New Website for Soft PVC Applications

/in /von

As part of the current soft PVC communication campaign, AGPU Media has created a new website called www.vinyl-erleben.de (experiencing vinyl), which is created on behalf of the steering group and contains articles about vinyl in architecture, vinyl in sports and leisure as well as vinyl and healthcare. All texts are prepared accordingly and put the positive use and benefits of the respective product in the foreground.

Advertorials and advertisements in selected print media will advertise the new website. If you are also interested to become part of this successful communication campaign or if you would like to participate in specific projects, please contact us.

https://www.vinyl-erleben.de/

Plastic Roofing Membranes on the Road to Success

/in /von

The German Association of Plastics Roofing and Waterproofing membranes (DUD) announces a successful business year for 2017, with manufacturers increasing their sales in Germany by 1.5 percent compared with the previous year, according to a press release. In addition, a good 20 million square meters of plastic membranes for roofing and waterproofing were sold last year.

The past year was marked by a shortage of raw materials and a lack of certain necessary components for insulation materials, as well as a lack of installation capacity, according to DUD chairman Joachim Gussner. The result is therefore particularly pleasing. For the current year, there is also a positive outlook. A further increase in sales volumes of plastic membranes is expected.

www.die-kunststoffdachbahn.de

Chlorine Production in the EU now mercury-free

/in /von

The final deadline for chlorine production based on the so-called amalgam/mercury process in the EU expired on 11 December 2017. According to the companies, all plants concerned have either been converted to the membrane technology or closed.

According to Eurochlor, there were still around 2.1 million mercury-based chlorine capacities per year in 2017. Productions with a capacity of 775,000 t/y were closed, the remainder was converted and replaced by new technologies. As a result, the total chlorine capacity in the EU in 2017 has thus been reduced from a good 12 million tonnes per year to around 11.25 million tonnes per year.

According to the industry association, about one third of chlorine is used in PVC production, making it the largest single application.

PVC Windows: Market Share of 57.7% in Germany

/in /von

According to the estimates of the four industry associations VFF, pro-K, FV S+B and BF, positive overall economic conditions and rising residential construction lead to positive impulses on the German window market. The slight upward trend that has been continuing since 2007 is thus continuing. Based on the 13.8 million window units (WU) in 2016, sales of windows in Germany are expected to increase by 2.9 % to 14.2 million WU in 2017, according to a Heinze study. In 2018, an even stronger increase of 3.3% to 14.8 million WU is considered possible.

With regard to frame materials, the four industry associations expect only minor shifts in the current year. Experts expect that PVC windows will reach a market share of 57.7 %. The industry associations are also expecting increasing growth rates in the field of exterior doors. PVC doors will account for 32.8% of unit sales in 2018. For comparison: aluminium doors 32.5%, timber doors 25.3%, other materials 9.4%.

PVC workshop with Record Attendance

/in /von

What a promising start! On January 16, AGPU and PlasticsEurope Deutschland held a record-breaking PVC workshop in Bonn. 90 participants used the event to inform and exchange information with colleagues from the industry. There was particularly great interest in topics such as the classification of the fire behaviour of construction products, the potential classification of titanium dioxide or the use of PVC in automotive interiors.

All presentations can be found in the PVC-WIKI, which is an exclusive platform for AGPU member companies.

Polysecure Is First New AGPU Member

/in /von

Just in time for the beginning of the year, AGPU welcomes a first new member, Polysecure GmbH from Freiburg. The company offers solutions for plagiarism protection, product authentication, material detection and marking.

At the end of last year, Polysecure Managing Director Jochen Mößlein received the StartGreen Award 2017. Together with REHAU, his company has developed a process for the separation of glass-fibre-containing PVC regrind. The company is also working with the Green Dot on a joint project to significantly increase the mechanical recycling rate of plastic packaging in the future.

Current Trend in Christmas Trees

/in /von

According to the Federal Statistical Office, 29.5 million Christmas trees were sold in Germany in 2016. With 71 percent, the Nordmann fir is one of the most popular tree species. But artificial trees are also increasingly found in living rooms at Christmas. According to a recent Statista survey, 22 percent of around 1,100 interviewees this year use a plastic Christmas tree – and this is often made of PVC.

One reason for the increasing interest in PVC Christmas trees is certainly the fact that the manufacturers of these trees have been paying more attention to details during production over the years, which in turn contribute to the fact that plastic trees are getting closer and closer to the original.

In 2012, the American Christmas Tree Association in the United States has compared the advantages and disadvantages of real and artificial Christmas trees in a scientific life cycle analysis. Both types of Christmas trees have environmental impacts that depend on the duration of use, transport distance to the consumer and the type of waste disposal. The study concludes that when a PVC tree is used for eight years, it is more environmentally friendly than buying eight real Christmas trees. They are more durable, easier to assemble, do not need water and do not lose needles. The branches are also resistant to fading and have flame-retardant properties.

Campaign „Best Practice“ finishes in Spring

/in /von

After about one and a half years, the „Best Practice for the Environment“ campaign will be on the final straight in spring 2018. As part of the campaign, exemplary projects were identified and documented in Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia in which old PVC construction products such as windows or floor coverings are recycled and reused.

Until March of next year, building owners from the housing industry or commercial buildings, as well as demolition companies, window manufacturers and waste disposal companies from the above-mentioned federal states can submit appropriate proposals to AGPU, Rewindo and AgPR.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

/in /von

The AGPU wishes you, your employees and family a Merry Christmas and a good start to a successful new year. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank you on behalf of the AGPU Management Board for your trustful cooperation.

In 2018, some highlights will be on the agenda again. In addition to the two PVC workshops in Bonn and Frankfurt, this includes in particular the General Assembly with the celebration of 30 years of AGPU.

The AGPU office is closed this year between Christmas and New Year’s Eve. As usual, the PVC experts from Bonn will be back for you on January 2,2018. The next issue of the PVC bulletin will be released by the end of January 2018.

PVC Formulation 2018: Conference Program for Download

/in /von

The PVC Formulation 2018 will take place at the Maritim Hotel in Cologne from 10 to 12 April 2018. It is now the tenth conference for the PVC industry organized by AMI. Just in time for the turn of the year, the programme was fully announced. It can also be downloaded from the website as a PDF document.

The AGPU is again media partner of the PVC Formulation. Managing Director Thomas Hülsmann will present the progress and success of the PVC industry over the past ten years.

https://www.ami.international/events/event?Code=C865