R&P Polyplastic to launch new TPE compound line in H2

MOSCOW. Jan 24 (Interfax) - R&P Polyplastic will launch a new thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) compound production line with capacity of up to 6,000 tonnes at its plant in Engels in the summer of 2025, the company's R&D director, Mikhail Katsevman told Interfax.

"We've acquired equipment and we very seriously want to break into the market of thermoplastic elastomers based on SEBS, SBS, as well as dynamically vulcanized - EPDM and polypropylene. We've had great success in homologation of such formulations, we were lacking the specialized equipment. But now we have it and we believe that the quality and volume of 'made in Polyplastic' thermoplastic elastomers will be dramatically improved and increased. The equipment will be launched by the middle of the year, I hope," Katsevman said.

The launch of the new line at R&P Polyplastic will significantly increase production of TPE compounds in Russia. One of the major consumers of such materials is the auto industry.

R&P Polyplastic specializes in the production of thermoplastic compound materials for processing by pressure, blow and extrusion molding. It has plants in Engels and Togliatti, while its R&D center, pilot production facility and headquarters are located in Moscow. The company currently has annual production capacity of more than 135,000 tonnes, including at least 10,000 tonnes of TPE compounds.

R&P Polyplastic's products are used in manufacturing parts for household appliances, automobile components, building siding, electrical products, cable jacket and other industrial and household products.

R&P Polyplastic is a division of Polyplastic Group, the largest manufacturer of polymer pipes in Russia and the EAEU for external water supply and sewerage networks, gas distribution, hot water supply and heating. The group has 32 pipe factories in Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan with a total capacity of about 750,000 tonnes.