit hut, where the team engineers sit during the race.

Forty sheets of red 5mm thick Foamalux Ultra have been cut-to-size for Leighton Signs by Cox Plastics’ Northampton branch, which Leighton Signs then brands using digitally printed vinyl team logos and cut vinyl letters for the various team sponsors.

Guy Davies, spokesman for the Virgin Mobile Samsung Yamaha team, explains, “We specifically wanted a high gloss to create the look and feel we were after, and to help keep the garage looking clean and high tech. We wanted a material that is light and easy to handle, so the garage and pit hut could be quickly erected at all the venues. It also needed to be durable, so it could withstand being transported to all the venues, and look as good at the last as it did at the first.”

For information about Foamalux and other Cox Plastic products and services, please go to www.roberthorne.co.uk or contact your local Cox Plastic branch.

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PERSPEX® FROM LUCITE® FROST USED IN STYLISH WATER FEATURES

Perspex® Frost acrylic sheet, supplied by Perspex Distribution Ltd., has been used to create a range of beautiful and contemporary water features, destined to be seen in the most stylish gardens this year.

These unique and highly individual creations are brought to market by the design and water engineering flair of Waterwater, the fabrication skills of 3Star Plastics, who is Waterwater’s preferred manufacturer, and finally the superb quality and contemporary appearance of Perspex Frost acrylic sheet supplied by Perspex Distribution Ltd.

Miriam Gill, Creative Director at Waterwater, said, “It’s great when a plan comes together. Some of our early designs have never generated significant sales, but the Perspex® Water Columns and Cubes continue to be a firm favourite for designers and architects. Clients get genuinely excited at the style and flexibility of our services.”

For more information on Perspex, visit www.lucitesolutions.com.

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NEWS from the Industry

MARKET UPDATE FROM THE PLASTICS EXCHANGE

Polyethylene
Polyethylene prices have been moving steadily higher; however, not quite at the pace that producers originally intended. Although it took an extra month to obtain, it looks like producers have finally achieved for August, their US $.06/pound price increase that they have been after. The market conditions that finally facilitated this increase have changed quite dramatically from the bearish situation only two months ago.

Polypropylene
The spot Polypropylene market has continued to rally off of the mid-June lows, adding another US $.04/pound during July and so far have recovered about US $.08.10/pound. The $.04/pound price increase was implemented for July contracts and producers are again working to inch up the spot market to achieve the next $.05/pound increase by the end of August.

Polystyrene
The Polystyrene market is still struggling to recover, bucking the rising trend of the other commodity resins. Polystyrene prices moved higher the first couple weeks of July, since producers were asking the full US $.06/pound price increase for their spot resin, but weak demand could not support the full increase and producers needing to move current production became more liberal with their spot sales. Subsequently, prices for generic prime and particularly off-grade slipped a few cents, giving back at least half of the month’s earlier gains.

For more information, visit www.theplasticexchange.com.

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Industry Events

ADDCON 2005
21 to 22 September 2005, Hamburg, Germany
Rapra Technology Limited is pleased to announce the 11th International Plastics Additives and Modifiers Conference, Addcon World 2005. This is the leading additives, modifiers and compounding conference. It provides an opportunity to network with researchers and manufacturers from across the plastics industry. There will be information on new developments and a chance to meet and discuss the issues for the industry in 2005. For more information, visit www.rapra.net/conferences/addcon05/index.asp.

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
4 to 5 October 2005, Hall 4.1, Messe Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
The Plastics Electronics Conference and Showcase will focus on the latest research that is opening up 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.

THE ART OF PLASTICS DESIGN
18 to 19 October 2005, Berlin, Germany
Design innovations are appearing in many markets from cars to packaging, PCs to phones, and domestic appliances to medical devices. This conference aims to bring together designers, manufacturers, plastics engineers and end-users, together with producers of innovative plastics materials. From the idea to the product, network and find fresh ideas on designing with plastics at this event. For more information, visit www.rapra.net/conferences/sensorydesign05/index.asp.

MULTILAYER FILMS CONFERENCE
8 to 9 November 2005, Brussels, Belgium
Highly sophisticated films with an increasing number of layers are continually being introduced, requiring developments in materials and equipment. Multilayer technology is widely employed in food packaging where the film can be used to extend shelf life by means of a gas barrier layer that can minimise oxygen ingress and retain a protective atmosphere. The Multilayer Films Conference will cover the many benefits and applications of films, as well as 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.

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON PLASTICULTURE AND PRECISION FARMING
17 to 21 November 2005, New Delhi, India
The International Conference on Plasticulture and Precision Farming (ICPPF) at The Ashok Hotel, New Delhi, India, will be held 17 to 21 November 2005. The conference will showcase the latest technological developments in the field. More than 1,000 delegates — consisting of scientists, policy makers, industry representatives and farmers from about 30 countries — are expected to converge for the event. Visit www.icppf2005.com for more information.

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Copyright 2005
European Plastics
Distributors Association
Beethovenstraße 12
63846 Laufach Germany
Phone: +49.6093.9942852
Fax: +49.6093.994077
epda@epda.com
www.epda.com