INEOS Styrolution, a known name in styrenics and NMB (Neue Materialien Bayreuth), together with the University of Bayreuth, reflect on a decade of successful R&D collaboration that has led to a broad range of styrenics based innovations.
Ten years ago, representatives from NMB, the University of Bayreuth and INEOS Styrolution signed an agreement that became the basis for an R&D partnership. Today’s broad portfolio of sustainable ECO products from INEOS Styrolution would not have been possible without the work of the teams from NMB, the University of Bayreuth and INEOS Styrolution’s R&D Department.
The collaboration took on projects like the development and evaluation of recycling technologies, material development and testing, and the development of new polymer processing methods. Other projects addressed life cycle analyses of recycling technologies as well as individual product offerings.
A more recent project addressed the development of Novobead® ECO-expandable bead foams based on recycled ABS that can be used as thermal and acoustic insulation, shock absorption in helmets, or re-usable protective packaging. The press release stated that the wide variety of sophisticated analytical and processing equipment from lab to pilot scale, and the broad academic network of expertise in Bayreuth is of high value for accelerating research projects and ultimately also for accelerating the commercial production of new solutions.
Dr. Tristan Kolb, Principal Scientist at NMB said, “I feel privileged to be given the opportunity to improve sustainability and society’s well-being by contributing to this unique collaboration. And I am proud of our collective achievements”.
Professor Holger Ruckdäschel, Managing Director NMB and Chair of Polymer Engineering at the University of Bayreuth added, “I inherited a fruitful collaboration when I arrived in Bayreuth three years ago. We share the same vision on sustainability and innovation on plastics, and our collaboration is highly productive in addressing true market needs. I am really looking forward to the next decade of joint innovation”.
Dr. Norbert Nießner, Global Innovation Director at INEOS Styrolution commented, “Ten years ago, we designed a unique collaboration concept together with Prof. Hans-Werner Schmidt. It is based on the first-class polymer and chemistry facilities and faculty of Bayreuth University, the excellent network and technology transfer capabilities of NMB, as well as the specific development needs of INEOS Styrolution. Since the date of signing on 27 November 2013, we have jointly developed state-of-the-art solutions for today’s most urgent and relevant topics with innovative, hands-on customer solutions and top-notch technologies for plastics recycling and sustainability. I am very pleased to see that this dynamic collaboration is as vital and powerful today as when it started 10 years ago. Many thanks to Principal Scientist Tristan Kolb; Prof. Schmidt; Prof. Altstädt; and Prof. Ruckdäschel who made this success possible”.
