Monitoring Recyclates for Europe (MORE) is a new unified digital platform to monitor the uptake of recycled polymers into products. The IT platform is available to be used by converters since 25 April 2019. It was developed by EuPC in cooperation with its members and in support to the European Commission’s EU Plastics Strategy. Its objective is to monitor and register the plastics converting industry’s efforts to reach the EU target of 10 million t of recycled polymers used annually between 2025 and 2030.

Nikolay Dishovsky, Mihail Mihaylov, 1st ed., Apple Academic Press, Oakville, ON, Canada, 2018, 486 p., hardcover, ISBN 978-1-77188620-8, GBP 104.80

Smarter Shows has announced the early confirmed speakers and featured topics for the Foam Expo Europe Conference, which will take place from 10 - 12 September 2019 in Stuttgart, Germany. Over 50 industry leaders will provide interactive discussions focusing on the latest foam industry developments, innovations and technologies.

In this work a new laboratory test equipment is presented, that allows for the definition of suitable load conditions (force, rotational speed, impact incidence). The Instrumented Chip & Cut Analyzer (ICCA) collects all relevant data during the test. Using a mathematical algorithm, realistic and reliable answers on CC behaviour of the rubber are derived from the measurements.

Trinseo, a global materials solutions provider and manufacturer of plastics, latex binders and synthetic rubber has signed a definitive agreement with The Dow Chemical Company to acquire latex production facilities and related infrastructure at Rheinmunster, Germany.

The Supervisory Board of Lanxess AG has appointed Anno Borkowsky to the Board of Management of the specialty chemicals company. At the same time, the structure of the Specialty Additives segment will change as of 1 June 2019 and will then comprise three business units instead of two.

In line with the vision that post-consumer plastic waste is too valuable for single use, OMV and Borealis are exploring the potential for synergies in the OMV ReOil innovation project: Borealis is a major polyolefin producer and has acquired two recycling companies as part of its focus on developing a roadmap for the circular economy. OMV has been exploring the potential of post-consumer plastics since 2011 and is now working on scaling up the ReOil process.

The relocation of major laboratory and pilot plant facilities to the new laboratory building at Lehvoss’ Hamburg-Wandsbek site has now been successfully completed ahead of schedule. The corner stone for the new innovation centre was laid in Wandsbek on 4 October 2017; the topping-out ceremony was celebrated on 18 April 2018.

Peter Schwarzmann, ed. by Adolf Illig, 2nd ed. 2018, Carl Hanser Publ., Munich, Germany, 520 p., hardcover ISBN 978-1-56990-709-2, e-book ISBN 978-1-56990-708-5, EUR 179.00

Nouryon (formerly AkzoNobel Specialty Chemicals) has completed a EUR 4 million expansion at Mahad, India which will increase organic peroxides production capacity at the site by 80 %. The increased capacity will support growing customer demand in India and the Middle East for organic peroxides, essential in the manufacture of products such as athletic shoe soles, wind turbines and PVC pipes.