A weekly look at new products, innovations

Editor's Note: Each week, Rubber & Plastics News will take a look at some of the rubber industry's new products and innovations on www.rubbernews.com. Does your company have a new product or new innovation? To be considered for inclusion in this recurring feature, email [email protected].

Nerpco USA L.L.C. has unveiled its NM-38 (1 pound—0.62 liter) batch mixer, which follows the same design as the NM-100 (3-pound batch) and the NM-270 (7-pound batch) mixers.

All of Nerpco's mixers utilize hydraulic drives, the company said, which results in variable bi-directional rotor speeds from zero to their maximum. Additionally, the NM-38 has a chrome-plated drilled body with a hinged discharge side, chrome-plated Viscoseals (Dust Stops), stainless steel hopper, a lubrication system with pressurized oil, temperature control, 25 micron filtration to the anti-friction spherical roller bearings and connecting gears. Nerpco claims it reduces the cost of operating a laboratory by multiple thousands of dollars. The Nerpco Mixer line covers a range of 1 to 285 pound batches. The unit is offered with PLC or standard electric relay controls.

For more information, visit www.nerpcousa.com.

Teknor Apex Co. has expanded its polymer-neutral product offering for automotive exteriors with its Sarlink ME-2200 Series, styrenic thermoplastic elastomers, with alternative cost/performance profiles for widely used thermoplastic vulcanizates.

The Sarlink ME-2200 Series exhibit higher flow than comparable TPVs, Teknor Apex said, enabling molders of exterior components such as gaskets, seals, and trim to process complex, intricate designs while shortening cycles through reduced packing and cooling time.

This series provides a cost savings while still meeting the performance requirements of the part, where TPV compounds are over-engineered. Like TPVs, the Sarlink ME-2200 series compounds are less dense than EPDM and PVC, Teknor Apex claimed, yielding weight savings of up to 15 and 23 percent, respectively.

Sarlink ME-2200 Series styrenic TPEs are available in hardnesses from 65 Shore A to 40 Shore D. Additionally, Teknor Apex said the TPEs exhibit excellent UV stability, provide good flexibility over a wide temperature range and yield a Class A surface appearance. The compounds are readily colored and, unlike many TPVs, do not require pre-drying prior to molding, the company claimed. All compounds in the series are available worldwide in black and natural formulations.

Other styrenic TPEs recently introduced by Teknor Apex for automotive applications include Sarlink ML-1100 and ML-1600 Series for molded interior components and a super high-flow series, Sarlink ME-2600, for window encapsulation.

For more information, visit www.teknorapex.com.

Oil Eater, a brand of Kafko International Ltd., has introduced sonic bonded pads for a variety of spills in manufacturing facilities, including oils, coolants, solvents, water and acids.

The durable pads and rolls tear easily along their perforated seem to fit almost any space, Oil Eater said, especially leaks in hard-to-reach places.

The sonic bonded pads are constructed from a single layer of high-quality uniform polypropylene fibers that have been bonded together using a unique high-loft process, the company said. Additionally, Oil Eater said the material provides superior strength and reduced linting.

The line is available in a variety of weights in sizes from 15-in. by 18-in. pads to 30-in. by 150-ft. rolls. A sample is available upon request. For further information visit www.oileater.com.