Strategic Review of the European Thermoplastic Elastomers Markets

SUMMARY

Crucial Structural Changes Alter Distribution Patterns in Thermoplastic Elastomers Market

Several momentous structural changes during 2001--2004 in the World thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) market perceptibly modified its distribution and consumer purchasing patterns. Some of these include U.S. companies entering into alliances with European suppliers, Asian organizations continuing to make inroads into the European market and European suppliers entrenching themselves in Asia. These trends have created a more global TPE market as well as multi-region business structures in leading companies.

This Frost & Sullivan analysis provides an overview and update of the European TPE market. This study is segmented by application into automotive, extrusion, consumer goods, regulated products and wire and cable. The research service enables companies to adjust their positioning strategies to benefit from the changing markets and obtain maximum return on investment.

Super-TPV Expand Market Reach of TPEs

With the commercialisation of several new types of thermoplastic vulcanizate that have been grouped together as super-TPVs, manufacturers of higher-end thermoset rubber and thermoplastics are being challenged to retain their market shares. This has opened up opportunities for TPVs in more demanding applications such as auto under-hood, appliance and industrial parts that are subjected to high temperature requirements. They are also expected to tap niche markets such as communications devices and consumer products that are used in harsh environments.

"Super-TPVs such as Zeotherm offer higher heat resistance than conventional TPV and co-polyesters," notes the analyst. "Zeotherm has sustained heat resistance of 150°C and a short-term heat resistance of up to 175°C." To withstand this kind of heat, other materials such as Santoprene and co-polyesters used in under-hood applications have to be incorporated with a heat shield. Elimination of the heat shield is a major advantage of super-TPVs as this helps in reducing the total cost of the system. Zeotherm also offers better over-mould adhesion onto nylon substrates than conventional TPVs.

Replacement of Thermoset Rubber Drives Demand in Key TPE Markets

The automotive industry is the largest end user for TPEs in Europe. The use of thermoset rubbers such as EPDM, polychloroprene and styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) still appreciably outweighs TPE in automotive applications. However, the industry has continued to replace thermoset rubber with TPE since Frost & Sullivan last researched this market in 2002, and this trend is expected to continue in the future. In 2001, TPE represented around 14.0 percent of thermoset rubber (by weight) used in motor vehicles and by 2004, this had increased to 15.2 percent.

"TPE's advantages over synthetic rubber such as recyclability, greater ease of processing and design flexibility are likely to ensure its continued penetration in automotive applications," says the analyst of this research service. "Thermoplastic polyolefin elastomers have also gained an edge over most thermoset rubbers because they offer faster moulding cycles, lower energy consumption, closer tolerances on fabricated parts and lighter weight." These benefits are expected to increase demand for TPEs.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• 1. Executive Summary
  • 1. The TPE Market
    • 1. Introduction and Market Size
    • 2. Growth Opportunities
  • 2. Competitive Factors
    • 1. Competitive Structure
    • 2. Strategic Recommendations
• 2. Applications of Thermoplastic Elastomers
  • 1. Automotive Applications
    • 1. Market Overview
    • 2. Market Drivers
      • a. Weight and Cost Reduction
      • b. Replacement of Thermoset Rubber
      • c. Growth in Demand for Automotive Sealing Systems
      • d. Replacement of Flexible PVC
      • e. Development of New Applications for TPE
      • f. Growth in Co-moulding Technology
      • g. New Product Development
      • h. OEMs are Reducing the Number of Different Materials Used in the Car
      • i. Recycling End-of-life Vehicles Directive
      • j. Growing Interest in TPE by Plastic Processors
    • 3. Market Restraints
      • a. Decline in European Automotive Production
      • b. Continuing Competition from Thermoset Rubber
      • c. Market Saturation for Some Key Applications
      • d. Higher Cost of Some TPE Types
    • 4. Market Forecast
  • 2. Extrusion Applications
    • 1. Market Overview
    • 2. Market Drivers and Restraints
    • 3. Market Forecast
  • 3. Consumer Products
    • 1. Market Overview
    • 2. Market Drivers and Restraints
    • 3. Market Forecast
  • 4. Regulated Products
    • 1. Market Overview
    • 2. Market Drivers and Restraints
    • 3. Market Forecast
  • 5. Wire and Cable Applications
    • 1. Market Overview
    • 2. Market Drivers and Restraints
    • 3. Market Forecast
• 3. Types of Thermoplastic Elastomer
  • 1. Introduction
    • 1. Market Overview
    • 2. Competitive Overview
  • 2. Styrenic Thermoplastic Elastomers
    • 1. SBC Market Overview
    • 2. Market Drivers and Restraints
    • 3. Market Forecast
    • 4. Competitive Structure and Market Share Analysis
    • 5. Producer and Compounder Database
    • 6. Product Database
  • 3. Thermoplastic Polyolefin Elastomers
    • 1. TPO Market Overview
    • 2. Market Drivers and Restraints
    • 3. Market Forecast
    • 4. Competitive Structure and Market Share Analysis
    • 5. Product Database
  • 4. Thermoplastic Vulcanizates
    • 1. TPV Market Overview
    • 2. Market Drivers and Restraints
    • 3. Market Forecast
    • 4. Competitive Structure and Market Share Analysis
    • 5. Supplier Database
    • 6. Product Database
  • 5. Thermoplastic Polyurethane Elastomers
    • 1. TPU Market Overview
    • 2. Market Drivers and Restraints
    • 3. Market Forecast
    • 4. Competitive Structure and Market Share Analysis
    • 5. Supplier Database
    • 6. Product Database
  • 6. Copolyester Elastomers
    • 1. COPE Market Overview
    • 2. Market Drivers and Restraints
    • 3. Market Forecast
    • 4. Competitive Structure and Market Share Analysis
    • 5. Supplier and Product Database
  • 7. Copolyamide Elastomers
    • 1. PEBA Market Overview
    • 2. Market Drivers and Restraints
    • 3. Market Forecast
    • 4. Competitive Structure and Market Share Analysis
    • 5. Supplier and Product Database
• 4. New Market Developments
  • 1. New Products: Super TPV
    • 1. Introduction to Super TPV
    • 2. Market Drivers and Restraints
    • 3. Market Potential
    • 4. Who Will Lead This Market?
    • 5. Super TPV Products and Suppliers
  • 2. Competitive Update
    • 1. Advanced Elastomer Systems
    • 2. DSM
    • 3. DuPont
    • 4. Multibase
    • 5. Teknor Apex
    • 6. Zeon Chemicals
• 5. Market Challenges and Strategies
  • 1. Challenges
    • 1. Industry Challenges
  • 2. Strategic Recommendations
    • 1. Introduction
    • 2. Market Entry Strategies
    • 3. Market Development Strategies
    • 4. Market Penetration Strategies
    • 5. Product Development Strategies
    • 6. Mergers and Acquisitions
  • 3. Frost & Sullivan Award
    • 1. Frost & Sullivan Award for Product Innovation
• 6. Appendix
  • 1. Companies
    • 1. Database of Key Industry Participants
  • 2. Terminology
    • 1. List of Acronyms