LONDON, April 5 /PRNewswire/ --

- Plastics Applications - Emerging Technology and Trends

The versatility of plastics has a far-reaching impact on markets as varied as packaging, building & construction, transportation, electrical & electronic components, and medical. This diversity lends the market an intensely dynamic quality furthered by rapidly changing technology.

This diverse application ability of plastics offers manufacturers the challenge and freedom to create a lucrative balance of markets and end users. While some manufacturers prefer to focus on exclusive markets, a large majority opt to spread themselves out over a larger number of application areas.

Plastic's adaptability also enables companies to offer economical, highly durable and lightweight solutions. Germany's BREE Collection GmbH & Co. KG's illuminated business handbag using smart surface technology (SST) is a suitable example of a cost-effective, ingenious solution.

"This factor is also evident in segments such as transportation where plastic offers fuel savings, design flexibility and high performance at lower costs," points out Senior Technical Insights Analyst Dr. Donald V. Rosato from Frost & Sullivan (http://technicalinsights.frost.com). "These benefits are particularly useful to designers that face complex transportation needs whether on land or sea, in the air or space."

Plastics are being deployed extensively for their corrosion resistance, toughness, ease of colouring, finishing, resilience as well as their ability to save a large amount of fuel annually due to their lightweight. These advantages have also moved them from car interiors to 'under the hood' solutions.

This tremendous flexibility can be attributed to numerous sophisticated processes involved in plastics' production, compounding, or distribution. The procedures vary from specialty applications to commodity and semi-commodity segments, and impact the final products to a large extent.

The adaptability also mirrors the technical development capabilities of plastic processors, reflecting equipment and huge investment made in the plastics industry. The scale and range of integration come into play when processors develop end-use plastic application strategies.

Packaging, the largest end-use sector for plastics, relies on different techniques to achieve the varied qualities and assortment of packaging materials. For more complex parts, the primary process is extrusion, followed by injection moulding.

Blow moulding is also extensively used in the manufacture of packaging products along with processes such as thermoset - compression and transfer moulding and reaction injection moulding.

These processes are usually shaped by regulations such as the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) requirements in the European electronics and electrical (E&E) market. Mandates require that materials used in the E&E sector must be offered in flame-resistant formulations if they are not inherently so and also without the aid of halogenated components.

"The growing importance of technology in plastic applications and changing regulations is compelling participants to be fully equipped with the latest technical and market knowledge," observes Dr. Rosato. "Participants need to consistently upgrade in an intensely competitive scenario coupled with constantly changing scientific landscape."

Moreover, technology's overlapping nature calls for superior awareness about correlated market segments, beyond a company's principal market. The automotive industry has also benefited immensely from the flexibility offered by plastics in terms of economical performance, safety, comfort and environmental considerations. Participants, however, must be aware of the latest emerging trends and information to survive any economic downswings propelled by the highly cyclic nature of the automotive market.

The plastic applications sector is expected to grow consistently as plastic proves its far-reaching influence in innumerable applications. It has found usage in a wide variety of applications ranging from daily life purposes such as internal wiring for houses to highly specialised functions.

Plastics Applications-Emerging Technology and Trends is part of the Chemicals and Materials vertical subscription service, and examines more than the global trends and emerging developments in plastic applications. The research provides a comprehensive look at over 110 plastic application related trends and market segment specific focus, in a concise yet comprehensive format. It also defines the value of plastic application development in the categories of plastic application fundamentals, electrical and electronic, industrial, transportation, consumer products, medical, emerging, and other applications, and also offers a company source guide. This data will allow participants to update industry and technical knowledge and stay ahead of the rising competition. Executive summaries and interviews are available to the press.

If you are interested in the virtual brochure which provides manufacturers, end users, and other industry participants with an overview, summary, challenges, and latest coverage of Plastics Applications - Emerging Technology and Trends - then send an e-mail to Katja Feick - European Corporate Communications at katja.feick@frost.com with the following information: your full name, company name, title, telephone number, fax number and email. Upon receipt of the above information, an overview will be sent to you via e-mail.

Technical Insights is an international technology analysis business that produces a variety of technical news alerts, newsletters, and research services.

Frost & Sullivan, an international growth consultancy, has been supporting clients' expansion for more than four decades. Our market expertise covers a broad spectrum of industries, while our portfolio of advisory competencies includes custom strategic consulting, market intelligence, and management training. Our mission is to forge partnerships with our clients' management teams to deliver market insights and to create value and drive growth through innovative approaches. Frost & Sullivan's network of consultants, industry experts, corporate trainers, and support staff spans the globe with offices in every major country.

Media Contacts: Katja Feick, Corporate Communications - Europe, P: +44-(0)-20-7915-7856, F: +44-(0)-20-7730-3343, E: katja.feick@frost.com Tolu Babalola, Corporate Communications - North America, P: +1-210-477-8427, F: +1-210-348-1003, E: tolu.babalola@frost.com Pramila Gurtoo, Corporate Communications - Asia Pacific, DID: +603-6204-5811, Gen: +603-6204-5800, Fax: +603-6201-7402, E: pgurtoo@frost.com

www.frost.com

www.technicalinsights.frost.com

Keywords in this release: plastics, packaging, building & construction, transportation, consumer, institutional products, furniture, furnishings, electrical & electronic components, medical, plastic processors, extrusion, injection moulding, blow moulding, thermoset process, compression moulding, transfer moulding, reaction injection moulding

Media Contacts: Katja Feick, Corporate Communications - Europe, P: +44-(0)-20-7915-7856, F: +44-(0)-20-7730-3343, E: katja.feick@frost.com; Tolu Babalola, Corporate Communications - North America, P: +1-210-477-8427, F: +1-210-348-1003, E: tolu.babalola@frost.com; Pramila Gurtoo, Corporate Communications - Asia Pacific, DID: +603-6204-5811, Gen: +603-6204-5800, Fax: +603-6201-7402, E: pgurtoo@frost.com