LyondellBasell has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Liaoning Bora Enterprise Group (Bora) to form a 50-50 joint venture in China, which will operate an ethylene cracker currently being built by Bora. Under the MoU, the parties will establish the joint venture in Panjin.

The injection moulding machines manufacturer Dr. Boy GmbH & Co. KG will showcase eleven exhibits at the trade show. Six Boy injection moulding machines will also be presented at the stands of its partner companies. Amongst others, Boy will highlight its plastification technology Servo-Plast for the first time at K 2019 as well as a new alternative positioning option for its linear handling LR 5 on an injection moulding machine.

At K 2019, the Zahoransky business unit Oral Care presents an innovative application for the production of toothbrushes: A laser unit makes it possible to add custom inscriptions to the soft and hard components of toothbrushes immediately before packaging. Kraiburg TPE supplied the thermoplastic elastomers, and Merck the additives for this project. A second demonstration at the stand at K 2019 is the new multicomponent mould which is used to produce a PBT/LSR part.

Sustainability and environmental protection are key topics for the plastics and rubber industries. Modern materials have to be produced sustainably and be biodegradable or recyclable. At the same time, they have to meet the high demands made by industry, for example, on mechanical strength. At K 2019 the Japanese speciality chemicals producer Kuraray is presenting its extensive range of brands - Eval, Septon Bio, Plantic, Clarino, MonoSol, Mowital, Septon, Hybrar, Kurarity, Kuraray Poval, Mowiflex and Genestar. Materials like the new EVOH copolymer Eval, which is readily recyclable, and the bio-based TPE Septon Bio are unique materials that combine performance with sustainability.

The European Chemical Industry Council (Cefic) has received commitments from 102 chemical manufacturers to reevaluate the safety data in previously submitted REACH registration dossiers.

On 3 September 2019, Charlie Rogers assumed the new position as President of KraussMaffei Corporation in Florence, KY, USA. He succeeds Paul Caprio, who left the company at the beginning of June 2019. Rogers reports to Michael Ruf, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the KraussMaffei Group.

The worst for the rubber glove sector is over and growth is likely to resume in the coming quarters as glove manufacturers indicated that they have started to increase selling prices to pass on the incremental costs, according to Affin Hwang Capital. “Malaysia manufacturers are acting more rationally to prevent an all-out price war, as they are willing to delay or cut capacity to maintain selling prices,” it said in a research note.

Some five major projects in Ankara, Istanbul, Bursa and Adana will be receiving government support, according to a presidential decree published on Thursday (5 September 2019) in the Official Gazette.

Saudi Aramco and Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) have signed a non-binding Letter of Intent (LOI) regarding a proposed investment in the Oil to Chemicals (O2C) division comprising the refining, petrochemicals and fuels marketing businesses of RIL. Saudi Aramco’s potential 20 % stake is based upon an enterprise value of USD 75 billion for the O2C division. According to RIL, this would be one of the largest foreign investments ever made in India.

Thailand's packaging and printing industries are shifting to produce bio-flexible packaging products in line with the government's policy to ban plastic packaging in the future, says the Thai Packaging Association.