Indorama – Indorama Ventures Centralizes Yarn Production in Italy to Enhance Service to European Textile Industry 30-09-2024
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Nylon – Carbios and Selenis have formed a partnership to bio-recycle cosmetic and healthcare packaging waste into PETG, a material highly regarded in these industries for its exceptional clarity, durability, and resistance to mechanical and chemical stress 30-09-2024
Novapet Expands into PET Packaging with ENSO Acquisition
Novapet, a Spanish polyester manufacturer under the Samca group, has acquired Envases Soplados (ENSO), a Portuguese company specializing in plastic packaging for the food industry, including recycled plastics. Purchased from GED Capital, this strategic move creates a vertically integrated PET supply chain, uniting five production facilities across the Iberian Peninsula. The combined entity now boasts over 600 employees and generates a turnover exceeding 400 million euros. Indorama
To ensure seamless operational continuity, ENSO’s management team, led by Eugenio Real and José Óscar Martínez, will remain in their current roles. Since GED Capital’s investment in 2018, ENSO has seen significant growth, with its turnover increasing from 22 million euros to an anticipated 60 million euros this year. The workforce has expanded from 140 to over 260 employees during this period.
Established in 1989, ENSO operates three plants located in Andújar (Jaén), Marinha Grande, and Lordelo-Guimarães in Portugal. The company specializes in blow-molded, customized PET containers for the food sector—excluding beverages. Its product range includes bag-in-box solutions, caps, closures, and preforms used in packaging a variety of goods such as oil, honey, vinegar, sauces, cocoa, coffee, spices, biscuits, sweets, and pickles. Indorama
Before acquiring ENSO, Novapet operated two facilities in Spain—Barbastro (Huesca) and Fuenlabrada (Madrid)—employing 350 people with a production capacity of 260,000 tons of PET. The acquisition not only enhances Novapet’s production capabilities but also strengthens its position in the PET market by offering end-to-end solutions from manufacturing to packaging.
Indorama Ventures Centralizes Yarn Production in Italy to Enhance Service to European Textile Industry
Indorama Ventures, a global leader in petrochemicals and polyester fibers, is centralizing a significant portion of its high-performance polyester filament yarn production for the European textile market near Milan, Italy. By relocating production from Germany and consolidating its spinning, draw texturizing, and dyeing operations in Sandigliano and nearby Saluzzo, the company is implementing a strategy to optimize its global asset network. This focused approach aims to effectively serve volatile markets by enhancing operational efficiency and reducing costs. Indorama
European textile filament customers stand to benefit from this move through a more efficient and reliable supply of high-quality, colored, spun, and package-dyed yarns, as well as functional yarns available in customized quantities. These products cater to a wide range of applications, including apparel, home textiles, woven labels, and automotive interiors.
Vipin Kumar, Chief Operating Officer of Indorama Ventures’ fibers business, commented, “Our European customers value our expertise and local supply capabilities but also expect us to be highly cost-competitive. By consolidating our operations, we can operate more efficiently and continue to offer our European customers specialized, high-quality products and services at competitive prices.” Indorama
While the consolidation focuses on Italy, the company’s twisting and air texturizing processes will continue to be carried out in Bulgaria, ensuring that specific customer needs are met without disruption.
This strategic realignment reflects Indorama Ventures’ commitment to adapting to market demands and maintaining its leadership position in the European textile industry. By streamlining operations and concentrating production, the company aims to provide superior value to its customers while navigating the challenges of a volatile market environment. Indorama
Wood, a global leader in consulting and engineering, has secured a three-year contract to operate and maintain Freepoint Eco-Systems’ plastics recycling plant in Hebron, Ohio
Spanning 25 acres and utilizing a 260,000-square-foot warehouse, the facility ranks among the world’s largest advanced recycling centers.
The plant will employ advanced pyrolysis technology to convert approximately 90,000 tons of end-of-life plastics into pyrolysis oil through a depolymerization process. This petrochemical feedstock can be used in applications like food-grade and medical-grade plastic packaging, supporting a circular economy. Indorama
Under the contract, Wood will provide full operations and maintenance management, employing over 100 people. The company will also assist with operational readiness processes, including the development of safety and maintenance management systems.
Jess Stanley, Wood’s President of Operations Americas, stated, “This exciting award aligns with our growth strategy and sustainability goals, supporting the circular economy through end-of-life plastics recycling. This contract establishes a new operational presence in Ohio, bolstering the local economy while bringing our proven practices to deliver operational excellence at this world-class facility.” Indorama
Freepoint Eco-Systems is committed to creating renewable pathways for plastic waste and contributing to a circular economy with each advanced recycling facility. The company aims to reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions by an amount equivalent to removing 15,000 cars from the road.
This opportunity reflects growth in the plastics recycling market and underscores Wood’s commitment to assisting clients in decarbonizing operations and building circular economy solutions. The partnership not only advances sustainability goals but also supports local employment and economic development in Ohio. Indorama
Stellantis: Gigafactory Project in Zaragoza Moves Forward
The development of Automotive Cells Company’s gigafactories in Kaiserlautern and Termoli has been stalled due to challenges such as slow electric vehicle sales and the difficulty of creating cost-effective, reliable battery chemistry. This highlights Europe’s technological limitations in electrification compared to China. Stellantis, facing delays in its joint venture with Mercedes and Total, is increasingly relying on China for battery supplies.
In France, BYD is expected to supply batteries for the Peugeot e-3008 and e-5008, while in Spain, a €3 billion gigafactory project in Zaragoza, in partnership with CATL, is nearing completion. Indorama
However, two key issues remain. First, the Chinese company CATL is cautious about political tensions between the EU and China over tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles. Second, the Spanish government’s financial support is still being negotiated, with €300 million available under the Perte Vec program, €53 million of which has already been granted to other companies. Further announcements could come soon, especially with an industry event set for October 8 in Zaragoza, attended by King Felipe VI.
CG Roxane, the company behind Crystal Geyser Natural Alpine Spring Water, has unveiled a new bottle cap designed to reduce plastic waste
Introduced in August, the EZ-Cap is a tethered cap made of low-density polyethylene that remains attached to the bottle after opening. Indorama
This design simplifies recycling by ensuring the entire bottle and cap reach recycling centers together. While the European Union mandated tethered caps on all plastic drink bottles up to three liters starting in July, CG Roxane’s EZ-Cap is the first of its kind in the United States. The company views this innovation as a commitment to sustainability and a step toward more environmentally friendly packaging solutions.
Despite such advancements, reducing the use of single-use plastics is still the most effective way to combat plastic pollution. Consumers are encouraged to switch to reusable water bottles, select products with minimal or no plastic packaging, and use glass containers for storing perishables. Indorama
These choices help prevent litter and mitigate the environmental issues associated with disposable plastics. By making conscious decisions about packaging and waste, individuals can contribute to a more sustainable future and support industry shifts toward eco-friendly practices.
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