Thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU) will take centre stage at Fakuma when global chemical company Huntsman exhibits at the event in Friedrichshafen, Germany alongside one of its key distribution partner – Chemie Plast.
Huntsman Fakuma
Huntsman is known worldwide for its diverse selection of TPU materials, which Chemie Plast sells on to plastic processors. These high performance engineering plastics can be extruded and injection moulded or converted into technical films and sheets for use in the manufacture of consumer and industrial products. Typical applications include footwear, cables and wires, sport and leisure equipment, industrial and agricultural machinery as well as food contact items.
Michael Kolm, Market Manager for Injection Moulding TPU, EAIME at Huntsman, said: "Fakuma is one of Europe’s leading events for injection molding, extrusion and thermoforming technologies – and is always a productive show for our team. Fakuma enables us to get face-to-face with plastic processors from around the world, not just Europe.
"Last year there were more than 45,000 visitors from 117 countries in attendance – making it the place to network with existing and new potential customers. This year we’ve got together with Chemie Plast to assemble a diverse range of products that demonstrate our capabilities and the versatility of our TPUs across the plastics processing spectrum."
At this year’s Fakuma, Huntsman and Chemie Plast will place specific emphasis on:
- AVALON TPUs for the footwear industry for soling and sport shoe projects
- IROGRAN TPUs for cables for transport and automation applications
- IROGRAN TPUs for the production of timing belts for industrial equipment and elevators
- IROGRAN TPUs for automotive paint protection films, hotmelts and injection moulded parts
- IROGRAN TPUs for sports goods, specifically wearable electronic devices – a growth area
- IROGRAN & IROSTIC hot melt adhesive TPUs for technical textiles and general bonding applications.
Huntsman will also use Fakuma to showcase five recent additions to its portfolio of specialty TPU food contact materials (FCM). These specialist grades of IROGRAN TPU can be extruded to create hoses, tubes, belts and films for use in a variety of food and drink related processes. Each FCM material is easy to clean and has a high tolerance to microbial attack. Available in hardness levels ranging from 80 to 92 Shore A, the TPUs are highly transparent and offer good crystallinity. They also deliver good low temperature flexibility and are easily processable with a high extrusion quality.
Huntsman began developing materials for the FCM market in the 1990s and has built up an in-depth understanding of industry regulations. With an unwavering commitment to product quality the business now has one of the broadest portfolios of polyester- and polyether-based TPUs available to the FCM market.
