LEADING INNOVATOR BOREALIS AGAIN FILES RECORD BREAKING NUMBER OF INTERNATIONAL PATENT APPLICATIONS IN 2021

In 2021 Borealis filed a total of 210 international patent applications at the European Patent Office, once more breaking its own record of 182 patent applications filed in the previous year. With this achievement, Borealis cements its position as a leading European innovator and pioneering industry leader in the fields of advanced and circular polyolefins, mechanical recycling of plastics, base chemicals and fertilizers.

Providing intelligent and sustainable solutions to the challenges faced by society is a core Borealis mission. Patents play a crucial role in safeguarding visionary ideas when developing novel approaches, technologies, and applications.

“We, as Borealis, have committed to spearheading the transformation of our industry,” says Borealis CEO Thomas Gangl. “Breaking our own record in the number of patent applications is testimony to our dedication on creating value through innovation. We will continue to develop new technologies and novel, value-added products that enhance the circularity of plastics and thus benefit society as a whole.”

The 210 patent applications filed by Borealis in 2021 put the company at the top of the European Patents Office national rankings, taking the leading position in the Austrian statistics. In 2021 the company was able to top its own record with a total of 210 filings. In sum, the Borealis Group now possesses more than 11,000 individual patents or patent applications which are subsumed in approximately 1,200 patent families. The growing number of patents underscores the company’s position as leading industry innovator true to its spirit of “keep discovering”.

SEVEN INNOVATORS JOIN FASHION FOR GOOD’S 2022 ASIA INNOVATION PROGRAMME

MUMBAI – Fashion for Good is pleased to announce seven new innovators selected to participate in its 2022 Asia Innovation Programme. Chosen by Fashion for Good brand and manufacturing partners during a hybrid digital / in-person event in Mumbai from a group of global innovators, the nine-month programme provides the participants with tailored support to help them scale – matching the innovators with relevant industry partners to drive piloting, implementation, and investing activities.

“We are extremely excited to kick off our third year in Asia and continue to generate tangible impact in the region with the addition of these seven new innovations. By providing them with a platform to learn and grow, and connecting them with leading industry players, the programme offers an opportunity to drive the implementation of their solutions in the supply chain at scale.” – Priyanka Khanna, Head of Asia Expansion at Fashion for Good.

Focusing on processing, one of the most impactful steps in the value chain, this year’s selection of innovators are developing technologies with the potential for positive disruption within this area in the Asia region. Innovators AN Herbals, Fermentech Labs, Gaiacel and Sodhani Biotech, are developing unique solutions in dyeing, pretreatment and finishing from plant, forest and agricultural waste using technologies such as bioprocessing, nanocellulose and microorganisms. The remaining innovators present pioneering innovations in raw materials, impact and end-of-use, with UKHI Hemp Foundation exploring alternative materials from hemp, Vaayu tracking carbon impact through the value chain, and Picvisa enabling the recapture of value from existing materials.

As with previous selections, these innovators receive bespoke support based on the immediate requirement of each innovator to scale, as well as exposure to corporate partners and industry ecosystem players vital to their continued growth and development. The seven new innovators mark the third selection of innovators to participate in the Asia Innovation Programme since establishing a presence in Asia in 2020, which has supported a total of 28 innovators through the Programme.

ABOUT THE INNOVATORS

AN HERBALS (INDIA)
An Herbals has a patented circular herbal dye extraction, herbal dyeing and bioprocessing technology, that converts waste from the forest, food and ayurvedic medicine industries to dyes that are non-toxic with self-binding, antiviral, antimicrobial, antifungal, anti odour, UV resistant and mosquito repellent properties for up to 50 washes in all textiles.

FERMENTECH LABS (INDIA)
Fermentech Labs is addressing the disposal of agricultural and forest residues, such as straw, peels and pine needles, through a patented biotechnology using microorganisms. They convert organic waste, otherwise destined for incineration, into industrial enzymes that are used for textile bio-polishing, desizing and bio-scouring. Along with reducing environmental carbon footprint, collecting these sustainable feedstocks ensures farmers have an alternative income stream.

GAIACEL (USA)
Gaiacel develops a novel dyeing innovation to make industrial rope and slasher dyeing processes sustainable and cost-effective. Their patented nanocellulose hydrogel along with dye particles sticks to textile surfaces and eliminates the need for multiple dipping, indigo reduction and additional chemicals. The process is less water and energy intensive compared to conventional indigo dyeing.

PICVISA (SPAIN)
PICVISA is an innovative technology based company that designs, manufactures and supplies optical sorting and separation equipment to recover and grade textiles. PICVISA offers advanced solutions based on robotics, artificial intelligence and vision that can classify textile, fully customised to the clients needs, by its composition and colour in an efficient and automated way.

SODHANI BIOTECH (INDIA)
Sodhani Biotech produces non-toxic chemical free natural dyes and colours from plants, plant waste and microorganisms. They produce 16 natural dye extracts using optimised extraction processes that have resulted in better yields, a wider range of shades, better water solubility and good colour fastness for printing and dyeing applications.

UKHI HEMP FOUNDATION (INDIA)
UKHI Hemp Foundation is a farm-to-market company, producing more than five hundred products from hemp, including hemp textiles, papers, bioplastics, composite, food products and medicines. They improve farmer and artisan livelihoods by training them to cultivate hemp and produce fabrics with higher hemp content using improvised fibre extraction processes.

VAAYU (GERMANY)
Vaayu is the world’s first automated carbon-tracking software for retailers, enabling businesses to reduce their footprint by providing accessible, real-time data to drive carbon-reduction at scale. By integrating with point-of-sale systems, such as Shopify, and leveraging proprietary AI and machine learning technology, Vaayu draws insights from production, sales and logistics to deliver a tangible solution in the fight against climate change and a more sustainable future for retail.

“There is no doubt that sustainability comes at a cost”

Interview with Uwe Rothaug, Managing Director of Kurtz GmbH & Co. KG

Mr. Rothaug, Kurtz Ersa is a very old and long-standing company. What does sustainability mean to you?
It’s precisely because we are a company with such a long tradition that sustainability is our main priority, and why we have also set ourselves the goal of being completely CO2-free by the time we celebrate our 250th anniversary in 2029. We are working intensely on both on our internal processes – sustainable development, sustainable sales, sustainable purchasing – and on the products we supply to our customers.

Is it easier to achieve this goal internally rather than through yourproducts?
Internally, you are the one in control, while at an external level it depends on whether the customer wants to buy a product that is more sustainable and serves climate protection. For example, we have developed a machine that can weld particle foams, such as EPS, without the use of steam. So, you no longer need a steam generation system or a cooling tower installation with a water basin. This saves not only water, but also a considerable amount of energy and therefore CO2 emissions. This machine is based on completely new technology however, and many customers are not yet ready to replace their conventional equipment, as they are generating money with their current processes. In the daily production process, climate targets such as those postulated by the European Green Deal for 2050 are a long way off.

What is so fundamentally different about the new machine?
This machine, which we call Wave Foamer, uses a radio frequency process. It makes the molecular chains vibrate at an alternating voltage, they rub against each other, and the resulting heat leads to the welding process. Previously, we supplied steam from the outside, which entailed heating the water beforehand until it became steam. That was a CO2-guzzling process. We can now produce the same foamed parts as before, like car parts such as shock absorbers or sun visors, except now these are emitting much less harmful greenhouse gas. The electromagnetic process is also much more finely adjustable, and you can dose the electromagnetic energy very well, allowing you to process materials that you couldn’t process before.

What impact does the new process have on recycling?
With the new process, we are able to replace recycled EPS with new polystyrene in a much better manner. There is currently already up to 20 per cent recycled EPS used in foamed parts. With our method, you can process up to 100 per cent EPS; that’s a world of difference, considering the amount of EPS used in the global packaging industry alone. EPS in packaging will not survive without recycling. That’s one aspect that needs to be fully understood.

Despite all these advantages, your customers are still apprehensive regarding the innovation.
For the customers, this is a paradigm shift – one that is initially also expensive. It will take some time to get a good grip on our new process. There is no doubt that sustainability comes at a cost, but those who start making their processes sustainable in time will emerge as winners. With our new machine and processing method, energy consumption can be reduced by 90 per cent, water consumption by up to 100 per cent. We have calculated CO2 savings of 70 percent over the entire process; that is our contribution to climate protection.

Will the image of plastics improve as a result of technological innovations that serve to protect the climate and resources?
I hope so. It’s a fact that the plastics industry is putting a lot of effort into contributing towards climate protection and also to the circular economy; something that is not perceived by the public however. We have to become more visible, in line with the motto “do good and talk about it”. We have to inform the public in a broad manner, by using all available communication channels. Nowadays, this also means making greater use of social media.

Will a better image also help to remedy the shortage of skilled workers?
The young people of Generation Y and Z look very carefully at which company they want to work for. They don’t want to work in industries they consider harmful or dirty; that’s why a good image is key in terms of recruitment. We already have a shortage of workers in Germany, and it will become even more severe over the next few years because of demographic developments. I’m convinced that only those companies that act sustainably will find the skilled workers they need in the future.

Video statement by Uwe Rothaug: https://vimeo.com/685384005

The eighth edition of printpack alger is in the starting blocks

Together with plast alger, printpack alger is the industry meeting place for plastics, printing and packaging technologies in Algeria and the Maghreb region. In May, the industry will once again meet here in an exciting market.

Demand is promising, as the market has been on the upswing for years. Algeria offers participating companies at this year’s printpack and plast alger an environment with a lot of potential. Because the economy of Africa’s largest country and the most populous in the Maghreb states is growing, the Algerian plastics, printing and packaging industry is taking off.

After a break of two years due to Corona, plast und printpack alger will be the re-start for the plastics, printing and packaging industry in the region. Around 3,000 visitors from more than 20 countries are expected at the modern CIC Abdelatif Rahal International Conference Centre in Algiers from 16 to 18 May. As renowned companies in the print industry, Bobst and Konica Minolta, will be present.

DIEFFENBACHER focuses on digitalization and sustainability

Complete composites plants manufacturer presents solutions focused on two megatrends at JEC World 2022

The JEC World 2022 will be held in Paris May 3 to 5. Composites manufacturers committed to plant digitalization and sustainable operations will want to learn about advanced solutions from German machine and plant manufacturer DIEFFENBACHER in hall 5 at booth R42.

DIEFFENABCHER will showcase its new digitalization platform EVORIS. Based on standardized interfaces that collect and process machine data, EVORIS gives composites manufacturers more insight into their production and processes. AI-supported analysis of live data is just one way that EVORIS helps plant operators better understand and control their plants and make important decisions faster.

EVORIS is an open and browser-based system. With its modular app structure, EVORIS is easily extendable and updateable. “EVORIS apps use a modern, intuitive interface and can be securely operated from any mobile or desktop device within a plant’s network,” says Marco Hahn, Director Sales of the Forming Business Unit at DIEFFENBACHER.

EVORIS collects and processes all plant data at a central point. The EVORIS apps are fed relevant data to provide manufacturers with deep insights into their production processes via powerful trending tools and various reporting possibilities. “For example, manufacturers can use the Curve Analysis app to see complex relationships in the production process,” explains Hahn. “Customers also appreciate the Anomaly Detection app, which uses artificial intelligence to immediately detect deviations from automatically defined target values for important plant parameters. This enables plant operators to react quickly to anomalies and prevent potential errors, thereby maximizing plant availability.”

In addition to EVORIS, DIEFFENBACHER’s solutions for increased sustainability will be on display at JEC World 2022. DIEFFENBACHER short-stroke presses, for example, are designed for minimum energy consumption. “They close with small cylinders until just before the position where forming takes place. Thereafter, large cylinders act with the corresponding press force. This makes it possible to reduce the oil volume by 88% compared with conventional concepts,” explains Hahn. DIEFFENBACHER’s adaptive accumulator management also optimizes energy consumption by automatically determining during the first press strokes the exact energy required for forming. For subsequent production cycles, the hydraulic drive accumulator is charged only to the corresponding required pressure level.

With its Fiberforge tape laying system and fully automatic sheet molding compound (SMC) cutting and packaging system, DIEFFENBACHER offers two solutions that significantly reduce material consumption in the production of carbon and SMC components. “Our customers achieve high material savings using Fiberforge instead of organo sheets. In one sample application, we achieved just 6.7% waste with the Fiberforge, while with the organo sheet there was more than 50% waste,” says Hahn. Additionally, the intelligent nesting control of the DIEFFENBACHER SMC cutting and packaging system determines the cutting pattern in accordance with the desired lay pattern and optimizes material use.

Together with the Fibercon consolidation system, Fiberforge forms the Tailored Blank Line, which rounds off DIEFFENBACHER’s JEC World 2022 presence. “Our customers from the sports and leisure industries rely on the Tailored Blank Line to produce, for example, carbon-fiber-reinforced lightweight bicycle components such as frames and rims as well as safety equipment like helmets and protectors of the highest quality,” Hahn concludes.

Price increase announcement for ThermoFlexX products

During the past weeks and months, extraordinary effects on a global scale have increased inflationary pressure, which has had a significant upward impact on production costs for XSYS’s equipment.

The core priority for XSYS is to deal with significant shortages across materials used in the production of components and housing for ThermoFlexX imagers and Catena processing equipment. Material cost has increased by 10–20% already in 2021 with no indication for recovery throughout 2022. In particular, XSYS is experiencing significant cost increases across the following inputs and materials:

 Steel and plastics: Global shortages have caused price increases of at least 15% in 2021
 Electronics: Global shortages and supply chain issues resulted in double-digit price increases in 2021, and price increases have already been announced for 2022
 Energy: Soaring gas and electricity prices are increasing production costs for XSYS and its suppliers
 Logistics: Sea and land freight costs have increased not only for direct shipments to the customers of XSYS but also indirectly, further contributing to inflation of all input materials.

While some inflationary developments can be absorbed by implementing efficiency improvements as well as qualifying alternative suppliers, extraordinary and persistent inflation levels now leave XSYS no other option than to implement a price increase of 10–15% across the ThermoFlexX imagers and ThermoFlexX Catena equipment, as well as on spare parts and service agreements.

Friedrich von Rechteren, Global Commercial VP at XSYS, concludes: “We understand that this price increase is adding pressure to the business of our customers during these difficult circumstances, and it has not been an easy choice for us to make. However, to ensure consistent and reliable supply to our customers, we see no other way than passing on some of these costs.”

Sustainability is the key theme in PP but impact more limited than many fear

AMI, Bristol, 07/04/22 – A new report and database from AMI Consulting published in March 2022 quantify and analyse the European PP market and examine the most recent industry dynamics.

Rhian O’Connor, Senior Consultant and Katrina Purser, Senior Research Analyst are the authors of the 2022 editions of AMI’s Polypropylene Markets Europe report and Polypropylene Processors Europe database which are the result of an extensive research programme, providing a detailed independent assessment of this industry. The report revises and updates the size and growth of demand for different applications and countries with Europe as well as looking at the key themes and supply picture. The database gives a detailed list of buyers and divides demand by application and country.

The key theme for the last two years has been Covid-19 with some positive impacts on sectors like hygiene and packaging and some negative impacts on sectors including automotive. In 2021, the total volume of PP (including compounds but excluding recyclate) in the European market was 10 million.

AMI believe the key theme of the next five years to be sustainability. Single use plastics legislation could impact the rigid and flexible packaging markets, with consumers looking to turn away from plastic packaging. However, there are limited alternatives, and we believe legislation will instead look to simplification/redesign of packaging – using monomaterials and increasing recyclability.

Recyclate should continue to take share, but we believe the impact will be relatively limited on PP over the next five years – effectively depressing demand only 0.7%pa. The main reason for this low impact – much less than industry anticipate is availability of recyclate. Most consumers interviewed were working to have the technical knowledge to put recyclate in their product. Everything from fibres, compounds to food-grade packaging. The database gives a detailed overview of buyers of PP recyclate.

The market is more uncertain now, than at any other edition of this report. Challenges include the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, new standards on single use plastics and sustainability, polymer shortages, logistics challenges and changes to retail channels. Finally, the war in Ukraine is adding further complications to logistics and cost pressure.

As a result, we believe it is even more crucial to look at individual markets – whether geographical, by application, technology, or grade – to monitor the growth of the European polypropylene market. The report and its expert analysis, as well as the database.