Automation is becoming a strategic necessity for manufacturing companies facing labor shortages, rising costs and demographic change. A structured approach with clear priorities and realistic limits can significantly increase the success rate of automation projects.
JEC World has announced 33 finalists for the 2026 JEC Composites Innovation Awards, chosen from 154 applications across 11 industrial and technological categories covering the global composites value chain.
Sukano, in collaboration with NatureWorks, has introduced a new antiblock masterbatch for biaxially oriented PLA (BOPLA) films to enhance barrier properties and processing on existing BOPP lines, addressing EU PPWR-driven demands for compostable small-format packaging.
Alpla and NTCP have launched a four-year pilot project in the Netherlands to validate a patented solvent-based process for producing food-grade recycled HDPE, supported by the Dutch Ministry of Climate Policy and Green Growth.
The Nonwovens Institute at North Carolina State University and Oerlikon Nonwoven have agreed on cooperation in meltblown laboratory technology, centred on the installation of the hycuTEC hydrocharging system for advanced filtration media development.
All four business units of Hennecke Group have received Great Place to Work certification following a 22 percentage point rise in employees rating the company as a great workplace and a record 91 percent participation in the latest global survey.
Hexpol has qualified Dryflex Circular TPE compounds with recycled content to the Porsche PN 780 standard for low VOC and low-odour performance in automotive interior applications, while achieving a reduced product carbon footprint versus virgin TPEs.
Łukasiewicz Center and Dassault Systèmes have signed a cooperation agreement in the field of digital transformation of Polish industry, covering support for the digitization of R&D processes and the strengthening of digital competences. The cooperation is intended to accelerate the implementation of modern technologies in the economy and improve collaboration between science and business.
ELIX Polymers has introduced new deep black colours for ABS and PC/ABS based on NIR-detectable pigments, enabling optical sorting and recycling of black technical plastics while maintaining aesthetics and performance.
Clariant’s Additives business has received the 2025 Schneider Electric Outstanding Supplier Award, underlining the role of its halogen-free flame retardant technologies in Schneider Electric’s upstream value chain.
Wacker and SICO Performance Material have launched an application development center for organofunctional silanes in Jining, China, to support high-performance additives for plastics, coatings and adhesives and to accelerate the market introduction of new specialty silane products.
At Swiss Plastics Expo 2026 in Lucerne, Arburg will present an electric Allrounder 370 A with Gestica control processing fibre‑rich “paper pearls” as an alternative to conventional petroleum‑based plastics.
