BROADVIEW, Ill.—Star Thermoplastic Alloys & Rubbers Inc. has introduced new thermoplastic elastomers to its StarFlex, StarMed and DynaStar lines.
The firm said each new grade is a comparable, working replacement for Kraton's TPE compounds. Kraton sold its TPE business to PolyOne Corp. earlier in 2016 for $72 million, a move that Star Thermoplastic says has created a disturbance in the marketplace.
“Disruptions in the supply chain may call into question whether a supplier can support the business long term. It will take time for the full effect of the changes to be felt, and these can have a significant impact on an organization,” Star Thermoplastics CEO Tom Dieschbourg said in a statement. “Star Thermoplastics understands that the right material is critical to product performance and offers TPEs that will drop in and run just like the materials that are being re-qualified. If it doesn't drop in and run the first Gaylord is free, that's our guarantee.”