New High Recycled Content Polymer Research Lab for Luxus
29 August 2012 Louth, Lincolnshire based technical plastics recycling and compounding company Luxus is currently building a new 750 square metre laboratory which will develop high performance thermoplastic polymers with a high recycled content. The company said that it has invested £600,000 in the laboratory, which will develop primarily for its automotive customers such as Nissan, Ford, Jaguar, BMW and Renault. According to Luxus the investment has been made possible thanks to a £6 million loan which it received as a regional winner of the HSBC 'Business Thinking' award in 2011. The original laboratory at Luxus' site was established in 1982 as part of a strategy to meet automotive industry needs. Today, the company said that it provides a technical 'hub' that includes support for its 'closed loop' wheel bin and transit packaging recycling schemes, as well as developing sustainable components for car interiors to meet its customers' cost efficiency and eco performance goals. Peter Atterby, managing director at Luxus explained the company's R&D team will be housed in the new facility, which will enable them to continue to undertake thermoplastic polymer testing, development and analysis research work that provides bespoke solutions for niche market needs. According to Atterby the company's manufacturing processes will also improve as it will no longer be necessary to take out a production machine to run on-going development work, such as compatibilisation of polymer alloys and the creation of recycled polymers with a high scratch resistance also demanded by auto manufacturers. "We will also continue our research in sustainable materials that are able to withstand extremes in temperature and UV exposure with The Green Tile Company, a manufacturer of highly innovative roof tile known as Envirotile made from recycled polymers for the construction industry," the MD added. Read More New Polymer Offers Closed Loop Recycling to Automotive Industry Axion Polymers has added a polymer derived from end-of-life vehicles (ELV), to its range of 100% recycled polymer materials. Every Electric Ford Focus to Contain 22 Recycled Bottles Ford, plans to divert approximately 2 million post-consumer plastic bottles through the use of REPREVE seat fabric in its new Focus Electric and other new vehicles in the next model year. Ford Banking on Sustainable Materials to Ease Petroleum Dependency According to Ford, the rising price of the petroleum - used to manufacture plastics - is making a stronger business case for finding new sustainable materials - such as recycled dollar bills - for its cars and trucks. Free Magazine Subscription Free Email Newsletter