Milliken To Begin Production At New Polypropylene Clarifier Facility In USA

Milliken to Begin Production at New Polypropylene Clarifier Facility in USA

31-May-22

Milliken & Companywill begin production at its new clarifier plant soon in Blacksburg, USA. This significant additional capacity will address strong worldwide demand for clarified plastic products.

The company’s new facility will increase production capacity of its market leadingMillad® NX® 8000polypropylene clarifier by more than 50 percent.

肯的客户研究强调了我mportance of being able to clearly see the products they are buying. Millad® NX® 8000 provides close to glass-like clarity in PP packaging, which improves customer confidence during their buying process, especially for food products.

Thisclarity enables brand owners to replace PET, polystyrene, polycarbonate, and more with PP— shown by studies to be a more sustainable option. The current soaring energy prices, meanwhile, have also spiked interest in any resins or additives like this one, which can help converters to save energy during processing.

As a result of these certified savings, brand owners using PP clarified with Millad® NX® 8000 ECO can display a UL Environmental Claim Validation label on their injection molded parts. Polypropylene is not only lightweight and durable, it also is one of the least energy-intensive polymers to make and recycle compared to other clear polymers.

“This represents the largest clarifier plant investment in Milliken history,” said Cindy Boiter, president of Milliken’s Chemicals Business. “Engineering is complete, and we are in the process of commissioning the plant. When we launch production in the fall, it will allow us to address both current market needs and increasing demand for these products well into the future.”

“Global demand for Millad® NX® 8000 clarifier has grown at an 11 percent compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) for each of the past nine years,” added Boiter. Global clarifier demand grew by 16 percent in just the past two years,” outstripping the growth rates for global polypropylene (PP) resin. “All regions have contributed to the growth of clarified PP, with Asia leading the way.”

“Brand owners and packaging producers are seeing how Millad® NX® 8000 can contribute to improved environmental and manufacturing results. It is one of the more important clarifier developments in recent memory,” said global vice president - Plastic Additives Wim Van de Velde.

Additionally, the pandemic has dramatically altered many consumer habits, perhaps permanently, in the case of booming e-commerce and the growing popularity of food-delivery services.

Thin-wall injection molded containers made using clarified PP – with their lightweight, durable and transparent characteristics – have proven to be a popular solution to packaging challenges facing both the e-commerce and food-service industries. “We don’t see that changing,” said Van de Velde.

Source: Milliken