Polyolefins producer Borealis (Vienna / Austria; www.borealisgroup.com) is lifting capacity for long glass fibre-reinforced PP (PP-LGF) at its plant in Monza / Italy to 10,000 t/y. The investment cost was not disclosed. When approached by Plasteurope.com a company spokeswoman did not specify when the added output would be brought on stream. The facility first started producing the materials, marketed under the “Fibremod” brand name, in 2013 (see Plasteurope.com of 12.09.2013). Used mostly in the automotive segment, the range helps reduce weight while also offering cost-competitiveness and enhanced sustainability, Borealis said.

The Austrian company has collaborated with Germany’s Brose on PP composite and PP short glass fibre-based seat carrier solutions as a steel replacement and is currently also developing a PP composite sheet-based solution, in combination with PP-LGF, for the lightweighting of door carriers. Apart from that, Borealis is collaborating with Takata on a next-generation airbag housing made of PP-LGF and composite sheet.