In the initial half of February 2024, High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) experienced an upward price trajectory across Europe and the United States, primarily driven by supply shortages and a surge in demand from the market. In Europe, the upswing in HDPE prices was mainly attributed to constrained supplies coupled with delayed cargo. Meanwhile, in the US, HDPE prices surged due to heightened demand from downstream industries such as construction and packaging. Further, the rising prices of feedstock Ethylene and upstream Naphtha and Crude oil have had a significant impact on the production costs of HDPE in both regions, contributing to the upward pressure on prices. Furthermore, supply disruptions in key transportation routes like the Panama Canal and the Red Sea have also played a role in influencing the pricing dynamics of the product, adding to the market volatility experienced during this period.

The holding pressure time is determined objectively, meaning that even less experienced process technicians can adjust the process parameters at the push of a button in case of a batch change. Further efficiency gains can result from the automatically determined optimum holding pressure time being lower than the holding pressure time set initially. In these cases, the cycle time is reduced. And the energy requirement decreases.

During this timeframe, the demand for HDPE in the US market exhibited bullish tendencies, with prices rise of 2% for Injection molding grade FOB Texas(USA). Trading activities remained robust, with market participants actively engaging in spot market transactions amidst constrained availability. The upward trajectory of HDPE prices can be further attributed to the heightened costs of feedstock Ethylene and upstream Naphtha, exerting increased cost pressures on the product. Moreover, the surge in export demand, propelled by ongoing logistical challenges, provided producers with additional opportunities to sell their products at elevated prices. Consequently, this heightened export activity facilitated the reduction of excess resin from the domestic market, resulting in tightened domestic supplies and upward pressure on domestic HDPE prices. This overall escalation in HDPE prices aligns with anticipated trends, as international resin prices have strengthened concurrently with the rise in freight costs. The recent uptick in PE spot prices throughout the month has encouraged producers to advocate for another price increase in February, following a successful hike implemented in January.

ENGEL is introducing a new member of the iQ product family at K 2022. The new smart assistant for nominal values goes by the name of iQ hold control and automatically determines the optimum holding pressure time to help process technicians achieve massive time savings.

The holding pressure time is one of the quality-driving parameters in the injection moulding process. This is why it is individually configured after mould set-up and typically determined empirically. Determining what is known as the sealing point not only takes a lot of time, it also consumes a lot of raw material since several parts first need to be moulded and analysed in the quality control lab. The new holding pressure assistant by ENGEL removes the need for production personnel to make this effort, saving both time and raw materials.

ENGEL is offering all iQ systems, including the new iQ hold control, as trial versions with immediate effect. Various packages are available, including – for example – webinars and in-house training, process engineering consultancy and tests at the ENGEL technology centre.

The combi M's horizontal indexing table technology saves valuable floor space, especially where multiple-cavity moulds are used. A comparable 32-cavity mould with a vertical rotary table would require a larger e-motion injection moulding machine with at least 280 tonnes clamp force. In this application, the horizontal indexing table technology reduces the injection moulding machine's footprint by more than 20 per cent.

The basis for automatically calculating the holding pressure time is mould breathing on the one hand, and the plasticising screw position on the other. iQ hold control analyses both process values and suggests the optimum holding pressure time via the CC300 injection moulding machine control after just a few cycles. Once the set-up technician has confirmed the value, production can immediately begin.

In the initial half of February 2024, High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) experienced an upward price trajectory across Europe and the United States, primarily driven by supply shortages and a surge in demand from the market. In Europe, the upswing in HDPE prices was mainly attributed to constrained supplies coupled with delayed cargo. Meanwhile, in the US, HDPE prices surged due to heightened demand from downstream industries such as construction and packaging. Further, the rising prices of feedstock Ethylene and upstream Naphtha and Crude oil have had a significant impact on the production costs of HDPE in both regions, contributing to the upward pressure on prices. Furthermore, supply disruptions in key transportation routes like the Panama Canal and the Red Sea have also played a role in influencing the pricing dynamics of the product, adding to the market volatility experienced during this period. During this timeframe, the demand for HDPE in the US market exhibited bullish tendencies, with prices rise of 2% for Injection molding grade FOB Texas(USA). Trading activities remained robust, with market participants actively engaging in spot market transactions amidst constrained availability. The upward trajectory of HDPE prices can be further attributed to the heightened costs of feedstock Ethylene and upstream Naphtha, exerting increased cost pressures on the product. Moreover, the surge in export demand, propelled by ongoing logistical challenges, provided producers with additional opportunities to sell their products at elevated prices. Consequently, this heightened export activity facilitated the reduction of excess resin from the domestic market, resulting in tightened domestic supplies and upward pressure on domestic HDPE prices. This overall escalation in HDPE prices aligns with anticipated trends, as international resin prices have strengthened concurrently with the rise in freight costs. The recent uptick in PE spot prices throughout the month has encouraged producers to advocate for another price increase in February, following a successful hike implemented in January. The HDPE market in Europe witnessed a price increase of 2% for Injection grade FD Hamburg(Germany), primarily fueled by constrained supplies stemming from delayed cargo arrivals from the Middle East and limited material quantities from the US. This upward trend was further reinforced by reduced output rates and regional outages. Despite this, overall demand remained relatively stable, marked by subdued activity within end-user industries. Further, market participants in the European market faced significant price hikes in February offers from local producers, despite only a marginal increase in feedstock Ethylene prices. The scarcity of import options and reduced allocations compelled suppliers to prioritize margin expansion, particularly after enduring negative margins for several months. With the February ethylene settlement showing a modest uptick due to sluggish demand in January, the substantial price hikes sought by HDPE suppliers in February will significantly aid them in reclaiming the margins lost over the past few months. Meanwhile, market players are directing their attention toward March, primarily engaging in discussions centered around potential Ethylene contract price settlements for the upcoming month.

ENGEL will also establish its new records in plant footprint and energy consumption at K 2022, where a minimal footprint, all-electric, high-performance e-motion 160 combi M injection moulding machine will make its debut and produce sample vessels for medical diagnostics in two-component injection moulding under cleanroom conditions.

An ENGEL viper 20 linear robot will be removing the two-component parts and depositing them in trays. Finally, an ENGEL e pic pick-and-place robot is covering the fully populated trays with an intermediate layer to be able to stack them in boxes and then discharge them via a tray server, which is also integrated.

Visitors to the K show 2022 can experience the new iQ hold control in action at the ENGEL booth, where connectors for vehicle electronics will be produced on an all-electric e-mac injection moulding machine. The smart assistance systems can be activated and deactivated individually to allow visitors to the show to experience the feature live.

The primary parts with cylindrical cavities are injected using a PC material dyed in black. The indexing table then rotates 180 degrees to seal the cylinders with transparent PC on one side with lenticular covers in a second injection moulding step. Simultraneously, the next set of primary parts will be produced on the other side. The two moulds, with 32 cavities each, come from Hack Formenbau in Kirchheim unter Teck, Germany.

The HDPE market in Europe witnessed a price increase of 2% for Injection grade FD Hamburg(Germany), primarily fueled by constrained supplies stemming from delayed cargo arrivals from the Middle East and limited material quantities from the US. This upward trend was further reinforced by reduced output rates and regional outages. Despite this, overall demand remained relatively stable, marked by subdued activity within end-user industries. Further, market participants in the European market faced significant price hikes in February offers from local producers, despite only a marginal increase in feedstock Ethylene prices. The scarcity of import options and reduced allocations compelled suppliers to prioritize margin expansion, particularly after enduring negative margins for several months. With the February ethylene settlement showing a modest uptick due to sluggish demand in January, the substantial price hikes sought by HDPE suppliers in February will significantly aid them in reclaiming the margins lost over the past few months. Meanwhile, market players are directing their attention toward March, primarily engaging in discussions centered around potential Ethylene contract price settlements for the upcoming month.

High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) Market Analysis: Plant Capacity, Production, Process, Technology, Operating Efficiency, Demand & Supply, End-Use, Grade, Foreign Trade, Sales Channel, Regional Demand, Company Share, Manufacturing Process, 2015-2035

As a system solution provider, ENGEL looks to ensure in the scope of process digitalisation that the control units of external systems, such as the mould or peripheral units, can be integrated with the central CC300 control panel on the injection moulding machine. For example, the HACK moldlife sense software is integrated with the CC300 machine control unit with the help of Webviewer technology. HACK moldlife sense detects errors and irregularities in the mould and automatically notifies the machine operator before rejects and high costs occur.