Arkema’s Pebax Clear was chosen and specified by Under Armour for the first time in a new high-tech baseball shoe, scheduled to be released in Japan in December 2009.

RocTool will be launching 3iTech, Integrated Internal Induction Technologies, a new moulding by induction technology.

At NPE several suppliers of thermoplastic elastomers showed new products. Among them where Teknor Apex Inc. with Telcar OBC, a thermoplastic elastomer compound based on Infuse brand olefinic block copolymers licensed from Dow.

For cable manufacturers and suppliers in the IT and entertainment electronics sector, Kraiburg TPE has developed special halogen-free and flame-resistant TPE compounds that meet the stringent flame-resistance requirements of the relevant European and US standards.

At NPE in Chicago, Engel, the Austrian manufacturer of injection moulding machinery part-handling automation systems, presented among other exhibits a 60 tonne tiebarless all-electric e-motion combi machine as part of an integrated system that produced a multi-component cell phone holder. The part was moulded with PP and TPE.

Sarlink has announced that it has significantly improved and expanded its 6100 series of TPV products.

Ford has selected Arnitel TPC from DSM Engineering Plastics for the production of vacuum brake tubes for its recently launched new Fiesta. Ford already uses the material in similar applications in a number of its models: Mondeo, S-Max, C-Max, Galaxy and Focus.

Kraton Polymers LLC, a leading global producer of engineered polymers, announced new advances in pressure sensitive adhesives for the tape market. It is now possible to blend Kraton styrene-isoprene-butadiene-styrene (SIBS) and styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) polymers with rosin ester tackifying resins.

In late 2008 the Osnabrück, Germany, based hose producer polyvanced GmbH included round belts of thermoplastic polyurethane and polyester elastomers into its product range.

Spanish TPU specialist Merquinsa announced that it will launch a new TPU range at Chinaplas: Pearlthane Maxi.