A publication of the European Plastics Distributors Association
Issue 29 | September 2007 | www.epda.com
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| K 2007 FAIR RECEPTION |
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EPDA members are invited to submit news on their company and products for publication in EPDA’s E-Update newsletter. News may be submitted in any language, to be translated by EPDA staff, and may include photographs. 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. ONLINE COMPANY NEWSLETTER Visit www.wefapress.com for more information. |
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Articles reporting on plastic
products are prepared from information furnished by ELECTRICITY-CONDUCTING MATERIAL WITH NANO-TECHNOLOGY The material based on TECAPEEK (PEEK) has been modified with the help of nano-technology: carbon nanotubes, which are used as functional fillers, have a high degree of electrical conductivity approaching very close to that of a metal due to its graphite-like surface structure. On account of the high specific surface, only a low degree of additive filling is required in order to adjust the electrical conductivity. It is thus possible to achieve virtually the same characteristic properties of PEEK, such as high degrees of durability and strength, with TECAPEEK ELS nano. Tried and tested properties, such as excellent chemical and thermal resistance, are also retained. This also ensures good further processability with minimal distortion tendency. The new material can be used in all applications where electrical conductivity and electrostatic discharge are required, e.g. in mechanical engineering, safety technology, chemical and process engineering, computer technology, transport and conveying technology, textile processing, vacuum technology, as well as in the aerospace industry. Examples of applications are components for explosion-proof plant or components for chip handling in semiconductor production, heat exchangers, chemical cleaning systems and pump casings. ENSINGER offers the material from stock in the form of rods and sheets. Visit www.ensinger-online.com for more information. PERSPEX® ON SHOW AT CHELSEA “Sand and Ice” depicted the contrast between sweeping deserts and melting glaciers, and featured a stunning ice glacier wall created from jagged pieces of Perspex® Frost and Perspex® Vario in cool icy colours. The wall of ice was a key feature in the garden and showed water "melting" down the glacier to form a pool below — all illuminated by rows of LEDs to add drama. Precision cut pieces of Perspex Frost in crystal clear, arctic blue and glacier green contrast with the sharp translucency of shards of Perspex Vario in lagoon green and cascade blue, whilst Perspex Frost in vivid electric blue highlights the flowing rivulet to create an ice cold climate. The Perspex pieces were crafted by London based fabricators Hamar Acrylic. Linda Bush won a bronze medal for the garden in the Show Gardens section of the competition. She is renowned for designing gardens that people feel comfortable in and likes to combine contemporary design with natural materials and soft planting. The garden was sponsored by Hasmead, one of the country’s leading commercial landscape companies. Together Hasmead and Bush set up a programme to offset the carbon footprint resulting from the creation of the garden, which includes sourcing those plants grown elsewhere in Europe by car rather than plane and pledging to plant trees after the show. Visit www.lucitesolutions.com for more information. |
| NEWS from the Industry |
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RESOURCES FOR REDUCING ENERGY CONSUMPTION As with most industries, controlling costs is critical to sustainability and profitability. To remain competitive a business must have an effective energy management process, good market knowledge and an awareness of technology and support mechanisms. To support the industry, RECIPE (Reduced Energy Consumption in Plastics Engineering), the European project to provide plastics processors with the knowledge, justification and tools needed to reduce their energy consumption, has launched a series of resources to help organisations plan and implement an energy efficiency programme. Co-ordinated by Rapra Technology, the RECIPE partners have written a “Best Practice Guide for Low Energy Plastics Processing” aimed at all levels of management and operational staff, providing a structured and practical approach to improving energy efficiency in the processing of plastics. The free informational resources and software applications are available to download from www.eurecipe.com or e-mail info@eurecipe.com. RECYCLING OF PVC AND MIXED PLASTIC WASTE BOOK AVAILABLE For a complete copy of this report, go to |
| Industry Events |
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For a list of all events, please visit www.epda.com/industry.cfm 51st IAPD ANNUAL CONVENTION TPE 2007 This conference looks at what is currently happening with thermoplastic elastomer, including the latest developments in SBC, TPO, TPV, COPE, COPA and TPU materials, together with additives, processing, applications, commercial and design aspects for TPEs. Click here for more information. K 2007 An EPDA member reception will be held on the evening of 30 October 2007. Please join us at the ENSINGER booth in Hall 05, Stand G39, from 18:30 to 21:00. EPDA Exhibitors:
Add your name to the list by e-mailing epda@epda.com. BIOPLASTICS 2007 CONFERENCE AND AWARDS For more information, visit www.bpevent.com. PLASTIC PIPE FITTINGS AND JOINTS 2007 The conference aims to cover a range of current technical and commercial issues facing the industry, including key applications and markets for different types of pipe joint technology. Plastic Pipes Fittings and Joints 2007 provides an international forum for all companies involved in the technology of joining pipes, including pipe industry experts, fitting manufacturers, plastics welding experts and material suppliers to the plastic pipe fittings industry. Please contact Jenny Skinner at js@amiplastics.com for details about this event. POLYOLEFIN ADDITIVES 2008 Please contact Rebecca Merriott, rm@amiplastics.com for more information. HANNOVER MESSE At HANNOVER MESSE you'll make new customer contacts, meeting the very people your business needs. Ten flagship international trade shows attract knowledgeable professionals from all branches of industry. So you can present your innovations and solutions to exactly the right target groups — with just one trade fair appearance and at minimal cost. Visit www.messe.de for more information. |
Wefapress® Beck & Co. GmbH has launched an online newsletter which includes company news, product offerings and applications. Wefapress specializes in compression molding sheets, shapes and machined parts out of UHMW-PE and HMW-PE up to 33 feet in length and 8 inches in thickness. The company offers more than 50 standard colors for UHMW-PE shapes and features anti-static properties, heat stabilization, cross-linking as well as boron-based additives. 
TECAPEEK ELS nano is an electricity-conducting, ATEX-suitable and highly chemically resistant polymer, which ensures maximum safety in processes and plants, thanks to these properties. 
This year’s Chelsea Flower Show featured a striking new garden created by garden designer Linda Bush, which took its inspiration from the extremes in landscapes caused by the changing global climate. |
Copyright 2007 |
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