Polymer production

TVK has substantial and growing high quality low- and high-density polyethylene and polypropylene production capacities.

In 2009, total polymer production reached 724 kt, decreased by 9 kt y-o-y. Production contracted in LDPE and PP segment, while there was increasing produced volume of HDPE products. The net income from polymer sales was down by 18% and it reached HUF 169 billion. 73% of the sales were realized in export markets.

Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) product group

TVK laid the foundations of petrochemical production in Y1970, when its polyethylene plant  of ICI technology (LDPE-1) came on line. The capacity to produce low-density polyethylene as well as the product range expanded substantially with a new plant (LDPE-2) of BASF technology installed in 1991. The LDPE-1 Plant was eventually shut down on 16 March, decreasing the annual LDPE capacity of TVK unit to 65 kt. The sales income of the LDPE Product Group was HUF 19 billion in 2009, down by 27% compared to 2008. The sales volume was 80 kt. The production volume of LDPE product was 66 kt in 2009, down by 25% compared to 2008, as a consequence of the closure of the LDPE1 Plant. The capacity utilisation was 93%.

The low-density polyethylene product known as the TIPOLEN brand is utilised in:

  • foils,
  • blown hollow objects,
  • mould products.
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High-density polyethylene (HDPE) product group

Utilising PHILLIPS process technology to produce high-density polyethylene, the HDPE Plant of 200 kt capacity was constructed in Y1986. A new HDPE Plant utilising Mitsui process technology came on line in Y2004. The joint annual capacity of the two plants is 420 kt/year. Sales income of the HDPE Product Group decreased by 12% and reached HUF 91 billion. The total production volume was 387 kt, up by 7 % compared to 2008, increasing the capacity utilization to 92%.

HDPE servers as a raw material for multiple application. Accordingly, products marketed by the brand name TIPELIN include polyethylene types for the production of:

  • foils,
  • blown hollow objects of a variety of sizes,
  • split fibres,
  • gas and water pipe.
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Polypropylene (PP) product group

The PP-3 Plant has operated since 1989 with Spheripol (Himont, currently LyondellBasell) technology, and has been complemented by the PP-4 Plant, which uses Spheripol (Montell, currently LyondellBasell) technology since 2000. The total annual capacity of the two plants is 280 kt. The PP product sales income was HUF 59 billion, down only by 23%. The total 270 kt production volume was lower in 2009 y-o-y, while the capacity utilization was 96%.

Under the brand name TIPPLEN, including homogeneous polymers, heterogeneous phase copolymers, as well as random copolymers, the array of applications is outstandingly wide:

  • mould products,
  • pipes and profiles,
  • cast and blown foil,
  • bi-axially oriented foil,
  • rafia and monofilament,
  • fibres.

Various types of PP materials suitable for the making of the above products can be found in the product slate.

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