Company News

Mondi’s BarrierPack Recyclable

Mondi, global leader in sustainable packaging and paper, had its award-winning BarrierPack Recyclable all-polyethylene film certified for recyclability. This lightweight mono-material offers a more sustainable packaging solution for diverse applications ranging from stand-up pouches for dishwasher tablets to resealable pouches for organic dog food.

A real alternative to crude oil

The synthesis of bio-based high-performance polyamide from biogenic residues. A research team from the Fraunhofer Society and the Technical University of Munich (TUM) led by chemist Volker Sieber has developed a new polyamide family which can be produced from a byproduct of cellulose production – a successful example for a more sustainable economy with bio-based materials.

in-cosmetics Global

Celebrating 30 years of innovation, in-cosmetics Global will once again deliver a comprehensive education programme of sessions and seminars across the three-day event

COLOUR VISION N°20

At the beginning of the year, Gabriel-Chemie presented the 20th edition of the successful COLOUR VISION colour and trend series for the world of plastics. Innovative colourists and experienced trend scouts are working actively on tomorrow’s trends. And together they develop a new COLOUR VISION collection every year. It serves as a source of inspiration for the world of plastics. The COLOUR VISION trends are used for new product concepts and valued by brand-name manufacturers, as well as creative designers of consumer products and plastics processors.

The global bio-based polymer market 2019

Turbulent times for bio-based polymers in 2019: PLA sold out despite expansion, as did PHA. Bio-based PP available for the first time, increased production of PBAT, PBS, bio-based PE, starch-containing polymer compounds and epoxy resins. Lower production is seen particularly in bio-based PET. At the same time, there is a lack of support from policy makers, who are taking bio-based and biodegradable plastics into collective punishment with fossil plastics in the Plastic Policy. www.bio-based.eu/reports

Sterilizable, adhesive, conformant

Thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) are gaining ground, particularly in markets and for applications which are characterized by a variety of regulations and specifications and when it comes to realizing efficient and feasible solutions. And TPE are also increasingly asserting themselves as alternative for rubber, silicone or PVC, not only on account of their property profile, but also by continually optimizing their mechanical, haptic, migration or even performance characteristics – as indicated by the following examples:

For the windows of the future

Modern insulation is a key to effective climate protection, and this also applies to window profiles in new and renovated buildings. BASF has developed an Ultradur® (Ultradur® B4040 G11 HMG HP green 75074) that can be used for co-extrusion with PVC and is now available with a significantly improved property profile. With this new Ultradur® grade, PVC window profiles can be mechanically stiffened in the co-extrusion process. Compared with steel stiffening, the profile is lighter and can be produced at lower cost without compromising on stability and with improved insulation. Slimmer geometries are also potentially possible.

MedPharmPlast Europe

MPPE Winter Conference offered insights into the REACH Microplastics Restriction, MDCG working groups, ECHA Waste Framework database, TiO2, and sustainability in medical packaging.

Electric mobility and lightweight design

The year 2019 was marked by a weak global economy, trade disputes and a far-reaching structural change in the automotive industry. The mechanical engineering and supply industries are feeling the effects. Reduced CO2 fleet limits should boost lightweight design, but priority is currently being given to investments in electrification and digitization with the aim of autonomous driving. The annual meeting of the VDMA Working Group Hybrid Lightweight Technologies therefore addressed the question of the importance of lightweight design in electric mobility.
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