Milliken brings global expertise to Middle East converters at Arabplast 2013

The company's latest advances in polypropylene (PP) clarification and nucleation, implemented in close collaboration with resin producers, are creating innovative opportunities for Middle East converters to upgrade and replace existing materials to make them more competitive at home and on the global stage.

"The trend towards more downstream conversion within the Middle East is gaining momentum, and Milliken has the global expertise, service support and additive innovations to help converters embrace the opportunities that exist globally," commented Sami T.K. Palanisami, Marketing and Sales Manager Plastic Additives EMEA, Milliken.

At Arabplast 2013, visitors can experience Milliken's on-going support for the region's thermoformers and injection molders in achieving high transparency in food and beverage containers while reducing energy consumption.

Milliken's pioneering clarifying agent for PP, Millad NX 8000, lets processors produce parts with outstanding optics at lower processing temperature and shorter cycle times than is possible with other clarifying agents. It is opening new doors for the use of lightweight PP with a glass-like appearance in packaging applications such as drinks cups as well as kitchenware.

Milliken will also demonstrate the benefits of its nucleating agent Hyperform HPN-600ei for better transparency and excellent visual appearance, lightweighting, and PET/PS replacement in thermoforming cups and trays.

Parts made with PP containing Hyperform HPN-600ei have an appealing fresh look, and the additive also enables improved output rates over some other conventional nucleating agents.

With its nucleating agent Hyperform HPN-20E, Milliken addresses the specific import, handling and storage challenges for Middle East PP producers using high levels of talc in Polypropylene grades.

This innovative additive is used at much lower addition rates, enabling PP producers to reduce inventory and transport costs. At the same time, it offers molders a winning combination of isotropic shrinkage characteristics with good physical property balance and crystallization effects to increase productivity and part quality.

With an extensive global support network and market expertise, Milliken offers formulation and technical assistance, and product trials to ensure material producers and converters can gain maximum benefit from its solutions.

Processors can increase production efficiency, meeting sustainability and environmental considerations, going beyond current aesthetics and performance boundaries to boost product appeal and differentiation.