BAYER POLYMERS' AURA™ COLOR INFUSION TECHNOLOGY FOR PLASTICS MAKES COMMERCIAL DEBUT IN SOUNDOG® WIRELESS TABLETOP AUDIO SYSTEMS
02 May 2003 - Bayer MaterialScience AG

The Soundog systems can be heard - and seen - at the FOX Sports sky boxes at airports throughout the nation.

'In 2000, we introduced our first Soundog systems made of wood. With our latest version, we wanted a more durable and modern-looking design that could be customized to meet the unique look and feel of our customers' themed restaurants or bars,' said Doug Buday, president of Sprox, Inc. 'That's why we chose polycarbonate and the color options available with the Aura color infusion technology.'

Aura technology infuses the surface of the already-molded thermoplastic Soundog system housing with color. The infusion takes place in a heated bath containing a mostly aqueous dispersion of dye and a proprietary, polymer-friendly surfactant. The Soundog system housing is placed in the coloring solution until the desired depth of color is achieved, which takes from two to three minutes. The color is fully integrated into the part and will not rub off.

'Using the Aura technology is like coloring Easter eggs,' said Dr. Robert Pyles, inventor of the Aura color infusion technology. 'It is simple and flexible because the user can add a wide array of colors to clear, translucent or opaque white parts.'

The Soundog parts are molded and colored for Sprox, Inc. by Lexalite International Corp., in Charlevoix, Mich. 'The Aura color infusion technology has eliminated several hassles and costs associated with using pre-colored resins,' said Dale Troppman, vice president of operations at Lexalite International Corp. 'We don't have to store a range of pre-colored resins, thus saving unnecessary inventory costs. And since Aura adds the color after the resin is molded, we also don't have to purge pre-colored resins from the injection molding equipment. All of this translates into time and money savings.'

What's next for Sprox, Inc. and its line of wireless audio systems? 'We plan to introduce a home version later this year,' said Sprox, Inc.'s Buday. 'These will also use the Fantasia Aura color infusion technology, which will allow consumers to choose colors that best match their homedécor.'

Fantasia Technologies Offer the Broadest Array of Colors and Special Effects
With five separate technologies and a wide array of unique colors and special effects options, Fantasia is the industry's most complete, one-stop solution for color and special effects. To meet customers' wide range of design, processing and cost parameters, the Fantasia offering includes the following technologies for adding see-and-feel effects:

Aura® - A proprietary color infusion technology.
Leda® - A wide range of color effect options for engineering resins make up Leda's seven color families: Sass® edge glow effect; Mirage® angular metameric effect; Aria® translucent effect; Mina® metallic effect; Aster® metal and non-metal flake effects; Diva® sparkle and shimmer effect; and Azar® fluorescent effect.
Imagio® - High-quali ty co atings that include a variety of unique color effect options. Imagio's see-and-feel finishes are possible through the combined technologies of Bayer and PPG Industries, Inc.
Faria® - Film-insert molding technology allows customers to customize their products with an essentially limitless range of graphics possibilities.
Milena® - Colors for optical media.

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