Amidst Industry Shift to Commoditize TPVs and Reduce Service, Teknor Apex Offers Comprehensive Portfolio and Custom Support

PAWTUCKET, RI, U.S.A., January 14, 2016: While other major compounders of thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV) elastomers are cutting costs by rationalizing product portfolios and limiting service levels, Teknor Apex Company has strengthened its support for the Sarlink® brand through investment in new technologies, increased capacity for technical assistance, and reinforcement of its commitment to custom service, the company announced today.  

Sarlink TPVs have had over 20 years of commercial success, but Teknor Apex acquired the product line only five years ago. Since then the company has expanded the Sarlink brand to include many customized TPV formulations as well as compounds based on new technologies, such as those for styrenic TPEs and specialty blends. At the same time, Teknor Apex has substantially increased its capabilities for customer service and technical support.

“In spite of current trends in the TPV marketplace, Teknor Apex remains committed to creating the most positive customer experience by building strong personal relationships,” said Nicholas Sandland, director of sales for the Thermoplastic Elastomer Division of Teknor Apex. “This is fundamental to our philosophy as a privately held company focused on custom compounding. While companies often lose the personal touch as they grow, this has not happened with Teknor Apex. When you call us, you get a live person to talk to.”

Automotive is the largest market for TPVs, noted Mr. Sandland. “We have an entire team of specialists devoted to Sarlink products for the automotive, industrial, and consumer markets, an extensive in-house application development laboratory for trials and testing, and a staff of engineers to provide support from design through scale-up to commercialization. Depending on the customer’s needs, we can provide offsets to competitive products or unique materials specifically designed for complex and demanding applications."

One of the most widely used families of TPV products, the Sarlink 4100 Series, ranges in hardness from 45 Shore A to 47 Shore D and spans the full spectrum of physical properties required in the market. These products have over 40 automotive OEM approvals covering a broad range of applications.  In the case of Sarlink 4165, a typical 65 Shore A “workhorse” TPV, the physical properties closely match that of a long established competing product (see table), and in most cases can be used as a drop-in replacement.  

Processors find, however, that Sarlink compounds provide benefits beyond those immediately apparent from the data sheet, according to Mr. Sandland. “Sarlink TPVs are formulated for faster crystallization versus competitive TPVs.  In injection molding, this means that parts solidify faster and thus can be de-molded earlier and at higher temperatures.  The result is shorter cooling times and ultimately faster cycle times.  In addition, our application development engineers also work with customers to optimize their process for running Sarlink products.”

Besides injection molding, Sarlink 4100 Series TPVs may be processed by extrusion and blow molding, and can be used in automotive applications such as ducts, boots, bellows, grommets, seals, and gaskets, and in components in industrial and consumer products.   The compounds are available worldwide in natural and black.

Property Comparison:
Sarlink® 4165 Compound and Competitive TPV