NEWS Sirmax invests in Smart Mold
Italian compounder Sirmax has taken a 50% stake in Smart Mold, a sustainable plastics technology spin-off from the University of Padua. Smart Mold operates in
two key areas. Processing of recycled plastics, where it has a patented mould surface technology which allows filling at lower pressures. And polymer usage optimisation through detailed part and material design and simula- tion that allows development of material solutions contain- ing recycled plastics. “The technical knowl- edge acquired over the years, along with a desire to offer concrete solutions for sustainable plastic use, has led us to formulate a business proposal that contributes to reducing the impact of plastic,” said
DKSH works
for Maag
Switzerland’s Maag Group, which supplies pumping and filtration, pelletising, pulverising and recycling systems, has reached a distribution agreement for Indonesia with DKSH. Maag and DKSH have
worked together in the Japanese market since 1990. The new agreement covers marketing and sales, regulatory compe- tence, distribution, logistics and after-sales service for customers in Indonesia. �
www.maag.com
www.compoundingworld.com Sirmax has taken a 50% stake in university spin-off Smart Mold
Giovanni Lucchetta, Smart Mold Founder and Partner and Professor of Manufac- turing Engineering at the University of Padua. “Thanks to our mould surface treatments, we can ‘elevate’ recycled plastic, while our engineering activity means we can significantly reduce the thickness and weight of many structural compo- nents, decreasing both plastic consumption and
molding costs.” Sirmax has been collabo-
rating with the Department of Industrial Engineering at the University of Padua for many years, taking part in research projects and donating scientific labora- tory equipment. “The synergy between Sirmax and Smart Mold will enable us to offer both new and existing clients some- thing beyond simple
compounds,” said Sirmax President and CEO Massimo Pavin. “We will be able to offer stronger, more environmentally-conscious materials and replace high-impact materials with better-performing ones.” The investment in Smart Mold is part of a three-year €80m development plan at Sirmax that was initiated in 2019 and is largely focused on circular economy activities. This has seen it acquire plastics recycler SER and bioplastics producer Microtec, both based in Italy, as well as the inauguration of its second Polish plant at Kutno to produce high recycled content TPEs. The company also plans to open a second SER facility at Anderson in the US this year. �
www.sirmax.com
PVC recycling ‘on target’
VinylPlus, which manages the European PVC industry’s voluntary commitment to sustainable development, has issued its 2020 progress report showing the industry recycled 771,313 tonnes of PVC in 2019, more than 96% of its 2020 target. The association said the 2019 performance indicates that the industry is well on track to meet its challenging recycling target for 2025 of 900,000 tonnes. The future for PVC
recycling in Europe was clouded by the European Parliament’s decision earlier this year to vote down a derogation from the
European PVC recycling will hit 900,000 tonnes in 2025
European Commission that would have allowed low level use of now-restricted “legacy” additives in recycled products. A Vinylplus spokesperson
told Compounding World it has provided feedback to
the Commission on the consequences of that decision since the vote. “They are working on some amendments; for the time being VinylPlus does not know which ones.” �
www.vinylplus.eu
June 2020 | COMPOUNDING WORLD 5
IMAGE: SIRMAX
IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK
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