The British market research institute, Applied Market Information Ltd (AMI, GB-Bristol, BS1 3QP), has recently published several new industry guides and updated other industrial reports. Here is a summary:

Plastics recycling
For the first time, an AMI publication deals with the small but expanding field of plastics recycling. “AMI´s Guide to the Plastics Recycling Industry in Western Europe” contains information on over 900 companies involved in the mechanical recycling of plastics. A detailed introductory chapter covers the development of the plastics recycling industry and its structure, names the major players, and then discusses the market conditions for individual plastics types. The national regulations on the handling of plastics packaging waste are introduced, country by country. Other topics include the recycling of scrap cars and electrical and electronic scrap. The main section lists over 900 recycling companies with the names of the people to contact, telephone and fax numbers, details of which polymers the companies process, what sort of plastics scrap and waste they take and which recycling technologies and products they use.

Book Service: “AMI´s Guide to the Plastics Recycling Industry in Western Europe” (English/German), 1999, 329 pages, paperback, DIN A4, original price EUR 245.00 + postage/VAT, PIE-No. B 44013.

Profile and tube extrusion
The new “Guide to the Thermoplastics Profile and Tube Extrusion Industry in Western Europe” contains details of 1,115 companies. According to AMI, over 1.3m t plastics were used in western Europe for the production of profiles and tubes in 1998. PVC continues to dominate the scene with 1.19m t.

Book Service: “AMI´s Guide to the Thermoplastics Profile and Tube Extrusion Industry in Western Europe” (English/French/German/Italian), 1999, 301 pages, paperback, DIN A4, original price DEM 515.- + postage/VAT, PIE-No. B 43842.

PVC compounding in Europe
Another recent AMI publication provides a review of the 50 largest PVC compounders in Europe. The current issue is the second edition. In the compounding segment, PVC is one of the most commonly used plastics, with a consumption of some 6.5m t. However, during the nineties this material has had to fight against a poor public image, particularly in western Europe, and registered only slight overall growth. Markets particularly affected were food packagings and bottles, although PVC was able to make a certain amount of headway in the building segment. Each of the companies profiled in this review is listed with full corporate details, plus additional tables showing the capacities of the European locations, together with the sales and earnings figures for 1996-1998.

Book Service: “PVC Compounders – a Review of Europe´s 50 Largest Players” (English), second edition, 1999, 115 pages, DIN A4, paperback, original price DEM 975.- + postage/VAT, PIE-No. B 44014.