Extrusion International USA 5-2022

36 Extrusion International 5/2022 36 INDUSTRY NEWS 2022 Size and Impackt Report: PLASTICSMoves to America’s 6th Largest Manufacturing Industry New Nofia ® FR Grade Introduced  The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) unveiled its 2022 Size and Impact report, the association’s flagship annual analysis of the plastics industry’s contribution to the U.S. economy. Dr. Perc Pineda, Chief Economist at PLASTICS, presented an overviewof the report’s findings during an online Ex - ecutive Briefing provided to PLASTICS members and members of the press. Highlights shared during today’s briefing include: • The U.S. plastics industry accounts for nearly a million jobs (999,100); when suppliers to the plas- tics industry are included, that number rises to 1.5 million. • Plastics manufacturing em- ployment grew 3.2% from 2020 to 2021, more than twice the growth of manufacturing as a whole (1.5%). • U.S. plastics shipments totaled $468.0 billion for 2021; when suppliers to the plastics industry are included, shipments totaled $600.4 billion. “Today’s report shows that the plas- tics industry, while previously eighth is nowthe sixth largestmanufacturing in - dustry in the U.S,” said Matt Seaholm, President and CEO of PLASTICS. “Plain and simple, these numbers show that the PLASTICS industry is growing and will continue to do so as part of a cir- cular economy. Plastic is remarkable – It saves energy by being lightweight. It saves resources by being efficient to manufacture and transport, and it saves lives through protective gear, medical devices, and so much more. The PLASTICS industry is proud of our people and our products.” “The plastics industry continues to develop new technologies that im- prove the manufacturing process to includemore recycled content, less ma- terial, design for recyclability, and im- proved performance to better protect things like food and beverages, greatly reducing waste,” concluded Seaholm. Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) www.plasticsindustry.org  FRX Innovations has announced the launch of a new product line which extends the performance range of the company’s Nofia ® copo- lymer flame retardants for the con- sumer electronics and appliance in- dustry. Nofia CO6010-EX is the first in a new line of advanced copoly- meric flame retardants designed to expand the capabilities of the Nofia family and remove the need to dry the polymer before processing. Nofia CO6010-EX polyphospho- nate fills a gap in the current port- folio by targeting a growing need for PC, PC/ABS, and PC/ASA in appli - cations where neither brominated flame retardants or perfluoro butyl sulfonates can be used. In addition to no pre-drying of the polymer, this new range has much lower ini- tial color. The exceptional heat dis - tortion and physical properties of Nofia flame retardants have long been desirable in UL94 V0, or VTM- 0 formulations, but now processing is simpler, impact resistance is im- proved, and the new material offers the ability to meet the bluer shades of white required for certain brands of electronic equipment and electri- cal appliances. Like other Nofia FRs, Nofia CO6010-EX provides improved resistance to chemical cleaners and permanence when compared to tra- ditional, non-polymeric, phospho- rous-based flame retardants. “Polycarbonate has been a poly- mer of high interest,” said Marc Lebel, CEO of FRX Innovations. “This is due to restrictions announced in Europe and the U.S. on the future use of brominated FRs in enclosures for TVs and monitors, and the high probability that those restrictions will soon be broadened to enclo- sures for most indoor electrical equipment.” There have also been added con- cerns about per- and poly-fluori- nated additives, so-called “Forever Chemicals.” The commonly used flame retardant KPFBS is one such chemical, and already brand owners and OEMs are looking for alterna- tives, according to Lebel. He added that non-halogen composition is only part of the story. “Polymeric additives such as Nofia are inher- ently safer than smaller molecules, and being polymeric is at the heart of why Nofia products offer such enhanced physical properties,” said Lebel. FRX is developing other products based on similar technology to No- fia CO6010-EX. Beyond their use in polycarbonate and PC blends, future grades will offer enhanced proper- ties for other polymers, such as poly- esters, and the opportunity for in- herently flame-retardant resins with low color transparency and achieving VTM-0 at 0.075mm. FRX Innovations www.frx-innovations.com Dr. Perc Pineda