DSM’S AKULON® ULTRAFLOW PA6 BENEFITS MANUFACTURERS OF FURNITURE COMPONENTS

DSM Engineering Plastics has introduced Akulon® Ultraflow PA6 for use in the furniture industry. This new and innovative material offers manufacturers many benefits and value added performance. It can be used for a wide range of furniture components – including back supports; arm rests; frames and bases for chairs; shelf brackets; cupboard hinges; castor brackets and attachments; connection corners.

Compared to standard PA6 and PA66, furniture component manufacturers enjoy greater productivity and lower system costs by using Akulon® Ultraflow PA6. This is because injection moulding cycles are reduced by approximately 20% with significantly lower processing temperatures. This has the additional benefit that parts can be coloured more easily during injection moulding. Again, compared to standard PA6 and PA66, Akulon® Ultraflow PA6 gives manufacturers greater design freedom as a result of the material’s superior flow. Better flow implies easier filling of complex parts, which in turn leads to less warpage. It also provides a much better surface appearance, even for 50-60% GF grades. The new material is also more cost effective than PPA yet it provides similar performance and surface appearance.

In comparison with traditional metal components, Akulon® Ultraflow PA6 also gives manufacturers greater design freedom as well as the opportunity for weight reduction. In addition, systems costs can be reduced as a result of lower tool costs, longer tool production lifetimes and/or fewer assembly steps needed compared with various metals. In addition, there is less corrosion and no need for surface protection, compared with aluminium which degrades in appearance due to oxidation. Importantly, the plastic material is environmentally friendly because it requires only 10% of the energy consumption used by aluminium. Lower weight means easier handling and lower shipment costs as well as lower fuel consumption and therefore reduced CO2 emissions during transportation.

DSM’s innovative Akulon® Ultraflow PA6 offers many benefits and improvements to help furniture manufacturers wishing to meet the needs of fashion conscious end-users. They include better products, higher cost efficiency, good looks and better performance, when compared to the polyamides or metal components traditionally used for furniture.

DSM Engineering Plastics works continually and closely with customers to develop new materials and to adapt existing ones to new applications. The company’s key objective is to provide system cost optimization and better performance for customers, whilst at the same time recognising that solutions need to reflect the triple demands of People, Planet and Profit.

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