In early August, MuCell Extrusion (Woburn, Massachusetts / USA; www.mucellextrusion.net) – a wholly owned subsidiary of Zotefoams (Croydon / UK; www.zotefoams.com) – signed an agreement with Styron (Berwin, Pennsylvania / USA; www.styron.com), allowing it access to the latter’s patent portfolio for the extrusion of styrenics, including PS, ABS and SAN. Under the terms of the deal, financial details of which were not disclosed, MuCell Extrusion gains exclusive rights to Styron’s patents and sheet technology.

The Woburn-based company said the agreement brings together Styron’s “CO₂RE” technology with its own technological and hardware expertise, adding that this combination is expected to help customers improve their competitive advantage. Bringing the two processes together is expected to yield significant cost reductions for thermoformed sheet, roll stock, panelling and high-volume packaging, among others.

“The technology provides a good opportunity for the packaging market, where for example dairy and food service industries can improve their sustainability by reducing the density and weight of their product packaging,” said John Case, global marketing manager at Styron’s Styrenics division. “It also provides benefits in reduced energy and reduced raw material usage, as well as lower packaging waste disposable tax in the EU,” he added.