Overview: Hot Topics
Rubber recycling: AZuR network advocates a second life for scrap tires
05/07/2022
The German AZuR Network was launched in June 2020. The "Alliance Future Tire" lives up to its name and has been pursuing the goal of finding and implementing new and innovative solutions for an ecologically and economically sensible tire cycle for two years now.
A digital product passport for more sustainability
21/06/2022
The EU's Circular Economy Action Plan stipulates that by 2050 all plastic packaging must be completely recyclable and consist of at least 70 percent recycled material. The majority of plastic waste still ends up in landfills or incinerators – in the worst case, in the environment.
Clear plastics recycling using high-purity sorting and separation technologies
13/06/2022
The COVID-19 pandemic put acrylic (transparent) shields, better known as "sneeze guards," in high demand in their role as protective barriers. However, they pose a major challenge for recycling companies at the end of the product life cycle since the different plastics must be separated and sorted to maintain purity and facilitate reuse.
Create a quote for plastic testing services in just minutes
07/06/2022
Plastics are versatile and come in every conceivable shape, size, color, and function. Yet before plastic products can fulfill their desired function, they are subject to testing to confirm they comply with various standards. It takes testing labs hours, if not days, to create a quote for materials testing.
Made up out of thin air
19/05/2022
Innovations always emerge from something existing, something tried and tested. Approaching them in terms of their content requires a look at the fundamentals. This is also true for the question of how carbon dioxide (CO2) from exhaust gases can be used for the production of plastics.
Economical and non-destructive inspection of thick-walled CFRP components
17/05/2022
The more complex carbon fibre reinforced plastics (CFRP) components are, the more difficult they are to examine. As a rule, the robot-assisted examination systems required for this are therefore designed for a limited range of components, which can hardly be used for examining other components.
Brave new world – how design makes the plastics industry more sustainable
29/04/2022
When the first plastic was developed 150 years ago, it was a miracle for people at the time. Around 1950, the material contributed significantly to the economic miracle of the post-war period. Today, in view of the climate crisis, little is left of this image. In its exhibition "Plastic. Remaking Our World", the Vitra Design Museum wants to show how plastic can contribute to solving problems.
Cost-effective, material-saving, local – Ultrathin Coating enables sustainable production of medical protective clothing
25/04/2022
We all remember the beginning of the Corona pandemic: the demand for medical protective clothing increased rapidly, leading to supply bottlenecks. Although the situation has calmed down again, the dependence of companies on global supply chains was exposed. Reifenhäuser is now specifically addressing this problem with its new Ultrathin Coating process.
ERDE Recycling: recovery and recycling systems for agricultural plastics
18/03/2022
ERDE is a recovery and recycling system focused on the return of silage sheets and covers and agricultural stretch films in Europe. The company has big goals, such as a recycling rate of 65 percent in 2022, but also faces challenges, such as the cross-border transport of agricultural plastics.
App, AI, data glasses: digital toolbox for the plastics industry is well filled
28/02/2022
We live in a world in which processes are becoming increasingly complex. This also applies to the plastics industry. One way to support people in production with their demanding tasks is through digital tools – and not only on site at the plant, but also remotely. The increasing amount of data also contributes to predictive maintenance of machines.