Meeting rising demand for long glass fibre-reinforced thermoplastics (LFTs), Epic Polymers (Kaiserslautern / Germany; www.epicpolymers.com) plans to commission a new 4 t/y LFT line at group headquarters in Q4 2012. With a special focus on polyamide and PPA, the plant will employ the group’s impregnation technology, which Epic Polymers says prevents bad feeding and insufficient impregnation. Once operational, the facility – investment costs for which were not disclosed – will turn out long glass, long carbon as well as long aramid fibre-reinforced compounds in addition to tribologically modified grades and electrically and thermally conductive grades.

The output will be marketed under the “Strator”, “Tribocomp” and “Star-Term” trademarks. Commenting on the plans, Epic Polymers’ sales director Jörg Konrad said the LFTs “offer much higher mechanical performance, particularly at high temperatures and in fatigue performance.” He added that the materials were especially suited for safety parts.