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Ehmann & Partner, a German-based producer of innovative solutions for the acoustic speaker market, is utilizing a revolutionary speaker cone technology made with Victrex APTIV® film. The unique sandwich cone design made with APTIV film is already being widely recognised as the ideal technology solution for cones used in speakers of all types. Ehmann & Partner will use this technology on their brand "Höchstberg", a speaker family designed for the home entertainment and professional audio market.

Ehmann & Partner's innovative use of this propriety design using APTIV film has a number of key acoustic properties, including very low distortion and ringing, no break-up-modes, very simple crossovers, and a flatter frequency response in comparison to cones made from conventional materials such as polypropylene, paper and aluminium cones. The use of APTIV film has enhanced Ehmann & Partner's design process by enabling free surface design capabilities. Further, the ability to thermoform APTIV film into intricate details in the speaker cone design means that the manufacturing process is fast and efficient, allowing it to be used in high volume and cost competitive applications.

Commenting on the use of APTIV film, Markus Schneider, general manager of Ehmann & Partner said, "Our work with Victrex on the implementation of APTIV film, with its superior "tunable" acoustics, has been integral to the success of this unique speaker cone design. Interestingly, APTIV film also offer a unique combination of properties for a range of other speaker applications including diaphragms, domes and spiders."

This new cone technology made with APTIV film has been shown to deliver superior acoustic results in third party testing. Vance Dickason Consulting conducted an analysis of the cone against both polypropylene and aluminium cones. It was found that the cone with APTIV film has a very smooth rising response, and is easier to work with in developing a crossover than the aluminium cone woofer. After looking at the objective data and performing a listening test, VDC concluded that APTIV film, in this application, is a viable and desirable material for use in loudspeaker cones.

Tim Herr, APTIV Film Commercial Leader, Victrex plc, said, "We are encouraged by the results that Ehmann & Partner are achieving with the use of this speaker cone design using APTIV film. The inherent acoustic, high temperature, mechanical, fatigue and processing attributes of APTIV film are well-suited for use in acoustic applications and present numerous opportunities for OEMs, designers and processors in the manufacture of leading edge, high performance speaker systems."

Ehmann & Partner has initially targeted the automotive speaker market, but APTIV film technology is suitable for a wide range of advanced design and high performance speaker applications.

Notably, APTIV film meets the long term fatigue performance required for a speaker diaphragm. The semi-crystalline nature of VICTREX® PEEK polymer provides a relatively high modulus from the crystalline phase as well as a degree of damping from the amorphous phase. Speaker diaphragms can be designed in different thicknesses which gives a great deal of flexibility in the design process. In examples where metal foils have been replaced, the lower density of APTIV film allows a faster response and less mass of inertia in the whole speaker system. This is of particular interest in compression driver applications. Additionally, many of the latest generation of mobile phones require higher power speakers which increases the operating temperature of the voice coil and diaphragm, eliminating the lower temperature films which were used in previous generations. Here A/B/A laminate structures are available as a damped membrane solution with APTIV film thicknesses down to 6µm.

Herr concluded, "The unique value of Victrex materials solutions lies in our ability to tailor high performance PEEK-based polymers for our customers such as Ehmann & Partner. The Victrex reputation is built upon our depth of expertise with PEEK polymers, and our ability to work alongside global customers to help accelerate their application development by thoroughly understanding their engineering requirements. Our aim is to achieve improvements in product performance, quality, market differentiation, and cost all of which we have been able to deliver successfully by working with Ehmann & Partner in their use of this new speaker cone technology."

For more information about Victrex APTIV films made from VICTREX PEEK polymer, go to www.aptivfilms.com.

About Victrex

Headquartered in the UK, Victrex plc is an innovative leading manufacturer of high performance materials, including VICTREX® PEEK polymer, VICOTE® Coatings and APTIV® film. These materials are used in a variety of markets and offer an exceptional combination of properties to help processors and end users reach new levels of cost savings, quality, and performance. All Victrex material production comes under Victrex's ISO 9001 quality registration.

For more information visit http://www.victrex.com.

VICTREX® is a registered trademark of Victrex Manufacturing Limited. VICTREX Pipes™ is a trademark of Victrex Manufacturing Limited. PEEK-ESD™, HT™, ST™ and WG™ are trademarks of Victrex plc. VICOTE® and APTIV® are registered trademarks of Victrex plc.

About Ehmann & Partner

Ehmann & Partner GmbH based in Höchstberg, Germany, is a leading expert in electronics performance. With 40 years of experience in electro-acoustics, the company has a solid foundation in product development. Its engineers are challenged to find unique and innovative solutions for bringing superior products to market. Ehmann & Partner applies a quality control system which is certified according to DIN ISO 9001:2000 and TS 16949:2002 to ensure the highest levels of customer satisfaction. Designed to surpass expectations in quality and performance, the range of products including microphones, loudspeakers and electronics can be found in OEM applications, custom listening environments, and upscale automotive conversions throughout the world. For more information visit the company website at www.ehmann-partner.de.

To contact Victrex directly:

Corporate: globalspec@victrex.com
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