Bayer MaterialScience (BMS, Leverkusen / Germany; www.bayermaterialscience.com) has significantly extended its range of services for pigmenting thermoplastics following large-scale expansion of its Colour Competence Centre (CCC) in Filago / Italy. Pigmented granule samples and colour matching samples can now also be produced for customers in small quantities.

For this purpose, various state-of-the-art laboratory extruders have been installed. The CCC has also set up a laboratory for the "Aura" dip-dye pigmenting technique patented by BMS. This facility can also be used by customers for their own pigmenting tests, with CCC experts on hand to offer advice and support.

"The development and expansion of technical equipment are part of our strategy to offer designers, product developers and processors a fast and wide-ranging service," said Gianmaria Malvestiti, head of the Filago centre. The service covers all thermoplastics manufactured by BMS and is based on the "Fantasia" colour program developed by the company. Along with Aura and "Leda", this program features three other pigmenting techniques.

The Leda technology enables injection moulded parts produced in large volumes to be given a host of colours and special effects such as a metallic look, fluorescence, phosphorescence, and edge lighting. The new laboratory extruder allows Leda users – who often tend to be consumers looking for small quantities of thermoplastics – to be supplied with colour samples, BMS said.