PolyOne launches TPE production in India

Pune, India – PolyOne has officially opened a new thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) production line at its Pune facility, the company has announced.

The “automated and dedicated” TPE line is the first of its kind in India, and is designed to manufacture 'GLS TPEs', said the 16 Oct statement.

Making these materials available locally rather than importing them will improve lead times and the ability to collaborate on custom formulations, it explained.

“India is an emerging market with one of the fastest growing economies in the world,” said Holger Kronimus, vice president, Europe, at PolyOne.

“We are committed to serving the needs of local and multinational manufacturers who operate here, and this recent expansion illustrates that commitment.”

Opened in 2014, the Pune plant initially focused on the production of colorant and additive concentrates, before expanding into the manufacture of ‘speciality engineered’ materials last year.

With the addition of TPE production, PolyOne claims manufacturers can now source all of their ‘speciality’ polymer requirements from a single domestic source.

"We're now able to better serve our valued customers in India with domestic production of TPEs," said Vikas Vij, managing director, India, at PolyOne.