Putnam, CT (August 2005) - Effective immediately, Foster Corporation will supply and service all North American medical customers for ARKEMA Inc.'s Pebax® block copolyamide and Rilsan® 11 and 12 polyamide polymers. This extends the partnership established earlier this year which named Foster Corporation as the exclusive North American sales and distribution partner for Pebax® and Rilsan® polymers in the medical markets. As of this announcement, ARKEMA will no longer directly supply or service North American medical customers for these materials, and requests all customers to contact Foster Corporation directly.
Pebax® block copolyamides are plasticizer-free thermoplastic elastomers with intrinsic flexibility, superior torque transference, and resistance to softening in the body. Rilsan® polyamides 11 and 12 are high-performance thermoplastics with unique combinations of thermal, physical, chemical and mechanical properties. These polymers are ideal for medical instrument components, particularly catheter systems.
"During the past six months of our exclusive partnership, Foster Corporation has demonstrated broad and unique capabilities to service the needs of companies in the medical industry," said Ken Rittenhouse, market manager for ARKEMA Inc. "We are very confident that they have the experienced management team, sales staff and technical support to serve all current customers and increase sales in the North America medical markets for our Pebax® and Rilsan® polymers."
"Our unique dedication to serving material requirements of medical customers has resulted in unparalleled sales support and supply logistics, including highly specialized material handling, specifications and lot traceability," said Larry Johnson, Foster Corporation's Vice President of Sales and Marketing. "Pebax® and Rilsan® polymers have proven ideal complements to our comprehensive range of thermoplastic and fluoropolymer solutions for the biomedical markets."