Kraton Tpe Comparable Grades Offered By Star Thermoplastics To

BROADVIEW, Ill. - Oct. 12, 2016 - PRLog -- Star Thermoplastic Alloys & Rubbers, Inc. is pleased to offer working replacements for Kraton Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE) compounds. Early in 2016 Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc. sold its TPE compound business – including assets and technology – and caused a disturbance in the marketplace for SBC polymers.

"Disruptions in the supply chain may call into question whether a supplier can support the business long term. It will take time for the full effect of the changes to be felt, and these can have a significant impact on an organization," stated Tom Dieschbourg, CEO of Star Thermoplastics. "Star Thermoplastics understands that the right material is critical to product performance and offers TPEs that will drop in and run just like the materials that are being re-qualified. If it doesn't drop in and run the first Gaylord is free, that's our guarantee."

The change in the TPE landscape has caused manufactures to look at re-qualification and validation of material to safeguard compatibility with their processing parameters. Manufacturers must document material equivalency and acceptance. Factors that can prompt re-qualification:

·         Change in manufacturing process

·         Change in manufacturing sites

·         Need for cost containment

·         Change in manufacturing equipment

·         Change in material

·         Change in knowledge base

Re-qualification of materials can be time-consuming and costly; many companies look to maximize their investment by expanding the material options that they put through the testing process.

Manufacturers that have been using Kraton TPEs are reconsidering their material selection for products in all end markets, especially packaging, medical devices, and personal care products. Star Thermoplastics offers working replacement for Kraton in the StarFlex®, StarMed® and DynaStar™ TPE lines.

About Star Thermoplastic Alloys & Rubbers, Inc.

Star Thermoplastics, founded in 1993, is a leading provider of thermoplastic elastomers with many production lines to fill both large and small orders, a full-service laboratory and trained sales and technical support personnel across the continent.  Company products are sold under the trade names StarBond®, StarClear®, StarFlex®, StarGrip-X®, StarLexar®, StarMed®, StarPet®, StarPrene®, StarTuff®, and StarXtrude®.

For more information, contact: Marketing Department, Star Thermoplastic Alloys & Rubbers, Inc., 2121 West 21st Street, Broadview, IL 60155. Tel : 708-343-1100.  Fax: 708- 343-1110. Web: www.starthermoplastics.com.  Email: jtomes@starthermoplastics.com.