Materials firm Alliance Polymers & Services LLC now is offering its own line of thermoplastic polyurethanes.
Romulus, Mich.-based Alliance recently began selling Zythane-brand TPU compounds, which the firm is sourcing from several suppliers worldwide. "We've qualified different sources based on what type of [TPU] they're strong in," co-founder Stephane Morin said in a July 1 phone interview.
Zythane materials can be used in shoe soles, tubing, decorative parts and similar applications. Alliance already markets its own line of thermoplastic vulcanizates under the Viprene trade name.
Alliance also distributes thermoplastic elastomers for Chinese materials maker Polymax Elastomer Technology Co. Ltd. In the future, Alliance no longer will be an authorized distributor for TPUs made by BASF SE, Morin said.
Other recent developments at Alliance include the purchase of a 100-ton injection molding machine from Arburg Corp. The machine will be used to provide testing services for customers. A new line of Maxelast-brand TPEs also has been commercialized in the profile extrusion market.
Alliance was founded in 2009 by Morin and Roger Huarng, both of whom were former BASF executives. In addition to its distribution work, the firm operates a pair of twin-screw compounding lines in Romulus to produce more specialized grades of TPU and TPE.
