PVC compounding: A core service from Primo

At Primo, we are experts at plastics extrusion. But being a plastics company is also about developing other skills as well. A unique part of the services we offer is our in-house PVC compound centre in Finland, which serves both internal and external customers.

Compounds to produce plastic with special properties

Plastics compounding is a vital part of all plastic production. In compounding, different types of PVC plastics and additives with different properties are mixed and prepared as a raw material for final extrusion of profiles. The end product is typically in the form of granules or dry blends that can be used directly in extrusion machines to produce profiles with very specific material properties such as UV resistance and semiconducting capabilities. Different chemical properties can be added to the PVC compound.

Specialising in semiconducting plastics

“We can prepare almost any type of PVC compound the customer needs,” says Anna Hokkanen, manager of the compounding centre. “Often, our customers have their own in-house materials experts, so they come to us with a recipe and ask us to make it. But just as often we work closely with the customer to develop the raw material with the properties that are required. We have developed quite a strong expertise in semiconducting PVC compounds, for instance, all as a result of close collaboration with our customers.”

Staying in touch with market development

“One of the benefits of having a compounding centre in a company like Primo is that we can develop our own PVC compounds as the need arises,” says Anna Hokkanen. “It means that we can develop new compounds quickly and smoothly, based mostly on existing PVC resins and additives. Naturally we follow market trends and news on PVC compounds and additives in terms of R&D as well as environmental aspects and REACH.”

Jim Nilsson, managing director of Primo Sweden, has worked extensively with the compounding centre.

“Usually, we contact the centre when our customers require a PVC profile with specific properties. They have the expertise and the experience to develop exactly the right compound, and both in the development and production, it’s always been highly profitable for our customers.”