To further exhibit the innovative uses of Eastman Tritan™ copolyester for housewares and small appliances, Eastman Chemical Company is showcasing two new applications made with the material from celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck’s line, W.P. Appliances, Inc.
Blender
The new applications — a high-end blender and a food steamer — will be on display at Eastman’s booth at the 2013 International Home & Housewares Show (IHHS) from March 2 to 5 in Chicago. Both products are made with Tritan, a new-generation copolyester that provides toughness, dishwasher durability and clarity, and is free of bisphenol A (BPA).
“We looked to Eastman Tritan™ copolyester because of the advantages the material offers for our customers,” said Mike Sanseverino, executive vice president, W.P. Appliances, Inc. “For these applications, we needed a material that was BPA-free, had toughness, glasslike clarity and dishwasher durability. These attributes parallel the high quality standards that are synonymous with the Wolfgang Puck brand.”
The 1.87-horsepower 1400-watt Electric Power Blender’s 68-ounce blending jar is made with Eastman Tritan™ copolyester, providing the toughness necessary in a product that is constantly handled and frequently can be dropped. Tritan also offers superior clarity, allowing chefs to clearly see the foods they are blending.
The 3-quart steaming trays on W.P. Appliances’ Rapid Steamer also are made with Eastman Tritan™ copolyester and contain removable stainless steel inserts that come in a three-tier configuration. The heat resistance of Tritan allows the trays to stand up to repeated dishwashing. The product uses a steam-injection technology in place of the standard steamers that boil water in a tray, found in most food steamers currently available.
“Eastman’s engineers provided technical expertise and advice to manufacturers from W.P. Appliances regarding the shapes and molding processes for their new product line, which helped demonstrate the processing advantages of Eastman Tritan™ copolyester,” said Marty Boykin, Ph.D., global business manager, durables business unit, Eastman Chemical Company. “Working together collaboratively from the start of the development process helps ensure that both companies’ high standards are met.”
W.P. Appliances and its customers have been pleased with the quality Eastman Tritan™ copolyester brings to small appliances, and the company is planning to use the material in more products under the Wolfgang Puck brand.
“Based on material clarity and the toughness exhibited in internal company testing, we plan to migrate additional products in our product line to Eastman Tritan™ copolyester, with the goal of using the material for 100% of the line,” Sanseverino said. “As we’ve begun to migrate other products, we’ve found that molding Tritan has been effortless, with only slight adjustments to existing equipment and processes.”
The Electric Power Blender and Rapid Food Steamer are available for purchase from the HSN. To learn more about the applications from W.P. Appliances that are made with Eastman Tritan™ copolyester, visit Eastman Chemical Company at Booth N7167 during IHHS.