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.

DuPont Transportation & Industrial and ExxonMobil Chemical have announced the results of their successful collaboration to develop new Santoprene thermoplastic vulcanisates (TPV) for automotive corner mould seals.

Nordmann, a leading chemical distribution company headquartered in Hamburg, Germany, has announced the appointment by Kolon Plastics, Inc., as the official distributor for its Kopel thermoplastic copolyester elastomers (TPC) in Europe (excl. Nordics and Turkey). The agreement is effective from 1 July 2019.

Tony Radoszewski has been named President and Chief Executive Officer of the Plastics Industry Association (Plastics) effective from 16 September 2019. Radoszewski, a plastics industry veteran with nearly 40 years of experience in the field, joins the association after serving since 2006 as the president of the Plastics Pipe Institute (PPI).

Bayer and Lanxess announced that they will sell their stakes in the chemical park operator Currenta to funds managed by the infrastructure investor Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets (MIRA). Both companies signed corresponding agreements with MIRA on 6 August 2019. The transaction still requires the approval of the responsible authorities.

Dirk Elvermann, until April 2019 Member of the Board of Wintershall Holding GmbH, Finance, Sales and Commercial, has been appointed as new President of the division Finance at BASF. He succeeds Marc Ehrhardt, who will assume responsibility for the establishment of the new division Global Business Services, effective from 1 September 2019, and subsequently its leadership.

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. A series of interviews will shed light on why it is doing this and the significance of the "Circular Economy" for member companies of the association. In this interview, Michael Baumeister, Managing Director Technology and Logistics at Brückner Maschinenbau GmbH & Co. KG, gives his views on the topic.

Evonik said it will vigorously defend itself against the action of the Federal Trade Commission, which announced it will file a lawsuit seeking to block Evonik’s proposed acquisition of PeroxyChem, a worldwide manufacturer of speciality peroxygen chemistries.

Effective from 1 August 2019, Sucheta Govil has been appointed as new Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) and member of the Management Board of Covestro. She succeeds Dr. Markus Steilemann, who has so far continued to work as CCO on top of his role as CEO. Govil will be responsible for the three business segments Polyurethanes, Polycarbonates as well as Coatings, Adhesives, Specialties.