As part of its "Export Boost" programme, Russian thermoplastic compounds producer R&P Polyplastic (Moscow; www.polyplastic-compounds.ru) had earlier announced its intentions to enter Central and Eastern European markets – see Plasteurope.com of 30.11.2017. The company plans to raise its production capacity by 50% over the next five years.

Director general Pavel Kruglov said the company is "ready to create joint ventures" in Central Europe. R&P Polyplastic is aiming to boost its exports, and working on the creation of a distribution network in Central Europe and the CIS region. A company spokesman told Plasteurope.com that the company is considering all types of partnerships, including the acquisition of mid-sized enterprises in Europe. He said a partnership could also include production of R&P's compound materials using another company's facilities, and subsequently selling them in Europe through its distributors. R&P is currently in the negotiation phase with unnamed companies.

At the recent "interplastica" trade fair in Moscow, the Russian compounds producer announced it had held negotiations with equipment suppliers from Germany, Italy, China and India. It also presented developments in a recycling project at the event. Aiming to find a use for manufacturing waste, the company divided its waste into packaging waste (around 30%) and hard waste (70%). The company invested in new equipment to produce recyclate, with the aim to return the regranulate to the company's main production unit for compounds. According to R&P, in less than two years, the project has already been a success.