Elkem to sell majority of Silicones division to Bluestar

On 13 February 2026, Elkem ASA announced an agreement to sell the majority of the Silicones division to Bluestar to create a focused, globally-leading metals and materials producer.

"Since its founding more than 120 years ago, Elkem has consistently optimised its portfolio to adapt to changing market dynamics and capitalise on emerging growth opportunities. By divesting the majority of the Silicones division, we are simplifying our business, sharpening our strategic focus and allocating capital where we see strong long‑term growth opportunities. We are confident that the agreement also delivers the most favourable outcome for the Silicones division positioning the business for accelerated specialisation and growth," says CEO Helge Aasen.

 

Transaction highlights:

Elkem to sell majority of the Silicones division to Bluestar to create a focused, globally-leading metals and materials producer

Transaction will be settled through redemption of Bluestar’s 338,338,536 shares (52.9%) in Elkem. No cash payments by Elkem nor Bluestar as settlement

Minority investors to assume 100% control of Elkem (listed)

Transaction solves Elkem and Bluestar’s long-term strategic goals regarding operations and ownership

Transaction is conditional upon shareholders’ approval at EGM, waivers and approvals from lenders, and other customary approvals

Folketrygdfondet, Must Invest AS, DNB Asset Management, Nordea Investment Management, and Perestroika have pre-committed their support for the transaction at the EGM, and fully underwritten a NOK 1,500 million contemplated equity capital raise subject to certain terms and conditions

Transaction is expected to close by May 2026

source : Elkem

Lubrizol Launches Tolerathane™ Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) for Implantable Medical Devices

Lubrizol announces the launch of Tolerathane™ TPU, a new medical-grade material engineered to meet the evolving demands of implantable medical devices. Compared to other TPU materials, Tolerathane™ TPU offers unparalleled tolerance to harsh biological conditions while maintaining superior softness, mechanical resilience, and seamless integration into standard thermoplastics processing compared to currently available TPU materials.

Designed to help medical device OEMs reimagine what’s possible for implanted technologies, the thermoplastic nature and polyurethane mechanical properties of TOLERATHANE™ TPU open new possibilities for advanced device design for a range of applications. The product’s performance attributes closely align with the technical requirements of neuromodulation & #cardiacleads, structural heart implants, percutaneous catheters and cables, and implanted textiles

Performance Benefits

Boosted Biostability: Superior tolerance to oxidative and hydrolytic attack compared to currently available TPU materials

Softness without Sacrifice: Enhanced biostability at the softest durometers while offering good mechanical properties

Scaled for Customization: Seamlessly integrates with typical thermal processing methods and offers tunability for optimized performance

A Thermoplastic Alternative to Silicone: Enables thinner wall designs that support device miniaturization and design flexibility—transforming innovation in #implantable medical device development

#Lubrizol brings decades of foundational expertise to its specialized medical-grade TPU portfolio,” said Jennifer Green, Sr. Global Technical Business Development Manager and Commercial Lead for ##Tolerathane™TPU. “As a pioneer in #thermoplasticpolyurethane innovation, Lubrizol continues to meet the evolving needs of modern healthcare—delivering materials that enable innovative medical devices and developing the next-generation TPU for implantable medical devices.

Tolerathane™ TPU debuts at MD&M West 2026, North America’s largest medical design and manufacturing event, where Lubrizol showcases its latest innovations in medical-grade materials. Speak directly with technical experts about its potential to transform device design by visiting Booth 2301.

source : Lubrizol

Epoxigraph | When Performance Is Not Optional

 Epoxigraph | When Performance Is Not Optional

Not all epoxy resins are created equal.

Epoxigraph is our graphene-enhanced epoxy resin developed for structural applications where strength, adhesion, and long-term reliability truly matter.

🔬 Why Epoxigraph?

✔️ Higher mechanical resistance

✔️ Improved structural rigidity

✔️ Reduced microcrack propagation

✔️ Excellent adhesion to fibers and substrates

✔️ Superior durability under demanding conditions

Designed for industries where failure is not an option — aerospace, defense, automotive, and advanced structural components.

Graphene doesn’t just enhance the resin.

It transforms performance.

source : Graphenano Composites

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share : Hot Runner Manifold and Gate Balancing

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

Hot Runner Manifold and Gate Balancing

The term "balanced" on paper may still refer to a situation in which one cavity flashes while another cavity short-shots in multi-cavity molds. The solution is not magic. Rather, it is science that we can put to use on the production floor.

In order to achieve a balanced hot runner manifold and gates, we use the following strategy. That involves using pressure drop, shear rate, and fill-time targets:

1. Establish a single fill-time target (here is where your quality window would begin).

2. Convert it into flow rate per gate, which is the amount of melt that each gate is required to supply.

3. Check shear rate. A shear rate that is too high may cause material stress, burn, and splay risk. A shear rate that is too low can result in poor packing response. Smaller gates provide a rapid increase in shear.

4. It is necessary to calculate the pressure drop for each flow channel. This includes the sprue, manifold branches, nozzle, and gate.

5. To get balance, make sure that ΔP and shear are the same throughout all drops. You may do this by changing the diameters of the channels, the quality of the corners, the size of the gates, the length of the land, or the timing of the valves.

6. It is important to validate the "balance" using a short-shot study and cavity pressure so that it is not theoretical but rather actual.

The mold becomes much simpler to start, much simpler to maintain stability, and a great deal more repeatable when these three factors – fill time, shear, and pressure drop – are in harmonious alignment.

source : PlastiConnect.

#polymers #InjectionMolding #HotRunner #MoldDesign

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share : The Value Inside Food Waste

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share 

The Value Inside Food Waste

Food waste is often seen as disposal — yet it is actually displaced resources.

One ton of discarded food carries embedded energy, water, nutrients, and carbon. When diverted from landfill and recovered through circular systems, its hidden value becomes measurable and impactful.

⚡ Energy:
One ton of food waste can generate enough biogas to power 8–12 homes for a day.

💧 Water:
Avoiding food loss preserves roughly 15,000–25,000 liters of embedded water, depending on the food type and production intensity.

🌱 Soil:
Organic recovery can produce about 400–600 kg of nutrient-rich compost, returning carbon and fertility to soils.

🌍 Climate:
Diverting food waste from landfill can avoid approximately 0.5–1.0 tons of CO₂-equivalent emissions by preventing methane formation.

These figures reveal a simple truth: food waste is not merely a waste problem — it is a resource efficiency opportunity across energy, water, soil, and climate systems.

In a circular economy, organic waste becomes feedstock. Cities convert it into biogas and soil amendments. Agriculture closes nutrient loops. Landfills shrink. Emissions fall. Resources circulate.

Reducing food waste remains the priority. But for unavoidable organics, recovery transforms loss into value.

Food waste is not garbage.
It is misplaced energy, water, and nutrients — waiting to be recaptured.

source : Waste Innovation Stories

hashtag#FoodWaste hashtag#CircularEconomy hashtag#OrganicWaste hashtag#WasteToEnergy hashtag#Composting

Divestment of aerospace business to SpaceX

Hexagon Purus ASA, a world leading manufacturer of zero-emission mobility and infrastructure solutions, has through one of its wholly owned subsidiaries entered into an agreement to divest its aerospace business to Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (#SpaceX). The transaction comprises the sale of 100% of the shares of Hexagon Masterworks Inc. (“Masterworks”), which supplies high-pressure #compositestoragecylinders for #aerospace and #spacelaunch applications in North America, and for hydrogen mobility applications. The hydrogen business is not part of the transaction perimeter, and Masterworks’ existing hydrogen customer contracts are intended to be transferred to other parts of Hexagon Purus prior to closing.

The transaction implies an enterprise value of approximately USD 15.0 million, comprising

(i) a cash consideration of USD 12.5 million payable at closing, and

(ii) a contingent cash earn-out of USD 2.5 million, subject to applicable closing conditions and customary adjustments. A requisite number of bonds under the Company’s 2023 and 2024 bond agreements have undertaken to approve closing of the transaction.

The aerospace business has developed well in recent years and has now reached a stage where an industrial owner with a dedicated aerospace focus is deemed to best support its future. At the same time, the Company does not expect the hydrogen mobility market in North America to represent significant potential in the near-to-medium term. The divestment is therefore aligned with the Company’s ongoing portfolio review – the transaction will strengthen the Company’s financial position and extends the liquidity runway.

“I am pleased that we have found a new home for Masterworks with an owner that views our composite cylinder expertise as world-class and intends to integrate the business into its supply chain to support its long-term growth”, says Morten Holum, CEO of #HexagonPurus. “I want to sincerely thank the #Masterworks team for their dedication and hard work in developing the business to this point. While it is never easy to part with a business that has performed well, this transaction strengthens Hexagon Purus’ financial position and allows us to focus on our core strategic priorities.

source : HexagonPurus