Synthetic Paper: Technologies and Global Markets

REPORT HIGHLIGHTS

• The global market for synthetic paper totaled 216 million pounds in 2011 and is projected to reach 222 million pounds in 2012 and 263 million pounds in 2017, a five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.4%.
• The non-label segment is expected to account for 129 million pounds in 2012 and 152 million pounds in 2017, a CAGR of 3.3%.
• Labels are expected to total 93 million pounds in 2012 and 111 million pounds in 2017, a CAGR of 3.6%.

INTRODUCTION

STUDY GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

The objective of this study is to provide an analysis of the global synthetic paper market, which has undergone significant changes within the last several years due to the continued exporting of products, especially from Asia, along with some interesting changes in technologies and markets.

REASONS FOR DOING THE STUDY

Although synthetic paper has been commercial since the mid-1980s, this niche market has undergone substantive changes in market emphasis.  Initially aimed at replacing fiber-based paper, synthetic paper has, in addition, begun to move into plastic-based film applications—most prominently, labels and, to a lesser extent, tags.

Along with increases in exported products, the impact of film converters and/or distributors and upgraded technologies has caused changes in this market.  As a result, there is a need to define and assess this market that is valued at close to half a billion dollars.

INTENDED AUDIENCE

Likely readers of this report would include: synthetic paper producers along with companies that produce printable plastic films, many of which are called converters.  Other interested parties could be companies that make flexible plastic packaging films and film extruders.  Tag and label producers, including those who provide pressure-sensitive products and in-mold labels, should be interested in this report as well.

SCOPE OF REPORT

The term synthetic paper has not been universally defined because it is basically an opaque plastic film that is both printable and writeable.  Most synthetic papers are either biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) or high-density polyethylene (HDPE), although there are sizable amounts made from polyesters and fewer so from polystyrene and PVC.

Although the market has gone beyond its original intentions, this report will include those products which producers, converters and distributors market as synthetic paper even though, in many instances, it replaces a non-fiber based paper product such as plastic films.  Actually, the distinction between synthetic paper and white opaque printable films has not yet been resolved.

This report will describe the various polymer films used to produce synthetic paper; fillers and coatings used in manufacturing; printing processes used; new technologies; applications; detailed discussions of major players and their respective products, industry structure, patent review, pricing, market estimates and forecasts by major application and other critical aspects of the market.

It is essential to understand, in regard to market estimates and forecasts in this report, that food/beverage packaging labels have been excluded for several reasons.  First, their large volume of plastic films (hundreds of millions of pounds) would distort the basic synthetic paper market, and second, most of those in the industry feel that this market segment lies outside the general definition of synthetic paper.

We have used the concept that, if a company states that their product is a synthetic paper, it has been included in the study.  Detractors in these instances claim the product in question is a printable plastic film.

METHODOLOGY AND INFORMATION SOURCES

Both primary and secondary research methodologies were used in preparing this study. A comprehensive review of technical and market information along with a careful analysis of product literature was undertaken.  An extensive internet research effort was undertaken and queries were directed to synthetic paper producers, film converters and distributors to try and clear up unresolved issues.

AUTHOR’S CREDENTIALS

Research analyst Mel Schlechter has more than 40 years in the chemical industry and specializes in plastics market research.  He has been with BCC Research for more than a decade and holds a B.S. in chemistry, an M.S. in organic chemistry and an M.B.A. in marketing.

Table of Contents

Chapter- 1: INTRODUCTION
STUDY GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
REASONS FOR DOING THE STUDY
INTENDED AUDIENCE
SCOPE OF REPORT
METHODOLOGY AND INFORMATION SOURCES
RELATED BCC REPORTS
AUTHOR'S CREDENTIALS
BCC ONLINE SERVICES
DISCLAIMER

Chapter- 2: SUMMARY
Table Summary : GLOBAL SYNTHETIC PAPER MARKET BY MAJOR APPLICATION THROUGH 2017
Figure Summary : GLOBAL SYNTHETIC PAPER MARKET BY MAJOR APPLICATION THROUGH 2017

Chapter- 3: OVERVIEW
HISTORY

Chapter- 4: CHARACTERISTICS OF SYNTHETIC PAPER
OVERVIEW
TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW
PROPERTIES
PRINTING
APPLICATIONS
ADVANTAGES
THE MARKETS
NEW INCENTIVES TO GROWTH
POTENTIAL DETERRENTS TO GROWTH

Chapter- 5: WHAT IS SYNTHETIC PAPER?

Chapter- 6: MAJOR PLAYERS IN SYNTHETIC PAPER
BACKGROUND
ARJOBEX
NAN YA PLASTICS
PPG
YUPO CORPORATION
OTHERS

Chapter- 7: TYPES OF SYNTHETIC PAPERS AND MANUFACTURING METHODS
OVERVIEW
INTERNAL MANUFACTURING
SURFACE COATING
SURFACE TREATMENT
FILM LAMINATE

Chapter- 8: TECHNOLOGIES
BACKGROUND
FILM/SHEET MATERIALS
FLEXIBLE PLASTIC FILM FABRICATION TECHNOLOGY
Table 1 : TECHNOLOGIES USED TO MANUFACTURE SYNTHETIC PAPER

Chapter- 9: SYNTHETIC PAPER ADDITIVES
BACKGROUND
CLAYS
TITANIUM DIOXIDE
CALCIUM CARBONATE
TALC
SILICAS
OTHER

Chapter- 10: PRINTING PROCESSES AND PRINTING INKS
BACKGROUND
OVERVIEW
MICROPOROUS POLYMERS

Chapter- 11: PATENTS RELATED TO SYNTHETIC PAPER
OVERVIEW
BACKGROUND
PATENT REVIEW

Chapter- 12: SYNTHETIC PAPER ASPECTS
OVERVIEW
RESIN CHOICES
WHITENESS, OPACITY AND PRINTABILITY
FORMULATION TECHNIQUES
COMMON FORMATS
SYNTHETIC PAPER COMPARISONS

Chapter- 13: RESINS USED IN SYNTHETIC PAPER
BACKGROUND
POLYETHYLENES
POLYPROPYLENE
POLYESTERS
POLYSTYRENE
PVC

Chapter- 14: SUMMARY OF SYNTHETIC PAPER AND COMPETITIVE FILM SCENARIOS

Table 8 : SYNTHETIC PAPER/COMPETITIVE FILM APPLICATIONS
Chapter- 15: FILM AND SHEET PRODUCERS
Table 9 : SELECTED KEY FILM AND SHEET MANUFACTURERS IN MARKETS CURRENTLY/POTENTIALLY COMPETITIVE WITH SYNTHETIC PAPER

Chapter- 16: ROLE OF CONVERTERS

Chapter- 17: CONCEPT OF WATERPROOF PAPER
OVERVIEW
SOFT POLYESTERS
RIGID POLYESTERS
WOVEN FABRIC PAPER
SATIN ACETATE FABRIC FACE STOCK

Chapter- 18: SYNTHETIC PAPER APPLICATIONS
BACKGROUND
LABELS AND TAGS
AN INTRIGUING POTENTIAL APPLICATION-RFID
FLEXIBLE PACKAGING
CARDS
MENUS
MAPS/CHARTS
OTHER APPLICATIONS
Table 10 : RANDOM EXAMPLES OF SYNTHETIC PAPER APPLICATIONS
Table 11 : ACTUAL AND POTENTIAL SYNTHETIC PAPER APPLICATIONS

Chapter- 19: SYNTHETIC PAPER MARKET ESTIMATES AND FORECASTS
DIFFICULTIES IN DEFINING THE SYNTHETIC PAPER MARKET
CONTRASTING SYNTHETIC PAPER THICKNESS WITH APPLICATIONS
DEFINING SYNTHETIC PAPER MARKET PARAMETERS
CLARITY AND OPAQUENESS ISSUES
SYNTHETIC PAPER MARKET PARAMETERS DEFINED
DEFINITIONS
COMPARISON OF PET FILM APPLICATIONS

Chapter- 20: OVERVIEW OF SYNTHETIC PAPER MARKET SCENARIO
Figure 1 : SYNTHETIC PAPER MARKET SCENARIO

Chapter- 21: MARKET ESTIMATES AND FORECASTS
Table 19 : KEY GLOBAL SYNTHETIC PAPER PRODUCERS AND SEGMENTS, 2011
Table 20 : SYNTHETIC PAPER MARKET AND VALUE BY KEY PRODUCERS AND PARTICIPANTS, 2011
Table 21 : GLOBAL SYNTHETIC PAPER MARKET BY MAJOR BROAD APPLICATION, THROUGH 2017
Table 22 : GLOBAL SYNTHETIC PAPER MARKET BY PRODUCERS/SUPPLIERS, 2011
Table 23 : GLOBAL SYNTHETIC PAPER MARKET BY TYPE OF PLASTIC FILM, THROUGH 2017
Table 24 : GLOBAL POLYPROPYLENE SYNTHETIC PAPER MARKET BY APPLICATION SEGMENT, THROUGH 2017
Table 25 : GLOBAL HDPE SYNTHETIC PAPER MARKET BY APPLICATION SEGMENT, THROUGH 2017
Table 26 : GLOBAL POLYESTER SYNTHETIC PAPER MARKET BY APPLICATION SEGMENT, THROUGH 2017
Table 27 : GLOBAL POLYSTYRENE SYNTHETIC PAPER MARKET BY APPLICATION SEGMENT, THROUGH 2017
Table 28 : GLOBAL OTHER RESIN SYNTHETIC PAPER MARKET BY APPLICATION SEGMENT, THROUGH 2017

Chapter- 22: MARKETING ASPECTS
CONVERTERS
EXPORTERS

Chapter- 23: REALISTIC ECONOMIC AND MARKET APPRAISAL
BACKGROUND
OVERVIEW
PRICING
DECISION VARIABLES BETWEEN SYNTHETIC PAPER, FIBER-BASED PAPER OR PLASTIC FILMS

Chapter- 24: STANDARD TEST METHODS
Table 32 : STANDARD TESTS APPLICABLE TO SYNTHETIC PAPER
Table 33 : OTHER GENERAL ASTM PAPER STANDARDS

Chapter- 25: GOVERNMENT PAPER SPECIFICATIONS STANDARDS

Chapter- 26: INDUSTRY STRUCTURE
BACKGROUND
MAJOR SYNTHETIC PAPER PLAYERS AND PRODUCTS
TYPES OF COMPANIES INVOLVED IN SYNTHETIC PAPER INDUSTRY
VERTICAL INTEGRATION
HORIZONTAL INTEGRATION
NONINTEGRATED FILM FABRICATORS
DISTRIBUTOR FIRMS

Chapter- 27: MAJOR SYNTHETIC PAPER PRODUCTS
CRISPER
HOP-SYN
KIMDURA
MXM SYNTHETIC PAPER
PAPERMATCH
PEPA SYNTHETIC PAPER
POLYART
POLYLITH
SYNAPS
TESLIN
V-MAX
YUPO

Chapter- 28: SELECTED GLOBAL SYNTHETIC PAPER SUPPLIERS
AMERICAN PACKAGING CORPORATION
AVERY DENNISON
BESTRADE PRECISION LTD
BRUCKNER MASCHINEN GMBH
BUMTORG
CHINJU CHEMICAL
CONTRACT CONVERTING
COSMO FILMS
ELASTIN INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
EPSON
EUROPAPIER
FLEXCON
FORMOSA POLYCHEM
FUSION DIGITAL PAPER
GUANGZHOU HUAHE ADHESIVE PRODUCTS, CO., LTD
HARBOR INTERNATIONAL TEXTILES, INC.
HAVE OUR PLASTIC, INC.
JUNISH PRODUCTS
KAVERI METALLISING & COATING IND. PRIVATE LIMITED
KGM COUNTRY
KWH PLAST LTD
MARK PRODUCTS LLC
MASTERPIECE GRAPHICS
MULTI-PLASTICS, INC.
NEKOOSA COATED PRODUCTS
NOVACEL HELLAS LTD
NOW PLASTICS EUROPE
PHOENIX FILMS
PLASTIC & PAPER SALES
PLUSS POLYMERS
SHANPLAST ENTERPRISES
SOUTH WALES CHEMICAL WORKS
SSLINK, LTD
TAI-SANKI COMPANY, LTD
TAIWAN LUNG MENG TECH COMPANY, LTD
TAPE TECHNOLOGIES
VITOPEL
XCEL PRODUCTS
XEROX COMPANY

Chapter- 29: COMPANY PROFILES
A. SCHULMAN
AET FILMS
AGFA-GEVAERT NV
AMERICAN PROFOL
ARJOBEX, INC.
CLEAR CAST TECHNOLOGIES
FLEXCON, INC.
GRANWELL PRODUCTS
HOP INDUSTRIES CORPORATION
MULTI-PLASTICS, INC.
NAN YA PLASTICS CORPORATION
NEENAH PAPER
PLASTIC & PAPER SALES, INC.
PLASTICS SUPPLIERS, INC.
PPG INDUSTRIES
TOYOBO CORPORATION
TRANSILWRAP COMPANY
VALERON STRENGTH FILMS
YUPO CORPORATION

Chapter- 30: APPENDIX
ACRONYMS

List of Tables

Summary Table : GLOBAL SYNTHETIC PAPER MARKET BY MAJOR APPLICATION THROUGH 2017
Table 1 : TECHNOLOGIES USED TO MANUFACTURE SYNTHETIC PAPER
Table 2 : REFRACTIVE INDICES OF MAJOR SYNTHETIC PAPER FILLERS
Table 3 : PRINTING INK DRYING MECHANISMS
Table 4 : COMPARISON CHART FOR THE MAJOR COMMERCIAL SYNTHETIC PAPERS
Table 5 : LEADING GLOBAL POLYPROPYLENE PRODUCERS
Table 6 : POLYESTER FILM APPLICATIONS
Table 7 : FEATURES AND APPLICATIONS OF RIGID PVC FILMS
Table 8 : SYNTHETIC PAPER/COMPETITIVE FILM APPLICATIONS
Table 9 : SELECTED KEY FILM AND SHEET MANUFACTURERS IN MARKETS CURRENTLY/POTENTIALLY COMPETITIVE WITH SYNTHETIC PAPER
Table 10 : RANDOM EXAMPLES OF SYNTHETIC PAPER APPLICATIONS
Table 11 : ACTUAL AND POTENTIAL SYNTHETIC PAPER APPLICATIONS
Table 12 : SYNTHETIC LABEL AND TAG USES
Table 13 : SYNTHETIC PAPER TAG AND LABEL APPLICATIONS AND ADVANTAGES
Table 14 : PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF FILM LABEL FACESTOCK
Table 15 : SYNTHETIC PAPER ATTRIBUTES SOUGHT BY LABEL PRODUCERS
Table 16 : CONTRASTING SYNTHETIC PAPER THICKNESSES WITH RECOMMENDED APPLICATIONS
Table 17 : SYNTHETIC PAPER APPLICATIONS AS CITED BY SYNTHETIC PAPER SUPPLIERS
Table 18 : APPLICATIONS OF PET FILMS AS CITED BY PET FILM SUPPLIERS
Table 19 : KEY GLOBAL SYNTHETIC PAPER PRODUCERS AND SEGMENTS, 2011
Table 20 : SYNTHETIC PAPER MARKET AND VALUE BY KEY PRODUCERS AND PARTICIPANTS, 2011
Table 21 : GLOBAL SYNTHETIC PAPER MARKET BY MAJOR BROAD APPLICATION, THROUGH 2017
Table 22 : GLOBAL SYNTHETIC PAPER MARKET BY PRODUCERS/SUPPLIERS, 2011
Table 23 : GLOBAL SYNTHETIC PAPER MARKET BY TYPE OF PLASTIC FILM, THROUGH 2017
Table 24 : GLOBAL POLYPROPYLENE SYNTHETIC PAPER MARKET BY APPLICATION SEGMENT, THROUGH 2017
Table 25 : GLOBAL HDPE SYNTHETIC PAPER MARKET BY APPLICATION SEGMENT, THROUGH 2017
Table 26 : GLOBAL POLYESTER SYNTHETIC PAPER MARKET BY APPLICATION SEGMENT, THROUGH 2017
Table 27 : GLOBAL POLYSTYRENE SYNTHETIC PAPER MARKET BY APPLICATION SEGMENT, THROUGH 2017
Table 28 : GLOBAL OTHER RESIN SYNTHETIC PAPER MARKET BY APPLICATION SEGMENT, THROUGH 2017
Table 29 : SYNTHETIC PAPER, COMPETITIVE FILMS AND THEIR MARKETS
Table 30 : SELECTED SYNTHETIC PAPER PRODUCTS AND PRICES
Table 31 : QUALITATIVE APPRAISAL OF SYNTHETIC PAPER PENETRATION INTO SELECTED MAJOR APPLICATIONS
Table 32 : STANDARD TESTS APPLICABLE TO SYNTHETIC PAPER
Table 33 : OTHER GENERAL ASTM PAPER STANDARDS
Table 34 : MAJOR SYNTHETIC PAPER PRODUCTS AND PLAYERS BY TRADE NAME PRODUCT
Table 35 : A. SCHULMAN’S PAPERMATCH PRODUCTS
Table 36 : POLYLITH PRODUCT LINE
Table 37 : SELECTED GRADES OF YUPO SYNTHETIC PAPER PRODUCT LINE

List of Figures

Summary Figure : GLOBAL SYNTHETIC PAPER MARKET BY MAJOR APPLICATION THROUGH 2017
Figure 1 : SYNTHETIC PAPER MARKET SCENARIO