March 21, 2007

Lustran Polymers: Application Development set up in Tarragona

Working with our customers to pick up on the latest trends and converting them into marketable, economical products in terms of materials, technologies and processes would be an apt way to describe the functions of the new Application Development.

The new team will operate as part of a project management scheme based in Tarragona Spain, the headquarters of the European Region of Lustran Polymers. “In this way, we want to tap new markets and applications and, by offering a comprehensive service, make it easier for our customers to shorten the time-to-market for their new products,” explains Wolfgang Döring, Head of Marketing & Sales.

The team is working closely with the sales force and key account managers of the business unit. “For us, it is a question of being as close as possible to the customers,” says Döring. This new group puts us in a position to respond quickly to the customers’ wishes and needs. The experts in the team help with initial sampling, provide support with the part design of components, the associated mold design part testing, and initiate customer-specific material developments. Apart from that, they assist customer service representatives and key account managers in the project support for processors and OEMs.

The new Application Development is the logical implementation of Lustran Polymers' new strategy to concentrate on customized precolored ABS and specialties and on a strictly regional alignment of its business. One project focus of Application Development, for example, is a new generation of ABS-based specialty thermoplastics called Lustran® Ultra. These products are noted for having properties above the characteristic physical properties of ABS and are an economical alternative to thermoplastics such as Polycarbonates+ABS blends. A further area of focus is the Triax® Polyamide + ABS blends which can be used to manufacture finished parts with a matt surface without applying any final surface coating. This product is well suited for car interiors. Another grade of Triax® has been successfully introduced as online-coatable materials for exterior car body parts.