US compounder Star Plastics (Millwood, West Virginia; www.starplastics.com) has strengthened its presence in China by starting up a second production site in the country. Located in Linyi, Shandong, Star Plastics Shandong first began operations in July this year. The site currently operates a twin screw extruder provided by Nanjing Giant Machinery (Nanjing, Jiangsu / China; www.giant-extruder.com), and also includes a laboratory. Altogether, the 7,000 m² production hall offers enough space for another nine compounding lines. Star Plastics did not disclose the new site’s capacity, but with a screw diameter of 68 mm, initial output will probably stand at about 3,000 t/y.

The group’s other plant in China, located in Shanghai, first started operations four years ago, and according to recent reports is capable of turning out 6,000 t/y. Both this and the new facility manufacture the group’s entire product portfolio, including numerous reinforced PC and ABS grades as well as blends containing acrylonitrile, styrenics and polyester, used in applications for the automotive, E&E, 3D printing, medical and gardening segments. Completing the portfolio is Star Plastics’ “EcoTech” line of recyclates.

Star Plastics operates two similar plants in its home state of West Virginia. In addition to the facility at headquarters in Millwood, the company also runs a plant in Ravenswood. In response to a Plasteurope.com query, the company said the two US plants combined have nameplate capacity for 30,000 t/y.