Aug 5 2005
During the launch of the new business model for their standard styrenic plastics, BASF developed a new, multifunctional polystyrene type that unifies the various properties of earlier types in the range. The new material is named PS 454 C (new) and has been available on the market for several months. In addition to the excellent flow properties of its predecessor, the new product has an improved impact strength and, as an outstanding feature, an extraordinary gloss.
Between the middle of 2003 and the middle of 2004 BASF streamlined its polystyrene product range, reducing it from 400 types to only 10 in order to utilize the advantages of very efficiently structured production and fast logistics. One of these ten polystyrene types, which are suitable for universal applications, is the new PS 454 C, with a gloss value of around 88 at a melt temperature of 240 °C.
"As a result of our twenty years of experience with high-gloss polystyrene we were also able to minimize production costs and can now offer PS 454 C at a lower price than the "old" glossy products of the 500 range“, explains Hans-Dieter Schwaben, Polystyrene Product Manager at BASF in Ludwigshafen. "Although the combination of the properties of this new product on the polystyrene market is unique, it meets all the specifications of PS 454 C from the previous range, and we decided to stick with this name.“
The marketing success of this product during the introductory phase has been high, as the new product with the old name also offers advantages to customers with low demands regarding the gloss of the finished component - due to the lower melt temperatures the cycle times can also be shortened. With its new PS 454 C development BASF has shown that streamlining a product portfolio does not automatically mean foregoing product innovation.