The two-day Polyolefin Plastics Arabia Conference, which concluded yesterdayat Al Bustan Palace, A Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Muscat, stressed the need for the small and medium enterprises to adopt the accessible opportunities in the field of plastic industries.The conference also confirmed the Sultanate's keenness on the development of economic and trade relations with various countries across the globe, and its constant quest to contribute to the strengthening of the investment companies and institutions related to plastics.
The Polyolefin Plastics Arabia Conference kicked off on Mondayunder the patronage of H.E. Mohammed bin Salim Al Toobi, Minister of Environment and Climate Affairs, co-organised and produced by the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (PEIE) and the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE). The event presented a highly-interactive technical platform on the science and materials of Polyolefins, with original and peer-reviewed presentations on new developments triggered in the field of plastics technology.
Delivering his remarks at the opening ceremony of the conference, Hilal bin Hamad Al Hasani, Chief Executive Officer of the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (PEIE) stressed that the importance of the conference is derived from the significance of the plastic industry and its impact on the economic development. "Countries around the globe invest billions of dollars in this industry, as it is closely linked to other basic industries including oil refineries and petrochemical industries. Accordingly, PEIE in cooperation with SPE is organising this important event of Polyolefin Plastics Arabia Conference as an initiative to spur the downstream industries for Polyolefin in the Sultanate, and to promote and empower high potential opportunities to contribute to the growth of the Omani industries, based on sustained socioeconomic development, which would eventually enable Omani entrepreneurs and Omani youth to be involved actively in laying the foundations for a strong Omani SMI, that utilises knowledge, innovation and R&D as main drivers," Al Hasani pointed out.
It is well known that the two most important and common types of Polyolefin are Polyethylene (PE) and Polypropylene (PP). The rising demand for the products of Polyolefin industry covers almost every aspect of the modern life, including packaging, piping, agriculture, medicine, transportation, among others. "The rising demand, to be balanced with the vision of socioeconomic sustained development, necessitates the adoption of innovation and research and development (R&D), as main tools for competition and growth, that could lead to better performance and offer more functions, and move towards greater sustainability," Al Hasani elaborated.
Opportunities
Jon Ratzlaff, new President of Society of Plastics Engineers, said, "One of the benefits of attending this global conference is exposure to networking with members from around the globe. Face to face networking is unparalleled and can lead to countless opportunities. SPE has plans to integrate a social networking system into our website that will allow each member to choose the groups that interest them and find other members with the same interests. This will help each member choose the SPE information they want to receive and get notices on conference on specific topics. This networking system will not be like other social networking systems that overwhelm with non-relevant subjects pushed upon the member. SPE's social networking system will be focused on the plastics industry and is planned to offer the SPE member specific choices of networking within the industry."
Ratzlaff went on saying, "SPE has some exciting developments that will one - give worldwide networking capabilities and two - bring developments in plastics knowledge across the globe. SPE held a very successful ANTEC Mumbai conference in December of last year. It was successful financially and was so well received as a premier conference that plans have already started for a second ANTEC in India in 2014. This year, to add to our outreach, SPE is expanding around the globe and so we decided to hold a Polyolefins conference here in Muscat, Oman. Furthermore, SPE will be holding its second Eurotec in Lyon, France, in July, another conference is set to take place in Shanghai, China and a new ANTEC Dubai will be held in January 2014."
Ratzlaff also introduced the SPE Global Plastics Application and Design Competition to the audience. "SPE already has Plastics Application and Design Competitions at the local level and in distinct applications. We have examples such as the automotive industry awards in Europe and North America and applications such as Thermoforming awards. The first global competition will be held at ANTEC 2014 in Las Vegas. Even after more than 70 years, SPE is still a community of plastics professionals whose primary mission is to promote scientific and engineering knowledge related to plastics. Our members innovate, discover and publish plastics knowledge that continues to drive our industry," he said.
Expertise
Polyolefin Plastics Arabia Conference featured a dynamic line-up of expert speakers from leading local, regional and international organisations across the plastics industry,who presented latest updates and outlooks for the industry, and delivered practical and impactful information to attendees.
Among the local and international speakers at day one of the conference were Raed Al Zubi, Society of Plastics Engineer; Musab Al Mahruqi, Orpic - Oman; Abdullah Al Zakwani, Industrial Innovation Centre (PEIE); Willem De Vos, Society of Plastics Engineers; Peter Mooney, Plastics Research Company- USA; Len Czuba, Czuba Enterprises - USA; Vasco Amoroso, Mattex - Dubai; G.L. Banerjee, Amiantit - Oman; King Dharmaraj, Advanced Business Consultants; Shawn Khoo, Borouge - Singapore; and Faisal Al Hajri, Orpic - Oman.
Projects
Musab Al Mahruqi, CEO of Orpic - Oman delivered a presentation highlighting how Orpic plays a role in achieving, enhancing and growing the business to serve the market better in Oman. Al Mahruqi underscored several aspects comprising petrochemicals building block, petrochemicals to everyday products, Orpic downstream value chain, Orpic growth strategy, and Sohar Plastics Project.
Al Mahruqi outlined the development witnessed in Orpic throughout the years, and elaborated on Sohar Refinery Upgrade, which is estimated to cost USD 1.5 billion and it is anticipated to be completed by the year 2016. "The benefits expected from this project include improved refining process to cater for heavier crude, improved environmental performance, more fuels produced (70% increase), ability to produce Bitumen for local market, increased production of Polypropylene, and less imports of Naphtha as feedstock to Aromatics," Al Mahruqi said.
He also touched upon Sohar Plastics Project, which is expected to be completed in 2018. The project is estimated to cost USD 3.6 billion, and it attempts to achieve improved Refinery and Petrochemical integration, optimisation of existing production plants, optimisation of Natural Gas components, attractive economic returns, and potential for downstream plastics.
Innovation
Abdullah Al Zakwani, executive director of Industrial Innovation Centre (IIC), on the other hand, delivered a presentation titled "Innovation towards Sustained Future - Plastics". Al Zakwani mentioned that there are two areas where R&D with major impacts can be performed, hence innovation opportunity arises. These two areas include chemistry, the actual composition of plastic molecule, and application, where plastic can be replacing very dangerous material.
Day one: proceedings highlighted the plastics industry in Oman, global trends, and growth challenges for SMEs in Oman, and discussed topics encompassing an introduction to SPE, PEIE and the conference; ORPIC - Achieve, Enhance and Grow the business to serve the market better; Innovation towards Sustained Future - Plastics; Plastics as the Most Environmental Friendly Solution; The Evolving Role of Polyolefins in the Structural Plastic Part Business; Growing Opportunities for Specialty Olefins in Medical Devices;Polyolefin Textile Extrusions from the GCC, Challenges for a Local Convertor; Plastic Pipe Converter in Oman, Challenges for a Local Convertor; Potential for Establishing a Center of Excellence for Plastic Sector in Oman; Sustainability and Polyolefins in Advanced Packaging; and ORPIC: Creativity and Flexibility are key to success.
Day two: The conference proceedings on day two underlined various themes, which included packaging innovations, material innovations, new Polyolefin additive and compounding technology, and applications and testing. The topics that were discussed included Innovating for Improved Packaging Performance - Sealant Design; New Protective Packaging in Polyolefins; Out-door Storage of Polypropylene Packed with FFS Bag Experiment; A New Specialty Polyolefin Copolymer for the Region (EVA); Blends of Polystyrene with LLDPE, PP and Polypropylene Copolymer; Multifunctional Composites based on Polypropylene; Bio-based Additives for Polyolefins; Boosting Polyolefin Performance with Outstanding Additive Solutions; Techniques and Options for Effective Compounding of Reinforced Polyolefins;Recent Advancement in Injection Stretch Blow Molding of Polyolefins; Rating Methods for UV StabilzedPolyolefins; and Global Considerations of PE100 and PE4710 Pipe Resins.
Speakers on day two comprised Rajen Patel, DOW - USA; Jeff Pitt, Protective Packaging Systems - UK; Munther Al Rawahi, ORPIC - Oman; Trevor Hutley, Sipchem - Saudi Arabia; Harsh, DD Kale Consulting - India;ChristophHübner, Frauenhofer Institute - Germany; Jeffrey Cernohous, Interfacial Solutions - USA; Hartmut Siebert, Clariant - Switzerland; Paul Anderson, Coperion - USA; Sun Luyi, Texas State University - USA; Jon Ratzlaff, Chevron Philips - USA; and Steve Sandstrum, ISCO Industries - USA.
Recommendations
Highlighting the recommendations of the conference towards the end of the event, Dr. Abdullah Al Zakwani, executive director of IIC, said, "The conference was vital to inspire Omani companies to take up the talk, to involve Omani academics on the subject, and to get the government realise the values," adding: "The outcomes of the conference urge the development of an Omani society in the country specialised in this subject, and probably initiate a chapter of the US-based Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) in the Sultanate."
Al Zakwani added, "This event also encourages to have a focus on SMEs induction into the plastics industry, and support R&D for the chemistry side and application side. For the latter to be achieved, there has to be a quarter of produced plastics in Oman allocated to SMEs, which would provide support for R&D and commercialisation."
Events like the Polyolefin Arabia Conference represent a good opportunity to act as platforms for the interaction of the players from Oman and the world, and from various disciplines, to develop strategies for their cooperation and synergy and to review the most recent functional, scientific and technological developments.
© Press Release 2013
