Product News Release

             Product News Release for GLS Corp. written by Richard Stewart

             

            KRATON® SNORKEL
            FIGHTS JAW FATIGUE

             Innovative "Water-Free" Snorkel Manufacturer Selects
            Thermoplastic Rubber Compounds from GLS Corp.

            CARY, IL -- Design a better snorkel, and the diving industry will beat
            a path to your door. That's happening now at DiVaire, Inc., manufacturer
            of a unique, new snorkel that offers improved comfort, convenience and
            water-free operation. Holding five U.S. patents (and more pending) on the
            high-tech breathing tube, the company selected thermoplastic elastomers
            from GLS Corp. -- Kraton ® (Sun Chemical Co.) and Dynaflex ® -- for
            injection molding of key snorkel components.

            Silicone, typically used in snorkels, was too hard a material for comfort,
            decided Ben Delphia, DiVaire designer and company president. An hour
            of clamping down on a silicone mouthpiece is a sure way to end up with
            jaw fatigue. That, along with other shortcomings of snorkels, prompted
            him to start working on a better design.

            Delphia wanted a material with a softer durometer than silicon can
            provide, and one that is recyclable, which is important to the company
            and to many divers and snorkelers, he explains. Kraton and Dynaflex,
            along with polypropylene, were chosen after a careful examination of
            available materials.

            "I wanted a mouthpiece that was soft and comfortable enough to bite
            down on all you want without any fatigue -- not hard and unforgiving
            like silicone," he recalls. "I found that the Kraton and Dynaflex material
            was ideal. It's almost like having bubble gum in your mouth."

            Delphia notes that GLS was helpful in the selection of the thermoplastic
            rubber compounds needed for the snorkel. "They were very supportive
            of our needs when we were trying different durometers of materials and
            in helping solve some of our processing and molding problems," he says.
            "Some areas of the mouthpiece, for example, have to be very thick, and
            some very thin. GLS helped us get over those early hurdles."

            In addition to working closely with DiVaire in the development of tooling
            and molds for the injection molding of the snorkel components, GLS
            also provided assistance in color matching to achieve the bright "diver's
            yellow" for the mouthpiece and accents, according to Delphia.

            The end result was a snorkel vastly superior to others on the market.
            Designed to keep water out for safer and more relaxing snorkeling, the
            DivAire snorkel incorporates an internal Fluid Pump™ and a two-valve,
            air intake/exhaust system. After a dive, any water left in the snorkel can
            be easily cleared because of the position of the exhaust valve, midway
            up the side of the snorkel. Water only has to travel half as far in the
            DiVaire snorkel before being expelled as in a typical snorkel, which vents
            through the top.

            The same thing applies to exhaled air. CO²-laden, used air is expelled
            out the side, without having to go all the way to the top. Fresh air comes
            in through the top, and the snorkeler is able to inhale more of it. As a
            result, less CO² is retained inside to be rebreathed. The quality of air
            reaching the snorkeler is improved.

            Designer Delphia credits the technical expertise provided by GLS as key
            in achieving the processing flexibility needed for the product's complex
            molding requirements. On the market since mid-January, the DiVaire
            snorkel retails for $60 to $65 and is backed by a lifetime warranty
            against defects in materials and workmanship.

            Swimming is easier with the snorkel, due to its hydrodynamic shape,
            which reduces water resistance. An integrated, mask-strap clip, made
            of Kraton, provides quick release. Plus, the snorkel floats, for easy
            retrieval. It comes in five colors, with yellow mouthpiece and accents.
            All parts are made in the U.S.A., and the snorkel is 99% recyclable.

            For over 50 years, GLS has specialized in marketing and distributing
            thermoplastic elastomers and thermoplastics. Its technical resources
            are available to help customers solve engineering and production
            problems. Products offered by GLS for molding and extruding include
            Kraton, a styrenic block copolymer (a registered trademark of Shell
            Chemical Co.), and Dynaflex and Elastalloy, compounds made with
            Kraton, registered trademarks of Great Lakes Terminal and Transport
            Corp.

            For more information, please contact GLS Corp...
             
             


       
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