Publications

Citation

(2013), "Publications", Pigment & Resin Technology, Vol. 42 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/prt.2013.12942baa.003

Publications

Article Type: Conferences, training and publications From: Pigment & Resin Technology, Volume 42, Issue 2

Fosters growth by growing itself: Ceresana analyzes the global ammonia market

Ammonia is one of the world’s most produced chemicals. Due to its high nitrogen content, ammonia is mainly used as a fertilizer or as the base material for the production of other fertilizers, such as urea or fertilizer mixes. Additionally, ammonia is used in industrial applications, for example refrigeration engineering, cleaning, textile finishing, and the manufacturing of various other chemical products.

Increased demand on the part of both industry and agriculture

The market research institute Ceresana is forecasting the global ammonia market to generate revenues of approx. US$102 billion in 2019. Continuous growth of population in developing and emerging countries is likely to cause demand for foodstuffs to increase even further. As the amount of arable land declines, ammonia-based nitrogen fertilizers will continue to gain importance in the future. The industry as well is likely to increase ammonia demand once the effects of the global economic crisis have worn off.

Strong growth impulses from populous countries

Most important sales market for ammonia is Asia-Pacific that consumes about half of global demand. Populous emerging countries such as China and India in particular are likely to continue to increase demand for ammonia at dynamic rates. However, the Middle East is also expected to generate above-average growth rates due to the construction of facilities in downstream industries, e.g. urea production.

New technology as basis for cost-effective production in the USA

Production locations are undergoing a geographical shift towards Asia-Pacific and the Middle East. “Global ammonia capacity of currently about 198 million tonnes is likely to increase by about 35 million tones” explains Oliver Kutsch, CEO of Ceresana. About two-thirds of these additional capacities are to be created in these two regions. The Middle East in particular is able to profit from substantial natural gas resources that allows for ammonia production at comparatively low costs. Exception to this tendency to geographical re-orientation of production is the USA that is likely to increase both production volume and production capacities. Utilizing the Fracking-technology, this country is able to exploit its shale gas resources at economic prices and thus becomes a competitive location for ammonia production.

Urea as growth engine

This worldwide most comprehensive report depicts the development in both the agricultural as well as the industrial sectors. Plants need nitrogen as primary nutrient and ammonia, often in processed form, is an efficient fertilizer. Thus, the agricultural sector consumes a by far larger share of ammonia (80 percent) as does the industry. Urea made from ammonia is processed in both application areas. The industry utilizes ammonia for the manufacturing of urea-formaldehyde resins, melamine, and the urea solution AdBlue that is designed to reduce nitrogen consumption.

The study in brief

Chapter 1 provides a presentation and analysis of the ammonia market – including forecasts up to 2019: in addition to revenues, demand and production are explained in detail. Moreover, you will gain in-depth insight into the development of individual regions and global market dynamics.

In Chapter 2, 25 countries are analyzed in detail: ammonia demand, revenues, production, capacities, as well as imports and exports during past eight years. In addition, this chapter provides forecasts up to 2019 for selected countries.

Chapter 3 offers a useful directory of producers covering the most important producers of ammonia, clearly arranged according to contact details, turnover, profit, product range, summary profile, associated companies, and production sites as well as current and future capacities. Detailed profiles are given for 125 ammonia producers, such as Agrofert, EuroChem, GPN, Koch Fertilizer, OMIFCO, Orascom Construction Industries, Ostchem, PCS, SINOPEC, Togliattiazot, Yara, and Zaklady Azotowe Pulawy (www.ceresana.com/en/market-studies/chemicals/ammonia).

Announcing the publication of a practical study of the production and potential of multilayered plastic films

A new book published by Plastics Information Direct explores and explains the three key processes used to manufacture multilayered plastic films: extrusion coating, lamination, and coextrusion. Films for applications such as food packaging and medical products demand a range of properties such as heat-sealability, puncture resistance, controlled gas transmission, product resistance, transparency or opacity and the ability to be printed and sterilized. Multilayer film structures provide properties and performance which could not be achieved by a single material, whilst also exploiting cheap and easily processed polymers – primarily polyethylene. All three processes described can be used in their manufacture, and in combination they provide yet more options and benefits. One role of this book is to explain when each should be used.

Described as a complete process manual, this practical book is written for the industry professional engaged in the development, production or specification of films. It will enable the reader to optimize product performance and evaluate the most cost-effective solutions, with useful information on the key polymers and substrates used.

This is a practical process manual filled with useful advice, describing the effects of machine design, process variables, and materials selection. The guiding principle applied in this manual is that of cause and effect. This is achieved by integrating experimental data and computer modelling with the author’s extensive experience to arrive at conclusions and recommendations based on quantitative data. The author, Bert Gregory, spent 35 years working in the plastics industry. He also offers sufficient theory for the student or industry newcomer who wishes to understand how the processes work. Designers and end-users will find plenty of information on the properties and performance that can be obtained. Clear illustrations are provided throughout.

Extrusion Coating, Lamination and Coextrusion: The Complete Process Manual (published November 2012) is available in hardback format with 316 pages, priced at €150 or £125 or $200 (plus delivery). Copies may be ordered online from the web site: www.pidbooks.com, or from the publications department at: Applied Market Information Ltd, AMI House, 45-47 Stokes Croft, Bristol BS1 3QP, UK, Tel.: +44 (0)117 924 9442, Fax: +44 (0)117 989 2128, e-mail: pidbooks@amiplastics.com

Plastics profit: Ceresana analyses the global market for plastic pipes

Pipes made from plastics have advantages compared to those made from other materials such as aluminum, concrete, cast iron, copper, and steel. Due to their low weight, their resistance to corrosive effects and chemicals as well as the simple handling increases their importance in all application areas. The market research institute Ceresana is forecasting total global revenues of more than US$80 million in 2019.

Multiple applications

Plastic pipes are mainly used in the areas sewage, drinking/potable water and gas supply, cable protection as well as in agriculture and industry; they are likely to gain further importance in the future. Depending on application area, importance of the different types of plastics used varies considerably. For example, pipes made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) are relatively cheap and are thus used extensively in the sewage, potable water and cable protection sectors. “While pipes based on polypropylene and polyethylene are still in the process of challenging the dominance of PVC-pipes in potable water supply, they are already playing a notable part in both gas supply and in industrial applications”, explains Oliver Kutsch, Ceresana CEO. During the upcoming years, the utilization of other plastics, such as polybutylene, polyamide, and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, is likely to become more and more widespread. Among others, these pipes are used for specialty applications such as ceiling cooling, compressed air systems, heating installations as well as construction of automobiles and naval vessels. Yet PVC will remain the major raw material for the pipe industry with an expected market share of more than 55 percent. Second most important material is polyethylene, HDPE in particular. For this type, forecast market shares vary greatly depending on region and were between 28 and 45 percent in 2011.

Dynamic development in Asia-Pacific

Major sales market for plastic pipes is Asia-Pacific that accounts for just above 50 percent of total global demand. North America ranks second, followed by Western Europe. In the past, developing countries in Asia-Pacific have already been able to profit from the dynamic development of sales markets for plastic pipes. Market researchers at Ceresana expect Asian-Pacific countries to increase their market share of global demand to more than 60 percent by 2019.

The study in brief

Chapter 1 provides a presentation and analysis of the market for plastic pipes – including forecasts up to 2019: revenues as well as production and demand split by product type will be given for every region.

Chapter 2 examines the 16 largest countries of the market in more detail: revenues, production, import and export as well as demand split by the product types PVC, polyethylene, polypropylene, and other plastics. Detailed analysis is undertaken for the application areas sewage, potable water, cable protection, agriculture, industry, gas supply, and other fields of application.

Chapter 3: substantiated analysis of individual fields of application for plastic pipes: data on demand development, split by the seven world regions Western Europe, Easter Europe, North America, South America, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa.

Chapter 4 provides profiles of the largest manufacturers of plastic pipes – clearly arranged according to contact details, turnover, profit, product range, production sites, and profile summary. Detailed profiles are given for 76 manufacturers, for example: Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc., Aliaxis S.A., Crane Group Ltd, Fondital Group, Georg Fischer AG, JM Eagle, Mexichem, S.A.B. de C.V., North American Pipe Corporation, Pipelife International GmbH, Polypipe PLC, REHAU AG + Co, SIMONA AG, Tessenderlo Chemie NV, Tigre Tubos e Conexões S/A, Uponor Corporation, and Wavin N.V. (www.ceresana.com/en/Market-Studies/Industry/Plastic-Pipes-World).

New PPG brochure highlights pretreatment and engineered products

PPG Industries’ industrial coatings business has published a new brochure detailing its complete range of pretreatment and engineered products for protecting metal in automobiles, appliances, consumer electronics, and industrial products.

The four-page booklet describes the broad range of PPG’s pretreatment products, organized according to typical industrial processes such as drawing and stamping compounds, rust-corrosion inhibitors, cleaners, descalers, zinc and iron phosphates, and final rinses and sealers. ZIircobond and X-Bond pretreatments, two environmentally advanced zirconium-based products that both received R&D Magazine’s R&D 100 Award, are featured.

The brochure highlights four engineered product categories, encompassing seven products such as new Durabull protective polyurea coatings, which are used to protect vehicles and their exterior components from road debris, stone chips, chemicals, and other abrasive materials. Other engineered products are Spectracon zinc-rich basecoats, Audioguard noise-reduction coatings, and Corabond adhesives and sealants.

Readers can also review PPG’s technical and service capabilities, with value-added expertise in areas such as defect analysis, physical and mechanical testing, engineering and production training, production line design and start-up assistance, and troubleshooting.