Spanish energy and chemicals company Repsol (Madrid; www.repsol.com) has launched its first PP grade for gamma radiation sterilisation. The company said it expects the innovative sterilisation process to replace other more traditional methods such as gas or autoclave. Because of PP's morphological and structural characteristics, it had proved significantly challenging to develop the process without the polymer degrading, Repsol added.

The company launched the gamma radiation grade, along with two other new PP types, at the “Compamed” (www.compamed-tradefair.com) exhibition that took place in Düsseldorf / Germany from 12-15 November 2018. These latest additions complement the Repsol Healthcare range that launched two years ago and comprises HDPE, LDPE, EVA and PP grades.

Since 1 February 2017, Germany's Velox (Hamburg; www.velox.com) distributes Repsol's medical polyolefins in 24 European countries – see Plasteurope.com of 09.02.2017. Arcoplex (Bergamo / Italy; www.arcoplexgroup.it) is Repsol Heathcare's exclusive distributor in Italy.