Kraiburg TPE at K 2010

True to the company motto, “custom-engineered TPE and More“, KRAIBURG TPE will present, at the K 2010, several tailored TPE product solutions that will offer significant added value for customers that manufacture across multiple market sectors. 

The TPE specialist has developed a new high-performance compound from the HIPEX® product family for the Automotive, Industrial and Engineering markets that sets new standards in terms of flow characteristics, surface properties and tensile strength. The compounds of the THERMOLAST® M line, which are specially geared to the needs of the pharmaceutical and medical market, also offer optimized product features. Among other things, manufacturers and users profit from improved sliding capacity with respect to other materials as well as an extensive selection of hardness variants for bonding to PC and ABS plastics. In the consumer segment, too, the “and more” provided by the Waldkraiburg TPE specialist ensures added value that is astonishing – and convincing for the end customers. Such as with the new THERMOLAST® K compounds for “wet grip” applications. They guarantee maximum grip of a product even when wet. And not only pleasant haptics, but also an appealing fragrance can be convincing arguments for consumers. For this purpose KRAIBURG TPE has developed odor batches making it possible to provide all compounds with any desired fragrance.

HIPEX® has performance characteristics that include resistance to temperatures as high as 170°C and to polar media combined with outstanding adhesion properties. The series offers production advantages for the Automotive, Industrial and Mechanical Engineering industries. Now this high-performance TPE has further developed product features just in time for the K 2010. The considerably improved tensile strength of the compounds as well as their optimized flow and surface characteristics facilitate processing by means of time-saving and cost-reducing single and two-component injection molding. In contrast to alternative materials like rubber compounds, time-consuming and cost-intensive vulcanization is not necessary with HIPEX®. In addition to that, TPE compounds from the HIPEX® family have limited swelling properties mitigating any significant change in volume, mass and hardness. The high-performance TPE products are available in black or natural finish. Furthermore, they are easy to dye which can facilitate visual quality control in connection with 2-component processing. 

Whatever the customer wants is also the motto of KRAIBURG TPE’s Medical Division. Due to the strong demand, the specialist for thermoplastic elastomers has optimized its THERMOLAST® M product line in terms of sliding capacity with respect to other materials. Thanks to further development work, an additional MT series is now available with an exceptionally low coefficient of friction. This represents an advantage whenever rapid, easy sliding over plastic surfaces is required, such as in the case of insulin pens or protective covers for minimally invasive operating instruments. The new MT/HD line enables significantly shorter cooling times during processing of thick-wall applications. An extensive range of hardness variants for bonding to PC and ABS plastics rounds off the further developments.

Products that stand out from the crowd with astonishing features make an impression on end customers. At the K 2010 interested visitors can experience the sensorial examples of newly developed THERMOLAST® K compounds at KRAIBURG TPE’s trade fair booth. In line with the maxim “Touch and Feel”, the company presents the advantages TPE offers in terms of “Wet Grip” applications, which guarantee improved, maximum grip even when the product is wet. Furthermore, thanks to their soft-touch surface, all THERMOLAST® K compounds convey a pleasant touch, thus enhancing the aesthetic quality of the product. Above and beyond, OEM’s and processors can now impress their end customers with a sensorial fragrance. A technology newly developed by KRAIBURG TPE now gives customers the opportunity to improve their applications with a fragrance according to their individual desire. Finally, the portfolio is easily colorable which also means visual branding and aesthetic appeal can generate its fair share of attention.