Israel-based thermoplastic extruded sheet manufacturer Plazit-Polygal (Gazit; www.plazit-polygal.com) has invested BGN 10m (EUR 5.1m) toward production capacity and energy efficiency improvements at its Panchim facility in Stara Zagora / Bulgaria. The investment includes the installation of a new polycarbonate sheet extrusion line that increases capacity by an additional 7,000 t/y and opens up the company’s overall extruded sheet capacity to over 24,000 t/y.

The bulk of the production at Panchim is intended for export mainly to EU countries but also to Chile, Israel, South Africa, Taiwan and Tunisia. The new extrusion line is Plazit-Polygal’s biggest and most advanced, making the Panchim facility the largest company in the group, said Amir Abramovich, president and CEO.

The company produces extruded, multi-wall and corrugated sheets from PC, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), acrylic and other thermoplastics. The materials are primarily used for architectural and agricultural applications (see Plasteurope.com of 25.10.2016).

To improve energy efficiency at the 75,000 m² facility, Plazit-Polygal will construct a waste heat recovery system and plans to introduce and certify an energy management system that meets the ISO 50001 standard. As the facility becomes fully operational it is expected to increase the group’s competiveness and achieve sustainable growth.