Dow Plastics Licenses Top Glass with Technology for the Production of Continuous Fiber Thermoplastic Composites
MIDLAND, Mich., — April 12, 2000 — Dow Plastics†, Midland, Michigan, USA, continues market expansion of its new pultrusion process technology by licensing
Top Glass S.p.A., Pioltello, Milan, Italy, with FULCRUM* Thermoplastic Composite Technology for the production of continuous fiber thermoplastic composites.
"Dow chose to license Top Glass with our new technology for continuous fiber thermoplastic composites because of their vast experience in the marketplace and ability to create quality products,"
said Chris Edwards, business development manager for Dow. "As the market for FULCRUM technology grows, it is important for Dow to work with innovative companies like Top Glass, who are interested in
the opportunity to use new products and technologies to expand their business capabilities."
Edwards added that FULCRUM technology is already making headway in the industry. Introduced in July 1999, FULCRUM technology was named by INDUSTRY WEEK Magazine as one of the 25 Technologies
of the Year.
"Everyone at Top Glass is very excited about licensing FULCRUM technology from Dow Plastics as we are continually looking to expand our business by using new product and technology developments,"
said Alfonso Branca, managing director, Top Glass. "The FULCRUM technology provides us with a wonderful addition to our existing thermoset composites background. In fact, it offers us the opportunity
to target and grow into new applications with a thermoplastic material."
Top Glass is licensing FULCRUM technology to expand their line of standard structural and custom profiles, and systems for industrial applications in chemical processing plants, building
construction, marine, transportation, electrical, water and gas manufacturing.
How is FULCRUM innovative
Historically, thermoplastic composites have lacked mechanical properties of thermoset composites. According to Ed D’Hooghe, who is leading the technology development for Dow, past
limitations were due to poor fiber impregnation and poor fiber adhesion. This has been the primary obstacle to the widespread introduction of thermoplastic composites for structural applications.
"The results achieved in thermoforming and recycling with FULCRUM technology, using ISOPLAST* engineering thermoplastics polyurethanes (ETPU), show that a significant step forward has been taken in
developing this material," said D’Hooghe.
Dow’s new pultrusion technology is specifically designed to help customers achieve higher strength, greater output rates, and more finishing versatility for their profile products. "As an
established leader in thermoplastics processing technology, Dow applied its materials and processing knowledge to create a new processing option that increases the performance of thermoplastic
composites, and makes them a strong candidate for structural reinforcement applications," commented D’Hooghe.
Profiles pultruded with FULCRUM Thermoplastic Composite Technology have many times the strength of any other thermoplastic seen before. "These profiles have extremely high mechanical properties and
excellent toughness and damage tolerance," explained Edwards. "In addition, profiles can be processed at very high speeds, can be post formed and are also recyclable."
The extreme performance of composites produced using the new pultrusion technology from Dow makes it applicable to a wide variety of end-use structural reinforcement applications, including sports
equipment, electrical equipment, building applications, window profiles, reinforcement of injection moldings and automotive components.
Dow is a leading science and technology company that provides innovative chemical, plastic and agricultural products and services to many essential consumer markets. With annual sales of $19
billion, Dow serves customers in 162 countries and a wide range of markets that are vital to human progress, including food, transportation, health and medicine, personal and home care, and building
and construction, among others. Committed to the principles of sustainable development, Dow and its 39,000 employees seek to balance economic, environmental and social responsibilities.
For more information about Top Glass please contact Mrs. Olga Albanese at Top Glass S.p.A. via Bergamo 15, 20096 Pioltello, Milan, Italy; via telephone at +39.2.9291861 or via fax at +39.0292918620.
Or, inquiries can be sent via email at olga.albanese@topglass.it
For Editorial Information:
Fulcrum Composites Incorporated
info@fulcrumcomposites.com
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