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Sumitomo (SHI) Demag CEO Steps Down

A 35-year veteran of the plastics industry, Sumitomo (SHI) Demag CEO Gerd Liebig has announced that he is retiring effective Sept. 1. He is not completely stepping away from the industry nor shared aspirations, however.  Liebig took over the reins of Sumitomo (SHI) Demag in 2017, after a circular career path that took him from Demag Plastics Group, where he spent 15 years in lead marketing positions, until leaving to…

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Chemically Recyclable LDPE Puts Widely Used Plastic on Path to Sustainability

German researchers have replicated the chemical structure of low-density polyethylene (LDPE), a development that holds great promise for sustainable alternatives to one of the most widely used plastics. A team at the University of Bayreuth led by Dr. Rhett Kempe of the Sustainable Chemistry Centre has introduced a new chemically recyclable, highly branched polyolefin material with built-in “recycling points.” That means the polymer can be chemically broken into smaller fragments…

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Oak Ridge Scientists Develop Recyclable Supertough CFRP

Scientists at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) have designed a closed-loop path for synthesizing an exceptionally tough carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP), and later recovering all of its starting materials.  CFRP is useful for reducing weight and increasing fuel efficiency of automobiles, airplanes, and spacecraft. However, conventional CFRPs are difficult to recycle. Most have been single-use materials, so their carbon footprint is significant. By contrast, ORNL’s closed-loop technology,…

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Freudenberg Medical Expands Manufacturing Footprint in Costa Rica

Contract design and manufacturing organization (CDMO) Freudenberg Medical is set to expand its technological footprint in a big way. Company officials have broken ground on a $25 million facility that’s expected to begin operation in Costa Rica in early 2025.  The 100,000-square-foot building, which will be built over three years during two construction phases, reportedly will be dedicated to the assembly of high-volume minimally invasive catheters for electrophysiology, vascular, and…

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Compostable Tray Nudges EPS From the Meat Case

SEE, formerly Sealed Air, has developed a bio-based, industrially compostable meat tray to replace expanded polystyrene (EPS) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) trays on existing overwrappers with no changes to the equipment. The food-contact-grade tray was introduced at the recent International Product and Processing Expo, held January 30 to February 1, 2024, in Atlanta. The new Cryovac compostable overwrap tray is made from a resin that’s USDA-certified as having 54% bio-based…

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High-voltage EVs Take Charge — and Fast — at Chinaplas

Automakers are raising the bar for voltage systems in new energy vehicles (NEVs) from 400 to 800 V. According to Joule’s Law, the efficiency of an electric motor increases with a high-voltage system, thus improving driving range and reducing the cost of the battery. Under a high voltage, the motor and battery operate at a significantly higher temperature that requires better thermal management. This means plastics need to possess high…

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Annual Passenger Aircraft Deliveries to Exceed $100 Billion in 2024

Aviation analytics concern Cirium has published its 2023 Fleet Forecast, through the Cirium Ascend Consultancy, revealing that annual passenger aircraft deliveries are set to exceed a value of $100 billion in 2024. Airbus and Boeing will continue to dominate the commercial aircraft manufacturing space, with a combined delivery projection of 89% of all aircraft through to 2042. Cirium Ascend Consultancy Head Rob Morris said: “With global traffic almost back to…

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New Polyamide a Game Changer in Fuel-Cell Cooling-Circuit Performance

Engineered materials and sustainable solutions provider Domo Chemicals has made a landmark breakthrough with its Technyl polyamides (PAs), drastically reducing coolant conductivity in hydrogen fuel-cell stacks. This innovation, supported by comprehensive testing, establishes Technyl as the premier choice for enhancing fuel-cell stack performance and durability. Historically, polyamides were not considered optimal for cooling circuits in hydrogen fuel-cell technology owing to concerns about ion leaching and increased coolant conductivity. However, Domo’s…

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French Firm Forms JV With Dallas Recycler to Service Automotive and Other Industries

France’s Materi’act is setting up a joint venture in Dallas, TX, with PCR Recycling to accelerate the development and delivery of recycled compounds for sustainable automotive parts with up to 85% CO2 reduction by 2030. Materi’act is part of the Forvia group, France’s first- and the world’s seventh-largest automotive technology supplier. Tier I Faurecia is a sister company. Wojtek Zarzycki (left), CEO of PCR Recycling, and Materi’act President Rémi Daudin.…

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Trinseo’s Stock Tumbles to Record Low

Trinseo’s stock tumbled to an all-time low Tuesday after it reported a larger than expected fourth quarter adjusted loss and predicted another loss in the current quarter. The plastics manufacturer reported a net loss of $265 million, or $7.53 per share in the fourth quarter, compared to a net loss of $364 million, or $10.42 per share, in the previous year’s fourth quarter. Its current fourth quarter adjusted loss jumped…

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