Asahi Kasei Plastics North America (Fowlerville, Michigan / USA; www.asahikaseiplastics.com) has licensed Polyplast Compound Werk (PCW, Eilenburg / Germany; www.polyplast-compound.com) to manufacture and distribute its “Thermylene” specialty chemically coupled glass-reinforced PP. "Licensing Thermylene to Polyplast makes our products available globally," stated John Moyer, president of Asahi Kasei Plastics.

PCW, which is part of the Polyplast Müller Group (Straelen / Germany; www.polyplast.com), is currently optimising its compounding facilities in Eilenburg, including the installation of new equipment and technology and the construction of additional capacity. Matthias Hildenbrand, CFO of Polyplast Müller Group, said Thermylene offers customers options for reducing weight and improving performance as a cost-effective alternative to nylon and long glass-reinforced PP in automotive and other applications. The material is used by automotive OEMs for applications such as sun roof frames and door modules.