Plastic Material News

A. Schulman Realigns Crumlin, U.K. Manufacturing Operation, Moves Capacity to Plants in Belgium and France

August 31, 2010 - Akron, OH - A. Schulman, Inc. (Nasdaq-GS: SHLM) today announced that it is streamlining manufacturing operations at its Crumlin, South Wales (U.K.) production facility, and moving part of the plant's capacity to two other, larger plants in Europe.

As a result of the realignment, several production lines at the 74,000-square-foot U.K. facility will be shut down and approximately 30 jobs will be eliminated. Approximately 10,000 tons of masterbatch production will be moved from Crumlin to more cost-efficient, higher-capacity A. Schulman production lines in Bornem, Belgium (147,000 square feet) and Givet, France (243,000 square feet). At the same time, A. Schulman will continue to enhance the capabilities of the Crumlin plant to produce smaller lots of colors and other specialty compounds for the local market. As part of this effort, the Company recently invested approximately $1.2 million in a versatile continuous mixer for specialized products at the Crumlin facility.

"Our focus on continuous improvement and manufacturing redistribution is essential for enhancing the competitiveness of our European operations," said Bernard Rzepka, A. Schulman General Manager and Chief Operating Officer, Europe. "By moving some production out of Crumlin, we are consolidating capacity to our larger, more efficient Bornem and Givet facilities. At the same time, we are able to refine our Crumlin operations to focus on local demand for smaller lots of colors and other specialty compounds."

The Company anticipates a total annual after-tax benefit of approximately $0.8 million to $1.0 million from the production moves announced above. The Company anticipates taking the following estimated after-tax charges related to the activities outlined above:

• Approximately $400,000 in cash for termination benefits and other employee costs to be taken during the Company's fiscal 2010 fourth quarter.
• Approximately $200,000 from impairment of assets to be taken over the next few quarters. 
• These items are expected to result in a restructuring cost of approximately $600,000.

A. Schulman also announced two personnel moves in Europe that are consistent with the Company's ongoing integration of operations from its ICO Polymers acquisition. In the U.K., Robert Stanworth, who heads A. Schulman's U.K. operations, assumes responsibility for the ICO Polymers facility in Gainsborough, England. In France, Heinrich Lingnau, business unit leader for ICO Polymers in Europe, becomes responsible for managing ICO Polymers' three production facilities in France, in addition to managing A. Schulman's operations in France.

About A. Schulman, Inc.
Headquartered in Akron, Ohio, A. Schulman is a leading international supplier of high-performance plastic compounds and resins. These materials are used in a variety of consumer, industrial, automotive and packaging applications. The Company employs about 2,900 people and has 37 manufacturing facilities in North America, South America, Europe and Asia. On April 30, 2010, the Company completed its acquisition of ICO, Inc., a global manufacturer of specialty resins and concentrates for rotomolding and a provider of specialty polymer services. A. Schulman reported revenues of $1.3 billion for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2009, and ICO reported revenues of $300 million for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2009. Additional information about A. Schulman can be found at www.aschulman.com.

Norland International Launches Industry's First Oxo-Biodegradable Cap for 5-Gal Water Bottles

Additive Accelerates Degradation for New Environmentally-Friendly Water Cap

August 31, 2010 - Lincoln, NE – Norland International Inc. has introduced the industry’s first oxo-biodegradable cap for 5-gal water bottles. The LDPE caps, sold under the Earth Cap trade name, contain a unique additive that accelerates the degradation process, resulting in total degradation in five to 10 years.

The injection molded Earth Cap – a replacement for traditional LDPE caps – also features a biodegradable non-adhesive tamper-evident label and 2-mm foam seal, making the entire cap structure totally biodegradable. The oxo-biodegradable caps have a two-year shelf life and offer the same performance as current versions and are also FDA compliant.

“This is a significant milestone in meeting the sustainability needs of water bottlers throughout the world,” said Sam Noordhoff, vice president of Norland International. “This is an environmentally friendly option that goes far beyond lightweighting and other recycling strategies, offering a truly effective means of reducing the environmental impact of these plastic products.”

The special additive is blended into the LDPE using a unique mixing and drying system. Once disposed of and exposed to UV light, heat, and moisture, the caps first embrittle and then break down into small pieces. Once the molecular weight is reduced sufficiently, the material becomes available for bio-digestion and the broken down matter becomes a food source for bacteria or microbial activity. Depending on environmental conditions, the plastic cap is expected to totally degrade in about 5 to 10 years.

The proprietary additive greatly enhances degradability of the caps while maintaining clarity and tensile strength. Caps that contain the special additive will degrade in landfills, ditches, rivers, and other water sources. In addition, they are fully recyclable and compatible with municipal collection and recycling systems. There is no contamination with the plastics recycling stream and industrial composting facilities are not required Norland manufactures these 55-mm caps at virtually the same cost as standard caps. They have drawn worldwide interest and are commercially available in standard colors (earth green, blue, and natural) in the U.S. and Far East/Pacific.                
                       
About Norland International Inc.
Norland International Inc., based in Lincoln, Neb., specializes in design and manufacturing of equipment for small to mid-sized suppliers in the bottled water industry. The company offers a full line of complete bottling systems for small bottles (16.9 oz/ 500 ml) and large-bottle (5-gal/19 L) production, as well as commercial water distillers, blow molders for PET bottles, pretreatment and ozone generating systems, cappers, labelers, case packers, and shrink-wrapping equipment. For more information, call (402) 441-3737 or visit www.norlandintl.com and www.NorlandGreen.com.

Frost & Sullivan Recognizes Solegear for Pioneering Polysole® Bioplastic

August 31, 2010 - Mountain View, CA - Based on its recent analysis of the biopolymers market, Frost & Sullivan recognizes Solegear Bioplastics Inc. (Solegear) with the 2010 North American Frost & Sullivan Award for New Product Innovation of the Year for its Polysole® Bioplastic. This innovative high-performance biodegradable polymer compound is 100 percent biobased.

"Solegear with its dedicated focus on research and development for four continuous years has been able to overcome the challenges of producing biopolymers for high-performance applications," says Frost & Sullivan Industry Analyst Deepan Kannan. "Besides being completely biobased, Solegear's polymer utilizes proprietary additives that are entirely natural and organic. The company has, thus, ensured that the there is no compromise on the renewable content of the material due to its compounding."

In general in today's market, although base biopolymers come from a natural feedstock, compounding of these biopolymers for additional performance is accomplished using synthetic additives. Therefore, many of the biopolymers that are used for engineering applications are blended with other oil-based polymers, which lead to a significant reduction in the renewable content of the compounded bioplastic. Polysole® Bioplastic is 100 per cent biobased.

Polysole® has adequate properties – high impact strength, tensile strength and processing efficiency – for engineering applications such as automotive, electronics and medical devices. The polymer can be processed using all the conventional techniques such as extrusion, blow molding and injection molding. Further, Solegear, with its proprietary technology has managed to offer a polymer in which the extent of biodegradation can be varied based on the end-use requirements. Hence, the product retains its molecular integrity like that of its oil-based counterparts used in high-end applications, until specific compost conditions are met.

Compounding technology is an essential step in the production of polymer compounds, as it determines the final properties of the polymer. Solegear has developed a cutting-edge compounding technology that aids in the manufacture of Polysole®. Therefore, with this proprietary technology in place, the company is able to produce polymers that offer high-strength properties as well as superior flow properties.

Leveraging on its unique compounding technology, the company has also developed another innovative product Traverse® Biocomposites, a hybrid material that is made using rice husks and other natural materials. The Traverse® range of products are biocomposites based on oil-based thermoplastics such as PE, PP, PET and Nylon, that will be offered in a varying degree of biobased content depending on the customer requirements. Typically, the products can be designed to offer up to 60 percent renewable content. The range also has a version of compound, Traverse® Recycled that contains up to 98% recycled polymer/fiber content. This reiterates the company's commitment to environmental responsibility.

The Polysole® Bioplastic products are available in three different grades for various applications. Polysole® TF is an engineered thermoplastic resin for thermoforming and extrusion to manufacture films and sheets. Polysole® LV is a low-viscosity grade specifically designed for the processors looking for low cycle times. Polysole® XD is the high-performance grade with increased impact strength and flexibility. These grades can be customized and used in customers' existing processing lines without any significant modifications such as shutting down or retooling of the system. This results in increased throughput and enables the customer to gain additional cost savings and efficiencies.

"Besides offering its customers the material that best suits their needs, Solegear goes a step ahead in its commitment to providing its customers with the necessary raw data about carbon emissions and oil consumption in their specific fields of application," notes Kannan. "This enhances value for its customers, as they in turn use the data for encouraging their own customers to use biobased products. Such an initiative also increases its customer's scope for marketing their products and also increases the company's brand value in the realm of environmental accountability."

Solegear aims to get a strong foothold in the biopolymers market. Initially focusing on consumer products, the company aims to gradually expand its presence into automotive, electronics and medical through a focused marketing strategy. Solegear has strategic partnerships with suppliers and polymer developers in the biopolymers market. Efficient marketing strategy and partnerships are bound to help the company in achieving increased penetration in the biopolymers market.

For all these achievements, Solegear is the worthy recipient of the 2010 North American Frost & Sullivan Award for New Product Innovation of the Year in the biopolymers market. Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents this award to a company that has developed an innovative element in a product by leveraging leading-edge technologies. The award recognizes the value added features/benefits of the product and the increased ROI it offers customers, which in turn increases customer acquisition and overall market penetration potential.

Frost & Sullivan's Best Practices Awards recognize companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis, and extensive secondary research in order to identify best practices in the industry.

About Solegear Bioplastics Inc.
Solegear, based in Vancouver, BC, designs, produces and distributes high-performance bioplastics. Founded in 2006, Solegear has worked in R&D for four years with an international team of scientists to develop Polysole® – a 100% natural, non-toxic, high performance biodegradable plastic. Solegear has also recently launched Traverse® - a complementary, high-performance bioplastic that uniquely blends natural fibres with traditional plastics.

About Frost & Sullivan
Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, enables clients to accelerate growth and achieve best-in-class positions in growth, innovation and leadership. The company's Growth Partnership Service provides the CEO and the CEO's Growth Team with disciplined research and best-practice models to drive the generation, evaluation, and implementation of powerful growth strategies. Frost & Sullivan leverages over 45 years of experience in partnering with Global 1000 companies, emerging businesses and the investment community from 40 offices on six continents. To join our Growth Partnership, please visit http://www.awards.frost.com.

LyondellBasell New-generation PP Resin Selected for Rainwater Management System at Berlin Airport

August 31, 2010 - Rotterdam, Neterlands - LyondellBasell’s Hostalen PP N2122 resin is being used to produce infiltration pipes for the rainwater management system at the new Berlin-Brandenburg International (BBI) Airport, one of Europe’s largest currently under construction.

The airport’s rainwater management system is being installed by Wavin, a leading plastic pipe producer in Europe. The company’s Q-Bic rainwater management system is an alternative technological solution to the trench-based soakaway systems that were originally requested for the project. According to Wavin sales manager Bernhard Pieper, LyondellBasell’s Hostalen PP N2122 resin was selected to produce the 19,000 Q-Bic individual infiltration units required for the project “because it is the first grade we’ve seen that offers sufficient flow properties, good impact strength and outstanding long-term creep resistance required for our systems.”

 

Higher melt flow rate
Hostalen PP N 2122 resin met Wavin’s demanding requirements for the system’s finished parts. “Conventional pipe grades typically have a melt flow rate of 0.3g/10min (at 230°C), while the new Hostalen PP N 2122 grade has a melt flow rate of 2.0g/10min,” said Werner Rothhöft, LyondellBasell’s technical development manager for the resin. Other essential application requirements include good creep resistance and high impact strength to withstand heavy traffic loads and avoid damage during installation. Added Rothhöft: “Flowability on the one hand, and impact and creep resistance on the other hand, are diametrically opposing forces. However, the Hostalen PP N2122 resin offers the ideal balance of both.”

Durability
The material is highly stabilized, as the application must survive several decades without thermal degradation. Added Pieper: “With long service life requirements, durability is a must. At the BBI Airport, Q-Bic units are subjected to heavy loads from the soil above. The durability of the system is measured using long-term creep resistance tests based on ISO 9080 methodology.” In the original tests, pipes are subjected to high pressure at different temperatures. The regulations applying to plastic pressure pipes specify the control points for the required hoop stress, temperature and minimum time-to-failure under internal hydrostatic pressure. The rigorous, ISO-based testing of the infiltration units produced using Hostalen PP N2122 on injection molding machines show that the material easily meets the long-term creep requirements of the application.

Simpler, faster installation
According to Pieper, Wavin’s Q-Bic system was selected because it offered an alternative technological solution to the trench-based soakaway systems that were originally requested for the project. “The Q-Bic systems are simpler and faster to install, while still delivering the required rainwater capacity,” said Pieper. “The main advantage of the system lies in its access shaft configuration: The Wavin Q-Bic system features infiltration units with top-mounted access shafts, which eliminate the need for separate access shafts between the soakaway systems, and provide better access to the infiltration units for easier inspections.” Additional system advantages include a reduction in the number of parts required during installation, and elimination of the typically required pipes between the shafts and soakaway systems. These benefits help to shorten construction time and facilitate ease of installation.

“This project is another example of our commitment to providing products that assist in the efficient management of rainwater,” said Gianluca Brescia, head of LyondellBasell’s EAI pipe and infrastructure business unit. “LyondellBasell is dedicated to working with leading industry partners to develop innovative solutions that meet the needs of today’s large civil infrastructure.”

Lurgi Being Awarded the Second Polyamide 6-Plant by LiHeng

August 31, 2010 - Lurgi GmbH has been awarded a contract for the second phase Polyamide-6 polymerization by LiHeng (Changle) Polyamide Technology Co., Ltd. in Changle City, Fujian, China. In the course of an impressive development of the company, LiHeng are actually operating the world`s largest Polyamide-6 plant with proven Zimmer two-stage Polyamide- 6 technology with a capacity of 200 tons per day and now have awarded Lurgi the new contract for two lines with a nameplate capacity of another 100.000 tons per annum.

Lurgi will supply the Zimmer two-stage Polyamide-6 technology with the basic engineering, the main equipment including the pre-polymerization and VK tube reactors, and the supervision of erection and commissioning.

“This project is another order with the two-stage Zimmer® polymerization Polyamide-6 technology and again strengthens Lurgi´s position in the Polyamide-6 and Chinese market.“ (François Venet, CEO of Lurgi GmbH.)

PC/ABS Blend Provides a Recyclable, Economical and Thermoformable Solution for Parts Requiring Flame Retardancy at UL 94 V-0 at 1.5mm

August 31, 2010 - Pittsburg, PA - The BreezeDry is an advanced drying appliance that offers a gentle, eco-friendly alternative to traditional dryers. The appliance, roughly 6 x 4 x 2 feet, is designed to use indoor or outdoor air to dry clothes by hanging them or laying them on racks in the cabinet.



Makers of the BreezeDry appliance needed to find just the right material to bring the crispness of air-dried clothes indoors without the stiffness of a clothesline or the shrinkage and damage associated with traditional clothes dryers.

The combination of heat deflection, UL flame rating and eco-friendly characteristics provided by Bayer MaterialScience LLC’s Bayblend® FR3030 polycarbonate/ acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (PC/ABS) blend fit the bill.

“We selected the plastic because it was the only material that achieved the UL flame rating necessary for the application,” said Brad Grimm, design engineer for Grimm Brothers Corporation, which does the thermoforming, trimming, secondary operations and assembly for the BreezeDry. “The material demonstrated a repeatable thermoforming process and provided a good surface appearance.”

Bayblend® FR3030 PC/ABS blend is utilized in a 10.62 x 11.87 x 1 inch bezel for the BreezeDry’s internal fan components. The PC/ABS blend provides a recyclable, economical and thermoformable solution for parts requiring flame retardancy at UL 94 V-0 at 1.5mm and a high heat deflection of 222 degrees F at 66 pounds per square inch. The material met an even higher requirement for this application – UL 94 5-VA at 3.0mm. And because the PC/ABS blend has to carry the weight of the fan, the material’s strength is another key attribute, Grimm said.

“The material has very good thermoforming characteristics, and its properties provide high-impact resistance, stiffness and rigidity, good grain texture and retention,” said Mike Ringquist, sales manager, Allen Extruders LLC. Allen Extruders is a U.S.-based manufacturer of proprietary and non-proprietary thermoplastic sheet products, which produces and supplies thermoplastic sheets to Grimm Brothers.

The BreezeDry also offers high energy efficiency. It uses 90 percent less electricity than a typical dryer and is made of 30-35 percent recycled materials. Like the BreezeDry, Bayblend® FR3030 plastic is environmentally friendly, too. The material is halogen free and meets Blue Angel and RoHS requirements. (RoHS stands for restrictions of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment.)

“Bayblend® FR3030 resin was developed for the ever-increasing need to provide environmentally sustainable engineering thermoplastics for the extrusion and thermoforming marketplace,” said Andrew Caldwell, NAFTA Extrusion Marketing Manager, Bayer MaterialScience LLC. “We remain committed to the marketplace to provide innovative products which meet the evolving needs of our customers.”

Bayer MaterialScience LLC is one of the leading producers of polymers and high-performance plastics in North America and is part of the global Bayer MaterialScience business with approximately 14,300 employees at 30 production sites around the world and 2009 sales of 7.5 billion euros. The company manufactures high-tech polymer materials and develops innovative solutions for products used in many areas of daily life. The main segments served are the automotive, electrical and electronics, construction, medical, and sports and leisure industries. Sustainability is central to Bayer MaterialScience LLC’s business and is based around the key areas of innovation, product stewardship, excellence in corporate management, social responsibility and respect for the environment.

DuPont Starts Production of Resins Facility in China

Local Supply Accelerates DuPont Growth in Key Emerging Market

August 30, 2010 - Beijing, China – DuPont today announced that production for Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) resins has begun at its joint venture, Beijing Hua Mei Polymer Company Limited, in Beijing.  The facility is DuPont’s first operation to make EVA in China. 

“With local production, we have strengthened DuPont’s position in the world’s fastest growing EVA market and can better support our customers as they grow and expand to specialty products for high-value applications,” said William J. Harvey, president – DuPont Packaging & Industrial Polymers.  “DuPont is committed to growing in China and other key emerging markets around the world and to using our science-based innovations to meet the evolving needs of our customers.”

The EVA products will be marketed by DuPont under the trademark of Elvax®.  The new facility follows the same global standard operating procedures and quality control processes as the products manufactured in other DuPont locations to ensure products meet the same high quality and performance specifications. 

The joint venture will supply a broad range of high-quality specialty EVA products and will serve market segments such as packaging, adhesives, wire and cable, footwear, renewable energy and electronics.

DuPont Packaging & Industrial Polymers is a world-class manufacturer of high-performance resins and films for a variety of packaging and industrial applications.  Its best known ethylene copolymer products include DuPont™ Surlyn® resins for packaging and industrial applications, Bynel® coextrudable adhesives, Selar® PA amorphous polyamide barrier resins, Nucrel® acid copolymers, Elvax® EVA copolymers, Elvaloy®, Elvaloy® AC, Entira™ and Fusabond® modifiers, and Vamac® ethylene acrylic elastomers.

DuPont (www.dupont.com) is a science-based products and services company.  Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by creating sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier life for people everywhere.  Operating in more than 90 countries and regions, DuPont offers a wide range of innovative products and services for markets including agriculture and food; building and construction; communications; and transportation.

Hain Celestial Group Converts Avalon Organics® Line to 100% PCR PET Bottles from Amcor Rigid Plastics

Major Sustainability Benefits Are Realized With Hain Celestial's First Conversion from 100% Virgin PET Bottles

August 30, 2010 - Manchester, MI – The Hain Celestial Group Inc. of Melville, N.Y. has converted its Avalon Organics® personal care product line to 100% post-consumer recycled (PCR) polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles from Amcor Rigid Plastics, the world’s leading producer of PET packaging. The conversion from 100% virgin PET resin to 100% PCR resin is a first for Hain Celestial’s personal care division. Hain Celestial is a leading natural and organic products company in North America and Europe.

Hain Celestial gained major sustainability benefits with the switch to PCR PET resin for its Avalon Organics 11oz flask (oval) bottles for shampoo and conditioner and 12oz bullet (round) containers for hand soap, bath and shower gel, and hand and body lotion. By converting to 100% PCR resin, the carbon footprint was lowered by 46% - accounting for an annual reduction of about 258,000 kg of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions – while energy consumption was reduced by 71%. Moreover, the use of 100% PCR resin will result in the elimination of nearly four million PET bottles per year from landfills.



“Among our primary business priorities is reducing the environmental impact of all our products,” explained Manuel Mosqueda, Senior Manager, Packaging Engineering for Hain Celestial. “This first use of PCR PET resin for Avalon Organics, one of our largest personal care brands, has delivered impressive results and shows we are committed to meeting our sustainability goals.”

“Due to slight modifications in bottle configuration and without adding weight, Amcor was able to deliver greater bottle performance with a more rigid and robust container that was easier to fill and label,” according to Mosqueda.

Hain Celestial was also able to reduce supply costs and further lower energy consumption and carbon footprint by sourcing bottles from Amcor’s Commerce, Calif. manufacturing facility after previously purchasing bottles from a Canadian distributor. Amcor is a leader in advancing the use of PCR PET resin in a range of packaging and recently added capacity for PCR PET bottles at its Commerce plant.

Amcor incorporates varying percentages of PCR for other customers.
Unlike other PET container makers, Amcor is vertically integrated for PCR products and has a reliable source of food and non-food grade PCR.

“We were impressed with Amcor’s personnel, experience, and talent in engineering, product development, and operations,” said Mosqueda. “We were equally impressed with their processes which ensure the production of high-quality products.” Amcor also met Hain Celestial’s time-to-market needs by going from final design to delivery in just two months.

Hain Celestial said other personal-care products such as the Alba Botanica® Hawaiian shampoo line will be converted to 100% PCR PET bottles over the next several months.

About The Hain Celestial Group
The Hain Celestial Group (NASDAQ: HAIN), headquartered in Melville, N.Y., is a leading natural and organic products company in North America and Europe. Hain Celestial participates in many natural categories with well-known brands that include Celestial Seasonings®, Earth’s Best®, Terra®, Garden of Eatin’®, Sensible Portions®, Health Valley®, WestSoy®, Arrowhead Mills®, MaraNatha®, SunSpire®, DeBoles®, Gluten Free Café™, Hain Pure Foods®, Hollywood®, Spectrum Naturals®, Spectrum Essentials®, Walnut Acres Organic®, Imagine®, Almond Dream®, Rice Dream®, Soy Dream®, Rosetto®, Ethnic Gourmet®, The Greek Gods®, Yves Veggie Cuisine®, Granose®, Realeat®, Linda McCartney®, Daily Bread™, Lima®, Grains Noirs®, Natumi®, JASON®, Zia® Natural Skincare, Avalon Organics®, Alba Botanica®, Queen Helene®, Tushies®, TenderCare®, and Martha Stewart Clean™. Hain Celestial has been providing “A Healthy Way of Life™” since 1993. For more information, visit www.hain-celestial.com.

About Amcor
Amcor Rigid Plastics is among the world’s largest manufacturers of plastic packaging for the beverage, food, personal and home care, and pharmaceuticals industries with 76 facilities in 12 countries. Amcor Limited is a global leader in responsible packaging solutions, employing more than 35,000 people worldwide, operating in 43 countries across 300 sites. Amcor supplies a broad range of plastic (rigid and flexible), fibre, metal, and glass packaging solutions to enhance the products consumers use in everyday life. Amcor also provides packaging-related services that help customers succeed through collaboration and innovation driven by art and science. Amcor is headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, and is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange. For more information, visit www.amcor.com.

BASF Announces FDA-Compliant Polyurethane Raw Materials

August 30, 2010 - Wyandotte, MI - BASF’s Polyurethanes business in North America today announced an updated, FDA-compliant product list for the CASE (Coatings, Adhesives, Sealants and Elastomers) market. The following polyether polyols were recently added to the list: Pluracol P1010, Pluracol 1044, Pluracol 816 and Pluracol TPE 4542. These products comply with Title

21 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) for select indirect food contact applications, as stated in sections 175.105 Adhesives and 177.1680 Urethanes. The list also includes selected diphenylmethane diisocyanate

(MDI) products, which can be used in adhesives in “reaction with one or more of the polyols or polyesters named in the paragraph.”

To download the complete list of BASF’s FDA-compliant polyurethane products for the CASE market, please visit BASF’s Polyurethanes website www.basf.com/pur in the Specialized Markets/Urethane Chemicals section.

For more information on BASF’s isocyanates and other polyurethane chemicals, please visit www.basf.com/pur.

 

New Thermylene® SWP - Stress Whitening Prevention From Asahi Kasei

August 30, 2010 - Fowlerville, MI - Asahi Kasei Plastics North America Inc., has developed a new polypropylene technology: Thermylene® SWP – (Stress Whitening Prevention), a specialty compounded polypropylene resin that will not show signs of stress whitening over time when subjected to pressure, wear and tear.  Haworth®, in Holland, Michigan is using Thermylene SWP, in 10 different colors, to add value to their award winning Very® brand of highly sustainable seating.  "Thermylene® SWP is a big improvement for Haworth chairs – it provides better results for color matching and feels softer with even greater flexibility," said Tim Fookes, P.E., Manager, Seating Engineering at Haworth.  "It has the strong physical properties of a nylon in a polypropylene, combined with anti stress whitening, which will bring value to a number of  products and applications," added Scott Kushion, Director – Industrial Segment at Asahi Kasei Plastics North America.

Thermylene® SWP builds upon the strengths of Asahi Kasei's polypropylene portfolio opening the door to applications traditionally specified with Nylon while providing the aesthetic and economical benefits of polypropylene.  Available in endless colors, Thermylene® SWP can be used in many seating and furniture applications.  It also meets specifications for use in Automotive, Electronics, Bath & Spa, Building and Construction and many other plastic applications that will benefit from stress whitening prevention.  Asahi Kasei Plastics offers a wide selection of innovative and cost effective resin material solutions for a broad range of applications.

www.asahikaseiplastics.com