The expansion of business activities to Australia and Israel has reportedly led to higher demand at Ben Kunststoffe (Gomaringen, Germany; www.ben-plastic.com).

Now the semi-finished products manufacturer is setting up another line for the production of polyethylene and polypropylene sheets at its site in Melnik, Czech Republic, managing director Richard Bühler told Plasteurope.com during the K 2022 plastics trade fair (www.k-online.de). The expansion, which is to be completed in Q1 2023, seeks to increase production capacity by 20% – or 3,000 t/y – to 18,000 t/y. In addition, a photovoltaic system with 750 kWp capacity is to be installed to reduce the carbon footprint.

Last year, Ben Kunststoffe invested in a fully automated mixing plant for PVC. In addition to production of PE, PP, and PVC sheets, the company portfolio includes trading in semi-finished products based on PA 6, POM, PC, PMMA, PTFE, PVDF, ABS, PET, and PEEK.

The company, founded in 1989, started as a trading firm. Production in the Czech Republic was added in 1994, and Ben Kunststoffe currently employs around 120 people.