Barcelona, Spain – October 10, 2008 – Merquinsa is pleased to announce the launch of new Bio TPU grades at FAKUMA 2008 (International trade fair for plastics processing, on 14-18 October at Friedrichshafen, Germany).

The new Pearlthane® ECO thermoplastic polyurethane grades of 85A, 90A, 95A, 98 shore A, and 60 shore D hardness complete the range of Bio TPU for “Green” Injection Moulding elastomeric applications recently launched at K2007.

These Bio TPU grades with a renewable content up to 60 % according to ASTM D6866 offer an alternative to petroleum-based TPUs and TPEs with excellent mechanical properties, abrasion, scratch resistance, processability and recyclability.

A preliminary life cycle analysis indicates that manufacturing Pearlthane® ECO results in 40 % less global warming emissions.

For every 10.000 MT of ECO TPU that replaces petroleum-based TPU, up to 20,000 barrels of crude oils are saved, equivalent to the energy needed for close to 3000 houses in Germany.

About Merquinsa
Merquinsa is a leading thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) specialty producer, providing innovative products for injection molding, extrusion, calendering, melt coating, compounding and adhesives applications.

Merquinsa’s headquarters are in Barcelona, Spain with regional centers in North America and in Asia.

For more information about Merquinsa, and PEARLBOND®, PEARLCOAT®, PEARLSTICK®, and PEARLTHANE® Specialty TPU resins, please visit our Web site at www.merquinsa.com.