Plastics Processors in Mexico Now Have Direct Access to Full Range of Vinyl Compounds from Teknor Apex

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MEXICO CITY, September 3, 2002: Teknor Apex has responded to rapid growth in use of its flexible vinyl compounds in Mexico by establishing a sales network focused on serving customers in that country, the company's Vinyl Division announced today at the Plastimagen trade show, where it is a first-time exhibitor (Booth 2015).

"We now ship compound to Mexican manufacturers in automotive, appliance, consumer product, medical, wire and cable, and other markets where Teknor Apex has long been a leader in the United States," said Jack R. Loiselle, director of sales. "To provide these customers with the best possible sales service and support, we have appointed sales personnel based in Mexico and southern California. As a result, plastics processors in Mexico now have direct access to all of our company's vinyl-related innovations."

Loiselle cited the following developments announced in just the past twelve months:

---New flexible vinyl compounds. Teknor Apex has introduced lead-free versions of all of its Fireguard (R) compounds, widely specified for data and communications cable. "Like conventional Fireguard products, these lead-free compounds meet the stringent low-flame and low-smoke requirements for use in plenum cable," said regional manager Rod Fischer.

Also new are two series of clear compounds, Apex (R) 6500 and 7500, for injection molded plugs, grommets, and other wiring and appliance components that meet UL 94 flammability requirements. "As with so many of its other compounds for electrical uses, Teknor Apex has secured UL listings in advance, saving customers the time and cost of doing it themselves for each of their products," said sales representative Alberto Garcia.

Another series of new products from Teknor Apex is that of four carbon black-filled,
electrically conductive Vidux (R) compounds for extrusion and injection molding applications requiring electromagnetic shielding or static discharge. These uses include grounding, shielding, flooring, cable jacketing, and other applications in electronics manufacturing, computer rooms, hospitals, textile mills, and audio systems.

---Expanded range of calendered medical film. Although best known as a compounder, Teknor Apex has long been a producer of calendered vinyl films for medical and other markets and regularly supplies these products to companies in Mexico, according to Richard J. Vega, marketing manager for the calendering operation in City of Industry, California. The company has introduced three new grades of film that provide the low- and high-temperature performance required for such healthcare products as the cold and hot packs used to relieve arthritis patients and in chiropractic therapy for tendon damage and other problems.

"Calendering is an important part of our business at Teknor Apex because many medical manufacturers require the highly consistent film for which calendering is best suited," Vega said. "Having this capability also enables us to offer a single-source option to companies that already purchase compounds from us for tubing and other components."

---Advanced technologies in development. Long known as a leading innovator in the vinyl industry, Teknor Apex invests substantially in research to enhance the performance of standard flexible vinyl and create altogether new material families with potential in applications where vinyl thus far has not been used. Two ongoing projects are: 1) development of new-generation medical compounds whose enhanced heat stability will enable device manufacturers to process vinyl at faster rates, increase shelf life, and reduce product defects: and 2) development of vinyl alloys in which elastomer components function as permanent plasticizers, replacing some or even all of the plasticizer additives normally used in flexible vinyl.