BASF creates new possibilities for Elastollan® with Soft Touch Feel TPU series developed in collaboration with Meiban

• Elastollan Soft Touch Feel TPU series and Meiban’s laser texturing technology enable high-quality textures and complex geometries
• Bright new vibrant colors transform consumer electronics accessories for different designs

Singapore – December 2, 2020 – The new Elastollan^® Soft Touch Feel thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) series creates new design possibilities with its exceptional touch, feel, and performance. With Meiban’s laser texturing “Innovation Meiban Skin” (IMS) technology, Elastollan is making headway in the consumer electronics accessories market.

Meiban’s IMS technology allows a variety of textures and graphics to be embossed on new materials. With the enhanced design versatility made possible by the technology, the Elastollan Soft Touch Feel TPU series is the ideal solution for consumer electronics accessories and products that style and functionality are crucial, such as watch straps, speakers, laptop covers.

Fulfilling the ever-demanding requirements for functionality and comfort in consumer electronics, the Elastollan Soft Touch Feel TPU series possesses other mechanical properties suitable for wearables. These include excellent adhesion, non-transparent, and anti-slip capabilities on the glass.

Additionally, the new series enables ease of processing without any blooming issues compared to traditional TPU. The material also stands apart with a new palette of color shades, providing different vibrant color options for brand owners.

“Meiban is consistently innovating in polymer technology and design,” said Helen Ho, R&D Head of Meiban. “Through our partnership with BASF, we are excited to empower consumer electronic brands with high-quality designs, enabled by our IMS technology. This technology provides consumers with a better, stronger, and more versatile design option for their mobile and electronics accessories.  It also enhances the look and feel of the products when applying on MedTech applications.”

The collaboration complements BASF’s established position in providing premium TPU materials to consumer electronics brands while delivering an ideal lifestyle solution. The comprehensive range of the Elastollan Soft Touch Feel TPU series for consumer electronics accessories will be featured in a toolkit collaboratively developed with Meiban. Brands will have an extensive selection of refined yet versatile accessory options to experiment and feel the materials. The offering includes watch straps crafted with Elastollan TPU material and intricate designs embossed by Meiban’s IMS technology.

“The cooperation with Meiban provides a great opportunity to showcase the design flexibility of Elastollan in wearable devices,” said Minli Zhao, Vice President, Consumer Industry, BASF Performance Materials. “The newly added soft-touch series reinforces our positioning as a total solution provider for consumer electronics brands.”

For more information about solutions for consumer electronics products, click here.

About BASF’s Performance Materials division

BASF’s Performance Materials division encompasses the entire materials’ know-how of BASF regarding innovative, customized plastics under one roof. Globally active in four major industry sectors – transportation, construction, industrial applications and consumer goods – the division has a strong portfolio of products and services combined with deep understanding of application-oriented system solutions. Key drivers of profitability and growth are our close collaboration with customers and a clear focus on solutions. Strong capabilities in R&D provide the basis to develop innovative products and applications. In 2019, the Performance Materials division achieved global sales of €6.06 bn. More information online: www.plastics.basf.com.

About BASF

At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. More than 117,000 employees in the BASF Group work on contributing to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio is organized into six segments: Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, Surface Technologies, Nutrition & Care and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of €59 billion in 2019. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchange in Frankfurt (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the U.S. Further information at www.basf.com.