Plastics for life: The VDWF Plastics Technology Practice Forum 2024 combines corporate experience, science, product development and design
At the beginning of March, numerous interested parties met again for this year's VDWF Plastics Technology Practice Forum. More than 120 participants followed the seven specialist presentations at the free online event under the motto "Plastics for life".
"Historically, plastic is a very young material. At the same time, it has immense potential for the future," explained VDWF President Prof. Thomas Seul in his welcoming address. "In order to evaluate this, we need to look at all possible facets of how plastic works in our environment." The program therefore covered a wide range of topics: From sustainability and design to cutting-edge manufacturing and recycling processes, everything was included. "Our aim today is to work out where we stand and where there are starting points for improvement," says Seul.
High-tech applications in the plastics industry
Dr. Christoph Badock, Hoefer & Sohn, highlighted current developments in medical technology in his presentation. Due to increasing prosperity and an ageing society, chronic diseases are on the rise - medical technology is therefore of immense importance today and in the future. "The increasing substitution of materials - away from glass and ceramics and towards plastic - is particularly relevant for us," explained Badock. "At the same time, however, the level of regulation that we have to comply with is also increasing." Against this backdrop, he outlined the opportunities available to the industry.
Dr. Constantin Schwecke and Udo Ahlborn, Covestro, spoke about the electrification of the automobile with the help of premium polycarbonates. The flame-retardant polycarbonates with high tracking resistance developed specifically for high-voltage applications not only have low warpage, good mechanical properties and high temperature resistance, but also have a lowercarbon footprint than many other engineering thermoplastics. This opens up new opportunities for developers in the field of electromobility.
Christian Seng, Stolz & Seng, described the challenges in the field of micro injection molding - for example, when the sprue weighs 15 times as much as the component to be manufactured and several parts can easily be produced from one grain of plastic granulate. Here, the requirements in toolmaking are already different from those for larger parts: For reasons of space, elements such as ejectors, core cooling or pressure sensors are omitted, nest markings must be made at the limits of the machining possibilities and high maintenance cycles on the tools are also a prerequisite for the required component qualities.
Possibilities with and opportunities through material recycling
Martin Burwinkel, Burwinkel Kunststoffe, explained how his company already uses 60 percent recycled materials. The changeover in the production of conveyor chains for the agricultural sector alone can save 600 tons ofCO2 per year. "That is roughly equivalent to the output of 30,000 trees in this period," says Burwinkel. With this clear focus on sustainability, the company has been able to win back customers who were previously having their products manufactured in China. "The competition from the Far East is nowhere near able to provide comparable proof," says Burwinkel. The focus on more sustainable production thus becomes a competitive advantage.
Prof. Hans-Josef Endres, Institute for Plastics and Recycling Technology, Leibniz Universität Hannover, followed on from this in his presentation and showed in detail when a material can even be called a "recyclate". He gave a detailed technical overview of various recycling processes, but also made it clear which specifications must be taken into account during the design and planning of products in order to ensure an ideal material cycle with plastics.
Considering sustainability in the design process
Prof. Ineke Hans, Institute for Product and Process Design, Berlin University of the Arts, spoke about the design of plastic products and used her "Rex" chair to show how deposit and recycling concepts can also work for furniture - and what new requirements result from this for the development of plastic products. "But this rethink is also a joint task," explained the Dutch designer. "In addition to designers, manufacturers, consumers and politicians also have an influence on the production cycle - so ultimately everyone has to pull together," emphasized Hans.
Nikolaus Potapow, a Master's student at FH Joanneum Graz, spoke about the reparability of products and how this requirement for deliberate longevity can be reflected in their design and layout. He presented various possibilities - including the conscious design of the entire product life cycle. "In my environment of young designers, there is a strong awareness of ecological aspects. Plastic will continue to play an important role as a durable material in the future - embedded in an infrastructure of reuse and recycling," says Potapow.
Between business practice, science and design
The various presentations provided plenty to talk about. Many participants in the practical forum took the opportunity to ask questions and contribute their own experiences from the various areas - be it concrete business practice, science or design. "Once again this year, the diverse program offered participants new approaches for their day-to-day business, but also inspiration for looking beyond," explained Seul after the event - after all, the Q&A sessions and discussions during and after the individual presentations had to be postponed until after the event in order not to jeopardize the event schedule. Due to the positive response, the VDWF has already planned the follow-up event: The next round of the Plastics Technology Practice Forum will take place in March 2025.
