Vision Composite Products Selects IDI’s Ultrium™ Carbon Fiber Composites For Their High Performance Carbon Fiber Forged Wheels

In the world of high-performance automotive wheels, lightweight and strong, yet aesthetic and unique designs are the future. Vision Composite Products, the leading developer and manufacturer of off-road, racing, and after-market automotive wheels, has selected IDI Composites International’s Ultrium™ U660 for their innovative Carbon Fiber Forged wheels.

Seeking a better material solution than the typical cast and forged aluminum alloy used for performance wheels, Vision launched research into composite wheels and ultimately partnered with IDI Composites International and the 3i Technology Center, to develop their Carbon Fiber Forged wheels using Ultrium™ carbon fiber composites. The resulting solution enables high volume production at costs competitive with forged aluminum wheels. The approach combines IDI Composites International’s discontinuous Ultrium™ U660 Carbon Fiber Composite and A&P Technology’s continuous Netshape® preforms in a carbon fiber forged molding process.

“Ultrium™ is the ideal material for Vision’s new Carbon Fiber Forged wheels,” states Kevin Cahill, Director of Composite Technology for IDI Composites. “Ultrium™ is extremely lightweight and durable, with a beautiful appearance that has the ability to withstand extreme loads experienced on high performance vehicles. This material ensures that these wheels will not only perform well, but the moldability of thermoset composites allows for cost optimized and innovative design options.”

The Carbon Fiber Forged wheels were tested through a grueling, continuous 48-hour, 1,415-mile road test in a 5.0 Coyote Mustang at speeds up to 100 mph. The test ended due to a broken rear half shaft axle while the Vision Carbon Fiber Forged wheels performed perfectly with no damage. The wheels have up to 40% less weight than cast aluminum, and exceeded all regulatory and industry requirements.

“Our 3i Composites Technology Center is truly an asset that helps make projects like these possible.” says Tom Flood, Vice President and General Manager of IDI Composites International. “The 3i Technology Center’s testing capabilities and dedicated team of composite chemists and engineers allows IDI to drive innovation and push the performance boundaries of composites beyond the value limitations of conventional materials.”

The resulting Carbon Fiber Forged wheels are a testament to the commitment of IDI Composites International and Vision Composite Products to advance use of composite materials in new and exciting applications.

Covestro at the China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai

Pioneering work for the circular economy and a climate-neutral future

Covestro is experiencing a premiere this year: the company will be represented for the first time at the China International Import Expo (CIIE), an important national import fair for China in Shanghai. Under the motto “Pioneering a Circular Economy for a Climate-Neutral Future,” the materials manufacturer will present innovative solutions and technologies related to the circular economy – including the use of alternative raw materials such as carbon dioxide and partially bio-based raw materials that replace fossil resources, as well as a novel, groundbreaking process for the chemical recycling of polyurethane mattress foam – from November 5 to 10, 2021.

“With our broad portfolio focused on the circular economy in various industries, we are strategically well positioned to support China’s sustainable development, particularly the country’s ambitions to become carbon neutral,” said Dr. Markus Steilemann, Covestro’s CEO. “Our vision to become fully circular is in line with China’s megatrends, as we recognize that China will play a key role in the transition to a circular economy.”

Asia debut of mass-balanced MDI and polycarbonate

A key focus of Covestro’s presence at CIIE is the use of alternative raw materials. This includes the Asian debut of two ISCC PLUS-certified mass-balanced products with a lower carbon footprint: these are MDI – a key raw material for polyurethanes (PU) – and the high-performance plastic polycarbonate, with imported raw materials. Both contain a significant proportion of alternative raw materials, including plant waste, residual fats and vegetable oils, which partially replace fossil resources. And both are used in a wide range of applications: polyurethanes in insulation, upholstered furniture and automotive manufacturing; polycarbonates in the electronics, automotive and healthcare industries. Covestro’s mass-balanced products help make these end-use applications more sustainable, supporting the circular economy and, in some cases, climate neutrality.

Portfolio with diverse applications to enable circular economy

At CIIE, Covestro will be presenting even more technologies, products and solutions to this end. Here are a few examples:

• The company has developed a new technology for recycling flexible foam from polyurethane mattresses that enables the recovery of both key raw materials. This allows the carbon footprint to be reduced along the entire value chain for PU mattresses.
• Covestro is exhibiting its Triturn® CO₂ technology, which enables carbon dioxide to be reused as a valuable alternative raw material in polyol production, replacing up to 20 percent of fossil feedstock. It can be leveraged for many different types of applications and industries, such as flexible foam for mattresses and binders for sports flooring, as an answer to address consumer demands and the rising environmental awareness.
• In Electronics & Electrical, exhibits ranging from 5G infrastructure to smart devices show how Covestro’s low carbon footprint material solutions can enable a new era of smart connectivity. The company’s portfolio includes polycarbonates with high post-consumer recycled content and with mass-balanced renewable raw materials that can reduce carbon footprints by up to 80 percent.
• Renewable energy highlights include polyurethane resins that enable lighter wind rotor blades and improve the efficiency of their production, and various other material solutions for effective expansion of this renewable energy.
• In the green building sector, Covestro brings its polyurethane solutions for energy-saving pultrusion windows and as insulating foams for buildings, as well as partially bio-based polyurethane coatings for wood furniture.

To learn more about Covestro’s solutions for a carbon-neutral future at CIIE, visit Covestro’s booth, number 3B5-005, at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai) from November 5-10, 2021.

Comexi Inaugurates Its New Technology Center, a European Research and Development Benchmark for the Flexible Packaging

Located in Girona, Comexi CTec will offer maximum simplicity through training, industrial demonstrations, R&D, and custom designed solutions

Comexi has invested 11 million euros in the new CTec. The company already has a technology center facility in Montenegro (Brazil), and in 2022, a new CTec will be unveiled in Miami (USA)

Girona, November 4, 2021.- Comexi, a global benchmark company of and specialist in the flexible packaging printing and converting industry, has inaugurated its Technology Center in Girona (CTec Girona). As a result of this inauguration, the company strives to provide better services, thus clearly demonstrating its commitment to worldwide proximity, innovation, and sustainability.

The company, with a presence in more than 100 countries, not only has its own production plants in Girona and Brazil, but also has commercial offices in the United States and Russia. Comexi has inaugurated the new CTec Girona within the parameters of sustainability and energy consumption, which have made Comexi distinguishable for a long period of time.

The new Manel Xifra Boada Technology Center, CTec Girona, is integrated into the company’s production center. It has a multipurpose space of 2,500 square meters for not only innovation and development of R&D projects, but also for training, consulting, demonstrations, and an industrial laboratory. CTec Girona will have 9 state-of-the-art machines for the flexible packaging sector. In collaboration with leading sector companies, such as ESKO, DuPont and Asahi, for offset plate engraving, the facility will have a pioneering prepress area. Globally, the
new center will be a benchmark, not only due to its vastness and versatility, but as a result of reflecting corporate sustainability and the industry 4.0 project, which is a primary objective of Comexi.

This inauguration concludes the first phase of development. Within the next two years, CTec Girona will be complemented with new extensions, thus making it a global packaging sector reference point, at a functional level and for research and development.

In June of 2010, Comexi CTec began activities in Girona with an advanced flexo course for customers in the Middle East. The technology center was established with the same objective as that of present day: to impart knowledge to Comexi clients. From inception, Comexi CTec provided a variety of technology advice, as well as personalized training. Furthermore, the center has incorporated customer support for industrial tests, R&D, and innovation.

The new Comexi Technology Center features the most advanced tools regarding the digitization of processes and job workflows for printing and converting. One of these tools is Comexi Cloud, a digital service platform which assists customers with the improvement of their factory performance through the analysis of real-time production data. Consequently, this allows them to build and develop smarter factories. Comexi Cloud, the most comprehensive online platform on the market to visualize, compile, analyze, and store data, has reinvented the manner in which printers and converters manage processes.

The CTec Girona team not only manage the execution of various services offered, but develop these new spaces as well.

“Our CTec in Girona is the natural response to longtime latent needs of the market, as well as an example of the importance of innovation in our sector. As a result of the renovated technology centers, we offer our clients the best customized solutions for their businesses, thus responding to the trust they have in us”, stresses Manel Xifra, the president of Comexi.

Material Solution for application with Flame Retardant Requirements

The FR2 series is your material solution for applications with flame retardant requirements for low wall
thicknesses. The compounds are UL94 V-0 (1.5 mm) certified and halogen-free according to IEC
61249-2-21. They are available in black and natural colors. Natural color variants can be colored in
many different ways.

Typical Applications 

• Seals for switch boxes
• Seals for plugs
• Seals for inwall outlets
• Fastenings
• Grommets
• Cable holders
• Profiles for furniture
• Seals for windows and doors

Material Advantages

• Halogen-free (according to IEC 61249-2-21)
• Fulfills flame retardant requirements railway applications
• Self-extinguishing, no release ofburning droplets
• Adhesion to PP
• In-process recycling possible
• Precoloration in all colors
• No silicones added
• No interaction with copper
• Temperature stability up to 85 °C

Husky strengthens its commitment to protecting the return on its customers’ investment

Husky Injection Molding Systems, a leading technology provider to the plastics processing community, has strengthened its commitment to protecting the return on its customers’ investments. Elevating its existing service contract offering, the company is now including its Advantage+Elite^TM proactive, predictive, transparent monitoring solution as a standard feature on all PET and Closure systems.

“The premise of Advantage+Elite^TM was founded on our commitment to our customers. It combines the industry’s best processing analytics and service expertise to provide unrivalled assurance while delivering unmatched certainty, support and return on our customers’ investments,” said Robert Domodossola, Husky’s President of Rigid Packaging. “With the inclusion of Advantage+Elite^TM as a standard feature on all PET and Closure systems we are going one step further to ensure we are maintaining our commitment, from part concept through to production.”

Introduced in early 2020, Advantage+Elite^TM monitors systems within customers’ production facilities in real-time, while proactively engaging to ensure and maintain the lowest total cost to produce. Using remotely connected technology and proprietary dashboards within a closed-loop reporting platform, Husky continuously monitors and analyzes a set of leading system variables to anticipate, recognize and rectify potential issues before they impact productivity or part quality. In addition, this functionality reduces the variability risk associated with running higher levels of post-consumer-resin (PCR), accelerating the shift to manufacture more circular, sustainable packaging with increased percentages of recycled material.

To date, Advantage+Elite^TM has been extremely well received and supports Husky customers internationally. To ensure each system receives consistently high levels of support, Husky has built the industry’s most extensive global service network designed to be locally deployed in customers’ local languages. To reinforce this capability, Husky has opened a number of Advantage+Elite^TM monitoring centers around the world. The most recent being the grand opening of its Luxembourg monitoring center in September 2021 operating out of its European headquarters. In total, Husky has established a total of six monitoring centers, including those running out of its headquarter facilities in Canada and China, as well as active centers operating in Mexico, Brazil and Japan.

https://www.husky.co/

Opting exclusively for recyclable plant pots

Recyclable plant pots from the Circular360 category Pöppelmann TEKU® help companies in the horticultural industry to make a commitment to increasing sustainability. This was enough to convince TM Zierpflanzen GmbH from Mühlhausen, whose conversion to recycled plant pots has reaped double the benefits: the new pots enable the plant passport to be attached while also promoting resource conservation thanks to their recyclability.

Recyclable plant pots as a new benchmark

A wide range of resource-saving products by Pöppelmann TEKU® helps companies in the horticultural industry to set a more sustainable example. The TEKU® products, which are organised into different categories of reusability and recyclability, provide transparent information about the origin of the material used and the recyclability of the products. As part of the company-wide PÖPPELMANN blue® initiative, which combines all activities pursued by the Pöppelmann Group in support of a closed material loop, TEKU® also developed the resource-saving round pots in the Circular360 category. Besides the addition of colourants and additives, the items are made from 100% PCR plastic – in other words, post-consumer recycled material originating from domestic recycling bins, recycling garbage bags or other household recycling collections. Once they are no longer needed, the items are 100% recyclable – and thus close the material loop. The recyclable plant pots are now also available in a range of trendy colours.

TM Zierpflanzen GmbH opts exclusively for recyclable plant pots

The Pöppelmann TEKU® concept has already gained the seal of approval from numerous customers. Among them is TM Zierpflanzen GmbH in Mühlhausen. The company produces some two million plants every year, all of which are sold regionally. “The issue of sustainability is becoming increasingly important in our industry. The decision to go for the pots in the Circular360 category was a quick and easy step in this direction,” states Mike Fischer, production manager at TM Zierpflanzen. The company planned to label its products with the European plant passport, which was to be printed directly onto the pots. This meant it was no longer possible to use the same black plant pots as before, and TM Zierpflanzen set about finding an alternative. At the International Plant Fair (IPM) in Essen, the company came across Pöppelmann TEKU® – and opted for the recyclable round pots from the Circular360 category. In spring 2020, the company completed its full conversion to the resource-saving alternative – a resounding success, as Mike Fischer explains. “Demand for recycled materials is constantly increasing among our customers. We use our 100% conversion to the recycled Circular360 plant pots in our advertising and have received extremely positive feedback.” The encouragement received by TM Zierpflanzen certainly serves to motivate – Baumschulen Oberdorla, which, like the decorative plant specialist, is part of the TUPAG Group, has also embarked on the sustainable route and now uses Circular360 plant containers for its products, too.

https://www.poeppelmann.com/