Acrylic compounds from Mocom are being used in the hoods of robotic lawnmowers made by Stihl International GmbH.
Stihl, a leading producer of power and garden tools based in Waiblingen, Germany, is using the Alcom LDDC-brand compounds in its iMOW EVO line because of the materials' light-scattering properties and UV resistance, officials with Mocom in Hamburg, Germay, said in a news release.
They added that the materials "guarantee optimum visibility" of the underlying LED matrix and that their UV stabilization and impact resistance "ensure a long service life for the application."
Stihl also is using Altech-brand ASA compounds from Mocom in decorative panels of the robotic mower, as well as on the cover of its charging station. Officials said the copolymer improves the durability of both applications thanks to its UV stabilization and its high resistance to weathering and other forms of external impact. Stihl's light gray and orange colors were used in those applications.
"The close collaboration between Mocom and Stihl … has demonstrated how forward-looking design and functionality can be brought in line without any compromises on individual design ideas," Mocom business development manager Daniel Hamburger said.
Mocom was spun off from Albis, a leading European resin distributor, in late 2020. Mocom, Albis and recycler Wipag all are part of Otto Krahn Group. At the recent NPE2024 trade show, Mocom Americas focused on using its access to recycled content to offer sustainable materials to its customers.
In late 2023, Mocom Americas completed an expansion that increased its compounding capacity in Duncan, S.C., by 35 percent. That expansion included a new extrusion line making compounds based on polypropylene, nylon and similar materials.
On May 16, Mocom announced the opening of a new plant making carbon-fiber-reinforced plastics in Gardelegen, Germany. It covers 128,000 square feet and has annual production capacity of almost 7 million pounds.
Stihl's U.S. division, Stihl Inc. in Virginia Beach, Va., was the Plastics News Processor of the Year in 2014.