SABIC Innovative Plastics Augments Specialty Sheet Manufacturing Facility in India

---

Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--SABIC Innovative Plastics LP (Pittsfield, Massachusetts), a fully owned subsidiary of Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SAU:2010) (SABIC) (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia), has added two extrusion lines and completed augmentation of its specialty sheet and film manufacturing facility at Vadodara, in the Indian state of Gujarat. The extrusion lines will assist in increasing the production capability of the company's LEXAN brand of polycarbonate sheets, which are used extensively in electronics, automobiles, industrial and residential roofing systems, medical equipment, packaging and telecommunications. The product is also used in several applications in railways and airport infrastructure, and in glazing applications for sound walls.

Sources indicate that SABIC's decision to augment its production capability in Vadodara is spurred by an increasing demand for polycarbonate in Asia. Over the next couple of years, Asian consumption of polycarbonate sheets in construction and real estate is expected to increase exponentially. The new lines will manufacture high quality sheets and films with several added features, including ultraviolet cap layer and two-sided, ultraviolet-shielded sheets in custom and regular colors. The facility in Vadodara is next to the company's compounding plant, which is expected to assist in quicker development of custom-colored products. The plant will manufacture opaque, sign and corrugated sheets.

Experts have observed that India's economy, which is pegged to grow annually at 6% to 9%, is one of the driving factors for SABIC Innovative Plastics' expansion strategy. Infrastructure development and investment on new projects is expected to give a boost to the country's economy. The company is gearing up to meet the forecasted growth in demand from the commercial roofing and sound walls industry.

SABIC's LEXAN brand of polycarbonate sheets and films is sturdy, robust and non-breakable. LEXAN lends itself to several industrial applications due to its durability, flexibility and ability to provide thermal insulation. The product is cost-effective, can be easily assembled, and is resistant to weather damages, impact and fire.

In a recent development, SABIC Innovative Plastics in association with GE Research (New York, New York), a subsidiary of General Electric (NYSE:GE) (Fairfield, Connecticut), announced the development of a new and advanced range of hologram materials. The companies performed collaborative research to develop a class of products that is expected to improve security of identity cards and badges. The new-generation technology, which can combine plastic with holographic materials to create animated images of the user, is expected to be commercialized by 2012. The technology can be used to make credit cards, driving licenses, passports and access cards more secure and theft-proof.

SABIC Innovative Plastics is a leading name in specialty materials and technologies. The company is a world leader in manufacture of thermoplastics and solutions. SABIC Innovative Plastics' business divisions include specialty films and sheets, polymers and resins. The film and sheet division, which was established in 1968, consists of a full-fledged research and development center, production, and a sales and after-sales service network.

Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy related markets. For more than 26 years, Industrial Info has provided plant and project opportunity databases, market forecasts, high resolution maps, and daily industry news.