1 Jul 2004
From freezer to microwave: GE’s NORYL® PKN resin offers extreme versatility
With its extreme temperature resistance, GE’s NORYL® PKN resin can handle the coldest freezer to the warmest microwave. The added benefits of aesthetic versatility, cost efficiency and environmental friendliness in combination with GE’s strong market reputation make this product a smart choice for consumer-focused food packagers.
This new addition to the NORYL resin family responds to increased market demands for cost effective, yet safe and attractive packaging products. The PPO® /polystyrene alloy resin family offers increased stiffness at higher temperatures compared to polypropylene (PP) reducing the risk of food spills when used in microwaveable food trays. The new NORYL PKN materials offer excellent impact performance at freezer temperatures compared to common PP based materials.
LINPAC Plastics, a European manufacturer based in the United Kingdom, chose NORYL PKN resin for their revolutionary new LINcool single-use trays designed for microwave cooking. The company selected the exact shades of cream and black that would best enhance the food products within.
Food trays made with NORYL PKN resin are rigid enough to handle ready-meal dishes without flexing and allows the consumer to directly take the meal from the freezer to the microwave. The heat resistance of this resin allows LINPAC to keep the outside of the package cool, thereby reducing burn potential, while keeping the food hot, allowing the consumer to fully enjoy the warm meal.
"Based on its exceptional property performance balance, NORYL PKN resin can be a great fit for many freezer-to-microwave packaging applications,” said Rob de Jong, industry manager for GE Advanced Materials Plastics performance packaging segment in Europe.
Due to their outstanding processing characteristics, NORYL PKN resins offer a lower cost alternative for PP and polyethylene terephthalate (CPET) materials.
The NORYL PKN resin portfolio presently includes six commercial grades, both transparent and opaque, covering a wide heat resistance range. NORYL PKN resins can be applied in monolayer, multi-layer and foamed applications. Besides the single-use/microwave category, NORYL PKN resin is also durable enough for use in cookware/houseware and tableware applications. NORYL resins can also have a fit in non-food packaging applications where stiffness at elevated temperatures is required.
NORYL PKN resin offers environmental advantages as well. It is recyclable and compliant with American and European food contact regulation/legislation.
GE Advanced Materials, part of the diversified General Electric Company is a leading producer of engineering thermoplastics, with major production facilities worldwide. Through its LNP Engineering Plastics business, the company is a worldwide leader in the custom compounding of engineering thermoplastics. The business’s web site is located at www.geadvancedmaterials.
Reader enquiries
GE PlasticsPlasticslaan 1
4600 AC Bergen op Zoom
Netherlands
Helen Vandebovenkamp
helen.vandebovenkamp@ge.com
Tel: +31 164 29 20 97
Fax: +31 164 29 10 66
Netherlands
Notes for editors
GE Advanced Materials
GE Advanced Materials is a world leader in providing materials solutions through engineering thermoplastics, silicon-based products and technology platforms, and fused quartz and ceramics. Among its businesses are:
• Silicones, which includes GE Toshiba Silicones in the Pacific region and GE Bayer Silicones in Europe, offers silanes, specialty silicones, urethane additives, adhesives, sealants, resins, and elastomers for a variety of industries such as personal care, automotive, tire and rubber, construction, healthcare, electronics, household and institutional, agriculture, textiles, appliances, bedding and furnishings, foam control, and consumer (https://www.gesilicones.com/gesilicones/am1/en/home.jsp);
• Plastics is a global plastics materials supplier and distributor, which serves customers in a variety of industries including aerospace, appliances, automotive, building and construction, data storage and optical media, medical, electrical and electronics devices, telecommunications, computers and peripheral devices, outdoor vehicles and devices, and packaging (https://www.geplastics.com);
• Quartz produces high purity materials for the semiconductor, fiber optic, lamp making and water purification industries. GE Quartz is a leading supplier of quartz materials to the semiconductor industry (www.gequartz.com/en/index.htm);
• GE (NYSE:GE) is a diversified technology, media, and financial services company dedicated to creating products that make life better. From aircraft engines and power generation to financial services, medical imaging, television programming, and plastics, GE operates in more than 100 countries and employs more than 300,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit the company's website at www.ge.com.
NORYL and PPO are registered trademarks of General Electric Company
Related images
LINPAC Plastics, a European manufacturer based in the United Kingdom, chose NORYL® PKN resin for their revolutionary new LINcool single-use trays designed for microwave cooking. The company selected the exact shades of cream and black that would best enhance the food products within.
With its extreme temperature resistance, GE’s NORYL PKN resin can handle the coldest freezer to the warmest microwave. The added benefits of aesthetic versatility, cost efficiency and environmental friendliness in combination with GE’s strong market reputation make this product a smart choice for consumer-focused food packagers.
Editorial enquiries
Marianne Schouten
GE Advanced Materials
Brigitta de Vries
Marketing Solutions NV