Materials firm Teknor Apex Co. is introducing new high-temperature grades of it’s Creamid-brand nylon compounds at Fakuma 2018.The new materials can withstand higher temperatures at continuous use, Teknor's Brian Rickard said. Rickard is director of strategy and business development in engineering thermoplastics for the Pawtucket, R.I., company. He said that the new grades are aimed at automotive applications such as intake manifolds and other under-hood uses, and they're now available with glass fiber content of 35, 50 and 60 percent. He added that, "We're seeing the same issues that a lot of other nylon 6/6 users are," he added. "We haven't had any production issues, but the market is very tight."

Rickard said that Creamid compounds are based on nylon 6/6, and although that material has been in short supply globally, Teknor has been able to source enough material for its needs.

Teknor employs more than 2,000 worldwide and has annual sales of more than $600 million. In North America, the firm is one of the region's 30 largest makers of compounds and concentrates. Teknor also recently introduced new higher-performing grades of Sarlink-brand thermoplastic vulcanizates. The materials have good short-term elastic recovery—or "snap back"—performance, according to TPE Vice President Sachin Sakhalkar. He said that, the new TPVs can be used in auto chassis parts, as well as in industrial applications where they can replace thermoset rubber.

Earlier this year, Teknor broke ground on a new plant in Rothenburg, Germany. The plant is expected to open in early 2020. The business of compounder PTS GmbH, which Teknor acquired in early 2016, will move from nearby Steinsfeld to the Rothenburg plant when it opens.

Also at Fakuma, Teknor was encouraging it’s high-performance TPEs—including styrenic block copolymers—with better chemical resistance and temperature resistance. Overmolding grades of TPEs and TPVs with improved adhesion performance also were being featured.