Resin’s high-end performance for food handling equipment saves time and money

SABIC Innovative Plastics’ Ultem* polyetherimide (PEI) resin offers the highest performance across a balance of properties of virtually any thermoplastic in the global plastics industry. Time and time again the material proves to be the ideal recipe for top-end food service and food processing applications. This advanced PEI technology consistently gives manufacturers superior performance vs. competitive materials and easily meets global regulatory agency requirements for food contact, as well as UL 94 flammability ratings. SABIC Innovative Plastics continues to deliver Ultem resin grades with enhanced performance characteristics – such as transparency, colorability and extreme high-heat performance – food service and food processing OEMs can rely on Ultem resin is a top choice for their specific new product requirements. “Today’s designers of food service and food processing applications are facing challenging environments where they must balance a breadth of needs: from agency compliance, to robust performance and beautiful aesthetics, to overall systems cost,” said Shawn Lee, Ultem resin product marketing manager, SABIC Innovative Plastics. “We often hear from customers who specified Ultem as their first-choice material that they were able to shorten the project development cycle by meeting these complex requirements out of the gate, making Ultem resin one of the best solutions for saving time and money.” One such customer is Groupe SEB®, which launched its T-fal® ActiFry® low-fat deep fryer in the United States. Facing tough Food & Drug Administration (FDA) food contact regulations for the appliance’s fryer basket, the French manufacturer turned to SABIC Innovative Plastics for a material offering regulatory compliance as well as for color customization and high-temperature resistance, plus the freedom to integrate parts for system cost reduction. Ultem resin was able to meet all these requirements under a tight launch timeframe. • Extreme high-heat Extem* resins: the world’s highest heat amorphous thermoplastic polyimide is now available in the food processing industry with new grades offering a powerful combination of outstanding elevated thermal resistance up to 267oC Tg, that will comply with European Union (EU) and U.S. FDA food contact approvals in late 2010. • Transparent, colorable Ultem 1000E resin: features fast mold release and FDA/NSF compliance. This grade delivers enhanced processability by reducing the time required to eject the tool by up to 60 percent and accelerating flow by up to 15 percent. It also maintains transparency and color at high temperatures up to 217oC Tg. Key applications include food service pans, trays and utensils. • Ultem resin blends: offer transparent and thin wall flow, while maintaining U.S. FDA and EU food contact compliancy along with NSF51 recognition. This lower temp alternative to Ultem 1000E resin is available in custom colors and offers value-balanced performance for key applications such as utensils, microwave cookware, and appliances. The dependability and high performance of Ultem resins have been proven over two decades. The materials are renowned for high-temperature resistance, inherent flame retardance meeting Underwriter Laboratories (UL) requirements, dimensional stability, high strength and modulus, and broad chemical resistance. Ultem resin grades are compliant worldwide, meeting U.S. FDA; European Food Safety Authority (EFSA); and Japan Hygienic Olefin and Styrene Plastics Association (JHOSPA) food contact regulations, and NSF International requirements for food equipment materials.