Zotefoams’ cutting-edge technical foam materials showcased at Foam Expo North America 2024
Zotefoams will exhibit at Foam Expo North America in June, presenting a product range designed to improve performance and sustainability across a wide range of industries.
With the event including a focus on aviation for the first time, Zotefoams will showcase ZOTEK® F high-performance foam. Widely regarded as the material of choice for aircraft interiors owing to its outstanding safety credentials – it delivers impressive weight savings of up to 70%, improving carbon footprint by reducing fuel burn.
In a panel discussion at 11.30am on 26 June, Dr Karl Hewson, Zotefoams’ Director of Technology and Development, will cover the benefits of Zotefoams’ high-performance yet lightweight materials and the impact these can have in improving the carbon footprint of every flight.
On display this year is ZOTEK F OSU Extra-Rigid, which, when used to replace traditional solid thermoplastic components such as seating backshell panels, can deliver significant weight savings of up to 50%, proven in MGR Foamtex’s SoftWall® NextGen.
Wider applications include Technifab’s uniquely innovative Flexible ECS Duct, saving 91kg per aircraft, and Plastika Balumag’s pioneering twin-sheet air duct, which offers 50% compared to materials traditionally used for air ducts.
The AZOTE® polyolefin foam range of materials, including Plastazote® polyethylene and Evazote® ethylene copolymer foams, will also be on display.
The Zotefoams proprietary manufacturing method produces uniquely pure and durable foams that offer performance equivalent to significantly more dense foams made using chemical foaming agents, this enables a considerable reduction in the polymer content of materials used. Recent tests show that an 18 or 24 kg/m3 AZOTE foam sheet can outperform a 30 kg/m3 competitor foam, so customers can choose a lower density Zotefoams foam to result in immediate weight savings without affecting performance.
Alongside Zotefoams’ block foams is the Ecozote® Sustainability foams range – a collection of closed cell, crosslinked low-density polyethylene (LDPE) foams – which incorporates 30% recycled material.
Following the success of Ecozote LDR containing 30% pre-consumer waste and already used in many product protection applications, the second range – Ecozote PE/R, is Zotefoams’ first foam to incorporate 30% post-consumer recycled content, certified by EU-Certplast.
The material’s fine cell, matte black appearance makes it perfect for luxury packaging applications.
Group CEO, Ronan Cox, comments,
“We’re delighted to be exhibiting at Foam Expo North America this June to connect with customers and future prospects. With improving sustainability a priority across all industries, we’ll be showcasing our range of uniquely lightweight, durable, pure and consistent foams which use less virgin polymer from the outset, in addition to our Ecozote range which incorporates recycled content too.”