In response to growing demand for its “Mediprene” TPE compounds and to be closer to its growing medical customer base in Europe, medical thermoplastics elastomers producer Elasto (Amal / Sweden; www.elastotpe.com) has announced plans to open an office in Belgium. The new subsidiary will be headed by Guido Heinen, and “will give our medical customers in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Benelux local support when and where they need it,” said Elasto managing director Kjell Fagerström.

A subsidiary of Sweden’s Hexpol Compounding (Malmö; www.hexpol.com), Elasto specialises in the production of medical thermoplastic elastomers, that are PVC, silicone and latex free, making them allergen free and a viable alternative to PVC-based compounds. The Mediprene range is not only sterilisable with gamma, EtO and steam, it has also passed ICO 10993-5 cytotoxicity tests as well as USP Class VI biocompatibility tests.

Parent company Hexpol TPE comprises all the Elasto businesses in Sweden, the UK, China as well as Müller Kunststoffe in Germany – see Plasteurope.com of 02.01.2012.