Aside from PEEK raw material in the form of resin and powder, German distributor Bieglo (Hamburg; www.bieglo.com) also offers a range of semi-finished PEEK products, including film, sheet, rods and tubes. The latest addition to its portfolio are CoPEEK and PEEK compounds multi- and monofilaments produced by Performance Fibers (Huntersville, North Carolina / USA; www.performancefibers.com).

Bieglo says CoPEEK filaments can be used in demanding applications in high temperature as well as in chemically aggressive and abrasive environments. End uses include conveyor belts, sewing threads, electrical cable reinforcements, filtration parts as well as composite applications such as commingled yarns, UL-tapes or thermoplastic prepregs.

Performance Fibers claims to be a leading global supplier of high-tenacity polyester fibres and fabrics, PA 6, engineered fabrics, sewing thread fibres and advanced materials. The company is owned by investment group Sun Capital Partners, which acquired it from Honeywell in 1994. The Huntersville-based group has production facilities in South and North Carolina / USA, Mexico, Asia – including in Kaiping, Guangdong / China – and Europe, where it turns out speciality fibres (including PEEK, CoPEEK, PPS, PEN, PBT, iFR PET, spun dyed PET, PLA, rPET and micro fibres, among others). Its European headquarters are located in Bascharage / Luxembourg, with plants in Longlaville / France and Bad Hersfeld / Germany.