2008-06-06 Manufacturing News

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SABIC Innovative Plastics Dazzling Resins Bring Yo-Yos to Life

Stunning color and dramatic effects from virtually unbreakable engineered plastics put a new spin on high-end yo-yos for Duncan Toys.

Everyone knows the yo-yo. A toy to some, but the object of seriously intense competitions to many, where contestants fiercely battle it out to be the next world champions. Simple in design and yet a magical, dancing, spinning work of art in the hands of an expert. And thanks to the experts at Duncan Toy Company – “The Original; World’s #1” manufacturer – and SABIC Innovative Plastics, that work of art just got amazingly better.

Improving upon a classic like the yo-yo wasn’t easy, but Duncan Toy Company has successfully created unique and beautiful high-end yo-yos using SABIC Innovative Plastics’ Lexan* Visualfx* resin. This tough, virtually unbreakable engineered plastic – used in car windshields, medical instruments, the interiors of aircraft, and bullet-resistant sheet – is now helping online retailers differentiate their offerings and generate demand for tournament-quality yo-yo models. The “Visualfx” part of the product’s name refers to the awesome color palette this resin family provides, and Duncan chose 12 different Lexan Visualfx resin grades, each combining stunning color and dramatic effects, for the new yo-yo series.

High-Tech Colors Bring Yo-Yos to Life. View High resolution image. photo: SABIC Innovative Plastics

“At the high end of the yo-yo market, retailers are always looking for ways to stand out,” said Mike Burke, sales and marketing manager for Duncan Toy Company. “SABIC Innovative Plastics gave us the huge array of materials we needed to design exclusive yo-yos with specialized aesthetics and the high-impact performance of Lexan polycarbonate. Molded-in effects such as diamond and glow-in-the-dark enable premium pricing and a competitive advantage. Our customers were very happy.”

Duncan Toys’ customers were shown the 12 different Lexan Visualfx resin effects and from those they were able to choose the exact look they wanted. Duncan gave that company exclusive rights to sell the yo-yos molded from that resin grade. Thanks to the upscale aesthetics of Visualfx effects and the high performance of Lexan resin, the program was a great success and Duncan has considered expanding the use of the SABIC Innovative Plastics’ materials into spin tops.

High-Tech Colors Bring Yo-Yos to Life

Visualfx resins combine the high performance of SABIC Innovative Plastics’ engineered plastics with molded-in colors and effects. Custom colors can be incorporated into the resins by the company’s ColorXpress service, which offers precise matching. Molded-in aesthetics avoid the addition of colorants during processing, as well as secondary painting or coating operations. In addition, Duncan’s molder was able to substitute the Visualfx grades for conventional polycarbonate without the need for any equipment or processing adjustments.

Following are some of the Visualfx effects selected by Duncan Toys:

• Diamond: Glass-like particles in a translucent base create a shimmering, jewel effect.
• Enyo: Creates the appearance of moving through a spectrum of colors as the viewing angle changes.
• Luminescent: Soft color pastels by day – glow-in-the-dark at night.
• Illuminate: Transforms invisible light to create a brilliant edge glow effect.

“Marketing to a specialized and discerning customer segment, such as yo-yo collectors and tournament players, requires constant innovation,” said Robert Moran, application development specialist, SABIC Innovative Plastics. “Our Visualfx product line offers manufacturers a new way to make their products stand out and command value-added prices. Our customer’s success is our success, and these resins make it easy to create eye-catching and stylish products that drive strong demand.”

Duncan Toys, a division of Flambeau, Inc., has been selling yo-yos and other skill toys since 1929. The company supplies both mass and specialty retailers with a wide range of products. Customers that participated in the Visualfx resin program are located in Japan, Russia, Canada, and the United States. For more information on Duncan Toys go to the company website.

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