News

The European Circular Economy Action Plan includes calls to use post-consumer recycled packaging. However, this packaging poses major challenges for safety, especially when it comes to food contact materials. In light of this, we have developed a testing strategy to comprehensively assess the safety of recycled plastic materials as part of the PolyCycle project.

Gas chromatography can be used to detect bad odors during the quality assurance stage of sensitive processes, such as in food production and processing. However, a large amount of instruments and specially trained staff are needed for this. In addition, it is not suitable for continuous monitoring and is only able to take samples at specific points in time. So that the quality can be checked straight away by the grower or user, or undesirable odors identified while production is ongoing, we are developing needs-based and cost-effective gas chromatography sensor systems.

With the AJCsens, we are presenting the newest version of an intelligent, autonomous tank cleaning system for time- and resource-optimized cleaning processes. For the first time, a highly integrated and miniaturized optical inline contamination sensor in the nozzle head of the jet cleaner — which can move 360 — makes holistic and permanent inline monitoring of the tank cleaning process possible. Experience the AJCsens and another innovative sensor solution for needs-based design of the cleaning process in closed systems at the stand in VDMA Hall B3, stand 336.

We are functionalizing the barrier characteristics of bio-based coatings for paper packaging so that they can satisfy the level of product protection required and comply with the requirements of the recycling process. To do so, we are working with the Papiertechnische Stiftung (German Paper Technology Institute) as part of the interdisciplinary team on the Cooperative Industrial Research (IGF) project “BiPaRe” — BioPaperRecycling — which began in 2021. Our focus is the systematic analysis of the interference potential of the coatings subject to various chemical polymer matrices.

As part of the “HygAM” project, we have been working with Fraunhofer IWU to develop practical solutions to hygienically optimize the surface characteristics of additively manufactured metallic components. In the follow-up project, we would like to refine our results further and share them with a wider range of users. That’s why we need your expertise!

As part of the EIT Food project “Pack4Sense,” we have developed a packaging concept and manufacturing procedure to subsequently apply a coating to deep-drawn fiber-based packaging using thermoforming. The design allows for the packaging components to be easily separated to achieve a fiber content of over 90%. The particularly thin film that makes up the barrier layer complements the fiber container without fully attaching to it while guaranteeing the required amount of sealing for food packaging.

At the end of April, we concluded the European “Multicycle” project. The findings are a big step in the direction of the circular economy. Recycled plastic materials made from post-consumer multilayer packaging and fiber-reinforced car parts were successfully produced for high-quality applications in the packaging and automotive sectors.

Cosmetic products contain active ingredients that are supposed to care for or repair your skin, as well as protect it from harm. However, the efficacy of these substances may decrease if they are exposed to light, oxygen or adverse temperatures during storage. To prevent this, packaging is selected based on the product’s requirements in terms of protection from light as well as oxygen and water vapor barriers. The packaging materials best suited to protecting the product are chosen.

Although the EU Commission requires more recycled and reusable packaging, using post-consumer recyclates in packaging for cosmetics is not always simple. The quantity and diversity of non-intentionally added substances (NIAS) from the various types of packaging that have landed in the trash form a particular obstacle when it comes to recycling processes and assessing and approving the resultant recyclates.

We have developed the first intelligent cleaning lance as a means of guaranteeing a reliable and reproducible manual cleaning process for the first time. The sensors integrated into this device log the process automatically and the data is subsequently transferred to an AR device (glasses, a tablet or a smartphone), which then projects a real-time “digital twin” onto the physical cleaning environment. Between May 14 and 19, 2022, we will be attending the IFFA trade fair to showcase our cleaning lance along with other solutions for automated processes that comply with hygiene standards, and our developments that use high-quality proteins as alternatives to meat. Stop by and see us in hall 11.1, stand B70!