Polyone, Merck KgaA To Launch IM3D Technology To Create 3D Surface Imagery

(RTTNews) - PolyOne Corp. (POL), a provider of specialized polymer materials, services and solutions, Wednesday announced that it is collaborating with German drug maker Merck KgaA (MKGAY.PK) to launch IM3D, a new technology enabling manufacturers to realize extraordinary 3D imagery on packaging and consumer electronics.

With IM3D technology, manufacturers can create surfaces that appear to have depth and structure, although they are perfectly flat. At present, the 3D impression is created in just a single step during the injection molding process, compared to previous method of several processing steps. The striking effect turns packaging components, such as covers and wrappers, as well as polymer housings into distinctive eye-catchers.

The company noted that IM3D decoration technology can be incorporated into standard injection molding machine production lines. The technology is made possible by combining Merck KGaA's expertise in development of pigments with the color concentrate formulation expertise of PolyOne.

Michael Heckmeier of Merck KgaA said, "Our objective in the coming years is to jointly launch additional innovative plastics technologies with pearlescent pigments