Huntsman to present food contact material (FCM) developments at K2013 preview

At the K2013 preview event on July 1, 2013, Huntsman will brief attending journalists on its work in the development of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) food contact materials (FCM). This specialist area is just one of a number of commercial applications that the business will focus on when K2013 opens for business in October at Messe Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.

During a presentation at 3pm in Room 3 at the CCD Congress Center Düsseldorf / CCD Süd, Dr. Anja Weismann, Product Technology Manager for TPU at Huntsman, will discuss the evolution of FCM in the context of population growth and food scarcity. She’ll also assess legislative considerations; production best practice and emerging market trends – before revealing details of a new range of FCM products that Huntsman expects to launch in October.

Companies involved in the production of FCM products need to demonstrate an in-depth understanding of industry regulations, an unwavering commitment to quality, and a scrupulous approach to the implementation of good manufacturing practices(GMP). These three steps are an essential part of ensuring that food and water is processed in a way that keeps it fit for human consumption.

Huntsman has been active in the FCM market for more than a decade and was one of thefirst companies to proactively put GMP procedures into place. At its plant in Osnabrück, Germany, the company makes high quality thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) grades that are suitable for use in harvesting and picking equipment, processing and dispensing machinery, conveyor belts and many other food and drink-related applications.

Currently, Huntsman has two well-established products for the FCM market: IROGRAN® A 92 E 5670 FCM and IROGRAN® A 85 E 4993 FCM – both designed for conveyor belt applications. These established polyester grades have a broadprocessing window, are easy to color and offer the perfect balance of adhesion properties – meaning they stick to the fabrics they are intended to and not the calender rolls used to process them. New products in the pipeline will include polyether-based TPUs for technical extrusion and calendering applications.

Dr. Weismann said: “The FCM market is a fascinating sector to work in and future growth looks assured with predictions that the global population will grow dramatically over the next two to three decades. More people on the planet means greater demand for food and water. In turn this requires more efficient farming, food processing, transportation and storage techniques, which necessitates more materials. For FCM producers with the right knowledge, expertise and quality controls in place the opportunities are vast.

Source: Huntsman