Special Thermoplastic Elastomers (TPEs) from Star Contribute to Appeal of Golf Discs Made by Sportsdisc(TM) Leader Discraft
WIXOM, MI - It is no wonder that disc golf is fast becoming one of the most popular sports in North America. Why? For starters, it contributes to good physical and mental conditioning, and is fun for everyone regardless of age, sex or ability.
One company both contributing to and riding the 'wave' of disc golf popularity is Discraft, Inc. the self-proclaimed world leader in disc sports. Founded in 1978, the firm designs and manufactures engineered polymer performance Sportdiscs (TM) flying discs suited to all levels of play and disciplines. Flying discs for disc sports are not toys, but rather serious sports equipment for serious athletes.
Quality of the high performance sports discs to keep up with the increasing skills of the players also requires a special and dedicated relationship between the materials supplier and the designer/manufacturer. These characteristics also are required for another popular disc sport as well - Ultimate®, a disc sport based on American football. Discraft sells quality discs for this sport as well.
The relationship between disc material supplier STAR Thermoplastic Alloys & Rubbers, Inc. (STAR) in Broadview, IL and Discraft in nearby Wixom, WI is quite special as well. Many pounds of formulated thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) are used by Discraft to produce the specialized discs used by tens of thousands of disc golf players.
About the Sport and How It Is Played
According to the PDGA, the Professional Disc Golf Association, disc golf is played much like traditional golf, but instead of using balls and clubs, players use a flying disc. The golf disc is thrown from a tee area to a target or "hole." Rather than a cup in the ground, the hole is an elevated metal basket. When the putt or approach shot lands in the basket, the hole is completed. Scoring is just like golf - the lower the score, the better. Courses can be set up almost anywhere, but official disc golf courses (usually set up in city and town parks and generally are free to play) are maintained facilities with trees, shrubs and terrain changes located in and around fairways that provide challenging obstacles to the disc golfer.
Golf discs, like golf clubs, are each designed for different purposes - drives, short or long shots and putts. And therefore, each disc has different characteristics, and rated for stability and weight to produce a variety of flight paths for a variety of playing conditions, although one can play an entire game with a single disc. High end discs with extreme ruggedness and specialized characteristics use costly polymers while most general purpose discs are quite suitable for various drivers, "minds" and putt/approach discs use thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) that are sold to Discraft by STAR, most notably the firms' ProD® line of discs.
Specifics of the Relationship
According to Mike Wagner, VP of Operations at Discraft, "A short while ago, owing to changing wants and needs by both Discraft and our customers, we were challenged to find a supplier who could provide better thermoplastic elastomers that could impart special features and characteristics into our products. One of our plastics color suppliers recommended we consider using STAR, so we gave them a try."
Criteria for switching to STAR included providing TPEs, when mixed PE (polyethylene) resin infused with proprietary levels of barium sulfite (for adding or reducing weight) included:
o Durability,
o The ability to provide the player with super grip (tactile feel),
o Colorability to highlight the rainbow of colors for the golf discs,
o A built-in versatility to provide players with a disc great for beginners or pros, and
o Pricing that provided a best value for the molder and marketer.
With these criteria in mind, Dr. Prakash Sanjeevaiah, PhD, Research and Development Manager at STAR, put his team to work in the firm's laboratories. "While we had several existing formulations and grades that could meet some of the requirements, we were confident we could develop a special grade 100% suitable for their needs. In that we have some of the best-outfitted laboratories in the TPE industry with our state-of-the-art analytical instruments, it didn't take long for us to find the optimum blend of ingredients that met all their requirements."
Since switching, Discraft has realized the many benefits of the STAR thermoplastic elastomer material formulations. As a result of the relationship between the two companies, the popularity of the sport continues to grow especially by word-of-mouth, notes the Discraft spokesman, "If a golf disc course cannot be found in your town or city, either wait and one will come, or turn to Discraft to provide counsel on how to access or get one."
For more information on the discs, contact: Discraft, Inc., 29592 Beck Road, Wixom, MI 48393. Tel: 248-624-2250. Email: discraft@discraft.com. Web: www.discraft.com.
Information on these thermoplastic elastomers used by Discraft, or the many other TPE formulations, standard and custom, contact: Star Thermoplastic Alloys & Rubbers, Inc., 2121 West 21st Street, Broadview, IL 60155. Tel: 708-343-1100. Fax: 708-343-1110. Email: sales@starthermoplastics.com. Web: www.starthermoplastics.com.
EDITORIAL CONTACT
Brenda Johnson
(401)-245-0694
E-mail: BrendaLJohnson@cox.net
