Bayer polycarbonate makes luggage lighter and more secure

According to the latest estimates by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), some one billion people travel each year. Thanks to increasing mobility, this number is expected to rise to 1.8 billion by 2030 (1). In light of this trend, manufacturers of suitcases and other travel articles anticipate rising demand for their products.

Makrolon® polycarbonate from Bayer MaterialScience offers a number of advantages that can also benefit vacationers this summer: The strong and durable plastic shell is much lighter than those of suitcases made of aluminum or other materials and offers reliable protection for the traveler’s belongings. Furthermore, the plastic can be colored in a variety of shades and shaped virtually at will in order to satisfy individual customer wishes.

In collaboration with Andiamo Luggage LLC, Bayer has developed an extrudable polycarbonate grade to help keep suitcases looking good even after extensive travel. Makrolon® ET MS240 offers significantly better surface protection, making it the ideal material for the American-based Andiamo’s Pantera Collection.

"Bayer’s material innovations and on-site technical support were a tremendous advantage during the development of the scratch-resistant polycarbonate shell of the new Andiamo collection," said Scott Kosmin, President and Chief Operating Officer of Andiamo Luggage. "It also plays a role in the name of our new collection: The Italian word Andiamo translates into ‘Let’s go,’ while Pantera refers to the sleek and elegant black member of the big cats - the panther. What better description can you find for great looking luggage that can survive a trip unscathed, only to return looking just as good as before?"

"The new Makrolon® grade is a scratch-resistant resin that can be formed into a suitcase shell in a single-step process," said Godwin Suen, a Bayer expert for the production of travel articles in the Asia/Pacific region. "By broadening our portfolio and introducing a product with up to four times the pencil hardness to the market, we have significantly widened the range of options available to suitcase manufacturers." Hard-shell suitcases made from this product combine durability and light weight with a fashionable design. Its surface feels soft and comfortable to the touch.

Source: Bayer