Messe Frankfurt India’s spectacular run of back to back trade shows and conferences this May brings back business vigour.

Supporting the resurgence of a covid-dented economy, Messe Frankfurt India hosted a series of live exhibitions in the financial capital across diverse industry verticals; introducing market-leading innovations by over 600 companies and attracting over 50,000 visitors across 28 Indian states and union territories locally and 57 countries and 6 continents internationally.

Making a grand comeback in the financial capital – the Indian subsidiary of the world’s leading German exhibition organiser – Messe Frankfurt hosted nine back-to-back physical exhibitions and conference, this May. This includes the Mumbai debut of Gartex Texprocess India, Denim Show alongside Screen Print India, the successful trade fair trio of Paperworld India, Corporate Gifts Show, Interior Lifestyle India presented by Ambiente India, its flagship Media Expo and LED Expo fairs and the renowned NGV India Summit.

Targeting diverse industry verticals such as textiles, printing, signage, advertising, stationery, corporate gifting, homeware among others, the b2b platforms organised by Messe Frankfurt India facilitated the exchange of the latest sector developments, business, technological breakthroughs, and industry collaborations. “The energy and business enthusiasm among attendees was contagious. The industries are back in action, there is a high-level of commitment to strengthen domestic collaborations and bolster supply chains and exhibition platforms create the perfect business encounters to meet these objectives,” said Mr Stephan Buurma, Member of the Board of Management, Messe Frankfurt Group.

Making its Mumbai debut, Gartex Texprocess India was inaugurated by Smt Darshana Jardosh, Hon’ble Union Minister of State for Textiles and Railways, Government of India, and succeeded in drawing 9,328 visitors. With Denim Show, Screen Print India, Fabrics and Trims Show held under its umbrella, the Mumbai launch of Gartex Texprocess India 2022 displayed the right mix of manufacturing tools and textile products by 120 exhibitors, attracting footfalls from and 253 cities across 28 Indian states and 27 countries. Additionally, the trade fair hosted insightful knowledge sessions on the most unique and intriguing topics for the denim industry.
Alongside the launch, the trade fair trio of Paperworld India, Corporate Gifts Show, Interior Lifestyle India presented by Ambiente India was inaugurated by Shri Aslam Shaikh, Hon’ble Minister of Textile, Fisheries and Port Development, Government of Maharashtra bringing together 215 exhibitors and proved to be a massive success drawing in 14,615 trade visitors from 230 cities across 27 Indian states and 38 countries over its three days.

Held in the same week at Bombay Exhibition Centre, the 48th edition of Media Expo concluded on an equally high note highlighting the transition towards innovative, sustainable and eco-friendly advertising solutions. Bringing the printing, signage and advertising industries under one roof, the event garnered a record-breaking footfall of 13,199 visitors and buyers from 15 countries, and 306 cities across 27 Indian states who were treated to top innovations and technologies from 127 exhibitors, including 17% new participants on its show floors.

Following the successful run of seven trade fairs, India’s premier business event for LED and lighting technologies – LED Expo Mumbai made its grand comeback in the financial capital bringing together 179 exhibitors with over 1,000 products on display. The key business event for the lighting industry attracted 12,934 from 316 cities across 29 states and 21 countries.

Mr Raj Manek, Executive Director and Board Member, Messe Frankfurt Asia Holdings Ltd shared: “Exhibitions have proven to be a highly effective marketing tool and bring sustainable growth. Product presentations, brand awareness, market research, industry collaborations – the commercial benefits of an exhibition are endless. But the highlight will always be ‘connecting people’. The persuasive power of face-to-face marketing builds trust that can create lasting personal relationships.”

As the final business event of the month, the Natural Gas Vehicle (NGV) India Summit garnered an enriching response from 230 industry experts and concluded on a high note with key takeaways for Indian fuel and gas industry. Amid soaring petrol and diesel prices concerning the citizens of India, the NGV India Summit was scheduled at an ideal time, highlighting the importance of natural gas and the way forward in terms of challenges, opportunities and overall acceptance of the clean fuel.
“Messe Frankfurt platforms are known for its international standards, professionalism and are built on trust that has been cultivated over the years of us providing quality services in every aspect of the show. Our exhibitors’ conviction and business confidence in our platforms, the pro-activeness and quality of visitors, the growing confidence of industry associations and government bodies in our vision for industry growth are what keeps us going.” concluded Manek.

Taking this positive momentum forward, Gartex Texprocess India together with Denim Show, Fabrics and Trims Show and Screen Print India will once again welcome businesses back at its base in New Delhi from 4 – 6 August 2022 at Pragati Maidan; Media Expo will introduce the industry to next phase of advertising, print media, and the signage innovations at India Expo Mart, New Delhi from 1 – 3 September 2022; and the 9th edition of the International Elevator and Escalator (IEE) Expo will welcome the industry from 6 – 8 September 2022 at JIO World Convention Centre (JWCC) becoming the first point of industry connect after two years.

For more information about the event, please visit :
www.in.messefrankfurt.com

Avery Dennison and Mactac present new sustainable graphics solutions portfolio at FESPA 2022

Avery Dennison Graphics Solutions EMENA is continuing its increased focus on sustainability with the launch of new Sustainable Graphics Solutions product portfolios for both the Avery Dennison and the Mactac brands. The Sustainable Graphics Solutions product portfolios give installers even easier and wider access to more sustainable graphics materials, with a new generation of products.

Avery Dennison’s global focus on sustainability has evolved over many years, setting some of the boldest goals in the industry to advance environmental and social sustainability commitments. Alongside ambitious 2025 sustainability goals are recently introduced 2030 sustainability goals. These align with seven of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and they were developed based on careful analysis of what is most important for the business and stakeholders.

Elizabeth Park (director innovation and marketing excellence, Graphics EMENA) said that sustainability is now the starting point for many innovations: “When designing Avery Dennison or Mactac products, sourcing our raw materials, and setting up manufacturing, one of the first questions we ask as a corporation is simple: ‘is it sustainable?’ This is the foundation for how we meet our customer’s needs within our commercial teams.“

“Sustainability affects more than just the products we sell, of course – it requires social responsibility, diversity and inclusion both in our workplace and beyond our own ‘four walls’ to the wider external environment. This new sustainable portfolio demonstrates the benefits of education, transparency and collaboration with customers and other value chain partners – it’s how we address industry-wide challenges and the innovations we have achieved represent an invaluable opportunity to position our business for lasting success.”

Products in the portfolio meet one or more strictly defined sustainable criteria – part of the ongoing drive to make sure that our customers have more sustainable options. These latest innovations include Avery Dennison Organoid Natural Surfaces, made using renewable materials, along with the newly launched premium PVC-free digitally printable wrapping film, SP 1504 Easy Apply™. The Mactac portfolio offers PVC-free Squid® Window Textile films as well as paper based products within the WallWrap Series, such as WW Linen Paper, which are sourced from Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) certified suppliers. These products are a key part of the transition to Sustainable Graphics Solutions.

Li Wen (senior director and general manager, Graphics EMENA): “As a major global business, we share a responsibility to contribute to a more sustainable future, also benefiting from the resulting opportunities. For us, the words ‘innovation’ and ‘sustainability’ go hand in hand. It is our responsibility to make the most of our knowledge as leaders in science and innovation, so that we design and market our products in a more sustainable way for the future. Among other things, we are sourcing responsibly, reducing our operational footprint, and incorporating an EcoDesign methodology for our product developments.”

For more information on our commitment to Sustainability, you can check the Avery Dennison website and Mactac website, and visit us at stand A50 during FESPA 2022.

Avery Dennison and Mactac will be at stand A50, Hall 3.2, Berlin Messe, from 31 May – 3 June 2022. You will also be able to hear Elizabeth Park giving a talk on the subject of Sustainability at 12:00pm on the 1st of June at the Press Conference Room at FESPA.

Register now for the show: FESPA 2022 – Free Registration Link.

Milliken & Company investment advances its coating additives lab in Ohio, USA

Milliken & Company (“Milliken”), a global material science expert, is excited to share that it has made a significant investment in the coating additives laboratory it acquired in 2020 as part of its purchase of Borchers Americas, Inc., in Westlake, Ohio.

Now known as “Borchers: A Milliken Brand,” the acquired business was founded in 1807 as a chemical company but has since grown into a global provider of performance additives for the coatings, inks, and adhesives markets.

With the Westlake lab investment, the company now has three state-of-the-art coating additives labs globally, with the others located in Langenfeld, Germany and Shanghai, China (which was also upgraded following the acquisition).

The newly transformed lab has an open concept with a vibrant, energizing workspace and upgraded equipment. Designed specifically for coating additives lab work, the space is organized to increase efficiency and collaboration while also providing a safe and comfortable working environment. “We are thrilled with the improvements made in the lab,” said Loulou Rozek, who leads the global technical service team at the facility. “It’s exciting to see that Milliken is investing in both the business and associates by improving the workspace.”

A priority of the remodel was creating an ergonomic work environment that provides a positive, safe atmosphere. “I’m proud to work for a safety-focused company that cares about the health of its people” said Ryan Outrich, technical service chemist.

Milliken took an associate-first approach to the lab update by asking the laboratory team to lead the remodel, allowing associates to design not only the layout but the aesthetic as well. The coating additives team is used to working with colorful paints and wanted a bright, energizing space, selecting vibrant purple, green and orange accent colors to promote creativity. “It’s gratifying to work for a company that asks its lab associates to help design their own workspace,” says Allison Abbey, technical service chemist and co-supplier manager. “I get excited to go to work every day.”

In addition to workspace redesign, Milliken invested heavily in lab and test equipment along with expanding the team. “The lab’s sophisticated new equipment can generate state-of-the-art data for our customers,” Rozek said. The addition of equipment, associates and an upgraded layout approximately doubles project capacity, enabling Milliken to further support customers.

The team began working in the upgraded lab in March and is now welcoming customers to schedule tours, demonstrations, and trainings.

In the future, Milliken plans to further expand their coating additives labs into other regions such as India and Brazil.

BENEO Acquires Meatless B.V. to Further Expand its Portfolio of Plant-based Solutions

BENEO, one of the leading manufacturers of functional ingredients, has today announced the acquisition of Dutch company, Meatless B.V., ensuring it becomes a major player in the field of plant-based texturising solutions for meat and fish alternatives.

The move comes amid a huge rise in demand for plant-based products, with figures showing that the market for fish and meat alternatives is expected to grow by more than 10% CAGR over the next five years. The acquisition of Meatless B.V. allows BENEO to broaden its portfolio and offer customers a versatile selection of plant-based solutions that serve as texturisers for meat and fish alternatives. BENEO sees great prospects for the new range of solutions in Europe as a focus market in the first instance, with plans to further expand globally.

Commenting on the announcement, Andreas Herber, Member of the Executive Board at BENEO states: “Following the recently announced investment into our new faba bean processing plant, the acquisition of Meatless B.V. is the next logical step to reaffirm BENEO’s commitment to strengthening its business with solutions for plant-based alternatives.”

Meatless B.V, founded in 2005 and located in Goes, The Netherlands, is a supplier of textured plant-based ingredients with a unique portfolio of solutions derived from different raw materials (i.e., rice, faba beans, wheat, pea, lupin and quinoa). This range fully complements BENEO’s ingredients portfolio and allows for exciting new combinations. As a result, BENEO’s customers will benefit from a much broader variety and greater flexibility that supports the development of meat and fish alternatives.

Meatless’ products are sustainable by design, with the production processes achieving a very low carbon footprint, further supporting BENEO’s aim to use state-of-the-art production facilities to reduce total CO2 emissions.

Andreas Herber, continues: “BENEO and Meatless are a natural fit. BENEO’s raw material expertise and ingredient knowledge, in combination with Meatless’ technology and product portfolio, will provide our customers with a versatile plant-based toolbox for meat and fish alternatives. The acquisition will allow for exciting new developments within BENEO’s portfolio, while also supporting the business’ sustainability ambitions.”

The current management of Meatless will stay on board following the acquisition. Jos Hugense, CEO Meatless comments: “We are glad that Meatless can make the next step in its corporate development with BENEO. BENEO as a strong and experienced global player for functional ingredients will enable Meatless to meet the growing demand and further accelerate expansion of the business in new markets.”

SABIC to showcase innovative foam & lightweight solutions at Foam Expo North America

SABIC, a global leader in the chemical industry, will be exhibiting its broad portfolio of innovative foam & lightweight solutions for the first time at Foam Expo North America, from 28-30 June in Novi, Michigan.

SABIC offers more than 20 innovative foam and lightweight solutions (PP, EVA, PE, PS, PU and elastomers) that can potentially enable our customers and partners across the entire value chain to drive performance, by overcoming the challenges they face to meet consumer demand for smarter, more sustainable solutions.

At its booth # 2702, SABIC will be showcasing a variety of end applications made using its foam & lightweight solutions, for the mobility, packaging and construction market. Amongst others; trunk liners, PP planks and water shields made of SABIC® PP-UMS resin, a new generation of ultra melt strength, foamable polypropylene. SABIC PP-UMS is unique in the market, with a melt strength of more than 65 cN leading to outstanding foamability. It is a building block to develop new foaming solutions that can enable light weighting and potential cost optimization. Other applications to be showcased at the booth will highlight the value of the SABIC resins applied in particle foams, foam injection molding, foam blow molding and foam extrusion.

“SABIC is a leading foam and lightweight solution provider; our knowledge and expertise in foam technologies and markets, and in-depth understanding of the value chain and its needs, has been translated into one of the broadest resin portfolios in the industry,” said Abdullah Al-Otaibi, ETP & Market Solution General Manager at SABIC. Being present the first time at the Foam Expo North America will allow SABIC to interact to deliver and develop a resin portfolio for new and existing applications. We look forward to creating many new partnerships moving forward.”

The successful start-up of Gulf Coast Growth Ventures world-scale manufacturing facility in Texas will additionally confirm SABIC’s commitment to the US market.

SABIC’s business with leading global brand owners is growing from year to year, supported by dedicated, global Foam Innovation Centers equipped with in-house state-of-the-art foaming technologies. Unique in the industry, we invite customers and value chain partners to WORK WITH US and conduct material validation and processing tests together, to develop innovative solutions that address the future needs of the industry.

For more information please contact us at foam@sabic.com.

For an overview of our portfolio of global foam & lightweight solutions see here.

INEOS Olefins Belgium joins Fluxys project for hydrogen network with open access in Antwerp

• Project ONE is potentially one of the largest customers connecting to the hydrogen grid
• INEOS Olefins Belgium joins Fluxys market consultation in Antwerp to build open-access hydrogen network for decarbonisation of industry
• As a potential customer of 100 000 tonnes of hydrogen on a yearly basis, Project ONE could be decisive for the scope of the infrastructure
• Important catalyst for the development of the hydrogen market in Antwerp

Potential for up to 100 000 tonnes of hydrogen a year
Chemical company INEOS Olefins Belgium is the first industrial player to sign an agreement with Fluxys to participate in the feasibility study for the development of an open access hydrogen network in the port of Antwerp. The cooperation follows the market consultation initiated by Fluxys last year to match supply and demand for hydrogen in the Belgian industrial clusters.

The European Commission considers hydrogen essential for becoming carbon-neutral. When hydrogen is used as a fuel, it is carbon-free and essentially only water vapour is emitted. It is also an important raw material for the chemical industry.

Important catalyst
Project ONE, the investment project for the construction of an ethane cracker on the right bank in the port of Antwerp, could play a significant role in the dimensioning of the hydrogen network in Antwerp. Depending on the future transition to net zero emissions and the scenario chosen, the plant has the potential to take around 100 000 tonnes of hydrogen off the grid.

Ralf Gesthuisen, Technology Manager of Project ONE: “We have identified several technological paths for Project ONE that would allow us to further reduce our emissions and achieve the transition to climate neutrality. One of them is to use more hydrogen as a fuel for our cracker’s furnaces and steam boilers. From day 1 of the start-up of our plant, we have been able to meet 60% of the heat demand with the high volumes of hydrogen from the cracking process. If we gain access to more low-carbon hydrogen in the future, we can increase this to 100% and bring the emissions of Project ONE to net zero. Our participation in Fluxys’ feasibility study brings us one step closer to making this a reality.”

Raphaël De Winter, Director Business Development & Innovation at Fluxys:
“With Fluxys we are fully committed to helping develop a well-functioning market for hydrogen quickly. This requires an open access grid to which everyone can connect on an equal footing so that supply and demand can find each other smoothly. We are working on infrastructure proposals in the various industrial clusters in Belgium, providing connections between the clusters and to neighbouring countries, and working on import possibilities. In Antwerp, the interest shown by INEOS Olefins Belgium is an important step in the development of the infrastructure needed by industry. The train is leaving now: with the interest of all the companies combined, we will complete the studies for the grid in Antwerp early 2023 and conclude contracts in the first half of 2023 to be able to build.”

Active player in the hydrogen economy
As a group, INEOS is already involved in numerous projects where hydrogen plays an important role. One example is the collaboration with Fluxys and the other consortium partners of Power to Methanol to build a demo plant for the production of sustainable methanol from hydrogen and captured CO2 by electrolysis. (Power to Methanol Antwerp)

In November 2020, the INEOS group launched a new business to develop and build green hydrogen capacity across Europe to support the drive towards a carbon-free future. This was followed a year later by the announcement to invest EUR 2 billion in the production of carbon-free, green hydrogen across Europe.

Cosmo Speciality Chemical’s new generation cationic softener ‘Silky SF’ to offer unmatched finishing effect

Newly launched finishing textile auxiliary adds surface smoothness to all kinds of fabric without compromising with its quality

Cosmo Speciality Chemicals, a 100% subsidiary of Cosmo Films Ltd. announces the launch of Silky SF – a cationic softener that enables excellent softening effect on all kinds of textile. The newly launched product is cost effective and offers a silky touch to the fabric. The product will be available across Indian/global market.

Silky SF softener is recommended as a finishing product for all kinds of fabric, especially cotton as it imparts surface smoothness to the material. The application of this finishing agent provides a soft, fluffy, soapy, voluminous surface to the physical texture of the fabric. To increase lubricity of the fabric, this finishing agent can be applied with exhaust and pad process application. Silky SF is a cost effective product and ensures minimal effect on shade change of treated materials on post softening thermo-mechanical treatments.

On the introduction of the new softener, Mr. Anil Gaikwad, Business Head, Cosmo Specialty Chemicals said, “Our aim is to innovate and develop products that yield optimum results in terms of efficiency and costs for our consumers. Silky SF is a convenient alternative for softeners used at the finishing stage of textile processing for all kinds of fibers as it successfully lubricates the fabric and gives it a lasting luxurious feel without compromising the quality of the cloth.”

The softener is easy-to-use and its application retains quality while imparting surface smoothness and supple handle to the cloth. Silky SF is miscible in water in all proportions. For textile processing, its usage is suitable for exhaust and pad application technique. The recommended dose for Exhaust is 2.0 – 4.0 % while for continuous use is 20 – 40 g/l.

Backed up by technical know-how and long-term experience in textile processing, formulations of anionic, cationic, non-ionic, and amphoteric surfactants, Cosmo Speciality Chemicals have a unique and strong experience in Speciality textile chemicals. The R & D facility is equipped with sophisticated analytical instrumentations including SEM-EDS, TGA-MS, DMA, FTIR & imaging IR, DSC & optical microscope, etc. which helps the company develop products at a molecular level.

OE-A Competition 2023 – Call for Smart Ideas in Flexible and Printed Electronics

OE-A launches the OE-A Competition 2023. Innovative ideas from young engineers, designers, and scientists are wanted. Participation is possible now. All submissions will be showcased at LOPEC 2023 and beyond.

“Each run of the OE-A Competition shows us anew the great potential of flexible, organic, and printed electronics. From prototypes to close-to-market products, we are very excited to receive your ingenious projects for the OE-A Competition 2023”, says Dr. Klaus Hecker, Managing Director of OE-A (Organic and Printed Electronics Association), an international working group within VDMA.

Invited are all companies and institutes to participate in one or more of the three different categories. The submitted projects are judged by an international jury of representatives from well-known companies and institutes in three categories: “Prototypes & New Products”; “Freestyle Demonstrator”; and “Publicly Funded Project Demonstrator”. “We also encourage young researchers and companies to work on new concepts and seek for collaboration. By hosting this competition, OE-A nurtures the market development of printed electronics”, emphasizes Klaus Hecker.

Present your project at LOPEC
Taking part in the OE-A Competition creates visibility for the participants. All submitted products and demonstrators will be presented to the international community at LOPEC, the leading exhibition and conference for printed electronics. A special moment is when the winners receive their award during an official ceremony at LOPEC. LOPEC will take place from February 28 to March 02, 2023, in Munich.

Win the Public Choice Award
All LOPEC visitors are invited to cast their vote for their favorite project of the competition. Visitors are challenged to make their decision for the “Public Choice Award”. “We had a very active participation this year onsite in Munich, visitors showed a lot of interest in the competition projects displayed at the OE-A booth”, says Klaus Hecker. He adds: “It is a great pleasure to see the year by year growing number of products close to market. It’s evident that printed electronics has a lot to offer for the health and mobility industries.

Visibility at LOPEC and beyond
Next to a presentation at LOPEC, OE-A also presents all demonstrators with additional footage year around at oe-a.org. Additionally, OE-A organizes a web-seminar for all winners to present their products to the community. The “Winner web-seminars” are highly attended with more than 100 participants on average. Furthermore, OE-A flanks and supports the run of the Competition with press and social media work. “If you want to promote your work and seek international attention for your innovative project in printed electronics, hand in the application form until end of October”, emphasizes Klaus Hecker.

Detailed information on the OE-A Competition 2023 and application forms are available at the OE-A website https://oe-a.org/oe-a-launches-oe-a-competition-2023.

Have a look at the OE-A Competition winners of 2022 and be amazed: https://oe-a.org/oe-a-competition-2022-2

The Winners of the OE-A Competition 2022

OE-A Competition Winner 2022 “Prototypes & New Products”:
Sensing Leg Prosthesis © IEE, Luxembourg

OE-A Competition Winner 2022 “Freestyle Demonstrator”
and “Public Choice Award:
Smart Sensor Mat © TNO Holst Centre, The Netherlands

OE-A Competition Winner 2022 “Best Publicly Funded Project”:
ECOtronics, Energy Autonomous Temperature Logger,
VTT and Tampere University, Finland

“We help to avoid waste”

Interview with Dr. Simon Bard, Product Manager Extrusion at Hans Weber Maschinenfabrik GmbH

Dr. Bard, how does digitalisation in extrusion contribute to sustainability?
Companies are increasingly concerned about sustainability, with many measuring their carbon footprint. When we extrude window profiles, today’s customers want to know the exact emissions involved in the process, how much energy has been utilised, and so on. In the past, hardly anyone showed an interest in that aspect. We have developed a digitalisation solution, resulting in us being able to provide these precise answers, such as how much electricity was consumed per metre of window profile on day X. However, this is not limited to telling them the current status quo, but also how to improve something in the production process. For example, how to save energy and avoid emissions. With our digitalisation solution, we can turn the screws to avoid wastage.

How do you achieve that?
We record key figures; that is the prerequisite. Based on these key figures, you could, for example, replace the screw in the extruder and see if you use less energy. During extrusion, you first put a lot of energy into melting the plastic. In the final process, you have to cool the plastic again so it can regain its shape, however, you can synchronise the parameters to reduce the power consumption to a minimum. Previously, the desired temperatures were entered by employees, mostly by instinct. One employee from one shift would set the temperature in the cooling zone to 190 degrees Centigrade, the employee of the next shift then set it to 200 degrees because they felt that was best. With our digitalisation solution, we can determine and set the optimal temperatures.

What does this solution draw on?
Interconnecting the different machines is the first step. We have many different manufacturers in the extrusion line. So far, they have communicated little with each other, plus there was no higher-level control system in place either. Now we have the possibility of collecting data on the entire line, evaluating it, finding the optimum levels, and then controlling it accordingly. We have defined our extruder software as the starting point for the entire control system. To do this, everything must first be linked up, and the data must be issued accordingly.

To make this work you’ll need the various machine manufacturers to cooperate.
Yes, and technically they should all speak the same language. That’s why we are working on further developing the OPC UA standard, as many machines can’t do that yet. That’s why we need a translation box that translates from the proprietary language to OPC UA. But we are working towards ensuring that our suppliers and all machine providers in this production line also master this language. In injection moulding, we had the adaptation to this standard first. In extrusion, less than half of the manufacturers of saw, haul-off, water bath and so on currently speak OPC UA. It will be a while before everyone speaks this language within extrusion.

But the benefits would be considerable?
The benefits would be enormous. Today, the cost of installing our software is much higher than the software itself. This is because without a plug-and-play solution, we have to integrate each machine individually. So, it will take a major effort before all the aggregates communicate with each other.

There is already a circular economy for window profiles. Why is this field already so far advanced?
This is mainly because you always have the same material, namely PVC. Moreover, you know that the additives you have to extract for recycling are always the same, too. For example, titanium dioxide to protect the profile from solar radiation. Of course, all this makes recycling easier. In addition, we already have a well-functioning waste system for the profiles. More than 50 percent of all window profiles already contain recycled material. However, it has to be said that these do not primarily come from old window profiles, but are largely obtained from leftover pieces resulting when window profiles are cut to size by the window manufacturers. However, recycling of old windows has been pushed forward recently because prices for virgin plastic have risen sharply. If prices stay this high, it will become increasingly important to recycle every gram of plastic.

Where does digitalisation at Hans Weber go from here?
After collecting data and then optimising certain parameters, we are now thinking about how we can make the extrusion process run completely automatically. The goal is for the user to just press a button, and for the entire process to then run optimally. In case of an error, the system should be able to recognise the reason and correct it. But it will still take some time before we’re at that stage.