Medical Device Link.

Dow Chemical Markets Pellethane Elastomers in Europe

The Dow Chemical Co. (Amsterdam-Zuidoost, Netherlands) has announced that it will supply Pellethane thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers (TPUs) to the European market. The availability of the TPUs is a result of the recent expansion in production capacity at the company's La Porte, TX, USA, facility. Ultimately, the plant is expected to produce approximately 50 million lb of Pellethane elastomers annually.

The elastomers are offered in 5 resin families and more than 50 formulations based on polyester and polyether chemistry for injection moulding, extrusion, and blow moulding applications. Performance benefits of the TPUs, which are used for medical tubing among numerous other applications, include clarity, chemical and abrasion resistance, good hydrolytic stability, and low-temperature flexibility. They are offered in a wide range of durometers, from 70 Shore A to 75 Shore D.

According to Chris Edwards, market development manager for Dow Chemical (Cheshire, UK), the elastomers will be supplied through Dow's field sales organizations in Europe as well as through Ashland Plastics Div. (Heanor, Derby, UK) and Resinex N.V. (Erpe-Mère, Belgium). "The availability of Pellethane elastomers closely follows the successful introduction of Isoplast resins in Europe in December 1996," adds Edwards.

For more information, contact The Dow Chemical Co., Dow Information Centre, Hettenheuvelweg 47, 1101 BM Amsterdam, Netherlands; phone: +31 20 6916268; Internet: http://www.dow.com.

Colorite to Produce Medical-Grade Compounds in UK

Colorite Polymers (Ridgefield, NJ, USA) recently inaugurated a 55,000-sq-ft facility in Belfast, Northern Ireland, that has the capacity to produce 24 million lb of compounds per year. According to Colorite president Robert S. Brookman, the opening of the UK facility is further evidence of the company's commitment to meeting the demands of multinational manufacturers looking for single-source suppliers. "As the world's leading source for medical-grade PVC compounds, Colorite's new plant in Northern Ireland enables the company to meet the ever-growing demands of our global market," says Brookman.

The company launched two new products at the recent NPE show in Chicago, IL, USA--Elastichem and VinylBond--that may be manufactured in the Northern Ireland facility. Elastichem, which exhibits durability, scratch resistance, resilience, and good compression set properties, is available in 35 to 85 Shore A. It has applications in a wide range of industries. VinylBond, designed with coextrusion applications in mind, offers low-temperature resistance and weatherability and is marketed as an alternative to thermoplastic rubber.

Flexchem, a substitute material for silicone, also will be produced at the new facility. The compound is supplied in durometers ranging from 35 to 65 Shore A and is formulated using only US FDA-sanctioned raw materials.

For more information, contact Colorite Europe Ltd., Springbank Ind Est, Site 7, Pembrooke Loop Rd., Belfast BT17 OQL, UK; phone: +44 1232 306950; fax: +44 1232 306969.