Case Study
GLS Thermoplastic Elastomers
PolyOne Solution Gives Storage
Totes a Clear Advantage
PolyOne’s solution enables its customer to improve
performance and reduce part weight while adding
$500,000 to the bottom line.
Situation
When the designers for a well-known manufacturer of large, clear storage totes
envisioned their next generation products, they knew that making the product
sturdier was the key to capturing more market share. The new container, to be
made from an impact-modified polypropylene, also needed to have high clarity, good
sidewall stiffness, and excellent impact resistance. While existing materials provided
clarity, they lacked stiffness. As a long-time customer of PolyOne GLS Thermoplastic
Elastomers, the design team asked PolyOne to suggest a customized solution
based on its proven track record, having formulation expertise,
a wide portfolio of materials, and focus on helping customers
differentiate their products and improve their competitiveness.
The PolyOne Difference
PolyOne’s sales and technical staff worked closely with the
manufacturer’s design team to understand specific property
needs and then identified an impact modifier solution that the
manufacturer could readily blend into polypropylene at the
molding machine.
PolyOne offered a TPE-based impact modifier that could be
used at a loading level five percentage points below the
current material and meet all of the performance requirements,
including higher stiffness. Because of the improved stiffness,
the manufacturer was able to redesign the tote and reduce the
sidewall thickness, which in turn lowered the total weight by five
percent while preserving physical property performance. In
addition, the manufacturer was able to operate at a slightly
faster cycle time and with a reduced scrap rate.
PolyOne demonstrated how the impact modifier and part design
could be improved to obtain better clarity, stiffness, and impact
performance, while also reducing part weight and overall
production costs.
Delivering a Value-Added Solution
Switching to a more efficient impact modifier saved the manufacturer nearly $40,000 a year in processing costs.
In addition, reducing the tote wall thickness resulted in a savings of about $470,000 a year, based on reduction
in material usage and lower unit costs for fuel to transport products to retailers.
Beyond these savings, the lighter weight and stiffer walls of the redesigned tote helped the customer to
differentiate its product and gain market share.
PolyOne offers specialized solutions that are targeted at helping customers meet performance and productivity
goals, increase profitability, and maximize value in every way possible.
Product choices often vary by region due to differences in regulatory and agency requirements,
availability and other key factors. Please contact your nearest sales office for assistance in
choosing the right solution for your locale.
C ONTACT INFORMATION
Americas
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+90 (0) 212 549 2256
+1 (815) 385-8500
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+55 (11) 3576-2500
PolyOne Americas
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Copyright © 2012, PolyOne Corporation. PolyOne makes no representations, guarantees, or warranties of any kind with respect to the Information contained in this document about its accuracy, suitability for particular
applications, or the results obtained or obtainable using the information. Some of the Information arises from laboratory work with small-scale equipment which may not provide a reliable indication of performance or
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