It is a known fact in recycling that, the purer a starting material is, the more effective is recycling. To avoid using labels of paper or other types of materials on plastics packagings, a recyclable label is now available made of polyethylene, polypropylene or polyethylene terephthalate. 

Labeling

Simulation Verpackung

Wiederaufbereitung

Kunststoff-Recycling

Nachhaltigkeit

Verpackungsmaterial

Packaging Labels: Like Cover, Like Label 

Comprehensive resource efficiency means far more than the preservation of natural resources. It also includes the productivity factors of material, machine and labor. The plastics industry has made a great contribution to resource efficiency, but often finds itself on the defensive. Yet a knowledge of the various relationships involved provides enough material to go on the offensive with arguments illustrating the benefits of plastics technology. 

The Plastics Industry Needs to Adopt a Bolder Approach 

Elektrische Antriebe

Biokunststoffe

Verbundwerkstoffe / Werkstoffverbunde

Spritzgießmaschinen

Trockner

Spritzgießen

Extrusion

Pultrusion

Kunststoffverarbeitung

Resource Efficiency with  Plastics Technology 

Organic sheets open up great opportunities for lightweight automotive design, but till now their full potential has rarely been utilized. To achieve maximum possible stiffness and strength, and thus produce components at low weight and cost, new approaches to component design and manufacturing are required. These include simulation-supported structure optimization, automated production processes and tailored components. 

The Tape Laying Method Combines Organic Sheets and Tapes In-line, thus Reducing Weight and Component Costs 

Analysetools, FEM

Faserverarbeitung

Gewebe, technisch

Tailored Composites for High Volumes 

High energy consumption and fast cooling are characteristics of cast film production. Consequently, efficient cooling solutions directly affect costing.  

Sophisticated Cooling Technique Steps up Energy Efficiency in Film Production  

Kältemaschinen

Flachfolien- und Plattenextrusion

Extrusionsblasformen

Folien

Chilling as Production Factor 

A stable system technology that can be extended with further process components as needed is the basis of a range of innovative applications in foam injection molding. These are solutions for improving the surface quality as far as high gloss, for the partial combination of non-foamed and foamed molding areas and for foaming thermoplastic elastomers. 

Wittmann Battenfeld and Schaumform Are Developing New Applications  for Foamed Injection Molded Parts 

Spritzgießwerkzeuge

Schaumspritzgießen

Temperiertechnik

Werkstoffprüfung, mechanisch

Oberflächenveredelung

Foam Injection Molding 2.0 

Product innovations, the development of alternative energy sources and, above all, the rising global population mean that the demand for plastics will continue to increase. At the same time the shortage of fossil raw materials is increasing. Asked about how this situation will continue to develop until the year 2030, the two CEOs of Erema GmbH of Ansfelden, Austria, Klaus Feichtinger and Manfred Hackl, speak with one voice: the key lies in the efficient utilization of plastic streams and the key function is in the recycling of plastics. Closed loops with high amounts of recycled material for high-quality products would also help plastic gain a positive image in society. 

Recycling as a Key Function for a Sustainable Life 

Vision 2030 

"Variotherm temperature control is at the stage where conformal tempering was ten years ago, but is rapidly gaining in importance." That was one of the central statements in our "High-Performance Molds" special issue in November 2014. In order to check the validity of this thesis, we had a good look around at the recent Fakuma exhibition. The applications are clearly focused, and frequently come as process combinations. 

Alternating Tempering as Problem Solver in Plastics Processing 

Temporarily Hot 

Most casings, covers and other parts used to be made of newly produced petrochemical products with additives such as flame-retardants. At least since the introduction of the more stringent regulation on electronic waste, which obliges resellers to take back used equipment, the industry is forced to deal with the topic of recycling. 

Post-Consumer Recycled Plastics in IT Products 

Electronic Waste as a Challenge 

What kind of packaging do consumers evaluate as environmentally friendly? A study conducted in seven countries shows that consumers pay particular attention to the last stage of the packaging life cycle, e. g. compostability or recyclability. There are important differences between individual countries. 

Results of an International Comparative Study on Consumer Preferences 

How Consumers Evaluate  Environmental Friendliness 

This versatile material is continually opening up new areas of application. A processing technology that achieves high component quality and cost efficiency is the requirement for PU products to be manufactured competitively. Rapid digitalization is playing an increasingly important role here.  

Specialization, Resource Efficiency, and Digitalization are Driving Developments 

Industrie 4.0

Polyurethan

PUR-Werkzeuge

Schäumen / Reaktive Verarbeitung

Dichtungsschäumen

PUR-Schäummaschinen

Polyurethanes Moving with the Times 

Growing customer awareness of ecological issues is reflected in marked increases in sales of bicycle parts and accessories, for example. There are established hard-soft composites for pumps, tools, and other handy products. A research project is now attempting to combine both aspects in bio-based two-component injection molding. 

Converting Cellulose Acetate into Bicycle Accessories and Automobile Parts by  Two-Component Injection Molding 

Celluloseester, -ether

Bio-Based Alternatives for  Hard-Soft Connections 

Germany¿s plastics associations presented current country data on the material cycle of polymers in mid-October. The survey provides a comprehensive picture of the material flows from production to utilization, including recycled materials for the first time. Controversial discussions between various players along the value chain took place during a symposium that followed. 

Figures and Strategies for Circular Economy in Germany 

Verbände, Institutionen, Messen

A Change in Thinking 

¿Our SCS membership is fully in line with Greiner Packaging¿s vision that sustainability and plastics go hand in hand¿, explains Konrad Wasserbauer, Director Circular Economy of Greiner Packaging. 

Aim is to Strengthen the Sustainability of Styrenic Products 

Polystyrol

Kunststoffverarbeitung: Maschinen und Komponenten

Greiner Packaging Joins Styrenics Circular Solutions  

In order to avoid bubble ruptures during the production of blown film, the velocity of the cooling air is often reduced. The use of air guiding systems (AGS) can prevent such bubble instability. A novel AGS was developed at IKV in Aachen, Germany, using iris diaphragms in order to increase the cooling efficiency of blown film extrusion and thus improve the productivity of an existing plant

Flexible air guiding system in blown film allows higher mass throughputs and greater process stability

Increase in Mass Throughput and Improved Mechanical Product Properties

Kunststoffverarbeitung: Verfahren

Blasfolienextrusion

Umweltmanagement

Kühlanlagen

Konturnahe Kühlung

Energieeffizienz

Extrusionsanlagen

Extrusions-Zubehör

Flexible Guiding Systems  for Cooling Air

The increasing volume of plastic waste and the growing pollution of the oceans by such waste have brought the sustainable handling of plastic products into the focus of society and politics. Both recycling and bioplastics can be a part of a strategy for greater sustainability, but they are not free of side effects. In order to avoid irrational decisions, it is important to assess their effects comprehensively.

If a film is used in the packaging sector, it should be made of at least a recycled material – leading to the common opinion that assumes that materials in circulation are automatically more sustainable. However, a detailed life cycle analysis, which considers all relevant energy and material flows on the basis of a generally valid calculation method, shows that it is not that simple

3D View of Sustainability

Logistik

Recycling

Flachfolienanlagen

Halbzeuge und Zwischenprodukte

Kunststoff-Halbzeuge

Kunststoff-Aufbereitung

Folienblasanlagen

Kreislaufwirtschaft

Why Recycled Films Are Not Necessarily Sustainable

Crossing the Australian Outback with Solar Power

From October 22 to 29, students from RWTH Aachen University and Aachen University of Applied Sciences participated with their self-developed vehicle “Covestro Adelie” at the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge.

For the third time in a row, Team Sonnenwagen took on the challenge of participating in the world’s toughest solar car race across the Australian outback – the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge.

 From October 22 to 29, the students from RWTH Aachen University and Aachen University of Applied Sciences did well with their self-developed vehicle “Covestro Adelie”: Despite challenging climatic conditions, they were able to maintain an average speed of around 80 km per hour on the more than 3000-km route from Darwin to Adelaide. In a strong competitive environment, they positioned themselves among the top five cars, but in the harshness of the race, an accident finally occurred, which fortunately was mild, but forced the team to abandon the race.

 “For me, Team Sonnenwagen had already won even before the race! Team Sonnenwagen had captured the hearts and minds and the collective enthusiasm of all Covestro employees around the globe,” says Sucheta Govil, Chief Commercial Officer of Covestro. “The team grabbed its rightful first place in qualifying and set its sights on victory from the start from pole position. The Covestro team was integral in its support. Yes, support to the students via innovative material developments but also fully involved throughout the race. And the Aachen-based team did its part: With their efficient car design and sophisticated driving performance, they led from the very front in performance, in design and in resilience, guts and stamina. I’m very proud of the team!”

 “Of course, risk always rides along, especially if you want to achieve a top position,” says Simon Zaers from Team Sonnenwagen. “Nevertheless, our intensive development work of around two years really paid off, especially because we also attached importance to a safe design. It played its part in ensuring that no one was injured in the accident. We were also able to gain a lot of valuable experience for the construction of our next solar runabout, with which we would like to participate in the World Solar Challenge 2025. Together with the other teams, we continue to pursue our goal of enabling more sustainable mobility with innovative designs – powered only by the power of the sun.”

Covestro shares the enthusiasm of the Aachen team and has been supporting it as a main sponsor for around five years. The company is convinced that high-performance plastics are the key to climate-neutral and circular mobility in the future, and is working with customers and partners to develop material innovations and new recycling technologies to achieve this.

Covestro also believes that the 50-strong Sonnenwagen team is on the right track in terms of cooperation: from development and design to the race itself, nine departments worked closely together to optimize aerodynamics and electrical engineering, the chassis, the powertrain and, not least, the driving strategy. The result after more than 200,000 hours of calculations for the outer shape and around 10,000 workshop hours for the body is impressive – and weighs a lot: the structure of the Adelie weighs in at 16% less than its predecessor, and the chassis even weighs a fifth less. These improvements are also due to materials from Covestro.

“After the race is before the race,” sums up Lina Schwering, 1st Chairwoman of Team Sonnenwagen. “We will also learn from this competition and continue to optimize our design with a partially new team, just as the other teams are doing. There are very many parameters on whose interaction the race will be decided, and consistency and the will to consistently learn from experience will ultimately lead to the goal. However, this race has also shown us that in the end it also depends on a certain quantum of luck.”

Covestro AG  

https://www.covestro.com

The team with their self-developed vehicle “Covestro Adelie” at the control stop in Coober Pedy.

Last checks – Covestro Adelie before the start in Darwin, Australia.

2023-10-31 Covestro

issue 08/2023

issue 07/2023

issue 06/2023

Contact

Journal

Media Data

Subscriptions

Subscription

Subscription Cancellation

My Login

Imprint

Terms & Conditions

Terms and Conditions

Privacy Policy

News

Mobility

Packaging

Medical

Electrical/Electronics

Plastics Recycling

Lightweight Construction

Applications

Standard Thermoplastics

Engineering Plastics

High-Performance Plastics

Elastomers

Thermosets

Additives/Masterbatches

Bioplastics

Composites

Materials

Injection Molding

Additive Manufacturing

Further Processing Methods

Compounding

Composite Processing

Peripheral Equipment

Simulation

Processing

Research & Development

Dissertations

Patents

Journal of Plastics Technology

Country Special Italy

Italy

Country Specials

Career at HANSER

HANSER Fachbuch

HANSER eLibrary

HANSER eSolutions

HANSER eCampus

HANSER Corporate

HANSER Literaturverlage

Publisher offers

Kunststoffe

FORM+Werkzeug

HANSER automotive

QZ Qualität und Zuverlässigkeit

WB Werkstatt + Betrieb

More Technical Portals

Online Archive

Newsletter

Publisher

Zu Kunststoffe wechseln

Service Menu

linkedin

Products

Partners & Associations

Organ

Business Directory

Plastics Discovery Tour

Fakuma

Multi-User License

FACHARTIKEL_2023, FACHARTIKEL_2022, FACHARTIKEL_2021, FACHARTIKEL_2020, FACHARTIKEL_2019, FACHARTIKEL_2018, INTERVIEWARTIKEL_2023, INTERVIEWARTIKEL_2022, INTERVIEWARTIKEL_2021, INTERVIEWARTIKEL_2020, INTERVIEWARTIKEL_2019

kuint

You already have a subscription? Simply <hanser-login-link>log in/register</hanser-login-link> and continue reading!

Hanser Customer Center

Prices include VAT, plus possibly shipping costs

Practice-oriented technical information from the comfort of your home

Just <hanser-login-link>log in/register</hanser-login-link> here and continue reading!

<strong>You want to read more?<br> To continue reading this content please log in or register for the Hanser Customer Center.</strong>