look what we did!Innovations From Polyurethane Manufacturers

Polyurethane Helps Shoe Manufacturers Reach their Sustainability Goals

Many footwear companies have pledged to reduce waste and their carbon footprint over the coming years. Several have turned to polyurethane to achieve innovative solutions that can help them reach their sustainability goals to accomplish this task.

Shoes Made Solely from Polyurethane

Several footwear brands are now in the business of creating shoes made entirely from polyurethane. Balenciaga, for example, has introduced a shoe called the Zen sneaker. Touted as a leather alternative, the shoe is constructed entirely from polyurethane. 

Simplifying the Supply Chain

On average, most athletic shoes are made using a dozen or more materials. This production process...

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Polyurethane brings ancient architectural details into the 21st century

Architectural details from the distant past are getting an update with molded polyurethane components that make them easier to install and maintain.

Crown molding — the decorative strip around the top of a wall — and columns are two architectural details that trace their lineage back to ancient Egypt. Over the millennia, these details evolved from being made of stone to plaster to wood. Even today, many people like the “finished” look of crown molding or chair railings (molding that goes around the room’s wall at chair height) while columns are used in the exteriors of several American home styles,...

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Polyurethane hits the road in a concept camper

It may just be the perfect time for a concept camper that showcases dozens of innovative technologies — many of them made possible with polyurethane. After all, 2020 has been “The Year of the Road Trip.” While air travel and large hotel chains have suffered during the pandemic, recreational vehicles and camp sites have seen a resurgence in popularity. Interest in outdoor adventures has peaked at a time when families are desperate for time away from home but also cognizant of the need for social distancing. 

The VisionVenture concept camper includes improvements that feature a number of high-performance materials in everything...

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Polyurethane Advances Helicopter Technology

You may already know polyurethane is a smart choice for use in airplane parts. After all, polyurethane is durable and lightweight. But, did you know polyurethane-based parts and components play a key role in helping helicopters take off, fly and land safely? It’s true. The next time you see a helicopter hovering high above, consider just a few of the polyurethane parts on board.

The Seat

What’s that the pilot is sitting on? More than likely, that seat is made out of polyurethane foam. Polyurethane can mold to the body and keep it cushioned and safe at high speeds. A...

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Polyurethane’s Gone Fishin’

Advances in fishing technology are making it easier for avid anglers to reel in those really big catches, and polyurethane often plays a vital role. From rods and reels to fishing line and tackle, you may be surprised to learn how many different products for fishermen frequently contain polyurethane. 

Tackle — Polyurethane is versatile. It can be created to mimic almost any shape. It also can be made in a variety of colors and patterns and to varying degrees of hardness. Thanks to this versatility, polyurethane is a choice material for use in fishing tackle. For example, a brightly-colored polyurethane lure may...

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Polyurethane Fuels Shipping Container Home Craze

Today, retired shipping containers — like the ones found on huge container ships and freight trains used to move cargo around the world—are getting a second life, being used by enterprising builders, architects and would-be homeowners to create stunning one-of-a-kind custom homes. Though at first glance, they may seem quite modular, the design of a modern shipping container home is only limited by the imagination. Under the auspices of trained, professionals, these dwellings can be made habitable and safe with proper ventilation, fire safety and appropriate exits. To help these steel containers make the transition from featureless, industrial vessels into places of cozy respite...

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Polyurethane in the Fight Against the Coronavirus

The novel coronavirus has required an “all hands on deck” approach from both the public and private sector when it comes to fighting the spread of the disease and safeguarding citizens. The polyurethane industry has been no exception. Here are just a few of the ways polyurethane manufacturers from around the U.S. are contributing to the effort.

Mattress Manufacturers

Foam mattresses made with polyurethane account for a large and growing percentage of the mattress market. With the spread of the novel coronavirus, hospitals at or near capacity have been clamoring for badly needed supplies. To meet the need and growing...

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Polyurethane Saddles Poised to Take Over Two-Wheeled Travel

Whether you’re a serious, seasoned, long-distance road cyclist or a shorter-traveling, part-time, two-wheeled commuter, you know that time spent in a bicycle saddle can be — well — tough on the tush.

However, thanks to polyurethane and advances in 3D printing, that may soon be changing.

A New Kind of Carbon® Saddle

Carbon, the company using polyurethane 3D printing to create a new kind of football helmet liner, and the winner of the 2019 Polyurethane Innovation Award, is now teaming up with a major cycling manufacturer in the U.S. to create 3D printed polyurethane bicycle saddles.

The Manufacturing Process

The saddle...

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After the Storm, Polyurethane Snowplows Help Cities Dig Out

During this time of year, many parts of the country experience freezing weather. With plunging temperatures often comes snowfall. Whole cities can grind to a halt under accumulated snow as they wait for teams of small but dedicated crews to dig them out. When winter storms happen, every moment counts. Snowplow drivers often work round-the-clock, relying on equipment made from polyurethane to get the job done. 

Polyurethane Is Highly Customizable

Snowplows and blades — a strip of material running along the length of a metal snowplow — have several advantages when made with polyurethane. Polyurethane is highly customizable; parts made...

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