In this issue

Colour has become an indispensable factor in the production process – as many consumers make their purchasing decision based on what appeals to them.In this issue, we looked at how colour inspection and management solutions have evolved and how companies, such as Datacolor, have been able to upgrade the range of spectrophotometers available in the market today to serve the strict standards of various industries.
For those in the plastics industry, injection moulding is an area where the requirements for sophistication go hand in hand with improved efficiency and end-product quality. Current trends point towards rising demand for highly efficient quick mould change system. There are many benefits that go along the integration of a quick mould change system and these are discussed in this issue.
As the coronavirus continues to raise concerns in the medical sector, it is important to note that suppliers of thermoplastic elastomers are responding to the call for improved mechanical properties and sustainability. Rising demand for bio-based TPEs in the medical industry is poised for growth in the next few years and this can augur well for those engaged in developing new grades of TPEs.

New processes overcome injection moulding challenges

The use of recycled plastic materials is growing worldwide as demand from consumers and political pressure to protect the environment mount. Various countries already stipulate the minimum recycled content for certain products. In the Western US, for example, some market applications require 25% recycled content for pails. In addition, many brands do not want the dark coloured recycled core material to be visible at the injection point. As a result, several injection moulding techniques are gaining ground, breaking away from traditional processes, to meet the sustainability goals.

6 mins

Enhancing the performance of nylons

The sustained growth of the global nylon market takes its cue from the automobile industry which dominates the application for nylons. Valued at $29.76 billion in 2020, the global nylon market is expected to witness a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.8% from 2021- 2028, according to a report by Grand View Research. The report further states that the automobile industry is highly concentrated, and even while the product range is high owing to a large number of market participants, around 49% of the market is dominated by top players including GM, Toyota, Ford, and Volkswagen. Nylon is a material of choice in the production of engine components such as bushings, bearing, oil containers, wire harness connectors, fuse boxes, cylinder head covers, crankcases, and timing belts.

6 mins

Environment-friendly medical-grade TPEs

Thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs), also known as thermoplastic rubbers, combine the inherent benefits of plastic and rubbery materials. The application of TPEs in the medical field has further been stressed amidst the current coronavirus pandemic with global market for TPEs, assessed at $18.9 billion in 2020, expected to reach $24.2 billion by 2026, rising at a CAGR of 5.2% from 2020-2026, according to a report by reportlinker. com. In terms of regional market, the United States remains the biggest market at an estimated $5.1 billion in 2021, accounting for 27.09% of the world market for TPEs. China, the world second-largest economy, is forecast to reach an estimated size of $4.9 billion in the year 2026, with a cAGr of 7.9% through the analysis period. Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to grow at 2.8% and 4.7%, respectively, over the analysis period. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to grow at approximately 3.2% CAGR while rest of European market will reach $5.6 billion by the end 2026, according to the report.

6 mins

Philippines aims for Zero Waste to Nature

Southeast Asian countries are getting serious in implementing proper was management as the urgent call for environmental protection reverberates throughout the region. Government policies and private sector initiatives are being drawn up and implemented to alleviate the plastic waste crisis. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report takes the first comprehensive look at policies on packaging waste and standards in 10 countries in Southeast Asia. With over half of the land-based plastic pollution in our oceans originating from just five countries, four of which are in Southeast Asia, the environmental impact of plastic litter in the Asia-Pacific region alone costs its tourism, fishing, and shipping industries $1.3 billion per year, according to the UNEP report.

4 mins

Read all stories from International Plastics News for Asia

International Plastics News for Asia Magazine Description:

International Plastics News for Asia is published 6x a year in English with highlights in Chinese. The magazine is uniquely positioned to serve the needs of South East Asia's plastics processing industry, including contract molders and manufacturers with in-plant machinery lines. It provides the latest market information, quality technical features, trade show reviews and videos, and people and company profiles written by industry experts and correspondents across the region. Also included are exclusive content and articles from Ringier's family of plastics industry magazines covering Greater China region, the Middle East and other parts of the world, such as Modern Plastics and Polymers in India, Plastics Engineering in the US, Kunststoffe in Germany, Polymer Materials in Russia, Technologia del Plastico in Latin Amercia – which are the leading magazines in their respective markets. The interactive content allows readers to make direct and immediate contact with advertisers/suppliers and featured companies in the editorial by clicking on the web site and email addresses in each issue, access online content in Ringier’s plastics website in English and Chinese (plastics.industrysourcing.com), and avail of video content through iTunes and Google Play.