Plymouth Foam has launched a new line of dog toys under its Airehide brand which uses BASF’s Infinergy material. Infinergy is an expanded thermoplastic polyurethane (E-TPU) and is used in a variety of applications. According to BASF, the elastic particle foam can be used anywhere, where a combination of low weight, good mechanical properties, and long-term durability is needed.

The Plastics Industry Association (Plastics) announced that it has officially kicked off the march to NPE2021: The Plastics Show. Scheduled for 17 – 21 May 2021 at the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) in Orlando, FL, USA, NPE2021 is expected to draw more than 55,000 attendees from more than 20,000 companies representing more than USD 100 billion in purchasing power.

Under the brand name reSound OM PolyOne has introduced TPE formulations for overmoulding processes. The grades utilise between 40 and 50 % bio-renewable content derived from sugarcane, and offer hardness levels and performance comparable to standard TPEs, PolyOne said.

Joss Elastomers & Chemicals has joined the International Rubber Study Group (IRSG) as associate member. The Dutch company was founded in 1983 and is based in Alkmaar. The product portfolio includes synthetic and natural rubber, rubber chemicals, and a range of TPS products.

Michael J. Whitens, retired former Global Director for Ford’s Vehicle and Enterprise Sciences at Ford’s Research and Innovation Center, has been named the 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award winner by the Automotive Division of the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE).

Toyoda Gosei has begun operations at its Thai Binh plant in Vietnam in July 2019. Thai Binh is the company’s second production base in Vietnam and produces airbag components and steering wheels. Safety system products, mainly airbags, are a key business for Toyoda Gosei and the company said that it is strengthening its global production capacity. With the start of operations at the new plant, Toyoda Gosei plans to increase its annual production capacity in Vietnam within four years to 25 million airbag components and 4 million steering wheels.

Materialise has extended its 3D printing materials offering with the new Ultrasint TPU 01 from BASF. The company announced on 10 September 2019 that it is the first to make the new material available through its online platforms Materialise OnSite and i.materalise, and through its offline prototyping and manufacturing services.

From 2021, MECSPE, the Italian trade fair for the manufacturing industry and smart factory, will move from Parma to Bologna, in order to expand the exhibition area and benefit from the connections and infrastructures that make this city more accessible for national and international visitors and exhibitors. In 2021, the trade fair will celebrate its 20th anniversary. The 2020 edition of MECSPE will be held in Parma from 26 – 29 March.

Sibur and BASF are collaborating to develop new polymer solutions at Sibur’s PolyLab Research and Development Center in Moscow, Russia. The companies said they work together to leverage on the digital technologies in production and R+D, and to develop an innovative range of polymers using the plastic additives offered by BASF. In addition, the companies plan to also jointly develop additive solutions, focusing on demanding converting conditions for polymers and specifically targeting long term durable goods.

Sumika Polymer Compounds Europe, a subsidiary of Sumitomo Chemical, has acquired the Turkish group Emaş. The Emaş Group founded in 1978 by the Alkan family is an important player in the compounding market in Turkey. It consists of the Almen entity in Gemlik, the Akce Plastik entity in the Izmir region, and Emaş Plastik in Bursa. Besides Thermofil PP short glass fibre compounds Sumika Polymer Compounds supplies a range of TPEs under the brand name Espolex.