SWITZERLAND

Recovery stronger than expected / Optimism high in plastics industry / Volume off 5% in 2020 / Recycling gains momentum / Problems with EU agreement suggests trouble

ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING

Global growth of at least 17% a year to 2026 / Large-scale production increasing / Polymer powders to overtake photopolymers / Statista, Sculpteo, Wohlers reports

PLASTICS INDUSTRY GERMANY

Sector to be a job driver? / Raw material costs cause for concern / DZ Bank SME study

TURKEY

Processed polymer volume declined in 2020 / Packaging and white goods make up ground / Positive but shaky outlook for 2021 / Associations vehemently oppose import ban on plastic waste from Europe

POLYURETHANE FOAM

Raw material supply “critical” / Scarcity to continue

PLASTICS PROCESSING GERMANY

GKV reports declines in polymer volumes and turnover / Profound change in raw material supply imminent / Roth: “Recyclate quotas cannot be enforced as in a planned economy”

BOPP FILMS

Biaxial films growing steadily worldwide / PP remains clear leader despite upturn in PET / Plant technology sector highly concentrated / Overcapacities dominate picture

UK PLASTICS INDUSTRY

Report says good deeds during pandemic can help plastics / PPE production and packaging upswing soften Q2 demand drop

PLASTICS PROCESSING GERMANY

Impact of coronavirus crisis shows in H1 2020 balance sheet / Sales down 9% year-on-year / Niche areas in packaging, construction and E&E doing well / Do automotive suppliers face an insolvency wave?

PLASTICS PROCESSING GERMANY

Well equipped for second Covid-19 wave / Advantages of global and local supply chains / Companies focus on liquidity

BOPP FILMS

Global demand continues to expand despite coronavirus-related slowdown / Strong growth in emerging markets / AMI report

PLASTICS RECYCLING EUROPE

Rising demand for flexible films could boost recycling / Inadequate collection and recycling capacities are major obstacles / PRE report

PLASTICS PROCESSING GERMANY

Industry takes a hard hit from Covid-19 / Many converters need the “ventilation” provided by the government

ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING

Use and investments rise / Challenges persist on product quality and cost / Survey by 3D printing company Sculpteo

POLYURETHANE

Foam plants returning to production in May albeit at reduced rates

UK

More plastics firms supply health workers fighting Covid-19

UPDATE - POLYURETHANE

Foams plants across Europe closed or running at reduced rates due to Covid-19 / Situation expected to deteriorate in April / Europur and Euro-Moulders postpone conference

3D PRINTING

Cecimo calls on additive manufacturers to aid hospitals / Need for critical equipment during Covid-19 outbreak

PLASTICS INDUSTRY UK

Significant downside anticipated from coronavirus in coming months / Packaging companies see rise in demand / BPF survey

PLASTICS PROCESSING

Economic consequences of Covid-19 to peak in next six weeks / Advice to converters – continue production at full speed, then stop / Germany's ArGeZ sees technical parts manufacturing halting between end of March and end of April