Davis-Standard Lab-Line advances R&D for Thai Polyethylene

Thai Polyethylene, a subsidiary of SCG Chemicals Group, has taken its resin development to the next level with the installation of a Davis-Standard extrusion coating and laminating line for flexible and aseptic packaging applications.

In operation since mid-2021, the new line has enabled the company to demonstrate existing and proven SCG resins for the aseptic packaging and to test new novel SCG resins used for paper and aseptic packaging for liquid packaging, flexible packaging, woven coating and tarpaulin applications.

Niwat Athiwattananont.

SCG has already achieved excellent results during extrusion and adhesive lamination trials, including autoclave LDPE resins for high-speed coating and consistent stability during PE and PP film runs with SCG resins. “We chose Davis-Standard because of their expertise in extrusion coating and ability to customize the line to accommodate our specific requirements,” said Niwat Athiwattananont, technology and product development director, polyolefins and vinyl business of SCG Chemicals, defined the machine specifications and performance thereafter achieved Davis-Standard’s German subsidiary, ER-WE-PA GmbH .

“We were able to combine dry lamination capabilities into one machine for added versatility while maintaining the high-speed coating performance needed for demonstrating resins used in aseptic applications. We can now expedite our research and development efforts and production development by proving resin performance prior to customer trials. This is enabling us to produce attractive options using new structures with reliable accuracy,” Mr Athiwattananont added.

SCG Chemicals, the parent company of Thai Polyethylene, is one of Thailand’s largest integrated petrochemical companies. The company offers products ranging from upstream production of olefins to downstream production of polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride. The installation of the Davis-Standard lab line at their facility in Rayong, Thailand, aligns with the company’s commitment to developing new technology that creates high value-added products (HVA) and service solutions for customers worldwide.

Mr Athiwattananont noted that Covid restrictions and measures made commissioning a challenge. But through a lot of hard work, communication and feedback, Davis-Standard collaborated with them to get it done. “Our teams did an excellent job of working through various Covid-related issues and changes during the process. Davis-Standard’s on-site service teams were professional and experts in their field.”

Davis-Standard offers one of the industry’s largest and most versatile extrusion coating and laminating platforms, including customization based on customer requirements. ER-WE-PA GmbH, specializes in technology for aseptic packaging film and worked with Thai Polyethylene on this project.

“The innovation being delivered on this new line is significant for Thai Polyethylene’s customer base,” said Daniel Schiller, area sales and project manager for Davis-Standard. “Working alongside their team has been rewarding. We look forward to supporting them as they expand their product offering.”

For more information about Thai Polyethylene and SCG Chemicals, visit www.scgchemicals.com. For more information about Davis-Standard’s converting and extrusion coating solutions, visit www.davis-standard.com/converting_system/extrusion-coating/.