Wood and plasticsin China
The Chinese market - among other things - now holds a leading position also in the production of handmade articles based on wood-plastic composites (WPC). By the end of 2010, the Chinese plastics and rubber processing industry will have employed 300,000 tons of WPC, amounting to a 40% increase over 2009. For comparison, WPC consumption in Europe is estimated at 170,000 tons per year, while the USA still leads with 800,000 tons.
Remarkably, Italian extrusion line manufacturers are at the leading-edge of this industry. Bausano and Icma San Giorgio have been the first ones to set up plants to produce WPC sheets and profiles in Italy and other major countries in the world.