New line boosts HaloPolymer fluoropolymer output

Russia’s leading fluoropolymer producer HaloPolymer has launched a new granulation line at its Kirovo-Chepetsk manufacturing offshoot in Russia’s Kirov region this month.

The new line, supplied by KraussMaffei Berstorff, will enable the plant to substantially increase its production of fluoroplastic-4MB (FEP) which is currently in particularly strong demand.

The investment will also improve the quality of products through the inclusion of a unit for melt-filtration in the line, according to the Moscow-based group.

“It is a big step forward which can improve the purity of manufactured products as well as increase the volume of F-4MB pellets 10 times in the future,” commented HaloPolymer chief executive Maxim Doroshkevich.

FEP is used in the form of films or wire insulation and for applications in the aviation, automotive, rocket and space engineering and oil industries as well as for medical and pharmaceutical uses.

HaloPolymer Kirovo-Chepetsk, employing 2,000, is one of two subsidiary operations of the chemicals group producing fluorinated products. HaloPolymer Perm manufactures a range of chemical products and in 2007 launched manufacturing of new melt processable fluoropolymers.

The group turned out 7,000 tons of fluoropolymers last year and recorded a net profit of €121m on a 2011 annual turnover of €374m. It exports its products to more than 30 countries worldwide. It claims to be the first Russia-based company to become a member of the Washington-based Society of Plastics Industry Inc. (SPI).

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