The EPS industry closed the 2000 with a turnover of 43,500 TPMS

According to data provided by ANAPE, the Association that integrates and represents companies that form the EPS industry, the sector of white Cork in Spain closed the year 2000 with a turnover of 43,500 TPMS. The expanded polystyrene or EPS format, also known as cork blanco, is a plastic material very light, used in the field of packaging and packing for various sectors of activity and in the sector of the construction, primarily as thermal and acoustic insulation. Of the 43,500 TPMS billed by the sector of EPS during the 2000, 31,000 were transforming sector, and 12,500 to the producers of raw material, BASF Española S.A., Polidux S.A. (Group Repsol-YPF), B.P. Chemical SNC, Nova Chemicals Europe SASIberian Enichem S.A. and EWO Ibérica S.L. On the other hand, more than 56,000 T of EPS have consumed during 2000. This figure assumes a growth on the previous year of 8.74 per cent, and an increase in absolute terms of 4.566 T. Three major fields of application have contributed to the increase in the consumption of EPS in 2000. For construction applications, 31.007 T of EPS, 25.105 T in container and packaging applications, have been used and 669 T was allocated to other uses. In percentage terms, the growth in these fields of application has also been very remarkable, assuming 11.66 per cent, 5.28% to 11.50% respectively for the financial year 1999. The packaging and wrapping of EPS have been used in a significant way for the protection of all kinds of products during the 2000. The food industry has experienced a huge increase in the consumption of EPS, assuming a total of 9.617 tons. The EPS is a material widely used in this sector, because, on the one hand, it meets all the requirements of the legislation on food contact, and on the other hand, has qualities indispensable as a thermal protection, buffer, isolation and protection against impacts. The household appliances sector is another of the major fields of application of EPS. In 2000, this industry has increased its consumption of this material, reaching the figure of 8.109 T of expanded polystyrene, thanks to features such as adaptability of packaging of EPS, cushioning against impact and ease of stacking, both in store and at the point of sale. Also very significant participation in the results of other sectors of application, such as the electronics of consumption (1917 T), and the horticulture and gardening, (1.723 T), among others. Ultimately, the data provided by ANAPE show that the EPS industry is in a superb moment in our country, as compared to other European countries, since it is estimated that Spain occupies the 5th position in the European ranking in consumption of EPS.