Iltar-Italbox closely monitors emerging application developments which, thanks to the unique properties of expanded polypropylene (EPP), are opening up new opportunities for innovative and highly specialized solutions.
Thanks to its properties, EPP (Expanded Polypropylene) is a suitable material for the design of components across a wide range of industries, beyond Mobility and reusable packaging.
Its key characteristics — light weight, resistance to multiple impacts, structural strength, thermal and acoustic insulation, buoyancy, excellent resistance to chemicals and flames — make it an ideal material for applications in sectors such as:
Railway, Marine, Agriculture, Sports, Design, Horeca, HVAC, and many others.
AVIATION / DRONES
Light weight, structural performance, and impact resistance make EPP an ideal material for civil aviation, defense applications, and the production of both professional and recreational drones.
HVAC
The properties of EPP make it the ideal choice for improving energy efficiency and air quality in HVAC and mechanical ventilation systems (MVHR/VMC).
A well-engineered design that fully exploits the material’s characteristics can deliver several advantages:
- Reduced number of components: By manufacturing the structural body in EPP, there is no need for an additional insulation layer, while other internal components can be integrated directly into the material.
- Thermal insulation: EPP minimizes heat transfer, contributing to improved indoor air quality and energy efficiency.
- Acoustic insulation: It significantly reduces the noise perceived outside the unit, generated by internal components such as motors, compressors, and fans.
- Light weight: Lower system weight facilitates handling and installation, improving installation efficiency.
- Assembly optimization: Wiring and functional components can be housed directly within the EPP shell through integrated slots, interlocks, and undercuts molded into the expanded material. This reduces assembly time and costs while increasing production-line efficiency.
- Hygiene, washability, and durability: EPP ensures long-term cleanliness, resistance to aging, and easy maintenance.
- Impact protection: EPP is designed to absorb impacts, ensuring the durability and safety of HVAC components during installation and operation.
- Sustainability: EPP is 100% recyclable and can be produced with up to 30% recycled content, helping reduce environmental impact and improve the overall carbon footprint of production. Additional benefits derive from the reduced weight of products placed on the market compared with traditional technologies.
HORECA
EPP food containers, designed for transporting hot or cold food, are ideal for restaurants, bars, catering services, and take-away businesses, offering numerous advantages:
- Light weight: A fundamental feature for catering operations where containers are handled daily.
- Thermal performance: Thanks to its excellent thermal insulation properties, EPP maintains food temperature for several hours.
- Washable: Can be cleaned both by hand and in dishwashers, ensuring the hygiene standards required in the food industry.
- Structural versatility: Effective design enables the creation of containers tailored to customer needs, with ergonomic handles, closures, and internal dividers for optimal product organization.
- Food-contact compliant: Suitable for direct food contact applications.
- 100% recyclable: Helps reduce environmental impact and improve the overall carbon footprint of production, also thanks to the lower weight of products compared with traditional solutions.
Similarly, versatility and robustness make it possible to produce objects for the thermo-hydraulic sector, design or even promotional items or toys.
