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Newsrss1Thermoplastic Elastomers & Urethanes

Polyurethane with shape memory: From foil to foam

Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP have developed a foil that changes into polyurethane foam (PU foam) when heated – entirely without health risks. The foil allows for isocyanate-free foaming, thus improving workplace safety. Additionally, it offers logistics advantages for storage and transportation. The material can be customized for various applications ranging from the automotive and construction industries to packaging.

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GRI announces the appointment of Dr. Tharindu Atapattu as chief executive officer

GRI announced the appointment of Dr. Tharindu Atapattu as the next Chief Executive Officer, ushering in a dynamic new chapter for the company. With an career spanning over 20 years of exceptional leadership experience, he has demonstrated expertise in financial strategy, business turnarounds, and value-driven growth across multinational corporations, Fortune 500 brands, and leading local enterprises.

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L.S. Starrett Co. has appointed four new executives to its global organization

The L.S. Starrett Co. has appointed four new executives to its global organization, further strengthening its corporate management at the highest levels. Starrett welcomes Mr. Roger N. Amrol, Jr. as President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr. Barry D. Laughlin as Chief Operating Officer (COO), Mr. Allen E. Look as Global Chief Information Officer (CIO), and Mr. Jon-Michael Raymond as Chief Revenue Officer (CRO). The new executives will be based out of Starrett corporate headquarters in Athol, MA, bringing a wealth of manufacturing industry experience, leadership and skills to Starrett as the company focuses on continuous improvement, growth and innovation.

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Zeon and Yokohama Rubber installing bench facility for production of butadiene from ethanol derived from plants

Zeon Corporation and The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. announced that they have agreed to establish a bench facility to demonstrate technology for producing butadiene from ethanol derived from plant-based and other sustainable materials with high efficiency. The facility will be installed at Zeon’s Tokuyama Plant (Shunan City, Yamaguchi Prefecture) and is scheduled to begin operating in 2026. It will enable the production of a certain amount of butadiene and facilitate the collection of various data that will be used to establish mass production.

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Shin-Etsu hosted hands-on LSR processing training with key industry leaders

In an effort to provide advanced education on the processing and property advantages of liquid silicone rubber (LSR), Shin-Etsu Silicones of America (SESA: A U.S. subsidiary of Shin-Etsu Chemical Co. Ltd., Japan) recently conducted its largest ever LIMS™ (Liquid Injection Molding System) Processing Training Course at their 7,000 ft2 state-of-the-art LIMS Technical Center (LTC) in Akron, Ohio. The hands-on training event took place over three days and was attended by over 30 industry customers and 15 supplier partners.

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Bellofram Elastomers introduces new UL-94 V-0 listed, medium density flame retardant foam 

Designed to help prevent the spread of fire, these innovative materials provide improved protection for various applications.
UL 94 for vertical flames is a plastics flammability standard released by the Underwriters Laboratories (USA), and its designation means the foam product releases water at certain temperatures to extinguish flames. The new flame-retardant Bellofram foam formulation improves upon the leading flame-retardant silicone foam in the market and is ideal for use in component product manufacturing serving diverse markets, including electronic enclosure seals, HVAC seals and gaskets, LED gaskets, electronic vehicle battery seals, and more.

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