PolyOne recently collaborated with a global automotive OEM and its injection moulder to eliminate paint from a new vehicle’s interior. To support the transition to moulded-in-colour (MIC) parts, PolyOne provided metallic-effect Smartbatch FX masterbatch colourants for two PC/ABS side panels on the centre console of a compact SUV now entering commercial production.

Joe Harris has been appointed as new Senior Account Manager at Everchem Specialty Chemicals. Harris has been a territory manager for over twenty years, and has deep industry knowledge related to selling speciality additives into the tyre and rubber, rigid polyurethane and isocyanurate foam, lubricant and catalyst markets.

Huntsman announced that since the Covid-19 pandemic began, the company has been producing thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers for manufacturers of essential medical personal protective equipment (PPE) around the world. The TPUs are being used to produce hospital gowns, face masks, mattress covers, tubes, valves, cable jackets and, notably, powered air purifying respirators (PAPR).

Packaging has become pervasive in our everyday lives. Without it, it would be impossible to transport food and beverages safely. Accordingly, it helps to protect not only products but also resources. At the same time, the topic of food packaging is subject to some very emotional discussions in public with demands for bans or punitive tariffs being voiced at regular intervals. All the more important it is, therefore, for packaging manufacturers to do their bit and give top priority to sustainable action. But the same also applies for consumers who are in fact quite open to such matters, as indicated by the latest studies.

While high-quality thermoplastic elastomers from Kraiburg TPE are used in many everyday applications such as tooth brushes, razors, automotive components, and others, they have also become indispensable in numerous areas of systemic importance. The current corona pandemic is an increasing challenge for both healthcare and social systems in particular. Currently, the TPEs of the Bavarian compounder are used in medical applications such as valves, connections and tubes for ventilators, face masks, respirators, as well as simple buttons and elastic straps.

TPE from Trinseo are helping to shape a new generation of medical devices. The company said it supplies a versatile portfolio of medical grade materials ranging from semi-rigid and transparent to highly elastomeric and opaque making the material ideal for a variety of soft-touch polymer applications. Trinseo also offers bioplastic versions with biomass content or biodegradable to provide alternatives to traditional materials.

The TPE industry association TPE Forum will held its next plenary meeting as initially scheduled on the 23 June 2020. But in light of the current COVID-19 situation with severe travel and contact restrictions the meeting will be hosted online via Microsoft Teams.

According to Rampf Group, vehicles must be reliably sealed to keep moisture outside of the car. When driving in wet conditions, the water should always run off the car and not finds its way through the car door into the interior. Sealing foams based on polyurethane and silicone from Rampf Polymer Solutions play a central role in keeping cars dry.

Systems supplier ProTec Polymer Processing GmbH announced that it is enjoying great success in Asia with its pultrusion lines for producing long fiber reinforced thermoplastic (LFT) compounds. Suzhou Sunway Polymer Co. Ltd. from the city of Suzhou in Jiangsu Province is one of the satisfied Chinese customers and is now producing pellets using its two ProTec LFT pultrusion lines.

Europe’s tyre and rubber industry supports a policy response that both ensures a successful post Covid-19 recovery and drives the European Green Deal targets. This was reported in a press release from the European Tyre & Rubber Manufacturers Association (ETRMA) dated 12 May 2020. Committed to emerging from the public health crisis even stronger than before, the European tyre industry is ready to work side-by-side with the European Institutions on a COVID-19 policy response that ensures public health, minimises economic impact, and maintains focus on the overarching objectives of our time: decarbonising and digitalising the economy.