Ascend Performance Materials has received the General Motors 2020 Supplier Quality Excellence Award for its Pensacola, Florida, polyamide 66 plant. The award recognizes GM suppliers who meet or exceed the company’s rigorous quality performance criteria and support multiple functions across GM’s organization.

Ascend, the largest fully integrated producer of polyamide 66 resin, produces materials used to make parts that improve the safety, performance and fuel efficiency of automobiles, from fasteners and electrical connectors to airbags and radiator end tanks.

“Customer-focused is one of our core values at Ascend and it means that everything we do is in service to our customers,” said Phil Jeszke, automotive segment lead at Ascend. “The strength of our relationship with GM is built on partnerships throughout the production chain focused on quality and performance, from the materials to the design and manufacturing.”

This year’s award marks the second consecutive year Ascend has been recognized by GM.

“We strive to be a strategic partner to our customers, helping them drive growth,” said Isaac Khalil, senior vice president for polyamides at Ascend. “We’ve spent the last several years investing in our global footprint, product portfolio and technical resources in order to provide our customers with the materials and support they need. We value the recognition from GM and look forward to continue to support them.”

Masks Are Manufactured in Houston, Texas, With Plans for Additional PPE Applications

Aegle, a high-quality American-made PPE manufacturer and health-tech company, has launched the first N95 and NIOSH certified mask that uses authentication and traceability technology, it announced today. Every box case and lot has an embedded NFC chip to prevent counterfeiting and ensure that every mask sold is trusted, transparent and authentic.

Aegle’s team comprises technologists, industrial designers, and health care experts – including multiple PhDs and experience in national security and technology. Aegle masks are manufactured domestically in the Houston, Texas, metro area and the company has plans to launch and license further PPE applications of its patent-pending authentication and traceability technology.

Masks are available for corporations, businesses, health care institutions, essential workplaces and individuals to purchase on Aegle’s website and Amazon.

“Despite plummeting COVID-19 cases in the US, the world has forever changed as a result of COVID-19 with governments, health care organizations, businesses and consumers now well aware of the need to maintain domestic supply of authentic high-quality masks and PPE”, said Thomas Lopez, Chief Technology Officer at Aegle. “We are actively responding to these needs through our health-tech solutions and our laser focus on innovating and defining the future of high-tech, high-quality protective medical equipment. Our industry-first authentication and traceability technology is the first milestone in our larger mission to make medical protective equipment design safer, transparent and trustworthy.”

Aegle’s N95 mask is designed with careful attention to physical improvements and equipment design for safety and comfort. The masks are made from ultra-lightweight materials that deliver exceptional fit and breathability. Each Aegle N95 mask is designed to effectively secure mask placement, minimize mask movement, and deliver maximum visibility, helping to reduce inhalation exposure to airborne biological particles like COVID-19, Bacillus Anthracis, and Mycobacterium Tuberculosis.

Exclusive Partnerships and Impact

Aegle’s anti-microbial N95 respirator is developed through the company’s exclusive partnership with Ascend Performance Materials. Ascend’s Acteev Protect™ fabric is embedded with active zinc ions that quickly and safety destroy bacteria and other microbes that cause degradation and odor in masks and other articles.

Since its founding in May 2020, Aegle has built strong relationships with industry partners including non-profits Project N95 and Get Us PPE to serve the overarching mission of building resilience into the US supply chains and strategic reserves of PPE. Specific initiatives include:

• Project N95 and the Patriot Military Family Foundation: Aegle donated tens of thousands of masks to the National Guard for the Presidential inauguration in January.
• United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW): Aegle has committed that 100 percent of its employees will be unionized.
• Aegle donated over 14,000 masks for COVID-19 relief in India last month, to combat one of the worst outbreaks globally

Aegle is backed by a team of Silicon Valley technology entrepreneurs and investors. co-founder Andrew Moy said, “Aegle is more than a financial investment. Our team is protecting the security and safety of all Americans by supporting the reshoring of critical manufacturing to the United States. Investing in a domestic tech-based and impact-oriented PPE manufacturer helps America break supply chain bottlenecks that continue to plague the global economy as we recover from the pandemic and ensure that we remain prepared for future health crisis.”

Authenticity and Traceability

The authentication and traceability technology enhances supply chain intelligence to help ensure effective end-user distribution and that PPE is effective and not counterfeit.

Available information will include internal and third-party test data for all materials used in the production of the product, date of manufacturing, expiration date, lot number, and will verify that each box is an official Aegle product. Having a security layer that authenticates that the product was manufactured by Aegle aims to provide transparency to the entire supply chain – distributors, retailers, and end consumers.

Aegle’s first manufacturing and distribution center is located in the new VEnergy 100-acre industrial park near Brookshire in the Houston metro area, currently designated as an economic development HUBZone and Opportunity Zone. The center features 90,000 square feet of manufacturing space and neighbors other major national distribution facilities. Following the launch of its N95 mask, Aegle has plans to expand production and construct new industrial warehouse space by the end of this year. Aegle has capacity to produce over 20 million masks and expects to provide over 100 jobs in the greater Houston area by late 2021.

To learn more and purchase an Aegle mask, please visit aegleco.com.

Launched in Nov. 2020, Ascend’s HiDura PA610 and 612 products are used in a variety of consumer goods, industrial, renewable energy, automotive and electric vehicle applications.

“Exceptional ductility, UV weatherability and hydrolysis resistance give HiDura resins and engineered plastics reliable, long-term performance in some of the harshest conditions,” said Kaan Gunes, business manager for HiDura at Ascend.

Gunes cited applications in solar photovoltaic supports, battery seals and brush bristles to illustrate the versatility and durability of HiDura. “Each of these parts faces extreme conditions, whether the 25 years a solar PV installation will be exposed to the elements or the constant contact with corrosive chemicals inside a battery cell. The various grades we developed are designed to improve the reliability of our customers’ products.”

Ascend, which is the largest fully integrated producer of polyamide 66 resin, used its extensive polymerization knowledge to expand capacity at its Greenwood facility.

“We have been polymerizing PA66 in Greenwood for decades,” said Michael Walters, senior site director for Ascend in Greenwood. “Our people understand how to consistently produce high-performance, high-quality materials safely and were excited to see the success of HiDura build off their work.”

Ascend continues to expand its HiDura grades to meet the growing needs of its customers. To learn more about the grades available, visit ascendmaterials.com/HiDura.

 2020 Sustainability Report highlights emissions reduction strategy and other initiatives

Ascend Performance Materials today published its latest sustainability report highlighting the company’s performance and initiatives across three pillars: Empowering People, Innovating Solutions and Operating Without Compromise.

The company, which is the largest fully integrated producer of polyamide 66 resin, announced in the report an aggressive goal of reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2030.

The report, Empowered People, features stories of Ascend employees who raised their hands and advocated for a sustainable initiative, from Rachell Gold’s advocacy for diversity and inclusion to Andy Leigh’s effort to create post-industrial and post-consumer recycled polyamide products.

“In our 2018 report, we said we have a responsibility to lead the industry in sustainability,” said Chris Johnson, Ascend director of sustainability. “Despite the challenges in 2020, people across Ascend played an active role in advancing our efforts.”

In addition to employee-driven success stories, the report details the company’s initiatives and innovations around sustainability.

“Our report highlights the work we are doing to fulfill that commitment,” said Johnson. “Whether it’s the nitrous oxide abatement project in Pensacola, Florida, the solar power purchasing agreement for our plant in Chocolate Bayou, Texas, or the cogeneration units in Decatur, Alabama, we are making considerable investments to reduce our greenhouse gas footprint.”

The report mirrors Ascend’s purpose statement – to create performance materials that improve the quality of life today and inspire a better tomorrow – announced last year, said Phil McDivitt, Ascend’s president and CEO. “Sustainability sits at the heart of our purpose, and it is exciting to see our company mature so quickly in such a vital effort.”

Ascend’s sustainability report can be read at ascendmaterials.com/sustainability.

After settling in, Sunny quickly began doing research on the customers in Taiwan. She thought of every reason that an office there could succeed, including how local customers prefer calling over sending an email to ask a question and that many prefer to speak Hokkien.

She compiled her research and submitted a proposal to increase sales in Taiwan by nearly 40%.

“Yes, we are selling a product, but being customer-focused goes beyond that to show we truly care about their business,” says Sunny. “I found out how they prefer to communicate and which language would build a better customer relationship.”

By recognizing these customer preferences, Sunny met her numbers. She grew the business by 38% in a single year.

With business growing, Alan Lee, located in Singapore, began working with Sunny as a technical sales and technology specialist.

“Sunny has a quote she repeats at work, ‘Do what you think is needed to support our customers,’” says Alan. “She challenges me every day to think how we can make our products and services better for our customers, which ultimately helps Ascend grow in this region.”

Alan says Sunny is always encouraging and putting her full trust in him. “It’s a strong motivation knowing that my supervisor wants me to be successful and trusts the decisions I make,” says Alan.

Living Ascend values

In 2018, Ascend established the company’s core values: one Ascend, we care, customer focused, better every day and agile. Sunny incorporates all the values, but especially identifies with better every day.

“In my life, better every day is not just words,” says Sunny. “It’s a challenging perspective in life that everyone should have. Every day I find a new way to get better and to make the company better. The only way to get better is if you challenge yourself and that’s what I do every day. It’s how I work and live.”

With Sunny’s determination and customer focus, she received the Best Employee in Asia award in 2018 and 2019 – the only employee to be given this award two consecutive years.

Sunny shares these accomplishments with her family. “I tell my two sons there’s always a way to make yourself better every day,” says Sunny.  

As Sunny continues to find ways to support the company, she is working on her next proposal on how to build the business.

Ten years ago, Jay Blankenship was finishing his shift in the ADN unit in Decatur as fierce storms blew through northern Alabama. He had heard reports that Milton, where he lived with his two sons, had been affected. Jay was relieved his children were safe, but eager to get home to begin any cleanup that might be waiting for him.

But when he turned his truck onto his street, he was unprepared for what he found. Or more specifically, what he didn’t find.

“My house was gone,” Jay says. “It was completely destroyed. I had lost everything.”

His home had been leveled by one of more than 175 tornadoes that struck the region on April 27, 2011, an EF-5 twister blowing 210 miles per hour.

As was customary, Ascend employees – even those who had been affected – passed the hat and picked up hammers to begin the relief efforts. But this time, they banded together to organize their efforts beyond a single event.

That week, they founded the Ascend Cares Foundation.

Ten years of giving back

"Employees quickly collected money as a way to help those that had damage to their homes or no homes at all," says Tom Boggs, senior director of the compounding center of excellence and the Ascend Cares Chairman. "It is the same giving spirit that we see in our employees today. This is why we are able to make a difference in the lives of others and our communities."

In the subsequent decade, team members have kept contributing to the foundation, now a global organization that has helped thousands of people around the world since 2011. Still employee-led, the foundation continues to support the Ascend family in times of need while also giving community service scholarships, offering Community Impact Grants to support employee volunteer efforts, and leading major site-wide volunteer projects. Every dollar raised is matched by Ascend.

A million-dollar goal

At Ascend, we care for each other and our communities. And this year, Ascend Cares has big plans.

"A decade ago, we created a ripple effect by joining together as Ascend Cares,” says Rachell Gold, the executive director of the foundation. "Now we have the opportunity to turn those efforts into big waves that can help cause real change in our communities."

To mark the anniversary, Ascend Cares has set a goal to invest $1 million back into our communities through site projects, Rachell says. To kick off the efforts, the foundation, through site teams, will fund $100,000 for signature key partner projects across our sites to support local organizations.

Meanwhile, Jay says he is still grateful for the support he received from colleagues 10 years ago. “Ascend helped me so I could rent a place to live, buy clothes and other things that my two sons and I needed to get set back up," says Jay. "I was proud to work for a company that cares about their employees here at work and at home."

Bunzl will distribute the Acteev Protect™ Nonwoven Mask, a reusable general purpose mask that features powerful antiviral and antibacterial properties. Acteev technology embeds active zinc ions in a polymer matrix which destroys microbes, deactivates many viruses and eliminates bacteria and fungi.

Recent testing on Acteev fabric completed at the University of Cambridge has demonstrated that Acteev technology deactivates the virus that causes COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, with greater than 99.9% efficacy. Ascend has submitted several masks designs to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to obtain the appropriate regulatory clearances to make specific claims regarding the technology’s antiviral properties in the United States.

Carlos Green, Director General of Bunzl de México, says the company is pleased to bring products featuring better safety and protection to the Mexico market. 

“Our customers are more focused than ever before on doing business safely, and Acteev masks offer an added level of protection in the workplace,” he said. “We’re excited to offer our customers this premium product that provides some of the best protection available.”

In addition to antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial protection, the washable, reusable masks are lightweight, breathable and odor-fighting, making them comfortable to wear during a long shift at work or for outdoor workout.

“Workers in industrial settings, such as chemical and food processing plants, and convenience stores and other retail outlets deserve the right protection as they keep society and the economy moving in Mexico,” said Juan Toro, Ascend’s principal business development leader for Acteev in the Americas. “We are proud to partner with Bunzl to help deliver a reusable mask that provides both antiviral properties as well as an opportunity reduce the number of masks consumed, saving the companies money.”

Acteev Protect shows promise for use beyond masks, according to Ascend. The technology was originally developed for workout wear, and now the company is working textile applications ranging from gloves to scrubs to high-end athleisure.

Bunzl has more than 100 warehouses serving grocery, retail, cleaning and healthcare businesses in North America. With more than 6,500 employees and 400,000-plus supply items, their worldwide sales exceed $11 billion.

Acteev Protect masks are available for purchase at https://www.bunzlmexico.mx/articulos-para-combatir-covid/.

In 2020 and early 2021, Ascend purchased its compounding facility in Suzhou, two Italian manufacturers specializing in PA66, PA6 and masterbatches, and a French company specialized in flame-retardant compounds. The company also officially launched its HiDura™ long-chain polyamides and Acteev™ antimicrobial plastics, fibers and fabrics.  

With its expanded portfolio and manufacturing footprint, Ascend aims to fully serve the growing e-mobility, electrical and electronics, and consumer segments.  

“Much of our projected demand growth will be in China and Asia,” said Kevin Wu, senior vice president and managing director of Asia for Ascend. “Our facility in Suzhou will make us more responsive to our customers’ growth and the growing on-site innovation center will allow us to quickly innovate and test new materials for specific customer applications.” 

Ascend operates under a five-year plan with the strategy for the current plan focused on transforming the company into a more global, diversified and reliable supplier to its customers. 

“Our investments over the past year have brought us closer to our customers in Asia and Europe, broadened our product portfolio in PA66 and specialty polyamides, and expanded our technical resources to work more closely with customers,” said Phil McDivitt, president and CEO of Ascend. 

The company is featuring its expanded portfolio, including a new line of UL yellow card-certified Starflam® flame-retardant polyamides, a high-temperature Vydyne® XHT, a portfolio of HiDura LCPAs, and apparel and masks made with Acteev at Chinaplas 2021 in Shenzen at the SWECC booth 17L40 from 13-16 April. 

SDI, a leader in digital supply chain services and solutions, has added a new line of antimicrobial protective gear to its PPE As-a-ServiceSM offering. Acteev Protect™ products are targeted toward educators, retail employees, manufacturing workers and others who need a face covering that stays comfortable and maintains freshness when worn for the duration of a shift. 

The Acteev Protect line includes face coverings that meet the new ASTM International standards for masks. SDI selected Acteev Protect because of this combination of performance and wearability, said Jim Owens, SVP at SDI. “Ensuring customers have access to PPE is essential. Teachers, retailers and production line workers -- who work in close proximity or in public-facing positions -- deserve masks that are comfortable and breathable,” Owens said. “With antimicrobial and antibacterial properties to keep them clean, Acteev Protect face coverings give wearers extra confidence and peace of mind that their masks will last and stay fresh.” 

Acteev™ is a patent-pending technology that embeds zinc ions in a polymer to create long-lasting antimicrobial properties. Products made with Acteev are protected from odor-causing bacteria and fungi and are abrasion-resistant, soft and durable. Because the zinc ions are embedded during the polymerization process, articles made with Acteev retain their antimicrobial efficacy for the life of the product. 

Acteev Protect’s reusability is a sought-out feature by those concerned with sustainability, according to Dr. Lu Zhang, Ascend’s VP of Acteev. “More than 94 million masks are sent to landfills each week,” Zhang said. “Acteev’s zinc ion technology makes our masks self-cleaning and reusable. And if they get dusty or soiled, then can be washed.” 

Darayus Pardivala, the president of the Americas division of Sulzer Rotating Equipment Services, purchased the masks for employees at all 32 of the company’s locations in North and South America. “They’re much easier to breathe through compared to what we had in the past, there’s an added level of protection [for the masks] and our employees are much more comfortable,” Pardivala said. “The pushback we had in the past about wearing masks is completely gone.” 

For more information on this product line in the PPE As-a-Service supply chain solution, contact Jim Owens at jim.owens@sdi.com. 

With a book in hand, Natasha Dean sits at her desk examining the information on each page. This is the fourth Code of Federal Regulations chapter in six months Natasha has read about U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations. Ascend has a new specialty chemical product to put on the market and it is her job to make sure it complies with government requirements. Natasha turns the page as she figures out how the technology will fit in the EPA regulations puzzle to produce safe and superior products for our customers.

New products prompt many questions. How does it work? What material is it made of? How can this benefit our customers and the industry? Natasha, product stewardship manager, needs this information to help bring our products to market.

“I first meet with the specialty chemicals team to learn about the product,” says Natasha. “I apply what I already know and think about how our product would fit into EPA regulations.”

When a product doesn’t meet regulations, Natasha breaks the news to the team – and then works with them to make the required changes. “There’s a difference between a bad and a good product steward,” says Natasha. “A bad product steward says ‘no’ and doesn’t tell you why. I tell you ‘no,’ and offer options that meet the regulatory requirements.”

This approach was seen when the specialty chemicals team came to Natasha last year to discuss a new product. After research, Natasha learned the team’s approach did not meet regulatory requirements. Rather than scrap the project, she helped the team find a new market for the chemical. The result is FlexaTrac®-ACM-P300, an EPA-registered octane enhancer fuel additive.
“While a product might not fit one requirement, it may fit another giving us a different route to market the technology,” says Natasha. “I’m here to create opportunities for our products.”

That commitment to rigorous scrutiny combined with customer-focused problem solving is what makes Natasha so successful, says Ascend’s VP of ESSH Paul Cartlidge. “Natasha is our conscience within Ascend,” he says. “She navigates through regulatory processes to make sure we are compliant with regulations. Natasha has been essential in the globalization of our products.”  

One of Natasha’s greatest challenges came in the spring of 2020, when third party testing showed that Ascend’s Acteev™ technology, which embeds zinc ions into the nylon 6,6 polymer, could be useful in helping fight the COVID-19 pandemic. The company prototyped and tested a surgical mask.

Natasha quickly began learning the U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulations. “Because we were seeking to market Acteev as a medical product, it required FDA approvals,” says Natasha. In less than a month, Ascend created Acteev Biodefend and filed its first 510(k) submission – a notification to the FDA of intent to market a medical device.

Success as a product steward demands close relationships with many partners throughout the company. One of Natasha’s closest collaborators is Ascend’s assistant general counsel, Adel Sander.

“With new and existing products, there is a technology side and a risk side,” says Adel. “Natasha and I work together on how we can explain the products to the agencies. She has an uncanny ability to translate highly complicated information to help me understand so we can make a whole decision.”

Natasha ensures our products are compliant with U.S. and global regulations and leave our sites safely. “I want our products to succeed,” says Natasha. “A part of being successful is creating opportunities and not giving up.”