Divestment of aerospace business to SpaceX

Hexagon Purus ASA, a world leading manufacturer of zero-emission mobility and infrastructure solutions, has through one of its wholly owned subsidiaries entered into an agreement to divest its aerospace business to Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (#SpaceX). The transaction comprises the sale of 100% of the shares of Hexagon Masterworks Inc. (“Masterworks”), which supplies high-pressure #compositestoragecylinders for #aerospace and #spacelaunch applications in North America, and for hydrogen mobility applications. The hydrogen business is not part of the transaction perimeter, and Masterworks’ existing hydrogen customer contracts are intended to be transferred to other parts of Hexagon Purus prior to closing.

The transaction implies an enterprise value of approximately USD 15.0 million, comprising

(i) a cash consideration of USD 12.5 million payable at closing, and

(ii) a contingent cash earn-out of USD 2.5 million, subject to applicable closing conditions and customary adjustments. A requisite number of bonds under the Company’s 2023 and 2024 bond agreements have undertaken to approve closing of the transaction.

The aerospace business has developed well in recent years and has now reached a stage where an industrial owner with a dedicated aerospace focus is deemed to best support its future. At the same time, the Company does not expect the hydrogen mobility market in North America to represent significant potential in the near-to-medium term. The divestment is therefore aligned with the Company’s ongoing portfolio review – the transaction will strengthen the Company’s financial position and extends the liquidity runway.

“I am pleased that we have found a new home for Masterworks with an owner that views our composite cylinder expertise as world-class and intends to integrate the business into its supply chain to support its long-term growth”, says Morten Holum, CEO of #HexagonPurus. “I want to sincerely thank the #Masterworks team for their dedication and hard work in developing the business to this point. While it is never easy to part with a business that has performed well, this transaction strengthens Hexagon Purus’ financial position and allows us to focus on our core strategic priorities.

source : HexagonPurus

China achieves stable mass production of T1100-grade carbon fiber

China has achieved stable large scale production of T1100 grade carbon fiber through a collaboration between Shenzhen University in southern China and Chang Sheng Technology Co., Ltd. in northern China, according to a report by China Media Group on January 13, 2026.

Production facilities operated by #ChangShengTechnology Co., Ltd. in Langfang, Hebei Province, are now manufacturing T1100 grade carbon fiber at a steady and high output level. The qualification rate of the product has consistently reached 95 percent.

#T1100 is considered one of the highest strength #carbonfiber grades currently used in industry. The filament exhibits a tensile strength of approximately 7,000 megapascals, which is about seven times stronger than high strength steel, while its weight is roughly one quarter that of steel. Each filament measures about 5 micrometers in diameter, making it thinner than a human hair, yet capable of withstanding significant mechanical loads.

Professor Zhu Caizhen from the College of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering at Shenzhen University explained that the primary technical challenge in large scale production lies in the initial formation of fiber precursors. He noted that swelling pores may develop in the precursors if manufacturing parameters are not precisely controlled. He added that smaller pore sizes in the precursor material contribute to greater strength in the final carbon fiber product.

These structural defects are difficult to eliminate during large scale manufacturing, complicating efforts to maintain consistent quality in high strength carbon fiber. Previously, large scale supply of T1100 grade carbon fiber was largely controlled by overseas producers.

Following more than 30 rounds of laboratory scale production adjustments, researchers at Shenzhen University optimized critical processing parameters and reduced the pore rate in precursor fibers by approximately 60 percent. This advancement enabled stable mass production of T1100 grade carbon fiber, reducing dependence on imports and enhancing the security of strategic materials supply in China.

Highlighting 10 advanced carbon fiber tows:

✅ T700 — Industry benchmark.

✅ T800 (ZA55GC-12K) — qualified into COMAC supply chain with Engineering Certificate.

✅ T1000 — Ultra-high strength, kiloton-level production.

✅ T1100 — Selected for C929 primary structures validation.

✅ M40Xseries — High-modulus breakthrough (≥5,490 MPa strength, ≥377 GPa modulus); 350t annual capacity, with M40–M55 expansions coming in 2026.

source : Advanced Carbons Council / Chang Sheng Technology Co., Ltd

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share : Toray has developed a high-speed thermal welding technology

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

Thermosets still dominate aerospace structures. Toray Industries, Inc. shows that thermoplastics can already be welded to them.

Toray has developed a high-speed thermal welding technology that forms a thermally weldable layer on the surface of #carbonfibrereinforced thermoset or thermoplastic components, allowing parts to be joined by rapid heating without adhesive or mechanical fasteners, & enabling thermoset-to-thermoset, thermoplastic-to-thermoplastic, and thermoset-to-thermoplastic assemblies once both sides carry that weldable surface.

They have demonstrated an elemental aircraft-structure joint with strength equivalent to co-cured CFRP, named Boeing as a development partner & are targeting commercial airframe applications after 2030, which is a realistic timeline given the realities of qualification & certification.

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀

Thermosets still dominate aerospace primary structures because of mature supply chains, proven autoclave & out-of-autoclave routes, established design allowables. That is the reality we work with today. Thermoplastics bring welding, recyclability, shorter cycle times, post-formability, but until recently the bottleneck was how to integrate them into largely thermoset-based airframes.

The key question has not been which material is better, but how to join them reliably in one structure.

𝗪𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗼𝘀𝗲𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰

Adhesive bonding is well established but depends on strict surface preparation, cure cycles, quality control, with limited rate and repairability. Mechanical fastening is simple to qualify and inspect, but adds weight & stress concentrations. Co-curing or co-consolidation across thermoset and thermoplastic is rarely practical because cure and melt cycles do not align, so hybrid structures are typically joined after manufacture. Overmolding can work for local features, but is better suited to details than to large primary assemblies.

A weldable surface layer changes this picture, because it enables high-rate thermal welding even when one or both parts are thermoset, without adhesives or bolts.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘂𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸𝘀

It means thermoplastics no longer have to wait for a clean-sheet programme. They can already be welded to existing thermoset structures, allowing designers to keep thermoset where maturity and qualification demand it, while introducing thermoplastic where welding speed, production rate, recyclability, or post-formability justify it.

Looking across many of the technical projects recognized this year at JEC, a clear pattern is emerging: thermoplastics are not replacing thermosets yet, but they are increasingly the technology that makes hybrid structures practical.

If you are working with mixed thermoset–thermoplastic structures, I would be interested to hear where welding already makes sense for you, and where the remaining qualification barriers still sit.

source : Fedor Antonov

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share : World's First Global Supply Chain

 Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

Establishment of the World's First Global Supply Chain to Introduce the Use of Renewable Plastics in Sony's High-Performance Products

Sony Corporation (Sony), Mitsubishi Corporation, ADEKA CORPORATION, CHIMEI Corporation, ENEOS Corporation, Formosa Chemicals & Fibre Corporation, Hanwha Impact Corporation, Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd., Mitsui Chemicals, Inc., Neste Corporation, Qingdao Haier New Material Development Co., Ltd., SK Geo Centric Co., Ltd., Toray Industries, Inc., and Toray Advanced Materials Korea Inc. have jointly established the world's first global supply chain consisting of fourteen companies across five countries and regions for the production of renewable plastics that can be used in Sony's high-performance audio-visual products. The various plastic materials manufactured through this supply chain are slated for use in Sony's products that will be launched worldwide.

High-performance products such as audio-visual equipment involve a wide variety of plastics, resulting in a complex supply chain that makes it difficult to visualize and manage the entire flow from raw materials. Additionally, plastic components that require high performance in terms of flame resistance and optical properties cannot be fully replaced with plastics produced through material recycling, hindering the further reduction of virgin fossil-based plastics in such products.

To address these challenges, the fourteen companies collaborated to visualize the existing supply chain for Sony's products, and created a new supply chain that enables the production of multiple types of renewable plastics from biomass resources with a mass balance approach. This allows Sony to proactively source raw materials for its products with the quality and properties equivalent to virgin fossil-based plastics. Defining the supply chain helps the companies track and document GHG (Greenhouse Gas) emissions data over the supply chain in a verifiable way, allowing participating companies to leverage the data to advance efforts to reduce their carbon footprint going forward.

This initiative involving wide-ranging partners is part of the 'Creating NEW from #reNEWable materials' project, jointly launched by #Sony, which aims to achieve zero usage of virgin fossil-based plastics through the introduction of renewable plastics, and #MitsubishiCorporation.

Sony, Mitsubishi Corporation, and the supply chain partners will continue to actively promote the introduction of renewable plastics for high-performance products such as audio-visual products.

Overview of the Entire Supply Chain

① Production of renewable naphtha — Neste Corporation /

② Production of renewable styrene monomer — Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd. /

③ Production of renewable polystyrene resin — Formosa Chemicals & Fibre Corporation /

④ Production of renewable para-xylene — SK Geo Centric Co., Ltd. /

⑤ Production of renewable para-xylene — ENEOS Corporation /

⑥ Production of renewable terephthalic acid — Hanwha Impact Corporation / ⑦ Production of renewable PET resin — Toray Advanced Materials Korea Inc. /

⑧ Production of renewable bisphenol-A — Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. /

⑨ Production of renewable polycarbonate (PC) resin — CHIMEI Corporation ⑩ Production of renewable flame retardants — ADEKA CORPORATION /

⑪ Production of renewable PC/ABS resin — Qingdao Haier New Material Development Co., Ltd./

⑫ Molding manufacturers /

⑬ Design and manufacturing of finished products — Sony Corporation

source : Sony

Otoscope Device Components Made with Medical-Grade TPE

Expansion in handheld imaging technology has led to smaller and lighter otoscope systems, used in regular clinical practice, that make visual assessment faster and more efficient in healthcare facilities and mobile care settings. As portable medical devices, otoscopes require materials that combine durability, safety, and ergonomic handling.

Industry standard and compliant advanced materials like thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) boost the performance of medical visualization devices.

Efficient material solutions for otoscope components

KRAIBURG TPE, a leading global manufacturer of TPEs and customized solutions for various industries, offers the high-performance THERMOLAST® H healthcare TPE materials, suitable for medical visualization technologies, including otoscope applications. 

These otoscope materials are ideal for functional and user-facing components, including sealing elements, cable interfaces, buttons, soft-touch grips, housings, and flexible connections, enhancing device durability and user comfort. As TPE solutions specifically for low-risk, hand-held medical devices such as otoscopes, they enable compact device layouts while ensuring durability and comfort during repeated clinical use.

Multi-component processing and integration

The THERMOLAST® H healthcare series demonstrates excellent adhesion to polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE). This delivers efficient multi-component injection molding and direct integration of soft-touch elements onto rigid housings. As TPE solutions for otoscope devices, this approach improves ergonomics, enhances sealing performance, and reduces assembly steps, thus promoting cost-efficient manufacturing.

Durability for long-term use

The THERMOLAST® H compounds assure dimensional stability, elasticity, and surface integrity in otoscope components that undergo repeated mechanical stress, cleaning, and sterilization. An optimized compression set supports long-term performance of seals, gaskets, and flexible interfaces, even after repeated use and sterilization cycles.

Color options and tactile performance

The THERMOLAST® H series allows colorable and translucent formulations. These options promote visual differentiation of controls and functional zones on otoscope devices, improving usability and clarity during operation. Meanwhile, the smooth, soft touch surface the compounds provide improves grip and handling comfort during extended examinations, enabling consistent device control.

Sterilization compatibility and safety

THERMOLAST® H materials are compatible with common sterilization methods, including autoclave sterilization at 121°C and ethylene oxide (EtO). The compounds are free from animal-derived ingredients, heavy metals, and other harmful substances, thereby ensuring safe use in reusable otoscope devices and accessories intended for close patient and clinician contact.

KRAIBURG TPE at CHINAPLAS 2026

KRAIBURG TPE will join CHINAPLAS 2026, taking place from 21–24 April 2026 in National Exhibition and Convention Center (NECC) Shanghai, China at Hall 7.2 Booth No. D13, where the company will present a broad portfolio of thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) materials. 

Visitors are invited to visit the KRAIBURG TPE booth to explore the latest material innovations and benefit from free one-to-one consultations with technical experts, offering personalized material recommendations and application support.

Sustainability from the get-go

At KRAIBURG TPE, sustainability drives our innovation. Our portfolio includes bio-based TPEs and compounds with post-consumer (PCR) and post-industrial (PIR) recycled content. Selected TPEs are certified under GRS and ISCC PLUS. We also provide Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) data upon request to support sustainability decisions.

We proudly earned the EcoVadis Gold Medal in 2025 and are committed to the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), aligning our goals with global climate action.

From reducing emissions to increasing circularity, our sustainable TPEs deliver reliable performance and are available worldwide to support your applications while advancing your sustainability goals.

Get in touch today to learn how KRAIBURG TPE can support your sustainability and product development journey.

Discover More with TPE: From ultrasound devices to ostomy bags, our advanced TPE materials deliver superior performance and ergonomic design for your medical devices.

source : KRAIBURG TPE

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share : The 27-Bin Problem

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

♻️ "The 27-Bin Problem" (On Medical Waste Part 3)

Take-back programs are great.

They prove that recycling medical waste is possible.

Companies like Ambu A/S, Johnson & Johnson and Boston Scientific have shown in pilot projects that single-use devices can be collected, sterilised, and recycled.

That’s a major step forward.

But here’s the catch and where my term “the 27-bin problem” comes in.

🗑️ One hospital can handle one take-back bin. Maybe even two.

But if every one of its 27 suppliers brings its own program and its own bin...

you get chaos.

⚠️ Training

⚠️ logistics

⚠️ storage space

make it impossible.

On top we have:

⚠️ Regulatory barriers: you can’t easily move medical waste across borders.

⚠️ Volume: recyclers need consistent, sorted feedstock to make it economical.

That’s why the current system isn’t scalable.

It’s not a technical issue, it’s a coordination issue.

To move forward, we need:

✅ Industry-wide or at least national collection systems

✅ Shared logistics and sterilisation infrastructure

✅ A common framework for what “recyclable medical waste” even means

It’s a multi-stakeholder mess: hospitals, manufacturers, recyclers, transporters and everyone has different incentives.

But if we align, the benefits are massive:

🌱 Reduced hospital waste and disposal costs

🔄 Higher resource independence for Europe

💶 And a clear customer benefit for MedTech companies that take responsibility seriously.

That does not mean that we cannot do anything on our own though, this is where Part 4 comes in.

👉 Do you know of any initiatives working on national-scale medical recycling?

Let’s connect, because this problem can’t be solved in silos.

source : Lucas R. Pianegonda