K 2025 trade fair for plastics & rubber: WACKER presents resource-saving liquid silicone rubber for food applications

• Molded parts made of ELASTOSIL^[i][sup]®[/sup][/i] eco LR 5003 meet food industry guidelines without thermal post-treatment
• Biomethanol-based and therefore resource-saving
• Liquid injection molding process enables cost-efficient high volume production
• Injection molding demonstration during the K 2025 trade fair

WACKER has developed a series of temper-free liquid silicone rubber grades that are particularly suitable for food and sensitive applications. One of these new grades is a biomethanol-based variant. Molded parts made from ELASTOSIL^[sup]®[/sup] eco LR 5003 are resource-saving and meet the guidelines for food contact products even without thermal post-treatment. Lifestyle products, drinking straws, baking tins, dough scrapers and other items can be produced very efficiently and in large quantities with the new grade. The silicone rubber will be showcased at the K 2025 trade fair for plastics and rubber, which takes place in Düsseldorf, Germany, from October 8 to 15. In Hall 6, Stand A10, WACKER will use the material to produce mouthpieces for innovative water bottles.

Drinking bottles designed by air up^[sup]®[/sup], a Munich-based company, are equipped with a special flavor pod that creates a sensory perception. It transforms plain drinking water into different flavors – without any sugar or other additives. The ring-shaped flavor pod is attached to the mouthpiece of the bottle which supports the unique drinking experience known as retronasal perception.

At the K 2025 trade show, WACKER will use its ELASTOSIL^[sup]®[/sup] eco LR 5003 grade to demonstrate the production of the mouthpiece. The non-postcure liquid silicone rubber is particularly suitable for large-scale manufacture of products in the food industry and other sensitive areas. As far as their volatiles content is concerned, molded parts made from such silicones comply with the limits stipulated by the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) even without postcuring. They also meet the requirements of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for food contact products. As a result, production of mouthpieces for air up^[sup]®[/sup] bottles as well as drinking straws, baking tins, dough scrapers and other items is made very efficient. ELASTOSIL^[sup]®[/sup] eco LR 5003 may be additionally postcured in order to achieve even greater strengths

ELASTOSIL^[sup]®[/sup] eco silicone rubber grades are produced in a resource-efficient manner and stem from plant-based methanol derived from non-fossil sources. The production is certified in accordance with the REDcert2 standard, thereby ensuring the traceability of renewable raw materials along the entire production process.

Together with its project partners, WACKER will also demonstrate a special supply chain: the entire production of the air up^[sup]®[/sup] bottles takes place within a radius of 140 km. Production is carried out with a four-cavity mold using cold runner nozzle technology.

WACKER produces the silicones needed for the mouthpiece in Burghausen, Germany; RICO manufactures the mouthpieces and tools in Thalheim/Wels, Austria; and Greiner AG in Kremsmünster, Austria, takes care of the final assembly. Apart from promoting sustainability and guaranteeing a high level of quality, this partnership offers all the advantages of a short, stable supply chain. Indeed a conscious decision by air up^[sup]®[/sup], considering that it focuses on marketing its products across the globe – including on social media and with the participation of well-known influencers.

Visit WACKER at K 2025 in Hall 6, Booth A10, from October 8 to 15.

****

IMAGE CAQPTION:

The key to air up^® water bottles is the innovative mouthpiece made of silicone rubber from WACKER. At its booth at the K 2025 International Trade Fair for Plastics and Rubber, the Group will demonstrate live how ELASTOSIL^[i][sup]®[/sup][/i] eco LR 5003 is used to manufacture the component. (Photo: WACKER)