Kraiburg TPE puts 80% recycled elastomer in Hilti toolkit

Waldkraiburg, Germany – Tool maker Hilti has recognised Kraiburg TPE for its supply of thermoplastic elastomer with high recycled content, used for handle surfaces of tools.

Winning the title ‘distinguished honours – special products’, Kraiburg TPE was hailed for the development of the TPEs with “almost 80%” recycled content and “excellent adhesion to polyamides.” 

The two companies have been partners for over two decades, with the project on sustainable TPEs launched in mid-2021, said a 1 Oct release from the German-based compounder.

The goal, said Kraiburg TPE, was to integrate “a maximum high proportion of post-industrial and post-consumer recycled material.” 

The new materials were also required to deliver excellent adhesion to the polyamide handles, while retaining a defined hardness range and flowability of conventional TPEs 

“Taking into account the required properties, we have developed a formulation that provides a [very high] recycled content," said Karin Maier, customer manager for Hilti at Kraiburg TPE. 

According to Maier, further "optimisations of sustainability factors in the production cycle were also made such as savings in CO2 consumption and consolidation of materials."