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Developments in the manufacture of compact discs (CD) mean that producers are planning to make them slimmer and more powerful as well as seeking alternative materials to polycarbonates. Other options to the polycarbonate substrate being investigated include Hoechst's cyclic olefin co-polymer, Topas, being developed in a joint venture with Mitsui of Japan. Another option is acrylic, which CD's were made from before the advent of polycarbonate. Rhom is developing a method for continuous metallisation of acrylic discs, which are said to be harder than polycarbonate CDs.

Several of the German plastics industry's trade associations cooperate with eachother to lobby the public and parliament with a combined message, although occasionally they may disagree on certain issues. There are about 1,000 members in the Gesamtverband Kunststoffverarbeitende Industrie (GKV) converters' trade association, with GKV in conflict with the other plastics associations over rising raw material costs. The Verband Kunststofferzeugende Industrie (VKE) raw materials trade association claims the free market decides the prices. The associations' interests are examined.

The correct injection moulding machine specification plays a major role in attaining zero defect production, with the operational speed of the microprocessor control particularly important. Different moulding machines can be evaluated and compared through the use of data acquisition equipment. Any evaluation should mainly focus on the ability of the moulding machine to produce plastic with the optimum consistency. The criteria which should be adopted to select equipment is presented, together with advice on how to ascertain the correct control system and how to determine the key parameters.

The WEEE Directive, which makes producers of electrical equipment responsible for recycling their own products, has had a knock-on effect on polymer producers MANUFACTURERS OF all sorts of products are [...]

Since its US initial public offering in 2005, Celanese has made safety a 'precondition' of doing business. Effective communication along the chain of command is vital tolerance Celanese has made [...]

The escalating cost of developing blockbuster drugs has led big pharma to forge several risk-sharing ventures THE ROAD to developing a blockbuster drug is fraught with uncertainty. Pharmaceutical companies carry [...]

The country's economic recovery relies largely on the fortunes of the US, and the slump there has had a big impact on Mexican chemical exports Back in August, Mexico took [...]

Carbon nanotubes might finally be on the verge of commercial success, as major manufacturers announce plans to ramp up production IF SMALL is beautiful, that's certainly true for carbon nanotubes [...]