Page 3 P390/15e
News Release
November 5, 2015P390/15e
Evelyn Naudorf
Phone: +49 621 60-42223
High-quality and safe: New Elastollan® grades for food contact applications
n Safe food contact applications with Elastollan® FC portfolio
n Extensive offer of ether-based and ester-based TPU grades for injection-molding and extrusion applications
BASF is expanding its Elastollan® portfolio (TPU, thermoplastic polyurethane) to include special Food Contact (FC) grades which are suitable for use in applications involving contact with food. The new Elastollan portfolio, which is produced using the GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) system of quality assurance, comprises numerous ether- and ester-based grades. They can be used in a wide range of injection-molding and extrusion applications – from conveyor belts, films and fabrics through to hoses.
Plastics which can come into contact with food have to meet the very highest safety and quality standards. Conveyor belts or hoses must, as plant components, not exude any critical substances which are transferred to food and can alter the taste, odor or composition of the food.
The new Elastollan FC grades from BASF comply with both the guidelines of the EU regulations governing food contact applications and the standards of the American FDA (Food and Drug Administration). They satisfy the high safety requirements of GMP (Guidance for Good Manufacturing Practice, 2023/2006/EC) – a regulation for ensuring the quality of the production processes and environment used for manufacturing materials that will come into contact with food.
Safety through checks and documentation
By implementing an additional package of measures as part of GMP, BASF ensures consistently high product quality. Key elements of GMP include testing the suitability of systems, carrying out risk analyses to determine risks of contamination, comprehensive documentation of process and quality control data and adhering to defined cleaning cycles, as well as the specified approval of suppliers and raw materials.
In the Elastollan nomenclature, the new grades will now be identified by the abbreviation "FC". They will be available from January 2016.
Expansion of the FC portfolio for engineering plastics
In addition, since 2014 BASF has been one of the first plastics manufacturers to offer a special FC grade in its PBT (polybutylene terephthalate) range: Ultradur® B 1520 FC has a high barrier to water vapor, oxygen and in particular aroma, without the need for any additional coatings. The food contact certification means that the new grade is suitable for coffee capsules and thin-walled, injection-molded packaging for food and cosmetics.
More information can be found on the internet at: www.performance-materials.basf.com and www.elastollan.de
About BASF’s Performance Materials Division
BASF’s Performance Materials division encompasses the entire materials know-how of BASF regarding innovative, customized plastics under one roof. Globally active in four major industry sectors - transportation, construction, industrial applications and consumer goods – the division has a strong portfolio of products and services combined with a deep understanding of application-oriented system solutions. Key drivers of profitability and growth are our close collaboration with customers and a clear focus on solutions. Strong capabilities in R&D provide the basis to develop innovative products and applications. In 2014, the Performance Materials division achieved global sales of € 6.5 bn.
About BASF
At BASF, we create chemistry – and have been doing so for 150 years. Our portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products and crop protection products to oil and gas. As the world’s leading chemical company, we combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Through science and innovation, we enable our customers in nearly every industry to meet the current and future needs of society. Our products and solutions contribute to conserving resources, ensuring nutrition and improving quality of life. We have summed up this contribution in our corporate purpose: We create chemistry for a sustainable future. BASF had sales of over €74 billion in 2014 and around 113,000 employees as of the end of the year. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (AN). Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.