Kraiburg finds a horse of a different resin

Kraiburg GmbH isn't horsing around with a new equestrian bit made from its Thermolast K-brand thermoplastic elastomers.

The materials are being used in bits made by the GE Plast Engineering manufacturing firm in conunction with bit maker Beris. Thermolast K grades used in the bits are soft, flexible, durable and FDA-compliant, officials with Waldkraiburg, Germany-based Kraiburg said in a news release.

Instead of a metal element or the standard combination of metal and leather, Wittenbergen, Germany-based Beris recently decided to make the new bit using a Thermolast K grade that was soft and flexible, yet durable. "Bits made of polymer materials are lightweight, and the smooth surface slides easily in the horse's mouth," Beris Managing Director Bernd Ristau said in the release. "The animals chew more and are more willing to accept the bit."

The new bit has a metal core surrounded by soft outer material. Kraiburg officials said their TPE material is ideal for the cost-effective production of such hard/soft combinations. More intensive chewing requires a material that's sufficiently durable despite its softness. Since a horse often has the bit in its mouth for several hours, an essential requirement was to use an FDA-compliant material with good physiological compatibility.