China continues to wow the world with amazing achievements in the area of architecture and construction engineering. One need look no further than the world's longest sea-crossing bridge (the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge), to the InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland (which extends 88 meters below sea level), to the soon-to-be-completed Beijing Daxing International Airport, to see tangible evidence of China's continuous technological breakthroughs. Much of the expertise used in these major commercial projects can also be applied to helping people realize their dreams of having a beautiful home. In recent years, the national development planning initiative has led to the creation of countless iconic new buildings, urban construction projects, prefabricated buildings, and whole-house customization efforts –– all of which can help people to improve their quality of life, while also opening up more opportunities for the building materials industry.
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| CHINAPLAS 2019 will attract more than 3,500 leading exhibitors from all over the world and stay abreast of the latest industry trends |
The 13th Five-Year Plan for the Development of the Construction Industry suggested that by 2020, the proportion of the area of prefabricated buildings to that of new buildings will reach 15%, and green building materials will account for 40% of all building materials used. These goals for improving energy efficiency in buildings greatly widen the application range of novel building materials such as plastic pipes, new wall materials and extruded plastics profiles.
In view of the building materials industry's demand for high-performance materials and green and intelligent manufacturing, CHINAPLAS 2019 –– to be held at the China Import and Export Fair Complex in Pazhou, Guangzhou, from May 21-24, 2019 –– will stay abreast of the latest industry trends with a focus on "Smart Manufacturing, Innovative Materials, Green & Circular Solutions". The show will attract 3,500+ leading exhibitors, including BASF, DuPont, Dow, LG Chem, Borouge, Hyosung, Sinochem, Wittmann, KraussMaffei, Leistritz, Brueckner, ENMA, Jwell, Coperion, Designer, KY Solutions, Tongjia, Liansu, Jinhu and more, helping enterprises embrace new technologies, build their brands, improve themselves and capture business opportunities.
Building a Better Future with High-Performance Materials
Individuals increasingly have high expectations when it comes to upgrading and personalizing their living environments and experiences. Technological innovation will be the primary driving force behind the development of high-quality building materials, and industry suppliers plan to reveal some of these developments at CHINAPLAS 2019.
Thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) materials used to make waterproof roll materials for roofing applications tend to degrade faster if they do not incorporate additives to protect against ultraviolet (UV) light. The use of suitable light-stabilizing technology and the addition of an appropriate amount of UV stabilizer can extend the service life of the material considerably, and effectively avoid fine surface cracks, thereby improving stability and surface protection. Hengshui Kaiya Chemical Co., Ltd. at CHINAPLAS will showcase Careguard LS 880, a hindered amine light stabilizer for waterproof roll applications. The product is said to offer better compatibility and precipitation resistance than other light stabilizers and can serve as a heat stabilizer. The additive masterbatch, to be showcased by Colloids Plastic (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., can maintain and stabilize long-term performance and integrity of pipelines for drinking water and gas supply by avoiding risk factors such as cracking due to ambient pressure, extension of cracks and overpressurization.
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| Jiangsu Minyang Synthetic Resin Technology Co., Ltd. will showcase a nano-reinforced PET sheet |
Strength and toughness are also important factors for construction products. Jiangsu Minyang Synthetic Resin Technology Co., Ltd. will showcase a nano-reinforced PET sheet that can replace alternative sheet materials such as acrylic (PMMA), polycarbonate (PC) and polystyrene (PS). With a maximum thickness of 6mm and excellent strength, the nano-reinforced sheet cannot be broken with a normal hammer. Its high flexural strength means it will not break when bent to over 90 degrees, and it is less expensive than acrylic and PC sheets. Hyosung Chemical Corporation's next-generation PP-B material, Topilene HB242P, is an advanced high-modulus, PP impact copolymer with outstanding flexural modulus and tensile strength. This can improve the impact resistance of pipelines at low temperature and lower the damage rate during transportation and installation. This allows for a double-wall, corrugated, PP pipe system with excellent mechanical properties to be manufactured for use in underground drains and sewer pipes.
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| Shenzhen Aimsea Industrial Co., Ltd. will introduce a blowing agent, AIM-FOAM |
Innovative technologies can also improve product quality. Hubei Gaoxin WPC Extrusion Co., Ltd. will showcase a plastic extrusion mold for wood-plastic composite (WPC) capped co-extrusion decking. The material converges before leaving the die through an independent runner. The melt is thinly coated and compounded with a wood-plastic base material in 360 degrees. It then extruded out of the die, cooled and shaped by the forming die and water tank, and cut to a certain length after woodgrain embossing with an in-line heat press. Compared to traditional wood-plastic products, the products produced by this technology help to overcome the defects of color fading, mildew and cracking.
Shenzhen Aimsea Industrial Co., Ltd. will introduce a blowing agent, AIM-FOAM, to be applied in PVC wood-plastic foam wallboards, which simplifies the formulation of rigid PVC foam materials, reduces costs, improves performance and quality, and ensures uniform density of foam and the cleanliness of product surface.
By combining its own carbon fiber with thermoplastics resins such as PC, PES, and PP, Teijin Limited has developed a thermoplastic carbon fiber prepreg that is flame-resistant, impact-resistant, storable at room temperature and suitable for mass production (with short production cycle time). The product is easy to mold and has low comprehensive cost, and its scraps can be recycled. It can replace metal and thermosetting prepregs and be used in many end markets, including construction and automotive.
Green Materials a Key to Sustainable & Healthy Life
The earth is our only home. This makes environmentally friendly "green building" all that much more important. For starters, it is vital to minimize the environmental pollution and harmful gas emissions caused by the manufacture and use of building materials. The re-utilization of construction waste is also very important. Recyclable, renewable, non-toxic, and non-polluting green building materials have become the mainstream in the market.
At CHINAPLAS 2019, Hefei Magic Porous Materials Co., Ltd. will reveal a deodorizing masterbatch with devolatilization properties, which can reduce the unpleasant odor of the material and volatile organic compound (VOC) content from the source. Compared to the alternatives that function by absorption, this masterbatch does not re-emit the odors at high temperature. It eliminates the need for drying the material, or shortens the drying time, and removes odors efficiently.
Guangdong Kingfa Sci. & Tech. Co., Ltd. has developed various materials using recycled content. The innovative materials do not contain harmful substances and are said to be safer and more environmentally friendly. These products are used in internationally iconic projects such as the buildings along Darling Harbor in Sydney, Australia, and in some of the venues of the 2008 Olympics, the Asian Games in Guangzhou, and the Rio Olympics.
The recycled plastic pellets of Xiamen Luhai Pro-environment Inc. are used in sheet materials and trays made from blow molding, extrusion molding, and injection molding. The company says the purity of the extracted material is as high as above 99.5%. No masterbatch is needed to be added and the original color of the plastic material can be retained. Langfang Huabo Environment-protecting Material Co., Ltd., meanwhile, will showcase a desiccant masterbatch that is claimed to solve problems caused by moisture in recycled plastics, such as bubbles, flow lines and spots on the product surface, and absorbs water up to 20% of its own weight. The masterbatch can be used in pipeline, board and sheet materials and so on.
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| Shanghai Banzan Macromolecule Material Co., Ltd. will introduce a highly weather-resistant resin binder for film-coated metal sheets |
Sundly Environmental Protection New Material Co., Ltd. has developed a magnesium/aluminum/zinc non-toxic, complex stabilizer for highly transparent PVC products that can be used in place of organic tin stabilizers, for manufacturing environmentally friendly, rigid PVC calendered products with higher weatherability and lower production costs. The stabilizer can be used in the manufacture of calendered PVC products such as building materials and medical devices.
Shanghai Banzan Macromolecule Material Co., Ltd. will introduce a highly weather-resistant resin binder for film-coated metal sheets. Compared to traditional liquid glues, the product is environmentally friendly and non-polluting and has high adhesive strength and durability. It can also solve the problems of traditional liquid glues, such as having a strong smell, contributing to pollution, potentially physically harming workers, and posing safety hazards in manufacturing. The melt adhesive is made into a film during the casting or blown film process and is then applied to a metal sheet and an outer thin film, such as PVC, ASA, and PVDF for binding. The final product has the rigidity of the metal sheet and the aesthetics and durability of the plastic film. It can be used in rooftops, furniture panels and the housings of home appliances.
Shandong Fiberglass Group Corp.'s GFT-RTP is pressure and corrosion resistant, lightweight and inexpensive. Compared to general GE pipes, GFT-RTP can greatly reduce the required pipe wall thickness under the same pressure, saving raw materials and reducing costs. Compared to reinforced composite pipes with steel wires and strips, GFT-RTP can avoid the problem of corrosion, reduce the pipe weight, and lower material costs by as much as 20%.
Implementing Intelligent Manufacturing in the Building Materials Industry
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| Shini Plastics Technologies, Inc.'s sFactory 4.0 can realize a fully automatic, unmanned assembly line |
With accelerating commercial deployment of next-generation 5G wireless networks, more technologies are being developed to help support and promote the industrial upgrade of intelligent manufacturing. In view of this transformation, CHINAPLAS 2019 will present cost-reducing and efficiency-boosting digital solutions, allowing the building materials industry to secure its place in the new round of competition.
Shini Plastics Technologies, Inc.'s sFactory 4.0 can realize a fully automatic, unmanned assembly line. This solution integrates an injection molding machine, a water-type mold temperature controller, a European dryer, volumetric dosing unit, hot-runner system, articulated robot, automatic packing machine, and AGV. Dual-port D-Sub connectors are equipped to provide seamless data transfer between the devices, facilitating "smart" manufacturing on the hardware level. With intelligent monitoring of the central material handling system, central water cooling system, central gas supply system and power system, users can collect more detailed data than with traditional injection molding processes.
For plastic pipe materials, Foshan Best Extrusion Tech. Co., Ltd. will present at the show a high-speed, four-pipe, two-layer PPR extrusion line. The production line has a double-waterway circulation system that reduces water consumption by 50%. It is easy to control and can integrate the intelligent control of weight feeding, masterbatch feeding and vacuuming, and digital communication technology. The integral host machine can be used once inserted, and the integral haul off cutter can achieve in-line packaging. Dalian Sunlight Technology Co., Ltd. will present at CHINAPLAS a highly efficient, energy-saving and stable corrugated pipe-forming machine. It has a servo motor on each side for easy adjustment and synchronization. The vacuuming step takes place at the bottom, which is easy to adjust, prevents vacuum leak and saves energy.
For board, sheet and wood-plastic materials, SKY WIN Technology Co., Ltd. will present a one-step, multi-layer SPC LVT floor machine extrusion line. The solution uses a high-torque reduction gearbox with a torque 1.7 times of similar gearboxes, and barrels and screws with a special structure. The device has a service life of nine to 12 months and low energy consumption. For the same output, more than 20% energy can be saved (compared to conical twin screw). With Nanjing Gorray Extrusion Equipment LLC's conical twin-screw extrusion line, several products made from sheet materials, such as fully biodegradable materials like polylactic acid (PLA), can be manufactured without any adjustment. The processed PET sheet material is directly extruded under multi-path vacuum deaeration, without pre-crystallization and drying, saving more than 40% energy. One can use 100% recycled materials, which greatly reduces the cost.
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| Qingdao Sanyi Plastic Machinery Co., Ltd. will exhibit a PVC SPC flooring production line |
As for flooring board, Qingdao Sanyi Plastic Machinery Co., Ltd. will exhibit a PVC SPC flooring production line with a capacity of about 1.5 tons per hour. The device can be switched to one-click synchronization mode or separate control mode. One-click synchronization is the most sophisticated system in China that can truly achieve speed synchronization.
Visitors to CHINAPLAS 2019 also can attend the concurrent event "Industry 4.0 Factory of the Future" to gain first-hand knowledge of the solutions likely to be implemented in the future, such as the intelligent factory that will require the participation of fewer workers.
Cross-Industry Interaction to Ignite New Insights
While introducing various new materials, devices, and technologies to the building materials industry, the show additionally will include a technology conference on wood-plastic composite materials. The "Wood-Plastic Composite Engineering Technology Forum" will be hosted at Huacheng Meeting Room Pearl in Promenade Zone A, at the China Import & Export Fair Complex. The Forum will explore the latest developments related to wood-plastic composite materials, equipment, and factory design, with the aim of helping manufacturers to improve their quality, environmental performance, efficiency, and economic scale.
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| Additional compelling sessions will also take place during CHINAPLAS 2019 |
Additional compelling sessions will also take place during CHINAPLAS 2019, including: "Plastics Recycling & Circular Economy Conference And Showcase"; "Tech Talk"; "Automobile and Rail Transit Lightweight Materials and Application Technology Seminar"; "Innovative Packaging Materials under New Market Trend"; the "2019 Optical Films for Photoelectric Display and Related Raw Materials Technology and Application Forum"; "The 2nd Biomedical 3D Printing Development Forum" and "The 3rd Smart Supply Chain Summit 2019".
CHINAPLAS 2019 is expected to attract over 180,000 professional visitors from 150 countries and regions. Many well-known enterprises in the industry have already pre-registered for the show. including enterprises such as Oriental Yuhong, Rifeng, Jianlin Industry, Intex, Moen, Vasen, Lesso, Potentech, Yonggao, Hubei Dayang, Guangdong Xiongsu, NewInsight, Wuhan Kingbull, Zhongcai, and many, many more.
