Case Study
Application Example: Lighter, More Grippable Products Thanks to Polycork
The challenge:
A customer develops hiking poles for the sports and leisure market. While the standard TPE grips used to date met the basic technical requirements, they fell short in several areas: When hands became sweaty or wet, grip reliability decreased noticeably; the weight exceeded the target value for the product line; and visually, the product differed little from competing products in the same price segment. In addition, end customers were increasingly demanding more sustainable materials—an aspect that standard TPE could not address.
The solution:
In collaboration with Godiplast, a Polycork formulation is being developed for the handle component and tailored to the customer’s existing injection molding system. In this process, the Shore hardness and cork content are adjusted so that the mechanical requirements (abrasion resistance, long-term elasticity) are met without losing the characteristic look and feel of cork. The transition requires no new equipment; only an adjustment of the process parameters is needed.
Implementation:
Following an initial sample run and joint testing of grip performance under wet conditions, the formulation was fine-tuned over two iterations. Production approval was granted after eight weeks of development.
The results:
| Criterion | Results |
|---|---|
| Feel & Comfort | Soft touch, ergonomic, pleasantly warm |
| Safety | Slip-resistant even when wet |
| Durability | Abrasion-resistant, resistant to sweat and UV |
| Sustainability | Significant reduction in fossil-based plastics |
| Production | Easy implementation in injection molding without extra cost |
Standard TPE Handle
Smooth surface
Higher density
Polycork Handle
Visible cork
texture; lower density
Same cross-section, different structure
Conclusion
The project demonstrates how Polycork can be used in handle components to address three requirements at once: weight reduction, improved tactile feel under real-world conditions, and a credible sustainability story—all without investing in new production technology.
Are you developing a similar product?
Request a sample here, and let’s work together to find the right formula!
Developed by Godiplast
—the specialists in engineering compounds