Zahoransky has received a large order for systems for the processing of vaccine containers. A US company has placed a major order with a value of EUR 25 million for eleven automation lines and six removal units for vaccine containers (vials). Zahoransky supplies the manufacturer of coated COP (cyclo olefin polymer) vaccine containers with the first automation lines required for production; others will gradually be delivered afterwards.

Nouryon has selected Green Bay in Wisconsin as the location for a new facility to produce its Expancel expandable microspheres. Expancel is used as a lightweight filler and blowing agent to make end products lighter and obtain different surface effects. They also reduce costs and environmental impacts by requiring less raw material. Key end-use markets include the automotive, construction, packaging and mining industries.

Avient has added eight new grades to its healthcare portfolio of Versaflex TPEs. The injection-mouldable Versaflex HC 3810 series is formulated without animal derivatives to serve a variety of medical device applications.

KB Backhaus GmbH, a German specialist in the manufacture of plastic components for automotive industry, has expanded its production within a very short time to include series production of face masks. An innovative four-cavity tool with a special mould has been developed for this purpose, which enables a production capacity of 12,500 face masks per day.

BASF announced that its polyurethane Elastopan and thermoplastic polyurethane Elastollan are key components powering the latest innovation for industrial workers in the new Timberland Pro Reaxion safety shoe. The shoe features Timberland’s Aerocore Energy System, combining the comfort and flexibility of an athletic shoe with the performance and durability of a work boot.

Lehmann&Voss&Co. expands its existing portfolio of hollow microspheres with a new grade of ultrafine particle size under the brand Tri-Spheres 45XS Ultra. The silica-based multicellular hollow spheres serve as functional lightweight fillers and are characterised by high thermal and mechanical resistance as well as bright colour. They can be used in a wide range of applications to reduce density and weight and to optimise acoustic and thermal insulation.

Perception of a material beyond technical data sheets - Enjoy reading Roberto Mariotti’s (Francesco Franceschetti Elastomeri) article about the five senses of thermoplastic elastomers.

Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Markus Susoff is the new professor for plastics testing and polymer physics at the University of Applied Sciences in Osnabrück and head of the laboratory of the same name in the plastics technology laboratory area. The successor to Prof. Dr. Norbert Vennemann intends to expand the laboratory's research competence in a targeted manner and is focusing on close cooperation with companies.

The current situation caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic demands safe but also sustainable material solutions for medical and healthcare equipment. Elastron has been actively collaborating with customers across the globe to utilise its broad portfolio of thermoplastic elastomer materials for reusable masks and other healthcare products.

On 20 August 2020, the Adhesive and Sealant Council (ASC) announced that, given the ongoing economic and health crisis throughout the USA, the ASC Annual Convention & Expo scheduled for 4 – 6 November 2020 is being moved to a 100 % virtual event.