The K 2019 trade fair for plastics and rubber will take place from 16 – 23 October 2019 in Düsseldorf, Germany, where the VDMA Plastics and Rubber Machinery Association will shine the spotlight on the recycling sector and show how closed loops can work effectively.

Huntsman announced that in 2020, its polyols production facility in Kuan Yin, Taiwan, will begin to utilise the company's well-proven Terol polyols technology to recycle distressed PET streams to satisfy the growing demand from the regional PIR foam insulation market.

As the European association of flexible polyurethane foam blocks manufacturers Europur  has previously reported, it is expected that Germany will submit a proposal to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) to classify melamine as a Class 2 Carcinogen in combination with Specific Target Organ Toxicity with Repeated Exposure (STOT RE) Class 1.

The Australian company Era Polymers announced a new partnership with Summers Equipment Inc., a manufacturer of material processing equipment. Effective immediately, Era Polymers is the exclusive agent for the Summers Equipment range of machines produced in Canada.

Hearing aids, dental crowns, and limb prosthetics are some of the medical devices that can now be digitally designed and customized for individual patients, thanks to 3D printing. However, these devices are typically designed to replace or support bones and other rigid parts of the body, and are often printed from solid, relatively inflexible material.

The Italian company Roboze S.P.A. announced that it has realised a skateboard using FFF 3D printing technology, choosing high temperature polymers and composite materials in order to combine lightness and high resistance. According to the company, it used carbon PA, PP, PEEK, and thermoplastic polyurethane to manufacture the skateboard.

The Indian company Sheela Foam Ltd. announced that it will acquire Interplasp S.L. with headquarters in Yecla, southeastern Spain, for approximately EUR 42 million. The transaction is scheduled to be completed on or before 30 September 2019, subject to closing conditions.

The executive planning committee for the SPE Automotive Composites Conference & Expo (ACCE) announced the second keynote speaker for its 19th annual event, which will be held from 4 – 6 September 2019 at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi, MI, USA.

According to KraussMaffei, flame protection requirements for polyurethane foam components are increasing worldwide, both in the automotive and industrial applications sectors and also due to regulatory requirements. At K 2019, the company will present a complete system for the high-pressure processing of expandable graphite for high material and process efficiency and clean production.