In 2016, two pilot-industrial releases of a new polypropylene brand (SIBEX RAFFIA PP H043 FF), intended for the production of film yarns, bags and big bags (the “Rafia” segment) were successfully carried out on the Tobol site. The main advantage of the new solution is the possibility of high-speed processing. When tested on high-speed lines, positive customer feedback was received, the product was recommended for serial production. The new brand will be sold both in the domestic and international markets.

Since 2008, with the participation of NIOST in SIBUR, more than 30 brands of polyolefins used in various application segments have been developed and introduced: non-woven materials, injection molding, raffia, BOPP films, thermoforming and others.

In 2016, more than half of the volumes of polypropylene SIBUR, sold in Russia, were product solutions developed in NIOST. Currently, SIBUR is actively working on the selection, testing and implementation of phthalate-free products that make it possible to obtain solutions from polypropylene that meet the prospective requirements of customers, and work on the transfer of production lines to the production of similar products is being completed.

“Together with NIOST, we have made significant progress in testing and introducing new products at our enterprises within the framework of transferring production lines to free-phased solutions and the possibility of producing a wide and flexible brand assortment,” said Konstantin Vernigorov, head of product and technological development of the Directorate for Basic Polymers of SIBUR.