Walls were talking at Bayer AG's exhibit area at K 2004 in Dusseldorf, thanks to use of the company's polyurethane resins in a new sound system.
Design firm Puren Schaumstoff GmbH of Uberingen, Germany, created the Pursonics system using vibrating surfaces known as soundboards. The Pursonics soundboards are made of rigid PU foam and can be built into walls, ceilings or floors. The soundboards can deliver excellent sound quality even when installed under wallpaper, tile or plaster, according to the firms.
Pursonics highlighted a Bayer exhibit that also showcased the Leverkeusen, Germany-based firm's advances in color technology. Six new edge-glow, metallic and speckled effects in Bayer's Fantasia color family were commercialized in August, while its Aura color-dipping method just was licensed by a New York firm for use in large decorative sheeting, according to Bayer spokesman Bryan Iams.
Bayer also recently opened a materials testing center in Uerdingen, Germany. The center will focus on impact- and scratch- resistance testing, as well as tensile strength and other mechanical testing, according to testing head Michael Schmidt. The center also is open to non-Bayer materials, he added.
Efforts to co-brand Bayer's Makrolon polycarbonate also have been stepped up. The Makrolon name now appears on products ranging from sports goggles, water bottles and syringes to face shields for competitive fencing. Clear shields are being introduced in that sport to make it ``more TV-friendly,'' PC marketing Vice President Hans-Dieter Reifenrath said.
Other Bayer products at K 2004, held Oct. 20-27, included:
* Technogel-brand PU cushioning for office furniture, which was used on top of PU foam.
* Thermoplastic PU-based yarn for automotive seating.
* PC film for holographic imaging on identification cards and data storage.
* PC solar panels for roofing.
In the first half of 2004, sales in Bayer's MaterialScience AG unit - which includes plastics - were up 8 percent to 1.5 billion euros ($1.96 billion), vs. the year-ago period. Pretax profit in the unit - which generated about 10 percent of Bayer's total first-half sales - was up 62 percent to 110 million euros ($143 million).
Bayer still is including results from its recent Lanxess unit spinoff - which includes its ABS business - in its financial results.
