Nova Chemicals (Calgary, Alberta / Canada; www.novachemicals.com) has announced an exclusive agreement with Sunpor (St. Pölten / Austria; www.sunpor.at) to promote, sell, distribute and offer technical support for the latter’s “Lambdapor” expandable polystyrene (EPS) resins in North America. Lambdapor EPS contains graphite particles that reflect heat and are claimed to deliver 20% better insulation performance than traditional white EPS. The material is said to be suitable for applications such as buildings requiring a high standard level of energy saving and those structures which need insulation fitted in a limited space.

“This is a great opportunity for us to enhance our construction product offerings to our customers,” said John Feraco, expandable styrenics business director for Nova Chemicals. Sunpor’s Lambdapor EPS will be available to the North American market in the second quarter.

According to Plasteurope.com's Polyglobe database (www.polyglobe.net), Nova Chemicals has a total production capacity of 160,000 t/y of white EPS at two US production sites in Beaver Valley, Pennsylvania, and Painesville, Ohio. Sunpor produces both white EPS and grey EPS at two Austrian plants in St. Pölten and Radberg.