Compounding company Continental Compounders has expanded its range and product offering by adding polypropylene and nylon (PA66 and PA6) to its local compound range.

“We have been manufacturing polyvinyl chloride (PVC) compounds for various industry segments for the past 12 years. We are very proud to be in the position where we are now able to expand our service offering to our new and existing customers with a new range of engineering polymers that consist of local content,” says Continental Compounders CEO George Dimond.

He notes that adding this new line of com-pounds to the company’s product range is in line with its commitment to provide quality and innovative products and services to industry.

Dimond explains that the new compounds will come in different variations, such as in 20% to 50% mineral filled talc and calcium carbonate; 20% to 50% glass fibre reinforced; flame retardant halogen and halogen-free system; concentrates and master batches; and combination filled grades, such as mineral filler and glass fibre, flame retardant and glass fibre, impact modifier and glass fibre.

He also adds that customer service and prod-uct quality are of utmost importance to the company. To this end, the company has made a significant financial investment into expanding and upgrading its specialised, technical service laboratory aimed specifically at product testing and new product development for both local and international customers.

“We have invested a significant amount of technical innovation and intellectual capital into this highly geared laboratory in order to offer our customers world-class technical service, research development and a continuous supply of top-quality compounds,” highlights Dimond.

As part of its efforts to meet the demand for engineering polymers, the company has opened a specialised production site for engineering polymers, situated in Westmead, KwaZulu-Natal.

“The expanded testing facility is capable of performing various new tests in the engineering polymer field, which include melt flow index; vicat; ash content; and heat deflection temperature,” he states.

Continental Compounders is also committed to the principles and requirements of the International Standard, ISO 9001:2008, and manufactures to ISO quality management systems, which ensures that it maintains the highest standards at all times.

The company is also the founding members of the Southern African Vinyls Association and supports the association’s drive towards international best practice for PVC products and processes. These include the safe use of additives, notably heavy metal free stabilisers and pigments, expanding recycling capacity and programmes, and developing new and sustainable applications in PVC.

“This has been a dream that has long been in the making. We are driven by the pursuit of local content, with the resultant beneficiation of local resources. “We are thrilled about expanding our product offering and range of polymers to our customer bases, in addition to growing an already impressive export base,” he mentions.