For almost two decades, an expert committee, meeting once a year, has supported Kunststoffe magazine in determining the state of play in the plastics industry and identifying current technical developments. This time, the traditional spring meeting gave it an opportunity to debate the consequences of the Corona virus.

Taking new paths: during the Corona crisis, certain technical obstacles were also overcome by the Kunststoffe publisher advisory committee, who held a round table discussion by video conference for the first time. Present by video link were, among others, (top, from left) Dr. Guiscard Glück, Prof. Christian Hopmann (bottom, from left) Martin Würtele and Dr. Achim Eggert

16:9

Current Challenges and Options for Action in the Plastics Industry

Wirtschaftspolitik in Deutschland

Wirtschaft

Verpackungsmaterial

Logistik

Klotz, Karlhorst, Dr.

Internationale Wirtschaft

Verpackungsanlagen

Coilhandling

Recycling

Umweltmanagement

Kunststoff-Verpackungsmaschine

Kunststoffverarbeitung: Maschinen und Komponenten

Sondermaschinen

Kunststoff-Recycling

Kunststoffverarbeitung: Verfahren

Kunststoff-Aufbereitung

Medizintechnik

Starting up under the Shadow  of Corona

The process chain of the direct coating process has now been optimized. Self-healing, fast-curing PU casting coatings and polycarbonate compounds are now available for this manufacturing process.

The DC process makes it easier and faster to produce sophisticated-looking components with integrated sensors and light elements

Direct Coating with Polyurethane Coatings Creates Opportunities in Design and Functionality

Automotive

Elektronik

Kunststoff Werkstoffe

Oberflächentechnik

Polyurethan

Kunststoff

Bauwesen

Baustoffe

Polycarbonat

Thermoplaste

Short Cycle Times and High Productivity for Smart Components

The 2021 report indicates that the U.S. plastics industry remains one of the largest sectors of the American economy and continues on a strong growth path.

Tthe U.S. plastics industry remains one of the largest sectors of the American economy

Verbände, Institutionen, Messen

Dienstleistungen

Kunststoffverarbeitung

Lohnfertigung

PLASTICS Releases 2021 Size & Impact Report

Borealis and Topas Advanced Polymers have started collaboration on the development of a new class of engineering materials for applications that will bridge the current performance gap between standard polymers and high-end plastics.

Higher-performance film capacitors are a crucial element in all power transformation systems that bring about the green-energy transition in a cost-efficient way

Elektromobilität

Mobilität

Folien

Halbzeuge und Zwischenprodukte

Kunststoff-Halbzeuge

New Class of Engineering Material for Film Capacitor Applications

The masterbatch producer Grafe has developed an antistatic treatment that achieves a significantly lower surface resistivity and can be used together with color masterbatches and various fillers.

Antistatic systems for dust-free plastic parts are developed in the pilot plant at Grafe

Better Protection against ESD for Plastic Parts

Masterbatches

Additive

Antistatika

No Chance for Dust

DuPont Mobility & Materials and Inforum AutomotiveNext want to empower women by sharing best and next practices and expanding career training and professional development opportunities.

Partnership to strengthen the talent pipeline by empowering women to reach their full potential

DuPont Partners with Inforum AutomotiveNext

Borealis and Topas Advanced Polymers have started collaboration on the development of a new class of engineering materials for capacitor film applications that will bridge the current performance gap between standard polymers and high-end plastics.

Technik Trend

kunststoffe-international.com

Ineos Styrolution, one of the global leaders in styrenics, celebrated the company’s tenth anniversary on October 1, 2021. Time to look back at ten successful years; time to look ahead at what will be next.

Ineos Styrolution Celebrates Ten Successful Years

Biesterfeld Spezialchemie has appointed Sergej Lazovic as Managing Director of Biesterfeld Spezialchemie GmbH alongside Peter Wilkes with effect from 1 October 2021. Together, the two Managing Directors will be responsible for the ongoing strategic development of the Biesterfeld subsidiary‘s global business.

The Managing Directors of Biesterfeld Spezialchemie: Peter Wilkes (left) and Sergej Lazovic (right)

Personen

kunststoffe.de

Biesterfeld Spezialchemie with New Managing Director

DuPont Mobility & Materials has been named one of five finalists for the prestigious Global BioPlastics Award.

Good Environmental Impact Profile

Milliken & Compay, Spartanburg, SC/USA, a global diversified manufacturer, has formally acquired Encapsys, LLC, a manufacturer of microencapsulation, from the Cypress Performance Group LLC.

Milliken Acquires Encapsys

With a glass fiber-filled PA6, Lanxess has presented the first product in a product family specially manufactured from sustainable raw materials. The materials for this come e.g. from the energy group bp.

Polyamide 6 compound made from 92 % sustainable raw materials

Kunststoffe, biobasiert

Biokunststoffe

Polyamide

Kreislaufwirtschaft

PA6 Compound Made from 92 % Sustainable Raw Materials

An international team of scientists and engineers has found that a nylon fabric embedded with zinc ions successfully inactivated 99% of the viruses that cause Covid-19 and the common flu.

Scientists and engineers have found that a nylon fabric embedded with zinc ions successfully inactivated 99 % of the viruses

Medizinprodukte

Zinc-Embedded Nylon Fabric Inactivates Viruses

Lati Industria Termoplastici signs with The Hemp Plastic Company for the distribution of hemp plastics in Europe.

Lati signs with THPC for the distribution of hemp plastics in Europe

Distribution of Hemp Plastics in Europe

By acquiring a stake in GME Chemicals, one of the leading distributors of specialty chemicals and polymers in South-East Asia, Biesterfeld is continuing its geographic expansion and growth strategy.

 Biesterfeld management board: Carsten Harms, Thomas Arnold, Peter Wilkes und Kai Froböse (from left to right)

Unternehmen

Biesterfeld Group Takes over GME Chemicals

Third “Automotive Interior Survey” Conducted

Easy-to-maintain and sustainable materials add value to customers.

In November 2021 Asahi Kasei, a diversified Japanese multinational company, conducted its third „Automotive Interior Survey“ together with Cologne, Germany-based market research institute Skoos in the four major automotive markets: the USA, Germany, China and Japan. 1,000 car users of varying income levels in each market responded to questions regarding their car purchasing behavior, understanding of automotive sustainability and preferences for the automotive interior. This survey supports the importance of Asahi Kasei’s Healthy Car Portfolio to help OEMs satisfy the needs of the end user.

Whether new or used, survey respondents prefer to continue to pursue ownership in the future. Car sharing or not having a car were not attractive options. 84% of car users in China prefer to buy, finance or lease a new car, and they are willing to spend an average of 31% more on their next car. With a 7% increase compared to the costs of their current car, the overall willingness of German car users to spend more money on their next car is significantly lower compared to the USA (+19%) and Japan (+10%). In addition, over half of car users prefer to purchase a new car over a used car.

Brand Loyalty is Still a Concern for OEMs

In addition, the results regarding brand loyalty confirm the findings of our surveys from 2019 and 2020, that consumers are willing to change brands quite easily. When it comes to purchasing a new car, on average only half of the car users in Germany would choose the same brand as the current car. However, while car users in the USA and Japan saw a similar trend to Germany, there was a stark contrast in China. In the world’s biggest automotive market 72% of car owners will consider a different car brand for their next purchase. These figures convey that a significant share of car users are not loyal to a single brand and must be convinced when shopping for their next car.

Cleanliness Continues to Play a Major Role in the Interior

While fuel/power consumption, drivetrain technology, running costs and driving performance remain as dominating decision factors, the interior design has been gaining importance in recent years. One of every two car users in the four main markets will take interior design into account for their next car purchase. With growing electrification and automation, it is expected that the interior will become the main differentiating factor in upcoming years, and its importance in the car purchasing process will further increase. A key finding of the first survey from 2019 showed that car users worldwide highly value the cleanliness inside their car. Also in 2021 64% of car users in Germany put a great emphasis on the cleanliness of their car, trumping intuitive operation (38%) and personalization (46%). A similar trend was seen in China (78%), Japan (72%) and USA (62%).

Car Users See High Benefit in Easy-to-maintain Surfaces

Whether it is a dirty floor, stains and scratches on the interior surfaces, or smell, the general understanding of cleanliness differs among the regions. While car users in China are clearly annoyed by “unpleasant odors” (48%) and the so-called “new car smell” (23%), the share of car users annoyed by these factors is significantly lower in the other regions. In contrast, “scratches on visible surfaces” are bothering one of every four car users in Germany (25%). This share has further increased compared to 2020 (21%). The same can be observed in the USA, with 29% of the car users being annoyed by scratches (2020: 19%). “Stains on fabrics” are also an annoyance factor for 30% of car users in Germany (2020: 26%) and 32% in the USA (2020: 26%). A major share in all regions sees a benefit in “water and dirt repellent surfaces,” with 74% in China, 70% in the USA, 65% in Japan and 63% in Germany. “Surface and seating materials that are easy to wash” was also in high regard, especially in the USA (81%) and in China (80%). Heiko Rother, General Manager Business Development Automotive at Asahi Kasei Europe, comments, “Cleanliness was highly valued by car users even before the pandemic. The last two years have further fueled this desire, and the definition of ‘cleanliness’ has broadened.” Mike Franchy, Director of North American Mobility at Asahi Kasei America, continues, “With the cost of vehicles increasing consumers have their vehicles longer and want surfaces that are highly durable, easy to clean and continue to look new over time. In addition, our Healthy Car portfolio of anti-microbial textiles and plastics, along with technology to ensure interior air quality, we have solutions for the OEMs to address these needs of the market.”

The findings of the survey show “Sustainability” is no longer only defined by the drivetrain technology, but also by the choice of materials. For example, roughly half of the car users in Germany, China and the USA characterize a sustainable car based on “materials made from highly recyclables”. In contrast, car users in Japan prioritized hybrid drivetrains to recyclables when characterizing sustainable automobiles. This growing awareness towards sustainability in automobiles is also reflected in the car user’s willingness to spend more money on a sustainable vehicle. In China, two out of three car users would pay more, in the USA and Japan every third, and in Germany every fourth. Heiko Rother concludes, “The definition and the perception of sustainability in automobiles is changing. Car users are looking more into the materials being used – electrification alone is not enough anymore. More sustainable interior surface materials that are also good-looking, durable, easy-to-maintain and clean will get more attention from car users. In the end, a ‘long-lasting’ material quality is being recognized as more sustainable.” Mike Franchy adds, “With our extensive product line of engineered plastics from Asahi Kasei Plastics North America, textiles from Sage Automotive Interiors and UVC technology from Crystal IS for interior air purification, we can collaborate with OEMs as a trusted partner to develop the interior functions and features the consumers demand.”

Asahi Kasei Corporation  

https://www.asaha-kasei.co.jp

Third “Automotive Interior Survey” shows: Easy-to-maintain and sustainable materials add value to customers.

2022-04-19 Asahi Kasei Studie

This survey is the global continuation of the “Asahi Kasei Europe Automotive Interior Survey” from 2019. To learn more about the past surveys please visit https://automotive.asahi-kasei.eu/stories-interior-story-2019/ https://automotive.asahi-kasei.eu/interior-story.

issue 07/2022

issue 06/2022

issue 05/2022

About the journal

About the Journal

Contact

Jobs

Media Data

My Login

Subscriptions

Subscription

Subscription Cancellation

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

Extrusion

Additive Manufacturing

Further Processing Methods

Compounding

Composite Processing

Peripheral Equipment

Simulation

Processing

Research & Development

Dissertations

Patents

Journal of Plastics Technology

K-Fair

K 2022

HANSER Fachbuch

HANSER Literaturverlage

Hanser Divisions

Kunststoffe

FORM+Werkzeug

HANSER automotive

QZ Qualität und Zuverlässigkeit

WB Werkstatt + Betrieb

More Technical Portals

Publisher

E-Paper

Newsletter

Deutsch

Service Menu

linkedin

Products

Partners & Associations

Organ

Business Directory

Online Archive

Multi-User License

FACHARTIKEL_2022, FACHARTIKEL_2021, FACHARTIKEL_2020, FACHARTIKEL_2019, FACHARTIKEL_2018, INTERVIEWARTIKEL_2021, INTERVIEWARTIKEL_2020, INTERVIEWARTIKEL_2019

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

Please log in

Choose Single Copy

Choose E-Paper

To Online Achives

You want to read more? Please choose your favourite from the following offers!

Settings

You want to read a Plus Article? No problem - you can purchase these articles separately (including PDF download).

KUint_Einzelartikel-Download-600x399px

Shopkunden

Kunststoffe international Single Article

Hanser

7% Digital mit Auslandssteuer

Try the digital subscription of Kunststoffe international 4 weeks free of charge!
The digital subscription includes:
<ul>
<li>E-Paper: The digital edition of Kunststoffe international</li>
<li>Kunststoffe-international.com and kunststoffe.de: Unlimited access to all contents</li>
<li>Online archive: Exclusive access to articles from back issues</li>
</ul>
If you want to continue the Kunststoffe international digital subscription after the free trial period, you don't need to do anything else. The annual digital subscription at the <a href="https://www.hanser-kundencenter.de/en/hanser/productfinder/Kunststoffe-international-Digital-Annual-Subscription" target="_blank">subscription price</a> valid at this time will start automatically. If you do not wish to continue reading after the trial period, please write to <a href="mailto:kundencenter@hanser.de" target="_blank">kundencenter@hanser.de</a> at the latest one week prior to the end of the trial period.

KUint_Digital_Abo_Gratis_1280x851

Kunststoffe international Digital Trial Subscription

9 E-Paper editions
Access to the current E-Paper edition will be provided immediately after submitting your order.
<ul>
<li>Digital: E-Paper are optimized for tablets, smartphones and browsers.</li>
<li>Comfortable: As soon as a new edition is available, you will receive an alert.</li>
<li>Minimum term: 12 months</li>
<li>Callable until at least six weeks prior to the end of the minimum term.</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://www.kunststoffe.de/en/epaper" target="_blank">&gt;&nbsp;Detailed information on the E-Paper </a>
<a href="https://epaper.kunststoffe.de/en?autologin=true" target="_blank">&gt; Take a look at the current E-Paper issue</a>