Borealis to highlight market-leading polypropylene packaging innovations at Interplastica

Some of the most innovative recent developments in polypropylene (PP) for cutting-edge packaging applications will feature prominently on the Borealis stand at the Interplastica 2009 plastics and rubber exhibition taking place in Moscow from January 27 to 30.

Borealis, a leading provider of innovative, value creating plastics solutions, will highlight the latest materials for film and moulded containers that provide such important properties as very high flow, superior transparency, ultra-purity, class-leading mechanical performance and sterilizability. A strong team of company representatives will be on-hand to supply in-depth information to processors from the key Russian market.

In recent months, Borealis has been investing around EUR 25 million in expanding its polypropylene production capacity in Porvoo , Finland , by 65,000 t/y to 220,000 t/y. The new capacity will be fully on-stream in early 2009. One of the key motives for the expansion is to enhance the company's ability to supply the rapidly developing Russian market with high performance materials.

Borealis's ability to produce such market-leading materials has also been increased following the start-up earlier this year of a new Borstar® PP 2G plant in Burghausen , Germany . Second-generation multi-modal technology at the plant allows the company to produce materials offering a step change in purity, processing output and performance.

Typical of the ground-breaking materials the new technology is capable of producing is Borclear™ RE936CF, part of a unique random copolymer family for highly transparent blown and cast films. Developed for use in food packaging and medical applications, it offers film processors and converters the ability to increase the cost-effectiveness of their operations while yielding significant end-user benefits including superior optical properties.

Optics of most PP films deteriorate with increasing line speed, but Borclear RE936CF allows more than 15% higher speed while maintaining its clarity and sparkle. Furthermore, films retain virtually all of their transparency after sterilization.

Borstar RJ900MO is another novel random copolymer with a unique combination of flow and transparency. This new grade, which also benefits from Borstar® PP 2G technology, was developed to meet needs for shorter cycle times, transparency and mechanical properties in applications such as house- and kitchenware, as well as food packaging. In addition, it offers excellent organoleptic (odour and taste) properties and low extractables and has full food approval.

The material is well suited for the fast production of products with very thin walls, high flow length/wall thickness ratios and complex geometries. Typical intended applications include containers for dairy, confectionery and convenience food, as well as non-food products in cosmetics and electronics; kitchenware containers and storage systems; and caps and closures.

A third new development that Borealis is show-casing at Interplastica is BJ368MO. This is an injection moulding grade developed for the production of tubs for ice-cream, yellow fats and margarines, as well as tub lids. It exhibits high flow, high strength, high impact resistance at temperatures well below freezing point, and excellent organoleptics. In addition, tubs can be readily hot-filled.

Bormod ™ BJ368MO is a ground-breaking block copolymer that enables significant reductions in injection moulding cycle times. It makes use of Borealis’ highly innovative Borealis Nucleation Technology (BNT ), which increases productivity through faster and finer crystallization.

“Plastics packaging is one of the fastest growing markets in Russia today,” says Vladimir Petrushkin, Borealis Sales Manager for Film and Fibre in Russia . “Official statistics put recent growth at over 10 per cent per year, with flexible plastics packaging growing even faster.”

“In many other countries growth in packaging is in line with GDP , but the Russian market is far from saturated”, adds Ludmila Kiseluova, Sales Manager for Borealis´ Business Unit Moulding in Russia . “Even with the poor global economic situation, we believe that, especially with our latest innovations, we have the potential to grow significantly in this important market.”

For further information please contact:

Kerstin Meckler, Borealis Group Media Relations Manager,
Tel. +43 1 22 400 389, kerstin.meckler@borealisgroup.com