Jan H. Schut

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1 Apr 2006

Flat or Slipping

Prices of most commodity resins were flat or slipping downhill in February and March.

1 Mar 2006

Pricing Update - March 2006

PE, PS, and PVC prices remained flat or softened further in February, aided by slack demand and lower feedstock costs.

1 Feb 2006

After a Soft Start, Prices Are Firming

Polyolefin prices sledded downhill in December, while PVC skated on flat resin tabs.

1 Feb 2006

Nanocomposites Do More With Less

For skeptics who may doubt that nanocomposites have yet proven themselves commercially viable materials, last year’s Nanocomposites 2005 Conference in San Francisco presented plenty of evidence that “nanos” are beginning to live up to their promise.

1 Jan 2006

Four Ways to Fight Sky-High Resin Prices

There are lots of ways to economize on resin costs, but here are four that you may have overlooked: negotiating smarter resin contracts, buying “futures,” using recycled resins, and more efficient purging aids. The main idea is to give yourself more choices, no matter what direction resin prices go.

1 Dec 2005

New Technologies for Automotive TP Composites and Acoustic Laminates

Rieter Automotive Systems, a global producer of automotive trim components and a leader in acoustic systems, unveiled several new technologies last June at its 17th biennial acoustics conference for customers at its headquarters in Winterthur, Switzerland.

1 Nov 2005

A Relic of Plastics’ Rough and Ready Days

In 1955, Allied Resins and Allied Resinous Products were prosperous, creative compounding and extrusion operations, respectively, situated across the street from each other in Conneaut, Ohio.

1 Nov 2005

Nine-Layer Blown Film: Why It's a Challenge, What It Takes to Succeed

Eight years after nine-layer blown films were first introduced, only a handful of processors have mastered the challenges of making them. Machine suppliers are now setting up lab lines that could make entry easier.

1 Sep 2005

Wood-Plastic Composites: Weathering Quality Issues

Exterior wood-fiber composites like decks and rails haven't lived up to some of the early claims of long, maintenance-free life.

1 Sep 2005

A Plant Designed by Efficiency Experts

Hi-Tech Profiles Inc. in Pawcatuck, Conn., extrudes stock and custom medical and industrial profiles out of engineering resins that cost from $3 up to $35/lb.

1 Aug 2005

Air, Land and Sea: Composites Advance on All Fronts

Part II of our report on the leading international composites show includes news for everything from high-tech aircraft manufacturing to boat building and automotive SMC.

1 Jul 2005

Now It's Here: An Objective Test of Masterbatch Dispersion

There's a new grading system for color concentrates and additive masterbatches.