LMI Custom Mixing Develops Green EPDM, Sponge and Dense Compounds for Extrusion
LMI Reduces Carbon Footprint and Oil Dependency through EPDM Developments
With no compromise to quality, LMI Custom Mixing plays its part in reducing carbon footprint and oil dependency through revolutionary developments in EPDM sponge and dense compounds. Utilizing a new type of EPDM polymer developed by LANXESS, LMI Custom Mixing has developed a variety of new EPDM formulations that put renewable resources to use. These new innovations in EPDM compounding now provide customers an option that is based on a more long term, reliable and renewable source of raw materials.
Recognized as a remarkable breakthrough, LANXESS has begun the production of EPDM with ethylene derived purely from the renewable resource sugar cane. This bio-based form of ethylene is produced by dehydrating ethanol from Brazilian sugar cane. It is the world's first form of bio-based EPDM rubber and is sold under the Keltan® Eco brand name. LMI Custom Mixing is one of the first mixing facilities to formulate and test extruded sponge and dense compounds derived from the Keltan® Eco brand, offering an ecological advantage to its customers.
Comparable to standard petroleum-based polymers, this innovative green product offers high quality and high performance for a cutting edge solution. To help reduce dependency on oil, these comprehensive and sustainable 100% EPDM-based products can be up to 25% bio-based and 45% non-petroleum based. An exclusive bio-based formulation combined with excellent material properties makes these new green EPDM compounds economical and ideal for a range of applications in various markets.
LMI has already extruded and tested various profiles and is presently working on ASTM and FDA specified green compounds. "Our research will only go further, and the new line of green products and processes will continue to evolve. In the future, we want to include additional non-petroleum based fillers, plasticizers and additives to further improve these compounds", said Jim Nixon, General Manager of LMI Custom Mixing. "Anytime a renewable resource can be tapped to produce a product that is effective and economically competitive, everyone gains", Nixon adds.
About LANXESS
LANXESS is a leading specialty chemicals company with sales of EUR 8.8 billion in 2011 and currently around 16,800 employees in 30 countries. The company is at present represented at 49 production sites worldwide. The core business of LANXESS is the development, manufacturing and marketing of plastics, rubber, intermediates and specialty chemicals. LANXESS is a member of the leading sustainable indices Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) World and FTSE4Good. Visit the company's website at www.lanxess.com. KELTAN® is a registered trademark of LANXESS Elastomers B.V.
About LMI Custom Mixing
LMI Custom Mixing was established in 1998 through the partnership of Lauren International and Meteor Gummiwerke. Today LMI produces the finest quality custom polymer mixes at its state-of-the-art custom mixing facility in Cambridge, Ohio. Specializing in sponge compounds, LMI is dedicated to delivering tightly-controlled polymer compounds that meet even the toughest specifications, batch after batch. LMI Custom Mixing is equipped with two completely integrated intermesh mixing lines inside a 50,000 ft2 climate controlled facility. Plant capacity is 35 million pounds annually, with expansion capabilities of over 50 million pounds. To learn more about our material diversity, batch-to-batch consistency, bar coding, temperature controlled environment and more, contact us at 740-435-0444 or visit www.lmimix.com.
