Issue 06/2018

News
thyssenkrupp commissions first commercial
PLA plant for COFCO in China
To reduce reliance on petroleum-based plastics,
thyssenkrupp has developed a manufacturing process
for the bioplastic PLA. The world’s first commercial plant
based on the patented PLAneo ® technology recently started
production in Changchun, China. It is operated by the Jilin
COFCO Biomaterial Corporation, a subsidiary of COFCO,
China’s largest food and beverage group. The new plant with
an initial capacity of 10,000 tonnes, produces all standard PLA
types, among other things for the production of eco-friendly
packaging, fibers, textiles and engineering plastics.
the technology, thyssenkrupp’s subsidiary Uhde Inventa-
Fischer profited from decades of expertise gained from the
construction of more than 400 polymerization plants and
extensive experience in the scale-up of new technologies.
For the new plant in Changchun thyssenkrupp provided
the engineering, key plant components and supervision of
construction and commissioning. MT
www.thyssenkrupp-industrial-solutions.com
Sami Pelkonen, CEO of the Electrolysis & Polymers
Technologies business unit of thyssenkrupp Industrial
Solutions: “The bioplastics market will continue to grow in the
coming years, not least due to the increasing environmental
awareness of industry, governments and consumers. With our
PLAneo technology we want to do our bit to make the plastics
sector more sustainable and resource-friendly. With it we
enable our customers to produce high-quality bioplastics with
a wide range of properties – at a price that is competitive with
conventional plastics.”
PLAneo technology converts lactic acid into PLA in a
particularly efficient and resource friendly way. Another
advantage is its transferability to large-scale plants with
capacities of up to 100,000 tons per year. In developing
Neste and Clariant will collaborate
Neste, the world’s leading provider of sustainable renewable
diesel and an expert in delivering drop-in renewable chemical
solutions, and Clariant, a world leader in specialty chemicals,
have signed an agreement to collaborate on the development
of new sustainable material solutions targeted at a range of
industries.
In the first phase of the partnership, the companies will
start replacing fossil-based ethylene and propylene used in
Clariant’s top-quality hot-melt adhesives, with monomers
derived from renewable feedstock. This is enabled by turning
Neste’s renewable hydrocarbons – produced 100 % from
renewable raw materials, such as waste and residue fats and
oils as well as vegetable oils – into ethylene and propylene for
Clariant’s products.
In a later phase, the companies will also develop other
sustainable additive solutions derived from renewable raw
materials for plastics and coatings applications. This will
enable the two companies to help various sustainabilityfocused
brand owners – such as those producing furniture,
sporting goods, hygiene products, electronics, and cars – to
increase their bio-based offering while also reducing crude oil
dependency and climate emissions.
“We are proud to join forces with Clariant, one of the
most innovative players in the specialty chemicals industry.
Collaboration marks an essential step forward in Neste’s
quest to become a preferred partner as a provider of
sustainable chemicals solutions for forerunner brands”, says
Peter Vanacker, President & CEO from Neste.
“Combining Clariant’s in-depth knowhow in the varying
applications of adhesives, plastics, and coatings, with Neste’s
extensive knowledge and experience in working with biobased
materials to produce a variety of drop-in renewable
solutions, enables both companies to develop their sustainable
material offering to provide maximum added value not only
to sustainable brands in varying industries but also to their
customers,” Vanacker adds.
“For society, our environment, and future generations, it is
our responsibility to improve sustainability performance and
reduce our carbon footprint and dependency on crude oil. As
a result of Clariant’s partnership with Neste, we can progress
our goal to become a true sustainable solution provider in
the additive market, offering our customers products and
solutions that can make a positive contribution towards their
targets and enhance end applications,” continues Gloria
Glang, Vice President, Head of Global Advanced Surface
Solutions Business at Clariant. MT
www.neste.com | www.clariant.com
8 bioplastics MAGAZINE [06/18] Vol. 13