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TPV meets design and performance requirements for unique grip
AKRON, OHIO (March 17, 2006) - Lifelong gardener and successful software
entrepreneur Bruce Baker wanted to develop an innovative range of hand-held
garden tools that would be more comfortable to use than anything on the
market. He envisioned tools that would be comfortable to use even for
gardeners who suffer from arthritis, tendonitis or carpal tunnel syndrome and
that would help prevent stress injuries.
His company, Radius™ Garden, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, also wanted to produce
professional-grade tools with a lifetime guarantee that included a durable
soft-grip that adhered to the tool.
The Radius Garden NRG™ (natural radius grip) tools are uniquely designed with
a curved-bow shaped grip. Before the company could move from design to
production, it needed the appropriate material for the grip and blades (or
rake) as well as the most efficient and effective manufacturing process. With
little experience in materials processing, Radius Garden looked for expertise
to help throughout development and production.
The working part – the blade or rake – must be ultra-lightweight. The handle
must be of the highest quality, as it is vital to the product design and the
brand identity. With manufacturing and assembly in China, U.S.-based Radius™
Garden needed a material with proven global supply reliability and good
gripping ability for its unique “NRG” (pronounced “energy”) handle.
Radius™ Garden selected ExxonMobil Chemical's Santoprene™ specialty products
team, which has 25 years experience in providing global elastomeric solutions
and is an acknowledged leader in thermoplastics elastomers (TPEs).
Experienced sales people, technical specialists accessible through the global
AnswerPersonSM service and product and process experts available in China
provided Radius™ Garden with material and processing capability. The
ExxonMobil Chemical team also provided design support, material selection,
technical assistance with molds and helped identify ISO-qualified companies in
China to manufacture the tools.
Radius Garden selected a company in China which has considerable experience in
manufacturing with special effect Santoprene™ TPEs for the production of the
garden tools.
To manufacture the handle, a soft Santoprene™ TPE is insert overmolded onto a
polypropylene (PP) base.
Santoprene™ TPE met the design and performance needs required for the
combination of materials. The broad portfolio of available grades produced a
comfortable grip of suitable hardness and significant ergonomic benefits. The
TPE does not peel or fray and, in tests conducted by Radius Garden, the blade
does not separate from the handle. The unique bow-shape handle provides a
secure grip regardless of whether it’s wet or dry.
The blades/rakes are die-cast using an ultra-lightweight aluminum/magnesium
alloy. They are attached to the handle using a mechanical locking device
between the PP base and the metal blade/rake.
ExxonMobil Chemical also provided preliminary designs while the manufacturer
in China finalized the engineering details.
Initially, two-cavity molds produced the tools. To accommodate increased
demand and a boost in production, four-cavity molds will be used.
Radius™ Garden selected Clariant China to produce a specially developed
pearlescent lime green masterbatch for the handle. The selected grade of
Santoprene TPE easily accepts the special-effect color. The color gives
Radius™ Garden tools an appealing look that makes them easy to find outdoors
or in the tool shed.
The curved-bow shape of the grip enhances the ability to push the tool when
working. This feature, combined with the soft but non-slip grip, provides
maximum power and comfort and minimizes hand and wrist stress, as it
efficiently transfers energy from the muscles directly to the blades.
For Radius™ Garden, Santoprene™ specialty products from ExxonMobil Chemical
proved a winning choice, with supply chain capability and design, technical
and process support more than meeting its expectations.
Santoprene™ TPE surpassed the ergonomic, aesthetic and processing needs
required for the handles of the new tools.
“The success of our professional garden tools is due in no small part to
the efforts of ExxonMobil Chemical's Santoprene™ specialty products team. They
were involved in every step of the process,” said Bruce Baker of Radius™
Garden. “We have succeeded in creating a comfortable, ergonomically-sound
product to which we proudly affix a lifetime guarantee. We achieved this in
the relatively short time of two years.”
The first products in the new range of Radius™ Garden NRG garden tools became
available in North America early in 2006.
Note to Editors:
1. Santoprene is a trademark of Advanced
Elastomer Systems, L.P., Akron, Ohio.
2. The term "ExxonMobil Chemical" refers collectively to some or all of the
companies affiliated with Exxon Mobil Corporation which have chemical
manufacturing and/or marketing operations around the world.
3. Further information on engineered thermoplastic elastomers and vulcanizates
can be obtained from www.santoprene.com
.
About Santoprene specialty products
Santoprene™ specialty
products, produced by affiliates of ExxonMobil Chemical, are recyclable
elastomers commonly used in appliance, automotive, consumer goods, plumbing,
and other applications. ExxonMobil Chemical’s Santoprene specialty products
are the global leader in engineered TPEs, materials with the performance of
rubber and the processing ease of plastic. Santoprene products are part of a
broad portfolio of elastomers providing innovative elastomeric solutions from
ExxonMobil Chemical. ExxonMobil Chemical is a global leader in technology,
product quality and customer services, with petrochemical manufacturing and/or
marketing operations in more than 150 countries around the world.
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Advanced Elastomer Systems, L.P Media Desk: 330-849-5120
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