Chemical synergy Huntsman Tecnoelastomeri

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Two years on from its acquisition by Huntsman Corporation, Italian systems house Huntsman Tecnoelastomeri is going from strength to strength. While retaining its core values, expertise and focus, the business is exploiting the opportunities that arise from being part of a bigger group.

Huntsman Tecnoelastomeri is a manufacturer and marketer of polyurethane-based, hot-cast elastomer systems and processing machines. In 2015, the company was acquired by global chemical giant Huntsman, which operates more than 100 manufacturing and R&D facilities in approximately 30 countries and employs around 15,000 associates within five distinct business divisions. Huntsman’s chemical products are sold worldwide to manufacturers serving a broad and diverse range of consumer and industrial end markets.

Two pillars

Huntsman Tecnoelastomeri has two key businesses – the company produces high-technology elastomer systems, from which it is possible to create a variety of everyday industrial items such as wheels, rollers, seals and general technical parts, and also a range of CASTECH® machines that can be used to efficiently cast compact polyurethane elastomers and microcellular elastomer foams from all types of isocyanate and chain extender combinations.

“Very few companies offer what Huntsman Tecnoelastomeri does,” says Andrea Ghermandi, Tecno Commercial Manager at Huntsman Tecnoelastomeri. “The company is one of the only high-performance elastomer producers that can provide innovative hot-cast materials – including tailor-made formulations – alongside a complete casting equipment solution. Customers really appreciate this holistic approach. Conversations typically start with technical discussions to agree specific elastomer material requirements. Then, talk progresses to equipment decisions, plant set-up and manufacturing best practice.”

Since the acquisition two years ago, the company has consolidated its position. “Being part of a larger business significantly boosts Huntsman Tecnoelastomeri’s capabilities – enabling it to produce its TECNOTHANE® systems in other parts of the world. There is also the larger Huntsman sales force that can increase awareness of Huntsman Tecnoelastomeri products. Furthermore, being part of a global corporation means greater access to raw materials and better economies of scale and buying power,” confirms Mr Ghermandi.

Full range of solutions

Huntsman Tecnoelastomeri is based in Modena, Italy, but since becoming part of Huntsman, its CASTECH® machines have been installed at the corporation’s European polyurethane headquarters in Everberg, Belgium; at its Auburn Hills site in Michigan, USA; and at its Chemistry R&D Centre in Shanghai, China. “This will increase opportunities for customer collaboration on elastomer-based R&D and innovation projects – putting hot-cast R&D and prototyping capabilities exactly where customers need them,” stated Mr Ghermandi.

Huntsman Tecnoelastomeri markets its diverse product lines globally under a number of well-known tradenames, including Tecnoelastomeri engineering urethane elastomers, TECNOTHANE® polyurethane systems and CASTECH® polyurethane machines. “TECNOTHANE® hot-cast engineering elastomers are an advanced portfolio of polyurethane-based products. Incredibly versatile, these products provide good chemical resistance and mechanical, dynamic performance, and are the ideal material for the manufacture of robust wheels, seals, rollers, pads and other technical parts needed for heavy-duty industrial applications,” says Mr Ghermandi. In fact, the company offers a full range of solutions for almost every kind of polyurethane elastomer project or task where a material to substitute TDI+Mboca or rubber is required.

All Huntsman Tecnoelastomeri materials and machines are produced in Modena – the home of the business and its technical headquarters. Around 60 people are employed in Modena – almost half of whom have a technical background. In terms of TECNOTHANE® MDI systems production, the business has several reactors with up to 12 tes capacity. The Modena plant also has a CASTECH® machine department, which can produce up to 20 machines per year; and an elastomer department, which can produce any kind of elastomer part. This department has the most direct interaction with customers, some of whom want small batches of product, and some of whom want advice on setting up a new production line or developing an elastomer for pre-marketing.

The products have wide-ranging use. “Think of an industrial application and it’s likely that you’ll find a high-technology elastomer in use somewhere – normally as the basis for wheels, rollers, seals or general technical parts. Typically, Huntsman Tecnoelastomeri elastomers are used in heavy-duty projects where there is a need for rugged, durable materials, for example in mining or offshore environments. They are also used in robotic and hydraulic equipment. Huntsman Tecnoelastomeri also produces materials for the automotive industry where there is a need for components that are tough enough to withstand extreme under-hood conditions such as heat, oil, grease and friction. There are many other uses for Huntsman Tecnoelastomeri hot-cast elastomer systems too. With more than 1000 different formulation options available there is a solution for almost every kind of polyurethane elastomer project. The team’s job is to work with individual customers to tease out their requirements and then recommend or tailor-make the polymer that’s best suited to their needs,” he explains.

Trusted partner

The list of Huntsman Tecnoelastomeri’s customers is long and varied and includes RÄDER-VOGEL, one of the world’s largest producers of industrial wheels and castors. With help from Huntsman Tecnoelastomeri, RÄDER-VOGEL recently expanded its product portfolio to include extra-large, custom-made wheels.

The wheels are being offered under RÄDER-VOGEL’s PEVOTEC® brand – an extensive family of wheels and castors designed for use in extreme operating conditions. Based on a TECNOTHANE® hot-cast polyurethane MDI system, PEVOTEC® castors and wheels are well equipped to handle extreme stress and temperature variations and are ideal for heavy-duty tasks. Customers putting RÄDER-VOGEL’s PEVOTEC® wheels to use include Dango & Dienenthal Maschinenbau GmbH – a leading manufacturer of machines for the filtration and processing of raw materials.

Another key Huntsman Tecnoelastomeri customer is ASMA kunststofftechnik PUR – an Austrian company that manufactures and processes polyurethane elastomers, turning them into high wear resistant coatings and technical parts for industrial applications. ASMA

has worked with the team at Huntsman Tecnoelastomeri since 2005 – using TECNOTHANE® elastomers and CASTECH® machines to create a variety of moulded parts.

ASMA’s specialisms include the creation of polyurethane-based transporting and driving wheels, and guiding and diverting rollers. Tailor-made to customers’ needs, these components are typically used in applications where there is a high load capacity or where resistance to abrasion, cuts, and general wear and tear is mission critical. Examples include elevators, commercial vehicles, agricultural machinery or equipment employed in wood and plastics processing plants.

Huntsman Tecnoelastomeri has recently expanded its equipment offer, developing the next generation of the CASTECH® LC3000 series. Fitted with a number of new and improved features, the CASTECH® LC3000 series is designed to ease equipment integration and deliver the highest levels of dosing and mixing precision – ultimately enabling the creation of elastomers with maximum performance potential.

Global reach

Huntsman Tecnoelastomeri has a very successful business model in place, which is now to be replicated around the world. “At present, most of the business originates from central and northern Europe but there is also a growing market in China and South Korea. As part of Huntsman’s global operations, Huntsman Tecnoelastomeri is now looking at ways to expand the distribution of its materials and machines in North and South America, in Australia and in other Asia Pacific countries such as Malaysia,” explains Mr Ghermandi.

In Europe, Huntsman Tecnoelastomeri has recently forged a partnership with Azelis – a leading distributor and supplier of speciality chemicals. Azelis is now the official distributor of TECNOTHANE® products in France and Benelux. Huntsman and Azelis are long-term partners. The two companies started working together in 1993 and the latest supply agreement builds on an existing arrangement. Azelis already distributes core products from Huntsman’s SUPRASEC® MDI product range across most of Europe. This new distribution deal will enable Huntsman Tecnoelastomeri to consolidate its position in Europe while looking for new opportunities.

Consolidating position

Following the acquisition of Huntsman Tecnoelastomeri, Huntsman now offers one of largest portfolios of polyurethane elastomers based on MDI technology. The range includes Huntsman Tecnoelastomeri’s TECNOTHANE® systems and Huntsman’s IROGRAN® TPUs. “These

materials are sold in the same markets,” Mr Ghermandi points out. “There are many customers that use both materials but there are clear differences between the product lines, which are actually complementary. Customers typically begin new projects with cast polyurethane-based elastomer systems. The cost of moulds and the effectiveness of machines is better where low production numbers are involved. Once a part’s design has been tried and tested, some customers decide to switch to TPU, which can be a more cost-effective option where larger production volumes are concerned.”

He further explains that, moving forward, the Huntsman team will cross-sell products from both ranges to customers as and when the opportunity arises and depending on their requirements. In collaboration with Huntsman’s global R&D centres, the Huntsman Tecnoelastomeri team is also busy improving MDI system processability to facilitate customers moving from TDI-Mboca to MDI systems in offshore, mining, automotive and railway applications. “The team is investing in innovation and developing its existing portfolio of high quality, high performance materials and machines, to consolidate and build on its position as a complete solutions provider in the field of hot-cast elastomers.” n

Tecnoelastomeri S.r.l. Polyurethane Systems and Machines Via Magellano, 7/9/11 41013 Castelfranco Emilia (MO) ITALY Telephone +39 059 92 07 07 www.tecnoelastomeri.com