When the polymer industry talks about finite resources it usually refers to oil and gas which are the key components in polymer production. However, there is one resource that the polymer [...]

What we experience as an unpleasant electrostatic shock in our everyday life, can cause complications or even dangerous situations in many industries. Electrostatic shocks, also known as [...]

In the current situation, medical, NHS support staff, teachers and other key workers are being told to bag up and immediately wash their clothing as soon as they return home. The demand for [...]

The plastic packaging tax, set to be implemented in April 2022, is aimed at increasing recycling levels by placing a tax on plastic packaging that contains below 30% recycled content. The tax is [...]

For more than four decades Plastribution’s vision, ‘to be the UK’s preferred supplier of plastic raw materials’, has been consistent. We've has been able to manage expectations by maintaining a [...]

On 16th October 2019 MD's Mike Boswell of Plastribution & Richard Cowling of Hellyar Plastics will run 10K at their 10th successive K-show since 1992, all to raise money for 'The Princes Trust'. [...]

Ipethene 4140 – a new very low melt flow LDPE from Carmel with superb melt strength. Carmel Olefins has extended their Ipethene range of autoclave LDPE for blown film extrusion with the [...]

Dr Rotem Shemesh, R&D and Customer Service Manager at Carmel Olefins, recently spent the day at the Plastribution offices providing technical training to our sales teams.  While she was here, [...]

There are numerous headlines in the newspapers at the moment around the misery the weak pound is causing for those holidaying abroad. The ‘hard Brexit’ rhetoric since Boris Johnson became Prime [...]

Counterfeit goods currently account for an estimated 7% of global trade, yet despite an increase in corporate and government spending to tackle the issue, their production and access to market is [...]

11 month's ago, one of our latest recruits on the apprenticeship scheme - Maya, joined our team. Maya has kindly written a blog piece to share some of her experiences so far regarding her life at [...]

‘Women in Plastics’ provide a platform for females in the plastics industry that are doing great work in every type of capacity. Recently, Plastribution Commercial Director Katherine White took [...]

‘Sustainable polymers’, ‘green polymers’ - however you refer to them, producing materials and products with the intention of causing minimal impact to our environment is perhaps the most [...]

Whilst the details of the Brexit divorce settlement and future trading relations are likely to become clearer over the coming weeks, it is important to consider a range of scenarios including ‘no [...]

The comments made on Friday 3rd August by Mark Carney, the Governor of the Bank of England, that the risk of a no deal Brexit was ‘uncomfortably high’ had a significant impact on the currency [...]

Plastribution’s recent Understanding the Polymer Supply Chain Conference took place on 5-6 June 2018. This was the 3rd ‘sharing of experience & expertise’ forum that has been held since 2015 and [...]

PA66 market ‘overheating’ many users and specifiers may well be forced to ‘down spec’ applications wherever possible, with the major winners potentially being for example nylon 6 and/or higher [...]

Last week I attended the Polymer Sourcing conference in Barcelona where many of the presentations focused on the capacity expansions in the US based on ethane feedstock from shale gas.

Oil prices have surged in recent weeks as the rhetoric from US President Donald Trump regarding Iran has intensified and the threat of sanctions increased. Iran is one of the largest global oil [...]

For polyamide 66 processors across Europe, the situation has now become critical. Extremely tight supply for base polymer and compounds will intensify further now that both Invista & Solvay have [...]

In addition to our monthly Price know-how publication, which is now uploaded to our online library, the Hub (www.plastribution.co.uk/know-how-hub), we also provide an assessment of what has [...]

Feedstocks move up in December resulting in upward pressure on polymer prices.

The major driver of feedstock costs in September was mainly related to the aftermath of storms affecting the US Gulf Coast, and in particular the impact of storm ‘Harvey’ in the Texas region.

A presentation by: Mike Boswell - Chairman of Brexit Taskforce

I ate humble pie for my tea last night and I have to admit I found it very tasty. I have been very outspoken internally at Plastribution about my feelings about trade shows which has led to some [...]

Factors including exchange rates, feedstock price increases, strong demand, poor availability and even storms in the US are pushing prices upward.

As highlighted in out previous blog (www.plastribution.co.uk/interesting-times-sterling), with the polymer market fluctuating in light of several key suppliers closing their orders books early in [...]

As has already been evident for those of us who like to spend our summer holidays in Europe, we have seen further erosion in the price of sterling over the last few months.

Price increases look likely as polymer producers close order books early in August.

Will standard polymer prices continue to soften, or is there a risk of price increases later in the summer?

Plastribution rose to the challenge and became one of the largest suppliers of acetal in the UK. The initiative was based on the partnership between Plastribution and Mitsubishi [...]

Whilst the results of the UK General Election have impacted on exchange rates, relaxation in some polymer prices will bring relief to many plastics processors.

Plastribution has had a long and successful relationship with the Chi Mei Corporation, the world’s largest vendor of ABS. Founded in 1960 in Tainan, Taiwan, Chi Mei’s many products are widely [...]

Styrene monomer prices have plummeted and C2 and C3 prices have rolled over from April into May. In the case of Ethylene, this comes after a rollover in price from March to April. For styrene [...]

According to the trade body Petrochemicals Europe, an amazing 95% of manufactured goods are dependent upon the use of petrochemicals, of which plastics and polymers are a significant part. Whilst [...]

Tight Supply of Both Feedstocks and Polymers Continues to Fuel Price Inflation.

Is it likely that increasing benzene prices, that are already impacting styrenic polymer pricing, will stimulate rapid inflation for engineering polymers?

In the course of the past week two consumer ‘durable’ products have failed me. On both occasions a plastic component has failed prematurely. Whilst in each case the design of the component could [...]

A new year heralds higher oil prices and fresh calls for price increases, which are likely to be influenced by a recent fall in the value of the GBP following a strong rally at the end of 2016.

Whilst every year contains a wide array of noteworthy events, typically the ramifications of these events are short-lived and the understanding of any consequences quickly comprehended.

A confusing picture with oil prices increasing, GBP strengthening, C2 and C3 prices falling, and Styrene Monomer prices increasing significantly.

Many of us are familiar with the term ‘Carpe Diem’, which in its literal translation means ‘seize the day’ and more broadly a mantra to embrace the opportunities that life presents us with.

This strap line ‘always there, always listening’, comes from Plastribution’s brand movie, created almost 5 years ago. Many people, including on occasions my colleagues, would perhaps question the [...]

Naturally for the majority of UK citizens our perspective on BREXIT is about how the decision to leave the EU will impact us. It was not until I was preparing a presentation for a conference held [...]

Pressure continues to build on polymer pricing as feedstock prices firm and Sterling continues to weaken; but for now there is still the uncertainty factor to contend with.

What are the implications for UK plastic processors as the GBP continues to weaken with ‘BREXIT SHOCK #2,’ at the same time as oil firms and some feedstocks increase in price?

Katherine White, Plastribution’s Commercial Director and Lucy’s line-manager added: “Lucy has worked extremely hard at both with her studies and within Plastribution. This recognition is very [...]

Are Prices Finding a New Equilibrium After the Devaluation of GBP Following BREXIT?

The UK has long been recognised for its ability to originate and develop new ideas. It is also true, often due to commercial necessity, that many of those ideas go forward to be produced in lower [...]

Whilst for many the supply crisis, which began in February 2015, is becoming a distant memory there are still today occasions in which availability of product is a serious issue.

Headquartered in Budapest - Hungary, MOL Group is the largest plastic raw material producer in central Europe and holds a leading position in this region.

It is now two months after the shock result of UK’s referendum on EU membership. Whilst in the lead up to the 23rd June vote there was a discernible atmosphere of trepidation in terms of ‘what if [...]

The Kafrit Group are a global leader in the production of high quality flame retardant masterbatches and have been partnered with Plastribution for many years. They have been suppliers to the [...]

Whether BREXIT will be regarded as the reason or simply the trigger for an economic slow-down, or if indeed other factors are of influence, is unlikely to be known for some time.

Since October 2011 Plastribution has been able to offer its customers purging agents from Aquapurge. We currently hold stock of their Barrel Blitz Universal (BBU) purging compound within our [...]

What is the Potential Impact of BREXIT on UK Polymer Prices?

For those of you who are contemplating a more engaged workforce, we would strongly advise using an engagement survey and regardless of the performance rating, you will know where you are on the [...]

French Strikes, UK EU Membership Referendum, Summer Shutdowns and a Less Robust Approach to Passing on Feedstock Costs, All Contribute to Market Uncertainty.

Whilst the moderate recovery in Crude Oil price has so far provided support for the requests of polyolefin and polystyrene producers to increase prices and in many cases ‘recover eroded margins’, [...]

A few months ago I was talking to the Chair of Leeds University Business School Advisory Board and we got on to the topic of #social media and how our business was exploiting this marketing [...]

Having previously written a blog entitled ‘Choosing what we outsource’, it is implicit that in determining which companies provide those services that performance is an important criteria for [...]

Both as a business and personally, we tend to spend little time looking at what others in our industry do or even how distributors in other sectors operate. The activity of benchmarking not only [...]

With the blessing of his family, we have organised a memorial walk to take place on 22 May in memory of our friend and colleague Dave Machin, who sadly passed away on 30 May last year.

Recovering Oil Prices Drive up Feedstocks with the Inevitable Push for Polymer Price Increases. Reinforced by Further Weakness of the GBP.

Whilst Extraordinary Polyolefin Margins Start to Decline, BREXIT uncertainty Weakens the GBP and Brings Inflationary Pressures Across the Board.

According to a report by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation (launched at the World Economic Forum in January), there will be more waste plastic in the sea than fish by 2050. Like most of us who read [...]

When I started working in a commercial role in the Plastics Industry in the late 1980’s the relationship between customers and suppliers was often adversarial, with the general view that [...]

Weakness of the GBP Against the Euro Negates the Expected Price Reduction, and Are There Any Implications of a Bounce in Crude Oil Prices.

As polymer production increasingly moves away from Western Europe does buyer behaviour need to change?

Prior to the 1980’s most companies did as much as they could for themselves and typically this included activities like transport and warehousing, on the basis that including these processes [...]

Alongside our monthly Price Know-how publication, at the beginning of every year we provide an assessment of what has happened over the past year and what may happen in the year ahead, [...]

Carmel Olefins released their ‘C’ grades about 2 year ago. They have successfully managed to combine the optical clarity of RCoPP together with the impact properties of PPCP at standard room and [...]

Whilst the downward spiral of Crude Oil prices continues, and in spite of mainly less substantial feedstock cost reductions, prices for polyolefins and polystyrene continue to be robust. In the [...]

A hashtag is a type of label or metadata tag used on social network and microblogging services which makes it easier for users to find messages with a specific theme or content.

Oil Price Down, Monomer Prices Stable or Increasing, Polyolefin and Polystyrene Prices Increasing

Crush ribs, an inventive way to overcome design constraints or a cost cutting step too far?

I have now been part of the technical team for about a month and feel I have settled well into the role here at Plastribution. Not that it has been difficult to settle in as the whole company has [...]

Is the Disconnection Between Polymer and Oil Prices Sustainable?

A survey recently published in HR Magazine has revealed that for UK companies that have actually gone to the effort of defining their vision, mission and values, that on average only 42% of their [...]

As part of Plastribution’s commitment to sustainable and technical materials, we are working with Eco Plastics and can now offer the UK’s only food grade recycled PET (rPET) to plastics [...]

It is a long time since I completed a colour change in a busy mould shop, but I can remember spending large amounts of time, and a lot of polypropylene, becoming increasing frustrated by the [...]

As September progresses, it is increasingly apparent that producers are both willing and able to make further concessions in the market and is anticipating that prices will continue to fall. It [...]

Let me start by saying that I am a fan of the Plastics Industry Awards. Of course all industry awards have their critics, but it is difficult to deny that the PIA is a positive contribution to [...]

Had the ominous task of phoning two call centres earlier this week. One a bank, the other a famous motoring organisation beginning and ending in ‘A’. We often dread these kind of tasks and, if [...]

DuClear CE 85 E is a new and revolutionary grade of speciality clarified polypropylene random copolymer (PPRCP).

Following the market turnaround in February this year, the subsequent issues relating to polymer production in Western Europe and the weak Euro reducing attractiveness to imports, polyolefin and [...]

We are delighted to introduce our latest apprentice, Nicole, who joins Plastribution this month having just completed her ‘A’ levels.

This is a fantastic result, which alongside confirmation that we are still the preferred choice for plastics processors*, shows that we continue the tick all the right boxes in terms of our [...]

Metallocene grades of polyethylene for film extrusion have been around for 20 years or so but there is still some resistance to their use based on the premium these materials typically attract [...]

Whilst few people were surprised by the increase in C2 and C3 pricing largely reflecting the increase in crude oil price (see table below), the triple digit increase in PP and PE pricing was a shock.

Looking back at the results of our December 2014 customer survey results, it raised the question of how to achieve those small improvements in our processes which have the potential to make big [...]

Whether from the customer’s perspective the investment perceived is as active or passive, time and therefore cost is involved upon the part of the customer and this is often in contrast to the [...]

In this case the customer was a critical supplier of medical equipment to the healthcare sector and was genuinely concerned that if they could not secure on-going supply of PE there was a real [...]

The pressure on supply and consequent impact on prices has been both a function of exchange rates and output/availability within the EU.

A recent supply problem gave me cause for thought. At the beginning of February one of our suppliers made additional quantities of PP available and through our sales team this was offered to a [...]

Like many people, I read the words ‘independent distributor’ alongside the claim that they could offer ‘better pricing and service’ and take that to be a good thing. Really? On closer examination [...]

Chi Mei the world’s largest producer of ABS have recently launched a new grade of ABS PA757H. It demonstrates a 30% increase in MFR compared to standard PA757 and a 20% increase in impact strength.

This is why Plastribution believe that the design of a component is critical in making sure the products we are surrounded with are produced in the best possible way.

Nobody could have contemplated firstly that demand from processors would be so strong in February, and secondly that so much upstream capacity would be taken out of production as a result of [...]

Before moving into the meat of this blog, I must start by saying that I have a very healthy respect for our competitors, many of whom I have become quite familiar with during my 5-year tenure as [...]

Established to offer a complete service package, providing extended technical guidance and advice to customers throughout the manufacturing process, Plastribution’s technical team has recently [...]

It is with this in mind that our customer teams work on the basis that once they have received your request it is our responsibility to act on your requirement and, where necessary and [...]

Over the last 8 years nearly 200 candidates from approximately 80 different companies have attended our popular training courses.

The last 25 years has witnessed a communication revolution from the early analogue ‘mobile’ phones to the sleek handheld multi-media devices on which we today rely in order to conduct a whole [...]