Kraiburg TPE’s material breakthroughs for smarter water storage and waste management

TPEs for safer water storage 

Access to safe drinking water is a public health priority, especially as sanitation standards rise and systems grow more complex. For this reason, purifiers and dispensers must keep water clean and potable not just at the source but throughout storage and delivery. Components in contact with water must resist chemical degradation, inhibit microbial growth, and avoid leaching substances that could affect safety or taste.

Thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) hold up well as a preferred material, with chemical stability and a non-reactive nature that ensure long-term safety.

Kraiburg TPE, a global manufacturer of thermoplastic elastomer products and custom solutions for various industries, offers TF8ONG-NTRL, a high-performance TPE for drinking water safety. This TPE for faucet seals and gaskets is engineered to meet the strict demands of components in contact with cold or warm water. Likewise, TPE for water filtration components is gaining traction.

Maintains low odour and flavour, hot or cold– The TF8ONG-NTRL is a low-odour and flavour TPE, even under warm water exposure up to 60°C. The TPE for cold and warm water applications is free from plasticisers, phthalates, PVC, and heavy metals. The NSF/ANSI 61-compliant TPE meets Section 4 standards for drinking water system components at both cold (23°C) and domestic hot water (60°C) temperatures, and complies with KTW requirements for low odour, flavour, and total organic compounds (TOC) in hot water use.

Offers excellent process and design flexibility- The TF8ONG-NTRL has a hardness of 80 Shore A and a density of 0.95 g/cm³, offering a balance of flexibility and shape retention, which makes it suitable for hoses, dynamic seals, and fluid-transfer components. It features optimised flow properties, clean processing, and strong adhesion to polyolefins, particularly polypropylene (PP), facilitating cost-efficient 2K overmoulding designs. The compound is available in natural colour and can be processed through injection moulding or extrusion.

On par with global standards for safety and hygiene - The TF8ONG-NTRL conforms to key international drinking water regulations, including EU Regulation 10/2011 and US FDA CFR 21, ensuring low migration and material safety for global food contact applications. As a drinking water-compliant material, TF8ONG-NTRL has common applications including NSF/ANSI 61-certified parts for residential and commercial systems such as flexible pipe fittings, water dispenser and filter housing gaskets, and O-rings for warm water use. Moreover, the compound contains no curing or crosslinking agents and meets the requirements of EU Regulation No. 10/2011 for food contact plastics and US FDA CFR 21 for raw material quality.

Sustainable materials for smart trash bin applications

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is already integrated into nearly all aspects of our lives, from communication and work to healthcare, entertainment, travel, and finances. But AI for our rubbish? It’s not so surprising!One of the newest AI-integrated home systems is a smart trash bin with automated sorting capabilities for recyclables, non-recyclables, and contaminated waste, ultimately improving recycling efficiency. Built for sustainability, a smart trash bin uses eco-friendly materials consistent with its purpose. KraiburgTPE’s ,Thermolast R - RC/PCR/AP series, developed for the Asia Pacific market, with post-consumer recycled (PCR) content for sustainability-driven smart home appliances.

Material with low carbon footprint-The Thermolast R - RC/PCR/AP series contains 25% to 48% post-consumer recycled (PCR) content, depending on hardness, offering a sustainable option for manufacturers aiming to reduce environmental impact without compromising performance. Certified under the Global Recycled Standard (GRS), the compound meets industry criteria for responsibly sourced materials and contributes to improving functionality in smart trash bins.

Intelligent solution for durable and adaptable design- The Thermolast R - RC/PCR/AP series is a high-performance, eco-friendly thermoplastic alternative to conventional elastomers such as ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) and plasticised polyvinyl chloride (PVC-P). Its optimised mechanical properties, including flexibility, resilience, durability, and good flowability, make it ideal for components like odor-sealing gaskets, soft-close lid dampers, anti-slip base pads, and control buttons. 

With a hardness range of 50 to 90 Shore A, it offers design flexibility: softer grades are suitable for sealing or grip elements, while harder grades add rigidity to structural parts such as lid dampers or foot pedals. The material is also compatible with injection moulding processes, facilitating efficient and scalable production.

In the loop with safe and soft-touch designs - The Thermolast R - RC/PCR/AP series is recommended for smart applications requiring reliable sealing, user comfort, and regulatory compliance. It offers strong adhesion to polypropylene (PP) in both multi-component and single-component parts, enabling airtight seals that trap odours and improve indoor sanitation. 
Its low-odour profile and compliance with REACH and RoHS SVHC requirements make it ideal for hygiene-focused settings. With thermal stability up to 80°C and pleasant haptics, the compound provides a smooth, non-sticky surface ideal for touchpoints such as buttons and lid rims. 
Available in black colour, it complements modern aesthetics and flexibility for designing.

Sustainability from the get-go

At Kraiburg TPE, sustainability is at the heart of our innovation. Our portfolio features bio-based TPEs and compounds with post-consumer (PCR) and post-industrial (PIR) recycled content. Selected TPEs carry GRS and ISCC PLUS certifications. We also provide Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) data on request to support sustainability decisions.

We have proudly earned the EcoVadis Gold Medal in 2025 and are committed to the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), aligning our goals with global climate action.From reducing emissions to increasing circularity, our sustainable TPEs deliver dependable performance and are available worldwide to help meet your applications while advancing your sustainability goals. (Press Release)

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