NPE ’09: SABIC fights downturn with new applications

23 June 2009 00:36  [Source: ICIS news]

CHICAGO (ICIS news)--US producer SABIC Innovative Plastics has introduced several new applications of existing products in a bid to drum up demand during the economic downturn, an executive said on Monday.

Like many companies, SABIC’s markets are down year over year - with second-quarter demand for some products down 20-40%, said Timothy O’Brien, SABIC’s vice president for the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

O’Brien spoke on the sidelines of the International Plastics Showcase (NPE) in Chicago.

SABIC’s answer to the economic situation was to introduce materials that could lower customers’ cost, provide better quality or address sustainability, O’Brien said.

“Sitting around and waiting for the market to come back is not an option,” O’Brien said. “There are big markets still available.”

SABIC’s Ultem polyetherimide (PEI), for example, has been used in the aerospace industry because of its resistance to flames and its lack of toxicity, O’Brien said.

The company has since successfully processed Ultem into fibres fine enough to be used in suits for firefighters. Ultem foam and composites can be used in mattresses, upholstery and aircraft.

Many times, customers can save money when they adopt a new material, O’Brien said. For example, one SABIC’s Noryl GTX resin does not require a primer coat.

By removing the need for primer, SABIC’s customers can eliminate a manufacturing step, saving time and money - as well as removing the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) associated with primer paint, O’Brien said.

However, SABIC customers cannot immediately substitute materials, O’Brien said. SABIC needs to participate in customers’ product development so it can determine which materials would work best for a particular use.

“You have to be working in cooperation with the customer earlier in the design phase,” he said.

Regarding sustainability, SABIC is recycling polyethylene terephthalate (PET) to produce its Valox iQ resin, O’Brien said. The resulting resin still preserves its qualities despite being derived from recycled plastic.

More than 40,000 attendees had registered for NPE as of mid-Monday. The event continues through Friday.

For more on PET visit ICIS chemical intelligence
For more on SABIC visit ICIS company intelligence
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By: Al Greenwood
+1 713 525 2653

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