Rubik's Cube turns 50: A plastic cube that keeps the world spinning
11.09.2024
Rubik's Cube is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Today it is made of plastic (some of it even recycled) and is as popular as it was on the first day.
Virginia Tech develops biodegradable bioplastics from food waste
06.09.2024
This innovative approach not only offers a sustainable solution to plastic pollution but also provides a new life for materials that would otherwise be discarded.
PET Youth Camp for Sustainable Plastic Management
12.08.2024
Indorama Ventures, a global leader in sustainable chemical production, has partnered with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and its Department of Education to host the "PET Youth Camp for Sustainable Plastic Management." This initiative aims to educate and empower young leaders from BMA schools in effective plastic waste management, with a focus on PET recycling.
Formula Student puts plastics in the fast lane
07.08.2024
Once a year, students from all over the world meet at Germany’s world-famous Hockenheim Ring (Germany) to compete against each other in single-seater race cars made of plastic. In addition to the performance of the cars in various disciplines such as cornering, acceleration and energy consumption, the jury also evaluates the design of the cars, the teams' cost planning and sales presentation.
Jogging shoes and co.: plastics in sportswear
31.07.2024
The right outfit for every sport. Even for a short jog after work, sports enthusiasts can access sophisticated equipment. From breathable sports shirts and cooling running tights to running shoes. The choice is diverse. However, there is one unifying factor that most models have in common - plastics are used in their manufacture.
Skills shortage in the plastics industry
24.07.2024
The shortage of skilled labour poses considerable challenges for the plastics industry. In an interview with K-Mag, Sven Weihe from the German Plastics Processing Industry Association (in German: Gesamtverband Kunststoffverarbeitende Industrie e.V. - GKV) explains the main causes of the shortage of qualified specialists and what measures the association is taking to counteract this.
Closing the loop: turning old tires into new car parts
15.07.2024
In an ambitious move towards sustainability, Covestro, Neste, and Borealis have joined forces to revolutionize the recycling of discarded tires into high-quality automotive parts. This collaboration marks a significant step in driving circularity within the plastics and automotive industries.
3D printing: manufacturing eye prostheses from plastic
12.06.2024
Plastic eye prostheses: Lightweight, robust and natural in appearance - and now available via 3D printing. Find out more here!
High-performance adhesive for the transportation systems of the future
08.05.2024
When you sit on a train, you probably rarely realize how much technology and expertise from a wide range of industries has gone into its creation. The materials used are diverse. The various elements are joined together into a whole by welding, screwing, riveting, bolting and now, increasingly, gluing. New adhesives are opening up many possibilities in design and performance improvements.
Biopolymer coating for textiles – protective bacteria
03.05.2024
It defies wind and weather and protects us from a wide range of environmental influences: Functional clothing. Special coatings are responsible for this. Polyacrylates or polyurethanes, which are based on crude oil and therefore a finite resource, are often used for this purpose. The DITF are therefore researching alternatives from renewable sources – including polymers from bacteria.
Renewable plastic for workboat hulls
15.04.2024
Aquaculture takes a sustainable leap forward with the unveiling of a groundbreaking workboat hull constructed from renewable plastic. Borealis and AKVA group will introduce this innovation in Mo i Rana, Norway, in Spring 2024, marking a significant milestone for circularity in marine technology.
All-Electric Injection Molding for Thin-Wall Packaging
08.04.2024
Heinrich Axmann GmbH & Co. KG in Cologne, Germany, has made a significant shift towards sustainability by adopting an all-electric injection molding machine, the EcoPower Xpress, provided by WITTMANN. This move has led to a reduction in energy consumption by over 30% for producing thin-walled packaging, marking a significant step towards eco-friendly production methods.
Heat resistant medical polycarbonate from Covestro
22.02.2024
Covestro, a leading developer of polymers and high-performance plastics, presents Apec® 2045, an advanced copolycarbonate. This material combines outstanding features such as biocompatibility, heat resistance, transparency and durability, making it the ideal solution for the manufacture of medical devices.
Innovative bioplastic from KraussMaffei and Synergy Horizon
02.02.2024
KraussMaffei and Synergy Horizon have jointly developed a new type of bio-based reinforced thermoplastic that prioritises functionality and sustainability.
ENGEL St. Valentin wins production contest
19.01.2024
The ENGEL large-scale machine plant in St. Valentin was named "Factory of the Year 2023" in Austria, winning both the overall award and the "Efficient Factory" category at the factory conference in Bludenz. The award is based on outstanding results in various categories, including a sustainability strategy.
Market launch of Impranil® CQ DLU: Innovation for more sustainable textile coatings
12.01.2024
Covestro presents Impranil® CQ DLU, a new aliphatic polyester carbonate polyether polyurethane (PU) dispersion for textile coating in which around 34 percent of the carbon contained is of plant origin. This enables a sustainable textile coating as a replacement for the popular Impranil® DLU, without compromising on quality.
Saving energy in plastics production: Polytives wins 2nd place in the Lothar Späth Award 2023
05.01.2024
Polytives GmbH, a spin-off of the University of Jena in the field of plastics technology, was awarded second place in the Lothar Späth Award for its cooperation partnership with the university on 16.11.2023. The company, which emerged from Prof. Schacher's working group, develops innovative plastics solutions for energy optimisation in production.
Laboratory extruder relaunched: ZE 28 BluePower
22.12.2023
KraussMaffei Extrusion GmbH recently presented the ZE 28 BluePower high-performance laboratory extruder in a new design. Higher efficiency, shorter delivery times and greater cost-effectiveness were the focus of this development.
Particle foam perfectly distributed thanks to simulation with Ultrasim®
15.12.2023
BASF SE's Ultrasim® simulation portfolio for plastics applications is now also available for manufacturing processes of components made of particle foam components. The application starts with the expanded thermoplastic polyurethane (E-TPU) Infinergy® and expands BASF's proven simulation portfolio for plastics innovations
From chaos to creation: How composites transform unsorted plastic waste into useful products
05.12.2023
Geoff Germon has not only recognized the problem of plastic waste in Fiji, but also wants to help the locals tackle this problem and build a sustainable business at the same time. His approach starts with a simple plastic pole.
LANXESS expands its range for PFAS removal from water
01.12.2023
LANXESS is presenting its new anion exchange resin Lewatit MonoPlus TP 109, which can be used for the efficient removal of contaminants such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances from water. In addition to Lewatit MonoPlus TP 109, the company is also presenting other selective resins that can also be used in combination for pre- and fine cleaning.
Borealis supports ZOOM Children's Museum in promoting playful learning in new interactive exhibition "WELCOME TO THE FUTURE!"
10.11.2023
The company Borealis is supporting the ZOOM Children's Museum in promoting learning through play in the new interactive exhibition "WELCOME TO THE FUTURE!" The new hands-on exhibition can be visited from October 4, 2023 and is designed to inspire enthusiasm for science and chemistry.
From snack bag to cooling technology: The rebirth of aluminum-plastic laminates
08.11.2023
Thanks to aluminum-plastic laminates, our favorite snacks stay as crisp as we love them. But what if the shiny insides of snack bags hold much greater potential – one that goes far beyond accompanying a movie night? Passive cooling technology could benefit from upcycling these chip bags, says a research team from the University of Bayreuth.
Wilson Sporting Goods using 3D printing to accelerate the injection molding process
03.11.2023
Wilson Sporting Goods uses 3D printing to accelerate the injection molding process of baseball bats. This includes bats made from aluminum, polymer composite and thermoplastics. Components such as knobs, end caps and the interface between the handle and shaft are typically injection molded from engineering resins.
Recyclable, repairable and robust: New epoxy resin for the circular economy
02.11.2023
Epoxy resins are used in combination with glass or carbon fibres to make components for aircraft, cars, trains, ships and more. Empa researchers have now developed the first fire-resistant epoxy resin-based plastic that is recyclable.
Huafeng, Cyclone and Covestro collaborate to provide sports shoes and shorts with reduced carbon footprint
02.10.2023
Team Sonnenwagen from Germany plans to enter the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge in Australia with a solar-powered race car and is relying on sustainable equipment for which Huafeng, Cyclone and Covestro are cooperating. This equipment includes sports shoes and shorts that are made from recycled materials and offer improved environmental performance.
From the 3D printer to the dishwasher: researchers develop biodegradable support material
27.09.2023
In the world of additive manufacturing, innovations are constantly revolutionising the possibilities. Despite the progress, there is one major challenge: the need for support structures. They prevent material layers from sagging – but removing them after printing can have environmentally damaging consequences. In the AquaLoes project, the IKT is tackling this challenge.
Thermoplastics in aircraft construction – less weight, more future
20.09.2023
Every gram counts: In aviation, a weight reduction of just one kilogram can save up to 25,000 litres of fuel annually. Plastics can be the key to this. The DLR uses carbon fibre-reinforced thermoplastics to make aircraft fuselages more resource-efficient. Within the framework of the Large Passenger Aircraft project, fundamentally new technologies have even been developed for this purpose.
Making the impossible possible: Recycling multilayer packaging
13.09.2023
Was multilayer packaging the Achilles' heel of the recycling industry? Not anymore, according to Krones and their project partners BASF, Südpack, and Tomra. Together, they're unveiling a solution that accomplishes what was once deemed impossible. At the heart of this innovation is a new adhesive that enables effective material separation during the recycling process.
Intelligent rubber materials
12.09.2023
Materials scientists at the University of Stuttgart and pharmacists at the University of Tübingen have developed smart polymer materials that can autonomously adapt to environmental conditions, making them ideal for soft robotics and exoskeletons.
Academic training and further education in Mexico
05.09.2023
ARBURG and Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (Tec de Monterrey) have jointly launched a four-month academic training course in Mexico for the plastics industry, with the aim of producing skilled professionals. The course began with 16 participants and a commitment from ARBURG to support industry growth and development in the country.
Bayreuth researcher develops high-performance digital system for tailoring polymers
01.09.2023
Prof. Dr. Christopher Kuenneth at the University of Bayreuth, Germany, together with research partners in Atlanta, has developed a digital system that filters out those materials best suited for targeted applications from among some 100 million theoretically possible polymers. The system, called polyBERT, treats the chemical structure of polymers like a chemical language.
Digital meets material: a software transforms additive manufacturing
17.08.2023
ADAM could redefine plastics manufacturing. A big claim, but not without reason: Behind the acronym ADAM is a software called "Advanced Dimension Additive Manufacturing" that caused a real stir at K 2022. The impressive result of this software in action? A high-performance screw extruder controlled by an agile jointed-arm robot.
Luminescent solar collectors: Silicone makes power generation more flexible and colourful
22.05.2023
Plastics contribute to climate protection. As fibre-reinforced plastics for wind turbines or films for solar cells, they already play an important role in power generation from renewable energies. But the conventional solutions are not equally suitable for every area of application. This is where a new type of material comes into play that was developed at Saarland University.