APS Line of Elastollan TPUs Help Auto Industry Upscale Their Car Interiors

Nov. 3, 2011 - PRLog -- In steps to give their car interiors an upscale, first class look, automobile manufacturers including BMW, Audi and Saab are turning in increasing numbers to the Elastollan® line of aliphatic thermoplastic TPUs with soft-touch finishes from BASF Corporation.  In North America, Elastollan TPUs are distributed with full technical support by Alliance Polymers & Services LLC (APS).

According to company spokesmen, little premium additions on higher end automobiles provided by thermoplastic polyurethanes offer automobile designers and consumer high functionality with an appealing design and an extremely pleasant surface feel.   One such grade, Elastollan AC85A, is now available to North American designers, processors, marketers and manufacturers through Alliance Polymers & Services, LLC (APS). The processing and end performance characteristics of Elastollan AC85A aliphatic TPU open up a wide range of new possibilities to car and other designers.

In one case, the door handles found on the 3 and 5 Series of BMWs are a novel combination of ABS-PC covered/overmolded with Elastollan TPUs.  The door handles stand out not only because of their extra-pleasant soft-touch surface finish, but also because they are rugged.  The TPU material is sold with non-fade properties and UV finish and requires no additional surface lacquer.  Other specific applications include cup holders in the Audi A6 and gear knob, hand brake and control switches in the Saab 9-3 and dashboard surfaces, center consoles and steering wheels on a variety of other makes and models.

Alliance Polymers & Services, LLC (APS) in Romulus, MI, is a full service warehousing, distribution, shipping and technical service organization dedicated to helping TPE, TPU and other elastomer marketers and processors with all their product and technical support needs.  The firm currently markets and supports Polymax Maxelast® TPEs and BASF Elastollan® TPUs.   APS is unique in that they offer elastomer materials in quantities large and small (from truckloads down to drums and bags).  APS works with a series of independent technical agents located in key cities and markets throughout North America.

For more information on Elatollan TPU grades for first class TPU challenges and solutions, contact:  Marketing Department, Alliance Polymers & Services (APS), 30735 Cypress Road, Suite 400, Romulus, MI 48174.  Tel: 734-710-6700.  Fax: 734-710-6715.  Web: www.apstpe.com.  Email: sales@apstpe.com.
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