Epic Polymers and Solvay Advanced Polymers have completed a strategic agreement for Epic to market KetaSpire® PEEK and
AvaSpire® modified PEEK into Germany and France. These ultra polymers are part of the Spire® family of ultra polymers offered by Solvay Advanced Polymers.
As part of the agreement, Epic Polymers will develop and market an extensive range of specialty compounds based on KetaSpire PEEK and AvaSpire modified PEEK grades. The company will also act as a non-exclusive reseller of the standard materials which will be marketed under the Solvay trade names.
Jörg Konrad, director of sales for Epic Polymers comments, “Key market segments for Epic Polymers are the replacement of high-performance metal components, and friction and wear materials. KetaSpire and AvaSpire-based compounds are a perfect complement to our existing range of high performance compounds, like Strator® and Tribocomp®.”
Ralf Wilczynski, Ultra Polymers industry manager for Solvay Advanced Polymers in Europe adds, “This agreement underscores our commitment to providing the friction and wear market an expanded portfolio of PEEK-based solutions with KetaSpire and AvaSpire products.”
One of the first results of this collaboration is the introduction of the Tribocomp® PEEK TS9 series aimed at high-temperature gears and bearings in automotive and industrial applications. Fred Panhuizen, director of marketing and technology for EPIC Polymers, states, “TS9 uses a new lubricant technology, which gives a better high-temperature wear performance than the traditional PTFE-lubricated PEEK compounds. On top of this, there are no issues with the generation of toxic fumes during molding caused by the degradation of PTFE at the processing temperature of PEEK.”
About Epic Polymers
Epic Polymers is a leading supplier of high performance compounds, with particular emphasis on high strength materials and wear and friction materials.
About Solvay Advanced Polymers
Solvay Advanced Polymers LLC, produces more plastics with more performance than any other company in the world. This gives design engineers worldwide more ways to solve top design challenges in automotive, medical, electronics, aerospace and other demanding industries. Learn more at
www.solvayadvancedpolymers.com.
Solvay Advanced Polymers is a member of the Solvay Group, an international chemical and pharmaceutical Group with headquarters in Brussels. Its companies employ some 28,000 people in 50 countries. In 2007, its consolidated sales amounted to EUR 9.6 billion, generated by its three sectors of activity: Plastics, Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals. Solvay (Euronext : SOLB.BE - Bloomberg: SOLB.BB - Reuters: SOLBt.BR) is listed on the Euronext stock exchange in Brussels.
Details are available at
www.solvay.com.
CONTACT:
Solvay Advanced Polymers
Mark Wheeler
(770) 772-8849
mark.wheeler@solvay.com
STRATOR® and TRIBICOR® are registered trademarks of EPIC Polymers.
