Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Applied Materials Research (IFAM) in Bremen want to spare cruciate ligament victims and other bone patients this additional procedure. They have therefore developed a screw which is biocompatible and also biodegradable over time.

SABIC Innovative Plastics' Ultem* polyetherimide (PEI) resin turned up the heat to support the successful U.S. launch of Groupe SEB®'s T-fal® ActiFry® low-fat deep fryer. The material offers regulatory compliance as well as color customization, excellent high-temperature resistance and the freedom to integrate parts for system cost reduction.

LEDs are expected to develop to one of the predominant light sources over the coming decades and laser marking is an essential step in manufacturing them. One of the most promising markets today is the display backlight technology. ROFIN is among the few suppliers who can reliably meet the required criteria with the PowerLine E 12 IC laser at 532 nm and a double-head setup.

A comparative study has been conducted between the properties of spider silk and steel, and it came out that spider silk may be stronger than steel in tensile strength, although not in compression. The research claims that it has come out with ways of producing synthetic materials which can match or even excel the characteristics of natural silk.

The winner of the Axion Polymers Green Product Design Competition is Gary Poolman with his design 'Wazzon'. This innovative gadget enables swift and efficient drying of sandwich bags, allowing them to be washed and re-used. The Wazzon can also be used to dry other types of bags and items such as rubber gloves.

The laser sensing technology that distinguishes various kinds of plastics by the reflectivity of lasers of five wave lengths is used for the 'eyes' of this robot. This photonics sensing technology is the one having jointly developed by IDEC Co., LTD. and PARC (Photonics Advanced Research Center (PARC)).

Bayer has strengthened their ongoing strategic collaboration with Pultrall Inc., a leading manufacturer of pultruded composite profiles for such markets as automotive, medical, utilities, agriculture and construction. The collaboration seeks to capitalize on the combined expertise of Pultrall and polyurethane systems marketed through BaySystems™.

"Lightweight construction through evolution of hybrid technology" is the motto chosen by LANXESS for its stand at this year's VDI conference on "Plastics in Automotive Engineering" in Mannheim. As the inventor of hybrid technology, the company has more than 20 years' experience in this method of construction, which combines the strengths of sheet steel and polyamide.

The Teijin Group announced that its BIOFRONT heat-resistant bioplastic will be used in silk crepe kimonos worn by staff at Murasaki, a Japanese restaurant operated by Kikkoman Corporation. The advanced BIOFRONT fibers were interwoven with silk fibers to produce a new material that retains the beautiful texture and sheen of Tango silk crepe.

BIOCOR LLC announced a new venture in the business of buying, aggregating, and processing post-consumer PLA, the 100 percent plant-based bioplastic. BIOCOR will capitalize on the ease with which PLA can be converted back to its original lactic acid feedstock for subsequent use in a variety of existing end markets.

Extensive storage tests confirm that engineering polymers from Ticona, including FortronPPS, Celstran LFRT and Hostaform POM deliver the chemical resistance required for long-term direct contact with AdBlue® (a highly pure aqueous urea solution), which is used for exhaust treatment systems in today's diesel vehicles.

In response to customer demand for expanded pipe joining machine capabilities, GF Piping Systems has introduced IR110 Plus® Fusion Joining Machine for welding of the company's thermoplastic piping systems from 1/2" through 4" sizes. The new machine is based on the proven design of earlier models and is substantiated with more than two years of development and testing.

PolyOne's GLS Thermoplastic Elastomers - a business unit within the Specialty Engineered Materials group and a global leader in high-performance, custom-formulated TPEs - announced at the International Home + Housewares Show that a recent collaboration with its customer Animent has produced a successful new line of animal grooming pads.