US compounder and distributor PolyOne (Cleveland, Ohio; www.polyone.com) has introduced a masterbatch that allows manufacturers to injection mould parts that appear to be covered with textile. The new “Smartbatch” Fabric FX colour and additives concentrate allows fabric graining and colour to be tailored to meet designers’ recommendations, the company says. It is compatible with various polymers, including ABS and PC/ABS blends.

Fabric FX technology can support applications in industries such as transportation, consumer goods and furniture. Parts created with the new masterbatch have the advantage that they are easier to clean than textile-covered applications, says Christoph Palm, vice president and general manager for PolyOne’s Color and Additives EMEA & India business. “This masterbatch also helps manufacturers transition from a complex polymers-and-textile process to more efficient, single-step moulding,” he adds.