PETpla.net Insider 10 / 2018

CAPS & CLOSURES 30 PET planet Insider Vol. 19 No. 10/18 www.petpla.net laboration that led us to develop the three grades of Lucene we have.” He described SM100 as a leading can- didate for light weighting of applica- tions. “What we are doing is striving to deliver the optimum solution for the market. HDPE made with metallocene catalysts produce a lower propor- tion of volatile components during polymerisation. That means they are cleaner while, at the same time, pro- viding a good match for lighter caps.” The lower VOC (volatile organic compound) content has already been put to good use, in the automotive industry, where they enable OEMs to produce interiors that meet ROHS (restriction of hazardous substances) standards more easily. Testing for perfection Bae and Joon led a tour of some of the testing facilities at the Daejon complex. As well as the molecular structure, LG tests the material it pro- duces on the same types of machines that its customers use. “We test mechanical properties, as well as resistance to environmen- tal, heat and pollution factors,” said Bae. We put our compounds through a range of tests that demonstrate to our customers that they will do the job they want. We have had to invest in up to date testing and metrology machinery, both to measure what we have done and to understand custom- ers’ needs. We test integrity, leak- age under different conditions, stress resistance and performance with water, CSDs, juices, dairy, edible oils and the whole spectrum of products.” For LG Chem, consistency and a worldwide distribution network are crucial. Its customers, such as closure system manufacturers, and world- class producers of popular CSDs, dairy and other drinks, are global companies themselves. “We produce in Korea but we export across the world. We have customers in Korea and Japan who are conservative in their approach to subjects such as light weighting; while those in the USA and Italy, for example, are rapid adopters,” said Joon. “The brands want to maintain the same product quality, worldwide. LG Chem is driving to be recognised as a global leader. We can supply the same materials everywhere, from Europe to Asia, North America to India and Africa. Wherever our customers are, we can deliver – both traditional products and groundbreaking new materials, such as Lucene.” www.lgchem.com LG Chem’s Convergence R&D Complex, the LG Sciencepark