WEB EXCLUSIVE: Bluestar Silicones, a Chinese-owned, global integrated silicones supplier with U.S. headquarters in East Brunswick, N.J., will open a new manufacturing and R&D center in York, S.C., this June.

New developments in liquid silicone rubber include a new low-durometer line and a novel technology that provides build-in antimicrobial protection.

Liquid silicone rubber is breaking out of its niche into a broader array of applications, helped by new developments in materials, machinery, and processing. Larger parts, micro-parts, foams, and multi-color or multi-material combinations are key areas of innovation.