At CES 2025, Covestro LLC unveiled new digital simulation tools designed to optimize heat management in components made from its Makrolon® TC thermally conductive polycarbonate materials. The company’s high-fidelity simulation approach improves prediction accuracy for injection-molded heatsink performance by accounting for directional thermal conductivity from fiber filler orientations using micromechanics and computational fluid dynamics (CFD).

Additionally, Covestro introduced the Makrolon® TC Heatsink Screener, a web-based tool leveraging AI technology that allows customers to virtually test heatsink designs using various Makrolon® TC grades and compare them against traditional die-cast aluminum solutions. The tool can also suggest optimized design configurations to balance thermal management with weight and cost benefits.

The new digital capabilities particularly target automotive lighting applications, where Covestro sees significant opportunities for weight and cost reduction through the replacement of metal components. The thermally conductive polycarbonate materials and associated design tools are also applicable across other electronics applications requiring efficient heat management. www.covestro.us

Roechling Industrial’s portfolio of stock items now includes the Röchling-ReLoop® product family. For the first time, extruded and pressed products made from recyclates from the company’s sustainable portfolio are now available directly from stock.

Materials now available from stock include:

• Polystone® P (homopolymer) PIR
• Polystone® G PIR
• Foamlite® PIR
• Sustarin® PIR
• Polystone® M AST PIR
• Polystone® M PIR
• Polystone® D PIR

These products are derived from residual pieces from production and customers that are taken back and processed into recyclates for reuse. www.roechling.com/us/industrial

Pneumatic tubing carries pressurized air to valves, actuators, cylinders and other pneumatic components to make machines run.

HD Ether-PUR 95 is also well suited for companies servicing their own equipment. Finger Lakes Extrusions has put the tubing to use it their own conveyor blow-off table, which transfers finished tubing into the packaging.

HD Ether-PUR 95 is made from an ether-based polyurethane resin. The urethane tubing is low cost and easy to use, replacing alternative materials like reinforced rubber, steel and rigid plastic.

The tubing can withstand pressure and impact, is easy to route through tight turns and narrow spaces and can be used with simple push-to-connect fittings, eliminating the need for clamps. Additionally, HD Ether-PUR 95 is also food grade compliant for use in food processing and packaging applications.

Size, length, color, imprinting and packaging customizations are available for customers. www.fingerlakesextrusion.com

This 4-micrometer ultra-thin polyimide film follows the success of a 5-micrometer ultra-thin film. Polyimide films are essential materials in the electronics, aerospace and automotive industries due to their exceptional heat resistance and strength. 

Most polyimide films are produced in thicknesses ranging from 12.5 to 25 micrometers. PI Advanced Materials is now the only manufacturer worldwide offering a 4-micrometer polyimide film produced by a non-stretching process.

These ultra-thin polyimide films are essential for developing lightweight, compact electronic devices such as smartphones, high-performance displays and wearable technology. The 4-micrometer film, which is approximately 1/25th the thickness of a human hair, is both lightweight and flexible, making it ideal for miniaturizing components for flexible display panels. These ultra-thin films reduce the thickness and weight of high-definition display panels while enhancing electric vehicle battery efficiency through weight reduction. www.kynar.com