To holds its own in the market place, Ticona relies on continual product development and quality improvement. The success of this strategy has been confirmed again recently by two innovation awards and the new applications presented at Fakuma in Friedrichshafen.
The world's first all-plastic springform baking pan has been successfully developed by Ticona in collaboration with kitchenware manufacturer Lurch AG, using Vectra® LCP. This liquid crystalline polymer was previously used for small, thin-walled precision parts for electronic and medical technology applications - above all because the material can withstand extremely high temperatures. Now Vectra is replacing metal as the material for the new springform pan base, which has to perform reliably over a service temperature range from -196 to +280°C.
Innovation awards for Celanex and Celstran
Another Ticona material that is developing into a product with enormous potential is Celanex® XFR. This halogen-free, flame-retardant polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) fulfils many different requirements in terms of flame retardancy and good processability. Flat-screen TV manufacturers are now using this material as an important component in neon tube holders. A key selection criterion was that this PBT should meet the high specifications of US Underwriters Laboratories (UL) flame classification UL94 V-0 at 0.8 mm thickness. Dispensing with the previously used brominated flame retardants relieves the burden on the environment and complies with the provisions of the German Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act that will apply from July 2006. This was impressive enough for business consultants, Frost & Sullivan, to honor the Ticona plastic with the "Product Innovation Award 2006". The awards will be presented in London in December.
Back in mid-September, the presentation of another award demonstrated Ticona's outstanding potential for innovation. The Celstran recycling concept won an innovation award in the environment category from the German Federation of Reinforced Plastics (AVK).
"These awards and our latest products confirm that our strategy of continual material development is paying off. To operate successfully in the marketplace, polymer producers today must offer more than just good products," explains Phil McDivitt, Ticona Director of Marketing and Sales for Europe and Asia. "Here what counts above all else is our extensive processing experience, which we contribute in our collaboration with customers, and our expert consulting support, which we provide all the way from the initial idea to serial production scale." Besides high-quality plastics, the engineering polymer producer offers numerous services to help consolidate existing markets or develop new ones. "In the end," McDivitt sums up, "the important thing is to respond quickly to continually changing market conditions, or better still anticipate them, together with our customers."
Further information about Ticona and Celanese
Ticona, the technical polymers business of Celanese Corporation, produces and markets a broad range of engineering polymers and achieved sales of $ 887 million in 2005. Ticona has approximately 2.000 employees at production, compounding and research facilities in the USA, Germany and Brazil.
As a global leader in the chemicals industry, Celanese Corporation (NYSE:CE) makes products essential to everyday living. Our products, found in consumer and industrial applications, are manufactured in North America, Europe and Asia. Net sales totaled $6.1 billion in 2005, with approximately 60% generated outside of North America. Known for operational excellence and execution of its business strategies, Celanese delivers value to customers around the globe with innovations and best-in-class technologies. Based in Dallas, Texas, the company employs approximately 9,300 employees worldwide.
