Vamp Tech (Busnago / Italy; www.vamptech.com) is now distributing Chinese-produced PMMA in Italy and Europe. Supplier Suzhou Shuangxiang (Double Elephant) Optical Materials (Zhangjiagang, Jiangsu / China; www.szsxgx.com) is China's largest PMMA producer. For the Italian compounder, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2018, the move is its first distribution agreement outside Italy. Vamp Tech foresees further expansion of its existing PMMA portfolio into the rest of Europe. “Our company is planning the necessary investments to face this challenge, and all the others coming,” said Vamp Tech CEO Piero Eigenmann.

Suzhou Shuangxiang was founded in 2012 and is currently expanding the capacity of its PMMA plant in Zhangjiagang from 80,000 t/y to 120,000 t/y. Approximately EUR 150m has been invested. In 2016, the company also set up a production facility for sheets at the site, with a capacity of 24,000 t/y.

The resins product range includes four "SX" base compounds, two of which are standard injection moulding materials, while the other two are designed for high-temperature applications in the automotive industry as well as sheets for LCD screens. In addition, there are special grades for enhanced UV protection, easy mould release and improved impact resistance.

At the beginning of 2018, Vamp Tech acquired a minority stake in competitor Unicolour Polymer Technology (UPT, Sungai Petani / Malaysia; www.unicoloursb.com) – see Plasteurope.com of 25.04.2018.