The European market for glass fibre reinforced thermoplastics is estimated at approx. 320,000 tonnes by Vetrotex International SA (PO Box 929, F-73009 Chambery); this is about a quarter of the total European market for composites. Polyamides are the largest group of glass reinforced thermoplastics with about 50%, followed by PP with 20%, PET/PBT with 12%, PC 8% with other materials making up the remaining 10%.

The major applications are in the automobile industry which takes 51%. The electrical and electronic industries consume 20%, household electrical and industrial parts 15%, with sport, leisure and other applications taking about 15%. According to Vetrotex, reinforced thermoplastics make up 57% of all plastics used in automobile construction compared to 40% of SMC/BMC materials.

Vetrotex reported a 6-7% decline in total composite materials consumption for 1993, with a decline of 15-16% in the automobile industry. However a significant upturn is anticipated during the second half of this year. Vetrotex claims to be European market leader with a 33% market share, and anticipates good long term growth opportunities for glass-reinforced plastic materials by continuing replacement of metals by reinforced plastics in parts currently made from steel and aluminium.

READER SERVICE: Vetrotex Press release on the European market for glass-fibre reinforced thermoplastics with charts for the automobile industry: PIE-No. 36446.