Austrian plastics processor Senoplast Klepsch (Piesendorf; www.senoplast.com) has developed a new co-extruded suitcase material, “Senolite”, exclusively for suitcase producer Titan (Hamburg / Germany; www.titan-bags.com). The innovative sheet material, made of 100% polycarbonate, was first showcased at this year’s “Fakuma” trade fair (www.fakuma-messe.de), held in Friedrichshafen / Germany from 13-17 October. The material – the result of an intensive R&D effort involving both companies – is “significantly lighter than conventional PC,” Senoplast says. It allows Titan to offer a new range of premium hard-top suitcases made of bendable plastic that are said to be 20% lighter than comparable products, while offering the same degree of stability.

Titan said its “Prior” suitcase series also comes with a new closure system, which it is seeking to have patented. The 101 l suitcase, for instance, weighs just 4.1 kg. The Hamburg-based manufacturer uses Covestro’s “Makrolon” PC for its other hard-top suitcases.

Founded in 1956, Senoplast claims to be the technology leader for highly complex co-extrusion processes – a position it says is based on a number of patent applications. The largest member of the globally active Klepsch Group, Senoplast manufactures plastic sheet and film made of ABS, ABS/PC, PC, ASA, PMMA and PS, and used across a wide variety of applications. Each year it turns out about 40,000 t of “Senosan” products at its main plant in Piesendorf as well as its facility in Querétaro / Mexico. The latter was founded in 2000 and caters mostly to costumers from the NAFTA region.