Borealis’ new compounding line in Belgium offers premium recyclate-based polyolefins

 Borealis is proud to announce that its new compounding line for recyclate-based polyolefins (rPO) is now fully operational in Beringen, Belgium. This milestone marks a significant step forward in helping customers meet their circularity and sustainability targets—without sacrificing performance and reliability.

Using Borealis’ proprietary Borcycle M mechanical recycling technology, the line combines post-consumer and virgin polyolefins into rigid polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) compounds that meet the high standards required for demanding applications in mobility, consumer products, appliances, and energy.

The Beringen facility is not only designed to process a wide range of recyclate flakes, offering exceptional versatility to meet diverse customer needs, but it also serves as a platform for collaboration—enabling customers to co-develop and test new solutions that bring recycled plastics into high-value applications.

“This installation is more than just a technological milestone—it’s a clear commitment to our customers,” says Craig Arnold, Executive Vice President Polyolefins, Base Chemicals and Circular Economy Solutions. “By expanding access to high-quality recyclate-based materials, we’re enabling our partners to accelerate their circular transformation. This approach is fully aligned with our strategic ambition to drive sustainable growth through innovation and collaboration.

The new line complements Borealis’ recent acquisitions of Rialti and Integra Plastics, further strengthening its position as a trusted partner in the transition to a circular economy for plastics.

Samples of products made with recylate based polyolefins will be showcased at our booth during K Show 2025, Düsseldorf, Germany, from 8–15 October - Hall 6, Stand A43

source : Borealis

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share : Sensing Technologies for the Optimisation and Improving Manufacturing Fibre-Reinforced Polymeric Structures

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

Review: Sensing Technologies for the Optimisation and Improving

#Manufacturing #Fibre-Reinforced #Polymeric Structures

by Thomas Allsop and Mohammad W. Tahir

J. Compos. Sci. 2025, 9(7), 343; https://lnkd.in/dVfv5iVd

Abstract

Over the last three decades, composite structures have become increasingly more common in everyday life, such as in wind turbines as part of the solution to produce clean energy, and their use in the aerospace industry due to their advantages over conventional materials. Most of these advantages are dependent upon the reliability and quality of the manufacturing process to ensure that there are no defects/faults or imperfections during manufacturing. Thus, it is critical to monitor the enclosed environment of moulds during fabrication in real time. This need has caused many researchers—past and present—to create or apply many sensing technologies to achieve real-time monitoring of the manufacturing processes of composite structures to ensure that the structures can meet their requirements. A consequence of these research activities is the myriad of sensing schemes, (for example, optical, electrical, piezo, and nanomaterial schemes and the use of digital twins) available to consider, and the investigations all of them have both strengths and weaknesses for a given application, with no apparent option having a distinct advantage. This review reveals that the best possible sensing solution depends upon a large set of parameters, the geometry of the composite structure, the required specification, and budget limits, to name a few. Furthermore, challenges remain for researchers trying to find solutions, such as a sensing scheme that can directly detect wrinkles/waviness during the laying-up procedure, real-time detection of the resin flow front throughout the mould, and the monitoring of the resin curing spatially, all at a spatial resolution of ~1 cm with the required sensitivity along with the need to obtain the true interpretation of the real-time data. This review offers signposts through the variety of sensing options, with their advantages and failings, to readers from the composite and sensing community to aid in making an informed decision on the possible sensing approaches to help them meet their composite structure’s desired function and tolerances, and the challenges that remain.

source : Journal of Composites Science

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share : PEEK vs PAI: why do Europe, China, and the US make different choices?

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

PEEK vs PAI: why do Europe, China, and the US make different choices?

Across the globe, OEMs face the same question: how do you insulate ever-smaller, ever-hotter hairpin windings? But as evidence shows, the solutions they pick are not just shaped by raw performance.

🇪🇺 Europe leads the PEEK charge.

Sustainability regulation is flipping the script. In 2025, the EU implemented the CAFE regulation, which sets a CO2 emissions limit of 93.6 grams per kilometre. Other significant regulations include EU Battery Regulation 2023/1542, which mandates design-for-recycling and carbon-footprint disclosure. As a result, solvent-free and re-meltable materials such as PEEK are quickly becoming the smarter choice for high-voltage insulation used by E-motor references like Schaeffer and ZF.

🇨🇳 China leans on enamel (for now).

Main-stream 400V models keep costs low with traditional thermoset coatings. With average EV sticker prices running about half of Europe’s, it’s all about volume. Cost is king!

However,  flagship 800V cars - such as Nio’s new Evs - are piloting PEEK to accommodate extreme voltages and correspondingly high charging speeds. With premium brands making the first moves, this signals that domestic PEEK capacity is ready to grow.

🇺🇸 The United States remains more the forefront.

Premium high-voltage architectures, like Lucid’s, choose PEEK for extra thermal headroom, while mass-volume 400V programs from legacy OEM’s remain committed to standard technology enamel until fast-charge networks catch up.

Additionally, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) incentives paired with concerns over China-centric midstream push OEMs to favor materials that can be produced domestically. Hence the local supply chains can focus on the introduction of the newest solutions by setting-up extrusion capacity for PEEK coatings.

TLDR? Wherever sustainability policies, high-voltage efficiency, or supply-chain security outweigh first-cost pressure, PEEK wins. Or why I strongly believe Ampact’s future will be bright!

source : Vincent Vermeersch

Specialty Polyfilms to Highlight Innovations in Surface Protection and Food Wrapping Films at K 2025

Specialty Polyfilms, a global innovator in Surface Protection and Non-PVC Food Wrapping Films, is set to participate in K 2025, the world’s leading trade fair for plastics and rubber. Industry stakeholders, packaging experts, decision-makers, and sustainability consultants will have the opportunity to explore the company’s latest advancements in surface protection and food wrapping films at Hall 8B / D61.

Driving Innovation in Protective Films

Specialty Polyfilms will highlight its Maskit® range of Non-Glue Masking and Thermoforming Protective Films for different substrate / surfaces like PMMA, HIPS, PVC Foam, PC, PET, PETG, ABS, Metals, Glass and other types of plastics etc. Engineered to safeguard surfaces during pre-manufacturing processes and post manufacturing handling of finished products, these films deliver reliable performance without adhesive residues on the surface of the Products.

The Maskit® Thermoforming Protective films range provides tailored protection for deep-draw / deep thermoforming, shallow thermoforming and other complex applications, ensuring both durability and efficiency for the plastic sheet and moulded component manufacturers and plastic sheet converters.

Future-Ready Food Wrapping with Forvara® Non-PVC Films

The company will also present its Forvara® portfolio of Non-PVC, recycle-ready food wrapping films—a health-safe, eco-conscious alternative to conventional food wrapping films for fresh cut meats, produce, cheese, mushrooms and Culinary Preparations in Commercial Kitchens. Free from plasticizers like Phthalates, BPA, BPS; stabilizers like Lead, Mercury, Chlorine content and PFAS, Forvara® films include solutions for fresh cut Meats, Produce, Mushrooms, Retail Cling films, and Catering applications.

Forvara® Non-PVC films are designed to:

Match and surpass PVC films important characteristics like clarity, softness, tackiness and Automatic Tray Wrapping Machine Runnability.

Enhance the shelf life, freshness and color of produce and meat products through improved breathability, achieved by high oxygen transmission rate (OTR) and controlled water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) in the formulation.

Resist extreme cold temperatures up to – 30 Degree Celsius / – 22 Degree Fahrenheit, ensuring reliability of packaging across global long distance cold – supply chains.

Enable downgauging due to inherent better mechanical properties, reducing plastic consumption by up to 40% leading to savings in the cost.

Offer recycle-ready, compostable and biodegradable options, aligning with circular economy goals.

Recognized at leading international trade shows around the world, Forvara® empowers brands, meat processors, produce growers and packers and retailers to transition toward recycle-ready, safer, future-ready packaging without compromising on machine performance or shelf appeal.

source : Specialty Polyfilms

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share : Why Venting Is a Critical Detail in Mold Design

 Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

🔹 Why Venting Is a Critical Detail in Mold Design

In injection molding, venting may seem minor—but it plays a major role in part quality.

When plastic fills the mold cavity, air needs to escape. If vents are missing or poorly placed, the trapped gas causes:

❌ Burn marks

❌ Incomplete filling (short shots)

❌ Weld lines

❌ Flashing or surface defects

A good venting strategy ensures:

✅ Smooth flow without trapped air

✅ Better surface quality

✅ Lower injection pressure

✅ Longer mold life

Our engineers evaluate vent locations as part of every DFM review—long before the mold is built. It’s just one of those behind-the-scenes decisions that leads to fewer defects and more consistent results.

Design smart. Vent smarter.

source : SCSPlastic

Tata Chemicals and TERI Forge Pathway to Sustainable Biochemicals

Tata Chemicals Limited collaborates with The Energy and Resources Institute to establish the TERI Centre of Excellence on Biochemicals, focusing on cost-effective technologies for producing biochemicals from renewable sources. The initiative aims to steer India towards sustainable chemical manufacturing and aligns with the government's Bio-E ³ policy.

Tata Chemicals Limited, in partnership with The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), announced the launch of the TERI Centre of Excellence on Biochemicals. The Centre's mission is to develop innovative, cost-effective technologies for biochemicals from renewable feedstocks, marking a significant shift in India's chemical industry towards sustainability.

The newly inaugurated Centre of Excellence aims to explore biotechnology solutions that will drive future advancements in the sector. R Mukundan, Managing Director and CEO of Tata Chemicals, stated that this facility will be key to India leading the global transition to green chemistry by fostering cutting-edge research and scalable technologies.

Initially, the Centre will focus on the affordable, demonstration-scale production of 2,3-Butanediol, a versatile chemical used across various industries. TERI's Director General, Dr. Vibha Dhawan, highlighted that the Centre is poised to become a biomanufacturing hub, bridging the gap between laboratory innovation and commercial production, in line with the Indian government's Bio-E ³ policy.

source : Devdiscourse

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share : Strength of Glass fibres

 Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

📢 Time to get technical... 📢

From A to S glass, and from mats to unidirectional rovings, every type and form of fiberglass has its own strengths (literally).

But here’s the real question:

⚡ Which form wins on tensile strength?

📊 And how much does fiber volume fraction tip the scales?

The combinations are endless...the performance differences are not.

At The Native Lab, it’s not just about working with materials, it’s about knowing which material, in which form, delivers the right performance for the job

📖 Source: Composite Materials, Design and Applications book pg. 47

credits: The Native Lab