State-owned operator Oman Oil Refineries and Petroleum Industries (Orpic, Sohar / Oman; www.orpic.om) has launched "Luban" HP1151K, a PP thermoforming grade that it says increases both productivity and performance of transparent thermoformed cups, trays and containers. The new grade is based on Milliken's (Spartanburg, South Carolina / USA; www.milliken.com) nucleating agent "Hyperform" HPN-600ei, which offers "good organoleptics with no contamination risk." This makes Luban HP1151K suitable for food applications.

Orpic says Luban HP1151K combines high clarity and aesthetics with a new level of superior stability for thermoformed products, providing a new benchmark in pure, high-quality PP. The finished products also provide good stacking performance. The new grade was exhibited at the fifth "Oman Plast", which took place in Muscat / Oman in early May.