NPE展商注視高能源利用率汽車生產

29/05/2009 15:38 From: SPI website

NPE 2009主辦方SPI (Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc.)上周二(5月19日)宣佈，為配合由美國總統奧巴馬最近促成有關提升車輛能源效益的最新決議，今屆NPE展商及多個會議主持將著力為汽車業指引路向，提供種種利用塑料達到汽車輕量化的解決方案。NPE 2009將於下月22至26日在美國芝加哥市邁考密展覽中心(McCormick Place)舉行。

SPI總裁兼首席執行官William R. Carteaux表示：“塑料代表著汽車行業的未來，不單因為塑料的輕巧程度更勝金屬及玻璃，更重要的是它能夠給予生產商更大的設計自由和靈活性，創造更高價值的汽車。配合塑料，未來的汽車除了可達到最新決議的要求，排放更少溫室氣體並以更少加侖的汽油行走更多公里，其外觀亦更為吸引，帶來更大的駕駛樂趣。”

Carteaux表示，在今屆NPE將展示兩項節省燃油消費的最新科技，其中納米複合材料將用於減輕汽車的整體重量。使用該性能優越的材料可製造更薄更輕的配件。經納米處理的材料與其他塑料比較，在剛性與靭性的表現都更為卓越。此外以塑料作為窗門及擋風玻璃，比起傳統玻璃可大幅減輕汽車重量。

以下三個主題將圍繞有關汽車生產的未來發展：
1.經濟效益：透過嶄新的加工技術及材料，部件生產商可提升生產力並減低成本，如整合配件、提高能源效益、減重、減少停機時間及減低廢品率等。
2.創新：最新的成型技術配合先進的聚合物，可以取代傳統玻璃，製造出更美觀、更高設計靈活度的低重量防碎玻璃。例如在今屆展會上沙伯基礎創新塑料（SABIC Innovative Plastics）的子公司Exatec, LLC將展示新型的PC製汽車玻璃。
3.可持續發展性：汽車業其中一項有關可持續發展的方向，是透過其他可再生資源取代石油/天然氣作為汽車燃料或汽車用物料。在今屆展會上，推銷生物塑料將會是不少展商及會議的主題，他們亦會介紹如何利用聚合物薄膜及其他塑料製造電動汽車專用的鋰電池。

《國際產業》三菱化工擬淡出尼龍絲、CPL生產

2009.05.27
【時報-記者巫彩蓮綜合外電報導】
日本媒體今（27）日報導，三菱化工（Mitsubishi Chemical）計劃中止尼龍絲事業生產，並在三年內淡出尼龍絲上游材料己內醯胺（caprolactam）製造，以關注在太陽能矽晶圓材料的生產。三菱化工目前尼龍絲年產能為3萬噸，己內醯胺年產能為6萬噸，上述產品營收約250億日圓左右，儘管尼龍絲供過於求，三菱化工產能利用率依然維持七成，日前三菱化工宣布，退出PVC（聚氯乙烯）、PS（聚苯乙烯），未來將把重心放在附加價值高太陽矽晶圓材料上。

Digging for New Material: Bioplastics are Growing Into the Green Economy

2009/5/27
Written by Jeffrey Berlin (http://cleantechnica.com/)

As the Economist wages the largest debate about bio-fuels in memory, another market opportunity appears to be showing itself in the bio production space as well. Bio plastics have been sprouting up in various applications, but a recent study puts the total market of green packaging at $43.9Billion by 2013.

The highest growth gains in this market will be in bio plastics for reasons of price stability and increased capacity the report said. Bio plastics will, it is reported, preform at an annual growth rate of thirteen percent. This spells big news for an industry which currently holds only about .1% percent market share.

Part of the reason for this growth will be due to policy changes which restrict the use of some of the most environmentally damaging materials, but the largest effect seems to be coming from packaging producers themselves. Corporate social responsibility leader Coca Cola has developed a new bottle which is composed of around thirty percent bio plastics with the intended goal of developing a one hundred percent renewable option in the future. Likewise, Wal-Mart has begun sourcing toys and children’s goods made from bio plastics.

The draw is that decomposition coupled with less petroleum based material seems to be better environmentally, but some counter this analysis. According to the Guardian Newspaper, foods producers in the UK such as Innocent Drinks have chosen to stop using bio plastics due to lack of recycling options for the products at present. Likewise there have been claims that bio plastics can be environmentally damaging on par with their petroleum based counterparts. Recent innovations have made it so less energy is needed to create bio plastics and thus it seems the growth of the sector makes environmental sense. Followers of Bill McDonough’s cradle to cradle concept often tout the re-usability and closed-loop life cycle of these products, while others derided their historically slow decomposition rates. Some applications in the burgeoning bio plastics space are:

A company coming out of Cornell has decided to make biodegradable plastic out of carbon dioxide. This would eliminate carbon dioxide while creating a biodegradable product (two birds one stone). Another application is for ocean-going container ships which could replace current plastics with ones that breakdown via hydrolysis, thus allowing much more cargo room aboard after plastics are used and jettisoned. This blog has reported on how the U.S. military is introducing bio plastics in order to reduce trash transport on the battlefield. There are also hopes to dissolve these plastics into bio-diesel thus adding to the fuel tanks. Finally, for those of us who are not planning to be in battle soon, two Japanese firms have developed bio plastics for demanding applications, one is mixed with fibers of natural plants in order to make the historically weaker bio plastics stronger and another company has found a way to make these materials more heat resistant. In all this seems to be a moment when the technology is overcoming previous hurdles, potentially launching it into new applications as yet unknown for biological materials.

Some problems are still being worked out, like making sure biomass is farmed in such a way which isn’t demanding on agricultural system, similar to issues being dealt with by ethanol producers. In total though, bio plastics seem to represent more good than ill, and along with the high learning curve, the growth curve for biodegradable and biological plastics will likely increase as well. It is hoped more products will integrate bio plastics in full or in part as these curves continue skyward, like the plants they derive from.

New bioplastics pavilion for AUSPACK

AUSPACK 2009 promises to be an even better show than last year however food and beverage manufacturers should find the new bioplastics pavilion of particular interest.

Biograde, BioPak, Innovia Films, NatureWorks, Plantic Technologies and Plastral will all be exhibiting under the one roof making it easier for visitors interested in this particular area.

BioPak will be exhibiting their range of Bioplast potato starch based biopolymers, extruded sheet, compostable copolyester resin, PLA packaging films, compostable self adhesive tapes, composite biodegradable non woven absorbent materials along with examples of commercial applications of these materials.

NatureFlex™ will be the key material on the Innovia Films stand - exhibiting commercial applications featuring this material from around the world. NatureFlex™ is a flexible wood pulp based filmic packaging material that meets global standards for composting and sustainable content.

Films include clear, white and metalised versions that are suitable for fresh produce flow wrapping, labelling face stocks, confectionary and bakery packaging and many other packaging applications. Visitors will also be able to see the full complement of commercially available Ingeo™ lifestyle products on display. These will include food packaging solutions such as serviceware, films wrap applications, plastic cards, as well as electrical appliance casings..

Ingeo represents a new material made from plants not oil - a natural-based biopolymer. They use 65 per cent less fossil fuel resources than traditional polymers such as PET, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80 to 90 per cent. Ingeo offers the potential for more disposal and recovery options than conventional oil-based plastics such as industrial composting and chemical recycling. Plastral will be exhibiting resins and products that are made using vegetable oil and starch feedstocks. Utilisation of these products can help reduce the environmental impact of manufacture and disposal of single use and multiple use goods and also assist with the diversion of organic waste from landfill to composting.

As part of the bioplastics stand at AUSPACK 2009, Plantic will be exhibiting their two thermoformable sheet grades (Plantic® R1and Plantic® HP1) which are significant in terms of the environmental and functional solutions they provide to brand owners, converters and retailers.

Plantic’s sheet products have a renewable resource content of approximately 85 per cent. They are also biodegradable and home compostable and they have excellent anti-static, taint and odour performances.
Plantic® sheet can be used for confectionery, baked goods, pharmaceutical, electronics and cosmetics packaging.

AUSPACK 2009 will be held at Sydney Olympic Park, from Tuesday 16 June to Friday 19 June 2009.
AUSPACK 2009

中國造太陽能手機下月發售 預計售價僅40美元

“手機在充足的陽光下放置1小時，即可通話15分鐘；完全充電則需要大約8小時”——可別以為這是在深夜電視購物節目中看到的、“忽悠人”的“山寨版”太陽能手機。這可是貨真價實的全球首款“平價”太陽能手機，下月就將在中美洲、加勒比海地區和南太平洋地區的一些國家發售，預計售價僅約40美元。

不僅如此，這款手機還是不折不扣的“中國製造”，其製造商在接受記者採訪時表示，這款手機是為缺乏電力、陽光充足地區“度身定制”的，從設計研發到製造，都由他們完成。 太陽能手機市場潛力巨大 在中美洲和南太平洋的許多國家，電能是一樣奢侈的東西，無電可用的人們甚至需要向代理商付錢為手機充電。不過好在這些地方有的是陽光。為此，移動運營商Digicel集團決定定制全球首款“平價”太陽能手機，今年6月將在巴布亞紐幾內亞、東加、萬那杜、海地、薩摩亞等地銷售並提供網路覆蓋。

“在我們的生活中，停電雖然是件麻煩事，但很少發生。而在我們開展業務的地方，沒有電是每天都要面對的問題。”Digicel集團採購和銷售主管湯姆·布賴恩介紹說。這家總部設在牙買加的集團，目前是加勒比海地區最大的移動運營商，用戶數達654萬戶。他們為電力缺乏但陽光充足地區“度身定制”的手機，背部有一塊小型太陽能接收板。在充足的陽光下放置1小時，可通話15分鐘；完全充電則需要大約8小時。 相關人士預計，這款手機在這些地區存在70萬人的消費市場。從全球範圍來看，約有16億人無法獲取電力，需要這種手機。其中，6.8億人具有購買能力，因此市場潛力巨大。

手機由中國公司設計研發 製造小型、廉價的太陽能手機，且能在合理的時間裏充電，這是一個技術上的挑戰。據透露，這款手機屬於運營商Digicel集團向他們“深度定制”的產品，從設計研發到製造，都由中國製造商承擔。 這款黑色手機從外型來看，與普通手機並沒有太大差別。唯一特別的是，背部有一塊長方形的內置太陽能接收板。該製造商品牌部的相關人士介紹說，太陽能電板的部分採用了荷蘭一家公司的專有技術，只要將它放在太陽底下即可將太陽能轉換為電能，“原理就和太陽能熱水器所使用的大鍋差不多”。經過技術改造，手機可以承受高達45℃的溫度，因此不用擔心它在太陽底下暴曬時發生故障。和普通手機一樣，這款太陽能手機充電完全後可以使用2－3天。

有人對這種手機的使用方式錶示懷疑：手機價值較高，以至於人們不太可能把它“單獨”留在陽光下充電。另外，如果一連碰上好幾個陰雨天怎麼辦？對此，技術人員表示，一般的光照就能夠滿足充電條件，而且太陽能電池板沒有記憶效應，隨時都可以充電。因此，使用者只需在白天待機時把手機放在窗臺邊，讓它盡情享受“日光浴”即可。此外，它也被設計成可以通過普通的電源插座進行充電，以備不時之需。 如有市場也可在國內銷售 製造商方面介紹說，這款太陽能手機走的是低成本的“平價”路線，主要滿足通話、發短信等基本功能，海外售價預計僅約40美元。

目前不少製造商都對研發太陽能手機顯示濃厚的興趣。不久前，南韓製造商三星和LG公司也相繼發佈了太陽能手機。與中國製造商推出的手機一樣，這兩款的太陽能電池板也都放在手機的背面，不過走的路線要相對“高端”。其中，三星的手機包含了FM收音機、彩色螢幕、和弦鈴聲以及手機羅盤等功能，充電1小時可使用 18分鐘。而LG的手機充電10分鐘可支援3分鐘的視頻通話 。 在中國，也有許多地區陽光充足，電力供應卻相對缺乏。

那麼，這款中國製造的環保手機是否有在國內量產的計劃？對此，製造商表示，如果市場有這樣的需求，並能夠找到運營商進行合作的話，也將考慮在國內銷售。

手機的背面擁有太陽能電池板，當電力不足時可以通過太陽能充電，此外，為了符合綠色環保要求，藍色地球的外殼是用可再生PCM塑膠製成的，材質來源於被人們拋棄的塑膠水瓶。而手機和充電均不包含有害化學物質，例如溴化阻燃劑，鈹和鄰苯二甲酸。

CPL漲 力鵬、集盛將更賺

【經濟日報╱記者劉芳妙／台北報導】2009.05.07 03:15 am

尼龍上游原料己內醯胺（CPL）一路大漲，現貨價已大漲至每公噸1,700美元高點，加上大陸下游資金寬鬆買盤力捧，激勵尼龍一貫廠力鵬（1447）、集盛（1455）第二季業績不看淡。 市場預期，二大尼龍廠第二季獲利可望較首季佳，不過，6月是觀察市況是否反轉的重要指標。

CPL因上游苯價飆漲拉抬，現貨價近一個月一口氣大漲近三成至1,700美元，為去年10月以來高檔，合約價亦步亦趨，以原料成本估算，尼龍切片報價每公噸將調漲到近2,000美元，因漲幅過大，下游追價買盤趨緩，上下游再陷拉鋸，為尼龍後市投下變數。

今年第一季因大陸下游紡紗廠回補庫存激勵，加上CPL合約價由1,250美元低點一路起漲至1,400美元，力鵬及集盛單季獲利大幅回溫，力鵬單季毛利率拉高到7.5%，遠較去年同期3%為優，單季本業賺進1.5億元；集盛毛利率也有7.56%，單季營業利益1.05億元，表現不俗，一舉擺脫去年虧損窘境。

業者分析，由於中國大陸提高紡品出口退稅率，大陸宏觀調控政策紓緩，資金面寬鬆，大陸政府要求銀行對企業放寬信用，強化市場資金動能。據統計，3月大陸進口尼龍切片及CPL量能創新高，帶動兩家尼龍廠業績一路走揚。
由於原料價格看回不回，激勵下游買盤一路追漲。

業者表示，第二季因CPL原料續漲，相關尼龍廠也會轉嫁成本，預估第二季獲利表現將比首季佳，不過，若CPL飆漲幅度過大，還得視下游能否全盤接受。
市場預期，尼龍一貫廠4月獲利可望較上一季單月為佳，5月同樣不看淡。集盛尼龍廠為因應市場需求還不錯，已全能投產；力鵬產能利用率也有八至九成。
不過，在CPL大漲，5月合約價每公噸喊至1,700美元，大漲兩成，一旦下游反應不及，尼龍一貫廠不排除藉由減產，減輕原料壓力。

Apacer宇瞻科技關懷環境，環保腳步不停歇

Source 宇瞻新聞稿【發佈時間:2009/05/07】

記憶卡、記憶體模組環保新包裝，採無毒材質，尺寸減量最高達58%

(台北訊)動盪的經濟局勢吸引了大眾關注，環保議題相對不再是多數企業與民眾的首要焦點。然而全球暖化的腳步沒有停歇，環境永續與此刻的生存一樣重要！記憶體領導品牌宇瞻科技，為了喚醒人們對環保的重視，率先採取行動，於近日發表記憶體模組、記憶卡產品的全新環保包裝，五月起全球陸續導入，包裝減量最高達58%，並全部採用PET環保塑膠材質，不僅可回收再利用，且不會溶出有毒物質。宇瞻維持一貫對品質的承諾，在縮小包裝的同時，仍舊給予產品最佳的保護！

包裝小創新，環保大關鍵
「對環境的關懷，是我們設計新包裝時最重要的理念。」宇瞻科技產品事業處處長羅雪茹表示，「不要小看記憶體模組包裝尺寸不大，把記憶體模組產業一年銷售的所有產品包裝堆積在一起，對環境就是一個重大的負擔。小小設計，就能帶來很大的不同。」
因此，宇瞻決定從自己做起，在妥善保護產品的前提下，盡一切可能減少包裝量。記憶卡產品繼08年包裝縮小30%後，今年包裝再縮小30%，而記憶體模組產品今年包裝減量的幅度更高達58%！

無毒材質，不造成環境負擔
在包裝材質方面，新包裝全面採用PET環保塑膠材質，不僅耐用度高，且可以完全回收再利用，即使燃燒或溶解也不會產生有毒物質，對環境更為友善。
新包裝的視覺設計也採用了不同層次的綠色，一方面呼應環保減碳的行動、喚起消費者的共鳴，另一方面也彰顯了宇瞻品牌值得信賴的特質。加上簡潔俐落的優雅線條，呼應了宇瞻的新品牌定位：「值得信賴的創新者」。宇瞻相信，要做一個值得信賴的品牌，就要從自身責任做起，即使再細小的環節，只要能夠為環境帶來改變，就值得去做！

Billerud strengthens consumer sector with acquisition of Tenova Bioplastics AB

Source: Adsale Industry Portal 2456.com Post date : 19/02/2009

Swedish-based Billerud, the producer of kraft and sack papers, and container boards for the packaging industry, is further strengthening its know-how in renewable packaging through the acquisition of Tenova Bioplastics AB, a Swedish producer of compostable carrier bags made of bioplastic.

Tenova's largest customer is ICA AB. The company has sales turnover of MSEK 35 and is a market leader in its field in Sweden. Tenova AB has been consolidated within the Billerud Group as of February 1, 2009. It is expected to contribute to a small positive effect on earnings per share in 2009.

The acquisition is well fitted into Billerud's long-term strategy, according to the company. Per Lindberg, CEO of Billerud said: "We are continually looking for new products and applications that will develop our business. Bioplastic will be a good complement to paper for renewable packaging, and in the long term the combination of paper with barriers made of bioplastic will be a highly attractive alternative for many different types of packaging."

According to Lindberg, Tenova is a leader in the rapidly expanding bioplastic field, which provides Billerud with a platform for the future. "The acquisition strengthens our product offer in the consumer sector, which is less sensitive to the economic cycle," he said.

環保工法 柏騰抓住商機

環保工法 柏騰抓住商機
【經濟日報╱記者／李立達】
2009.05.05 04:25 am

政府推動新興產業，綠能環保絕對為重點，不論台灣的「馬」政府，或美國的「馬」政府，中外皆然；NB產業鏈也需順應情勢，柏騰採用EMI真空濺度工法，是抓對NB零組件工法朝向環保的新趨勢。
NB設計持續朝環保節能概念前進，華碩甚至曾推出竹子機，強調綠色環保概念；不僅設計，零組件的製造工法，也追求品質與低價，環保概念持續被廠商導入。
現有市場NB塑膠與鎂鋁金屬機殼，比重約為八比二，塑膠機殼為避免電磁波干擾，均需做表面處理，但過去多數採用電鍍方式，卻造成環境污染，已被逐步淘汰，目前比重僅降至一成。
近年來，塑膠機殼表面處理，多數轉為採用金屬鐵件或真空濺度。
由於金屬鐵件較便宜，採用比重較高，但由於真空濺度僅於表面塗料，不似鐵件較重，更適合NB的輕量化趨勢，比重逐漸抬頭，此次CULV強調節能輕薄的設計，也讓柏騰可以出線，順利打入緯創CULV供應鏈。
【2009/05/04 經濟日報】@ http://udn.com/