Innovation Acceleration : The Cost Nobody Talks About

 💡Innovation Acceleration: The Cost Nobody Talks About

When growth slows, leaders love to say:

👉 “Let’s accelerate innovation.”

👉 “Let’s double the pipeline.”

Sounds bold. Sounds visionary.

But here’s the hard financial truth:

Developing innovation is cheap.

Launching innovation is expensive.

Scaling innovation can break your supply chain.

Supply chain often needs 18–24 months of lead time.

That means CAPEX, tooling, automation, hiring, and regulatory prep all start long before revenue shows up.

Now imagine you “double the pipeline value.”

Great headline.

But what if you later discover you can’t afford the rollout?

You just created a perfect storm:

• SC already invested in capacity

• Depreciation is locked in

• Volumes don’t materialize

• Standard cost explodes because capacity is underutilized

• Margin collapses

So the real question every CFO should asks is:

“Can we afford the pipeline we’re accelerating?”

Innovation is easy to announce.

Hard to scale.

Expensive to commercialize.

Risky to accelerate blindly.

Look at your pipeline.

Think about it.

source : Urs Wigger

#InnovationStrategy

PRF Composite Materials launch year-long out life prepreg RP5365

Building on PRF’s sustainability philosophy – to look at their prepreg materials from every angle – PRF’s R&D team have developed RP5365 to virtually eliminate the need for the constructor to have any freezing or refrigeration for this product, whilst still maintaining the curing characteristics of PRF’s standard component prepregs and good mechanical properties for structural applications.

Providing the materials are stored in reasonable ambient temperatures, the PRF team also see this prepreg should help reduce or even eliminate the need for refrigerated transportation as well, subject to the maximum temperatures it might be exposed to. The team also envisaged that this material could provide significant benefits for component manufacture in hotter climates, where standard out life can be very limited and difficult to manage.

Robert Burnell, CEO and head of product development at PRF, comments: “We believe that while bio-based materials will play an important role in the future of composites, there is still much more we can do today to improve sustainability using well-established materials—without compromising their high performance. These are changes we can implement immediately to start reducing our environmental impact. By developing a product like RP5365, we can achieve significant environmental benefits, including reduced energy consumption, lower fluorocarbon emissions, and offer overall cost savings for our customers.

Cover photo: PRF Composite Materials

source : Jeccomposites

Syensqo’s Tecnoflon® FFKM NFS selected by Innores to advance sustainable semiconductor manufacturing

Syensqo, a global leader in advanced materials and specialty chemicals, announces that its innovative #Tecnoflon® FFKM NFS portfolio has been selected by Innores, a premier Korean sealing solutions provider, for use in semiconductor manufacturing processes.

This milestone marks the first commercial adoption of Tecnoflon® FFKM NFS, Syensqo’s proprietary perfluoroelastomers renowned for their exceptional chemical and plasma resistance as well as outstanding thermal stability, while manufactured without the use of fluorosurfactants from the PFAS family of chemicals. Innores is integrating these advanced materials into sealing products such as O-rings, bonded seals, gate valves, chamber lids, and vacuum pump components, serving some of the world’s largest semiconductor companies.

This partnership is more than a commercial achievement, it is a reflection of Syensqo’s values and our commitment to making a positive impact through science and collaboration. Working closely with partners like Innores allows us to expand our reach in the global semiconductor market, supplying advanced materials to some of the industry’s most influential players. It also strengthens our reputation as a trusted partner for customers seeking both performance and sustainability in their supply chains.

Andrew Lau, Senior Executive Vice President of Electronics & Industrial, Syensqo Specialty Polymers

The collaboration between #Syensqo and #Innores is founded on a mutual vision for responsible manufacturing and environmental stewardship. Innores continues to drive improvements in energy efficiency, waste minimization, and emissions tracking, values closely aligned with Syensqo’s mission to advance humanity through scientific innovation.

source : Syensqo

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share : Plastic lids

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

Plastic lids

Provocative I know………

Thanks you McDonald's UK for doing the right thing and bringing back plastic lids…….. far safer as they click into place, don’t taint the taste of the drinks, lighter and do exactly what they’re designed to do.

Their short term move to paper lids was driven by misguided attempts to save the planet, now they’ve returned to a packaging design fit for purpose

We need sensible debate around many similar decisions in the sustainability arena.

source : Paul Morgan

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share : Full Integration. Maximum Efficiency – ENGEL Viper Robots

 Today's KNOWLEDGE Share

🚀 Full Integration. Maximum Efficiency – ENGEL Viper Robots 🤖💚

If it’s injection molding, it’s automation.

If it’s automation, it’s ENGEL Viper! 🎯

For more than 15 years, Austrian engineering excellence has been driving the production of ENGEL’s Viper linear robots – designed and built in Europe to the highest quality standards. No wonder they’ve become a benchmark in the plastics industry.

🟩 Why do professionals choose the Viper?

✅ Seamless integration with ENGEL injection molding machines – one interface, one ecosystem 🌐

✅ Advanced IQ software suite – smart functions that adapt in real time to part, mold, and process parameters for consistently optimal performance 🧠💡

✅ High load capacity, fast movements, and pinpoint positioning 🔍⚙️

✅ Excellent value for money – premium automation at an accessible investment level 💰

✅ Broad model range – from 4 kg to 120 kg payload capacity 💪

✅ Compact design with easy maintenance 🧰

✅ Intelligent energy management – efficient operation with low running costs ♻️⚡

💡 About the IQ Software – Viper robots are equipped with ENGEL’s proprietary IQ software solutions (e.g., iQ motion control, iQ vibration control) that:

Automatically optimize movements for shorter cycle times ⏱️

Reduce vibration for higher precision and product quality 📏

Minimize energy consumption without compromising performance ⚡

🛠️ Local service and spare parts in Hungary 🇭🇺

Fast, reliable, and expert support – appreciated by our partners across the country.

💚 Backed by over 75 years of experience as a family-owned company, ENGEL delivers not just a robot, but long-term production security and peace of mind.

📈 Automate smart. Automate with ENGEL.

source : Tivadar Hamzók 

#ENGEL #injectionmolding #viperrobots

China’s largest fibre glass composite recreational fishing boat delivered

The largest fibre glass composite recreational fishing boat in China, “Qiong Sanya Yuxiu 88351”, was put into use in the Wuzhizhou Island tourist area of ​​Sanya, a resort city and the southernmost city on Hainan Island, in South China.

The yacht is 38.38 metres long, 7.80 metres wide, has a full-load displacement of 217.3 tons, and a design speed of 15 knots. It was developed and built by Weihai Xigang Yacht. When selecting #glassfibre composite as the main structural material, #AOC’s high-quality boat manufacturing gelcoat/resin system was adopted.

The hull surface is coated with AOC Neogel NPG 8373 series gelcoat, which not only gives the vessel a beautiful exterior but also provides excellent water and weather resistance, serving as the “first line of protective screen” for the hull’s long-term safety. The main hull structure uses AOC Palatal A400TV series resin, providing robust structural support; Atlac 430 ACT series resin is used for the impermeable layer, ensuring the hull’s durability and safety in complex sea conditions with its excellent chemical corrosion resistance and high dynamic load-bearing capacity.

Promising industrial landscape:

The ship is built using negative glass fibre composite moulds: the hull, deck, superstructure, and other components are formed separately and then assembled. This process not only allows for sleek hull lines to reduce drag, but also provides great flexibility in size and shape, offering a perfect balance between functionality and aesthetics.

In 2022, Hainan Province introduced a series of policies, taking the lead nationwide in establishing a complete policy system for the development of recreational fishing. It was within this promising industrial landscape that Weihai Xigang Yacht undertook a 38-metre glass fibre composite recreational fishing boat project for Hainan Wuzhizhou Tourism Development Co., Ltd.

Weihai Xigang Yacht, a major composite material boat manufacturing company in Northern China, boasts strong technological capabilities. AOC China, as a professional boat material solutions partner, has extensive experience in rapid prototyping and anti-permeability systems. This powerful cooperation has created the benchmark boat model #QiongSanyaYuxiu 88351,” supporting the high-quality development of the glass fibre #composite boat manufacturing industry.

source: AOC China /Jeccomposites

EcoVadis awards Birla Carbon a Platinum rating, reinforcing its leadership in sustainability

Birla Carbon, a leading global manufacturer and supplier of high-quality carbon materials, has been awarded a Platinum level rating by EcoVadis. The recognition places Birla Carbon among the top 1% of companies globally evaluated by EcoVadis and reflects the company’s continued leadership in embedding sustainability across its operations, innovation, and value chain.

The Platinum rating acknowledges Birla Carbon’s performance across key sustainability dimensions, including Environment, Labor & Human Rights, Ethics, and Sustainable Procurement, underscoring the strength and consistency of its enterprise-wide sustainability practices.

Commenting on the recognition, John Loudermilk, President and Chief Executive Officer, Birla Carbon, said, “This Platinum rating reflects the steady progress we are making in embedding sustainability at the core of our business. Our growth strategy is geared towards delivering sustainability through innovation, operational excellence, and responsible practices across our global footprint. We continually invest in sustainability and circularity-driven processes, keeping our operations sustainably efficient while creating long-term value for our customers, partners, communities, and employees.”

He added, “Our sustainability strategy, Share the Future, serves as a roadmap to a sustainable future and guides our actions toward our aspiration of reaching net zero carbon emissions over the next 25 years. Being recognized among the top one percent of companies globally is a testament to the commitment of our teams worldwide.

The rating also reflects strong third-party validations, with more than 75% of operations covered under internationally recognized certifications such as ISO 14001, ISO 50001, ISO 45001, SA8000, and ISO 27001.

source : Birla Carbon