NDAVER AND INEOS STYROLUTION SIGN OFFTAKE AGREEMENT FOR RECYCLED STYRENE MONOMER

•  Indaver’s depolymerisation plant to be the first of its kind in Europe
•  From yoghurt pot to yoghurt pot – agreement closes the loop for polystyrene

Indaver, a leading player in the European waste industry, and INEOS Styrolution, the global leader in styrenics, have signed an offtake agreement today giving INEOS Styrolution access to styrene monomer (“SM”) produced from post-consumer waste at Indaver’s planned depolymerisation plant.

This agreement closes the loop towards a circular economy for polystyrene. It will enable INEOS Styrolution to produce polystyrene from recycled feedstock replacing styrene monomer produced from fossil feedstock.

“The benefits are tremendous”, explains Dr. Alexander Glück., President EMEA at INEOS Styrolution. “We recognise plastics waste as a valuable resource that must not end up in landfill or be incinerated. Together with Indaver we reduce waste, we produce polystyrene with identical properties as the virgin material with a lower CO2 footprint and we reduce the use of fossil feedstock.”

With the recycled polystyrene meeting stringent food grade specifications, an old dream has finally come true: The material that has been used to preserve food can be recycled and used for the same purpose again.

“We are very pleased with this agreement”, says Paul de Bruycker, CEO at Indaver. “Our companies share the same vision of a true circular economy for polystyrene. The material is eminently suitable to allow for depolymerisation, an advanced recycling method that we deploy in our new recycling plant.”

The depolymerisation technology allows to recycle polystyrene by converting it back into its building block, styrene monomer. Thanks to this process, the recycled material can meet the strict food contact standards. This significantly expands the possibilities for recycling, including polystyrene waste that could previously only be used for conversion into low-value applications.

Being a strong player in the waste industry, Indaver is well positioned to create and manage the required waste streams for polystyrene. The company’s new plant will be based in Antwerp, Belgium and start production in 2024

Wipak Polska Acquires a Second Comexi S1 DT Slitting Machine for Its Quality and High Productivity

The new machine “fully meets our demand for top quality at high speed regarding the packaging of films converted in our Skarbimierz Osiedle plant”

Comexi, a specialist in solutions for the flexible packaging printing and converting industry, and Wipak Polska, a company specialising in the manufacture of bags and the conversion of films supplied by other Wipak Group companies, have reached an agreement for the acquisition of a Comexi S1 DT slitter by the Polish company. Quality, high productivity,and incorporated safety measures are the primary reasons for the acquisition of a second Comexi S1 DT slitter by Wipak Polska; the first machine of this type was purchased in 2017.

“The Comexi S1 DT slitter is a machine that fully meets our demand for top quality at high speed regarding the packaging of films converted in our plant,” explains Wlodzimierz Glapa, managing
director of Wipak Polska. The arguments that convinced the Polish company to purchase a second slitter, identical to the 2017 machine, are “firstly, safety, as the machine is equipped with
all the necessary measures that protect our employees from injuries and safety incidents. Furthermore, the operation of the Comexi S1 DT slitter is straightforward and intuitive. The second reason for the purchase references the machine’s quality, which concurs with high productivity of the slitting process.”

Wipak has been present in Poland for many decades, serving its customers with sales anddistribution. In 2013, the company relocated to Skarbimierz Osiedle, establishing a new production site. This facility is dedicated to the manufacturing of pouches and convert films supplied by other Wipak plants. Since this moment, Wipak Polska has increased its productivity
and capabilities, thus strengthening its position as a flexographic printing hub within the Wipak Group. The company primarily serves the food and healthcare sectors. The products of Wipak
Polska are designed to provide maximum protection capacity while being at the forefront of this type of innovative sustainable packaging.

The Comexi S1 DT is a slitter that provides excellent quality and productivity results, even in regard to the most demanding jobs, due to its state-of-the-art control elements and high degree of automation. As a result of an extremely interactive and easy-going user interface, almost every adjustable element of the machine, including cores, knives, laser heads, and photocells, are self-
calibrating. Without the need to intervene, this unique automation of the Comexi S1 DT allows the operator to load the reel into the machine and deliver finished reels.

The turreted version of the Comexi S1 DT is capable of performing jobs that require numerous output reels. Additionally, it is operable with the thickest materials used in the flexible packaging
market, including aluminium, wax, and other special or complex materials. The Comexi S1 DT allows for a high degree of customization, as well as many automated options, such as splicing
tables, automatic reel unloading, video camera inspection, and label robotization of finished reels. It fully guarantees complete system control and has an exceptional productivity increase.

Wipak Polska is part of the Wipak Group, a Finnish global supplier of premium quality,sustainable, and innovative flexible packaging solutions for food, medical devices, and
pharmaceutical products. Witrh 11 manufacturing plants across Europe, the Wipak Group andComexi began their relationship in 2005, when the Finnish company acquired the first Comexi
slitter. The purchase of other laminators and slitters has subsequently strengthened the confidence between the two companies.

OSH & SAFE South India: India’s Bid for Global Manufacturing Leadership in Occupational Health & Safety and Security

Informa Markets in India, a leading B2B exhibition organiser is set to host the 7th edition of Occupational Safety & Health (OSH South India) India and the 6th edition of SAFE South India 2022 at the Chennai Trade Centre, Chennai. The two-day co-located shows, slated for 17th- 18th June 2022, will provide a combined platform addressing a broad range of solutions to occupational hazards and security with preventive technologies, and innovation, to support the growth of both occupational health and safety and the security industries.

India represents only about 2% of the manufacturing output, and further India’s manufacturing accounts for only about 16% of the country’s GDP. Safety at the workplace will be the key differential that will help boost productivity and hence the manufacturing output. The expos will bring over 200 Plus brands from 100 Plus domestic and international exhibitors. The key exhibitor brands & partners at OSH South India include Mallcom, Venus, Torpedo, LRQA, Venus, ion Science, Marshal, VMEDO, Sure Safety, Red Star Safety, Karam, Udyogi, Joseph Leslie, Midas Safety and Jayco Safety to name a few. Key brands and partners at SAFE South India include Hikvision, Prama, Syrotech, In4, ZkTeco, Biomax, Gtropy, Hiware, Magtech, Picsys, Timewatch, Toshiba, Trueview, TVT and XYZ Digital to name a few. OSH South India is well-supported by reputed associations such as Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce, Safety Appliances Manufacturers Association (SAMA), International Power Access Federation ( IPAF ), Indian Technical Textile Association (ITTA), and many other safety consultants. The SAFE Expo is supported by APSA (Asian Professional Security Association), ASIS (American Society for Industrial Security) Bengaluru, New Delhi and Mumbai Chapters , ESAI (Electronic Security Association of India) and OSAC (Overseas Security Advisory Council) Chennai Chapter, IISSM (International Institute of Security and Safety Management), GACS (Global Association for Corporate Services), and Mitkat Advisory

OSH South India gives way to many emerging trends strengthening industrial and workplace safety market share and will witness demonstrations on Personal Protection Equipment’s, Fire & Gas Detection / Protection, Passive Fire Protection, Safety Signage, Ergonomical Workstation, Safety Training And Consultancy, Safety Software, Medical And Travel Security Services, Lockout Tagout and Machine Guarding, Material Handling, Respiratory Protection, Fall Prevention Accessories & Height Safety Products like Safety Accessories & Uniforms, Electrical Safety, and Transport Safety. SAFE Expo will provide trends and solutions pertaining to products such as Alarm Centres / Intruder Alarms, Access Control, Biometrics, Building Management Systems, CCTV, Computer Security, Integrated Systems & Networked Security, IT Security, Manned Guarding, Physical Security, Retail Security, Screening /Anti – Terrorism, Secure Communications, Surveillance and Traffic Monitoring & Valuables in Transit. The Expos aim to improve safety and health at work and security in all forms which will contribute to the sound socio-economic development of India.

Speaking on the announcement of OSH South India and SAFE Expo 2022, Mr. Yogesh Mudras, Managing Director, Informa Markets India said “India has a population exceeding 1.4 billion out of which, 63.6% form the working age group. Similarly, in the security industry, several trends have even accelerated that go beyond the traditional “physical security,” such as a host of frontiers like AI, cloud computing, IoT, and cybersecurity are being rapidly pioneered by entities big and small in our industry. India’s Video Surveillance Market size is projected to grow with a CAGR of 16.6% during 2020-26. OSH South India and the SAFE Expo 2022 is an attempt to showcase these two industries in a new light giving a much-required boost to the Indian manufacturing industries. The Expos will represent the entire value-added chain of the Occupational health & safety and securities industries to the buyer-seller community in South India. These are industries that bank on newer and improved technological innovations on a constant basis. We see there an immense growth potential along with the learning and networking opportunities for suppliers and service providers at these expos”.

OSH South India will be visited by professionals such as Safety Managers, Consultants, personnel from Defence Establishments, Disaster Management Experts, Distributors and Manufacturers Of Health & Safety Products, Electrical Contracting/ Engineers, Facility Managers, Logistics professionals, Municipal Authorities, System Integrators and Town Planners especially from the industrial hubs of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Meawhile, the SAFE Expo will be visited by professionals Procurement Managers, Consultants & Specifiers, Electrical Consultants, Fire Consultants, Safety Managers, Security Managers, Floor Managers, Plant Managers, Operation Managers, Estate Managers, Facilities Managers IT Managers, Design & Instrumentation Managers from hospitality, construction, legal, retail to name a few.

The expos will be backed by two knowledge based conferences which will bring together government officials, experts, industry associations and evangelists, and technical leaders.

Some of the key topics that will be discussed as part of the Conference at OSH South India under the theme: Decoding Occupational Safety & Health Challenges in 2022 include, Workplace safety practices – The leader’s role, Workshop: Industrial Hygiene and Practical Approach, Emerging Fire Risks and Strategies to Life Safety, E-Waste Management – A 360-degree approach including all stakeholders, Protective Devices — Best Practices for Sizing and Selection and many others. Based on the theme ‘New-Age Threats to Security’, the SAFE Expo will conduct a technical seminar and will cover topics like Technology-Enabled Disruptions, “Emerging Paradigms in Security Architecture”, Leading Technologies that have become Ubiquitous in the ‘New Normal’ in Security, Emerging Cyber Threats and their Implications for Corporate Security, How Smarter, Intelligent and Self-Learning Security Systems Make Life Easier for a CSO and many more.

Long-term safety and reliable stability: High Resistance TPE for cosmetics

In the packaging sector, isododecane and similar substances are a challenge for thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs). If a material has not been specifically developed for use in the field of cosmetics, there is a risk that modifications such as swelling or degradation of the material may occur. This particularly affects products that are based on water-resistant formulations. With High Resistance TPE for Cosmetics, KRAIBURG TPE is introducing a product development that reliably meets standard requirements over the long term.

For manufacturers, the requirements that cosmetic products have to meet are high, as product reliability has to be ensured at all times. But visual and haptic qualities, which have a direct influence on purchasing decisions, are also vitally important. Along with these criteria, mechanical properties also play a crucial role for processors. High Resistance TPE for Cosmetics has enabled KRAIBURG TPE to expand its portfolio to include a compound series that withstands contact with particularly demanding ingredients, including isododecane. So the TPE manufacturer from Waldkraiburg, Germany, is now able to provide further solutions for the beauty market, including applications such as waterproof mascara, pipette lids, lip gloss applicators and cosmetics packaging.

This new response for beauty applications is based on an established product from KRAIBURG TPE: COPEC® was developed to meet the requirements for high resistance to sebum oils. Due to its velvety surface, it also meets the demand for high-quality haptics in the field of consumer electronics. “We are now presenting our new materials solutions, High Resistance TPEs for Cosmetics, which for the first time make it possible to elegantly satisfy the high standards set by the cosmetics industry. Prospective clients will also benefit from the broad range of processing options available with the materials. This new product series is enabling us to meet customers’ current wishes and to open up new applications,” says Dr. Jan Bothe, product development scientist at KRAIBURG TPE.

High Resistance TPE for Cosmetics is available with hardness grades of 65, 75 and 85 Shore A and can be customized in many ways due to its opaque color. In addition, the new compounds have good processing properties in injection molding and allow adhesion to selected plastics. The materials also meet the standards of the cosmetics industry in accordance with US FDA CFR 21 and Regulation (EC) No. 10/2011 and comply with REACH, RoHS, California Proposition 65 as well as Mercosur No. 39/19. The TPEs are free of animal ingredients, so that they can be used throughout the cosmetics market. This is another product from KRAIBURG TPE that is suitable for in-process recycling.

High Resistance TPE for Cosmetics is now available worldwide

Solvay Eliminates the need for Fluorosurfactants in its Tecnoflon® FKM Portfolio

Solvay is leading the industry with the introduction of its breakthrough patented polymerization technology

Solvay, a global market leader in fluorochemistry, is introducing to the market a new portfolio of high-performance Tecnoflon® peroxide curable fluoroelastomers (FKM) produced without the use of fluorosurfactants (a type of PFAS used as process aids).

The proprietary new technology, called NFS (non-fluorosurfactant), marks a breakthrough in FKM polymerization and aligns with the company’s sustainability roadmap Solvay One Planet as Solvay is setting the direction for the fluoropolymers industry to a more sustainable economy.

“Our peroxide curable FKM portfolio has always been the broadest in the industry making Tecnoflon® a premier brand with our customers” said Georges Houtappel, Executive Vice President Automotive Business, Solvay Materials. “This unique new non-fluorosurfactant polymerization process underscores our leadership in innovation, confirming our firm commitment to increase capacity and create a sustainable future.”

In July 2022 Solvay will start the mass sampling of the new Tecnoflon® Peroxide curable grades to allow the market to test and adopt the NFS technology before the global roll-out of the new portfolio. We aim to transition Tecnoflon® FKM to NFS by the first quarter of 2024.

Peroxide curable FKM rubbers are key to many critical performance applications in industries from automotive and aerospace, oil & gas, chemical processing, to electronics and healthcare. Typical components include seals, gaskets, O-rings and hoses.

More information on solvay.com.

Tecnoflon® is a registered trademark of Solvay.

Fresh impulses for wind energy

• Investment in innovation: Covestro researches material solutions for sustainable energy generation at its new wind technology center
• Optimization and new development of PUR resins in cooperation with customers
• Simulation of manufacturing processes for optimal results

On the road to alternative energy generation: Covestro is developing innovative PUR resins for use in wind turbine rotor blades at its new Wind Technology Center. A win-win-win situation for Covestro, customers and the environment.

“The development of these resins is very important to us. After all, it contributes to the expansion of alternative energies and strengthens our strategic orientation to sustainably reduce the CO2 footprint and take even more steps towards climate neutrality,” explains Klaus Franken, Head of Application Development Wind and Pultrusion at Covestro. “To be competitive, the wind industry faces the constant challenge of reducing the Levelized Cost of Electricity. We can help here by enabling our customers to produce rotor blades faster and thus more cost-effectively. At the same time, higher energy yield through optimized blade properties and longer service life also play a role.”

Close cooperation with customers
One goal of the Wind Technology Center is to develop robust materials that combine the properties important for rotor blades, such as strength, stiffness and temperature resistance. Existing products are continuously optimized and completely new formulations are developed and tested. Another goal: application technology development in close cooperation with customers. Klaus Franken explains: “Here we can simulate our customers’ manufacturing processes and show how our PUR resins help them to realize both their rotor blade designs and the manufacturing process in the best possible way.”

Covestro attaches great importance to optimally tailoring its products to the needs of its customers. That is why a number of cooperative ventures with European and Asian wind turbine manufacturers are already in place. The focus here is on constructing and testing prototypes.

The high-tech center is located in Leverkusen and was completed and put into operation at the beginning of this year. It comprises two interconnected units: a laboratory area for chemical development and an Upscaling Plant. The latter is home to processing technology and application development.

Development and application go hand in hand
The center offers clear advantages: “Chemical development and application technology can work hand in hand here. On top of that, the physical proximity makes it easier to exchange information directly and quickly. We use identical resources and the same infrastructure and quickly obtain a comprehensive depiction of the process. This helps us to pursue our goals in a results-oriented manner and without losing knowledge, and enables us to offer new, innovative solutions to our customers,” explains Technical Center Manager Frank Grimberg. “Process and plant safety, explosion protection, machine safety and, of course, occupational safety are always in the spotlight here,” explains Tobias Wollersheim, who as Project Management was responsible for planning and implementing the investment.

Another positive aspect: with the innovative technology center, Covestro is increasing its attractiveness as an employer. Indeed, wind technology offers a wide range of new, interesting fields of work that arouse curiosity and offer diversity. Covestro has taken on a newly qualified chemical technician from its own training program to operate the machines. He is being intensively trained in the processes and machine technology.

This much is clear: Things are moving in the area of wind energy.

Covestro extends contract with CEO Dr. Markus Steilemann ahead of schedule until 2028

Dr. Markus Steilemann will remain Chief Executive Officer of Covestro for a further five years. The Supervisory Board has extended his contract, which runs until May 2023, until May 31, 2028. Steilemann has been a member of the Covestro Board of Management since September 2015 and its Chief Executive Officer since June 2018.

“Markus Steilemann has provided Covestro with outstanding leadership as Chief Executive Officer during his tenure to date, setting important strategic direction and driving the Group’s sustainable growth. We look forward to continuing our successful cooperation,” said Dr. Richard Pott, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Covestro AG. “By extending his mandate ahead of schedule, we are emphasizing our confidence in Mr. Steilemann to successfully continue the transformation Covestro has begun to become fully circular.”

Following his contract extension, Dr. Markus Steilemann responds: “I would like to thank the Supervisory Board for the trust it has placed in me. We have restructured Covestro and, together with my colleagues, I look forward to leading the company to a successful and sustainable future.”

In his role as Chief Executive Officer, Steilemann is responsible for the central functions of the company: Strategy, Sustainability & Public Affairs, Group Innovation, Corporate Audit, Human Resources and Communications.

Other members of Covestro’s Board of Management are Sucheta Govil as Chief Commercial Officer, Dr. Klaus Schäfer as Chief Technology Officer and Dr. Thomas Toepfer as Chief Financial Officer.

BOREALIS BORNEWABLES™, NOW USED IN HIGHLY SENSITIVE FROZEN FOOD PACKAGING MARKET

• Value chain partnership with PACCOR and Froneri enables first polypropylene ice cream brand packaging manufactured with certified renewable feedstock
• Innovative monomaterial packaging is 100% recyclable
• Partnership is embodiment of the Borealis EverMinds™ spirit of taking action to accelerate the move towards plastics circularity

Borealis, a global leader in advanced and sustainable chemicals & materials solutions, has announced that it has joined forces with ice cream company Froneri (Finland) and packaging specialist PACCOR (Germany) to support the transformation of the popular ice cream brand Aino to a sustainable offering. As a result of this partnership, the new Aino packaging tubs and lids are moulded in Bornewables™ polypropylene (PP) from Borealis, with renewable feedstock certified by mass balance accounting under the International Sustainability & Carbon Certification Plus (ISCC PLUS) scheme.

The collaboration between Borealis, Froneri and PACCOR is a key example of implementing innovative responsible packaging applications to accelerate the transition of the plastics industry towards a more sustainable and circular economy. It also connects with Borealis’ Consumer Products vision of ‘Making everyday life easier’, and aligns with the company’s EverMinds™ activities and initiatives for industrial partnership with committed players across the entire value chain.

Paving the road towards carbon neutrality
“Implemented within just 12 months from concept to market, the new Aino ice cream packaging is an excellent example for what can be achieved by collaboration to transform the plastics industry on its road to carbon neutrality,” says Peter Voortmans, Global Commercial Director Consumer Products at Borealis. “We are very proud about our contribution to the success of this joint project, which has once again confirmed the perfect fit of our Bornewables polymers in high-quality and high-performance packaging solutions.”

The feedstock for the Bornewables PP from Borealis is derived from second-generation bio-mass, waste and residue streams that are not competing with the human food chain. The renewable content is accredited by mass balance according to ISCC PLUS, which facilitates its traceability from the material production through to the final application.

In addition, brand owners can document the certified renewable content with a representative label or moulded-in information on the packaging, thus helping consumers make a more responsible choice in their purchase. Froneri has been the first ice cream company to receive the respectable ISCC PLUS certification in this highly sensitive packaging market segment and is planning to extend the use of the Bornewables polymers to further brands across Europe.

Inspired by Finnish nature
Aino ice cream has always been associated with the quality, reliability and environmental sensitivity of products made in Finland, where living in harmony with nature is firmly rooted in people’s DNA. The synergy of these values has been a strong inspiration driving the renewable based packaging.

“Sustainability is very important to us, with the core of it embedded in our local factory and production,” adds Charlotta Lindberg, Senior Brand Manager at Froneri. “At our ice cream factory in Turenki, we make continuous improvements and take practical actions both small and big to become more sustainable, for example by switching to renewable energy such as wind-based electricity, biogas and carbon-neutral heating. Furthermore, wherever possible, our packaging is Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified, and the cocoa used in our products is Rainforest Alliance certified. To mention a few things we are doing around sustainability.”

Fully functional monomaterial
The new Aino ice cream packaging tubs and lids are injection moulded from Bornewables PP by PACCOR in an integrated process with in-mould labelling decoration, which also makes this innovative monomaterial packaging 100% recyclable. Moreover, the renewable material is used as a highly efficient drop-in solution without any further modifications required to the partners’ manufacturing and packaging lines. At the same time, it helps them reduce their carbon footprint.

“By using renewable raw material, we have been able to substantially reduce our CO₂ emissions without changing the manufacturing process, which is a significant accomplishment and another important step being taken to reduce oil dependence within our group,” explains Andrzej Olszewski, Plant Manager at PACCOR Bydgoszcz. “In addition, compliance with the ISCC PLUS standard ensures complete transparency in production, maintaining high quality standards for our ice cream packaging products.”

For end users, the Bornewables material meets all functional requirements to enable durable and protective food-contact packaging fit for freezing, while addressing increased consumer demands to minimise the climate impact and fossil depletion potential of packaging products.

K 2022 will take place from 19 to 26 October 2022 in Düsseldorf, Germany.
We invite you to “Innovate Collaborate Accelerate” together with us by visiting Borealis and Borouge in Hall 6 at Stand A43, where the new ice cream packaging solutions will be on display.