HOUSTON, March 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Kraton
Performance Polymers, Inc. (NYSE: KRA), a leading global producer
of styrenic block copolymers or "SBCs," announces plans to showcase
and discuss its latest innovations at NPE 2012, the world's largest
plastics exposition, conference and technology exchange.
"Kraton offers the most diverse and robust product profile in
the SBC world," said Michael
Oberkirch, Vice President, Advanced Materials. "Our
products compete against a variety of material alternatives
including, but not limited to, TPV, TPU, PVC, TPO, PET, PC, PA,
natural rubber, and EPDM based offerings. Kraton™ polymers are
highly-engineered and deliver recognized value by providing safe
and viable alternatives to less efficient or less
environmentally-friendly solutions," he continued. Demand for
Kraton products continues to be driven by customer requirements and
the unmet needs of the markets. "Our innovation-led growth strategy
focuses on translating the inherent strengths of our product
technologies such as flexibility, resilience, impact and moisture
resistance, and aesthetics such as clarity and soft touch, to
target opportunities where we can expand and create entirely new
market spaces for our solutions," he concluded.
Products showcased at NPE include the following:
- Medical Solutions: Kraton™ G Enhanced Rubber Segment (ERS)
polymers are a proven alternative to PVC traditionally used in
various drug delivery bags and medical tubing
applications.
- Personal Care - Our polymers offer increased comfort,
flexibility and durability, as well as multi-directional elasticity
and strength.
- Wire & Cable - Our products are widely used in
halogen-free flame retarded compounds to replace PVC in wire &
cable products.
- Faux Leather- Kraton's technical development of higher
flow SBCs enable coated fabric manufactures an innovative,
affordable, and environmentally friendly alternative to
polyurethane and PVC coated fabrics used in durable upholstery
applications.
- Automotive Interior Slush Molded Soft Skins – Our slush molding
manufacturing process is a PVC alternative that provides the
automotive industry with a major technology and performance leap to
address performance, system cost and environmental responsibility
necessary to move forward and succeed.
- Nexar™ Performance Polymers - offer a new set of features
& benefits for water transport, filtration and separation.
NPE 2012 will provide tremendous opportunities for knowledge
sharing, which Kraton has found results in new, innovative, and
specialized product solutions that meet the most rigorous industry
demands for higher-performance. If you would like to meet
one-on-one with our experts, please visit the Kraton booth #39000
at NPE 2012. For pre-scheduled media interviews, please contact
Marcella Coronado at
Marcie.coronado@kraton.com.
About Kraton Polymers
Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc., through its operating
subsidiary Kraton Polymers LLC and its subsidiaries, is a leading
global producer of engineered polymers and styrenic block
copolymers ("SBCs"), a family of products whose chemistry was
pioneered by us almost fifty years ago. SBCs are highly-engineered
thermoplastic elastomers, which enhance the performance of numerous
products by delivering a variety of attributes, including greater
flexibility, resilience, strength, durability and processability.
Our polymers are used in a wide range of applications, including
adhesives, coatings, consumer and personal care products, sealants
and lubricants, and medical, packaging, automotive, paving, roofing
and footwear products. We currently offer approximately 800
products to more than 700 customers in over 60 countries worldwide,
and are the only SBC producer with manufacturing and service
capabilities on four continents. We manufacture products at five
plants globally, including our flagship plant in Belpre, Ohio, as well as plants in
Germany, France and Brazil, and a joint venture plant operated in
Japan.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release may contain "forward-looking statements,"
which are statements other than statements of historical fact and
are often characterized by the use of words such as "believes,"
"expects," "estimates," "projects," "may," "will," "intends,"
"plans" or "anticipates," or by discussions of strategy,
anticipated performance, plans or intentions. All forward-looking
statements in this press release are made based on management's
current expectations and estimates, which involve risks,
uncertainties and other factors that could cause results to differ
materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements.
These risks and uncertainties are more fully described in "Part I.
Item 1A. Risk Factors" contained in our Annual Report on 10-K, as
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and as
subsequently updated in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. We
hereby make reference to all such filings for all purposes. Readers
are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking
statements. We assume no obligation to update such information.
Kraton, the Kraton logo and design, Cariflex, Nexar and the
"Giving Innovators their Edge" tagline are all trademarks of Kraton
Polymers LLC.
© Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc. 2012. All rights
reserved.
(Logo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100728/DA42514LOGO)
For Further Information:
Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc.
Media: Marcie Coronado
+1-281-504-4975
Investors: H. Gene Shiels
+1-281-504-4886
SOURCE Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc.