Volume cost & its importance in plastic applications: Part 2 (Filled Polyolefins)

摘要

In the October issue of Popular Plastics & Packaging, my article on Volume costs was published. I have received a lot of positive feedback and appreciation and I thank all the members who responded. One common thread in the feedback is that though it was a technical article; commercial implications were well brought out. Thanks to this article, the IPI Kolkata chapter invited me to give a lecture on the subject. I readily agreed as Volume cost is not well understood and it has been one of my passions to explain this important concept. The Kolkata lecture was very well received and I look forward to delivering the same lecture at other centers and would welcome the opportunity. The Article had special emphasis on PVC and highlightedthe pitfalls if Volume Costs were ignored. The Kolkata Chapter requested me to include filled PP and HDPE and I extended the presentation to include Polyolefins. This is what I would like to cover in this article. I must admit that I have a lot more experience with Filled PVC as compared to filled Polyolefins, so my article is based on theoretical considerations. I would appreciate feedback as to whether the conclusions drawn are actually reflected in practice. For those who have not read the first article, here are some basic concepts.