From 16th to 23rd October the specialist association Foamed Plastics and Polyurethanes e.V. (FSK) presented itself together with ten of its members at the K trade fair in Düsseldorf from 16 to 23 October. On a 250 square metre stand in Hall 7a, B26-35 and C25, visitors to the trade fair could expect a wide range of services from foam processors and PUR system houses to suppliers of plant and cutting technologies. In the following, the trade association introduces the FSK members exhibiting together with it:
ACMOS CHEMIE KG from Bremen has been a global leader in the development and production of release agents, special coatings and cleaning agents for polyurethanes, composites and other plastics for over 50 years. The Gingen-based BOSIG GmbH is both manufacturer and maker of rubber products, melamine resin, polyurethane and polyethylene foams and sees itself as a system partner for industry and acoustics. Fenos AG, based in Freiberg a.N., develops formulations of flexible, integral and filter foams as well as casting compounds for a wide range of applications – especially for bus/rail vehicles, automotive applications in the interior and engine compartment area as well as for personal protection parts. The FreChem GmbH & Co. KG specializes in the development and production of polyurethane systems for bonding, potting and sealing. Its products are used in a wide range of industrial applications. The Keil Anlagenbau GmbH & Co. KG, based in Hunteburg, Germany, has been planning, constructing and maintaining industrial tank farms, production and supply facilities for solid, liquid, water-polluting and other hazardous substances in the chemical and plastics industries for over 40 years. The research factory Open Hybrid LabFactory e.V. – the Lightweight Construction Campus in Wolfsburg, develops manufacturing and production technologies for functional hybrid lightweight construction suitable for large-scale production. For this purpose, the entire value chain for hybrid components is mapped: conceptual design, carbon fiber and textile production, hybrid manufacturing process and recycling. For 25 years, Nitroil® Performance Chemicals has been offering interesting technologies around PU, including patented re- and upcycling processes, PU in the circular economy, isocyanate-free alternatives for foam and CASE applications as well as polyurea RIM, spray and casting materials, in addition to a wide range of PU raw materials and well-known PC CAT® amine and metal catalysts. The company’s range of products is flanked by plant engineering and construction for 2K high-pressure processing machines for PU foams and polyurea systems. The Grafenberg-based company – RAMPF Polymer Solutions GmbH & Co. KG, is a leader in the development and production of reactive plastic systems based on polyurethane, epoxy and silicone. Its product portfolio includes liquid as well as thixotropic sealing systems, electro casting resins, adhesive systems and hot melt adhesives. RÜHL PUROMER GmbH is one of the leading independent polyurethane system houses in Central Europe. Under the slogan “PUre variety” the company develops, produces and sells mostly tailor-made polyurethane (PUR) systems. RÜHL PUROMER uses its broad portfolio of material and technological expertise as a supplier of product-oriented system solutions with the focus on the customer’s product. Specialist in the field of foam cutting machines for soft and hard foams as well as other insulation materials is sitola GmbH & Co. KG from Freudenberg. The company develops, produces and sells high-quality cutting machines, tools and mechanical and electrical spare parts in the foam industry worldwide. It also offers machine maintenance, repairs and conversions for existing systems.

Panel discussion on the restriction process of diisocyanates at the 18th International FSK Specialist Conference Polyurethanes at the member company Fill GmbH in Gurten/Austria.

National and international representatives from industry, politics and associations took part in the expert panel to discuss the status of the restriction process, take up suggestions and clarify questions.

Participants in the panel discussion (from left to right):

Jörg Palmersheim, ISOPA Aisbl and ALIPA Aisbl, Michel Baumgartner, EUROPUR (European Association of Flexible Polyurethane Block Foam Manufacturers), Dr. Wolfram Frank, EUROPUR (European Association of Flexible Polyurethane Block Foam Manufacturers), Dr. Aart Rouw, Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAUA), Dortmund, Ronald van den Bosch, Dow Benelux BV

Moderator: Dr. Wolfgang Friederichts, Gupta Publishing

Ronald van den Bosch, Dow Benelux BV in an interview with the FSK at the 18th International FSK Specialist Conference Polyurethanes 2017 on the restriction process of diisocyanates.

Since 2007 Ronald van den Bosch has been a member of the Dow PU-EH&S Group, which is heavily involved in REACH and is preparing the implementation of the process. As REACH Implementation Leader for Dow Polyurethanes as well as in the areas of EH&S Issue Management, Circular Economy
and compliance he is currently active. van den Bosch is head of the ISOPA Product Stewardship Cluster and is, among other things
responsible for the activities of the interbranch organisations. For years, he has also been involved in discussions with the authorities, e.g. with the BAuA, regarding the review of restrictions on the use of diisocyanates.

Michel Baumgartner, General Secretary of EUROPUR (European Association of Flexible Polyurethane E-Block Foam Manufacturers) in an interview at the 18th International FSK Special Conference Polyurethanes 2017.

Flexible polyurethane foam manufacturers are downstream main users of diisocyanates. EUROPUR as their European trade association has a strong interest in the REACH-restriction and seeks to ensure that appropriate worker protection, proportionate to the level of risk, is provided throughout the EU and which also takes account of the high standards of worker protection already manifested in the industry.

Joerg Palmersheim, Secretary General of ISOPA Aisbl in an interview with the FSC at the 18th International FSK Specialist Conference Polyurethanes 2017, is the project leader of the project “Product Stewardship for a sustainable future” under which ISOPA and ALIPA have joined forces to accompany the proposed restriction in order to make the handling of the restriction procedure functional and feasible for European companies.

Dr. Aart Rouw, Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health in an interview with the FSK on the subject of REACH restriction procedures for diisocyanates at the 18th International FSK Specialist Conference on Polyurethanes 2017

Dr. Dipl.-Ing. Raimund Mauritz, Doka GmbH tells in an interview with the specialist association Foamed Plastics and Polyurethanes e.V.
about his impressions of the annual specialist conference of the FSK. He spoke at the industry event on the subject of polyurethanes in formwork technology and discussed the use of polyurethane in wood processing.

Dr. Alexander W. Strietholt, Dow Anlagengesellschaft mbH in an interview with the FSK at the 18th International FSK Specialist Conference Polyurethanes 2017

Andreas Fill, Managing Director of Fill GmbH in Gurten, Austria and host of the 18th International FSK Specialist Conference Polyurethane 2017 in an interview with the FSK Specialist Association Foamed Plastics and Polyurethanes e.V.