Huntsman highlights GMP thermoplastic polyurethanes and new pigments at K 2013

Huntsman manufactures products and technologies such as amines and adhesives, carbonates and curing agents, isocyanates and surfactants, TPUs, PUs, and TiO2 pigments. At K2013 the US company will focus on developments in the TPU portfolio as well as on new pigments.

The FCM TPUs of Huntsman are labelled with a picture of cutlery to ensure customers can easily identify relevant products. The symbol used for marking food contact materials in the EU.

Huntsman has been active in the production for food contact materials for more than a decade and was, according to its own words, one of the first companies to proactively put GMP (Good Manufacturing Practises) procedures into place. At its plant in Osnabrueck, Germany, the company produces TPU grades that are suitable for use in harvesting and picking equipment, processing and dispensing machinery, conveyor belts and many other food and drink-related applications. Currently the company has two TPU (polyester) products for the FCM market: Irogran A 92 E 5670 FCM and Irogran A 85 P 4993 FCM – both designed for conveyor belt applications. These grades have a broad processing window, and are easy to colour. New products in the pipeline include polyether-based TPUs Irogran A85 P 4394 FCM, a transparent material, while Irogran A85 P 4441 FCM is an opaque material especially designed to give a matt surface resulting in reduced stickiness. Both can be extruded; they exhibit good low temperature flexibility, which makes them suitable for uses for example in refrigerated warehouses. Huntsman said in a press K preview on 1 July that these products are now in the final stages of development and will be launched at K. Together with customer the company is also working currently on polyether-based calendaring grades.

Huntsman furthermore will highlight Irogran A 95 P 5003, a HFFR grade for industrial and consumer wire and cable applications and additions to the Avalon TPU footwear range.

Other highlighted products are Altiris infrared reflecting pigment, designed to increase the solar reflectance of coloured polymers to help reduce heat build-up and distortion, material solutions for the automotive industry including scratch resistant paint protection films, hotmelts and fast cycling, injection moulding parts, and novelties in the Deltio and Tioxide series of titanium dioxide pigments.

During her presentation at the K preview press event in Düsseldorf on the 1^st July, Dr. Anja Weismann, Product Technology Manager for TPU at Huntsman, discussed the evolution of FCM in the context of population growth and food scarcity. She also assessed legislative considerations; production best practice and emerging market trends. She said that companies involved in the production of FCM products need to demonstrate an in-depth understanding of industry regulations, an unwavering commitment to quality, and a scrupulous approach to the implementation of good manufacturing practices (GMP). These three steps are, according to Weisman, an essential part of ensuring that food and water is processed in a way that keeps it fit for human consumption.
Weismann said: “The FCM market is a fascinating sector to work in and future growth looks assured with predictions that the global population will grow dramatically over the next two to three decades. More people on the planet mean greater demand for food and water. In turn this requires more efficient farming, food processing, transportation and storage techniques, which necessitates more materials. For FCM producers with the right knowledge, expertise and quality controls in place the opportunities are vast.”

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