API and EMS-Grivory together in the eyewear industry

API, an Italian company specialized in the production of thermoplastic elastomeric compounds and bioplastics that was acquired by global materials company Trinseo in July 2017, has announced a green partnership with EMS-Grivory, a leading Swiss manufacturer of high performance polymers and supplier of structural materials, in the eyewear industry. The partnership aims at developing a series of sustainable eyewear solutions with a lower environmental impact, providing customers with cutting-edge materials.

The demand to combine soft elastomeric compounds with hard substrates has been constantly increasing. Engineers from both companies will collaborate on combining the adhesion modified soft-touch TPE (Thermoplastic Elastomers) with the harder EMS Grilamid TR or Grilamid BTR materials, thereby fully complying with the VDI 2019 standard. API and EMS-Grivory will work on the development of specific bio-solutions, both on a fossil and renewable basis.

“We are excited to partner with EMS-Grivory as we focus our combined expertise serving a broader and greener product range”, says Giancarlo Busa, Business Unit manager, Footwear & Sporting Goods, API. “Our materials will satisfy social, economic and environmental benefits, without imposing performance limitations. We strongly believe in the future of innovative and sustainable solutions for eyewear”.