KRAIBURG TPE Levels Up Performance of Food Containers, Fender Flares, and PPE with TPEs

From advancing product functionality and overall quality to reducing emissions and increasing circularity, KRAIBURG TPE, a global manufacturer of thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) and customised solutions for various industries, including automotive, offers specialty TPEs that deliver reliable performance and are available worldwide to support a range of applications, including food packaging and containers, personal protective equipment (PPE) and medical devices, as well as car fenders and other automotive parts.

Enhancing the Functionality of Food Containers 

Recent food safety and packaging regulations have increased the demand for reliable and high-quality food storage solutions. Food containers are increasingly being combined with advanced materials to enhance usability, improve consumer convenience, and ensure consistent performance. With innovative TPEs, these containers can achieve secure closures, durability, and customisable functional features.

Designed for fatty foods contact – SelectedThermolast K series are designed for TPE applications involving contact with fatty foods. With excellent processability in multi-component injection moulding, these materials deliver reliable performance for food container applications, combining a smooth, pleasant feel with high durability. Selected Thermolast K series’ minimised migration potential makes them particularly suitable for use in applications with direct contact with fatty foods.

Colourable and versatile – Thermolast K series from Kraiburg TPE delivers fully colour-customisable TPE solutions, allowing your products to perfectly reflect your brand identity and product line aesthetics. These materials allow manufacturers to create visually appealing food containers with functional components such as seals, lids, or grips, without compromising performance.

Enhanced mechanical performance – Thermolast K series offers optimised mechanical properties, ensuring strong adhesion to PP and reliable sealing for food container applications.

Safe, halogen-free, and recyclable – Thermolast K series is halogen-free (according to IEC 61249-2-21) and complies with major international food contact regulations, including Regulation (EU) No 10/2011, US FDA CFR 21, and EN71-3. The materials support in-process recycling and are well-suited for brands focusing on product safety and regulatory compliance.

Non-sticky surface for ease of use –The non-sticky surface of Thermolast K series ensures that lids and closures remain easy to handle while maintaining tight, reliable seals to preserve freshness. This combination of comfort, functionality, and safety makes TPEs a strong choice for today’s food container applications. 

Enhanced PPE Performance for Occupational Safety

High-altitude work in construction, utilities, and industrial maintenance increases occupational risks. Workers rely on PPE that delivers grip, durability, and comfort under constant use. Material selection determines how PPE performs under these conditions.

Material properties for secure handling –PPEcomponents are subject to repeated stress, frequent handling, and abrasion from rough surfaces. KRAIBURG TPE compounds provide stable mechanical performance and consistent grip, its flexible over a wide temperature range to ensure reliable handling in various working environments. The materials bond well to polypropylene (PP), which allows efficient overmoulding and strong bonding in multi-material designs. Selected TPE grades can also be overmoulded onto other plastics or metals to support complex component integration.

Manufacturers can use soft-touch TPE for high-altitude work safety to improve handling and reduce hand strain during long tasks. The smooth surface and controlled elasticity enabling users to maintain a firm grip during repetitive motion.

Abrasion resistance for extended service life – High-altitude PPE often comes into contact with tools, edges, and abrasive surfaces. KraiburgTPE develops TPE with good abrasion resistance to reduce surface wear and extend product life. UV and weather-resistant grades are available, making these materials suitable for outdoor applications exposed to harsh environmental conditions. These properties of Kraiburg TPE solutions make them suitable for grips, handles, flexible joints, and protective elements where material failure could compromise safety.

Design flexibility for PPE manufacturers –Kraiburg TPE materials allow full colourability for visual identification and functional differentiation. The compounds process efficiently and accommodate ergonomic shapes and compact designs. These features make them practical TPE for PPE applications such as gloves, harness components, grip zones, seals, and soft-touch interfaces.

Versatile range of applications across industries – KRAIBURG TPE materials are used in a range of applications requiring ergonomics, durability, and design flexibility. Common uses include car mats, functional and design elements, tool handles, toolboxes, ski poles, and soft-touch surfaces such as thumb wheels, push buttons, and switches.

Automotive Fender Flare Performance with TPE 

Car fender flares go the extra mile by combining function and design. In addition to rendering a robust look to the vehicle, these fender panels protect vehicle bodywork from road debris, mud, and stone impact while providing coverage for wider tyres and off-road use. As exterior parts, they must maintain shape, surface quality, and performance under constant environmental exposure and mechanical stress.

Manufacturers rely on the consistent performance of thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) for demanding automotive exterior applications. Thus, automotive exterior TPE materials from Kraiburg TPE deliver the performance and reliability required for these parts, such as car fender flares, providing consistent performance, high-quality surfaces, and efficient processing.

Material performance for exterior exposure – Fenderflares operate under continuous exposure to sunlight, moisture, temperature changes, and mechanical stress. KRAIBURG TPE develops weather-resistant TPE compounds that maintain surface appearance and dimensional stability under these conditions.The Thermolast K series is optimal for exterior use. These compounds resist UV exposure, moisture, thermal changes, and mechanical loads while retaining flexibility and structural integrity.

Design flexibility for fender flare applications –Thermolast K series offers a wide hardness range from 30–80 Shore A and up to 35 Shore D. This range supports diverse design requirements, from flexible edge trims to more rigid protective structures.The materials bond effectively to PP, enabling reliable overmoulding in multi-material constructions commonly used in exterior automotive parts. These properties make the series a practical choice for TPE solutions for car fender flares that require both form and function.

Processing efficiency and surface quality– Thermolast K materials allow in-process recycling, supporting efficient production workflows. An optimised compression set helps maintain shape and function after repeated mechanical loading.The series also supports surface mapping, enabling consistent textures and visual finishes. These features are relevant for fender flares materials where surface appearance and durability must remain consistent over the vehicle’s service life.

Compliance with global automotive materials standards – For exterior durability, Thermolast K series have passed PV 3930 Florida exposure tests and PV 3929 Kalahari exposure tests, each conducted over one- and two-year periods. These results confirm suitability for automotive TPE materials for exterior components exposed to harsh climates and prolonged outdoor conditions. With a broader exterior application scope, Thermolast K materials are also used in other exterior automotive parts where flexibility, surface quality, and weather resistance are required. This versatility ensures consistent selection across exterior platforms.

Kraiburg TPE at Chinaplas 2026

Kraiburg TPE will join Chinaplas 2026, taking place from 21–24 April 2026 in National Exhibition and Convention Centre (NECC) Shanghai, China at Hall 7.2 Booth No. D13, where the company will present a broad portfolio of TPE materials. Visitors are invited to visit the Kraiburg TPE booth to explore the latest material innovations and benefit from free one-to-one consultations with technical experts, offering personalised material recommendations and application support.

Sustainability from the get-go

At Kraiburg TPE, sustainability drives our innovation. Our portfolio includes bio-based TPEs and compounds with post-consumer (PCR) and post-industrial (PIR) recycled content. Selected TPEs are certified under GRS and ISCC PLUS. We also provide Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) data upon request to support sustainability decisions.We 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. (Press Release)

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