Page 9 - Plastics News January 2021

FROM THE EDITOR'S PEN

Lightweighting and Recycling shall lead in 2021

ith the upcoming BS VI norms, Light-weighting is a big bonus entering into 2021, and
Wnow it is coming with a cap from the government. The adoption of the proposed BS VI
emission standards will essentially bring Indian motor vehicle regulations into alignment with
European Union regulations. With the regulations coming in, cost is also going to play a major
role. For example, a 20% weight reduction in the same product, in this case an Automobile, is
going to pose a tough challenge and shall be possible through Engineering Plastics.

Deploying engineering plastic to design parts offers multiple other advantages besides light
weighting. It gives designers an opportunity to integrate multiple parts or features into one
component, reduction in the number of processes to make the finished component and tailor-
make the base material using various fillers and additives large-scale weight reduction is
achievable in automobiles by conversion of multiple aluminium or ferrous parts to engineering
plastics. Typically, this is done in components such as air intake manifolds, cylinder head covers
and plastic fuel tanks, to name a few.

The Current Plastic consumption in automobile / car is between 10-14% (Processed polymers
apart) With this, the final product will be the same shape and size but through technology, it Mr. Rajiv B.Tolat
is going to be distinctive. This will boost the capability of all the engineers who are working in
the industry. I am sure with the upcoming BS VI norms, most of the manufacturers and OEM ‘s
would be working hard on various lightweighting projects for their customers. Earlier, trends
were set just by the virtue of density but now the shift is coming towards the composites. For
example, what polypropylene could deliver is going to be changed with the use different filler
additives. A product which was 3 mm thick in the drawing board, can go to 2.3 mm thickness.
The product evolution with a change in material families is going to improve. This is where
we see challenges increasing. But one thing is sure Engineering Plastics will see a big shift
and perhaps help the industry in the coming.

The other segment is recycling of Plastics. Recently Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu noted
that avoiding (use of) plastic was not the solution but ensuring its responsible use and recycling
were important. Acknowledging the fact that Plastic has been a saviour in preventing the
spread (of coronavirus) he stressed on realizing that recycling is the mantra for ‘waste to
wealth’ and the waste management mark in India is expected to be worth USD 13.62 billion
by the year 2025. The plastics recycling market alone is expected to grow at 6.5 per cent
to attain a market size of USD 53.72 billion by the end of 2023. It might vary a bit with the
COVID repercussions.

And then it’s no wonder as the Singapore based investement firm Circulate Capital plans to
dedicate half of the ocean fund’s $106 million to India.
It’s a Happy New 2021…

Rajiv B.Tolat
Hon. Editor
publication@aipma.net

9 Januar y 2021 Plastics News