Clariant’s commitment to deliver the material innovations,processing advances and support essential to the success of its plastics sector customerswill be reinforced under the motto “Power Your Performance” at K 2010 in Düsseldorfthis October.
| The specialty chemicals expert will demonstrate its active approach to addressingfundamental issues as safety, efficiency and ecology, which are now facing designers,processors and manufacturers across the broad range of plastics’ markets. Visitors toClariant’s booth (Hall 8A #J11) can look forward to seeing a selection of the manyinitiatives and product developments that are putting masterbatches and compounds,pigments and additives at the forefront of response to the sector’s most significantchallenges. Examples featuring at K 2010 include: |
Safety
Clariant applies very high safety standards to its products and processes and therefore is ideally positioned and equipped to help its customers navigate plastics and chemical regulations and practices. This makes Clariant the partner of choice for sensitive applications such as medical devices, food packaging and toys.
- Clariant will unveil its new medical and pharmaceutical masterbatches and compounds brand at K 2010. The brand reflects its active commitment to helping medical and pharma customers minimize the risks and costs of non-compliance in a product’s development and lifecycle. Clariant is pioneering the global implementation by masterbatch and compound suppliers of the quality management standard for the medical and pharma industry: ISO 13485. The company is currently working towards full ISO 13485:2003 accreditation for its three manufacturing plants specialized to medical masterbatches and compounds. Located in the United States, Europe and Asia, they offer full manufacturing-line segregation to reduce risk of cross contamination between products. Consistency and reliability of formulations and procedures is assured through alignment with the globally harmonized management system.
- Clariant’s pigment ranges have been manufactured without Lead Chromate for a long time. This foresight has enabled Clariant’s customers to win additional competitive advantages by preparing early, long before the forthcoming 2012 Lead Chromate restriction (under REACH Regulation) takes effect for such applications as toys and food packaging.
- On the additives side, Clariant is a leader in non-halogen flame retardants. Its Exolit® product range uses organic phosphorous as a safer alternative active ingredient.
Ecology
Clariant is committed to helping its customers improve the sustainability and environmental impact of their operations and products, while striving to create its own products with the same high regard for the environment.
- Clariant’s new masterbatches for compostable bioplastic products and packaging make their debut at K 2010. New RENOL®-compostable and CESA®-compostable masterbatches incorporate conventional (non-natural) additives that make them more economical and more process- and light-stable than “natural” products. This results in a broader choice of colors and additive functionality for biopolymer applications requiring compliance with European and U.S. standards governing compostability and ecotoxicity.
- HYDROCEROL® chemical foaming agents (CFAs) and CESA-extend polymer chain extenders are being applied together to allow PET polyester to help deliver environmental benefits in new markets like grocery meat trays.
The additive masterbatches allow producers to reduce the amount of material used and cut the shipping weight of the product while gaining process efficiencies and cutting energy consumption. These are two of several Clariant technologies meeting consumer demand for the greater use of recycled and recyclable materials.
Efficiency
In today’s environment of rapid economic changes and increasing global competition, Clariant’s processes and material solutions play a significant role in helping customers to reduce their development time, and improve their output potential and cost efficiency.
- Clariant restructured its business at the start of 2010 to reduce complexity within the organization and improve its speed of responsiveness. Ten separate business units focus on meeting the specific needs of customers and the market within their particular segment.
- ColorWorks™ global network of design and technology centers is a one-stop resource for concept-to-launch product development. Whether brand owners are looking for fresh ideas, a facelift for an older design, or ways to position their product and attract new customers, ColorWorks provides the expertise and the tools that ensure success. Relying on ColorWorks, leading specifiers and OEMs quickly turn new ideas into tangible products with the desired aesthetics and performance properties - and are able to get to market faster, while improving cost efficiency. ColorForward™ color trend analysis and forecasting tools, virtual prototyping and production-scale processing machines and related tooling are among the services that allow customers to move very quickly from concept to 3D prototype to approved formulation.
- Clariant is one of the few masterbatch suppliers able to provide color and additives in several solid forms (standard pellets, mini- and micro-pellets) and also liquid form. The newest Rite Systems liquid-dosing systems are computer controlled and networkable to provide superior flexibility and control.
“Clariant’s extensive experience, strong capabilities and vast portfolio of innovations provide the support our customers need to boost their competitiveness”, comments Steve Duckworth, Head of Global Marketing Segment Consumer Goods and Medical at Clariant Masterbatches.
“We are looking forward to demonstrating to K 2010 visitors how our focus on the key safety, efficiency and ecology-related considerations affecting the industry can really add power to their performance, be it on the product or operation side of their business.”
| Stefanie Nehlsen Phone +41 61 469 67 42 stefanie.nehlsen@clariant.com |
