Market outlook
USD 200 million IFC loan to expand facilities in Nakhon Pathom and Rayong( Thailand). Thailand has strong demand for recycled plastics and a national recycling infrastructure, especially in Bangkok, Chon Buri and Rayong— though it still relies on the informal sector for collection. In Rayong, Indorama and Austria’ s Alpla jointly produce 30,000 tonnes of food-grade rPET and 15,000 tonnes of rHDPE annually. SCG and Dow target 200,000 tonnes of plastic recycling per year by 2030 through advanced sorting technologies. In Malaysia, the country’ s national petrochemical firm, Petronas Chemicals Group Berhad, in partnership with UK-based Plastic Energy Limited, is building an advanced chemical recycling plant in Pengerang, Johor. Expected to be operational by 2026, the facility will process 33 kilotonnes / year of endof-life plastics. Vietnam generates around 3.7 million tonnes of plastic waste annually, yet only 11 % is recycled. However, this is changing. Duytan Recycling, in cooperation with Ajinomoto Vietnam under the EPR scheme, collected and
It is with great sadness that Valve
World’ s previous columnist and renowned engineer, Dr. Hans D. Baumann, has passed at the age of 94. This obituary provided by Peter H Baumann gives us a closer insight into the life of Hans.
Text by Peter H Baumann
Hans D. Baumann, Ph. D., P. E. West Palm Beach, FL recycled 94 tonnes of plastic in 2023 and aims to increase its PET recycling capacity from 60,000 to 100,000 tonnes by 2026. With Vietnam’ s strategic location, low labour costs, and tax incentives, it is an attractive hub for recycling operations and fresh investments. Chinese recycler Intco Recycling Resources is investing US $ 60 million to expand its facility in the country to produce recycled plastics for decorative building materials, primarily for export to Europe and the US. Intco has six plastics recycling bases, including a facility for food-grade recycled plastics in Malaysia. In 2024, UK-based Cedo acquired Vietnamese recycler Vinatic, boosting its global recycling capacity to 100 kilotonnes. The move strengthens Cedo’ s footprint in Asia and complements its operations in the Netherlands. Elsewhere, countries like Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar face surging plastic consumption but lack sufficient recycling systems. In Phnom Penh alone, 10 million plastic bags are used daily, underscoring the urgent need for action.
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of a giant in the process control / control valve industry. On 25 th March 2025, Hans D. Baumann, Ph. D., P. E. passed away at home in West Palm Beach, Florida. He was 94. His passing marks the end of an era. His professional career, spanning nearly 70 years, began in his native Germany in the early 1950s. The contributions to his chosen field are vast and varied, and his dedication to advancing the state-of-the-art is unsurpassed. Preferring the practical over the political, Hans was never shy about steering away from the crowd in order to get to the underlying fundamentals or to resolve a conflict with a practical approach. Getting to the physical truths of process control was of key importance to him. In that spirit, Hans pioneered many, what are today, fundamental concepts relating to valve sizing and valve noise prediction, e. g. critical flow factor( F L
), pipe reducer correction factor( F p), and a modified valve style modifier( F d
). His proposal in 1970 to utilise modified jet noise theories for aerodynamic valve noise prediction became the basis for the ISA-75.17-1989 and IEC Standard 60534-8-3. His most recent efforts resulted in the development of novel, simplified, physics-based noise prediction methods, known as the ABC Method. His scientific and engineering appetites were insatiable, right to the end. Early in his working career, he was able to work at a foundry, as well as at a tool and die maker. These experiences were to prove invaluable in his ability to design practical and cost-effective control valves.
Valves in the industry While Southeast Asia’ s plastics, EV manufacturing, and medical technology sectors continue to grow at an impressive pace, these advancements also underscore a rising need for robust and precise fluid handling systems, particularly valves. In plastics manufacturing, valves play a vital role in dosing feedstocks, controlling polymerisation, and managing cooling processes. EV battery and assembly plants depend on them for handling chemicals, cooling circuits and ensuring safety in cleanroom environments. Similarly, in the fast-evolving medical devices sector, sanitary and high-purity valves are essential for maintaining strict hygiene and regulatory standards. Even in the region’ s rapidly expanding recycling operations, valves are key to managing corrosive media and high temperatures. As Southeast Asia ramps up its industrial capabilities, demand is growing for valve solutions that are not only reliable and efficient but also adaptable to local conditions and regulatory requirements, making valves a quiet yet critical enabler of the region’ s transformation.
Remembering Dr. Hans D. Baumann
“
My aim is simple: to eliminate any unnecessary features and focus on cost-effective designs”- Hans D. Baumann
During Dr. Baumann’ s professional career, he personally designed or directed the development of over 30 valve lines. He is credited with over 150 U. S. and worldwide patents and has published over 200 papers and articles in addition to co-authoring several handbooks on valves and instrumentation. Hans more recently wrote Fluid Mechanics of Control Valves, and the Control Valve Primer( fifth edition), both published by ISA. His professional affiliations include: Honorary Member of International Society of Automation( ISA), Life Fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers( ASME), Honorary Life Member of the Fluid Controls Institute( FCI), and member of Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Honor Society. He was named by InTech magazine one of the 50 Most Influential Industrial Innovators, was named Entrepreneur of the Year by the New Hampshire High Technology Council, as well as being inducted into the Process Automation Hall of Fame. Hans lived purposefully, authentically and fully. He was very generous, sharing his knowledge, his experience and his success. He was ever the gentleman, in manner and appearance. He will be greatly missed, but his legacy will live on.
64 Valve World August 2025 www. valve-world. net