SPE Central Europe has announced a new sponsor: Solvay Speciality Polymers will support an award category at the 20th Automotive Award 2021. According to SPE Central Europe, Solvay contributes with innovative and competitive solutions to meet today's and tomorrow's requirements in a wide range of areas, while at the same time conserving the resources of our planet. The Automotive Award of SPE Central Europe is awarded to innovative vehicle parts and components made of plastic.

The digital FK Conference 2020, offered by the German company Fecken-Kirfel GmbH & Co. KG, a specialist in the manufacture of customised splitting and stacking machines for the plastics, rubber and cork industry, will take place from 8 – 10 December 2020. A total of six presentations in English will inform about trends and current new developments. Interested parties can register to participate at the event from mid-November 2020 via the website www.fecken-kirfel.de. For the entire duration of the conference, participants also have the option of individual video conferences.

Dow announced that it has won “Best Sustainable Product” for its Renuva mattress recycling programme in Chemical Week’s Sustainability Awards. According to Dow, the Renuva programme contributes towards recycling end of life polyurethane mattresses in collaboration with the value chain. This project converts polyurethane foams from end-of-life (waste) mattresses back into polyol.

IMCD N.V., a distributor of speciality chemicals and ingredients, announced the opening of its new US headquarters in Westlake, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland. IMCD said that the company debuts its new location to accommodate its expanding business, invest in its people and future growth, plus complement its global digitalisation initiatives to better serve its markets across the USA.

The Polytec Group announced that it has signed a contract for the sale of its interest in its “Industrial Division”. The division constituted the company’s original business area and at locations in Bochum, Germany, and Marchtrenk, Austria, manufactures moulded polyurethane parts and coatings, as well as machinery for the processing of plastics for a diversity of applications.

The Pinneberg-based German company Tramaco GmbH announced the launch of new expandable microspheres. According to the manufacturer, some materials, e.g. TPE/TPU, cannot be processed by chemical or physical foaming due to their low melt strength. In these cases the new product can offer an adequate solution.

Cannon announced that the development of the pandemic in Italy and the consequent latest regulations concerning the containment of the spread of the Covid-19 virus, e.g. the closing of some areas of the country, has forced the company to postpone the Insulation Technology Open Days, scheduled on 25 – 26 November 2020.

The Chinese sports and fitness brand Keep has launched the treadmill K2, which is made with BASF’s Infinergy expanded thermoplastic polyurethane (E-TPU) in the running deck. With the material’s superior elastic, shock-absorbing and high-rebound properties, the running deck is said to deliver an unmatched experience for indoor runners.

Huntsman Building Solutions (HBS) announced that Doug Kramer, the founder and architect of Icynene-Lapolla’s success in the spray foam polyurethane business, has stepped down from his current role as joint President to become a consultant to the Business, focusing on strategic growth initiatives. Kramer will report directly to Tony Hankins, President of Huntsman Polyurethanes, HBS’s parent company. Simon Baker, formerly joint president of HBS, will become the global President of HBS, effective immediately.