New Product Line with Proprietary Line of GLS TPES, can Stick to Any Surface without Suction
Unique Adhesion and TPE Technology Offer Possibilities Limitless
ENGLEWOOD, NJ (October 20, 2006) -- A special adhesion technology along with a unique formulation of TPEs allows a new shelving system to stick to almost anything, without using any form of suction.
The material that makes this all possible, with some proprietary components added, is an alloyed blend of TPEs (thermoplastic elastomers). Increasingly popular rubbery, grippy, soft touch TPEs are used in everything from pen grips and kitchen utensils to power tools and thousands of other applications, with new uses being developed almost daily.
The two firms involved in this technology/material partnership are:
o Shelfworks Technologies, Inc. of Englewood, NJ which developed and has applied for a patent on the technology and sells it on their new, hot-selling product line - Corner Smart(TM) shelving system, and
o GLS Corporation of McHenry, IL the global leader of specialty and alloyed TPEs for consumer and industrial products, and the formulator of the material which makes the Shelfworks' technology very much a reality.
Derived from Aerospace Technology
It all began when former aerospace designer David Reinfeld of Shelfworks Technologies discovered and applied for a patent on technology which would enable a specialized material with specific characteristics to stick or adhere to nearly any type of surface, smooth, rough or porous. The firm, over the past months, has been successfully marketing a remarkable new product that uses friction, not suction or adhesives, to adhere to nearly any surface. And can be removed without any damage.
Today, specialized Corner Smart (TM) shelving for home, office and bath, are selling well in stores like Linens & Things and Bed Bath & Beyond. The line was recently taken on by the QVC television shopping network.
In simplistic terms, the technology is based on engineering principals of friction, not suction, using levers which create force and friction to proprietary grades of VERSAFLEX ® TPE alloy from GLS Corporation which are overmolded onto polypropylene pads.
"We knew what type of material we wanted," recalls Shelfworks President Reinfeld, "and that required specific blends or alloys of thermoplastic elastomers. My previous ties at the aerospace company and with GLS Corporation had us turn to them to develop proprietary formulations with both the aesthetic as well as mechanical properties to make the technology, and therefore our products, work." Additionally, he notes that the TPE had to be provided in quality quantities at specific times to the Shelfworks molders in China, putting an additional burden on the TPE producer.
Note, the agreement with Shelfworks to use GLS TPEs was completed nearly a year and a half prior to GLS opening their new plant in Suzhou, China (near Shanghai). Before the plant was opened, deliveries were shipped from the U.S.
Installation of the shelves is both remarkable and easy - the consumer simply aligns the Corner Smart shelf in a corner and simply pushes a knob on the outside of the shelf inward until the internal spring snaps into place. A slight turn of the knob locks the shelf into place with hidden pads onto which the GLS TPE has been overmolded.
The shelves and the "adhesion" mechanisms are equally as easy to remove, with the user simply turning the knob to unlock the shelf from the wall, without effort. There is no mark left on the wall in any way. Shelves used for drywall applications (den, living room, bedroom office, etc.) can hold up to 6 pounds; shelves in bathrooms or wet environments are claimed to hold up to 4 pounds by the small pads. The bathroom shelves have no metal in them to rust. Dozens of styles, colors and configurations are currently available and retail in the $20 range. The next focus by Shelfworks is to get into office products, or possibly military and sports applications where the TPE pads using the technology can support hundreds of pounds.
One of the Greatest TPE Challenges to Date
Technician/formulators at GLS admit they were challenged by the quest from Reinfeld and his company to formulate a TPE with the inherent properties. Toward this end, they turned to their line of VERSAFLEX TPE alloys which can be formulated with a limitless number of proprietary ingredients. Requirements for the TPE included:
o easy, and consistent processing,
o the material, after injection molding, had to cool and dry flat
o effortless overmolding onto a polypropylene substrate,
o inherent properties required within the technology specifications to enable the TPE grades to adhere in use equally well to glass, metal, plastic or painted drywall, without damage to the surface when removed,
o quick and consistent availability, and
o supplied clear (and clean), to be colored in any of dozens of colors at the molding facility.
Looking to the future, both companies envision the applications to include, but not limited to use by the military, law enforcement and consumers, most notably equipment featuring TPE pads that would help humans achieve Spiderman-like feats. "Naturally," says Mr. Reinfeld, "safety is our greatest concern, not just starting at the bathroom shelf level, but when people use and apply our technology with our products and GLS materials in life and death situations."
GLS Corporation specializes in the manufacture of application-specific custom formulated soft and ultra-soft thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) for injection molding and extrusion. GLS has supplied specialty TPEs to the industry since 1979, and is recognized as a global 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® 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. Applications for these materials are found in consumer, medical, sports and leisure, automotive, lawn and garden, appliance, kitchen tool, power tool, personal care and industrial markets, among others.
For more information on Corner Smart products, contact:
Shelfworks Technologies, Inc.,
414 Johnson Avenue,
Englewood, NJ 07631.
Tel: 201-816-0132
Fax: 201-816-3065
E-mail: info@smartworkstechnologies.com.
Web: shelfworkstechnologies.com
For more information on TPEs, contact:
Marketing Department, GLS Corporation,
833 Ridgeview Drive,
McHenry, IL 60050-7050.
Telephone: 815-385-8500 or 800-457-8777.
Fax: 815-385-8533.
E-mail: info@glscorp.com
Web: www.glscorp.com.
In Europe, contact:
GLS International,
Handelscentrum Oudenbosch, Bosschendijk 193,
unit 020, 4731 DD Oudenbosch ,The Netherlands
31 165 331 293
Fax: +31 165 331 296
e-mail: europe@glscorp.com.
Web: www.glscorp.com.
In Asia, contact:
GLS Hong Kong Ltd.,
Room 5, 5/F, Block B,
Veristrong Industrial Centre,
34-36 Au Pui Wan Street,
Fo Tan, Shalin, N.T., Hong Kong.
Tel: 011 852 2690 5330
Fax: 011 852 2690 5223
E-mail: wlau@glscorp.com.
`Web: www.glscorp.com.
FOR: GLS CORPORATION
833 Ridgeview Drive
McHenry, IL 60050-7050
EDITORIAL CONTACT:
MARTIN THOMAS, INC.
Martin K. Pottle, APR
401-245-8500
E-mail: contact@martinthomas.com
