Industry Trends

February 2021

See what has been happening in Asia’s plastic & rubber industries over the last weeks. What are experts and industry magazines talking about?

What has been happening?

Polymer as strong as polyamide with 15x its bending fatigue limit, Car industry suffering from chip shortages, Recycling supply tracker, and more. Find out what plastic & rubber journals and industry experts have been discussing in the last four weeks.

Latest Plastic & Rubber Articles

Polymer as strong as polyamide with 15x its bending fatigue limit
Electronics Weekly

Toray Industries has created a polymer that retains the outstanding thermal resistance, rigidity, and strength of polyamide 6 (PA6) while delivering a bending fatigue limit that is 15-fold that of conventional polymers. Prospective applications for such exceptional durability include automobiles, appliances, and sporting goods.
Growing Interest in TPEs for COVID-19 Related Medical Applications
Plastics Technology

Manufacturer and custom compounder of thermoplastic elastomers United Soft Plastics (USP), Lawrenceville, Ga., reports a surge of interest in the use of TPEs for the production of many COVID-19 related medical applications. The company says several companies, both domestic and international, have approached the company requesting materials to convert their non-medical manufacturing facilities to produce items to meet the healthcare demand from the global pandemic.
ICIS launches Recycling Supply Tracker
British Plastics

With demand currently outstripping supply, particularly for food grade packaging plastics, many FMCGs, manufacturers and converters are finding sourcing the feedstock they require to hit regulatory and sustainability goals challenging.
VinylPlus announces new collaborative project called VinylPlus Med
British Plastics

VinylPlus, the Voluntary Commitment to sustainable development of the European PVC industry, has announced a new collaborative project called VinylPlus Med.
More vehicle production cuts as chip shortage crisis expands – Stellantis, GM, Mazda join the growing list
Paul Tan’s Automotive News

The shortage in semiconductor chips that has affected automotive production is spreading and has now added more names to the list. Last month, a slew of brands reported disruptions in vehicle production as a result of the supply shortfall, with Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Ford, FCA and Audi being those affected. Now, newly-formed Stellantis, General Motors and Mazda have said that they are cutting production as a result of not having enough chips for cars, Reuters reports.
Placon’s OxyStar Brings Sustainability to Barrier Packaging
PlasticsToday.com

Sustainable thermoformed packaging supplier Placon Corp introduced its patent-pending recyclable oxygen-barrier material, OxyStar. Direct oxygen contact with perishable foods is known to significantly decrease the shelf life of oxygen-sensitive products, increasing food waste and shrinking profits for producers, said Placon. “OxyStar is the world’s first recyclable PET barrier material,” added the company.
New Study Shows Silver From Plastic Packaging Leaches To Some Foods and Beverages
Science Direct

Researchers have found that silver embedded in antimicrobial plastic – often used for food and beverage packaging – could lead the packaging and form into its contents, especially for sweet and sugary foods.
Addmaster Biomaster antimicrobial technology used for aircrafts successfully tested against SARS-CoV-2
Paul Tan’s Automotive News

Laboratory testing to ISO 18184 protocols using MGRSafeWall and real aircraft cabin products has demonstrated efficacy of 96.8 per cent against SARS-CoV-2.
Coronavirus boom for Malaysia's rubber glove industry loses shine amid worker rights abuses

South China Morning Post

Even as the coronavirus pandemic propels profits in Malaysia’s burgeoning rubber glove industry to new heights, widespread accusations of forced labour amid increasing competition from China and Thailand have left it facing an ultimatum: change or be changed.

Uratex acquires ‘Queen of Foaming Machines’
Daily Tribune

Uratex, the biggest foam manufacturer in the Philippines, recently acquired and started operating the top of the line foaming machine made in Germany. RGC President and CEO Natividad Y. Cheng said the Quadrofoamat (QFM) was purchased because they trust the machine’s optimized technologies with modular design in meeting the customer’s production requirement.
Authorities crack down on used medical gloves racket in Thailand
Asia One

A Pathum Thani warehouse owner was arrested for allegedly manufacturing and selling used medical gloves. The Consumer Protection Police Division in cooperation with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) raided a warehouse in Pathum Thani’s Khlong 7 subdistrict on Tuesday after receiving a tip-off that the establishment stored used medical gloves for the purpose of reselling.
Philippines to implement new vehicle inspection guidelines – tyres to be limited to five years of age
Paul Tan’s Automotive News

The department of transport in the Philippines is planning the implementation of a new motor vehicle inspection system, reports Auto Industriya. This is centred upon a more stringent set of checks that every motor vehicle will have to undergo as a requirement of the annual motor vehicle registration process with the land transportation office (LTO) in the country, it said.

Related Articles & Trends

Plastics & Rubber Trends – November 2024

Plastics & Rubber Trends – November 2024

Using AI for tire inspection, Packaging suppliers convene to talk PCR and recyclability, Material suppliers find alternative markets amid softening auto demand, and more. Find out what plastic & rubber journals and industry experts have been discussing in the last four weeks.

Plastics & Rubber Trends – October 2024

Plastics & Rubber Trends – October 2024

The road to net zero: Powering sustainability in tyre manufacturing, Scientists develop novel method for strengthening PVC products, Tyre factory with zero carbon dioxide emissions, and more. Find out what plastic & rubber journals and industry experts have been discussing in the last four weeks.

Plastics & Rubber Trends – September 2024

Plastics & Rubber Trends – September 2024

‘Eco-Friendly’ foaming agent masterbatch, Masterbatch bossts sustainability and recyclability, Chemical recycling studies for end-of-life tires, and more. Find out what plastic & rubber journals and industry experts have been discussing in the last four weeks.

Industry News . Once a month . No spam