Specially formulated TPEs for complex applications

CP Chemie Resources (M) Sdn Bhd, a leading producer of TPEs, was established in 2010 as a sister company of Ever Polymer (Taiwan). The company is ISO 9001 compliance and has been supplying specially formulated TPEs marketed under the brand names PERFLEX and EVERLON. 

International Plastics News for Asia (IRNA) had the chance to talk to Tan Wei Kar, Director of CP Chemie Resources(M) Sdn Bhd on the special qualities of CP Chemie TPEs that make them stand out among competitors in the market today.

Mr. Tan Wei Kar, Director of CP Chemie Resources(M) Sdn Bhd

Can you elaborate on the specific advantages of your TPE products, PERFLEX and EVERLON, compared to other TPE brands in the market?

Mr. Tan: PERFLEX, CHEMIEPRENE  and EVERLON are available in a wide range of grades and formulations, allowing for customization based on specific performance requirements such as hardness, tensile strength, elongation, tear resistance, and durability. This versatility ensures that our products can meet diverse application needs across various industries. CP Chemie products are designed for ease of processing during manufacturing. They exhibit suitable flow characteristics, which contribute to efficient moulding and extrusion processes. This property helps in reducing production cycle times and optimising manufacturing costs.

Following the current sustainability trends, our TPEs are recyclable and can be reused in various applications, aligning with the growing demand for eco-friendly materials.

CP Chemie is known for customising TPE formulations for various applications. Can you share a case study or an example where a customised TPE solution significantly benefited a client’s product?

Mr. Tan: We have several case studies to prove how our customised TPE formulations can meet specific requirements of our clients.

One case study involves a leading medical cap manufacturer facing challenges with traditional rubber seals used in their medical caps. These seals were produced with longer cycle time and prone to wear and tear, leading to bits falling into content inside and leakage. The client sought a durable, flexible, and cost-effective alternative to improve seal performance and to prevent leakage.

The challenge here is that traditional rubber seals were not meeting the client’s requirements for durability, and sealing. Conventional rubber production requires longer cycle time in material preparation, trimming, assembly etc. The client needed a shorter processing cycle time and a solution that could provide consistent sealing performance.

Our solution involves collaborating closely with the cap manufacturer to understand their specific requirements and challenges. Leveraging our expertise in TPE formulation and customisation, we developed a tailored solution using our expertise in TPE with TPE overmoulding process.

We formulated a high-performance TPE blend that balanced flexibility, durability, and compression set resistance. This formulation was optimised to meet stringent medical industry standards such as USP Class VI. Self-healing properties enable a seal back after puncture with needle.

This resulted in the medical caps exhibiting high durability, shorter processing time and better performance compared to traditional rubber seals. Bits are not falling off and the sealing is superb. By switching to TPE seal, the client achieved cost savings in manufacturing and assembly process while maintaining high quality standards.

With ISO 9001 compliance being a standard for your company, how do you ensure consistent quality and performance across your TPE products?

Mr. Tan: Our manufacturing processes adhere to rigorous quality control measures from raw material sourcing to final product inspection. This ensures that each batch of our materials meets predefined specifications for mechanical properties and other performance criteria. Consistency in quality is maintained through regular testing and analysis, minimizing variability between batches.

This reliability is crucial for industries where product uniformity and performance predictability are paramount.

Given the diverse industries you serve, such as automotive, industrial, electronics, consumer, and medical markets, how do you approach the unique requirements and regulatory standards of each sector?

Mr. Tan: We always take a strategic and comprehensive approach to address the unique requirements and regulatory standards of diverse industries.

We conduct extensive research and collaborate closely with stakeholders in each industry to understand their specific challenges, performance criteria, and regulatory requirements. This includes engaging with engineers, designers, manufacturers, and regulatory experts to gain insights into industry trends and technological advancements.

Based on our understanding, we tailored a solution for them. This may involve adjusting material properties such as hardness, flexibility, elongation, and UV stability to ensure optimal performance in diverse applications. With adherence to various industry standards.

By adopting this holistic approach, we effectively meet the unique requirements and regulatory standards of each industry we serve. Our commitment to innovation, collaboration, regulatory compliance, and customer-centric solutions enables us to deliver high-quality TPE products that drive success and satisfaction worldwide.

How does CP Chemie and Ever Polymer leverage state-of-the-art manufacturing technology to maintain a competitive edge in the TPE market?

Mr. Tan: Both CP Chemie and Ever Polymer invest significantly in R&D to innovate new TPE formulations. Both utilise advanced polymer science and material engineering to develop TPEs with superior performance characteristics such as enhanced mechanical properties, durability, and environmental resistance.

We value customer feedback and continuously strive to improve our products based on market demands and technological advancements. This iterative process of improvement ensures that we remain at the forefront of TPE innovation, meeting evolving customer needs and industry standards, thereby providing added value and fostering long-term partnerships.

What kind of technical support do you offer to your customers, and how does this support enhance their experience with your products?

Mr. Tan: We have a team of experienced technical specialists who provide expert consultation on TPE material selection, formulation customisation, application development and mould trial. We assist customers in choosing the right product based on specific performance requirements and regulatory compliance needs.

Our robust technical support framework enhances the customer experience by providing tailored solutions, expertise, and resources that facilitate successful integration and utilization of our TPE products in diverse industries worldwide.

This article also appears in the International Plastics News for Asia - August 2024 issue.