K’2022 Preview Buss The cornerstone of any system supplied by BUSS (Pratteln, Switzerland) is a COMPEO series co-kneader which is designed to incorporate high levels of additives gently and thoroughly into base materials. The modular machine design is so flexible that a specially configured compounding line is available for any application at any temperature up to 400°C and for all plastics, ranging from thermally sensitive thermosets over biobased and biodegradable plastics to demanding engineering thermoplastics. The latest addition to the family of the series of five production units with throughput levels, depending on the application, of 100 to over 12,000 kg/h is the new compact, user-friendly COMPEO LAB laboratory compounder for throughputs of 50 to 100 kg/h for development, process optimization and small production campaigns. It offers all the advantages of the large COMPEO co-kneaders, including the combination of two-, three – and four-flight screw elements, and provides precise and reliable scale-up of process parameters to production conditions. www.busscorp.com 16 A59 Novamont Mater-Bi is the innovative family of bioplastics, which uses renewable raw materials, developed by the Italian B Corp Novamont (Novara, Italy). It is biodegradable and compostable in home and industrial composting and biodegradable in soil according to the main European and international standards. It does not release microplastics, it has no eco-toxic effects and it biodegrades even at low temperatures. Its mechanical properties make it suitable for a wide range of applications: organic waste collection, large-scale distribution, food service ware, packaging and agriculture. It can be used as a standalone polymer or laminated with other polymers and/or paper and can be processed by the most common conversion technologies: blowing, casting, extrusion/thermoforming and injection moulding. When appropriate and preferable, Mater-Bi products can also be chemically or mechanically recycled with the recovery of valuable materials. The multi-material packaging of Mater-Bi and paper can also be recycled into the paper stream. It is a product constantly evolving towards increasing sustainability, thanks to the development of proprietary technologies for greater and more efficient use of renewable resources. www.novamont.com 6 A58 Polykum BIO-ELAN A 140 HS3, a bio-PBS compound developed for additive manufacturing by Exipnos (Merseburg, Germany) will be processed live in a large format printer at the Polykum stand. The printer uses the PBS granulate in its original form. The energy – and time-consuming production of filament is not necessary. The plant-based, biodegradable Bio-Elan compound is one of the first results of the RUBIO alliance project, in which 18 companies and research institutions from Central Germany are developing regional value-added cycles for bio- PBS with the support of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. In addition, the Fraunhofer IMWS (Halle (Saale), Germany) will present new features of the material design app Polykum DigiLab at the Polykum booth. Users can literally immerse themselves in complex material data on the screen or even with VR glasses, or use the new DigiLab colour module to simulate the overall impression that a selected material creates with certain colours on CAD models. In addition to the Fraunhofer IMWS and Exipnos, two further members of the non-profit association will be presenting their innovations at the Polykum stand: Caldic GmbH and the Indian company Welset. www.polykum.de/en 12 A59 Chimei Earlier this year, Chimei (Tainan City, Taiwan) announced the world’s first optical light guide plate made from chemically recycled MMA (https://tinyurl.com/chimei-MMA). The ability of this material to produce image quality that’s on par with virgin MMA means a massive breakthrough for the global display industry. CHIMEI is already working with AUO (a world-leading OEM supplier of display technology from Hsinchu, Taiwan) to bring it to the market. At K 2022, Chimei will be exhibiting this new product for the very first time. What’s more, they’re planning to launch a new brand, which will encompass their growing portfolio of sustainable materials. https://www.chimeicorp.com 5 B18 40 bioplastics MAGAZINE [05/22] Vol. 17
Bioplastics specialist presents broad product portfolio With “Plastics care for Future” at the world’s leading trade fair for plastics and rubber, K’2022, FKuR is once again setting an example for more sustainability in the use of resources. In line with the hot topics of the K Circular Economy and Climate Protection, FKuR will show visitors how they can implement the principles of a sustainable circular economy in their products using renewable raw materials and recycled plastics. From 19–26.10.2022, FKuR will be underlining what is at the top of its agenda in Düsseldorf in hall 6 at booth E48: The future of plastics must be without climate-damaging greenhouse gas emissions. Fit for the circular economy of the future? This is how it works! “For FKuR, the circular economy is not just an entertaining trend, it reflects our attitude to life”, explains Patrick Zimmermann, Managing Director of FKuR Kunststoff GmbH. “Benefit from our unique portfolio of sustainable plastics solutions for the circular economy: with our bioplastics, recyclates as well as bio-recyclate hybrids for all processing methods – such as injection moulding, film extrusion, thermoforming, and blow moulding – fossil resources can be conserved”. Plastics care for Future Bio-Flex ® is a family of biodegradable and certified compostable plastics based on renewable raw materials. The main applications of Bio-Flex ® include a wide range of flexible film applications, such as agricultural, household, and hygiene films, but are also used in injection moulded products or thermoformed articles. This means that FKuR not only provides its customers with trustworthy support in the selection of materials for products fit for circular economy but is also available to them at any time during the entire project with its many years of expertise in questions regarding the processing, recycling and marketing of products. At their booth, FKuR will show how customers use FKuR bioplastics or recyclates to make their products fit for circular economy and how they use logos and certificates to communicate their sustainable message to consumers while strengthening their brand image. At the booth, visitors will find many successful product examples from a wide range of sectors such as cosmetics, agriculture & horticulture, toys, packaging, or household goods. If you too would like to make your products even more environmentally friendly, visit FKuR at K 2022. www.fkur.com 6 E48 K’2022 Preview Terralene ® are bio-compounds based on polyethylene made from renewable raw materials (Bio-PE). All Terralene ® granulates are 100 % recyclable and can be processed by injection moulding, blow moulding, and film extrusion. In addition, the Terralene ® portfolio includes natural fibre reinforced grades, as well as biobased PP compounds and bio-recyclate hybrids. Green PE is a bio-based polyethylene made from the renewable raw material sugar cane. As a drop-in, Bio-PE is a renewable alternative to fossil polyethylene (PE). This biobased and 100 % recyclable plastic is used primarily in packaging for food and cosmetics as well as in household products, sports articles, and toys. 360° approach – everything from a single source With FKuR’s 360° approach, customers receive everything from a single source: solutions are developed together to design plastic products and packaging in such a way that they meet all the requirements of the modern circular economy. (Reusable cups made from biobased bioplastic Bio-Flex ® (Photo: FKuR) bioplastics MAGAZINE [05/22] Vol. 17 41
