Developments under the spotlight included LNP materials with superior impact and flow, high-heat solutions and materials with superior weatherability

The Sabic Technology Centre in Bengaluru, India, was the location for the latest in a series of global technical summits held by the company to mark 70 years of its LNP product line of engineering thermoplastic compounds and copolymers.

The summit, which took place on September 17, drew more than 150 key decision makers working in engineering and design at processors, toolmakers, Tiers, OEMs, and ODMs from across the country.

Delegates were provided with a series of presentations, displays, and one-on-one meetings with company experts. Talks were given by experienced subject matter experts from the Sabic LNP team. Developments under the spotlight included LNP materials with superior impact and flow, high-heat solutions, materials with superior weatherability, scratch resistance and wear resistance, high-modulus compounds for structural applications, and conductive solutions. The technical summit also featured a discussion on Sabic’s capabilities.

Participants at the technical summit were given a tour of the Sabic Technology Centre to get a personal experience of the innovation capabilities that the LNP portfolio offers. "We provided a close look at what Sabic is doing in advanced molding technologies – including 3D printing – rapid prototyping, and more," says Martin Tam, Director Customer Fulfillment APC, Specialities. Tam points out that R&D capabilities available for use by customers in the Technology Centre laboratories cover important material aspects such as rheology, thermal properties, conductivity, and other key properties.

Elcrin in use

"Since the LNP product line was founded back in 1948, we have never stopped innovating to help our partners in the value chain adapt to new trends, wherever they are," says Joshua Chiaw, Global Business Director, LNP, Sabic. "India is an increasingly important and exciting market for us. We are committed to working with our customers here to tackle technical challenges arising across markets, including automotive, electronics, healthcare, water management, and new emerging markets."

"At our Technology Centre in Bengaluru, we can demonstrate many of our most recent material and service innovations, and how they can be applied to new products and applications being developed and produced in India."

A great example of Sabic innovation came earlier this year, through the launch of LNP ELCRIN iQ products, developed to help reduce plastic waste and support the circular economy. The first series of LNP ELCRIN iQ products is a portfolio of polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) compounded resins derived from chemically recycled post-consumer polyethylene terephthalate (rPET), mostly single-use bottles. ELCRIN iQ products, which perform even better than the original may support durable, long-life applications.

Since late 2018, Sabic has held technical summits across Asia, Americas and Europe. The company is also planning more summits in the USA and South Korea in the coming months.