The injection molded wood plastic composites (WPC) market is at an embryonic stage. The market has started to grow in the last few years, primarily as an outcome of the excellent growth obtained in the wood-plastic composites extrusion market. This emerging business provides an outstanding opportunity for injection molders. Projected demand for injection molded wood plastic composites will experience 70% average annual growth - from almost nothing in 2004, to reach a market size of over US$350 million in 2008. Building products will be a critical market to fuel growth; although packaging, lawn & garden and houseware applications will also contribute significantly to the overall market demand.
Growth will be attributed to two main replacement opportunities: natural materials and unfilled/filled plastics in traditional plastics markets. The exciting news is that these products do not expect to replace the other plastic molded products. In fact, nearly two-thirds of the potential addressable market is based on targeting replacement of natural materials like wood, stone and others.
It is relatively easy for processors to move from traditional plastic injection molding to WPC injection molding. Limited capital investment is needed due to minor equipment and tooling modifications required. However, some key processing hurdles that molders must closely monitor include thermal sensitivity, moisture sensitivity, and shear sensitivity of WPC formulations as compared to traditional filled plastics. In addition, tool design, product design limitations, and consistency in fabricated parts are also concerns in adopting these materials.
A detailed study completed by Principia provides a detailed market assessment for building products, automotive, infrastructure, industrial and consumer markets in North America. It also includes estimates of current and future demand for dozens of applications as well as technology developments, competitive materials and profiles of leading molders, equipment producers and merchant compounders. |
