Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • Middle East Foam & Polyurethane
  • UTECH Asia/PU China
  • UTECH Europe
  • UTECH Las Americas
Subscribe
  • My Account
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Coronavirus
  • News
    • Asia
    • Americas
    • Europe
    • M & A
    • Financial results
    • Automotive
    • Introducing UTECH Southeast Asia 2022
      PU for rechargeable electrostatic face masks
      Stellar Q4 performance saves Wanhua 2020 earnings
      2020 proved fruitful for Vitafoam Nigeria
    • Mlily to increase US market share following anti-dumping duties
      US footwear imports up 25% in November 2020
      Introducing UTECH Southeast Asia 2022
      PPG buys polyurea company Versaflex
    • Bosnian producer to invest in new PU panel factory
      Covestro wins ISCC Plus certificate for Krefeld MDI
      Car sales down 25% in Western Europe in 2020
      Plixxent joins PU Europe
    • PPG buys polyurea company Versaflex
      Recticel buys FoamPartner
      Recticel upgrades Q3 outlook despite raw material tightness
      Covestro broadens PU portfolio with DSM purchase
    • Mlily to increase US market share following anti-dumping duties
      Stellar Q4 performance saves Wanhua 2020 earnings
      2020 proved fruitful for Vitafoam Nigeria
      Perstorp granted new credit facility
    • Car sales down 25% in Western Europe in 2020
      Patchy coronavirus effects hit global car sales in November
      November continues fall in Western Europe's car sales
      Antolin's business improved in Q3 2020
  • Data
  • Information
    • Country Overview
    • Market Sector overviews
    • Technical articles
    • Company profiles and strategies
    • China’s PU industry on the path to recovery; plans for technology upgrades
      Chinese cold chains grow bigger
      Flexible foam rises to challenges in the Middle East and Africa
      Life at the cross-roads: what does the GCC offer PU?
    • Europe's flexible foam makers face rising prices as outages hit markets
      Western European car registrations rebound slowed in September
      Western European car registrations regained some ground in August
      Western European Car registrations rebound continued in July
    • Take out the VOC with hybrid release agents
      Batteries give pultrusions power
      Seeing a way through VOC and FOG
      Aromatic polyols for simpler rigid PU formulations
    • Hennecke and Frimo: an automotive partnership
      Pushing ahead: AutoRIM drives KM’s UK growth
      BASF opens it first ‘Creation Center’ in Mumbai with a PU twist
      Persistence pays off for CTM
  • Events
    • Exhibitions
    • Conferences
    • Webinars / Livestreams
    • Become a Speaker
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Issues
  • Subscribe
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. News
July 11, 2005 12:00 AM

These horses are well-heeled

Utech Staff
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print

    By Rhoda Miel, UT Akron BureauKasota, Minnesota-Injection moulder Rolco Inc. is banking on a horseshoe of a different colour.The Kasota, Minnesota-based firm has added a new two-shot press and annealing ovens to begin making a thermoplastic polyurethane horseshoe that aims to become the equivalent of a designer sports shoe for the equine set."I can't help but think that if I were a horse, I think I'd prefer one of these to those iron things," said Mark McCourtney, vice president of sales and marketing.The two-colour shoe, made with special blends of TPU engineered by Huntsman Corp. to provide stability and flexibility, is the first two-shot polymer shoe available in North America, said Larry Schlasinger, director of Easywalker USA llc. Chetek, Wisconsin-based Easywalker is the firm that hired Rolco.The vast majority of horseshoes sold in the United States are the same iron design that have shod horses for centuries. But, with an annual sales base estimated at $80 million, the horseshoe business is big."The market seems huge," McCourtney said. "Even if they get just a small percentage of the market, it could be a great business."A major breakthrough will not be easy, though. Easywalker's shoe sells at $13, compared with about $2 for a standard iron shoe. Even considering that the urethane system can outlast metal on some surfaces and Schlasinger's take on improved animal health with the lighter, flexible system, Easywalker faces a steep sales curve."

    Recommended for You
    Bosnian producer to invest in new PU panel factory
    Bosnian producer to invest in new PU panel factory
    Mlily to increase US market share following anti-dumping duties
    Mlily to increase US market share following anti-dumping duties
    Covestro wins ISCC Plus certificate for Krefeld MDI
    Covestro wins ISCC Plus certificate for Krefeld MDI
    Latest Issue
    Click HERE for Free Download
    View All Archives
    Get our newsletters

    Breaking news and in-depth coverage of essential topics delivered straight to your inbox.

    Subscribe today

    Register to access our archive of leading information on the polyurethanes industry.

    Subscribe now
    Connect with Us
    • Twitter
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Youtube

    Follow us on social media for the latest polyurethanes industry news and event updates.

    Logo
    Contact Us

    Office 127,
    61, Willow Walk,
    London
    SE1 5SF
    E-mail us
    +44 (0) 203 287 5979

    Customer Service:
    +1 313 446 0450

    Resources
    • Advertise with Us
    • Media Kit
    • Staff
    • Careers
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    • Sitemap
    Legal
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    Copyright © 1996-2021. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • Coronavirus
    • News
      • Asia
      • Americas
      • Europe
      • M & A
      • Financial results
      • Automotive
    • Data
    • Information
      • Country Overview
      • Market Sector overviews
      • Technical articles
      • Company profiles and strategies
    • Events
      • Exhibitions
      • Conferences
      • Webinars / Livestreams
      • Become a Speaker
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Issues
    • Subscribe