– New material is made of at least 90% renewable raw materials
– Röchling-BioBoom is suitable for a large part of the product range of the company
– By 2035, Röchling Automotive aims to become the leader in bioplastics and recycled materials in the automotive industry
Bengaluru, NFAPost: With the bioplastic Röchling-BioBoom, Röchling Automotive is the first company in the world market to have a patented polylactide (PLA)-based biopolymer that consists of at least 90% renewable raw materials.
The two-century-old company’s innovation comes at a time when there is a clamour for green materials to ensure sustainable mobility across the globe. The automotive industry is increasingly working on aligning vehicle production with the principles of sustainability. The development of appropriate materials plays a decisive role in this process.
In this way, Röchling Automotive offers an ecological and economical alternative to most conventional materials such as polyester (PC, PET, PBT) but also polystyrene (ABS), polyolefins (such as PP) and polyamides (PA6).
Environment friendly
Commenting on the development, Chairman of the Board of Management and CEO of Röchling Automotive Prof. Dr. Hanns-Peter Knaebel said Röchling Automotive wants to support its customers in the development of environmentally friendly vehicles and thus help shape the transformation of the industry towards a sustainable one.
“With our bioplastics, we are bringing a sustainable solution to the market that originates from a completely self-controlled supply chain – from renewable resources to the automobile manufacturers,” said Chairman of the Board of Management and CEO of Röchling Automotive Prof. Dr. Hanns-Peter Knaebel.
Röchling Automotive has built up internal expertise in materials development over many years in cooperation with various partners. With significant improvements in terms of thermal stability and chemical resistance compared to standard PLA, the new biopolymer family meets the company’s high technical requirements and specifications.
Greenhouse gas emission
Röchling BioBoom enables greenhouse gas emission savings that are about 705 higher than those of PP and almost 905 higher than those of PA6. This means that if the proportion of petrochemical plastics in a mid-sized car is replaced by Röchling Automotive’s bioplastics, 515 kilograms of CO2 emissions can be saved per vehicle production.
Three standard types of Röchling Automotive biopolymers are currently available, which are suitable for applications in the engine compartment and underbody as well as for the interior of a vehicle.
Each of the three types can be tailored to individual customer needs and the respective specific requirements. Röchling BioBoom can also be used for almost the entire product portfolio of Röchling Automotive. With Röchling BioBoom, the plastics specialist once again underlines its role as a pioneer in the industry.
Chairman of the Board of Management and CEO of Röchling Automotive Prof. Dr. Hanns-Peter Knaebel said the sustainable material is also an initial indicator for a green future for the company.
Biopolymer
‘We have set ourselves the goal of becoming the leading supplier of bioplastics and recycling materials in the automotive industry by 2035 at the latest. This means that we will noticeably increase our development activities in this area’. With the newly developed biopolymer, Röchling Automotive has already successfully initiated this important transformation process,” said Chairman of the Board of Management and CEO of Röchling Automotive Prof. Dr. Hanns-Peter Knaebel.
The Röchling Group has been shaping industry worldwide for nearly 200 years. The company transforms the lives of people every day with its customized plastics: they reduce the weight of cars, make medication packaging more secure and improve industrial applications. The company’s workforce of around 11,500 people is located in the places where its customers are – in 90 locations in 25 countries. The Group’s three divisions generated joint annual sales of 2.352 billion euros in 2019.
The Industrial division is the expert for optimal materials for every use. The division develop and supply individual products made of plastic for all industrial areas. This is why the company has the broadest product range of thermoplastics and composite materials. The company supplies customers with semi-finished products or machined components.
Structural lightweight
The Automotive division advances mobility. The division’s product solutions are in the areas of aerodynamics, propulsion and structural lightweight help solve major challenges. The division protects the environment while also improving the driving experience.
The Medical division is the reliable partner to leading global companies when it comes to the components, services and smart plastic products that are needed in the healthcare industry. The medical division develops solutions in the fields of diagnostics, fluid management, pharma as well as surgery and interventional.
