The Hoechst group (HQ: D-65926 Frankfurt), world's largest producer of polyester fibres and a major player in the PET market, has secured a new outlet for its raw material with the acquisition of a 2,200 t/y production capacity, patents and technology for extruded PET sheets from Irish plastics processor Caraplas Ltd (5 Westgate Business Park, Ballymount, Dublin 24). Hoechst has set up a wholly owned subsidiary at the Dublin site, Hostaglas Ltd, which will produce and market the pro-ducts under the "Hostaglas" trademark.

Dr. Dieter Bosse, project director at Hoechst, describes the Caraplas process as "unique throughout the world," as it prevents the crystallisation of polyester and renders the final product transparent, rather than cloudy. The sheets can then be coloured. Using the relatively new extrusion technology – the sheets have been on the market since 1991 – Hoechst sees good chances to open new applications for polyester. Plans are to enter competition with manufacturers of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and polycarbonate (PC).

The Frankfurt group claims it will be the only manufacturer worldwide in a position to produce the sheets in a thickness of 1-6mm. According to Bosse, this makes them suitable for use in construction (telephone booths, bus stop shelters, shower cabins), automobiles (windows for caravans) or furniture applications and sets them apart from polyester films, whose thickness is in the millionths of a millimetre range. Outlining the advantages of PET over competitive products, he notes that the material is more resistant to scratches and to chemicals, its flame resistance "better than PMMA and as good as polycarbonate." The price-performance ratio is also "better than PC," Bosse asserts, adding that "PET is also completely recyclable."

The sheets developed by Caraplas are "an excellent complement" to Hoechst's existing polyester portfolio, says the project director. He points out that "we are completely backwards integrated, as well as having access to applied R&D technology." Plans are to supply the Dublin plant with PET from plants in Germany, Portugal, the US or Brazil. The sheets are to be marketed primarily in Europe and Asia. If demand is sufficient, Hoechst will expand capacities at Dublin.