VOLUME 32/4 – 2022 KABLONEX - PERFECT PACKAGING FILMS KABLONEX - PERFECT PACKAGING FILMS TLT-TURBO - CORROSION IN POWER PLANTS TLT-TURBO - CORROSION IN POWER PLANTS NEWAG ELECTRIC CONNECTIONS NEWAG ELECTRIC CONNECTIONS CYBERCRIMINALS STILL HAVE MANUFACTURING IN SIGHT CYBERCRIMINALS STILL HAVE MANUFACTURING IN SIGHT ORANGE CYBERDEFENSE -ORANGE CYBERDEFENSE -
It’s an attitude that actually makes sense in his position, psychologically. At the age of 80-something, having spent more than half your life muddying the waters of climate sci ence, it’s difficult to change tack. Especially when deep in your heart, you know you lied for money. And it was a lie that made the world a significantly worse place for everyone, including your kids and grandkids. But it was a lie that made you rich. So the
An interesting barometer will be next month’s election in Brazil. While the western media has focused on the somewhat cherry-picked polls showing a strong lead for leftist candidate Lula da Silva, writing off the incumbent Jair Bolsonaro – arguably the only world leader who makes Trump look progressive - would be a dangerous mistake. After all, this is a man who, like Donald Trump, has defied expectations in the past, emerging from the political fringes to become a powerful force not just in Brazil but on the world stage.
nyone who’s never heard of ‘greenwash ing’ before had better familiarise them selves pretty quickly as it is shaping up to be one of this century’s defining words. It’s one that I wouldn’t be surprised to see become a crime as the decades go by. Already some are likening climate denial to holocaust denial with greenwashing being its slightly less offensive little brother. Racism and homophobia began the 20th century as being standard in most countries, and it seemed that this would never change. Nonetheless, the events of that 100-year period changed everything and as we entered the 21st century, such ideas were fast becoming anathema to many people in most western countries. Indeed, what we saw as commonplace in 1900 had often become a crime by 2000, and in the case of homo sexuality, the whole legal approach flipped on its head completely. Homosexuality began the century as a crime, and homophobia (or at least homophobic hate crime) ended the century as one. Things can change fast, and I predict that climate denial, and probably green washing, is likely to end the same way.
One of the green movement’s biggest flaws has long been its tendency to come across as preachy. Most humans, when confronted
And while litigating against some old men won’t change the dire situation that we find ourselves in, just like the trials against old Nazis, it would send a powerful message to those considering indulging in the same behaviour today. There is no question that men like Lee Raymond have the blood of future generations on their hands.
In the Big Oil documentary, we learned of the machinations that the industry went through to keep the oil flowing. The science – and let’s be clear, it IS a science – was questioned enough that the 1997 Kyoto Protocol was watered down to a point of become ineffectual, and thus we lost nearly two decades in the battle against climate change. Today, in 2022, extreme weather events are commonplace – fires in Califor nia, deforestation in Brazil, floods in Pakistan and droughts in Europe.
A
with endless preachiness, will eventually react against it. People don’t like being told what to do or how to act and as such we run the risk of a backlash. Therefore, legislators feel they need to walk the line very carefully, especially in a world as divided as this. The long-term sustainability of the push towards a sustainable economy is at stake here, and with the likes of Donald Trump waiting in the wings to pick up the reins of power again, we could begin to see a further regression of the gains made in recent years.
Raymond aside, the question of a legal basis for litigating against climate deniers and greenwashers is one best left to legisla tors and lawyers. Nonetheless, one has to consider that if holocaust denial is a crime in some jurisdictions, because of the untold horrors and human suffering that that period of history caused, should the same logic be applied to climate denial?
Industry Europe has long strived to be a publication that champions sustainable businesses. However, one issue that I as editor have encountered during my tenure is finding that sweet spot – the balance between pushing the green transition without coming across like some kind of idealistic hippy with no basis in the real world. Because there is another danger here just as great as greenwashing and climate denial – climate weariness.
And let’s be honest, some large compa nies have not had great track records on this. Anyone who caught the recent BBC documentary Big Oil v the World will have seen some of the murky behaviour that some fossil fuel companies indulged in, with former ExxonMobil CEO Lee Raymond coming out of it seeming like some of the worst culprits. Raymond himself refused to appear in the programme, and as such came across as repentant as an ageing Nazi found in the Brazilian jungle some 40 years after the end of World War II.
Industry Europe 3 STEVENGISLAM |
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good news for the Raymond family is that grandad’s big lie meant that they now have the financial means to weather the coming storms (and floods, droughts and wildfires) in a way that many others do not.
The crime of the century
We live in turbulent times. These days are not days but strange symptoms. Everything is changing and no one can say whether these changes will be for the better or not. One thing of which there is little doubt is that businesses, especially those multinational corporations that put profit above all other considerations must be held to account. Such action does not amount to an under mining of capitalism but a reinforcement of its core tenets. The whole point of indus trial-era capitalism was to raise the living standard of those with the least, not for the rich to amass wealth then alter the system to entrench their own privilege. Climate destruction amounts to a loss of human life and, while some will find this position to be over-the-top, it is now abundantly clear that greenwashing and climate denial are some of the biggest dangers facing humanity and the planet. It is not something we should tol erate any longer and it’s time for legislators and businesses to act accordingly.
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Healthcare 28 Healthcare news
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Innovation Transportation 40 Electric connections NEWAG S.A. 44 Transportation news
power plants TLT-Turbo 36 Technology & Innovation news
CONTENTS
news
Economics Technology & Innovation 34 Corrosion
18 Perfect
Energy
news
The latest developments in and
Aerospace & Defence & Defence
Focus on Semiconductor, battery metals, rare earths manufacturing remains firmly in the sights of cybercriminals
news
8 Aerospace
Chemicals & Biochemicals & Biochemicals
news
Consumer Goods packaging films Goods
The latest developments in the sector & Utilities & Utilities
24 Energy
The latest developments in the sector
Politics
The latest developments in and in
The latest developments in the sector
3 Editorial
Construction & Engineering & Engineering
32 Politics & Economics news
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4 Industry Europe
Tech
The latest developments in the sector
10 Chemicals
Comment The crime of the century
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The latest developments in the sector & Economics
The developments in the
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sector Editorial Director Steve Gislam Profile Writers Romana Moares Barbara Rossi Dariusz Balcerzyk Edina Beale Philip Emma-JaneYorke Batey Eugenia Fiusco Piotr Sadowski Managing Partner & Production Director Stephen Moore Operations & Finance Director Tania Balderson Sector Managers, Sales & Advertising Katarzyna Pozoga Art Director Leon Esterhuizen Industry Europe PO Box 3750, Norwich NR7 7GZ, United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0)1603 414444 Fax: +44 (0)1603 779850 Email: studio@industryeurope.net Web: www.industryeurope.com Twitter: www.twitter.com/IndustryEurope LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/industry-europeFOCUSMEDIAGROUPLTD.
Metals & Mining &
6 Why
30 Metals
The latest developments in the sector
While the benefits of digitisation have aided the sector, which has historically been held back by outdated systems, it has also pre
Manufacturing market challenges
expansion of access to applications and data by third parties and the lack of visibil ity and authority over the security practices and controls of those third parties.
The second manufacturing-specific security challenge is the expansion of the attack surface through the convergence of OT with IT, as well as the rollout of IoT and IIoT devices. Here, the prevalence of often outdated assets – potentially carrying mul tiple vulnerabilities – alongside the lack of
ominic Trott UK Head of Strategy at Orange Cyberdefense looks at the vital importance of prioritising cybersecurity for manufacturing and industry, and the steps businesses can take to ensure their security posture is watertight
by Guest post, Orange Cyberdefense, Dominic Trott
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6 Industry Europe FOCUS ON – SEMICONDUCTOR, BATTERY METALS, RARE EARTHS
REMAINSMANUFACTURINGFIRMLYINTHESIGHTSOFCYBERCRIMINALS
sented challenges, including an increased threat from cybercriminals.
WHY
The manufacturing industry is amongst the vertical markets that have seen the most disruption as a result of digital transformation. Over the past decade, technological advancements and enhanced connectivity have enabled manufacturers to increase their efficiency, productivity and accuracy.
There are two key challenges inher ent to the manufacturing industry that are worthy of particular attention. The first of these is third-party risk. The combination of supply chain integration with the degree of automation and digitisation seen in the manufacturing industry has resulted in a ‘perfect storm’ of risk factors that is spur ring security incidents. This results from the
tors and microchips, essential components of electronic devices. The Covid-19 pandemic led to a widespread shortage of chips and subsequently impacted production in sectors such as the automotive industry. Jaguar Land Rover said the issue was partly to blame for a £9m loss in the last three months of 2021.
Another growing risk faced by manufactur ers is ransomware. According to the Orange Cyberdefense’s most recent Security Navigator report, the manufacturing industry suffered over 23% of the ransomware – or ‘cyber extor tion’ – incidents collected from January 2020 to October 2021. These attacks are a form of cybercrime whereby the security of a corporate digital asset is compromised and its confiden tiality, integrity or availability is exploited in a threat of some form to extort payment.
able, manufacturers are advised to begin with the security fundamentals. It is crucial that employees are aware of the threat that they face and the importance of adopting good security hygiene behaviour. Sim ple measures, such as avoiding opening attachments or clicking on links unless they are from a legitimate source, can go a long way to reducing the risk of ransom ware infiltrating the network.
Throughbreach.these measures, and the right combination of safeguards, I believe we will observe a shift in the security of manufactur ers, and reduce the risk a calamitous cyber breach in the future. n
Secondly, organisations must be sure to prioritise patch management as updating and ridding key systems of any potentially catastrophic vulnerabilities can prevent many breaches before they even occur.
The risks of ransomware
Alongside these challenging market condi tions, chip manufacturers came under the spotlight of hackers. In February, it was reported that America’s biggest microchip company, Nvidia, was hit by a cyberattack that impacted email systems and developer tools. Other chip manufacturers that reportedly fell victim to similar attack include Taiwan’s TSMC and Tower Semiconductor of Israel.
To achieve robust cybersecurity, while plenty of sophisticated solutions are avail
The author, Dominic Trott, is UK Head of Strategy at Orange Cyberdefense.
visibility that security teams can gain into industrial environments, which are rapidly becoming network-connected and there fore exposed to a much stronger degree of risk, represent a significant increase in the level of risk faced by manufacturers.
There are several reasons why manufac turers are a particular target. Cybercriminals may believe that these firms will be more likely to pay a ransom due to the critical nature of their businesses and a lack of appetite to interrupt operations. Or it may be that their cybersecurity posture and ability to recover from a cyberattack is typically not as robust as in other sectors. It could also be that the size of the industry overall makes it more prevalent or attractive for hackers. However, the more likely reason is that manufacturers are simply not prepared to deal with a cyberattack.
One area of manufacturing that has been hit hard includes those companies that are responsible for the production of semiconduc
Finally, it is critical to adopt a ‘defence in depth’ strategy, ensuring a consistent approach to security across all control points. For example, the ability to com bine endpoint protection – where modern detection-centric techniques can identify unusual and unwanted behaviour and quarantine the associated assets – with network security – that prevents malicious traffic from proliferating ‘east/west’ across the organisation – can help to contain a security
Cybercriminals often use a ‘double extortion’ approach and leak samples of stolen data on the dark web to expedite payment demands. Double extortion attacks increased almost six-fold between the first quarter of 2020 and the third quar ter of 2021. In addition, Ransomware-asa-Service (RaaS) cybergangs are going to even greater lengths to get victims to pay up, including launching distributed denialof-service (DDoS) attacks, emailing clients and auctioning off stolen data.
Back to basics
Industry Europe 7
Vist: www.orangecyberdefense.com
additional funding from partners throughout the region. They will also have access to strategists and technical experts from industry to support the devel opment of proof of concept opportunities.
Since launching in 2019, startups involved in the three previous Aerospace Xelerated cohorts have gone on to raise over £100 million in additional funding and create over 150 jobs across the UK and globally. Organisations to work with past cohorts as partners or mentors include PWC, Frazer-Nash, Chevron Technology Ventures and EasyJet.
The project was a collaboration between Skypersonic, the University of Turin and Etna Park.
Aerospace Xelerated cohort 4 opens to digital services startups worldwide
U S-based drone company Skypersonic, which in 2021 entered into a five-year contract with NASA to provide drone and rover hardware, software and support to the space agency's simulated Mars mission, has successfully completed testing on Mount Etna, an active volcano in Sicily where the landscape is similar to Martian geology. Skypersonic says that the 15-day test demonstrates how its Skycopter drone can be piloted virtually anywhere, from virtually anywhere.
T he Aerospace Xelerated programme has announced that it has opened calls for applica tions. Following three cohorts headed up by Boeing and supported by industry partners, the programme will now be run in partnership with the Tawazun Economic Council, the defence and security acqui sitions body of the United Arab Emirates.
Startups accepted into the programme will have the option to benefit from a £100,000 (€118,000) investment from Boeing, with the potential for
Abdullah Al Awani, Executive Director of Economic Partnerships at Tawazun Economic Council, added: "Tawazun is committed to the promotion of innovation. Through a continued focus on technology, we aim to increase efficiency, drive industry best practices and support SME growth. We are very excited and proud of our partnership with Aerospace Xelerated on their fourth Cohort as it perfectly aligns with our mission to drive economic value, facilitate ecosystem growth and empower technology and people who are innovating."
The Skycopter. Credit: Skypersonic
8 Industry Europe NEWS
Nichola Bates, Managing Partner at Aero space Xelerated and Head of Global Accelera tors and Innovation Programs at Boeing, said: "This partnership between Aerospace Xelerated, Tawazun and Boeing is a further testament to our global presence and our commitment to supporting entrepreneurs and innovation irrespective of their country of origin.
"During the simulated Mars mission, four crew members living and working in a 1,700-square-foot module on Earth, called Mars Dune Alpha, will carry out a series of missions – including remotely guided exploration and collection of speci mens from rugged terrain elsewhere on Earth, up to thousands of miles away."
It’s hard to match the extraordinary mix of dynamism, growth, tech, strategic location, and government incentives that the Emirates has to offer. Having the programme launch out of the UAE will provide further market access not only to the UAE but to all of the Middle East, Turkey and Africa regions thanks to the strategic geographical location, as well as the global expansion initiatives that the UAE has accomplished to date."
Startups taking part in the 12-week pro gramme will also be introduced to a network of angel investors, venture capitalists and key stakeholders in the aerospace sector.
Part of its role in Aerospace Xelerated will be to advise and partner with startups as they navigate their way into new markets in the Middle East. Tawazun will also serve as a guide to companies and provide support for market expansion, developing new products, and facili tating local industry connections.
Startups from anywhere worldwide working on digital services and solutions are encour aged to apply. Applications open today and close on 25 AerospaceSeptember.Xeleratedand Tawazun highlight their shared focus on innovation and point out that the partnership is part of their joint mission to "empower entrepreneurs" to develop ideas that solve real-life problems and move the aerospace sector
Basedforward.inAbu Dhabi, Tawazun acts as a catalyst for economic growth and the further development of the defence and security indus try in the UAE.
For more information and to apply go to: https://xelerated.aero
New developments in the Aerospace & Defence
Mentoring will also be available from a global network of experienced entrepreneurs, as well as more than £100,000 in perks from partners including Oracle, Amazon, HubSpot, and Digital Ocean, amongst others.
Aerospace Xelerated is looking for startups in the field of digital services and solutions. Com panies must be mid-late seed stage; preferably working on software solutions; and at a traction stage with proof of concepts, contracts already in place, revenue and/or letter of intent. The programme does not require the startups to be operating in the aerospace sector.
"When it comes to global startup hot spots, few places are as exciting as the UAE.
Using Skypersonic’s Long Range Real-Time Remote Piloting System, the drone and rover on Mount Etna were controlled by personnel in Houston, Texas, in real-time.Whilemost drones cannot be piloted without connecting to the GPS network, Skycopter uses technology that is able to control and track the drone in locations – such as Mars – where GPS is not available.
From Sicily to Mars: Drone & rover tests pave way to the red planet
"This was a gruelling test that we passed with flying colours. We look forward to the ultimate test – on Earth, at least – when our technology will be used during NASA’s upcoming yearlong simulated Mars mission. We are confident of also passing this test," said Skypersonic CEO Giuseppe Santangelo
The test results on the volcano included sample collections made by the rover - an essential capability for robotic exploration of Mars.
FCC urges action to clean up space debris
The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has urged for the issue of space debris to be addressed before space manufacturing ramps up, calling for new regulations in space.
strate the HAPS' ability to remain over an area of operation; and to maintain a constant float altitude in the stratosphere.
Sceye's HAPS is designed in the form of an enhanced balloon and can lift a range of payloads for connectivity, earth observation, and scientific research. The hull fabric is designed to withstand the extreme environment of the stratosphere and is optimised for strength, helium retention, and thermal management.
Jessica Rosenworce, Chairwoman of the FCC, stated: “As we promote Space Innovation, we need to promote safety and responsibility. This is why this inquiry also considers how ISAM capabilities can lead to the develop ment of new ways to clean up orbital debris.”
Amongst the debris, NASA highlighted that approximately 23,000 pieces were larger than a softball, whilst there are half a million pieces of debris the size of a marble or larger.
Chief of Mission Operations, Stephanie Luongo, said, "This launch is the second of six in our test program this year intended to verify payload and automated flight while ensuring safe operations. We’re excited to learn more from upcoming flight tests planned for late sum mer and fall."
In October 2021, Sceye became the first company to connect a Massive MIMO antenna
The HAPS test launch took place on June 14 from Sceye's hangar at Roswell International Airport and was made using only solar and battery power. The test has the potential to expand internet access to remote populations, monitor greenhouse gas emissions down to individual emitters, and detect natural disasters as they begin.
Sceye also announced there would be another four test launches in 2022.
with 3D beamforming from the stratosphere directly to smartphones on the ground over a distance of 140 km (87 miles) - a world record in Open RAN.
Sceye HAPS: Unleashing the potential of the AEROSPACEstratosphere&DEFENCE
Sceye, a US-based material science company and manufacturer of High-Altitude Platform Stations (HAPS), has announced that it reached the stratosphere with the aim of demonstrating the ability to remain over an operational area for months at a time, powered only by renewable energy sources.
"Today’s test flight holds extraordinary potential for stratospheric discovery," said Sceye founder and CEO, Mikkel Vestergaard Frandsen.
Solar panels collect energy throughout the day and high-performance batteries have enough storage to last until sunrise when the power loop begins again.
Last year, NASA reported that the Department of Defence’s global Space Surveillance Network were tracking more than 27,000 pieces of orbital debris, many of which were travelling at approximately 25,266 km/h (15,700 mph), posing large potential problems for spacecraft.
"By maintaining position in the stratosphere for extended periods of time, we can begin realising the promises of the stratosphere for life on Earth. Universal internet access, methane monitoring, and wildfire detection are all at our fingertips."
The test launch had three objectives: to test the durability and performance of renewable power systems in the stratosphere; to demon
"We are thrilled to see years of research and development culminating in this milestone moment," said David Kim, Sceye’s Chief Technology Officer. "It is the very best application of material science pushing the boundaries of near space."
In March 2022, the company successfully validated its automated flight software which increases the HAPS' reliability during the most critical phases of flight - the launch and ascent.
Industry Europe 9 NEWS INDUSTRYNEWS
“At the Catapult, we provide access to facilities which simulate in-orbit space conditions and allow for the rigorous testing of new technologies before launch ing hardware. Cleaner access to space will strengthen the UK’s supply chain and grow new services in the UK space industry.”
Sceye has also partnered with the US Environmental Protection Agency, New Mexico Economic Development Department, and New Mexico Environment Department on a five-year study to monitor air quality in the State of New Mexico. Sceye’s HAPS will track methane emis sions with a sub 1-m resolution, allowing them to determine pollution levels as well as pinpoint individual emitters.
At an inquiry on August 5th, the FCC assessed the current potential for in-space servicing, assembly and manufacturing (ISAM), outlining the need for regulation amidst a rise in space tourism.
Lucy Edge, Chief Operating Officer for the Satellite Applications Catapult, commented: “Space debris poses risk to the sustainable use of space for human spaceflight, astronauts and satellites. As highlighted by the FCC, it is an issue we need to actively address. However, we should not wait to progress in-orbit manufacturing – we should, instead, ensure we manage our risks appropriately.”
“After all, there are thousands of metric tonnes of junk in space that if left unaddressed will constrain those new opportunities in the skies above and ISAM could help improve this environment.”
“With IrgaCycle, we were able to use recycled feedstock to design a new product that features a high amount of recyclate content and makes more sustainable agricultural plastics possible.”
BASF also provided 3T Industries with the technical know-how needed to stabilise the recycled polymers during processing and out door
"To help achieve Saudi Arabia’s target for net-zero by 2060 as part of the Saudi Green Initiative, SABIC recognises that hydrogen will play an essential role in decarbonisation and it is part of SABIC’s overall roadmap toward carbon neutrality by 2050, with a 20% reduction target in carbon emissions by 2030.
"This independent recognition reinforces the work of Aramco and SABIC in decarbonising multiple sectors, including energy, aviation, transportation chemicals and fertiliser industries."
“We offer full customer support in all questions of quality improvement of recyclates to make them viable materials in new applications.”
3T Industries has begun applying BASF's IrgaCycle to enhance 100% recycled highdensity polyethylene (HDPE) sheets, which are used as protectors for the fruit.
Launchedweathering.in2021, IrgaCycle consists of a series of plastic additive formulations, which enable recycled plastics to be reused for the production of high-value plastics in combina tion with virgin materials. The additive solution addresses specific quality issues associated
solutions,” said Hermann Althoff, Senior Vice President, Performance Chemicals Asia Pacific.
The Saudi Arabian Oil Company, Aramco, and its chemical manufacturing sub sidiary SABIC have been awarded the world's first independent accreditation officially recognising its production of "blue" hydrogen and ammonia.
Aramco & SABIC awarded first ever blue hydrogen & ammonia certification
10 Industry Europe NEWS
Thegeneration.certifications represent a milestone for companies which are aiming to become global leaders in the production of ammonia and hydrogen.
Pineapples require a warm, humid climate to grow, but they are nonetheless susceptible to damage from solar radiation and high temperatures above 32°C, which can cause significantly reduced yields, cutting into growers' profit margins.
Blue hydrogen production will contribute to Aramco’s ambition to achieve net-zero scope 1 and scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions across its wholly owned operations by 2050.
New developments in the Chemicals & Biochemicals
How BASF is using recycled plastics to protect pineapples in Malaysia
Symptoms include bleaching or sunburn, which shows on the fruit when its yellow-white skin turns light grey or brown as the tissue underneath becomes damaged, making it susceptible to infestation and disease. The HDPE protector shields the fruit from direct sunlight while still allowing photosynthesis to occur.
Aramco and SABIC worked together on the world’s first shipment of blue ammonia, which is a carrier of hydrogen, from Saudi Arabia to Japan, in 2020. A total of 40 tonnes of blue ammonia was shipped for utilisation in low-carbon power
German chemical giant BASF is teaming up with Malaysian recycling company 3T Indus tries to help pineapple plantations in the country increase yields and save resources.
The accreditations were awarded by German testing, inspection and certification TÜV Rheinland to SABIC in Jubail for its production of 37,800 tonnes of "blue" ammonia and to the Aramco refinery, also based in Jubail, for 8,075 tonnes of "blue" hydrogen.
Olivier Thorel, Vice President of Chemicals at Aramco, said: "These certifications are the first of their kind in the world and signify a major milestone in our efforts to develop clean energy solutions, and advance our hydrogen and ammonia export capabilities.
Aramco recently declared its aim of producing as much as 11 million tonnes of blue ammonia per year by 2030 and is currently developing its hydrogen and carbon capture capabilities.
Ammonia and hydrogen are classified as "blue" when a large part of the CO2 produced during the manufacturing process is captured and utilised in downstream applications.
"We are leveraging our strong existing infrastructure to produce blue ammonia that can help meet the world’s growing needs for sustainable solutions," said SABIC Vice President of Energy Efficiency and Carbon Management, Fahad Al-Sherehy.
by Steven Gislam
“Plastic additives specifically for the agricul tural sector are highly customised to fulfil critical customer needs for enhanced crop protection
Before adopting IrgaCycle, 3T Industries used a mix of light stabilisers and antioxidants to achieve the conditions required by the grower.
"Furthermore, SABIC is exploring opportunities to utilise hydrogen for green chemistry to strengthen its sustainable solution offerings," he added.
IrgaCycle offers a one-pack solution that is imme diately available for the recycler without the need for further premixing. It is also more efficient at lower concentrations compared to traditional antioxidant systems and reduces the overall quantity of additives required. This results in easy and accurate dosing, improved product quality, as well as upgraded recyclate for use in long-term applications.
“We use our expertise in recycling technol ogy and post-consumer resins to provide better solutions to consumers and communities,” said PH Tan, Managing Director of 3T Industries.
"We are excited to be among the projects selected by the EU Innovation Fund", says Mer
Neste receives EU funding for plastic waste refinement
"This is a crucial decision for Perstorp ... as it creates increased availability of sustainable chemical products throughout our value chains. The chemical industry needs the carbons, but [they] must be non-fossil carbons and they must be put into circular flows so we get rid of CO2 in the“Iatmosphere.amproudto be the leader of a company that has the ability to drive such an industry-leading transformation project", he added.
by Ash Jones by Ash Jones
CHEMICALS
INDUSTRYNEWS
Industry Europe 11 NEWS
& BIOCHEMICALS
The news comes following the announcement of a feasibility study looking into the viability of refining plastic waste at this plant, which was unveiled back in March. Implementation of the tech is expected for early 2024.
The firm hopes this tech will not only allow for the scaling up of chemical recycling but also allow for the petrochemical industry, which is respon sible for many of the raw materials used to make plastics, to require fewer overall materials.
The three companies applied for €97 million under the EU Innovation Fund, but could be awarded as much as €230 million, Perstorp claims. Its latest wave will see it award €1.8 billion to at least 17 projects to help deliver the European Green Deal and the Fit for 55 package.
Neste is set to receive around €135 million in EU funding to help it build a chemical recycling wing at its refinery in Porvoo, Finland, as it looks to refine plastic waste and prepare it for use in other products.
All this will go towards the EU's plans to become net-zero across all industrial sectors by 2050.
“While showing recognition for and faith in our work on chemical recycling, the funding also highlights the importance of the approach itself. If we want to move towards a circular economy for polymers and chemicals, chemical recycling will have a major role to play".
All this is part of the EU's goals to limit global temperatures by 2050, in line with the targets laid out by the Paris Climate Agreement.
Visit: www.fortum.com
Fortum consortium recieves €230m EU funding for green methanol
Other projects that have funded through the scheme include HYBRIT green steel, and various energy projects, including geothermal, solar and wind, and carbon capture projects.
cedes Alonso, Executive Vice President of Neste Renewable Polymers and Chemicals.
Perstorp CEO Jan Secher said the investment marks an "important milestone" in Sweden's decarbonisation efforts and for his company. As it exists "upstream" in the supply chain, a domino effect is that it would also make other products "downstream" greener.
This equates to around 500,000 tonnes of carbon-equivalent emis sions. The plant is set to be built at Perstorp’s existing facilities in Stenungsund, converting CO2, residue streams, renewable hydrogen and biogas to methanol.
The EU Innovation Fund offers to fund burgeon ing technologies designed to help the bloc meet the goals of the European Green Deal and the Fit for 55 package. Neste's project comes as part of a new funding wave by the bloc, totalling €1.8 billion.
Neste itself was also awarded €88 million to allow it to develop green hydrogen and carbon cap ture projects in a bid to wean itself off fossil fuels.
Project PULSE - short for “Pretreatment and Upgrading of Liquefied Waste Plastic to Scale Up Circular Economy” is an important step in Neste's sustainability goals and the "commercialisation of chemical recycling of waste plastic".
Through the EU's Innovation Fund, the firm hopes it can install treatment capacity to handle 400,000 tonnes of plastic waste per yearincreasing to over a million by 2030.
The plan is, once scaled up, that it could also reduce overall plastic waste and increase recycling rates of plastics. This, in turn, will also lower carbon emissions.
Visit: www.neste.com
Project Air, a collaboration between Fortum, Perstorp and Uniper is taking the next steps in its plans to supply sustainable methanol for the European chemical sector, being selected for funding by the EU Innovation Fund in its latestWhenwave.complete, the project could remove at least 1% of Sweden's total emissions, by eliminating fossil fuels as feedstock in methanol production in favour of bio-based and recycled alternatives.
The project has now entered a preparation stage, which will be com plete at some point in the fourth quarter of 2022. It is hoped large-scale production of green methanol could start by 2026.
This could see use in a variety of products requiring chemicals, includ ing mobile screens, paints to the fabrics in our clothes.
A long time coming
So, where does this leave the chemical industry? The Chemical Business Association’s most recent Supply Chain Trends Survey revealed that the UK chemical supply chain is continuing to encounter serious issues, jeopardising future sales and margins. While there is no magic bullet to fix the challenges of increasingly complex and interconnected supply chains, planners can benefit from building more meaningful scenarios for the short, medium and long-term, based on a robust, real-time view of data.
In the face of persistently volatile market conditions, current labour shortages represent yet another complicating factor. Figures from the national Labour Force Survey show that nearly all companies across the industrial sciences sector currently have vacancies that are difficult to fill due to skills shortages. Talent shortages are not unique to the supply chain: everybody in the industry is in it together, so the need for more advanced scenario
Jim Bralsford of Industry & Solutions Market ing at Kinaxis looks at how Covid and the war in Ukraine have affected the chemical industry... Supply chain scenario-planning has rocketed in almost all industries since the Covid-19 pandemic, continuing a trend that started before the 2020 start of the viral outbreak. With China, the workshop of the world, adopting a zero-Covid policy, the ability to plan for a range of scenarios remains an important capability, further emphasised by how the Suez Canal was blocked by a single vessel.
Nobody knows for sure what the next big global supply chain disruption will be, nor when it will hap pen But what is beyond doubt is the key role that data-driven, technology-enabled scenario planning will play in helping to build agility and resilience. We are already seeing the clear benefits that effective supply chain planning is providing businesses: recent research by Texas Christian University found that those companies using supply chain manage ment and operation planning software performed 2.5 times better than the industry average during the Covid pandemic.
What should be behind the surge in supply chain scenario planning?
New developments in Chemicals & Biochemicals
This is why speed is of the essence when it comes to global supply chain disruptions. The longer a dis ruption is allowed to run across a chemical supply chain, the more detrimental its impact on customer satisfaction, delivery speeds, and – ultimately – a business’s overall revenues. For supply chain planners, the pressure is on to quickly get ahead of problems to avoid ripple effects across the rest of theInorganisation.thepast,supply chain design was excessively focused on optimisation – both in terms of costs and efficiency. The race to chase down the perfect plan, or flawless 100% forecast accuracy, disad vantaged many practitioners as their singular focus on optimisation led to them failing to build enough agility and resilience into their supply chain. It would take hours or even days to calculate a plan, causing them to completely miss the boat when fast-moving disruptions such as Covid occurred.
Recently, the Russian invasion of Ukraine has added another far-reaching set of disruptions, including the imposition of stringent sanctions by the EU and US. Energy price volatility and shortages of commodities and skilled labour add to the com plications of running a future-proof supply chain.
12 Industry Europe NEWS
The need for speed
While Covid did have a major impact on economies worldwide, the rate of disruption across supply chains has been growing exponentially for decades. As businesses become much more reliant on a greater scope of global suppliers and manufactur ers, scenario-focused supply chain planning has come to the fore as the best (or only) means of hav ing full transparency over what is happening outside of an organisation’s own four walls. The pandemic only catalysed this trend away from silos and towards the need to leverage concurrent scenario planning across the supply chain.
planning solutions to provide a single source of truth for more accurate evaluations across the supply chain is more pressing than ever.
Fortunately, this narrative is changing, as the chemical industry realises the need to achieve deep visibility to improve speed, agility, and efficiency in complex global supply chains. The sector is now turning to technology to ensure the right balance is struck between agility and optimisation – and advanced analytic tech niques are offering a compelling way forward.
The future of supply chain scenario planning
Data plays an increasingly pivotal role in effective supply chain scenario planning. It provides busi nesses with an end-to-end picture of their supply chain – not just within their own four walls but across any partners, third-party suppliers, and even the changing needs and orders of customers. Data insights are crucial in giving planners the visibility and transparency needed to run effective scenarios.
Transparent data insights
Recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are helping to drive the trend towards more data-driven scenario planning. These technologies augment the work of humans by offer ing up insights that they perhaps would not have found on their own, whether due to talent shortages or simply because of the sheer volume of data being brought into systems. AI, in particular, can efficiently process data and pass on key insights to human supply chain planners, allowing them to review the insights and formulate the strongest possible “what-if” scenarios.
by Jim Bralsford, Guest post, Kinaxis
To balance the need to optimise costs in the short term with the need to create more resilient and agile supply chains to respond to future uncertain ties, many businesses are turning to scenario plan ning to exercise more control over their destinies. And there are two approaches when it comes to scenario planning: known and expected challenges and completely unknown disruptions.
For the known and expected challenges, effec tive scenarios are created with multiple potential options and well-defined KPIs to ensure that the chosen solution still meets the minimum require ments. Combining these options with dashboards and scorecards that clearly articulate the expected outcomes of each choice can enhance decisionmaking, giving businesses that all-important pivot ability and a clear understanding of the impact of successive changes.
As advances in AI and ML continue to accelerate, opportunities will grow further for businesses to run robust and timely supply chain scenarios. Therefore, organisations across the chemical industry have a golden chance to build the most effective scenarios possible to cope with a world that has become much less stable.
Known unknowns
joined the initiative. Their common goal is to make the global supply chains of the chemical industry“Joiningsustainable.theTfSinitiative is another clear commitment to improving the environmental footprint of the global textile and nonwoven industries and proves that sustainability is taken very seriously at Lenzing – so much so that sustainability is at the heart of our business strategy,” said Robert van de Kerkhof, Chief Commercial Officer Fiber at Lenzing.
Together with Lenzing, numerous inter nationally active chemical companies have
“The industry needs innovation in order to transition from linear to circular ways of work ing, and Lenzing will continue to partner across the supply chain to bring this vision to life.”
Visit: www.lenzing.com
The company says the investment will strengthen its cathode active materials (CAM) production and recycling hub in Schwarzheide.
CHEMICALS & BIOCHEMICALS
Industry Europe 13 NEWS INDUSTRYNEWS
German multinational chemical giant BASF - the largest chemical producer in the world is to build a commercial scale battery-recycling black-mass plant in Germany.
Austria-based Lenzing Group, a provider of wood-based specialty fibres for the textile and nonwoven industries, has joined the chemi cal industry’s sustainable supply chain initiative, Together for Sustainability (TfS).
BASF to build battery-recycling black-mass plant in Germany Elkem to acquire KeyVest Belgium
groups. In order to make the global textile and nonwovens industries more sustainable and bring about systemic change, Lenzing has therefore also been building on partnerships within its sustainability strategy “Naturally Posi tive” for many years.
“Given the regulatory landscape, climate challenges and market conditions, the need for sustainable businesses only intensifies. TfS is the crucial enabler to make supply chains and businesses at large more sustainable and contribute to developing a better world.”
“With this investment in a commercial scale battery recycling black mass plant, we take the next step to establish the full battery recycling value chain at BASF. This allows us to optimise the end-to-end recycling process and reduce the CO2 footprint,” said Dr. Peter Schuhmacher, Presi dent, Catalysts division at BASF.
Elkem offers a wide portfolio of high-quality products for the production of advanced refractory and ceramic products globally. The company says that the KeyVest acquisition will further support and expand this offering.
Lenzing joins ‘Together for Sustainability’ initiative
Visit: www.elkem.com
Battery recycling is an important lever to reduce the CO2 footprint of battery electric vehicles, and is key to meet ambitious, circularity-driven policy requirements, expected under the proposed EU Battery Regula tion. These will cover the recycling efficiency of lithium-ion batteries and material recovery and recycled content targets for nickel, cobalt and lithium.
“The closed-loop from end-of-life batteries to CAM for new batteries, supports our customers along the entire battery value chain, reduces the dependency from mined raw materials and enables a circular economy.”
Visit: www.basf.com
“I am very proud to welcome Lenzing to the TfS family, bringing the TfS membership to 37 companies. Together and with our strategic partners we continue to expand our reach and increase our impact on the sustainability performance in chemical supply chains,” said TfS President Bertrand Conquéret.
by Romana Moares
Black mass production is the first step in the battery recycling process and is based on the mechanical treatment of the batteries. The produced black mass contains high amounts of the key metals used to produce CAM: lithium, nickel, cobalt and manganese.
KeyVest focuses on building long-term relationships with its customers and produces around 140 tailor-made products as per customer require ments, with annual revenues of around €9.6 million.
Complex global sustainability challenges require a collaborative approach to developing systemic solutions, involving many stakeholder
“Through this agreement, we also secure opportunities for produc tion optimisation. This is in line with Elkem’s strategy of growth through increased specialisation.”
The site is an ideal location for the build-up of battery recycling activities given the presence of many EV car manufacturers and cell producers in Central Europe. This investment will create about 30 new production jobs, with commencement planned for early 2024.
Norway’s Elkem has entered into an agreement to acquire KeyVest Belgium, a specialist in the sourcing of materials and production of metalKeyVestpowders.was established in 2007 as an independent processing and milling company of silicon carbide and silicon metal powders. The com pany is also a distributor of related products such as ferrosilicon nitride, fused silica, boron carbide, and aluminium powder.
It will be the feedstock for the commercial hydro-metallurgical refinery for battery recycling that BASF plans to build mid of this decade.
“The acquisition of KeyVest fits well into Elkem’s offerings to the refrac tory market, enabling us to further grow by providing additional specialised products to our current customers, improve our service level and process ing capabilities and grow in adjacent segments,” said Elkem’s senior vice president for Silicon Products, Inge A. Grubben-Strømnes.
• New challenges facing architecture - The sec tor is opening itself up to brand new prospects such as extraterrestrial living and, ultimately, the mysteries linked to deep space.
T3 will span 360,000m2 with a depth of 17 meters, making it one of the largest container terminal hubs in Europe.
Charles Baker, CEO of DCT Gdańsk, said, “During construction, we will take all precautionary measures to protect the environment, marine life and habitats in the area influenced by the construction.
• Maps - Systems with which trajectories and routes are determined;
The construction of a new container terminal at the Port of Gdańsk in Poland is to go ahead later this year, after port operator DCT Gdansk chose a consortium led by Spanish infrastructure company Ferrovial to carry out the €245 million project.
The contract for the new terminal, known as T3, will see the construc tion of a deepwater pier, drainage works and the building of a 700-metrelong mooring front that will be able to accommodate the largest container ships currently in service.
The company says that Unknown Unknowns is a "brilliant example of how WASP technology is declinable and multidisciplinary".
For this project WASP used the architectural 3D printer Crane WASP. It is a modular collabo rative 3D printing system composed of a main printer unit that can be assembled in different configurations depending on the printing area and therefore on the dimensions of the architec tural structure to be calculated in 3D.
Triennale's thematic exhibition Unknown Unknowns examines a range of themes including:
The thematic exhibition, Unknown Unknowns, is curated by Ersilia Vaudo, an astrophysicist and Chief Diversity Officer at the European Space Agency, and will be on display at the Triennale Milan until 11 December 2022.
According to port operator DCT Gdansk, which saw its highest amount of container throughput earlier this year, the completion of T3 will increase
“Once complete, the terminal will be the most advanced of its kind in the Baltic Sea and will reflect our commitment to sustainable investing and operating, with reduced CO2 emissions both from the construction, and the equipment we will deploy for future operations.”
Ferrovial to build €245m port terminal in Gdańsk, Poland
Through its Polish construction subsidiary Budimex and in consortium with Dredging International, Ferrovial will begin work on the new terminal at DCT Gdańsk starting in September this year.
Visit: www.ferrovial.com
the port of Gdansk’s capacity by 1.7 million containers a year, up to a total 4.5Themillion.project will take three years to complete, with the final works cur rently expected to be completed by the first half of 2025.
• Gravity - “The greatest designer”, an artisan that tirelessly shakes the universe in which we live;
New developments in the Construction & Engineering
Visit: www.3dwasp.com
Unknown Unknowns: WASP's 3D printing exhibition opens in Milan
Taking inspiration from the potter wasp, which builds its home using materials found on the spot, the company has been developing new, viable construction processes and tech niques based on the principles of the circular
NEWS
With the ongoing themes of sustainability and reusability as a backdrop, Unknown Unknowns was designed by Space Caviar and produced by WASP. Created wholly using 3D printing with
by Steven Gislam
large printers on an architectural scale and with only organic materials, largely waste from the food industry. For the first time, the exhibition pieces were completely produced inside the museum itself, with 32 different pieces being printed in only 10 days.
For the needs of this specific setup, WASP transported and assembled Crane WASP within the museum and mixed the material near the printer on the first floor of the Triennale.
14 Industry Europe
One of the most important international events devoted to design and architecture, the 23rd Triennale Milano International Exhibition opened earlier this month, celebrating 100 years since its foundation and featuring a unique exhibition by 3D printing company WASP.
economy to create 3D printed houses quickly and sustainably using biodegradable, recyclable and locally-sourced natural materials.
by Steven Gislam
Another criterion is the property’s conver sion capability: the facility in Graz is designed in such a way that it can also be used for other purposes, as well as enlarged or down sized module by module.
Simply burying nuclear waste is currently considered to be among the least hazardous ways to deal with nuclear waste. Should nuclear fusion become a mainstream technology, dealing with waste will become a major issue.
Visit: www.gw-world.com
NEWS
The US Department of Energy (DoE) has selected a subsidiary of US engineering and construction firm Bechtel to operate an underground nuclear waste disposal facility in New Mexico.
The Graz logistics centre has been in operation since 2021. With a 16,500 square metre logistics hall, a handling space of 6,500 square metres and 180 employees, the location is a central hub for transport to South-Eastern Europe.
“This certification is the best proof that integral sustainability requirements have been implemented in the project with success,” said Johannes Kreißig, Managing Director of DGNB.
US government selects Bechtel for nuclear waste disposal INDUSTRYNEWS
Its expertise is valuable as the firm specialises in mine management, which makes it a good candidate for ensuring the integrity of underground caverns.
The firm also has significant experience in the nuclear sector, recently having partnered with 12 Polish firms to build several nuclear power plants in the country, as part of a tightening diplomatic relationship.
Nuclear energy may be vital in the energy transition, but the disposal of the waste left behind still stirs debate to this day. To this end, the US government is looking for a new partner to store waste from its nuclear defence scheme.
The company has a track record in taking sus tainability aspects into account when planning its logistics centres. In future, the group plans to obtain certification for other facilities as well.
The WIPP is a series of underground tunnels mined out of an ancient salt bed located more than 2,000 feet underground. It has been in opera tion since 1999 and stores and disposes of waste from 22 government nuclear facilities from across the US.
CONSTRUCTION & ENGINEERING
The Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) is located in Carlsbad and is set to replace the contract held by the Nuclear Waste Partnership, which expires in September.Tothisend,
“The standards implemented in Graz allow us to set a group-wide quality benchmark for sustainable building at Gebrüder Weiss. An ideal working environment for our employees is just as important to us as is resource-saving
construction and state-of-the-art energy man agement, which optimises energy consumption and reduces operating costs,” added Wolfram Senger-Weiss, CEO of Gebrüder Weiss.
"The mission to safely dispose of defence-related nuclear waste is vitally important for protecting people and the planet," said Dena Volovar, Bechtel National executive vice president.
The German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB) has awarded a gold certificate to the Gebrüder Weiss logistics centre in Kalsdorf, Austria, for its resource-saving and eco-friendly building and operating concept.
the federal government is bringing in Tularosa Basin Range Services (TBRS), an entity that contains Bechtel subsidiary Bechtel National, to handle the everyday operations, working alongside Los Alamos TechnicalProjectionsAssociates.estimate the project could cost as much as $3 billion over 10 years.
The high standard includes among others the efficient use of high-quality building materials and the use of wood from sustainable forestry.
Being more than 2,000 feet underground, it is very unlikely that nuclear waste will be able to penetrate the surface.
Bechtel National has been helping clean up DoE sites for more than 44 years, including sites in South Carolina, Washington state, Idaho and Nevada.
year, which is enough to meet around half of the energy needs of the entire location.
Industry Europe 15
The waste consists of clothing, tools, rags, debris, soil, and other items contaminated with small amounts of plutonium and other human-made radioactive elements - all collated since the 1940s as part of the nation's nuclear defence programme.
by Ash Jones
Ecological, economic and social aspects were taken into account as part of the evaluation, as were technical features.
"We're honoured to be entrusted with this mission and look forward to joining the WIPP team and the Carlsbad community".
Gebrüder Weiss receives sustainable building award
A photovoltaic plant can produce a maximum amount of electricity of 460-megawatt hours per
“Everyone we speak to is talking about growth opportunities for both owners and contractors. The optimism, resilience and confidence of the industry is almost tangible it’s so strong. This is especially encouraging given the economic backdrop that organisations are operating within and the challenges associated with the digital transformation”, said Jake Macholtz, CEO, InEight.
insights from research conducted with 300 of the largest capital project owners in the world, as well as construction professionals across Europe, North America, and the Asia Pacific.
“However, it’s also the prospect of leveraging digital technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning and automation that is keeping spirits high in Europe.”
Research shows optimism in European construction sector is high
asphalt and bitumen, technically turning the road into a carbon sink.
CONSTRUCTION & ENGINEERING
Despite the backdrop of supply chain disruptions and shortages, rising inflation, energy security challenges and the war in Ukraine, it appears that the construction sector is positive about the direction of the industry.
The research also found that respondents view digital technology as being broadly helpful in their day-to-day roles, particularly by making communication easier (55%), prioritising tasks/managing project workflow (54%) and automating tasks to save time (49%).
When quizzed about what benefits they hoped the digital transformation could bring in the future, more automation was a top choice for just over half (51%) of respondents in Europe. However, 42% also voiced concerns about the potential for automation to replace jobs completely.
Despite Europe showing as the most digitally mature region with the highest proportion of digital strategies in place, it echoes the global sentiment when it comes to frustrations caused by technology improvements. In line with global trends, European respondents identified uneven or sporadic implementation (52%), process and data integration issues (54%) and technical and system limitations (49%) as key frustrations.
In a departure from last year’s Outlook, the number of projects completed on time and on budget fell dramatically this year, by -16% and -8% respectively.
European respondents also reported an increase of 8% year-on-year in construction projects, and resilience also remains comparatively high. 94% of European respondents consider their organisation to be very or fairly resilient, compared to 91% globally.
Underlining the tenuous global operating environment, European respondents highlighted unmanaged or unexpected risk (53%) as the most influential factor on whether a project will be completed on time and to budget, followed closely by communications gaps with stakeholders (52%).
16 Industry Europe NEWS New developments in Construction & Engineering
The high level of asphalt recycling around the world should ensure the carbon remains locked in the binder, even when it is recycled and reused in the manufacture of new asphalts or other civil engineering applications.
Acar park in France has, for the first time, been laid with asphalt containing a biocomponent binder made by Shell, which locks carbon in roads instead of releasing it into the atmosphere. Karp-Kneip Constructions led the project, where 20 tonnes of Shell’s Bitumen Carbon Sink was used in the construction of a car park at the Brumath Enrobés asphalt produc tion facility in the town of Bas-Rhin, Alsace. The asphalt for this project was laid by the civil construction company, Trabet.
The research showed that 96% of respondents in Europe are either fairly or very optimistic about their organisation’s prospects for growth for the next year - a significant improvement on 89% in 2021.
“European respondents are eager to realise the benefits of digitisation but their organisations are falling short when it comes to training and com municating intent,” Macholtz added.
“Ultimately, the success of any technology change lies with the end user which makes a human-centric approach to digital transformation vital.”
“The decarbonisation of the construction industry is a challenge that will require effort from each part of the value chain, and this project is a great example of that type of cross-sector collaboration,” said Ana Alvernhe, General Manager for Europe, Shell Construction and Road.
According to Shell, the technical carbon sink created by CarbonSink locks in up to 250kg of CO2 equivalent into each tonne of bitumen and by up to 13kg of CO2 equiva lent in each tonne of asphalt. This means up to six tonnes of CO2 equivalent can be locked in per kilometre of road.
French car park laid with asphalt that locks in CO2
Data collection, analytics and insights (67%) offer the top opportunity for growth, however almost all (91%) European respondents said that their experience of change management left room for improvement, signalling a need for a more sophisticated, human-centric approach to technology implementation.
Cdraws
Visit: https://ineight.com
92% of European respondents said they had concerns about the future of digital transformation, highlighting the need for a more human-centric approach. Insufficient investment in training was cited as the primary limit ing factor in getting more out of existing digital technologies.
Shell Bitumen CarbonSink contains a new biocomponent binder that locks carbon into
“At Shell, we want to use our experience in the energy industry to deliver innovations that can support our customers’ net-zero ambi tions – so it is fantastic to see Shell Bitumen CarbonSink used for the first time in France, helping to drive the decarbonisation of con struction in another important market.”
by
18 Industry Europe
PERFECT PACKAGING FILMS
Kablonex, from Chodziez, Poland, is one of the leading European companies on the foil packages mar ket. It boasts the breadth of experience and long, stable development. At the end of 2021 the company celebrated its 50th anniversary.
“Since then, a lot has changed: the technology, the market, the needs of our customers. The small company that KABLONEX was 50 years ago has grown into a producer, well established on the foil packaging market, with modern machinery, and a team of more than 120 people. I would like to emphasise the great role played in the company’s development by my father, Eugeniusz. He has devoted his whole life to KABLONEX, his hard work and strong work ethos have laid a solid foundation for the company’s current success”, adds Nawrocki.
machine Jurmet, the computer processing of all processes, a new system – ERP, and six siloes for storing of raw materials (all these investments were performed in 2015).
Foil packaging is used in many industries. It protects all types of goods from dirt and damage, against harmful atmospheric condi tions. The size and thickness of the film is individually tailored to customer needs. KABLONEX is one of the most recognised brands on the shrink films market, it is also the leader in the production of multilayer films. The company specialises in the production of the following types of films: shrink films, packaging films, polyethylene bags, bubble film, shrink hoods, HDPE films and POD films.
In 1990 KABLONEX purchased its first machine for blowing film. Ten years later the first three-layer line was bought. In coming years, the company’s development would see even more purchases: a machine producing HDPE film (2008), the first five-layer line (2010), modern flexographic printer Novoflex and laminating machine Varex II from reputed German company W&H, an efficient bobbin cutting
Now, KABLONEX can be proud of its modern production processes, warehouse facilities and its own transportation system. The production of film is the company’s core business. With qualified, experienced staff, professional production and the latest technologies used at various stages of manufacture, the quality of its products can satisfy even the most demanding customers. KABLONEX is also very flexible. “We are the most versatile film producer and can meet each client’s needs with polyethylene film,” said Nawrocki.
Experts on packaging films
Initially, KABLONEX dealt with the production of cables, which is the source of the company’s name. The company’s greatest achievement from this period was to supply cables to the Warsaw Underground, which was being built in late 1980’s.
CONSUMER GOODS
ABLONEX was founded in 1971 in Chodziez, a small town in Wielkopolska region. Since the very beginning it has been a family run business, nowadays managed by the third generation of the Nawrocki family. “The fact that the company is a family busi ness makes our decision-making process very short. Moreover, our staff members are very close to each other, just like a sort of family,” points out Oskar Nawrocki, the company’s owner.
K
KABLONEX’s annual sales are estimated at more than €30 million, whereas its annual production capabilities reaches more than 30,000 tonnes of plastics. Exports share more than 20% of the company’s total sales, with the main foreign markets being Germany, the UK, and Scandinavian countries.
Polyethylene film producing technology is constantly being improved. Thanks to a modern, multi-layer blow moulding machine, the products are able to meet the extremely high demands of the market.
20 Industry Europe CONSUMER GOODS
KABLONEX offer has been recently extended and now provides also stretch-hood sleeves made from highly advanced and stretchy packaging film. In comparison to packing using thermo-shrining sleeve, stretchy film is efficient because of the fast process of stretching the sleeve on the pallet. The width and thickness of the foil is smaller than thermo-shrining sleeves. It is perfect for packing goods from building and chemical branches. Laminating foils for the food industry, thanks to modern five-layer production technology, are perfect for laminating with
KABLONEX is also one of the leaders in production of thermoshrinkable sleeves for packaging machines. Its solutions are used by big companies that have automated packaging processes. Thermoshrinkable films are used for group packaging on automatic production line for packing domestic appliances, electronics, glass, ceramics, and loose products. The technology is adjusted to each packing machine and product. It can be widely modified. Thanks to modern machines the products fulfil expectations of the most productive packaging machines. The films are produced with three and five layer technology, using high quality
Moreover,materials.the
materials of type: PE, PP, CPP, BOPP, BOPETmet. Usage of suit able resins allows for the production of laminated materials that can be processed on VFFS and HFFS packaging machines. They are available with additions adjusted to requirements of particular packaging lines, with or without dyes. Laminates of this type are generally used for packing frozen products (mix of vegetables, chips), animal feed, soaps, shampoos, and other liquids.
Investing for the future
Visit: www.kablonex.pl
KABLONEX lives up to the expectations of ecological production process and puts modern circular economy into its everyday prac tice. The company’s FFS (Form, Fill, Seal) films are 100% recycled. After investments totalling 13 million Euros, the ultra-modern technology used for the production of FFS films were a major hit on international markets, especially in the UK. They are perfect for packing ground, peat and other loose materials. New POD X films are fully made from used foil returned by the company’s custom ers. On top of this there is also new investments of up to 5 million Euros for a new state of the art recycling plant. n
"At SpaceX, we believe that a future in which humanity is out among the stars is fundamentally more exciting than one in which we are not," said Brian Bjelde, Vice President at SpaceX.
Visit: https://shopping.mattel.com/en-gb
In 2018, in the United States, the total generation of municipal solid waste (MSW) was 292.4 million tons, (MT) with approximately 69 MT (23% of total solid waste) recycled and 25 MT (9% of total solid waste) composted. Together, almost 94 million tons of MSW were recycled and composted, equivalent to a 32.1% recycling and composting rate.
NEWS
According to a study by McKinsey & Company, most Americans recognise the need for change. “More than half of US consumers are highly con cerned about the environmental impact of packag ing in general,” the study reports. “They worry about a wide range of issues, not one single factor, such as marine litter.”
Image credit: Mattel/SpaceX via collectSPACE.com
Ulla Lainio, Commercial Counsellor of Busi ness Finland at the Finnish Embassy in Washington D.C. discusses how her country's forestry traditions and innovation in its timber industry could help cut down plastic packaging...
As a result, many new packaging material ini tiatives have been developed by Finland-based companies to lead the charge for change and it is spreading across the globe.
At the same time, space-inspired collectables will begin to appear on Mattel Creations, the company's collaboration and direct-to-consumer platform.
Visit: www.repack.com
While only 4.3% of the world’s population lives in the United States, the nation was the top generator of plastic waste and total waste in 2016, with a total plastic waste equivalent to a per capita plastic waste generation of 130kg (286lbs.) per year.
by Ulla Lainio, Guest post
Our future-looking industries have responded by developing a high level of green research and technology know-how – includ ing biomass packaging. With these innovative approaches to material design, we are aiming to make the transition from linear to circular material flow.
New developments in the Consumer Goods
"As space exploration advances more quickly than ever before, we are thrilled to work with SpaceX and help spark limitless play patterns for the space explorer in every kid."
22 Industry Europe
"We take pride in our ability to create products and experiences that honour cultural moments and inspire humankind," said Nick Karama nos, SVP of Entertainment Partnerships at Mattel.
Consumers rely on packaging for conveni ence and protection of their goods, but now they are demanding more sustainable options so they can do their bit to protect the planet. Suppliers must respond by adopting bio-material offerings along with their existing fossil-based packaging to offer the best, and most sustainable solutions for their Finlandcustomers.asanation has set high environmen tal and carbon neutrality goals, aiming to be the first fossil-free welfare society by 2035.
While America may have taken longer to get on board to aspire to be more sustainable than other progressive countries, governments, states, cities, corporations and citizens across much of the US have shown a desire to reduce their carbon footprints.
Global toymaking giant Mattel has signed a multi-year deal with Elon Musk's space launch provider SpaceX to create and market toys to inspire children and adults alike to look to the stars.
Next year, the toymaker will begin releasing toys inspired by SpaceX as part of its iconic Matchbox brand.
Many new packaging material initiatives have been developed by Finland-based companies to lead the charge. The global e-commerce market is forecast to reach a projected value of $98.2 billion by 2025. As those goods reach homes around the world, so does the protective packaging surrounding them, so a shift away from plastic is Three-quartersessential.ofFinland’s landmass is forest, and Finland’s wood-based industries have paired long-held forestry traditions with innovative new uses for the timber industry. Strong R&D pro grams have created a unique offering in recycling processes and bio-based solutions, such as using wood pulp and fibre to create new materials.
Could Finnish bio-based packaging tech turn the plastic packaging tide?
Consumers are willing to pay more for green, but they would also buy additional sustainably packaged products if more of them were available and were better labelled. If you ask consumers what they want to see going forward, they are almost equally interested in recyclable and recycled plastic pack aging and in fibre-based substitutes. “Companies in the 900 billion-a-year global packaging industry will need to raise their game to be competitive, noted the McKinsey study.
Mattel to make toys & collectables for SpaceX
America. RePack’s award-winning reusable bags and boxes fold into letter size when empty and can be returned via any postbox, anywhere in the world, free of charge. RePack provides turnkey solutions for online retail ers as well as packaging rental services for closed-loop environments in rental and recommerce. RePack customers include Inditex, Decathlon and hundreds of smaller fashion brands so the impact will be felt far and wide.
One ground-breaking company delivering sustainable packaging solutions is Huhtamaki
RePack delivers reusable packaging ser vices for online retailers in Europe and North
by Steven Gislam
"We look forward to working with Mattel to help inspire the next generation of space explorers and enthusiasts."
The first place was awarded to Prof. Dr. hab. med. Lidia Rudnicka. She is the Chair woman of the Department of Dermatology at the Medical University of Warsaw in Poland and has contributed to hair research and hair and scalp diseases for more than 30 years.
Industry Europe 23
This market surge has, in turn, attracted big investment from global agri-food businesses, looking to capitalise on the trend towards meat-free healthy eating.
Human Resources Officer at Henkel.
"Gender equality is of great importance to us at Henkel and it is a key element of our holistic diversity strategy. We have recently announced our ambitious goal of gender parity across all management levels at Henkel.
The regulation only applies to French-made products, leaving the door open for imports, leading the country's biggest farm lobby, FNSEA, to argue that it does not go far enough.
Plant-based 'meats' must find new names in France
The past few years have seen a spate of attacks on butcher shops around the country, something the industry has blamed on increased media attention on the meat industry. Usually, these attacks have taken the form of vandalism and destruction of property, such as covering shop fronts with fake blood, red paint or smashing windows.
"It will not be possible to use sector-specific terminology traditionally associ ated with meat and fish to designate products that do not belong to the animal world and which, in essence, are not comparable," the decree says.
"The winners’ diverse backgrounds, experi ences and areas of research show just how diverse the field of hair research and the applications are. Yet they have one thing in com mon: their passion and outstanding talent for research," added Sättler.
Henkel has revealed the names of the first three winners of its research award recognising female scientists in the hair research field.
German chemical and consumer goods company
NEWS INDUSTRYNEWS CONSUMER GOODS
"I am honoured and very happy to receive the Martha Schwarzkopf Award for Women in Science. It is an exceptional feeling for me to be recognized
France is set to become the first country in the EU to ban the use of words such as 'sausage' and 'steak' from being applied to plant-based meat alternatives, according to an official decree published last week. First agreed to in 2020, the ban will go into effect in October.
"We are very pleased with the number of compelling and highly qualified applications we have received. For this reason, we decided within the expert jury to award not just one, but three female researchers and also to honour the second and third place with prize money”, said Andrea Sättler, Corporate Director R&D at Hen kel Beauty Care and Chairwoman of the expert jury of the Martha Schwarzkopf Award.
by Steven Gislam
"Unfortunately, women are also still under represented in the field of research and science. With the Martha Schwarzkopf Award, we are therefore committed to promoting talented women in science and supporting them in their research projects," said Sylvie Nicol, Chief
Third place went to dermatologist Andria Con stantinou, who is currently pursuing her doctorate at Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin. The practising dermatologist proposed a research project to use artificial intelligence to analyse the changes in the microbiome, the natural microorganisms in and around the hair follicle, in the context of hair inflam mation. She received €1,000 prize money as well as professional support from Henkel in the further development of her project.
for my work of many years. I’d like to use the prize money of €10,000 to further develop my YouTube channel #NotJustHairDiseases to educate people about hair diseases," Rudnicka said.
France has a famously strong culinary tradition and many people in the country have been somewhat more reluctant to adopt new eating habits than in comparable countries such as Germany and the UK.
The applications were evaluated by an expert jury of female scientists with doctorates in hair research working at Henkel Beauty Care. The winners were announced at the award ceremony at the Henkel facility site in Hamburg, Germany.
Certain terms, such as 'cheese', 'milk', and 'butter' are already pro tected on a European level meaning that they cannot be applied to plantbased products. As things stand, however, words like 'burger' and 'bacon' can be used for meat alternatives.
The "Martha Schwarzkopf Award for Women in Science", launched in February this year, was aimed at female researchers working in hair research with a background in medicine, natural sciences or computer sciences. Entrants stood to win the grand prize money of €10,000, as well as benefit from mentoring opportunities at Henkel, such as receiving professional support or an exchange with scientists to advance their work.
Visit: www.henkel.co.uk
Henkel names 3 winners of research award for female hair scientists
The second prize of €5,000 went to Dr. rer. nat. Marta Bertolini, Chief Scientific Officer and Deputy Managing Director of Skin & Hair Research Solutions GmbH in Münster. She is a researcher with a particular interest in the metabolism of the hair follicle and the associated changes, especially affecting people with hair loss.
The FNSEA said that similar measures must be enacted at an EU-wide level - something the bloc rejected in 2020.
Nonetheless, in recent years, the global market for vegan and vegetar ian meat-like alternatives has seen a surge, with more people expressing concern about animal welfare, climate change and nutrition through their choices as consumers.
Forward osmosis is a water separation process that is being increasingly applied in a range of water treatment applications from industrial wastewater to the food and beverage sector. It separates water from dissolved solutes using a semipermeable membrane and the natural energy of osmotic pressure.
"This project represents a revolutionary way of combining what nowadays are two reject streams – wastewater and desalination brine – to increase the water resources of a region with water shortage
The collaborators will guide, train and educate each other with the ultimate aim of facilitating more sustainable water management in the Canary Islands and beyond.
The idea behind the one-of-a-kind project is to combine wastewater treatment and desalina tion to ensure a supply of clean water in areas suffering a lack of naturally-sourced water.
According to Aquaporin, the desalination brine - which usually poses a discharge chal lenge - instead provides the forward osmosis system with a continuous and free-of-charge draw solution without the need for regeneration.
The company added that its Aquaporin Inside membranes should ensure minimal cross-contamination and high efficiency on an island where circularity and reuse are of utmost importance to address water scarcity issues.
Gran Canaria pilot could
sector
Anew pilot project combining desalination and wastewater treatment on the Spanish island of Gran Canaria could be a gamechanger for communities with water scarcity issues.
The project, which is partly funded by the EU European Regional Development Fund, is set to last until July 2024, with the possibility of extension. For more infomation, visit: https://aquaporin.com
The clean water generated by the system can be used for irrigation purposes.
Pascal De Buck, CEO of Fluxys said: "Together with our partners, we offer strong and complementary know-how and expertise for providing reliable and efficient decarbonisation solutions, essential for achieving climate change objectives and ensuring the long-term viability of the economy. Ghent Carbon Hub is an integral part of the full-scale Fluxys CO2 approach, offering emitters in North Sea Port and the wider area the opportunity to convey their captured CO2 through our backbone."
issues such as the Canary Islands," said Ángel Riv ero Falcón, Technical Researcher at Canary Islands Institute of Technology.
"The collaboration with University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Canary Islands Institute of Technology is a great example of where combining different technologies with forward osmosis has the potential to make a significant difference, and it is our belief it will further strengthen Aquaporin’s position in the market," he added.
The three partners are pushing ahead to develop a key infrastructure which accommodates the CCUS chain.
"Open innovation and collaboration have always been at the heart of Aquaporin – both when it comes to developing the world’s first biomimetic membrane, but also regarding innovative applications and where to use them," said Aquaporin’s VP of Open Innova tion, Jörg Vogel.
Ghent Carbon Hub is already set up as an open-access hub to transport and liquefy CO2 from emitters, provide buffer storage and load the lique fied CO2 onto ships for onward permanent storage. The feasibility study is already underway and commissioning is targeted for completion by 2027.
comprising of Fluxys, ArcelorMittal and North Sea Port has begun a feasibility study for the Ghent Carbon Hub project in Belgium, an openaccess CO2 storage and liquefaction hub in the Ghent part of North Sea Port.
Belgium. Ghent Carbon Hub connects into Fluxys’ CO2 backbone, allowing CO2 emitters from the North Sea Port area and other industrial clusters to transport their captured CO2 to the hub or locations of reuse.
When complete Ghent Carbon Hub will be able to process 6 million tonnes of CO2 per annum (MTPA), equivalent to around 15% of Belgian industrial CO2 emissions.
Daan Schalck, CEO of North Sea Port added: "North Sea Port has the ambition to halve CO2 emissions by 2030 and to be a carbon-neutral port by 2050. Total CO2 emissions in the port are 21.5 million tonnes.
The collaborative research, development, and innovation project allows Aquaporin and its partners to exchange and train key resources and enables the development of a combined desalination and wastewater treatment solution which can be commercialised.
"As a first step, the capture and storage of CO2 will have to be increased. Technological developments will be key to the reuse of CO2 over time. The capture and storage of CO2 is a necessary intermediate step towards its large-scale reuse. To this end, North Sea Port is fully engaged to facilitate this CO2 infrastructure project to make it happen."
Apartnership
A collaboration between Danish water technol ogy company Aquaporin, the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, and the Canary Islands Institute of Technology, the project aims to develop a revolutionising forward osmosis pilot plant in Man comunidad del Sureste de Gran Canaria.
Besides carbon-neutral energy, carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) is increasingly considered to be essential for CO2-intensive indus tries to achieve net-zero emissions, especially in hard-to-abate sectors with processes inherently generating CO2 emissions, such as shipping.
24 Industry Europe NEWS New developments in Energy & Utilities
The project will benefit from Fluxys’ long experience in terminalling activities, while Fluxys is also developing an open-access CO2 transmission backbone in
If the pilot is successful, it could represent a technological breakthrough in the sector. Combining desalination and the treatment of wastewater would be a major step in making forward osmosis an economically viable solution to water management.
Desalination facilities are commonplace in parts of the world where access to naturallysourced drinking water is scarce. This means the pilot has the potential to be a global solution in areas where seawater is the primary, or even the only, source of water.
This revolutionise the water technology
by Steven Gislam
North Sea Port CO2 capture hub to cut Belgian emissions by 15%
The commitment builds on Ørsted’s existing supply chain decarbonisation programme, first established in 2020, and supports the company’s industry-first science-based 2040 net-zero target.
CirculOil, a new oil management startup bringing circularity and effi ciency to engine lubrication has announced that it has raised a quarter million pounds through a crowdfunding campaign.
Using an innovative platform to track and trace all cartridges, Circu lOil helps users to monitor their vehicle maintenance and allows them to control the waste oil on its journey through the circular ecosystem. CirculOil has also reduced the time for operators during the oil change to just 90 seconds, resulting in a quick and clean maintenance process.
“We aim to transform the manufacturing industry and are passionate about changing the future for the better. Our patented solution helps stop waste from being burnt or lost in the environment, with our technology designed to ensure quick lubricant changes, green re-use and smart digital tracking.
Ørsted is relying on collaboration across the supply chain and the success of its suppliers in order to meet its targets, which is why the com pany is now taking the step to extend its 100% renewables target from its strategic suppliers to all suppliers. This means that all suppliers are expected to exclusively use electricity from renewable energy sources when providing prod ucts or services to Ørsted by 2025 at the latest.
The company is now taking the step to extend its 100% renewable electricity target from its strategic suppliers to all suppliers.
Denmark's state-owned energy company Ørsted has told its suppliers that, by 2025, it expects them all to use 100% renewable energy, becoming the first energy company to do so.
ENERGY & UTILITIES
Steve Goodier, Founder and Chief Executive, CirculOil, says: “We are committed to creating innovative solutions to protect our planet, to do our bit in protecting the environment. At the core of our products and services, we have developed a bespoke Circular Ecosystem, which can effectively
INDUSTRYNEWS
Meet the waste oil circularity startup looking to shake up the industry
Industry Europe 25 NEWS
The Danish developer said it is working to address suppliers’ emissions linked to compo nent manufacturing, transportation, installation, and operation of renewable energy assets as the next frontier in its decarbonisation endeavour.
This could be achieved through investing in on-site renewable electricity assets, by entering into PPAs tied to renewable energy projects that depend on securing financing or purchasing renewable electricity certificates.
Orsted said it would support its suppliers by producing guidelines for renewable electricity to help find the best solutions.
Mads Nipper, Group President and CEO of Ørsted, said: “A sustainable future for our planet requires a rapid transition to renewable energy and limiting global warming to 1.5°C. That’s why the renewables industry must lead the pack by decarbonising its own supply chain.
“We recognise the efforts undertaken by all existing and new suppliers who share our ambi tions and will commit to using 100% renewable electricity. We look forward to working together to achieve this goal as soon as possible and to set a new gold standard for the renewable energy industry,” he added.
Visit: https://orsted.co.uk
CirculOil's mission is to drive circularity and eliminate pollution from waste oil. The company has developed a unique patented cartridge technology that allows for 100% collection and re-use of waste engine lubrication, creating a circular ecosystem, and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 30%.
The problem of waste oil is a serious one in the manufacturing sector and causes intense damage to the environment with more than 6 billion litres of dirty oil generated each year. This makes it the largest amount of of liquid, non-aqueous hazardous waste in the world.
“We’ve transformed Ørsted into a global leader in renewable energy and strongly believe that companies must demand science-aligned climate action from each other as well.
With the investment CirculOil has secured, the company says it now has the capital to accelerate its growth and protect the environment from waste oil.
and efficiently manage every single oil change and ensure that all the used oil is collected, enabling a complete closed-loop ecosystem.
“By re-refining used oil to manufacture engine oil, we are being 40% more energy efficient than if we manufactured new oil. Since re-refining is a circular process, this leads to the preservation of previous finite natural resources. The environmental benefit from the collection also reduces ground pollution from unregulated disposal of waste oil.”
The company has cut its scope 1 and 2 emissions intensity by 87% since 2006 and is on track to becoming carbon-neutral in its own energy generation and operations by 2025.
Ørsted demands all suppliers use 100% renewables by 2025
26 Industry Europe NEWS
Vattenfall has announced that it is building Germany’s largest heat accumulator and storage system at its Reuter West CHP plant in Berlin, with the aim of making a significant contribution to the country’s energy security as it races to wean itself off Russian gas.
“As the EU Bank, we continue to support projects in line with our ‘Climate Roadmap’, while at the same time boosting Europe’s security of energy supply in the current sensitive context. We are pleased to support
The heat accumulator is set to be commis sioned at the start of 2023 and it should take two months to fill the hot water tank with a vol ume of water equivalent to 350,000 bathtubs.
“The heat storage shows that the future of heat supply doesn’t lie in individual solutions, but in overall systems”, said Wielgoß. “Because it ensures that the many building blocks of the future Berlin heating system, both large and small, complement each other perfectly.”
has signed a €550 million green loan from the European Invest ment Bank (EIB) to develop renewable capacity and drive forward Spain’s energy transition.
Iberdrola says that the new infrastructure will create around 2,100 jobs per year during the construction phase, as well as more in the operation phase and in related sectors.
At 45 metres high, with a diameter of 43 metres and a capacity of 56 million litres, the heat accumulator will store district heating
Iberdrola’sregions.”CEO,Ignacio Galán, explained that: “This financing agreement, which further strengthens our cooperation with the EIB, is a new boost for our projects in Spain at an important time when we need to speed up the energy transition and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.”
energy into heat on-site. In the future, Vattenfall says it will be possible to store this heat tempo rarily in the hot water tank – before it is supplied to the municipal heating grid.
“With a thermal output of 200 megawatts, the accumulator can supply heat for 13 hours –even in very cold weather,” added Wielgoß. Other local waste heat sources – such as wastewater and thermal waste – can also be connected to the accumulator with flexibility as required.“Theplant is an important step on the path to more flexibility in Berlin’s heat supply and at the same time making it more climate-friendly, independent and safer,” said Wielgoß, during a tour of the inside of the under-construction heat accumulator.VattenfallWärme Berlin AG supplies munici pal heating to around one-third of the buildings in Berlin.Vattenfall aims to be climate neutral by 2040 –and the decarbonisation of the municipal heating supply is a key element in reaching this goal.
by Steven Gislam
Visit: https://group.vattenfall.com
Germany’s largest heat accumulator
Iberdrola’s operations will contribute towards the EU goal of 32% of the energy mix coming from renewables by 2030, which the Commission recently proposed to increase to 45%.
The EIB will finance photovoltaic plants and wind farms all across the country, but mainly in the rural areas of Castilla y León and Extremadura, considered ‘cohesion regions’ by the EU. Part of the funding will go to pro jects such as the 200 MW Tagus and 80 MW Almaraz photovoltaic plants in Extremadura and the 50 MW Valdemoro wind farm in Castilla y León. These investments will not only increase the generation of clean energy but also improve the security of supply.
The projects will not only contribute to the ongoing economic recovery in Spain but will also strengthen European energy self-sufficiency.
EIB Vice-President Ricardo Mourinho Félix said: “The new green loan signed with Iberdrola enables us to step up our contribution to making Spain a country with increased renewable capacity, a key factor for Europe to achieve its climate targets.
The financing signed with the EIB is also in line with “Iberdrola’s com mitment to a sustainable energy model that will enable the transition to a low-carbon economy”, Galán added.
Iberdrola
S
water at a temperature of 98°C. Together with its power-to-heat plant – which is the largest in Europe – and sits next to the power plant site, the heat storage will help to increase the use of surplus renewable energy from the grid.
The loan will be used for the construction of energy projects with a total capacity of 1,800 MW. These facilities will produce green equivalent to the average annual consumption of around one million households. The total investment in wind farms will amount to more than €1.1 billion.
The site was assessed by the CEOs of Vat tenfall Wärme Berlin AG, Tanja Wielgoß, and the Berlin environmental senator, Bettina Jarasch.
Visit: www.iberdrola.com/home
weden’s state-owned energy company
Vattenfall to build Germany’s largest heat accumulator
Iberdrola’s €550m EIB loan to accelerate Spain’s energy transition
New developments in Energy & Utilities
Iberdrola in projects that will generate economic growth and jobs in the cohesion
The heat accumulator is located on the power plant site directly next to the power-to-heat plant, which converts surplus wind or solar
ENERGY & UTILITIES
Conserving water is vital to reduce shortages, particularly in countries most at risk of droughts, which could displace communities and lead to thousands, if not millions, of deaths as the effect of climate change become more severe.
Intel has contributed to an urban restoration project in Bengaluru, India. Urban development in the area has led to water shortages and groundwa ter depletion and the firm is funding two restoration projects that could restore more than 100 million gallons of water each year to local supplies, most notably nearby lakes Dyavasandra and Nanjapura.
Intel achieves net-positive water waste in 3 countries
“The projects vary, from traditional conserva tion to a focus on shifting local economies in ways that will have a long-term impact”, Intel said in a statement.
The firm reportedly saw a 114% increase in the last two years in the volume of water it saved, partially through better treatment facilities and more efficient production that uses fewer resources.
Enlight itself already owns a 1.2GW portfolio of renewable energy between Hungary, Kosovo, Serbia and Croatia, including 316MW of opera tionalTheprojects.firmwas founded in 2008 and is traded on the Tel Aviv stock exchange. It currently operates in its native Israel and across Europe. Visit: https://enlight.co.uk
strong partnerships with environmental non profits and local governments and our water stewardship investments. We are not stopping here – now we are focused on reaching net positive water in the remaining locations where we operate”, he added.
Wastewater can be reused in many ways, rang ing from irrigation, use in agriculture, purification into drinking water or use in processing and cooling systems. Some systems even clean sewage and integrate it with waterways and river systems.
The farms, of which there are five, all in varying stages of develop ment, will be completed by the company to start operations at some point between 2023 and 2025.
Regardless, the firm has several years in order to balance out the water reclamation in other countries. Net-positive water use in the US could also allow for plants like those in Arizona to run without affecting local communities, which are already being affected by drought.
“More than 10 years ago, we began to explore how we could better understand and reduce our water footprint. Five years ago, we set a public goal to restore 100% of our consumption”, Intel’s chief sustainability officer Todd Brady said.
By 2050, it is hoped that 66% of the country’s electricity generation could be gained from renewables. The nation is currently on of the Euro pean leaders in solar energy.
“It’s exciting to share that we’ve reached net positive water in three countries through
It can be assumed due to the timings that this would not affect local food production, but it could be another potential issue to be raised.
However, The Register reports the 99% return figure that Intel claims may be slightly skewed by higher reclamation rates in countries such as India, where Intel reports 394% reclamation, compared to Vietnam’s 41%. It also reports the company’s operations in Arizona created 15,000 tonnes of wastewater in the first three months of 2021 - 60% of which was considered hazardous.
In Arizona, the firm claims it restored 890 million gallons to the watershed in 2021 alone.
It has been reported that this is one of the largest renewable energy projects in Croatia and will help Enlight diversify its offering in the nation.
by Ash Jones
Industry Europe 27 NEWS INDUSTRYNEWS
Intel does not go into detail about the specif ics of water reclamation, only that it has better treatment facilities and better production.
The firm states there “could be positives” from its restoration endeavours, but they are “not2030measurable”.isstillseveral years away, which could allow for hitches in the system to be fixed. On the surface, the team appear to be making progress rapidly.
Industry Europe spoke with Intel’s head of energy Mike Bates a few months ago, where he outlined this strategy and how the firm was working towards the technologies that could power the energy transition.
The firm is still miles ahead of the competi tion, although it has been working with other companies to allow them to steward water use, the effects of which could be seen globally.
Brady claims Intel is the first tech giant to set a “countrywide water restoration goal” - with it hoping to become entirely net-positive in its water use by 2030 to reduce the impact on local watersheds and support “water resources that server communities”.
Last year, Intel states it used 16 billion gal lons of freshwater, reclaimed water and desali nated water for its manufacturing, reportedly returning 13 billion to local communities.
A scheme backed by Intel also funded local farmers to change up their crops to barley during the summer months, which required less irrigation and can be harvested earlier. It also invested in a local malt house to reduce operation costs and allow for malted barley to be sent to brewers.
Israeli energy firm Enlight has signed an agreement for the acquisition and joint development of a 525MW portfolio of renewable energy - wind and solar - in Croatia.
According to a report by the International Trade Administration, renewables make up 28% of the country’s energy mix, with over 50% of all its energy needs being imported. Switching to renewables could
This brings the company in line with one of the goals of its RISE strategy, which is set to outline its transition to becoming more sustainable, while also allowing other businesses to follow suit.
Water is used for basically everything conceiva ble regarding manufacturing: from the production of semiconductors, use in evaporative cooling towers or manufacturing tools that deliver new technolo gies. And it is used in massive quantities.
The firm has also planned to build two chip fabs in Arizona, a state currently in River7th year of longterm drought. They feed into the Colorado River, which has reported low water in recent years.
Enlight acquires 525 MW of solar and wind projects in Croatia
help it reduce its reliance on imports, but the Croatian government will need to spend roughly $1.4 billion (€1.36 billion) on grid modernisation to allow for this.
On its quest for net-zero, US tech giant Intel claims to be returning more freshwater to communities than it uses for its manufacturing in the US, Costa Rica and India.
by by Ash Jones
The company will submit information to NICE ahead of its Committee meeting at the end of the month where devices for the remote continuous monitoring of Parkinson's sufferers will be discussed.
ing of the disease and optimal timing and dosing of the prescribed therapy."
Scould soon benefit from the public funding of a new technology that doctors say could bring a "paradigm shift" in the treatment of the disease.
It also needs to be stored at a refrigerated temperature between 2 and 8ºC, making storage and distribution in Europe and across the world easier.
New developments in Healthcare
The PDMonitor is one of four medical devices currently being evaluated by NICE as part of its Diagnostic Assessment Programme.
The Spanish company specialised in veterinary vaccines for some 50 years and is active in over 100 countries. It has already signed a purchase deal with Vietnam, where it conducted tests, for the supply of 50 million doses.
"PDMonitor is supporting a paradigm shift in Parkinson’s care by improving the quality and timeliness of information physicians have to assess the disease. Monitoring patients at home, continuously while they conduct everyday activities, allows treatment decisions to be made more frequently and physicians to respond faster to changing symptoms.
"While you cannot reverse Parkinson’s, you can delay the deterioration of symptoms and possibly decrease the risk of falling. Optimising care means the disease progresses slower in time and the therapeutic window is kept open."
"Our transformative, medical-grade technol ogy offers continuous monitoring, full symptom coverage and a holistic view of the patient. The majority of patients feel their health and quality of life stabilised or improved after using PDMonitor. This is data and AI at its finest."
28 Industry Europe NEWS
The EU executive body said that 14 member states would take part in the joint procurement, under which as many as 250 million doses can be Casespurchased.ofCovid-19 are rising again in Europe, and the agreement aims to make HIPRA's vaccine quickly available to the participating countries.
The European Commission has signed a joint procurement contract with Spanish pharmaceutical company HIPRA for supplying its protein Covid-19 vaccine, which is currently awaiting approval by the European Medicines Agency (EMA).
PDMonitor uses medical-grade wearable technology to track Parkinson's motor symp
In December, a HIPRA executive told Reuters that the company was confident that its experiment Covid-19 vaccine would be in high demand in the EU, as it is designed to offer protection against new variants of the virus, can be stored and transported easily, and can be mass-produced.
Breakthrough med tech could bring "paradigm shift" in Parkinson’s treatment
EU & Spain's HIPRA sign joint procurement deal for Covid vaccines
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is presently evaluating PDMonitor, a continuous monitoring system for people with Parkinson's created by medical device firm PD Neurotechnology for use in the UK's National Health Service (NHS).
Professor Ray Chaudhuri, Head of Parkinson's Research at King's College Hospital, who has been piloting PDMonitor with private patients since March 2022, said: "Parkinson’s is the world’s second most common neurodegenera tive disease and a significant cause of disability. Patients’ quality of life and disease progression strongly depend on the consistent, prompt stag
Nikos Moschos, founder of PD Neurotechnol ogy, added: "Today, most Parkinson’s treat ment is informed by subjective patient diaries reviewed by physicians once or twice a year. We’ve changed the game by providing physi cians with a stream of objective data showing disease progression in the real world.
"We need to ensure maximum preparedness as we head into the autumn and winter months. The HIPRA vaccine adds yet another option to complement our broad vaccine portfolio for our member states and citizens," said Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Stella Kyriakides.
"An increase in vaccination and boosting is essential over the coming months. We are working tirelessly to make sure there are vaccines avail able for all," she added.
toms automatically and on an ongoing basis. It enables physicians to tailor treatment plans based on a stream of objective data showing how patients experience symptoms in their dayto-dayMorelives.than 150 physicians have already been trained to use PDMonitor, and the technology is currently used in private or hospital practices by physicians and patients in the UK, France, Austria, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Ireland, Greece and PreliminaryCyprus.feedback from Parkinson's suf ferers that have monitored their symptoms for up to two years with PDMonitor indicates that 43% felt their condition had stabilised and 35% said to had improved after starting to use the technology. Clinical trials in Germany, Italy and Greece have already recorded very high reliabil ity and specificity levels, and symptom detection accuracy of up to 93%.
The HIPRA bivalent recombinant protein vaccine was developed as a booster shot for previously immunised people 16 years and older. Similarly to the vaccine developed by US-based pharma company Novavax, the HIPRA jab uses a recombinant protein.
Test Manager was developed to help businesses stay legally compliant during the pandemic. It started as a platform for employees to use, post-test, to automatically report their results to government bodies (UKHSA).
Thedevice.iMed app was developed by NPH Group and international medical devices company, BHA Medical. This app assists with collating and managing test results to allow travel and larger events to resume. Accuracy of tests is ensured by features such as the test kit bar code verifi cation and the use of one-time QR codes.
Alexion to expand biologics manufacturing with €65m investment
AstraZeneca has announced that its rare disease group Alexion will invest €65m to scale up its biologics manufacturing capacity in Ireland and expand R&D efforts in the region over the next 18 months.
The money will go towards the installation of new drug substance production equipment and warehousing facilities to support ambient and cold storage at two sites: College Park in Blanchardstown and Monksland Industrial Park in Athlone.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit the UK in 2020, we had no idea what was ahead. Lock downs were unheard of, and self-testing before seeing family at Christmas? Completely alien.
Visit: https://nph-group.co.uk
A prime example of this is flu season, which usually hits in September. It is likely that people infected with flu at this time will start booking appointments with their GP to get some advice about what their symptoms mean.
Visit: www.astrazeneca.co.uk INDUSTRYNEWS
Our testing technology is a ring of health for individuals, employees, travellers, businesses, and more. It entitles all to an independent, self-sufficient, and reliable approach to health. It’s affordable, it’s accessible, and it’s hopefully the future.
How lateral flow testing can mitigate the spread of other infectious diseases
Additionally, a manufacturing sciences and technology lab will be built at College Park to support the scaling up of biologics drug substance manufacturing in the country.
Mark Philpott is Chief Executive of health and wellbeing company NPH Group. Credit: NPH Group
Fortunately, official, influential governments around the world have seen the sense in the self-screening approach. HIV and tuberculosis are major threats to health within developing countries and are often made worse by limited access to health care services.
even dangerous to those vulnerable people you might encounter upon your visit.
NEWS
Despite the lessening of coronavirus’ impact on everyday life, the lessons we learned about testing and managing our own health must not be forgot ten, especially if here in the UK, we want to look after our fantastic national health service.
Right now, it can be difficult to get an appointment with your GP. This is because the NHS’ provision is at capacity.
Marc Dunoyer, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Alexion, stated “We are delighted to be further investing in our facilities in Ireland, an increasingly critical global hub for AstraZeneca operations, to support the continued growth of Alexion’s portfolio of medicines and meet our needs for expansion.
At NPH Group, we soon realised that artificial intelligence (AI) was key to mitigating the uncer tainty of the pandemic, alongside the secure storage of clinical data. This insight led us to develop two software solutions that could be used to monitor and manage health in a secure and reliable way.
However, lateral flow testing provided a route out of the pandemic. It allowed us to finally get back to socialising by offering us the layer of reassurance that we all needed. When one line appeared instead of two, these small tests were the cause of many a sigh of relief.
HEALTHCARE
At NPH Group, we are pushing out selfscreening across the UK, and the world. As mentioned, we’re currently working on lateral flow testing for HIV, flu, and tuberculosis, but we’re also developing the application and use of cutting-edge screening technology for other diseases like malaria and yellow fever.
Self-testing will also open the opportunity to identify the prevalence of diseases in developing countries and identify the most at-risk areas and groups. This would result in a more accurate approach to handling and treating disease because the people that need it most because they are in densely infected areas could be targeted for treatment.
To combat this problem, NPH Group and BHA Medical are currently in conversations with the several governments in countries like Zimbabwe, Nigeria, and Indonesia to make lateral flow tests the main method of accessible and affordable testing for said disease. If this method is adopted, it will vastly improve public health and reduce the risk of people contracting these diseases.
by Mark Philpott, Guest post, NPH Group
by Romana Moares
“This investment will allow for new capabilities for AstraZeneca in Ireland and support our global ambition to accelerate the development and delivery of lifechanging medicines for more people affected by rare diseases.”
If people could test themselves at home, it would be revolutionary. Not only would the test results be available in less than 15 minutes, but the person could also stay at home to avoid passing on the virus to others. The procedure of attending a GP surgery to be told what a lateral flow test would have told you a week earlier is cumbersome and costly on many levels, and
If the onus for health management was taken off the NHS, and we were given the power to test and manage some conditions ourselves, this huge pressure would be relieved.
The €65 million investment follows a €341 million investment in the Blanchardstown facility last year to establish a next generation active pharmaceutical ingredient manufacturing unit on the site.
Industry Europe 29
This meant that businesses could be made aware of the COVID-19 status of their staff quickly and efficiently to limit exposure to the virus. The web-based app is easy to use, thanks to its dashboard feature to track and monitor test results, and it is accessible on any
The latest fine represents a fraction of the more than 27 billion reais (€5.7 billion) that Vale has spent so far in compensa tion and removing upstream tailing dams.
It also suggests that carbon trading systems are inherently harmful for the switch to green steel, likely as the offsets allow for steelmakers to continue polluting, provided they pay.
giant fined further $17m over 2019
However, optimising the use of scrap alone could also see a 60% reduction in fossil fuels, the report states. It could also provide a buffer to allow for hydrogen technology to properly develop in the coming years for the final push to Optimisationnet-zero.
It also suggests the economics of running for fewer hours on cheaper renewable power ver sus continuous on-grid power are "not always favourable", and would require significant investments in solar and wind energy.
Visit: www.vale.com
With scrap, the emissions have already been spent due to it already having been made from raw materials once, which can provide steel makers with valuable information on how many emissions they can save.
The EU already claims to have slashed emissions in the steel sector by around 26% since 1980, driven by increased energy efficiency and recycling.
Additional renewable energy savings could also come through the steel's reuse in the construction sector, or through "direct recycling", which involves reusing the steel without melting it down.
Should these changes happen rapidly, much of the overhauls to the sector could take place "within this decade", which would provide a significant headstart to the bloc's plans for net-zero by 2050.
Mining Brumadinho disaster in
The report states that overhauls to existing steel technologies will be necessary over the coming decade, with a 74% benchmark being laid out that could feasibly allow the EU to exceed its renewable targets for the sector.
This can provide an alternative using existing scrap that could supplement traditional green steek, which is made using green hydrogen.
As much as a 41% emissions reduction could be seen by modernising equipment to allow for greater use of steel scrap alone, with further slashes coming from using different processes.
"Decisions in product design must be made urgently to ensure the sustainability of scrap recycling. Designing products for easier recycling at end of life and easier removal of contaminants will ensure a better, higherquality scrap supply", it says.
New developments in Metals & Mining
For hydrogen steel to be a low-carbon solution, the hydrogen produced must be zero carbon. This should be reflected in policies such as the Renewable Energy Directive (for its industry target), especially as part of the Delegated Acts on renew able fuels from non-biological origin (RFNBO).
"The challenge is not about innovative technol ogy but rather access to zero-carbon electricity and better practices in the scrap market. EU funding such as expected from the Climate Investment Fund (now the Innovation Fund) might be more suitable to address these EU-wide challenges than sponsor individual conversion projects", the report states.
The Brazilian agency found no signs of corruption and recognised the noninvolvement of the company's top management, Vale said in its statement. This could stand to favour the current and former Vale executives who have been named as defendants in lawsuits connected to the disaster.
Updating to electric arc furnaces (EAFs) could allow steel to be made using 100%, which could offer use for steel scrap that is often exported away from the bloc. 100 million tonnes of steel scrap is recycled every year, with 56% of the bloc's total steel being made using recycled steel.
The mining firm has said that it did not agree with the Comptroller General's decision and would appeal within the next ten days.
The collapse of the dam at Vale’s Corrego do Feijao mine in January 2019 claimed the lives of 270 people, ravaged local communities and damaged nearby forests and rivers.
Brazil
B
by Ash Jones
razil's Comptroller General has ordered mining company Vale to pay a fine of 86.3 million reais (€16.5 million) after deciding the firm had failed to present reliable information regarding the state of its Brumadinho tailings dam prior to its collapse in 2019.
Vale said the government considered that the company had wrongly issued a positive Stability Condition Statement – a document that certi fies the safety of a dam – to the National Mining Agency for Brumadin ho’s tailings dam from June to September 2018.
60% reduction in fossil fuel use if steel scrap is used properly, report claims
However, the latest fine could also be used in classaction lawsuits by the US Securities and Exchange Com mission, which has accused Vale of making false claims about safety before the collapse as well as misleading communities, local governments, and investors. These allegations have been roundly denied by the Rio de Janeiro-based miner.
Sandbag claims that EAFs could run virtually emission-free if they're fed green electricity, although the switch to arc furnaces would mean a roughly 45 TWh increase in electricity needs annually to power them alone. With the addition of hydrogen to make green steel, this could rise to as much as 213 TWh.
could be brought through sev eral processes, including better segregation of categories, which could happen as arc furnace steelmaking expands. The firm also suggests that poor quality scrap could also see use, and should not hinder the switch.
Typically, steel made in the EU is comprised of around 20% scrap, which can significantly reduce the environmental impact of manufac turing, but existing technologies do not allow for the use of more in the mix. Most steel in the bloc is made using the so-called BF-BOF method that uses Coke as both a reductant and a source of thermal energy.
Green steel and concepts such as the circular economy will play a "vital role" in decarboni sation and reaching net-zero, but much of the equipment requires an upgrade, a new report from Sandbag claims.
30 Industry Europe NEWS
The firm will be supplying the drill to construction firm Skanska, which will be testing its use in quarries and construction sites, starting with a quarry outside of Stockholm. In addition, to operating at zero emissions, it is also equipped with smart tech, including some level of autonomy.
“Epiroc has bold sustainability targets in place for the year 2030,” says Helena Hedblom, Epiroc’s President & CEO.
Being manufactured in Örebro, Sweden, should arrive at the quarry at some point in September. once the trials are complete and the drill has been tested for safety and efficiency, it will likely be available commercially.
NEWS
It recently struck a deal with green steelmaker SSAB to use its product for the creation of new mining equipment. It also is working with the EU to push for the mining sector to become more sustainable.
Epiroc has been making strides to become greener in recent years. The firm plans to halve its emissions by 2030 and offer several products that operate using batteries of renewable energy, reportedly in line with the UN and Paris Climate Agreement's targets.
The steelmaker says that the availability of green energy has been key to the process of cutting CO2 emissions. Recently, production at the Swiss plant switched entirely to electricity supplied by regional
METALS & MINING
“With the [electric drill] we are taking a large step towards reaching our promise to offer a full range of emissions-free products for quarries and large construction applications".
reduce our climate impact,” says Johan Eliasson, Project Manager, Skan ska Industrial Solutions AB.
Industry Europe 31
Europe’s largest steel producer using the electric arc furnace, Swiss Steel Group has claimed to have cut the emissions associated with its product by 78% more when compared with producers using blast furnaces.
hydropower, which has resulted in a CO2 emission value far below the average.
Visit: www.swisssteel-group.com
"Sustainable steel production based on electric arc furnace technology is part of our DNA. Swiss Steel Group is already one of the most efficient producers of CO2-reduced steel. We will lead the change to green steel in Europe, expand our leading position in environmentally friendly steel production and at the same time clearly improve efficiency. Sustainability to us is not just a business func tion, but a social obligation," said Frank Koch, CEO of Swiss Steel Group.
Swedish mining equipment manufacturer Epiroc has revealed it will be supplying what is considered to be the world's first fully-electric surface mining drill as it looks to slash emissions across the board.
“I am very happy about the long collaboration between Epiroc and Skanska, and it is exciting to be able to do this project together. Both com panies have set bold environmental goals – this project really takes a great step towards Skanska´s goal of being completely climate-neutral by 2045, which is an important part of our promise to build a better society.”
Swiss Steel pushes to be green steel market leader in Europe
The steelmaker has invested around €60 mil lion in a new walking beam furnace and other equipment at the Steeltec plant in Emmen brücke, Switzerland. This is one of the largest investments for the area and the company's largest in recent years.
ment by 2025, which will put it far ahead of the curve for the sector.
Swiss Steel Group works exclusively with high-grade steel scrap. This measure mas sively reduces the CO2 footprint compared to the traditional process of making new steel from mined iron ore. The better the quality of the scrap, the better and more environ mentally friendly and sustainable the steel produced. This is an important prerequisite for producing so-called “Green Steel”.
NEWS
INDUSTRY
Visit: www.epiroc.com
Epiroc & Skanska to trial world's first electric mining drill
"Intensive analysis, as well as on-site visits and meetings with all parts of the Group, have shown me the tremendous potential of Swiss Steel Group. The Group is on the right produc tion route, has an extensive product portfolio and produces outstanding quality," Frank Koch said at wire 2022.
Overall, the company claims, Steeltec has lowered its annual CO2 emissions by almost 10% by introducing innovations at the rolling mill.
Swiss Steel Group says that the new fur nace has improved the rolling mill's efficiency "considerably and consistently". As a result of its economical use of gas, and despite increased capacity and larger volume, the furnace requires around 13% less gas than the old installation.
"We are firmly committed to continuing to consistently improve our leading position in lowemission green steel until we have reached net zero for CO2 emissions."
The heat from the furnace is also being used to preheat the steel billets before they enter the furnace. Also, a "good portion" of remain ing waste heat is fed into the city of Lucerne’s district heating system.
by Ash Jones
In the two years since then, new collabora tions between Finland and Michigan-based research institutes and industries have sprung up, with the aim of advancing economic and trade relations and innovation. Their partnership has two special focuses. The first of these is the bioeconomy, smart forestry, and wood construc tion, and the second is marine, ports, logistics, mobility, and autonomous shipping.
While smart maritime may be a more specific sector than bioeconomy, it is an extremely important one for Finland.
“These cultural ties generate a strong interest towards Finland and form a great basis for our present and future collaboration.”
In 2019, the bioeconomy generated value of around $27 billion and products from the industry account for one-third of Finnish exports. So, it goes without saying that it is an important source of rev enue for the country, which has invested heavily in research, development, and innovation in the sector.
“The two sectors that we are targeting here are extremely important. We have something to offer to our Michigan partners and they have something to offer to us. It's as simple as that. Both are research and science-intensive, and Finland has invested a lot in them.”
“The question of ‘why Michigan?’ is obvious when you look at the Finnish economy and our trade investments,” says Ambassador Salmimies.
Bioeconomy expertise
New developments in Politics & Economics
How Finland is helping Michigan reach its green goals
32 Industry Europe NEWS
Cultural connections
“We consider, and with good reason, that the Finnish marine sector is at the forefront, especially in developing zero-carbon and autonomous vessel technologies. These are our biggest strengths.
Both have cold winter climates, vast forested areas, and enormous lakes, and both are major players in the maritime sector, with large stakes in the automotive industry. Finland is already a major authority on green tech in these sectors to a point that belies the size of its 5.5 million population. Michigan, a state synonymous with the automotive sector, recognised a kindred spirit, and since the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding con cerning cooperation in clean technologies in March 2020, the partnership has continued to grow.
“I don't know for sure, but the icebreaker sector might be the one sector in which we are the world superpower. Around 80% of the world’s icebreakers are designed by Finnish companies and around 60% are built there. While this is, of course, a mat ter of national interest, that doesn’t mean that global markets are not open to us.
“It’s amazing how strong the heritage is there, even for a third, fourth or even fifth generation Finn. There’s also the Finlandia University higher educa tion institute established in 1896. In Michigan, I was greeted in Finnish and have seen Finnish flags and street signs in the Finnish language.
“We can provide the technology, we can provide the design and, and the knowhow, and that's what we are aiming at, and our expertise covers ship design and construction, materials design, and construction technology as well as ice breaking management technology. There is also ship engine automation systems, electrification, navigation, and piloting. So we are, so to say, a one-stop-shop when it comes to icebreaking technology,” Salmimies added proudly.
There is more than just the bioeconomy and marine sector that links Finland and Michigan. The first Finn ish immigrants in the US settled in the state’s upper peninsula in 1865, after the civil war. In five or six Michigan counties, people of Finnish descent make up the ethnic majority, with around 35% claiming heritage and still celebrating that heritage to this day.
“We also believe that we are a global frontrunner in the digitalisation of the maritime sector, which covers artificial intelligence, sensors, and wireless technology. I can say these things because we score consistently highly in international comparisons.
Today, there are over 100 participants in FinnishMichigan projects connected with the US state’s transition to a green, sustainable economy.
In terms of reaching zero-carbon fuel ships, the goal is 2040 – also ambitious for a sector consid
At least 73% of Finland - 20.3 million hectares - is covered with forest, making it Europe’s most heavily forested country. For its part, 53% - 7.8 million hectares - of Michigan is forested. But beyond this commonality, both countries are ambitious about developing the sector.
Industry Europe spoke to Okko-Pekka Salmim ies, Ambassador and Consul General of Finland in Los Angeles to discover how his country is helping Michigan transition to a sustainable, greenWhileeconomy.Finlandand Michigan may be separated by thousands of kilometres, and at first glance appear to have little in common, the news that the Nordic country is helping the US state in its transition to a sustainable and green economy would have come as no surprise to those who, with the right eyes, saw the many similarities between them.
One maritime sector that the Finns are especially interested in, is icebreakers, special-purpose ships designed to navigate through ice-covered waters and provide safe waterways for other vessels.
Smart Maritime
“The response that we have received here in Michigan has been very enthusiastic, and Finnish companies and research have plenty to offer to our partners here,” he adds.
ered hard to abate. The Finnish maritime sector is currently investing heavily in the development of clean marine fuels, as well as electric vessels and shore power systems. And it’s in these areas, the Ambassador says, that they hope to work together on along with their partners in Michigan, a state which also has conducted a lot of research, espe cially into autonomous vessels.
“What’s important is to have the research side, going along with the business side in order to be truly innovative. And that's what we are looking for. We're looking for innovation and cooperation, which then can also boost business. And it all boils down, of course, for a small country’s exports, that business opportunities are created. Research is a big part of that.”
Icebreakers are already an important part of the marine and defence sectors, especially during the winter months. As global warming takes its toll, and more ice melts, icebreakers will become even more essential for navigating the Arctic waters as the area begins to open up as a shipping route.
To find out more about the projects his country was working on in Michigan, Industry Europe spoke to Okko-Pekka Salmimies, Ambassador and Consul General of Finland in Los Angeles, as he and the other members of the Team Finland Business Delegation were visiting the state in May.
by Steven Gislam
The author, Dmitry Konov is a board member of the Russian Chemists Union and former CEO of Russia's Sibur Holdings.
by Ash Jones
slashing purchases from Russia and looking for alternative suppliers because of political considerations.Basedonour analysis in the Russian Chemists Union, European tyre manufactur ers already have found alternative suppliers in other geographies to replace nearly 60% of the synthetic rubber that previously was shipped from Russia. Sometimes they pay double the price of Russian rubber, which will increase the cost of tyres. However, politics appears to be more important than common sense for some European companies.
exports. Last year Sibur increased its share of the synthetic rubber market through the acquisi tion of a major Russian rival, TAIF, which was completed under my leadership. While natural and synthetic rubbers have different properties and aren't direct substitutes, I believe our indus try has a better ESG impact—it processes the residuals of oil and gas production into rubber, while natural rubber production often causes problems such as deforestation and damage to localSiburcommunities.hasinvested $21 billion over the last dec ade in upgrading existing factories and building new production facilities. When my team was developing a strategy for Sibur in the late 2000s, we looked with equal interest to both the West and the East. We were selling commodity chemicals, including rubbers, to Europe and buying state-of- the-art technological equipment there. We were expand ing plastics sales from our new facilities to China. We set up a joint venture with Reliance Group to produce synthetic rubber in India.
Sanctions stunt global synthetic rubber sector, says former Sibur CEO
These concerns are justified. European Union sanctions against Russia have already driven up natural gas prices, making European tyres and other goods more expensive. Due to political tensions, European manufacturers such as Michelin and Nokian Tyres quit Russia, which has been not only a large market for them but also a low-cost production location for selling tyres to other countries.
The European Tyre and Rubber Manufactur ers' Association said it recently had observed "signs of declining demand" and expressed concerns that challenges linked to the rising cost of gas and supply of raw materials would keep the industry "under pressure."
Industry Europe 33 NEWS
We wanted to have two pillars for Sibur's busi ness and exports—one in Europe and the other in Asia. Our competitive advantages and demand from growing Asian economies surely would enable Russian companies, including Sibur, to maintain a sustainable business. Still, both Russian and European Crms could have achieved more and developed faster if we had maintained trade rela tions and technological cooperation.
In turn, Russian petrochemical companies have redirected synthetic rubber exports to China and other Asian markets, which are less profitable sales destinations for them than Europe due to higher logistics costs. The Russian Chemists Union is confident that high-quality rubbers produced in Russia will be in demand in international markets even as sales to Europe have declined due to politicalRussia'stensions.largest petrochemical producer, Sibur, which I had headed for 15 years before leaving in March 2022, has been relying on synthetic rubber, among other products, for
This article was first published in Rubber News on 10 August, 2022.
POLITICS & ECONOMICS
Speaking of raw materials coming under pressure, one of them is synthetic rubber, the bulk of which—up to 50% for some types of rubber—has been supplied to Europe from Russia. These supplies are facing a tricky situ ation. On the one hand, shipments of Russian synthetic rubbers haven't been banned by EU sanctions. On the other hand, there is a risk that such a ban could be announced at any moment. European customers have started
INDUSTRYNEWS
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TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION
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TLT-Turbo provides further support by conducting an analysis of your specific operating conditions, e.g. on a dew point measurement based on a plant inspection.
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“This is an outstanding example of humans and machines working together. I congratulate Drishti on winning the IERA award 2022. All four finalists have presented their story of a successful innovative product in robotics and automation.”
Low-Earth orbit satellites are already a thing and are already used in networks. The use of satellites has long been considered vital in implementing 5G networks, but it is currently unknown whether networks will extend beyond the reach of low earth orbit.
“While it is too early to say when any result ing 5G equipped prototype satellite could be launched into orbit for real operational use, the highly technical ground-based testing and validation work planned between Ericsson, Thales and Qualcomm Technologies is key to making it happen", Ekudden added.
“The deployment of 5G networks marks a leap for the telecoms industry. It is a game-changer, not only in terms of business opportunities but also in the skills required to connect and protect billions of people and things", said Philippe Keryer, the EVP for strategy, research and technology at Thales.
to heat up, a group of three European companies is looking for the next step: to set up networks in the Earth's orbit.
Drishti's technology aims to support workers on assembly lines to avoid errors and be more productive. To achieve this, the company has developed a tech dubbed “action recognition”.
"Drishti has developed a pathway towards successful robotics and automation suitable for any size of company," said jury chair Andra Keay. "This opens up significant benefits, both for manufactur ers and their employees. We are pleased to honour this achievement with the IERA Award 2022."
Due to how interlinked it is with our day-today lives, the UN has declared that access to high-speed internet is a fundamental human right. It did this in hopes of bridging what is
“The IERA Award is a fantastic recognition of how Drishti helps to optimise production.”
This could allow future networks to use the satellites with ease, which would only increase opportunities for interconnectivity should the tests prove fruitful.
John Smee, the senior vice president for technol ogy at Qualcomm added: “For 5G to fulfil the prom ise of ubiquitous connectivity, it is imperative that it can also deliver network coverage in areas where terrestrial cellular networks do not exist, whether that be over oceans or in remote areas".
Silicon Valley pioneer wins IERA Robotics Award 2022
The result of peerless research, which included multiple studies and simulations, the next stage will involve the parties entering focusing testing to see if the network will work for smartphones.
Atinues
The research will demonstrate the belief of our companies that 5G non-terrestrial Networks will contribute to this revolution and will take network resiliency and security to the next level".
The coalition was given the go-ahead for a non-terrestrial network back in March by the 3GPP the global telecommunications standards’ body - reportedly the first time the agency has supported the use of these networks.
Drishti streams video at every station of the production line and then uses its AI networks to translate the video streams into data.
As a project backed by the 3GPP, the team will have access to standardised products and parts, which will also allow the inclusion of the body's tech in the networks.
The team hopes having 5G satellites further out to orbit could make easy global coverage a reality, which could be particularly useful for parts of the world where internet coveragewireless or otherwise - is limited.
This testing will help the firms test out all parameters for 5G use in low-Earth orbit and
empowering humans on the factory floor,” said Milton Guerry, President of the IFR at the IERA award ceremony in Munich, Germany.
The other three finalists
referred to as the "digital divide" - which is more critical than ever post-Covid.
“The pioneering technology invented by Drishti uncovers new improvement opportuni ties on assembly lines while at the same time
Telecomms companies to bring 5G into space
“This testing and validation cooperation between Ericsson, Thales and Qualcomm Technologies will be a major milestone in the history of communications as the ultimate result could effectively mean that no matter where you are on Earth – in the middle of an ocean or the remotest forest – high-end, secure and cost-effective connectivity will be available through collaborative 5G satellite and terrestrial connectivity", Ericsson's CTO Erik Ekudden said.
36 Industry Europe NEWS New developments in Technology & Innovation
A coalition led by Ericsson, involving French aerospace group Thales and Qualcomm, is look ing to take 5G out of this world, gaining approval for non-terrestrial satellites that could help increase global coverage.
how well the connection is received. Most preliminary testing will take place in France, where the majority of the EU's spaced sector is located.Expertswill use ground-based equipment to emulate the 5G signals, including estimated delays between space and the ground, while also testing the connection from different locations.
The action recognition technology delivers feedback to operators in mere seconds, thus avoiding errors.
The information is also used retrospectively to help manufacturers improve productivity, quality and training as well as safety.
Bosch Rexroth presented its Smart Flex Effector – a module which allows large industrial robots to “feel” their environment and produce smarter. Berlin-based Micropsi Industries took part with its MIRAI software – an AI-driven control system that enables industrial robots to deal with vari ance in production. Neura Robotics presented MAiRA® – a cognitive robot that is able to see, hear, and speak as well as safely interact with human workers and learn from experience.
Worldwide, 72% of manufacturing tasks are performed by humans. With Drishti video analy sis manufacturers have succeeded to reduce defect rates by up to 50% in just three months, improved throughput by 15% on already opti mised lines and reduced time to train new line associates by up to 50%.
by Ash Jones
The International Federation of Robotics has awarded this year’s “Award for Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Robotics & Automa tion” (IERA) to Drishti, a video analytics company based in Mountain View, California.
In addition to travelling over curved walls, the new robot can also easily attach and detach from walls by changing the magnetic force direction and can climb over corners without the need for any compli cated
Chalmers team work on autonomous drone maritime search & rescue
The system could also theoretically be linked o any public service or to a volunteer force, that could provide assistance.
The marine drones follow a preset route within a closed loop and fixed-wing drones are automatically assigned to a particular area.
The drones will reportedly use some kind of communication system to scout for people trapped out at sea, which will then alert local authorities of their locations.
Visit: www.chalmers.se
In developing its robot, Sumitomo invented a novel spherical wheel con taining a magnet that is able to rotate around two axes. This way, the robot can adapt and travel over curved surfaces that have not been possible before with conventional robots.
Visit: www.shi.co.jp
Should one of the fixed-wing drones run out of battery, it will land in the water near the Sea cat and be picked up, where it can be recharged and sent out.
Within the context of the refugee crisis, which sees thousands of people every year fleeing humanitarian crises, which sees people using frag ile and overloaded vessels leading to many deaths, the firm is hoping to save lives out at sea.
Wheeled robots with magnetic adhesion are relatively common in the manufacturing sector and used in the maintenance of large steel struc tures like ships and industrial facilities.
The Sumitomo robot with magnetic wheels that climbs steel walls
TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION
The test phase for the project is expected to come to an end in September 2022, by which point it may turn into a real autonomous project.
push to automate manufacturing tasks at its industrial sites.
than the curvature of the surface or be designed to fit a particular surface shape and direction of travel. This means that these robots are limited in the range of surfaces they can travel on, the tasks they can perform, and the types of tools they can mount.
"The project is based on the simple principle that different drones have different advantages,
The company says it is now continuing to develop the robot's practical abili ties, such as inspection, arc welding and cutting at manufacturing sites.
"So far, we have succeeded in carrying out a quadcopter landing on Seacat, and the winged drones have been built and are in the process of being assessed", says Ola Benderius, Associ ate Professor in the Vehicle Engineering and Autonomous Systems Division, who has also led the"Asproject.part of a continuation of the project, we will put the system together and test it in its entirety out at sea".
NEWS INDUSTRYNEWS
by Ash Jones
Ateam at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden claims to have developed a drone that could make sea rescue operations far safer and more efficient.
Seacat provides an internet uplink as well as a local communication link that is used to coordinate the other drones. It also contains a launchpad for the aerial drones, with all the drones moving autonomously and using its systems to search for people.
and by allowing several different types of autonomous drones to work together, search efficiency and rescue response speed can be significantly improved, with the potential to save more lives", says Xin Zhao, post-doc in the Fluid Mechanics Division at Chalmers.
The drone system has been developed in collaboration between the Vehicle Mechanics and Autonomous Systems Division and the Fluid Dynamics Division of the Department of Mechanics and Maritime Sciences, while the fixed-wing drones were developed in-house by Chalmers.
Industry Europe 37
Once one of them finds something, the quad copter is sent in to take pictures, which are sent back to the Seacat, so supplies can be sent and the relevant authorities called.
large steel structures, certain tasks such as welding at heights or curved surfaces have proven difficult to automate and require advanced skills. Sumitomo says that its robot is able to be used for such tasks, thus reducing the physical burden on human workers, as well as being safer, and making manufacturing sites smarter.
In all, there are three components: a marine catamaran drone called Seacat, which serves as a base for the other drones, which includes a fleet of aerial drones that monitor the surround ing area and a quadcopter - which has four engines, and thus the ability to hover - can fly to people and distress and deliver supplies or aid.
The team has been looking at quadcopters, fixed-wing and marine drones for use in these search and rescue operations, which could see both water and air-based drones working in tandem to mount missions.
Whencontrols.building
Most conventional wall climbing robots are designed for flat surfaces. To adapt such robots to curved surfaces, the robot must either be smaller
Using sensory imaging technology and thermal cameras, drones can be flown over farmlands to collect data on crops and livestock. For example, many Irish farms are using drone technology to detect plant diseases, preventing any outbreaks that could be devastating to crop yield. Advances in technology are now allowing drones to remain airborne for longer, even during poor weather conditions, to expand their use into more applications. Next-generation drones are capable of flying autonomously without the need for an active remote-control pilot on the ground, relieving pressure on the farm’s workforce.
Not only is Ireland at the forefront of technology development, but also its adoption. The Ifac Irish Farm Report 2022 reveals that over 80% of Irish farmers now use some form of AgriTech to accelerate operations. In particular, Ireland’s many small, family farms are turning to technology to improve their yields and profitability.
Agriculture is one of Ireland’s most important industries, with its 137,000 farms producing over €8 billion in output, according to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Now, Irish companies are making the sector even more efficient by embracing IoT technologies to create “Agriculture 4.0”. Here Dave Walsha, sales manager at precision drive system supplier EMS, explores the technology that’s revolutionising IrishAgriculturefarming. faces a series of globally-felt challenges, and Ireland is no exception. Due to exponential population growth, global agricultural systems will have to produce more food in the next 50 years than was grown in the last 500, according to Professor Chris Elliott, co-founder of the Institute for Global Food Security at Queen’s University Belfast. As Irish farms deal with a labour shortage, farmers must deliver more output with fewer workers.
Aerial monitoring
Robotic poultry farms
Driving innovation
38 Industry Europe NEWS
A tech leader
Irish startup ProvEye develops technology to analyse unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and satellite imagery to obtain insights into the efficiency and sustainability of the agricultural sector. The software can accurately measure factors such as crop yield, allowing farmers to ensure efficient upkeep and high production levels.
To ensure reliable performance even in the toughest conditions, AgriTech must be robust, and needs to be powered by reliable motors. Kählig Antriebstechnik GmbH (KAG) drives for agricultural technology are specifically designed for the rough areas of agriculture. These motors, supplied in the UK and Ireland by EMS, have a high degree of ingress protection so can be used outdoors and cleaned with high water pressure without causing damage.
Ireland has a rich history of farming experience and expertise, and in recent decades has gained a reputation as a world leader in technology innovation. Now, these areas of expertise are combining to create a gen eration of Irish AgriTech that is revolutionising agriculture. When powered
Given that the nation is steeped in agricultural history, it comes as no surprise that Ireland can now be regarded as a leader in AgriTech. The Irish Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF) is a €20 million fund for research into agricultural innovation, helping Irish start-ups to stay at the cutting edge of AgriTech. This is helping several Irish companies develop new technologies to make the sector more efficient, focusing on everything from drones to big data analytics.
by Dave Walsha
New developments in Technology & Innovation
Irish farms are using robots to automate some of the more repetitive, labour-intensive tasks. When faced with a shortage of farm workers, many simple yet essential tasks can be undertaken by robots, ensuring farm ers have more time to focus on other tasks, such as improving process efficiencies and ultimately yield.
For example, Izario is an Irish startup established in 2021. Its robot, the IzBot, undertakes many of the more manual tasks on a poultry farm such as floor egg retrieval. It also plays an important role in monitoring both bird health and the environmental conditions of their habitat.
Robots that collect animal and environmental data can be combined with machine learning to develop data-driven solutions for farmers. Artifi cial intelligence (AI) can provide important insights into livestock, such as the likelihood of sickness spreading among animals, allowing farm manag ers to optimise decision-making.
Dave Walsha, sales manager at precision drive system supplier EMS, explores the technology that’s revolutionising Irish farming...
Driving a revolution in Irish agriculture
As well as being robust, agricultural robots must demonstrate a high level of manoeuvrability to work among crops and animals without causing any damage. KAG drive electronics demonstrate good controllability with customised incremental encoders, enabling precise control of the process.
• How does a 3d printer work? - 64,800
He added the possibilities for this type of east to use long-distance travel are “enormous”.
• What is PLA? - 28,800
TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION
‘What is 3D printing used for?’ is another popular question on the top 10 list, further indicating the phenomenal interest.
People are also keen to understand how 3D printing works, which is the third most popular question with 64,800 searches, along with ‘What can I make with a 3D printer?’ (28,800) and ‘What materials are used in 3D printing?’ (16,800).
The drone’s “pilot”, Drew Camden, also had little knowledge of the local heating network through which he piloted the drone. The craft can reportedly be piloted without GPS - which is fundamental to piloting drones outdoors but is not present indoors, under bridges, inside tunnels, or other enclosed spaces that may be present during industrial checks.
year, which shows immense growth. PLA, which stands for Polylactic Acid is one of the most popular materials for 3D printing. It’s a great material for beginners, as it’s easy to use and is cost-efficient. PLA is also one of the most environmentally friendly 3D printing materials as it’s biodegradable.
M
• How much is a 3D printer? - 97,200
Visit: www.hubs.com
“The previous two flights had relied on a more sophisticated, non-mobile internet connection. We also learned that it is possible to navigate a very dense and complex interior environment from another continent using this easily configurable set-up”.
New
by Ash Jones
This demonstration in the Iren plant was pro moted by the Turin House of Emerging Technologies with the collaboration of the University of Turin.
“But the lockdowns imposed by Covid made this impossible, so we had to come up with an alterna tive and I tasked our software engineers to develop a way to remotely pilot drones over the internet. When this was accomplished, our customers were able to begin practising flying their new drone before it even arrived by remotely flying a similar drone located in our offices in Detroit or Turin”.
10 most Googled questions: June 2021-2022:
“It’s also exciting to see just how many people around the world are experimenting with designs at home in a bid to create unique items with this incredible technology. Over the next 12 months, we’ll no doubt see a staggering number of new innovations deriving from 3D printed models.”
Skypersonic performs world-first transatlantic drone inspections
Industry Europe 39 NEWS
Despite the flight itself taking place in Orlando, the company itself is based in Detroit, with a European office in Turin.
All the pilot needs is a radio control connected to the internet and the firm’s piloting software. When the customer receives their drone, Skypersonic engineers can teach them how to fly them remotely - without needing to be in the same room.
• How to design for 3d printing? - 14,400
Those who are developing their knowledge are asking ‘What is PLA?’ as this question also makes the list. Google searches for this material have increased by 123% in the last
Usinginspection.amobile phone connection, the drone was able to service an Iren utility plant in Turin, Italy, while the operator remained in Orlando, Florida - roughly 4,800 miles away.
data has revealed that in the last 12 months interest in 3D printing has exploded, with the term receiving 6,600,000 searches on Google.
Camden revealed he had never visited the Italian plant, nor seen any images of the plant or its floor plan. In addition, he claims to have no knowledge of the layout of staircases, ducts and tunnels which could provide a challenge to an operator. The firm claims he only had a direct video feed from the drone with a latency of around 68 milliseconds.
INDUSTRYNEWS
To find out exactly what the world wants to know about the technique, 3D printing experts at Hubs.com have analysed Google search data to reveal the questions on everyone’s lips.
• What is 3D printing used for? - 10,800
The firm says this breakthrough “portends an era of quick, safe and cost-effective industrial inspections” across the globe.
As 3D printing becomes more mainstream, it seems most people are curious to know what it actually is, with the most popular question ‘What is 3D printing?’ receiving 156,000 searches from June 2021 to 2022.
• How to make money with 3d printing?15,600
3D printing, also known as additive manu facturing, is simply described as a method of creating a three-dimensional object layer-bylayer using a computer-created design.
“Most importantly, we learned that an internet connection via a mobile phone in the vicinity of the drone is all that is needed to remotely pilot a drone from virtually anywhere – in fact, up to 8,000 miles away.
Prior to its relationship with Iren, the firm also ran a two-year inspection program with General Motors, which used drones to inspect hard-to-reach areas that could typically require drastic actions such as scaffolding. These drones were piloted by operators on-site.Santangelo claims this can lead to “huge” cost savings as travel expenses are almost
The top 10 most asked questions about 3D printing
• What is 3d printing? - 156,000
• Who invented 3D printing? - 18,000
Filemon Schoffer, cofounder & CCO from Hubs.com commented: “It’s amazing to see what questions most asked about 3D printing, as the industry grows from strength to strength.
While in previous years, 3D printing has been mainly used by engineers looking to develop prototypes, in 2022, an increasing number of hobbyists are using them at home.
ichigan-based drone developer Sky personic has completed what it claims to be the world’s first transcontinental indus trial
entirely eliminated and each individual’s time commitment drops significantly, meaning they can perform several inspections per day, poten tially from thousands of miles away.
Budding entrepreneurs are also looking for ways to make money from their 3D printers. From gaming accessories to homeware and fashion, thousands of designers are using 3D printing to sell unique items. The online design platform Thingiverse is becoming one of the industry’s hot spots, with 550,000 searches every month, and a YOY growth of 23%.
He also claims the tech was developed to deal with restrictions from the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Pre-Covid, our normal procedure was to send a pilot to a customer to train them in using the Skycopter for interior inspections”, he added.
• What materials are used in 3d printing?16,800
• What can I make with a 3D printer? - 28,800
40 Industry Europe
NEWAG S.A., a leading Polish manufacturer of rolling stock, has increased its focus on electric and hybrid units.
ELECTRIC CONNECTIONS
A century of experience
It was in the early 21st century that NEWAG began the process of transformation into the leading rolling stock manufacturer we recognise today. In 2003 the company was privatised, but perhaps the most significant year was 2008 when it manufactured its first rail car in-house, the 19WE electric multiple unit.
Innovative winner of awards
Similarly, NEWAG remains at the forefront with its electric multiple units. Its products from the IMPULS family are the most cutting-edge rail vehicles manufactured in Poland. These are low-floor, opencoach vehicles, equipped with a full interior monitoring system, air
In 2013, the company was listed on the Warsaw stock exchange and began to grow its position as a major rolling stock manufacturer. Today, NEWAG designs and builds electric multiple units, hybrid multiple units, diesel multiple units, diesel locomotives, electric loco motives and trams, as well as passenger carriages.
NEWAG’s history goes back to the year 1876 when it was formed as the Imperial Royal Railway Workshops. At that time, and for many decades afterwards, the company focused solely on the heavy maintenance of locomotives at its headquarters in Nowy Sacz.
In recent years, NEWAG has dominated the Polish market in the pro duction of electric multiple units and in the production and modernisa tion of electric locomotives. NEWAG’s recent developments include the cutting-edge electric locomotives GRIFFIN and DRAGON.
s one of the oldest railway companies in Poland, NEWAG has extensive experience in the manufacture and modernisation of rolling stock.
The E4MSU GRIFFIN, which belongs to a family of 4-axle electric locomotives, is the first Polish multisystem locomotive adapted to be used both with the 3kV direct current power supply system as used in Poland, and with the 15kV or 25kV alternating current power supply systems which are used in other European countries. Its interoperability and multisystem option make this locomotive suitable for homologation in most European countries.
On the other hand, the DRAGON electric locomotive is the first completely Polish-designed locomotive produced in Poland in the last 25 years, destined to pull heavy freight trains. The mono-system DRAGON is the first traction vehicle based on a six-axle locomotive platform which is adapted to the European market. It is powerful, safe, economical, fully equipped and, most importantly, very reliable.
TRANSPORTATION
A modern company which successfully combines cutting-edge technology with traditions dating back to 1876, NEWAG has a stable and strong position in the Polish rolling stock market, and is ready to support the expansion of electric and hybrid vehicles in its native country and beyond.
Multi-system options
A
A record year
The IMPULS 2 type 36WEh hybrid multiple unit won international recognition - the product was awarded the main prize in the prestig ious Ernest Malinowski Contest for products and innovations applied in the railway industry, held at 13th TRAKO 2019 International Rail way Fair in Gdańsk - a proud moment for NEWAG.
Despite the upheavals created by the global pandemic, NEWAG has recorded excellent results, having achieved its record year with PLN 1.32 billion in revenues, as announced in 2021.
42 Industry Europe TRANSPORTATION
conditioning, a modern passenger information system and, option ally, with ticket dispensers and ticket punchers.
The innovative IMPULS 2 type 36WEh hybrid multiple unit is the first Polish rail vehicle which, apart from electric drive, also has diesel drive, allowing it to be operated on non-electrified railway routes. Combining innovative technologies in the new IMPULS has resulted in a much wider functionality and range of vehicle applications for train operators, while also dramatically increasing travel comfort for passengers.
This was partly the result of NEWAG signing a major contract in 2020 for the supply of IMPLUS 2 electric trains for the SKM War szawa carrier. Another key factor in the company’s growth was the signing of contracts for the supply of an innovative hybrid locomo tive that can run using an electric or internal combustion engine.
Demonstrating its commitment to research and development, NEWAG has also been involved in two innovative projects looking at vehicles of the future: ‘The first worldwide family of autonomous, con figurable bi-modal rail vehicles for servicing cross-regional, regional and urban passenger transport compliant with the TSI Technical Specifica tions of Interoperability’ and “The first European 4-axle advanced dieselelectric multi-system locomotive compliant with TSI 2014.”
The company has also opened a new logistics centre with a modern high-bay warehouse, with installed solar panels, and has launched the first and only test site in Poland to test locomotives with the different voltage types which are used in the Czech Repub lic, Slovakia, Germany and Poland.
“In spite of all the difficulties, we have performed very well over the last two years. I believe that in the coming years the projects imple mented will further strengthen our position as a leader in the railway vehicle market, and as an innovator and a reliable business partner,” affirmed Zbigniew Konieczek, President of NEWAG, summarising the expectations of the company’s further development. n
Wärtsilä inks deal to digitalise UK ports
Voyage has signed a five-year contract with Associated British Ports (ABP), the UK’s leading ports group, to digitalise operations at its 21 ports. The project looks to accelerate the digital transformation of port calls and operations, making them as efficient, sustainable and safe as possible. Wärtsilä Voyage says that its technologies that were chosen for the project; Navi-Port, Navi-Harbour Vessel Traffic Services, and Port Management Information System (PMIS) will help ABP employees meet their targets, increase safety during port operations and optimise vessel planning and movements, all of which can have a positive impact on local, national and global supply chains.
Wärtsilä
44 Industry Europe NEWS
New developments in Transportation
Vessel Traffic Services system and Port Management Informa tion System are expected to be integrated into the Port of Southampton before April 2023, with other solutions subsequently being deployed across ABP’s other 20 ports.
Visit: www.wartsila.com
The Chicago simulation will be conducted using helicopters from Blade Air Mobility and run for three weeks, starting with ground tests on September 12, 2022, and passenger flights on September 14, 2022. Ground tests will be carried out at Vertiport Chicago, an existing downtown heliport facility.
The helicopter being used to replicate Eve’s planned eVTOL will take passengers from the Verti port to two helistops in the northwest and southwest of Chicago on morning and afternoon weekday flights. Passengers can book flights through Blade to “experience the future of commuting” Eve said.
firm Eve is to run a trial using helicop ters in Chicago to gain a better understand ing of how flying taxis will work for commuters in real-life operations.
Harm Van Weezel, Chief Information Officer at ABP said: "We are delighted to be working with Wärtsilä on a programme that really delivers towards our vision of a modern, digital port. Wärtsilä’s approach – form ing a deep and long-term partnership that is mutually beneficial to both organisations – really stood out to everyone at ABP. We are looking forward to the vast benefits this programme will bring."
Visit: https://evtol.com
can achieve with ABP is very exciting, and we’re pleased to be working together," he added.
Eve, spun off from Brazilian aerospace manufacturer Embraer, said it wants to study operations, ground services, passenger journeys and the needs of operators of electric vertical take-off and landing vehicles (eVTOLs).
"ABP truly understands how impactful technology can be in the mari time industry and its innovative approach has cemented its position as the UK’s leading ports group. This new agreement will help ABP maintain its competitive advantage now and into the future," said Sean Fernback, President of Wärtsilä Voyage.
Eve has formed a consortium of partners for the simulation, including Blade, Republic Airways, Halo Aviation, Vertiport Chicago, Village of Tinley Park, Village of Schaumburg, ACCIONA, SkyWest and Speedbird Aero.
eVTOL
The agreement includes an ongoing human factor review. This aims to ensure the existing control room environment is optimised for people’s needs and is fully compliant with all national and international standards andTheguidelines.agreement, valid for at least the next five years, formalises a shared vision and commitment from both organisations to develop modern smart port applications through extensive and long-term collaboration.
Håkan Agnevall, President & CEO, Wärtsilä Corporation added: "This is a landmark contract that will have a profound impact on the sustainability, resilience and efficiency of global supply chains. Digitalisation offers great potential for the maritime industry to reach its ambitious emissions reduc tions"Thattargets.iswhy
the expertise within Wärtsilä Voyage plays such an important role in the pathway to zero emissions and continues to be integral to Wärtsilä’s strategy to generate genuine and long-term change for our sector."
"Holistic and seamless technological solutions are critical to ensuring that ports, and the maritime industry more broadly, are ahead of the curve in terms of supply chain modernisation, that operations are future-proofed, and that data underpins decisions. The scope and scale of what we
Eve wants to trial flying taxi journeys in Chicago using helicopters
“Simulating the eVTOL operation in Chicago allows us to study how people will experi ence this service and understand the entire ecosystem requirements for our product and services, while showcasing the benefit of Urban Air Mobility in one of North America's most prominent and populated cities,” said André Stein, co-CEO of Eve, in a press release dated August 23, 2022.
After a thorough international procurement process where all major suppliers of port optimisation solutions were invited to tender, ABP chose to collaborate with Wärtsilä Voyage, one of the biggest players in the digital transformation of the maritime industry.
The project, which began in June, will span multiple phases across all of ABP’sWärtsilä’sports.
“While EVs are only one-tenth of the overall strategy, it is a key point that will impact most of the population of the UK in eight years’ time.”
“The significant growth of EVs by 2030 will present both opportunities and challenges for tra ditional original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). We can already see from the data that consumers see EVs as a realistic option and are considering the practicalities of ownership. Over the next few years, we expect to see consumer attitude towards the viability of EVs change even further with the proliferation of commercial and mass-transit EVs, such as lorries and electric buses.”
NEWS
Industry Europe 45
The two companies also plan for a close exchange of ideas to develop a complete inductive charging system for electric vehicles, with Mahle bring ing its many years of experience as an automotive supplier and Siemens its expertise in charging infrastructure.
said Aleiya Lonsdale, Head of Marketing at Easy fairs, the organiser of Advanced Engineering.
Last month, the Department for Transport (DfT) announced that it was scrapping the EV incentive scheme after eleven years — during which time the grant had shrunk from £5,000 to just £1,500 (€5,970 to €1,791)— to focus on charging infrastructure and other types of EVs.
For the UK to be fully electric by 2030, it depends on a high level of technological innovation across the automotive sector. Exhibitors and visitors alike can learn more about the future of EVs and the road to net zero at the auto forum at Advanced Engineering UK, which is hosting various sessions surrounding these topics.
Glargest
One aspect of the planned cooperation includes coordinated standardisation efforts in the relevant bodies. The goal is to close gaps in order to ensure full interoperability between vehicles and the charging infrastructure.
"We are very pleased to have found a strong partner in Siemens in order to make major advances in inductive charging. The combined experi ence of both companies will give us a clear competitive advantage," said Harald Straky, Vice President for Global Development in Mechatronics and Electronics at Mahle.
TRANSPORTATION
The UK’s largest engineering exhibition, Advanced Engineering UK has released the findings from its recent survey about the switch to electric vehicles (EVs) in 2030.
As a full-service provider for eMobility charging infrastructure, Siemens eMo bility offers a complete range of state-of-the-art AC and DC charging hardware, software and services – from residential to commercial to depot applications.
“The survey illustrates that in order to facilitate a smooth transition to electric vehicles, charging points in the UK will need to provide a comparable level of ease to existing petrol stations — some thing that only 22% of people agree will be provided — as well as being able to withstand the charging demands of an estimated 8-11 million electric vehicles on the roads by 2030.”
"Wireless charging of electric vehicles is emerging as a major market for the future. In addition to making life considerably easier for drivers, who no longer have to fiddle with cables and connectors, it is a crucial requirement for the autonomous mobility of tomorrow. The transfer effi ciency of wireless, inductive charging is comparable to plug-in systems," said Stefan Perras, Head of Pre-development and Innovation for Charging Infrastructure at Siemens.
“Only six% of our respondents think that the UK is on track to meet its 2030 sustainability goals,”
automotive suppliers, in a partnership aimed at closing the gaps in the standardisation of inductive electric vehicle (EV) charging systems.
The talks include: “‘The Britishvolt Effect’ powering the UK ahead in the race to net zero”, a keynote talk by Isobel Sheldon OBE, and “EV fast charging and battery swapping: a roadmap to ubiquitous public charging infrastructure”, by Shazan Siddiqi, Technology Analyst at IDTechEx.
The YouGov survey, completed by over 2,000 UK adults, reveals that the country may be fur ther from the electric vehicle revolution than first thought. Just over half of respondents (54%) said that they are unlikely to own an EV by the time the switch comes around.
Siemens & Mahle partner over inductive EV charging systems
Visit: https://new.siemens.com
However, the scrapping of the grant could signal difficulties in reaching the 2030 target, as 41% of people surveyed cited the reason they would not buy an EV is due to the expensive purchase price. Other concerns were raised about the lack of avail ability and access to charging points and questions over the performance range of the vehicles.
Both companies are also planning extensive interoperability and crosstesting between the charging equipment on the vehicle, also known as the secondary coil, and the charging infrastructure, or primary coil. This will allow for technical improvements and validation of inductive charging systems for electric vehicles and ensure interoperability. Some of the test ing will be performed as part of publicly funded projects.
Some of the latest products, technologies and services for EVs will also be on show this year in the auto forum at Advanced Engineering UK, which is held at the NEC, Birmingham on November 2 and 3, 2022. To secure your tickets, visit: www. advancedengineeringuk.com INDUSTRYNEWS
New survey reveals obstacles to EV adoption in the UK
56% of people said that they would likely take up the offer of a like-for-like electric model of their current vehicle (at no extra cost), show ing that, although we are a long way from EVs being a staple on our roads, people are open to the idea of switching their vehicles to a more environmentally friendly alternative, if the proper support is offered.
Despite the lack of trust in the drive ranges of EVs and accessibility to charging points,
"Siemens’ core expertise in smart buildings and smart grids makes us uniquely positioned to meet our customers’ needs with comprehensive solutions and to help them design, install and manage sustainable charg ing solutions for a better future," added Perras.
The agreement aims to establish the world's longest green, digital corridor between the two and looks to bring together stakehold ers from across the supply chain to enable the first sustainable vessels to sail the route by Singapore2027. and Rotterdam are vital links on the Asian-European shipping lanes. At present, international shipping mostly uses marine gas oil (MGO) and low-sulphur fuel
INDUSTRYNEWS
"By bringing together parties across the supply chain along one of the world’s biggest trade lanes, we can enable carriers to switch to zero-carbon fuels and speed up the transition to more sustainable shipping."
New developments in the Transportation
Other alternatives such as synthetic methane, hydrogen, and hydrogen-based fuels including ammonia and methanol are in various stages of R&D for future trials and deployment.
Two of the world's largest bunkering ports - Rotterdam and Singapore - have agreed to work together to reduce emissions in the maritime sector.
hinese battery maker CATL has announced plans to invest nearly CNY 50 billion (€7.2 billion) in the construction of a 100 GWh bat tery plant in Debrecen, Hungary, in what will be the country's largest ever overseas investment.
including bp and Shell, and shipping companies CMA CGM, Digital Container Shipping Associa tion, Maersk, and "DecarbonisingMSC.shipping is an urgent
46 Industry Europe NEWS
C
As a trusted global maritime hub, Singapore contributes actively to IMO’s efforts to make international shipping more sustainable, and global supply chains more resilient," said S Iswaran, Singapore's Minister for Transport and Minister-in-Charge of Trade Relations.
As well as alternative shipping fuels, the agreement also looks to optimise maritime efficiency, safety and the transparent flow of goods by creating a digital trade lane where relevant data, electronic documentation and standards are shared. Such a trade lane will enable smoother movement of vessels and their cargo, and optimise just-in-time arrivals from port to port.
If the project receives shareholder approval, construction is set to begin later this year and should last no more than 64 months.
Allard Castelein, CEO of the Port of Rotterdam Authority, said: "Shipping is among the most important industries to decarbonise, owing to its large international reach and volume, which continues to grow.
Each of these alternative fuels comes with its own challenges, be it relating to availability, cost, safety, or range restrictions. The agree ment signed by the two port authorities looks to take on these challenges by bringing together a broad coalition of shipping companies, fuel sup pliers and other companies to work collectively on possible solutions.
China's CATL to build a €7.2bn 100 GWh battery plant in Hungary
TRANSPORTATION
The port authorities will work with the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation and the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero-Car bon Shipping, as well as other industry partners
climate action priority, which requires the collective efforts of the entire maritime sector.
"CATL's investment will mark a giant leap in CATL's global expansion," said Robin Zhang, founder and chairman of CATL.
The planned facility covers an area of 221 hectares in the Southern Industrial Park of Debrecen, and would be Europe's largest battery cell plant. The facility will be CATL's second plant in Europe, after its Thuringia, Germany plant.
CATL has made a commitment to reducing its carbon footprint in battery production by using electricity from renewable energy. To build a sustainable and circular battery value chain, it is also looking at the
"Our battery plant in Debrecen will enable us to sharpen our competitive advantages further. We can better respond to our European customers' needs and accelerate the transition to e-mobility in Europe."
Visit: www.catl.com
CATL is keen to capitalise on Europe's energy transition to meet increasing demands from global automakers. It will supply cells and modules to European car manufacturers, such as Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Stellantis, and Volkswagen. Mercedes-Benz has said that it is the first and biggest customer of the new plant's initial capacity.
possibility of collaborations with local partners and stakeholders to set up facilities for battery materials in Europe.
"This MoU with the Port of Rotterdam dem onstrates how like-minded partners can work together to complement the efforts of the IMO. It will serve as a valuable platform to pilot ideas that can be scaled up for more sustainable international shipping."
Ports of Rotterdam & Singapore partner for zero carbon shipping
oil, but sustainable alternatives such as biofuels, including biogases, are becoming increasingly viable.
