Amazing Response to First KRAIBURG TPE Automobile & Industry Customer Forum
March 28, 2006
WALDKRAIBURG -- The First Automobile & Industry Customer Forum in Waldkraiburg on March 16 and 17, 2006, was attended by about a hundred visitors from Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy, including many renowned manufacturers such as Audi, Porsche, Robert Bosch GmbH, Nokia, Hilti and Metabowerke, to name but a few.
With its series of talks on March 16, 2006, KRAIBURG TPE documented its position as a leading manufacturer of thermoplastic elastomers, underlining its philosophy as a reliable contractor and innovative system partner. To round off the event, delegates were given a detailed guided tour of the state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities at KRAIBURG TPE, explaining the company's production of thermoplastic elastomers.
The information event focused on the latest TPE trends and prospects in the Automobile & Industry sectors, while also giving detailed glimpses of the company's quality policy and its Research & Development.
As a highlight of these seminars, the Head of Research & Development, Dr. Markus Beitzel, gave a first presentation of the new TPE V product series, which is now available on a production scale under the product name THERMOLAST V, with a Shore A hardness of 70. Shore A 50, 60 and 80 will be available in time for the autumn trade fair Fakuma 2006. The vulcanized materials, developed together with Kuraray, have pushed up the temperature limit required for the use of styrene block copolymers, which is approx. 120°C (248°F), thus providing an attractive alternative to EPDM/PP.
Dr. Markus Beitzel, who presented the new product line, described the benefits of the TPE Vs: "Their mechanical, dynamic and ageing properties are superior to or at least identical with those of EPDM/PP. The temperature range for their use is about 140°C (284°F), so that this material extends the product portfolio for TPEs with usage temperatures above 125°C (257°F). Moreover, it also displays an excellent response to low temperatures, with a Tg of -64°C (-83°F). The new TPE Vs allow both injection-moulding and extrusion processing. Under 2K injection moulding it adheres to polypropylene."
Another range of products presented at the event included TPEs with an extreme temperature resistance of up to 170°C (338°F) as well as good media stability. With these "Super TPVs", KRAIBURG TPE intends to conquer the space under the engine bonnet.
Michael Pollmann, Sales & Marketing Director at KRAIBURG TPE, sums up the event: "The amazingly positive response at our Customer Forum shows yet again that we're on the right way with our product policy and our service philosophy."
Information on KRAIBURG TPE
KRAIBURG TPE is among the world's leading manufacturers of thermoplastic elastomers, based on hydrogenated styrene block copolymers (HSBC). Its standard product line of THERMOLAST K® compounds is suited for virtually all applications, particularly 2-component injection-moulding and (co-)extrusion in combination with conventional thermoplastics. Moreover, the development of THERMOLAST K® compounds can be customized. Applications include the automobile and consumer goods industries as well as body care, electronics, toys and sports items. KRAIBURG TPE is accredited under ISO 9001:2000, ISO/TS 16949:2002 and ISO 14001:1996.
