Nova-Institute publishes latest edition of market study on Wood & Natural Fiber Composites

Research institutes and industrial labs have long been developing Wood-Plastic Composites (WPC) and Natural Fiber Composites (NFC). To date, these materials have generally found application in small series of consumer goods. The only market to record significant volumes until now has been the market for decking. Now however, there are signs that this is changing, as manufacturers start to implement these materials in large-scale production.

End products made of WPC and NFC materials have a more refined look than pure plastic products. They have a natural attractiveness, due to the use of wood and natural fibers, as well as environmental advantages, as less plastic is needed to produce them, which benefits the environmental footprint. The mechanical properties are also nothing to sneeze at. But the most important thing of all: the products appeal to consumers.

In November, Germany-based Tchibo carried a WPC bedside table clock; two weeks later, a series of toys made by the Thai company plantoys, containing wood particles from old rubber trees as filler. The surfaces of the toys have a pleasant rubber-like feel, quite different from traditional plastics.

Bamboo fibers are also more and more frequently found in consumer goods, such as in the trays from Yong (China) used at organic restaurants. The German drugstore chain dm has been selling a comb made of WPC for about three years now, and recently added a second model.

Sixty commercial WPC and NFC granulate producers and dealers are listed, complete with web addresses and the plastics and fibers they use, in the latest edition of nova-Institute’s market study “Wood-Plastic Composites (WPC) and Natural Fiber Composites (NFC): European and Global Markets 2012 and Future Trends in Automotive and Construction”.

The study shows that the most commonly used plastics are PP, PE and PVC, but also bio-based materials such as bio PE and PLA are used. Wood fibers are used in many variations, main contenders in natural fibers are bamboo, flax and hemp. Many producers, global players and SMEs alike, have been in business for several years. A professional infrastructure has now developed which ensures that consumers have access to good manufacturers, and can use the new materials without any technical risk. The higher-quality look more than compensates for slightly higher granulate prizes.

Nova-Institute will be hosting the “Sixth WPC & NFC Conference” on December 16 and 17, 2015, in Cologne. The conference will provide an up-to-date picture of different technologies, promising applications and especially the WPC and NFC granulate markets and its current trends. For the first time, different providers of granulates with bio-based plastics, such as PLA, will be present, offering fully bio-based composites.
The conference is sponsored by Corbion-Purac bv. (NL) and Plasthill (FI) (Bronze). Coperion GmbH (DE) sponsors the "Wood and Natural Fibre Composite Award 2015“, awarded during the Conference. More than 300 participants from all over the world are expected.

The following WPC and NFC granulate producers and manufacturers will be featured at the WPC & NFC Conference, in Cologne:

• Aqvacomp Oy (FI)
• Beologic nv (BE)
• Corbion Purac BV(NL)
• FKuR GmbH (DE)
• Flaxwood Oy (FI)
• HIB TRIM PART SOLUTIONS GmbH (DE)
• Millvision BV (NL)
• ONORA BV (NL)
• Plasthill Oy (FI)
• PolyOne Global Engineered Materials (FR/US)
• Röchling Automotive SE & Co.KG (IT/DE)
• STAEDTLER Mars GmbH & Co. KG (DE)
• Tecnaro GmbH (DE)


http://bio-based.eu