BREXIT

European Commission adopts "no deal" plans / Lack of REACH regulation provisions / Major supply chain disruptions foreseen

ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING

Polymers growth set to soar worldwide / Revenues to reach nearly USD 9 bn by 2027 / Need to develop wider range of materials / SmarTech report

UNITED KINGDOM

Brexit deal suffers heavy defeat / Plastics companies concerned about no deal / Cefic asks for solution to avoid supply chain disruptions / BPF survey

HDPE PIPES

Global sales to grow 5% per year to 2025 / Growing urbanisation boosts demand for water supply pipes / Allied Market Research report

FLEXIBLE PACKAGING

Concerns about food waste boost global demand for high-barrier films / Demand growing faster than for regular packaging films / AMI report

FRANCE / ITALY

Packaging by far largest market for injection-moulded thermoplastics / PP and PET account for biggest share / AMI report

COMPOSITES UK

Royal attendees open McLaren Automotive's CRP centre / Research association NCC aims to advance series production of car components

ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING

“Formnext” trade fair showcases advancing technology / Increasing use in production / Plastics still most common material / Further success depends on material availability and costs

COMPOSITES

Fewer exhibitors at "Composites Europe" / Industry associations and organisers to counteract in 2019 with "Foam Expo" / GRP growth in Europe at 2017 level / Thermoplastic matrix products and pultrusion are strong

PLASTIC PIPES GERMANY

Significant rise in production volume in 2017 / Building boom boosts order volumes / Industry association continues confident / Macroeconomic factors leading to uncertainty

INJECTION-MOULDED PLASTICS

PP to outpace growth of other polymers / Packaging to remain dominant end-use market / Volatile feedstock costs and sustainability issues are challenges / BCC Research study

GERMAN PLASTICS PROCESSING

Industry reports good sales in first half of 2018 / Outlook a little cloudier for Q3 / Political risks will affect export business in particular

3D PRINTING

Use in aerospace sector expected to take off / Drive to build better designed, cheaper and lighter aircraft will fuel growth / Frost & Sullivan report

ITALY

Plastics sector looks back on good year / Growth above industry average with stellar prospects / Machinery manufacturing, “Industry 4.0” and digitalisation drive investments

ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING

EuPC survey to gain insight into 3D printing in European plastics converting industry

GERMAN PLASTICS PROCESSING

Growth rate reaches 5% mark in 2017 / Renewed record turnover and processed volume / Lack of skilled staff becomes more acute / Confidence predominates at start of 2018

MATTRESS INDUSTRY

China accounts for one-third of global production / Growth in Chinese consumption to slow / Global demand outpacing other furniture markets / Flexible PU foam most used material / CSIL reports

ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING

3D printing heads for small series production / "Formnext" exhibition in Frankfurt a "centre of gravity" / Market expected to triple by 2023 / Quality assurance a difficult issue

PLASTIC PIPES GERMANY

Production volume stagnates in 2016 / Shift towards PE and away from other materials / Earnings still under pressure / Industry association hopes for positive impetus from Berlin

UNITED KINGDOM

"Brexit" and plastics industry / BPF fears high trade costs with the EU / Priorities include access to skills / European chemical industry signs joint statement / Plastics exports to UK particularly important for Ireland