Creativity with Plastics

May 12, 2008 - New low-VOC Vinyl Helps makers of Furniture and Furnishings Meet Air-Quality Standards for Home and Office Interiors

Innovative formulation technology now enables Teknor Apex Company to manufacture flexible vinyl compounds that reduce emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by 80% or more in comparison with conventional counterparts, it was announced by the company's Vinyl Division.
May 09, 2008 - Agreement Between Clariant and Milliken Launches Special Effect Masterbatches Featuring ClearTint® Transparent Colors

Users of clarified polypropylene (PP) now can have both sparkling clear colors and dazzling reflectivity with ENIGMA®-reflections special effects from Clariant Masterbatches. A recent North American sales and marketing agreement joins Clariant effects technology with the unique ClearTint® transparent colorants from Milliken & Company, and makes those masterbatches available even in small lot sizes.
May 09, 2008 - Y water™ and Yves Béhar Partner with Eastman to Create Vibrant Bottle for New Healthy Kid's Drink

Top designer Yves Béhar and his San Francisco-based firm, fuseproject, have partnered with Thomas Arndt to create an unconventional Y-shaped bottle for Y Water™, a new organic, low-calorie drink for children, using Eastman Eastar EB062 copolyester from Eastman Chemical Company.
May 08, 2008 - Austin-Based Company Develops First Plastic Bottles Free of Estrogenic Activity

Austin-based PlastiPure will introduce today at the All Things Organic (ATO) trade show the FIRST plastic bottles completely free of estrogenic activity (EA). PlastiPure's patented technology allows for the production of resins free of all estrogenic activity and manufacturing methods that avoid dangerous additives to produce safer plastics.
May 05, 2008 - 'Rainbow' Lasers Light Up the Future

University scientists have created the next generation of low cost light sources - lasers which can be tuned to every colour of the rainbow.
Apr 30, 2008 - Petcore Approves The use of up to 10 % of Futura's BarPET/BeerPET PET/PTN Alloy Based on Bottles in a Recycle Stream for Bottle to Bottle Application

BarPET/BeerPET has been developed to enhance thermal stability and further improve gas, UV and water vapour barrier properties of PET packaging. The BarPET/BeerPET solution is targeted mainly at products requiring an extended barrier protection from CO2 loss or oxygen ingress such as soft drinks and beer.
Apr 28, 2008 - Ciba Launches New Range of Anti-Yellowing Pearlescent Effects for Plastics

Ciba is presenting a new range of pearlescent effects at interpack 2008, which takes place in Dusseldorf from April 24-30 (stand E18 in Hall 10). With their anti-yellowing properties, Ciba® XYMARA™ XPS pearlescent effects enhance the appearance and prolong the life of plastic objects. XYMARA™ XPS are suitable for a broad range of goods, including cosmetics bottles, jars, containers and many other functional and decorative items.
Apr 28, 2008 - Moldflow Announces The Release Of Moldflow Communicator 2.0

Moldflow Corporation, the leading provider of plastics simulation software that empowers more users to optimize more designs across their enterprise, today announced the release of Moldflow Communicator™ 2.0, a free simulation results viewer that allows distributed product teams to visualize, quantify and compare Moldflow analysis results.
Apr 18, 2008 - Latest Visual Effects for Thermoplastic Part Design REV Up Bayer MaterialScience's extensive Fantasia® Color and Special Effect Technology Offerings

An innovative color or special effect can turn an ordinary design into an extraordinary one. Designers know this, and so do the Fantasia® color and special effect technology experts at Bayer MaterialScience LLC (BMS). BMS is unveiling a stimulating new set of LEDA® compounded color technology visual effects that can help designers bring even the most imaginative product design into reality. LEDA effects are designed to complement BMS' Makrolon® polycarbonate resin.
Apr 17, 2008 - Materials Firm Can Now Injection Mold 3-Dimensional Metal Parts for Industry

In major moves that promise to capture the attention of OEMs in both the plastics and metals industries, a fast-growing, innovative materials developer can now injection mold metal parts on standard injection molding machinery, and in tools designed for plastic. This breakthrough comes about as a result of a new metal alloy developed by Cool Polymers, Inc. Xyloy™ - that is stronger than die cast metal parts and has no porosity. Xyloy is molded in 3-D, net shape parts in high volume that offer strength, stiffness, conductivity and processability, with tooling guaranteed for the life of the program.
Apr 16, 2008 - Coloprint Tech-Films GmbH & Co and Victrex plc. Collaborate to Provide High Performance Technical Films

Victrex plc, a leading provider of high-performance materials including VICTREX® PEEK™ polymer, VICOTE® coatings, and APTIV™ films, announced a strategic relationship with Frankenthal based Coloprint tech-films GmbH who will serve as the company's Preferred Processor in Germany.
Apr 09, 2008 - Cool Polymers Introduces Next Generation Thermally Conductive Polymers for Heat Sinks

Cool Polymers, Inc. announces the introduction of the next generation of advanced thermally conductive injection molding grade thermoplastics for heat sinks and thermal management solutions. They have numerous advantages over metal. Among the many benefits of the new proprietary CoolPoly® grades are they provide no antenna effect (no amplification of electromagnetic or radio frequency interference and no magnetic coupling), are up to 50% lighter than aluminum and provide greater part design flexibility.
Apr 09, 2008 - SBC Polymer Styrolux Now Also for Blow Molding

Recent tests have demonstrated that Styrolux® 3G46, a highly transparent SBC plastic grade that BASF launched onto the market just in 2006, lends itself very well for blow molding (SBC: styrene butadiene block copolymer).
Apr 08, 2008 - Innovative Technology Adapts Shoes to Weather Conditions

Wet feet - never again: IQTEX and BASF have jointly developed a unique, intelligent system which adapts shoes to suit weather conditions. To make this possible, IQTEX has processed a special superabsorbing fleece from BASF into an innovative ventilation element known as Vayu Verde®.
Apr 08, 2008 - OSRAM has Invested Hundreds of Millions of Euros in the New Semiconductor Plant

OSRAM CEO Martin Goetzeler and Dr. Rudiger Muller, CEO of OSRAM Opto Semiconductors, together with Mayor Hans Schaidinger will officially open the last section of the Regensburg site. "Since the start of construction seven years ago we have invested hundreds of millions of euros. In this period the number of employees has increased by a good 500 to 1500" said Rudiger Muller. This expansion has boosted capacity by almost 50%. Today, OSRAM Opto Semiconductors in Regensburg covers an area of more than 55,000m².
Apr 08, 2008 - Speck Launches New Cases For MacBook Air and iMac 20" Widescreen!

Speck announced the arrival of two new cases for Apple devices, SeeThru Hard Shells for MacBook Air and iMac 20" Widescreen. The SeeThru Hard Shell Case for MacBook Air is the sleekest, thinnest and most elegantly designed case not to mention the first form fitting protective cover for Macbook Air. The cover for iMac is Speck's first case for a non-portable device, and allows for a new level of personalization for your iMac.
Apr 03, 2008 - Solvay Advanced Polymers Rolls Out Gamma Radiation Stabilized Ixef® Polyarylamide - Available in Colors

Solvay Advanced Polymers, makers of more plastics with more performance, debuted its new grade of gamma radiation stabilized Ixef® polyarylamide (PARA) available in eight stock colors - white, grey, blue, green, red, brown, light grey and black. The new grade is aimed at medical device manufacturers serving the needs of hospitals and healthcare networks that are looking to reduce system costs and minimize the transfer of infections.
Apr 02, 2008 - 2009 Color Predictions for Plastic Products Announced by Clariant Masterbatches

Strong feelings about increasing cultural unity and personal commitments to a better environment can be expected to make consumers of plastic products and packaging more receptive to bright, layered colors, contrasted with earthy, neutral tones, according to the 2009 edition of ColorForward™. This Clariant Masterbatches color trend analysis and design tool is released annually to help plastic product designers and marketing professionals make informed color choices. ColorForward 2009 is the collaborative effort of plastic color specialists from North and South America, Europe and Asia. It is an invaluable service available through Clariant's global network of ColorWorks™ design & technology centers.
Apr 02, 2008 - A Light, Thin and Flexible 7" Active Matrix TFT-LCD Panel

The colorless polyimide was developed by ITRI. The colorless PI substrate has features of high Tg (~350 C) and high light transmittance (~90%).
Apr 02, 2008 - Cerestech Introduces New Family of Thermoplastic Starch Blend Resins

Cerestech, Inc., has announced the commercial introduction of several branded Thermoplastic Starch (TPS) Blends, called Cereloy™ , that deliver cost-effective, high property retention film and injection molded products with a substantially reduced Carbon Footprint relative to resins such as polyethylene, polypropylene, biodegradable polyester or polylactic acid (PLA).
Apr 02, 2008 - Moldflow Announces The Release of Moldflow Plastics Insight 6.2

Moldflow Corporation , the leading provider of plastics simulation software that empowers more users to optimize more designs across their enterprise, announced the release of Moldflow Plastics Insight® (MPI®) 6.2. MPI 6.2 has significant enhancements to allow more people to work faster on larger models and interface to more applications. In addition, multiple technology enhancements allow users to improve their productivity.
Apr 01, 2008 - Development of Blue Light Emitting Materials for Full-Color Organic EL Display

Toray Industries, Inc. (headquarters: Tokyo, President: Sadayuki Sakakibara; hereinafter referred to as "Toray") announced that it has succeeded in developing blue light emitting materials, boasting the world's highest levels of efficiency and pure color emissions, for use in full-color organic EL displays. The combination of Toray's proprietary molecular design technology and nano-dispersion technology was instrumental in the material achieving superior light emitting performances of luminous efficiency 6 cd/A (candela/ampere) and color purity (CIE(x,y) = (0.14,0.10)) in combination with Toray's electron-transporting material.
Mar 31, 2008 - Artisan Wine Company Launches New Wines in Ball Corporation's 750 mL PLASMAX® Barrier-Coated PET Bottles

Artisan Wine Company of British Columbia is launching its new Painted Turtle wines in 750mL PET wine bottles from Ball Corporation. The two varieties, Semillion/Chardonnay and Cabernet/Shiraz, will be sold through the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) in two different bottle styles, both featuring aluminum screw caps from G3 Enterprises.
Mar 28, 2008 - Digmesa AG Implements VICTREX® PEEK™ Polymer in Precision Flowmeter for Demanding Food Processing Applications

Victrex plc, a leading provider of high performance materials including VICTREX® PEEK™ polymer, VICOTE® Coatings and APTIV™ Film has announced that DIGMESA AG, of Ipsach in Switzerland, a global leader in engineering and electronic control system production for aqueous media, is implementing VICTREX PEEK polymer in its latest precision flowmeter designed for demanding food processing applications.
Mar 26, 2008 - Ciba Presents New Options to Add Appeal and Function to Packaging at Interpack 2008

Ciba is presenting a wide variety of solutions for enhanced appeal and functionality of packaging at interpack in Dusseldorf from April 24-30, at stands E18 in Hall 10 and C14 in Hall 14. A special focus will be color, transparency and content protection in plastics packaging. Services will also feature prominently, with new tools being demonstrated that assist communication and color management throughout the packaging value chain.
Mar 26, 2008 - ExxonMobil Chemical Company's New Enable Metallocene™ Polyethylene Combines Enhanced Extrusion with Excellent Film Performance

ExxonMobil Chemical Company has introduced a new metallocene polyethylene (mPE) platform, Enable™ mPE, to help converters enhance their extrusion operations while providing excellent film performance. Enable mPE can help converters: achieve more stable operations, extend film line output, simplify resin sourcing and generate downgauged films.
Mar 21, 2008 - APEM Purchases Moldflow Plastics Advisers Software

Moldflow Corporation, the leading provider of plastics simulation software that empowers more users to optimize more designs across their enterprise, announced that APEM, one of the world's largest manufacturers of switches, switch panels and joysticks, has recently invested in Moldflow Plastics Advisers® (MPA®) simulation software. MPA is easy-to-use injection molding simulation software that will allow APEM to optimize every plastic part and injection mold they design, thereby maintaining their strong reputation for quality.
Mar 21, 2008 - New Advances in Holliday Pigments' Premier Range for Plastics at Chinaplas 2008

HOLLIDAY PIGMENTS is showcasing new developments to its Premier range for plastics at ChinaPlas 2008.
Mar 20, 2008 - Spectacular LED Strip is the Shape of Futuristic Headlighting

Pininfarina's futuristic Sintesi concept car caused a sensation at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show, not least because of its spectacular headlight design featuring high-brightness LEDs from OSRAM Opto Semiconductors. Instead of two separate headlights there is a continuous narrow strip containing 16 OSRAM Ostar Power LEDs.
Mar 19, 2008 - Soliant Wins Environmental Award for Automotive Bright Film

Soliant LLC has been awarded the Global Plastics Environmental Conference (GPEC®) 2008 Achievement Award for "Enabling Technologies in Processes and Procedures" -- for developing Fluorex® bright film. Fluorex® bright film is currently used on a variety of plastic substrates to provide a chrome finish comparable to chrome plating. This sustainable alternative to chrome plating offers very low emissions, excellent impact performance and 100% recyclability. Fluorex® bright film is used in insert molding, extrusion lamination and thick sheet thermoforming.