SCALES TIP IN FAVOUR OF DURASTAR POLYMER
23 October 2003 - Eastman Chemical Company

Weighing its options for a cost-effective polycarbonate alternative, a leading U.S. manufacturer of professional quality bathroom scales found more savings than they bargained for. Eastman Chemical Company’s DuraStar polymer offered the strength and clarity of polycarbonate plus added savings downstream.
More than trimming costs, molder A & S Mold and Die Corp. had to sustain their customer’s 115-year legacy for superior quality. And the clear, easy-to-read lens was an important feature on all their scales. DuraStar polymer delivered on both—durable, optically clear lenses and cost savings.

“Our customer was looking for other materials to save money, says Hugo Adlhoch,” A & S Mold and Die Corp. president. “We switched to DuraStar polymer for economic reasons. The material is identical to polycarbonate in certain properties such as specific gravity and mold shrink. We have less scrap than with polycarbonate because we can regrind the runners without losing any clarity in this application. And when you’re processing nearly two-million lenses, those savings can add up quickly.”

A user-friendly material, DuraStar polymer was essentially a drop-in replacement. There were no tooling changes or process modifications except to open the gates a little. According to Eastman business manager, Lisa Shumate: “We developed DuraStar polymer to help molders optimize the overall cost/performance ratio. This application is a perfect example of how the polymer not only helped the molder satisfy its customer but also eased the transition while simplifying the process.”

The ability to control costs downstream can help minimize the effects of price fluctuations. But it’s important to work closely with supply chain partners to ensure cost constraints are balanced with application requirements. The collaborative effort between local supplier Albis Plastics Corporation and A & S Mold and Die Corp. delivered a crystal-clear alternative that also trimmed costs throughout the process.

http://www.eastman.com

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