The ENSINGER portfolio of semi-finished products made of high performance plastics is joined by a new member of the polyaryletherketone family: TECAPEEK ST. This innovative product based on Victrex® ST™, is designed to perform in industries and applications requiring a combination of high temperature, mechanical performance and dimensional stability.

PerkinElmer, Inc., a global leader focused on the health and safety of people and the environment, introduced its new line of high performance differential scanning calorimeters (DSC), designed to improve accuracy, sensitivity and performance in thermal analysis, a technique commonly used in the development of new polymeric materials.

SABIC Innovative Plastics has leap-frogged its Ultem* resin technology to advanced new levels of extreme performance with the launch of new leading-edge Ultem composite. Target markets and applications include flame retardant fabrics, ultra-lightweight aircraft interiors, and other high-end products where outstanding levels of performance are required.

The characteristics of the battery differ significantly from those of conventional batteries. The printable version weighs less than one gram on the scales, is not even one millimeter thick and can therefore be integrated into bank cards, for example. The battery contains no mercury and is in this respect environmentally friendly.

The new Halar ECTFE film from Solvay Solexis is the best option for front sheets used in photovoltaic (PV) modules. It meets the critical film requirements including low water vapor permeation and excellent UV resistance, a high degree of visible light transmission, service life up to 25 years and, increased mechanical impact strength.

FUJIFILM Corporation will start full operation of plant No.9 for WV (wide-view) Film, which widens viewing angles of liquid crystal displays (LCDs). WV Film is characterized for its ability to dramatically expand viewing angles of LCDs at low costs, and has established itself as the de-facto standard in viewing-angle widening film for LCDs.

CRG Industries LLC announces the product launch of Essemplex, an easy-to-use, fully formable, thermoplastic shape memory polymer (SMP) resin. Essemplex is available now for use in reconfigurable, versatile products that a consumer or manufacturer can customize for a perfect fit. The benefit of shape memory properties is combined with the ease of use in production lines.

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has become the first global carrier to switch from using conventional oil-based polystyrene coffee and tea cups to paper ones made with Ingeo™ coating. These cups are now being used as the responsible alternative across the whole KLM fleet. Ingeo™ natural plastic is made from plants, not oil.

The Kettler company is cladding its new cross trainer Satura P 7653 with Terluran® GP-35, a standard ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene polymer) from BASF's product range of plastics, which Kettler itself then colors in light grey and black. For self-coloring of ABS, BASF offers the system Colorflexx®, developed in cooperation with leading masterbatch suppliers.

Victrex has installed a new high temperature vacuum laminating press system at its manufacturing facility in the Lancashire, United Kingdom. With this addition, Victrex now has the capability of bonding its APTIV™ film, produced from VICTREX® PEEK™ polymer, to a wide range of other substrates without the use of adhesives.

LANXESS will be presenting the new HNBR grades at the IRC 2009, as one of the latest innovations from the company's development departments. These hydrogenated acrylonitrile-butadiene rubbers (HNBR) boast improved swelling properties in oils and open up new opportunities for developers of technical rubber goods, e.g. in terms of contact with alternative fuels.

PolyOne's GLS Thermoplastic Elastomers business unit, a global leader in high-performance, custom-formulated thermoplastics elastomers (TPEs), introduced new DYNALLOY™ TPE grades that offer important benefits to injection molders and extruders, including faster cycle times compared to unfilled styrenic TPEs.

Merck KGaA announced that it has launched the "Printed Organic Switches and Chips" project (Polytos) together with the "Forum Organic Electronics". The aim of this project is to develop new materials, concepts, components, manufacturing processes and software for printed organic circuits with integrated sensors for applications in the packaging industry.

Solvay Solexis launched a new generation of Fluoroelastomers, the Solvay Eco Friendly family (SEF). In addition to its already wide portfolio of fluoroelastomer grades, the Tecnoflon R&D Team has developed Tecnoflon SEF, an innovative class of fluoroelastomer copolymer grades with reduced environmental impact.

The WACKER Group is expanding its existing silicone range by a new product line geared specifically to the needs of the solar industry. Marketed under the name ELASTOSIL® Solar, the line include a UV-activated specialty silicone as well as pourable, highly translucent silicone elastomers for molding optical parts employed in high-concentration photovoltaic modules.

The new 19-micron 3M Embedded Capacitance Material (ECM), introduced by 3M Electronic Solutions Division, offers printed circuit board manufacturers a high-performing choice for cost-sensitive applications. The material is designed for OEMs, who seek to differentiate their products through dramatically improved performance and reduced size.

The Lotus Exige race car, which is upgraded and weight-reduced with parts of Evonik Industries, one of the world's largest specialty chemicals manufacturers, has employed the use of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), which Evonik sells under the brand name PLEXIGLAS®, for its front and side windows. The composite windows weigh only half as much as conventional glass windows.

Solvay, the international chemical and pharmaceutical Group, has announced that its know how, solutions and ultrahigh-performance polymers products have delivered an essential contribution to the success of the Solar Impulse prototype solar airplane, an airplane, powered exclusive by photovoltaic cells and capable to fly autonomously without using any fossil fuels.

Geothermal energy - using heat from the Earth for electricity generation and heating - is seen as an energy source with a future. The rubber components used to harness this energy are subjected to abrasion, heat and contact with non-polar, aggressive media. This is overcome by hydrogenated nitrile rubber Therban AT from LANXESS.

Enviroplast or more commonly known as green plastic, created by Professor Hanafi Ismail is an alternative to the petroleum-based plastic that is currently in use and which is seen as creating numerous environmental problems. Furthermore, the product is very much cheaper compared to the product that is currently available in the market.