WALDKRAIBURG, Germany—In redesigning its line of Victory toothbrushes, First Thai Brush Co. Ltd. has chosen to partner with Kraigburg TPE to develop an ergonomic handle with a comfortable, no-slip grip.
In a news release, Kraiburg said that its thermopastic elastomer material was selected for high-transparency, smooth surface finish and compatibility with other plastics during the co-molding process. The TPE is highly flowable and does not require a bonding agent to ensure long-term adhesion to polar thermoplastics such as PC, ABS and PETG.
Additionally, the food-grade material has strong colorability for promotional effects, Kraiburg said.
"Beyond the right material, the success of any product greatly depends on smooth development and fast time to market," Kit Tae, deputy managing director of First Thai Brush said in a statement. "... Thanks to their high material quality and service standards, we were able to speed the innovation of our product and keep our competitive edge in the market."
Established in 1938, First Thai Brush produces toothbrushes and other household brushes.
A subsidiary of Kraiburg Group, Kraiburg TPE manufactures custom thermoplastic elastomers at plants in Germany, the U.S. and Malaysia, and serves a number of sectors including automotive, medical and consumer. Globally, the company employs more than 600 at locations in Waldkraiburg; Buford, Ga.,; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Hong Kong; Shanghai and Mumbai, India.
In 2017, Kraiburg TPE posted sales of about $193 million.