Three Things We Learned at THOR's First K-Fair

In October 2025, THOR sent a team out to Dusseldorf, Germany, for our first ever attendance at K-Fair (“The World's No.1 Trade Fair for Plastics and Rubber”).

Given our comprehensive knowledge in the field of thermoplastics and all things flame retardants, the team had a busy time speaking to customers and stakeholders about industry trends, regulatory challenges, formulation quandaries, and of course, how our products can help enable their extraordinary.

As innovators and science-minded people, at THOR we take the time to consider and reflect on new environments, and so our returning colleagues have since compiled three primary learnings from their week at K-Fair:

The Possibilities of PCO 900

The most frequently discussed topic for our team, was the performance and potential of our Aflammit® PCO 900 product, in applications with polyolefins.

Due to the EU tightening rules on polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) under the POPs (Persistent Organic Pollutant) Regulation, typical bromine flame retardants are labelled as a Substance of Very High Concern (SVHC). This will not only have an impact on applications where polybrominated diphenyl ethers are used, but it will also have an indirect impact on all applications, including the using of recycled raw materials.

With the options for effective flame retardants somewhat limited, this is where our Aflammit® PCO 900 becomes a prime option. PCO 900 is a highly effective, halogen-free flame retardant, due to its high phosphorus content. Especially designed for polyolefins (such as PP and PE), it can be used in significantly lower dosages when combined with suitable synergists, while still achieving the highest fire protection ratings and international testing standards.

In particular, our K-Fair visitors were interested to learn that Aflammit® PCO 900, along with our Aflammit® MB (masterbatch) range, offers a particularly high-performance, ready-to-use option, synergised with BASF’s Flamestab® NOR 116. As such, this combination proves an excellent alternative to antimony halogen flame-retardants.

Technical Service Keeping Ahead of Regulatory Change

Regulatory changes are a near-constant obstacle for manufacturers seeking to ensure safer products meeting ever-more stringent requirements.

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) officially listed melamine as a SVHC in December 2022, and dismissed related appeals and legal challenges earlier this year, meaning manufacturers and downstream users of flame retardant materials are needing to find suitable, compliant alternatives. This means that securing a solutions partner with the technical resources and regulatory know-how to navigate further potential regulatory change is a crucial resource.

In addition to raw materials and technical services, THOR’s innovative teams are able to provide our customers with tailormade, advanced previews of their own applications, that we have ‘tweaked’ to account for upcoming regulatory developments. We can then demonstrate how a customer’s product stays at the high quality their consumers require, while ensuring our changes to their formulation adhere to new restrictions or avoid unfavoured labelling requirements.

This is a particular skill of our THOR Flame Retardant teams, requiring the perfect selection from a broad portfolio of halogen-free flame retardants, combined with decades of know-how and product knowledge.

Valuable Industry Touchpoints

Our team were delighted with the experience of attending this year’s K-Fair, and showcasing THOR’s global offering in the world of flame retardants to the plastics and rubber industry. We were able to share THOR’s tailored approach to scientific problem-solving and flame retardant formulation expertise with delegates across multiple sectors, introducing ourselves to new faces and updating familiar contacts with our latest developments.

Whether you’re developing a product from scratch, or looking to optimise an existing formulation, you can leverage THOR’s extensive technical service, regulatory expertise, and end-to-end support, and ensure that Aflammit® flame retardants deliver excellence and peace of mind.