JSP announces the launch of a new business: manufacturing sheet foams as a joint venture with Qycell Corporation of Ontario, California. This new JSP activity will focus on development, manufacturing and marketing of sheet foam materials based on a proprietary cross-linked polymer technology.

JSP will provide thin sheet polyethylene (PE) foams in continuous roll stock for use in a variety of automotive, pressure sensitive tape, laminate and other specialty applications. The manufacturing process bypasses the need for the use of complex chemistry and processing to create environmentally friendly cross linked polymers in extruded sheet foam and provides added value to users of the foam material in several ways.

Cross-linked foamed PE sheets can be made thinner due to this unique process, helping reduce material usage without compromising performance, such as with pressure sensitive laminated tapes. The process adds tensile strength in comparison to equivalent PE sheet foam, and results in products with greater resistance to high temperatures and to chemical exposure.

"This technology acquisition and added manufacturing capability create an exciting new dimension to JSPs presence in North America," commented Kevin Brophy, General Manager. "We are able to apply our global expertise in the manufacture of sheet foams, provide new products to our existing North American automotive customers, and also introduce JSP as a high performance supplier in markets beyond automotive and packaging, where we are already well established."

The company is already eyeing new technologies, including cross-linked polypropylene sheet foam, new oxygen barriers for use in food processing and other developments based on polymer and processing innovation made possible by its application of other JSP technology developments in other global regions.

Source: JSP