Compounder Avient has added its first production line for Complēt and OnForce long-fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composites in Asia. The new line was installed at Avient’s Asia regional headquarters in Shanghai to help meet increased demand for composite materials in applications that require high impact strength, elastic modulus, and material strength.
“With the composites market transitioning from traditional materials like aluminum alloy or steel to long-fiber composites, we are seeing an increasing need for an integrated approach that includes material formulation, component design, and forming process," says Flight Xu, general manager, Specialty Engineered Materials Asia at Avient. “Combined with engineering support and design for manufacturability services from Avient Design, our new production line offers local customers an efficient and agile setup that helps them accelerate speed to market and differentiate them from their competition.”
Complēt and OnForce composites have structural characteristics that provide stiffness, strength, and toughness, making them suitable alternatives to metals. Using these composites as a metal replacement also fosters significant weight reduction along with the time and cost-saving benefits of single-step injection molding.
Additionally, a team of specialized industrial designers and project engineers at Avient Design possess extensive knowledge of both materials and molding, said the company. They are well-equipped to provide customers with insights into design and materials, helping them launch innovative products that can meet constantly evolving industry requirements.
If local and regional customers require, these Complēt and OnForce formulations can be tailored to meet specific application requirements by utilizing a range of engineering resins, from polypropylene (PP) and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) to polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) and polyphthalamide (PPA) for power tool, sports equipment, utility vehicle, furniture, and outdoor recreation applications.
