Remarkable flexibility propels wider plastics use

Diverse application ability of plastics offers manufacturers the challenge and freedom to create a lucrative balance of markets and end users and has a far-reaching affect on many industries.

The versatility of plastics has a far-reaching impact on markets as varied as packaging, building and construction, transportation, electrical and electronic components, and medical.

This diversity lends the market an intensely dynamic quality furthered by rapidly changing technology.

This diverse application ability of plastics offers manufacturers the challenge and freedom to create a lucrative balance of markets and end users.

While some manufacturers prefer to focus on exclusive markets, a large majority opt to spread themselves out over a larger number of application areas.

Plastics' adaptability also enables companies to offer economical, highly durable and lightweight solutions.

Germany's BREE Collection illuminated business handbag using smart surface technology (SST) is a suitable example of a cost-effective, ingenious solution.

"This factor is also evident in segments such as transportation where plastic offers fuel savings, design flexibility and high performance at lower costs," points out Senior Technical Insights Analyst Dr Donald V Rosato from Frost and Sullivan.

"These benefits are particularly useful to designers that face complex transportation needs whether on land or sea, in the air or space." Plastics are being deployed extensively for their corrosion resistance, toughness, ease of colouring, finishing, resilience as well as their ability to save a large amount of fuel annually due to their lightweight.

These advantages have also moved them from car interiors to 'under the hood' solutions.

This tremendous flexibility can be attributed to numerous sophisticated processes involved in plastics' production, compounding, or distribution.

The procedures vary from specialty applications to commodity and semi-commodity segments, and impact the final products to a large extent.

The adaptability also mirrors the technical development capabilities of plastics processors, reflecting equipment and huge investment made in the plastics industry.

The scale and range of integration come into play when processors develop end-use plastic application strategies.

Packaging, the largest end-use sector for plastics, relies on different techniques to achieve the varied qualities and assortment of packaging materials.

For more complex parts, the primary process is extrusion, followed by injection moulding.

Blow moulding is also extensively used in the manufacture of packaging products along with processes such as thermoset - compression and transfer moulding and reaction injection moulding.

These processes are usually shaped by regulations such as the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) requirements in the European electronics and electrical (E and E) market.

Mandates require that materials used in the E and E sector must be offered in flame-resistant formulations if they are not inherently so and also without the aid of halogenated components.

"The growing importance of technology in plastic applications and changing regulations is compelling participants to be fully equipped with the latest technical and market knowledge," observes Dr Rosato.

"Participants need to consistently upgrade in an intensely competitive scenario coupled with constantly changing scientific landscape." Moreover, technology's overlapping nature calls for superior awareness about correlated market segments, beyond a company's principal market.

The automotive industry has also benefited immensely from the flexibility offered by plastics in terms of economical performance, safety, comfort and environmental considerations.

Participants, however, must be aware of the latest emerging trends and information to survive any economic downswings propelled by the highly cyclic nature of the automotive market.

The plastic applications sector is expected to grow consistently as plastic proves its far-reaching influence in innumerable applications.

It has found usage in a wide variety of applications ranging from daily life purposes such as internal wiring for houses to highly specialised functions.

'Plastics Applications - Emerging Technology and Trends' is part of the Chemicals and Materials vertical subscription service, and examines more than the global trends and emerging developments in plastic applications.

The research provides a comprehensive look at over 110 plastics application related trends and market segment specific focus, in a concise yet comprehensive format.

It also defines the value of plastics application development in the categories of plastic application fundamentals, electrical and electronic, industrial, transportation, consumer products, medical, emerging, and other applications, and also offers a company source guide.

This data will allow participants to update industry and technical knowledge and stay ahead of the rising competition.

* Plastics Applications - Emerging Technology and Trends, Report D316.

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