GLS DYNAFLEX G2700 TPE Series Wins FDA Clearance for Direct Food Contact Applications


Approval Includes Fatty and Non-Fatty Food Contact

McHENRY, Ill. (July 27, 2007) - GLS Corporation, a global leader in the development, manufacture, and supply of high-performance, custom-formulated thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs), today announced that its entire line of DYNAFLEX® G2700 TPEs have been given clearance by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in direct food contact applications, including both fatty and non-fatty foods. This approval expands the range of packaging applications for the DYNAFLEX G2700 series, which previously held FDA approval for limited food contact. DYNAFLEX TPEs are made with Kraton® polymers.

"With this new FDA approval, our customers gain the flexibility to use one family of GLS TPEs for all their food packaging applications," said Walter Ripple, director of sales and marketing for GLS Corp. "No other competitive materials can make this claim for a full line of grades. This means one-stop shopping and greater simplicity for packaging manufacturers."

Previously, styrene ethylene butylenes styrene (SEBS) products from GLS were cleared for use in direct food contact applications for non-fatty foods. Now FDA has broadened approval to cover fatty foods as well. Further, the clearance carries no restrictions for use in adhesives, food packaging, and food storage applications. It also allows for contact with all food types and high-temperature food contact applications"
GLS can also compound other custom grades that have full FDA clearance.

DYNAFLEX G2700 series compounds are easy-processing TPEs designed for injection molding and extrusion applications that require FDA compliance. Available in a hardness range from 28 to 64 Shore A, they feature a soft touch, rubbery feel, excellent colorability, good melt stability, high flow for long, thin-wall parts, good adhesion to polypropylene, and good ozone and UV resistance. Depending on the grade, they are available in either natural or clear pellets. Drying is not required. Regrind levels of up to 20 percent can be used with minimal property loss, provided the regrind is free of contamination.

About GLS Corp.
GLS Corp., a global leader in the development, manufacture, and supply of high-performance, custom-formulated thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs), is headquartered in the United States near Chicago in McHenry, Ill. The company specializes in the manufacture of application-specific soft and ultra-soft TPEs for injection molding and extrusion. GLS has supplied specialty TPEs to the industry since 1979, and is recognized as a worldwide leader in TPE technology solutions. Specific products sold by GLS include proprietary DYNAFLEX® TPE compounds based on KRATON® polymers (available in injection molding and extrusion, as well as medical and FDA grades); VERSAFLEX® TPE specialty alloys (available in soft-touch, lightweight, ultra-soft, ultra-clear, and overmolding grades); VERSALLOY(TM) TPV alloys; and VERSOLLAN(TM) TPU alloy compounds. GLS is also the exclusive distributor of KRATON compounds and polymers for the compounding market in the United States, and also distributes KRATON compounds and polymers globally.

Media Contacts:
Walter Ripple
GLS Corp.
815-385-8500
wripple@glscorp.com

Jim Allison
AH&M Marketing Communications
413-448-2260
jallison@ahminc.com

For more information on the TPE products, contact:
In Europe: GLS International Inc. - Phone: +31 165 331 293
In Asia: GLS Thermoplastic Alloys Suzhou Co. Ltd. - Phone: +86 512 6265 2600
In Hong Kong: GLS Hong Kong Ltd - Phone: +852 2690 5330
In Taiwan: GLS Taiwan - Phone: +886 9396 99740
In USA: GLS Corp. - Phone: +1 800 457 8777

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