HOUSTON, March 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc. (NYSE: KRA), a leading global producer of styrenic block copolymers or “SBCs,” announces plans to showcase and discuss its latest innovations at NPE 2012, the world’s largest plastics exposition, conference and technology exchange.

“Kraton offers the most diverse and robust product profile in the SBC world,” said Michael Oberkirch, Vice President, Advanced Materials. “Our products compete against a variety of material alternatives including, but not limited to, TPV, TPU, PVC, TPO, PET, PC, PA, natural rubber, and EPDM based offerings. Kraton polymers are highly-engineered and deliver recognized value by providing safe and viable alternatives to less efficient or less environmentally-friendly solutions,” he continued. Demand for Kraton products continues to be driven by customer requirements and the unmet needs of the markets. “Our innovation-led growth strategy focuses on translating the inherent strengths of our product technologies such as flexibility, resilience, impact and moisture resistance, and aesthetics such as clarity and soft touch, to target opportunities where we can expand and create entirely new market spaces for our solutions,” he concluded.

Products showcased at NPE include the following:

Medical Solutions: Krato’ G Enhanced Rubber Segment (ERS) polymers are a proven alternative to PVC traditionally used in various drug delivery bags and medical tubing applications.
Personal Care – Our polymers offer increased comfort, flexibility and durability, as well as multi-directional elasticity and strength.
Wire & Cable – Our products are widely used in halogen-free flame retarded compounds to replace PVC in wire & cable products.
Faux Leather – Kraton’s technical development of higher flow SBCs enable coated fabric manufactures an innovative, affordable, and environmentally friendly alternative to polyurethane and PVC coated fabrics used in durable upholstery applications.
Automotive Interior Slush Molded Soft Skins — Our slush molding manufacturing process is a PVC alternative that provides the automotive industry with a major technology and performance leap to address performance, system cost and environmental responsibility necessary to move forward and succeed.
Nexar Performance Polymers – offer a new set of features & benefits for water transport, filtration and separation.
NPE 2012 will provide tremendous opportunities for knowledge sharing, which Kraton has found results in new, innovative, and specialized product solutions that meet the most rigorous industry demands for higher-performance. If you would like to meet one-on-one with our experts, please visit the Kraton booth #39000 at NPE 2012. for pre-scheduled media interviews, please contact Marcella Coronado at Marcie.coronado@kraton.com.