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First Commercial Use of Renewably-Sourced
Hytrel
The collar of the new Salomon ‘Ghost’ freerider alpine ski-boot constitutes one of the first
commercial uses worldwide of DuPont Hytrel RS (renewably-sourced) thermoplastic
elastomer. Providing all the traditional performance characteristics of Hytrel for such a
demanding winter sports application — including impact resistance and flexibility at low
temperatures — the particular grade of Hytrel RS used contains 27% by weight renewably-
sourced material. The Salomon “Ghost” ski-boot is available solely to Salomon-sponsored
freeriders during the winter 2008/09 season, with its general release to the public planned
exhibition, taking place on the 11th and 12th
for winter 2009/10. Ski-boot collars help provide a secure fit of the boot to the skier and
February 2009 at the NEC, Birmingham, UK,
protect the lower leg. At the same time they need to be flexible enough to ensure a good
bpi.films showcased just some of the latest
Automotive Glazing and reliable transfer of movement from the leg to the ski. Already familiar with the
strides it has made in developing more
Made of Polycarbonate
properties of the DuPont thermoplastic elastomer from its use for collars and soles of its
sustainable polythene products created from
Nordic ski shoes, the recent launch of renewably-sourced grades of Hytrel
both conventional and biopolymers. Mark
Vernon, Commercial Director from the leading
Setting new standards in the small but elite
caught Salomon’s attention as it sought to increase the
manufacturer of pallet stretch, shrink and
segment of radical, lightweight sports cars, is
environmental credentials of its latest product. “We already
converter films, explained: “When people think
the X-Bow (pronounced crossbow) from KTM,
knew Hytrel could offer the required performance for the
of environmentally responsible packaging,
Europe’s second largest motorcycle
collar of our new ‘Ghost’ freerider boots as an alternative to
polythene probably isn’t the first material that
manufacturer and global market leader in off-
polyurethane,” confirms Pascal Pallatin, Alpine Boot &
springs to mind. However, arguably it should
road vehicles. Its technology, derived from the
Advanced Research Project Manager at Salomon. “The fact that
be. “Polythene’s lightweight, high strength and
world of professional motor sport, dispenses
we could now access a grade of the high performance material
enormous versatility actually prevents heavier
with today’s standard comfort features,
with a significant renewable content is an additional selling point
or bulkier materials being used. This allows
instead utilising standalone wheels,
for our boots.”
load space and vehicle movements to be
transparent technology and a stripped
used more effectively, bringing with it a
concept of no roof, doors or windscreen. The
DuPont Engineering Polymers
reduction in associated transport emissions.
X-Bow offers drivers a unique adventure,
Tel: +44 1438 734306
“Not content to stop there though,
aided by a 70 millimetre high transparent
Email: nicky.tyler@gbr.dupont.com
manufacturers like bpi.films have sought
wind deflector that directs most of the wind
Web: www.plastics.dupont.com
additional ways to make polythene greener
flow up and over the driver. This component
than ever. In the case of our own range, an
is injection moulded by a German company,
plastic-design, from Makrolon AG2677
Getting a Handle on a
the weld line can be formed without much
increasing number of our products are now
polycarbonate from Bayer MaterialScience.
effort. This SBC polymer also allows lower
100% recyclable, many are downgauged and
Ulrich Grosser, automotive glazing design
Bottle
processing temperatures and shorter cycle
some are created from biopolymers, allowing
specialist, Bayer MaterialScience, explained:
times than with comparable packaging
them to be completely biodegradable or
“Our polycarbonate is customised for
For the first time in Europe, a machine
materials, and besides, this plastic weighs
compostable.”
automotive glazing, so it’s the material of
manufacturer has demonstrated that BASF’s
much less than PET or PVC. This makes
choice. Unlike glass it can reliably meet all
Styrolux 3G 46 can be processed by extrusion
Styrolux a cost-effective material for
BPI Films
the complex requirements relating to design,
blow-moulding. The Kautex Maschinenbau
manufacturing products that are made by
Tel: +44 151 422 3600
safety and lightweight construction.” The
company, a renowned maker of blow-
extrusion blow-moulding.
Email: widnessales@bpipoly.com
advantages of polycarbonate were so
moulding systems, has recently produced
Web: www.bpifilms.co.uk
overwhelming that investing in an injection
intricately shaped bottles using this styrene-
BASF
mould was cost-effective despite the relatively
butadiene copolymer (SBC) on a high-
Tel: +49 621 60 41446
Small Shredder for Big
low production volumes.
performance extrusion blow-moulding
Email: styrenics.infopoint@basf.com
machine. BASF launched this plastic as a
Web: www.basf.com
Parts
Bayer MaterialScience
blow-moulding brand onto the market in early
2008. “We were surprised to realise how easy
Environmentally
HERBOLD MECKESHEIM has developed a
AG
it is to process Styrolux by extrusion blow-
new single-shaft shredder HR 102 P with
Tel: +44 1635 563 031
moulding. The transparency and high stiffness Responsible Packaging
minimal space requirement to treat bulky
Email: andrea.postles.ap@bayer.co.uk
of this plastic are impressive,” said Markus
hollow bodies. Possible applications are
Web: www.bayer.co.uk
Holbach, head of the Kautex Maschinenbau With easyFairs ECOPACK just around the
barrels up to 220 l (55 gallons); purgings,
technical laboratory in Bonn, Germany. corner, one of the UK’s major forces in the
tops and tails occurring during production can
Producing bottles with an integrated handle development of greener packaging organised
also be treated. Another application is bulky
using this material is very advantageous, since a sustainability-focused event. At the two-day
thermoforming waste, large injection
28 EPPM www.eppm.com
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