Degussa Superabsorbent Polymers Celebrates Decade Of Innovation 

Favor Pac 500 Series, Fifth Generation Of Food-Grade SAP 

GREENSBORO, N.C., July 24, 2007 – Degussa, one of the leading producer of food-grade superabsorbent polymers (SAP), is celebrating 10 years of innovation in the food packaging industry by doing what it always has – improving its superabsorbent polymers for use in safe, consumer-friendly food packaging.  

The company’s Creasorb unit is now offering the fifth generation of its trend-setting Favor Pac  Series, and is spending even more time and effort to develop a sixth generation for its customers.

 “Degussa is a leading supplier of SAP into the food packaging market for a number of reasons, including strong research and development, unparalleled market knowledge, and innovative solutions to the needs of our customers,” said Bobby Mitra, Business Director for Degussa’s North American Creasorb business. “By constantly improving our product and by listening intently to our customers, we intend to remain the leading supplier of SAP.”  

He notes that Degussa’s fifth generation food contact substance Favor Pac 500 is used as an absorbent medium in pads used for packaging everything from cubed tomatoes and fresh-cut fruits and vegetables to whole berries, meat, poultry, and fresh or frozen fish fillets.  

The company's first generation Favor Pac SAP was used by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to develop test protocols that are now required in the industry, Mitra adds. “Favor Pac – which absorbs 50 times its weight in fluid, retains fluid under pressure, and continues to absorb and retain fluids in the package for more than a week – has become the benchmark for the food-grade SAP category,” said Mitra. “The FDA approved our first product after extensive research and testing by chemists, toxicologists and consultants, and it has become the standard of the industry.”  

Degussa’s proven record of innovation is often cited by customers as one of the reasons for its success. “Degussa is not the new kid on the block,” said Chris Wren, Global Business Leader, Water Blocking & Power Cable Materials at NEPTCO Inc., a firm that engineers materials for commercial, industrial and military applications. “They are the pros. They have had more than a decade of experience in the business. Their product is home grown, like many of ours.”  

Robert Knorr, president of Aberdeen, N.C.-based International Tray Pads – whose absorbent packaging products are used by major grocery companies and food processors around the world – adds that Degussa SAP is known for innovation in the marketplace.

“Degussa keeps working on improving their product and continuing their research and development to benefit their customers,” he says. “They constantly strive to bring improvements to the marketplace.”

Creasorb is a leader in the research and development of new and advanced superabsorbent polymer technologies. It provides fluid management solutions to the agricultural, food, cable and fire protection industries, along with other non-hygiene areas.

Degussa: Creating Essentials™
Degussa Corporation is part of Degussa GmbH – a wholly owned subsidiary of the RAG Group. Degussa GmbH is the global market leader in specialty chemicals. Its business is creating essentials: innovative products and system solutions that make indispensable contributions to its customers’ success. In fiscal 2006 around 36,000 employees worldwide generated sales of 10.9 billion euros and operating profits (EBIT) of more than 870 million euros.