With its arburgGREENworld program, Arburg is committed to sustainability, resource conservation and circular economy in plastics processing, offering numerous practical solutions. Together with renowned partners, the machine manufacturer develops innovative technologies for recovery of high-quality recyclates and resource-efficient manufacturing of lightweight components.
Presentation on the R-Cycle project – digital product passport
Within the scope of an expert presentation (9 September, 12:30 p.m.), Dr. Thomas Walther and Dr. Benedikt Brenken, director of the R-Cycle Initiative at Reifenhäuser, will talk about the experiences of Arburg as exclusive mechanical engineering partner and of Reifenhäuser as initiator of the R-Cycle joint project. Using the application example of a “smart” turnkey system based around an electric Allrounder 370 A, they will explain how, after a product has reached the end of its useful life, high-quality recyclate can be recovered from it and the recycling loop closed. The pivotal element of R-Cycle is a database that contains all the information about the materials used. Every plastic part is thus given a digital product passport. Data relating to aspects such as raw materials and colouring agents are transmitted as early as the injection moulding stage, and the product then receives a machine-readable DM code. The recycling plant can then separate plastic waste as appropriate by reading this code.
Examples of trendsetting components
In the exhibition area, Arburg presents a selection of trendsetting components for the automotive industry. Injection moulding and additive Arburg Plastic Freeforming (APF) procedures were used to produce these components. The spectrum includes e. g. overmoulded inserts, hybrid components and practical examples for lightweight construction.
The APF process is suitable for additive manufacturing of functional prototypes and operating equipment in small batches. Original materials such as TPU Desmopan 9370 AU are of particular interest to the automotive industry. The material is as flexible as rubber, as easy to process as a thermoplastic, and also insensitive to heat and chemicals. It is used to produce connecting hoses for cooling systems, for example.
