Category: News

7th Annual Sustainability Summit is organised with the theme “Accelerating Sustainability transition through COP – 26”. The summit will be held from April 08-09 at XIM University’s new campus in hybrid mode.

The four themes for the panel discussions on Day 1 (April-8) are as follows:

Panel discussion 1: “Carbon capture, Energy Security, and Net Zero – the way forward.”(Online)
Panel discussion 2: “Addressing the “Triple Burden” of climate change, conflict, malnutrition & wellbeing.”(Offline)
Panel discussion 3: “Cleantech – fostering Sustainable Entrepreneurship – Local Start-up journey” (Offline)
Panel discussion 4: Cleantech – fostering Sustainable Entrepreneurship – Global Start-up journey'(Online)

On the 2nd day (April-9) of the summit, we will have a young practitioners award ceremony where an individual sustainability champion will be presented with the award. Many industry experts, heads of academic and research institutions will be participating in the summit.

Venue: School of Sustainability, Xavier University, Bhubaneswar, India.

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When it comes to use for natural material floors till date ‘Natural Wood’ was the only option to consider. But use of Natural wood has been in the form of solid wood planks which was forcing virgin trees to be cut in volumes. Till date Billions of tonnes of Natural wood has been used by Construction conglomerates at the cost of Natural forests.

Today whole world is desperate for increasing the use of Sustainable Substitutes for Natural materials/resources. We know all the global movements for EVs, Solar, Wind, Hydrogen etc and its momentum today.

A spiritual thought in the same line was knocked to the mind of Mr Hardy Panchal during 2010 based on his versatile travels and assignments with Wood Industry. He was a Polymer technocrat and MBA from Gujarat University to be later known as the WPC Man of India. He decided to brought WPC (wood polymer composite) subject to India to make the country a ‘Hub for WPC manufacturing’. With his vision he really could do this in 2011 with the first WPC making unit confirmed under HARDY SMITH technology consultants.

HARDY SMITH evolved as a WPC Technology and Business consulting firm dedicated for developments of WPC products and markets in India. Since then WPC and India are marching strongly ahead. Today Public and Private sector companies are using WPC materials for their largescale projects. Whole game was started with WPC mother board manufacturing and since then a huge range of different products kept being added.

HARDY SMITH and Mr Hardy has been the most instrumental in developing newer products and applications for India and other countries. HARDYPLAST has been a product brand from the group. With strong business co-operations for technology and products in Gujarat, HARDYPLAST WPC is being produced at more than 12 manufacturing units.

WPC CENTRE by HARDY SMITH is a sincere effort for establishing showcase based franchise network exclusively for WPC products in India and Globally. This is a franchise chain being developed for promoting, showcasing and supplying largest number of WPC products from single stations.

WPC NEWS is a global networking platform for technology and markets for wood polymer composites, being operated by HARDY SMITH. It helps encouraging manufacturing, new players, newer applications, education for WPC materials and technology.

WPC is becoming an absolute substitute of natural wood in different forms like WPC Boards, Doors, Frames, Windows, Partitions, Floors, Wall panels, Pergolas, Furniture, Fencing, decorative grills etc. India has been the most instrumental in developing largest applications in the world and credit goes to HARDY SMITH as a dedicated WPC mother brand.

With that vision for developing this subject and application markets, Mr Hardy could facilitate the Industry at his best that has lead the nation to produce WPC in a noticeable volume today.

India is saving more than One Million Virgin trees every year.

USE WPC.
Save trees. Save earth.

‘Reuse – Reduce – Recycle – Recreate’
A green initiative by HARDY SMITH, India.

Today entire world is rigorously looking for substitute products of natural resources. Whole world has seen a big calamity caused by the nature and green house gases in Germany, Europe recently. Country like india is behind Solar and Electric Vehicles and government is trying it’s best. Similar way globally many countries are cautious now for increasing the use of substitute products including Power, Fuel and materials. Green, recyclable and biodegradable products are the future of the world.

But most important point is – ‘Substitute products should be sustainable.‘ All governance of the world is little to moderate is trying to accept green, recyclable products but the focus should be on sustainability as well. Sustainable product means – A product has some inherent properties those lead for a longer life span for it. It should not require to be replaced in a shorter life span that leads more material usage and more waste generated. Sustainable product with longer life span saves materials, maintenance cost and operational cost.

Being into wood industry since nearly about 2 decades I have seen an exaggerated use of natural resources wood. Standing trees and forests are being cut for timber those are actually natural products. Once cut there are no effective plantation practices to replace those lose by public or private sector. Further natural wood is absolutely a product from the mother nature just like a human body. It has a tendency of act as an earth element, thus it will grip & leave moisture. It will decay, it will be corroded and it termites also can eat them. So, these are the regular phenomenon happens with wood and allied products, despite of it’s highly agitating with chemical & temperature treatments. Thus wood can never be a sustainable product for years and it needs several maintenances, replacements and finally it creates wastages on the earth. Chemicals used for converting them into panels are also not bio-degradable and Emission zero grade so that is an another serious problem as well.

Amongst all these a product named as Wood polymer composite, popularly known as WPC has created a space in the application markets. In my experience, WPC can be termed as a real sustainable product in the crowd of furniture materials. I have been continuously traveling across the globe for exploring newer materials for wood industry. I have always tried to get something extraordinary that can change the face of the industry as a whole. Being a Polymer Engineer I have got a chance to see, evaluate and mobilize wood and polymer technologies, hand in hand. WPC is one that was found outstanding having more potential than other sustainable products.

Before entering the WPC technology space I was used to get engaged with MDF, Particle, OSB and Modular furniture technology fields. We were installing turnkey projects for these panels and i was not happy with the use of bulk and bulk of woods being crushed there. As a substitute we were trying for bagasse waste but that was also not a sustainable composition. Industry was just moving based on the expanding market needs of panels. At that time we had never thought of replacing of natural wood and allied products with some other sustainable products. I was closely conversing for some developments with Dieffenbacher, Siemelkamp, Metso, Andritz, Pallman, Homag like major global players. Across the journey I was meeting with polymer giants like Battenfeld-Cincinati, Reifenhauser, Bausano for discussing the potential and possibilities of wood substitute products. Our of all the thought was seriously coming up for Wood polymer composite as a power product for the industry, replacing wood use and wood applications.

WPC is a real sustainable product against wooden products. It is giving you a natural advantage of being a Polymer derivative. If you visit our office at Ahmedabad, it is built with total WPC panels and with just zero wood/panels. We have not even used Screws for building the overall layout. This material can be termed as plug and play material for joinery. Being totally termite and water proof, you do not need to worry about future issues of maintenance. If used indoor it has a too long life compare to wooden materials. Further we have used water based green certified paints from Rhenocoll, germany those take very few hours to get dried. They have developed speciality paints for PVC/uPVC based systems and it fits best with the recyclable WPC materials.

WPC is a truly eco-friendly material with it’s usage pattern. It is 100% recyclable and can be recycle atleast 2-3 times in it’s life cycle. We are working on developing Bio-degradable WPC materials and we have strong hopes for bringing those soon. In final words I say, sustainability of earth matters and we are concerned for that.

by Hardik Panchal
HARDY SMITH, India.

Global PVC supply tightness to linger in H1 2021

• Hurricanes, forces majeures, operational issues crimp output.  
• Export prices to remain firm, could see some softening.

Global polyvinyl chloride demand and pricing have had a turbulent 2020 as the coronavirus pandemic initially crushed construction activity before sharp supply constraints revived it. Going into 2021, those supply-driven highs that softened in January after force majeures were lifted could often further after turnarounds wrap up and if Northern Hemisphere demand wanes as is typical going into winter.

However, the pandemic upended typical patterns where demand thins during winter months and mild weather has allowed construction activity to continue. Coronavirus second waves have continued to hit regions worldwide, and the global supply squeeze has lingered, with producers unwilling to ramp up chlor-alkali rates because caustic soda demand remains weak. And buyers keep coming.

“Consider this,” a US market source said. “If you have hungry people, giving them a morsel at a time, they’re going to remain hungry all the time.”

Supply squeezed throughout Americas

In the US, operational issues and a one-two punch from hurricanes in Louisiana siphoned supply from August through the rest of 2020, prompting Formosa Plastics USA and Westlake Chemical to declare force majeure. Market sources had expected supply to loosen up by November, but Hurricane Delta’s arrival in early October delayed restarts, and a string of government inspections as well as operational issues prevented Formosa from ramping up.

Those issues spread to Latin America, as turnarounds and one of those force majeures squeezed available upstream vinyl chloride monomer, prompting Mexico’s Orbia to cut rates. Brazil’s Braskem also cut PVC rates and had a brief shutdown because of operational issues and a lack of available ethylene dichloride feedstock from the US, prompting customers to swallow both a tariff and antidumping duties on US material.

The supply-driven squeeze pushed US export PVC prices from a 12-year low in April to an all-time high in December, the highest level since S&P Global Platts began assessing it in 1983. Prices in Brazil surpassed those in all other regions.

Market participants see that tightness lasting through the first quarter and into the second quarter of 2021 as Shintech’s expansion of output throughout the PVC chain has been delayed from March to mid-2021. Winter weather could tamp down some demand, but the push for single family housing amid the pandemic remains strong and prices have yet to reach a tipping point.

“COVID has changed the landscape,” a source said. “Our business is suffering because of the lack of product and the unpredictability of what to do and what not to do.”

Asia sees price correction in Q2 with rising supply

Persistent tight supply is expected to keep Asian PVC markets stable to firm in the first quarter of 2021, with a price correction predicted in the second quarter as output rises. However, Asian market participants do not see a steep downturn as demand would likely remain firm, particularly in India.

Asian PVC markets hit multi-year highs in the fourth quarter of 2020, driven by tight supply from the US as well as South Korea, prompting a rare fourth-quarter bull run that bucked typical seasonal demand declines.

India could also see upticks in early 2021, with buying appetite expected to rise amid economic recovery after coronavirus setbacks. Tight South Korean supply is expected to linger in early 2021 amid an ethylene supply shortage, and that landscape is expected to keep key regional supplier Formosa Taiwan’s monthly offer prices firm in the first quarter after a $100/mt year-end increase.

“After the sharp price increase for December, Formosa would be unlikely to offer down for next few months,” a market source said.

Market participants were also closely monitoring the status of new PVC plants in China that brought 700,000 mt/year in new PVC capacity online in the second half of 2020 with off-spec output.

“These new PVC plants would likely start on-spec production early next year,” a trading source said. “In that case, there will be more PVC exports from China.”

However, sharp spikes in freight rates could stymie such outflows if the container shortage in Asia lingers, a market source said. By November, prices had reached $7,000 per export container in China, just for the space.

Europe looking to exports for continued support.

Europe’s PVC industry is expected to enter 2021 with low stocks on top of ongoing supply shortages from operational issues and three forces majeures declared across September and October. In addition, market uncertainty grew as European countries faced more lockdowns to stem coronavirus surges in the fourth quarter that prompted pre-buying and further upstream volatility.

Domestic European prices reached a 24-month high in November, while export prices reached a nine-year high that was nearly double the 2020 low of $600/mt seen in May. However, by January, European supply and demand is expected to re-balance with less panic buying and production issues resolved, “once the value chain is filled again after the hole that was created in April-May,” a market source said.

In Turkey, a key European export market, global supply tightness pushed prices to a nine-year high as well in November, among some of the highest prices in the world. However, general economic worries in Turkey remain, with the lira-dollar exchange rate and inflation worries dampening market sentiment. “Buying power is a question mark right now, and causing the imbalance in supply demand fundamentals,” a Turkish source said.

Source:
Petrochemical special report “Polyolefins trends in H1 2021: New Asia capacity, unclear demand”
By Fumiko Dobashi, Ora Lazic, Kristen Hays, Stuti Chawla
S&P Global, February 2021.

In this many years of developing and delivering wood polymer composite product in India & International platforms Hardy Smith has always followed a spiritual feeling of saving trees. Every single supply they have saved several virgin trees.

Company says they are happy to deliver one more order to an important colony site where we claim of saving almost 55,000 kilogram of virgin dry wood. Calculating it’s recycling possibility we have saved almost 165 fully grown trees. Company thanks to the scientists of India’s responsible institution for accepting ‘WPC’ as material against wood.

HARDY SMITH is the leader in WPC sector and highly campaigning ‘USE WPC. Save trees. Save earth.’

For live demo or samples you can visit Company’s WPC CENTREs in India, Doha and USA.

AIPMA & leading plastic associations of India appeal to the Prime Minister of India for the issue of unnatural increase in the price of polymers by domestic polymer producers.

Continued drama of price increase of polymers has now reached to a sensitive point. There are factories, especially SMEs in plastics are holding their production just because of extensive and uncontrolled price increase of basic polymer resins. Situation has become critical where market has started getting into a stagnant position because of supply and price uncertainty.

Feeling pain over the dramatic and unnatural increase in price of raw materials by the domestic polymers in the country, the All India Plastics Manufacturers’ Association (AIPMA) has officially sent a request letter to Hon’ Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s to intervene.

AIPMA in a letter to the Prime Minister claimed that India as a country constitutes of around 50,000 Plastics processing units of which 90% are MSMEs. It employs more than 50 lacs people and contributes more than 300,000 crores to the country’s GDP. AIPMA mentions in the letter that Raw material manufacturers in India have “exponentially” increased their cost of raw material in India, in last 5 months.

Some of the raw materials cited include polyvinyl chloride (PVC), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) and polypropylene (PP). A table of raw materials and price increase information in this letter is sited as follows:

Sr No	Raw Material	Percentage increase in last 5 months
1	PVC	62%
2	ABS	148%
3	PC	112%
4	HDPE	55%
5	LLDPE	34%
6	PP	25%
7	GPPS	43%
8	HIPS	57%
9	PPCP	26%
10	PET	21%

”Price increases have created working capital and financial issues those are added to the demand destruction because of the current Covid-19 pandemic,” AIPMA said.

The association further said that due to demand issues arising out of pandemic, plastic processors are not able to raise prices of their products to a similar extent to compensate for the increase in raw material’s price adding ”this is creating further burden and most of these units are incurring huge financial losses.”

AIPMA also indicates “Raw material producers are exporting raw materials in large quantities, creating a scarcity in domestic markets.”

”As a result there is a growing threat of increased imports of plastics intermediate and finished goods from countries like China. This would prove disaster to your vision and plan to make India Aatmanirbhar,” AIPMA said.

Indian Plastics processors now face competition from increased imports, along with reduced exports of intermediate and finished material. The higher domestic prices have also made plastic goods exporters less competitive, as AIPMA claimed that polymer prices are “10-15 per cent cheaper” in foreign markets compared with India.

In the letter AIPMA has also proposed to set a Petrochemical Regulatory Authority to observe polymer markets to “curb the consortium” and ensure no “undue profiteering” persists. It requests the government to launch an investigation to find out and address the artificial increase in prices of raw materials nationwide.

It also mentions that the government to stop the imposition of anti-dumping duties, mandatory Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and a ban on the export of raw material from India. This letter has indicated for an “Immediate ban/restrict on export of raw material from india.”

An appeal in news paper also was published by office AIPMA on behalf of plastic associations of India including of The All India Plastics Manufacturers’ Association (AIPMA), Organisation of Plastics Processors of India (OPPI), Gujarat State Plastics Manufacturers’ Association (GSPMA), Indian Plastics Federation (IPF), Kerala Plastics Manufacturers Association, Telangana and Andhra Plastics Manufacturers Association, Karnataka State Plastics Association, Canara Plastic Manufacturers & Traders Association & Maharashtra Plastics Manufacturers Association.

Considering the danger of the spoiling market situation with various finished products including Pipes, Sheets, Moulded and extruded products industry is sincerely waiting for the conclusion of the situation.

PVC prices’ uptrend continues with another sharp hike of Rs3/kg, or 3.4%, w.e.f. 17th Sep’20. This is the seventh price hike in Q2-TD totalling to Rs 14.5/kg or 18.9% even after a sharp spurt witnessed in May’20 and Jun’20. PVC prices, which now stand at Rs 91.3/kg, have risen 39.2% since 1st May’20. The surge has been largely led by higher international PVC prices amid supply-side issues.

Supply shortage globally aids further spurt in PVC prices. With the uptick in trade activities across the globe and recovery in crude prices, PVC prices recovered fully in Q1FY21 itself. Post that PVC prices again started trending higher with seven price hikes in Q2-TD totalling to Rs 14.5/kg or 18.9% (Rs 1.5/kg on 16th Jul’20, Rs 2/kg on 1st Aug’20, Rs 2/kg on 13th Aug’20, Rs 2/kg on 19th Aug’20 and Rs 2/kg on 1st Sep’20, Rs 2/kg on 3rd Sep’20 and now Rs 3/kg on 17th Sep’20).

These price hikes are mainly attributed to supply-side issues and the plant shutdown by Formosa in the US, which led to higher international PVC prices. The price surge reflected the international trend triggered by hovering tightness from the supply side after the shutdown of the largest PVC plants of Formosa in the US, as the key exporter decided not to offer PVC volumes for export in September as was the case in July and August. Formosa Plastics Corporation, USA, has been facing issues in operating its upstream chlor-alkali facility at Point Comfort, Texas, thereby impacting the PVC production at its both manufacturing sites in Louisiana and Texas.

Market players are leveraging market potential looking at the improvement in PVC market performance despite the industry grappling with COVID-19 led lockdowns. WPC Industry is eagerly looking for the price to be settled as soon as possible. PVC price hike has become a sensitive issue for manufacturers and traders and market has started feeling little stagnant situation. Industry is strongly expecting a support from domestic manufacturers. It was a time started where Prime minister’s Vocal for Local’ campaign impacted positively for domestic PVC WPC manufacturers. Lot of imports were getting stopped and Indian WPVC industry was getting fast boost. But this unfortunate price hike phenomenon has downgraded the market emotions for a while right now.

We look forward for a positive news for resuming PVC supply at original prices soon. Domestic Resin producers can be instrumental at certain level to support the situation.

Sources: ICICI Securities report under polymer price tracker & chemanalyst.com

Disclaimer: The article above is a gist / extract of the original report prepared by the research firm / brokerage firm. This article is not to be considered as an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy any securities. This article is meant for general information only. www.wpcnews.in, its employees or owners or the research firms, its employees or owners won’t be responsible for any liability that may arise from information, errors or omissions in these articles. For detailed research reports, please contact the concerned research firm directly.

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The global virtual summit for the wood-plastic composites industry

The 12th edition of AMI’s Wood-Plastic Composites conference has gone virtual! The free-to-attend global virtual summit will be held over two days, from 1pm BST, and will cover the latest technical developments and market trends in this dynamic sector. The virtual conference sessions are complemented by access to a virtual booth area where you will have the opportunity to explore and interact with suppliers – all from the safety of your own home or office.

Speakers include;

Stefan de Goede, Global Technical Leader: Polymers, Sasol Wax
Hardik Panchal, CEO & Founder, HARDY SMITH
Daniel Friedrich, Researcher & Lecturer, Daniel Friedrich Compolytics Research
Mohammad Ali Malik, Sr. Business Development Manager, Stora Enso
Arne Schirp, Project Leader, Fraunhofer-Institute for Wood Research (WKI)
Nicolas Alexander Gehring, Global Sales Manager, MIXACO Maschinenbau Dr. Herfeld GmbH & Co. KG

Sessions will address:

• The key opportunities and issues facing participants in the WPC industry today
• Process and materials developments
• New product developments such as aesthetics and durability
• New applications
• Best marketing practice

The purpose of the conference is to provide opportunities to learn from the experience of others, help stimulate new ideas and facilitate a vision of what the future could bring.

You can register for the free to attend Virtual event here https://www.accelevents.com/e/wpc20

For any questions or If you are interested in speaking at the Wood-Plastic Composites virtual summit, please contact Emily Nicholson on emily.nicholson@ami.international.

Promote your company as a sponsor

Get your products and services in front of key decision makers with a virtual booth and promote your company with your logo showcased throughout the event, on the website and in marketing communications. Contact Emily Nicholson to find out more on emily.nicholson@ami.international.

Wood polymer composites’ future post COVID 19 is one of the most discussed subject for the infrastructure projects and construction industry. When all technology and raw material markets are disturbed because of this pandemic, labour issues are equally hampering the universe of manufacturing. In this crucial time everyone is trying to connect the dots with minimum resources available, especially production units. It has become a challenge for micro and small scale industries to optimize the entire chain starting from raw material, semi finished goods, finished goods, packaging, loading-unloading and shipping. In this scenario WPC products sound safe for production and deliveries. Indian WPC Industries has started their operations and supplies taking an advantage of continuous extrusion process.

Futurex a known exhibition group is organising a Webinar over an intensive, interesting and prospective subject of ‘WPC Post COVID 19’. Mr Prem Anveshi, Managing Director of Futurex group will be moderating the event with the Panel of India’s most experienced WPC Entrepreneurs. You can find their names here as:

1. Pulin Rajygor, PVC Business Head, Reliance Industries Limited
2. Hardik Panchal, CEO & Founder, HARDY SMITH WPC CENTRE
3. Deepankar Garg, Managing Director, Alstone Industries
4. Arpit Agrawal, Managing Director, Manakamna Composites Pvt Limited
5. Prakash Bhargava, Managing Director, Colldeck Industries Pvt Limited
6. Digvijay Dhabriya, Chairman & Managing Director, Dhabirya Polywood Limited

They will discuss the possible opportunities and future of WPC sector post COVID situation. Let us join to this conversation that is too important for saving the natural wood and forests. WPC globally is becoming the area of interest for many countries and aggressive investments and opportunities are knocking.

Futurex invites you to an Exclusive Zoom Webinar.
Topic: Explore The World With The Future Of WPC Post COVID – 19
When: Jun 27, 2020,
Time: 03:00 PM – 4:30 PM
Register yourself today in advance for this webinar:https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. For more details you can connect Futurex on +91-9899617982. You can write to sameer@futurextrade.com or namit@futurextrade.com.

Corona pandemic has shock braked the entire human activities. It has put human at risk for the every step he/she is placing forward. For the time being freedom of work and action is lost and we have to carefully move for our every single tiny job. ‘Touch’ is the word which itself has become isolated and we are all being afraid of this touch from early morning to late evening. Touch is required for mobility. It may be a human or a manmade thing, touch is required to actuate it, shift it, monitor it or automate it.

So, if we consider the scenario for next few months or a year at least, we have to be practiced with the ‘LESS-TOUCH or may be a TOUCH-LESS’ life. It starts from the button of a lift and reaches up to manufacturing and installing of a complete kitchen furniture. Life is not going to stop and we have to move with this risk in front of us. We hope for the things to be the best like before very soon but till that time we have to learn practicing ‘Less-Touch’ life as much as possible. Touch-less may not be possible at a larger scale for day to day human operations. We have to learn living with the new things and methods in our life now.

Time has arrived for the use of Smart materials, Smart products and Smart techniques. Countries will be forced to manage things in DIY (Do-it-yourself) ways and this may be for everything where we can reduce the human touch. We have to practice our life with newer ways of living with relatively less human-touch intensive operations. It directly means that we have to accept and use products those need less human labour. We have to adopt manufacturing those need less humans. We have to shift to the products those can be produced with limited number of operators and people. Apart we have to accept such products those need less time in installations and fixations. We have to adopt up to zero down time processes even at domestic and retail level as well.

It’s a time to adopt industrial processes those need smart raw materials, those can be handled professionally from the mother facility up to the converting facility. Its storage and handling also should be smarter that require less human touch. We have to adopt processes those generate almost zero wastage. We need processes those have too less scrap and that also can be recycled. This way we have to reduce human-touch operations. This is the time when whole world should be switched to recycled products. We have to use products and processes those are relatively ‘Dry’ in operations. We have to accept the products those do not require much mechanical operations, functionally.

If we take an example of WPC against natural wood and allied panel industry, it can be easily understood. Lot of operations of timber processing starting from de-barking of wood, peeling, Veneer making, Resin impregnation, drying, pressing, heating with boilers and finally wastage handling. At the same time wood panel processes incorporates de-barking, chipping, flaking, fiber making, pressing with boilers (need lot of waste wood for burning) and again waste handling. If you want to make furniture out of this, you need to pass through the process of surface lamination on both the sides as compulsory. Typical carpentry needs lot of human intensive operations.

WPC can give you ready to fix/join materials like Doors, Door frames, Floors, Planks etc. You can make all the products from machine in custom sizes, with zero wastage. WPC reduces human touch operations at a greater level in case of furniture manufacturing. WPC Door frames are an ideal example of above all characteristics of a SMART material. Manufacturing process of WPC has all smart raw materials, those create no process wastage to vanish. Basic materials are recyclable and can be reused again. Finished products like carcass boxes and shoe racks doesn’t need tapping and screwing but needs a few drops of glue! It allows plug and play assembling with very few workers. Fixed size floor planks, fencing planks and door frames doesn’t allow any additional human operations.

Corona has taught us to manage with less resources for doing faster operations. Now we have to take decision for adopting the correct fit products and methods those need less human-touch. After all it is a matter of survival and history says ‘fittest survives.’

Team WPC NEWS.

By Hardy Panchal, HARDY SMITH, India.

World is trapped and no one clears the reason. No one takes responsibility and there are cross blames being observed on daily news broadcasts. Entire world is struggling for the situation to get to the normal. Markets are suffering in all the sectors, globally. We are majorly concerned here for the construction and infrastructure sector that is the core consumer of building and allied materials. Several simultaneous issues are coming on to the layer for this sector. Managing construction labour is becoming the most sensitive chapter of this Pandemic. For Industries those are labour intensive also suffering with the similar issue.

If we observe from the perspective of wood and allied sector, it is clearly visible that the managing labour and raw material is painful now. This industry needs reasonable number of labour for the overall operations. Starting from the Tree log cutting from forest, passes through handling operations and finally upto material handling – it needs efficient labour force. Moving ahead with the situation, all nations are trying to mobilize the economy by partly opening manufacturing sectors. VW, Germany has started operations, similarly Maruti Suzuki, India has started as well.

Indian Government is trying to mobilize construction sector as well with a major concern of labours moving back to their home towns. Since a month they were forcefully locked in the cities they were working but now gradually state governments are trying to send them to their family at home towns. Now, this situation also is tricky when one side industry and construction is getting operational and labour is being dislocated as well. The overall net effect cannot be positive especially for the labour intensive sectors like wood. Construction needs wood in its basic minimum applications for Shuttering, Doors, Door frames, Windows. All these cases need labour for several manual operations in factories and in Saw mills. Government is trying to operate public sector projects also which can help economy and this will need supply of all these items.

Now, if we compare technologies for wood processing and WPC processing for the small scale factories, WPC has the upper hand. Unlike Wood and allied processing, WPC needs too less labour for overall operations. A few important points that lead WPC over wood are:

Less manufacturing labour

Manufacturing, processing and overall handling for a WPC facility needs less labour. One WPC making line can run with a team of 8 persons, including skilled and unskilled labour.

Raw material availability

Basic raw materials are available within the country from resin manufacturers.

Faster production – Faster deliveries

In compare to wood and allied products, WPC can be produced faster, delivered faster. E.g. 125 Door leafs/Day can be produced out of one standard capacity line of 250 kg/hr, if operated efficiently. Similarly 125 Door frames/Day can be produced out of a standard capacity line running at 100 Kg/hr.

Ready to fix products – no post processing required

WPC products as we know, can be fixed in it’s raw form only because of it’s following characteristics:

1. Pigmented products possible (e.g. WPC Door frames, Decking)
2. Textured products possible (e.g. WPC Decking)
3. Layered products possible (e.g. 3 Layer WPC boards/Doors)
4. Moulded products possible (e.g. Moulded Doors)
5. Custom shaped products possible (e.g. fix size door frames, flooring)

Above characteristics can cover interior and exterior product markets of wood, including High pressure laminates. In case modular furniture, need of backer laminate, inside laminate can be avoided easily. Because of all these WPC products can make construction and furniture projects too fast and feasible.

Opportunity for WPC manufacturers

As described above WPC can be proved as a product of ease for the infrastructure industry in post epidemic markets. It seems to have an equal opportunity for increasing demand of local manufactured products, when there is a sensitivity going on with imported goods in the current situation. Globally, nations are trying their best to survive local economies, they are forced to encourage local manufacturing and local produces. This case also can come as a positive thrust for WPC producers in the country.

This ‘can be’ scenario doesn’t look much impossible and we should pray to bring the global situation to get to the normal with cumulative efforts of countries with positive mind-sets, like India.

By Hadik Panchal, HARDY SMITH, India.

B. Eng. Polymer Technology, LDCE, India. MBA, AESPGIBM, India.

PVC is a popular material with different combinations including wood. It forms a composite with celluka foam structure. Carrying a basic density of 1400 kg/cum PVC is the most suitable material for rigid foam profiles including wood. One of such popular profile is Solid WPC PVC Door frame profile.

DENSITY can be defined as a range and not just as a fix figure, technically. It can be well understood while reading this article.

Density of a foamed PVC material has many influences during the entire process of extrusion. The melt that develops inside the extruder barrel because the temperature and friction of screw carries a melt temperature. This melt temperature varies at different zones of extruder. Now this melt is carrying foaming agents and foam modifiers those are actually creating a cell structure. The melt passes from the screw barrel zone carries a certain temperature, then passes through the Die head at a different temperature and then moves out to a calibrator at a different temperature.

All it’s passes impacts the foaming of the material. Now apart from the internal temperatures and speed, external temperature and moisture are also playing the very crucial role on the density formation/cell formation of the material. Formulation of the material remains to be the pre-defined content with all precisely calculated and weighed additives and chemicals. This formulation is being designed to manufacture a specific density range of a solid foamed product. Final material coming out of the Die head and calibration passes through the cooling water for settling the cell structure for perfect physical form. At the end frames are getting stacked for storage and here the final settle down happens under atmospheric temperature. At this stage also several internal movements inside the material happens and gets hold, finally.

During this entire journey of the material the Density profile of the PVC Foam keeps changing at several stages:

• Keeps changing with the melt movement
• Keeps changing with the extrusion screw speed
• Keeps changing because of the motion of the material,
• Keeps changing because of cylinder zone temperatures
• keeps changing because of adapter, flange and die temperatures
• keeps changing because of settling of the outer layer first and semi cured ‘core layer’ yet,
• keeps changing because of water temperature now,
• keeps changing because of atmospheric temperature again,
• keeps changing because of moisture of the atmosphere,
• keeps changing during the final curing and settling down at store.

All in all, the production of foamed PVC itself is a complex mixture of thermal stabilizers, lubricants, processing aids, pigments, fillers added with blowing agents to foam a cellular structure. The ‘type of PVC and the ingredients used’ control the thermal stability, gelation behaviour, powder flow characteristics, melt viscosity and melt strength during the production process. Hence all components of the formulation and process influence the subsequent foam Density

Now logically and technically if this process is understood by technocrats, Density of the entire material cannot be fixed with one fix figure of 750 kg/cum. It cannot be stopped/hold/fixed on this figure of so called 750…and thus moves upto 850 as well and can be 700 as well. As a part of the best manufacturing practice can be defined with 5% +/- density variation is really the best.

References:

1. Handbook of Polymer foams David Eaves, UK, Rapra Technology Limited.
2. Standard Test Method for Apparent Density of Rigid Cellular Plastics ASTM-D1622-D1622M-14-2008
3. PVC Foams by Gupta-Verlag
4. In line density monitoring by N H Abu-Zahra and H Chang
5. Specific modulus and density profile as characterization criteria of prefab wood composite materials, Dept of wood science, Mendel University in Brno, Czech republic
6. Rigid PVC Foam: A study on blowing agents and processing aids by N L Thomas & R P Eastup, European Vinyl Corporation (UK) Limited, UK.
7. Cellular PVC-U: Current Technology and Future Challenges by N. L. Thomas, Institute of Polymer Technology & Materials Engineering, Loughborough University, UK.
8. Characterisation of thermal expansion behaviour of a PVC foam core: Non linearities and gradients across the width by Pascal Casari, Carols Ferreira and Frederic Jacquemin, Institute of research, France

Imphal – one of the Jewells of Northeast is initiating infrastructure developments under good governance now. As a state Manipur has a tremendous potential for Tourism, Hotels, commercial buildings, well designed new complexes, housing and urban segments. In compare to other states, it has a long long way for infrastructure opportunities.

HARDY SMITH announces it’s 4th And Northeast’s 1st WPC CENTRE at Imphal. It is a full size round the clock WPC product exhibition at Ghari, Imphal at a 5 minutes drive from Imphal Intl Airport. Lee Waa trading – as an experienced partner from architecture and Interior sector partners HARDYPLAST in this journey.

Smt. N. Hiyainu Devi, wife of Shri. N. Biren Singh, Hon’ble Chief Minister Manipur inaugurated WPC CENTRE with a strong message for upcoming infrastructure growth in Manipur and need of such sustainable Eco friendly materials.

HARDYPLAST and LEE WAA invites architecture and construction dignitaries to grace their invaluable presence at WPC CENTRE.

Use WPC.
Save trees. Save earth.

A green initiative by HARDY SMITH.

On the precious occasion of 71st Republic Day of India IN, HARDY SMITH announces it’s 3rd WPC CENTRE at Brahmapur, Odisha.

Odisha is seen as India’s one of the the highest opportunistic state for infrastructure developments. Having more than 450 Kms of coastal belt at a single stretch – the state carries huge potential for Industrial and Tourism circuit.

This will be the 3rd WPC CENTRE for HARDYPLAST products next to Indore and Bangalore WPC Launchpads. It is a live showcase and supply centre for the single largest number WPC Produkt and applications.

Architect, Designer, Landscaper, Builder and trader fraternities are cordially invited to visit WPC CENTRE – Brahmapur. WPC is a sustainable, recyclable, green product replacing major forms of wood, thus saves millions of trees.

For more details and visit appointments call +91-9937870060.

Use WPC.
Save trees. Save earth.

A green initiative by HARDY SMITH, India.

Bangalore one of the most happening states of India, known for its IT and Infrastructure domains. It is known at greater for its furniture and wood industry as well, anchoring largest International wood exhibitions.

HARDY SMITH greenly announces a WPC CENTRE at Bangalore.

After Indore, it’s the 2nd WPC product Launchpad for Sustainable, Recyclable, Green & Eco friendly HARDYPLAST products. This Live showcase demonstrates WPC product applications for interiors and exteriors.

We invite Architects, Interiors, Landscapers, Builder’s, Construction companies, Furniture makers and Traders at WPC CENTRE – BANGALORE.

If you build/buy a home or a hotel, do visit WPC CENTRE once. WPC CENTRE is an entity promoting, educating, Supplying and Installing WPC product concepts.

Look forward to have a cup of coffee with us. Whatsapp us at +91-9632200119 for an appointment.

Use WPC.
Save trees. Save earth.

A green initiative by HARDY SMITH, India.