MOSCOW (MRC) -- Merck, based in Darmstadt, Germany, a leading science and technology company, has announced to refine and market its innovative 3D plastics technology together in a strategic collaboration with PolyOne, a premier global provider of specialized polymer materials, services and solutions, reported GV.
The companies said they want to develop the in-mould 3D (IM3D) technology and establish it in end-use markets including packaging and consumer electronics. A patent application has been filed for IM3D for plastics applications. Merck already has had success with similar 3D technology for printing on paper.
The human eye perceives in the plastic a three-dimensional image that seems to come out of the flat surface, but the plastic itself is completely smooth and planar. Several processing steps were previously necessary to generate this depth effect in the polymer; now the 3D impression is created in just one step during the injection moulding process itself using technology from Merck. The striking effect turns packaging components such as caps and closures as well as plastic housings into distinctive eye-catchers.
"IM3D is just the beginning of our strategic collaboration with PolyOne. Our objective in the coming years is to jointly launch additional innovative plastics technologies with pearlescent pigments", said Michael Heckmeier, Head of the Pigments & Functional Materials business unit at Merck.
"With the IM3D technology from Merck, brand manufacturers have an outstanding enhancement technology at their disposal to set their premium products apart from the competition," added Christoph Palm, Vice President and General Manager, Color & Additives EMEA & India at PolyOne. "Leading brand owners from the packaging and consumer electronics industries will count among those very interested in this new technology."
As MRC wrote before, in early 2016, PolyOne Corporation announced the acquisition of Magenta Master Fibers (Magenta), an innovative developer of specialty solid color concentrates for the global fiber industry. PolyOne purchased Magenta from BASF for USD22 million, which represents a multiple of 6.8x EBITDA. The acquisition is expected to add USD16 million to revenues and be accretive to earnings in 2016.
PolyOne Corporation is a global provider of specialized polymer materials, services, and solutions with operations in specialty polymer formulations, color and additive systems, polymer distribution and specialty vinyl resins.
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