Audia Elastomers Develops Material Solutions for Pet Toys

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Press release: Audia Elastomers

Audia Elastomers, a global supplier of innovative elastomer materials, is meeting the growing needs of the durable pet toy market with an extensive range of leading-edge material solutions. The company provides brand owners with high-performance elastomers that deliver durability, tear strength, high clarity, and adhesion for a range of pet toys including dog chew toys and treats.

The market for safe, durable pet toys continues to grow as changing demographics cause shifts in pet ownership and care trends, according to Anthony Marozsan, market development manager for Audia Elastomers. Millennials are leading the way in pet ownership, comprising 35% of all pet owners, according to the American Pet Products Association. And as household sizes decrease, more people are treating their pets like family members, including a willingness to spend more on premium and custom offerings.

“There is plenty of opportunity and the competition is tight as companies vie for their piece of the $10 billion annual pet accessory market,” explained Marozsan. “As a result, brand owners must continue to differentiate their products so they stand out from the crowd and meet the high standards of today’s pet owners.”

Audia Elastomers’ knowledge base and custom compounding abilities open up the design window for brand owners, according to Marozsan. The company offers customized material solutions such as styrenic block copolymers (SBCs), thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPUs), copolyesters, and thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs) that allow brand owners to position their products at various retail price points from high-end, boutique products to mass market, big box store materials. “We work closely with our customers, utilizing our material know-how and application development expertise to meet the requirements of end-use applications,” said Marozsan.

Audia Elastomers’ materials feature excellent durability across a range of hardness from 30 to 70 Shore A. For example, brand owners may need an ultra-soft material for treat toys and a harder grade for tough, bone products.

The company’s adhesion technology is best-in-class, providing the ultimate in customization – a rigid center and a soft overmold for a range of application needs.  In addition, ultra-tough, clear elastomers allow for unique designs and a wide range of vibrant colors and special effects.

Audia Elastomers’ materials are fully NAFTA sourced, FDA compliant, and BPA-, phthalate- and latex-free. Audia Elastomers’ global manufacturing footprint allows manufacturers the flexibility to produce materials anywhere around the globe with a safe, secure supply base, including FDA food grade-approved materials from its production location in Shenzen, China.

Audia Elastomers provides products to U.S. manufacturers who seek domestically-produced materials and offers reliable supply overseas to manufacturers in China and Southeast Asia. The company has two manufacturing sites in North America, including a state-of-the-art Elastomers Center of Excellence in Lafayette, Ga.

Audia Elastomers is working with many of the industry’s leading brand owners to develop custom material solutions that meet the breadth of market needs in terms of performance and cost.