At the PDM12 show, Louth-based technical plastics recycler Luxus (Stand P40) will showcase its latest evolution in polymer development – a new lightweight PP compound made from up to 60% recycled content.
The company will explain how the new material will satisfy sustainable manufacturing needs across global markets.
The automotive sector in particular will benefit from the new polymer, according to Luxus, as it enables manufacturers to reduce vehicle weight so they can meet tough carbon dioxide emission targets. The new compound has been developed to replace standard talc filled grades for car interior components, with a claimed weight reduction of 10-15% as compared with a typical 25% talc filled material. The result, says the company, is much lighter and highly scratch resistant vehicle components with no compromise on performance and design flexibility.
Luxus will also be featuring branding from a new partner, The Green Tile Company, with both its modular tile solar panel and award winning product Envirotile – a highly innovative roof tile made from recycled polymers. It intends to work closely with its partner to develop sustainable materials able to withstand both extremes in temperature and UV exposure in the future to meet increasing demand globally. Envirotile can be seen at the Luxus Pod, on stand P40.
Also showcased will be Luxus's closed-loop recycling service. Life-expired plastic products (for instance transit packaging or wheeled bins) are washed, shredded and melted. The resulting polymer is then re-engineered via a compounding process so it can be made into precisely the same product, with a view to offering a carbon-positive solution for logistics companies and local authorities.
Peter Atterby, managing director of Luxus, comments: “We believe in adding value, creating new markets and contributing to the cost-effectiveness and ecological performance of the companies we support. This is made possible by our running one of the largest and most technically advanced recycling facilities in the UK for processing plastics scrap.”
He continues: “Developing innovative polymers for new markets is essential to our evolution. This means working closely with designers at the beginning of the product development process to ensure that the right materials are specified to create high performance components that are highly reliable, sustainable and cost-effective.”
Atterby concludes: “2012 is an important year for us as we've recently been named the North East regional winner for the HSBC Business Thinking Award. This win has provided a great opportunity for us to invest in our facilities and our people so as to safeguard our future and reach new markets. This is the thinking behind our exhibiting at PDM12, as it provides a great opportunity for Luxus to meet the London design community.”