Milliken set to open new world-class production facility in the US

Millad® NX® 8000 has been a game-changer for polypropylene packaging, putting Milliken at the forefront of innovation in R&D. This ground-breaking additive delivers crystal clear clarity, while extending sustainability benefits in the production of clarified PP parts, offering faster production rates and average energy savings of 10%. Its advanced properties and superior performance continue to spur unprecedented global demand. 

A number of factors are driving this. Millad® NX® 8000 achieves glass-like clarity in PP products without sacrificing key properties of durability, strength, impact resistance and sustainability. With the ongoing boom in thin-wall packaging related to the increase in e-commerce and food delivery services, this is particularly important, enabling brand owners to replace PET, polystyrene, polycarbonate and more with PP — shown by studies to be a more sustainable option. 

Secondly, current soaring energy prices have spiked interest in any resins or additives like Millad® NX® 8000, which can help converters to save energy during processing and improve production efficiency. As a result of these certified savings, brand owners using PP clarified with Millad NX 8000 ECO can display a UL Environmental Claim Validation label on their injection molded parts. 

“Global demand for Millad NX 8000 clarifier has grown at an 11 per cent compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) for each of the past nine years,” said Cindy Boiter, president of Milliken’s Chemicals Business. “Global clarifier demand grew by 16 per cent in just the past two years, outstripping the growth rates for global polypropylene (PP) resin. All regions have contributed to the growth of clarified PP, with Asia leading the way,” she continued. 

To meet these growing customer needs, Milliken will begin production later this year at its new clarifier plant in Blacksburg, South Carolina, increasing the production capacity of Millad® NX® 8000 by more than 50 per cent.

“This represents the largest clarifier plant investment in Milliken history,” said Boiter, “Engineering is complete, and we are in the process of commissioning the plant. Launching  production in the fall, will allow us to address both current market needs and the increasing demand for these products well into the future.” 

Polypropylene is not only lightweight and durable;  but also  one of the least energy-intensive polymers to make and recycle compared to other clear polymers. 

“Brand owners and packaging producers are seeing how Millad NX 8000 can contribute to improved environmental and manufacturing results. It is one of the more important clarifier developments in recent memory,” said Global Vice President - Plastic Additives Wim Van de Velde.

Additionally, the pandemic has dramatically altered many consumer habits, perhaps permanently, in the case of booming e-commerce and the growing popularity of food-delivery services. Thin-wall injection molded containers made using clarified PP – with their lightweight, durable and transparent characteristics – have proven to be a popular solution to packaging challenges facing the e-commerce and food-service industries. “We don’t see that changing,” said Van de Velde.