The new RimStar Smart mixing and metering machine with the smallest footprint in its segment made its debut at the HEY! TALK event online in front of international polyurethane professionals. The KraussMaffei solution for professional PU processing offers a metering machine footprint of just 4.8 m², a new operating concept with a mobile control panel, intuitive user interface and additional touch panel on the mixing head, and options such as a freely positionable mixhead boom.

In September 2020, the Swiss adhesive manufacturer Alfa Klebstoffe AG launched Alfapura, a pollutant-free range of adhesives that can be integrated into end products for Cradle to Cradle Certified certification.

Vencorex has announced the launch of Hexachlorobenzene-free Isophorone diisocyanate (HCB-free IPDI). According to the company, for some decades Isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) has been increasingly used in polyurethane chemistry applicable in many related industries, namely, coatings, adhesives, inks, and elastomers. Being a cycloaliphatic isocyanate with different reactivities between two isocyanate functions, IPDI does not only pertain high lightfastness as any aliphatic isocyanates, but it also provides good selectivity in urethane reactions, leading to good control of polymeric chain length and consequently suitable mechanical and chemical properties.

Texon announced that footwear manufacturers looking to boost the amount of recycled material in their shoes, without compromising quality, now have a new insole technology at their disposal. According to the manufacturer, Texon Ecoline is a material that optimally combines strength and sustainability. Based on 85 % recycled polyester (rPET), it is 100 % recyclable and up to 32 % lighter than similar materials, but delivers the same strength and performance as heavier substrates.

Under the brand name Norantox, Nordmann now offers its own product range of antioxidants and UV stabilisers for applications in plastics, coatings, construction and elastomers. The products have been registered with REACH and are available for purchase throughout Europe. The company already offers an extensive product portfolio of plastic additives, including flame retardants such as the Nord-Min range, rheology modifiers, impact modifiers and pigments. The new range currently includes the following products:

Songwon announced that following the launch of Songflame at K 2019, the company has further developed its halogen-free technology and is adding a new product to its portfolio of flame-retardant synergists.

Hennecke-OMS announced that it has signed a new contract with Ballytherm UK Ltd. for the supply of a high-speed lamination line to produce polyisocyanurate panels with flexible facings. According to the manufacturer, the line has a speed of 45 m/min, with future potential of up to 70 m/min.

With the market launch of its new Aerothan bicycle tube on 8 October 2020, Schwalbe has presented a new generation of bicycle tubes based on BASF's thermoplastic polyurethane Elastollan. According to the companies, this innovation scores top marks in terms of weight, puncture resistance, handling characteristics, ease of assembly and packing size. Aerothan bicycle tubes are the result of unique developmental work between the producer of bicycle tyres and tubes and BASF's Performance Material Division.

Emery Oleochemicals, a manufacturer of natural-based speciality chemicals, announced that Mark Kinkelaar, PhD, Global Director of the company’s Eco-Friendly Polyols business, will be a panel speaker as part of the Center for the Polyurethanes Industry (CPI) 2020 fall webinar series. The webinar “Sustainability and End of Life Topics in the Polyurethanes Industry” is scheduled for 5 October 2020 from 11 am to 1 pm Eastern US.

The US footwear brand Oesh Shoes has been evaluating how Huntsman’s thermoplastic polyurethane materials can be used to create a 100 % recyclable shoe sole via 3D printing – with positive results.