The global market for polymer products is highly competitive and becoming more saturated. The size of the production capacity significantly exceeds the size of global demand. There is a tendency to increase the production capacity. That is why most market leaders are moving towards diversification of their product portfolio, aiming to meet niche specialization and customer-oriented approach by providing ready-made solutions with a wider range of related services.
The management of SOTON in 2021 decided to expand the product portfolio and follow the motto «closer to the consumer». SOTON is the largest producer and exporter of polycarbonate sheets in Ukraine. Diversification of the company’s product portfolio allows entering new markets of polycarbonate sheets consumption and expanding geography of sales. Fato Sharoyan, Head of the PR and Marketing Department, provided his comments on this matter.
“It is fair to say that the polycarbonate sheet market is becoming the buyer’s market, not the seller’s. In addition to polycarbonate sheets, the market has a wide range of products-substitutes for polycarbonate sheets. Such as acrylic sheets, PVC sheets, ABS sheets, tape, and others. Polycarbonate sheets, in turn, are highly sensitive to the price of finished products. Therefore, while remaining in production and trade of standard polycarbonate sheets, there is a significant risk of reducing margins. Thus, several marketing studies were conducted to expand SOTON’s product portfolio. As a result, test batches of acrylic sheets, polycarbonate sheets with shearing of crushed ice, of opal colour and with no-drop technology were made.
Nowadays, SOTON has expanded its existing product portfolio and is ready to introduce acrylic sheets, polycarbonate embossed sheets, different colours (opal, gray, bronze, blue, and others) and no-drop technology to the market. The company does not plan to stop on current achievements and continues to improve and expand the product portfolio to minimize risks and meet the needs of the customers.”
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Acrylic sheets (also called plexiglass) is a polymeric product that differs from polycarbonate sheets. Namely, lower percentage of sheets compared to monolithic polycarbonate sheets; greater scratch resistance, and plasticity; higher light transmittance. These characteristics define the key fields of application of acrylic sheets – advertising materials (POS products, light boxes, trade and exhibition displays, billboards and screens).
Polycarbonate embossed sheets (leather, pierced ice) and opal colour are produced via special technologies and the addition of dyes. These products are widely used in design solutions and promotional materials. The use of these products is not widespread, as awareness of the full range of applications by consumers remains low. At the same time, there is a trend of increasing interest in these products.
Polycarbonate sheets with no-drop technology (anti-humidity) are made by applying a special layer, which allows you to effectively repel moisture and liquids from the sheet surface. The technology helps to improve the functional characteristics of these sheets and increases their service life.
SOTON is the largest producer of cellular and monolithic polycarbonate sheets in Ukraine. Polycarbonate sheets are a modern and technological product widely used in the construction industry. All products of the enterprise are certified in accordance with Ukrainian and European standards and are produced on modern equipment of leading manufacturers OMIPA Spa (Italy) and KUHNE GmbH (Germany).