Climate change, one of the greatest challenges of our time, requires a drastic reduction in the emission of climate-damaging greenhouse gases and the consumption of natural resources. and the consumption of natural resources. This has a particular impact on the manufacturing industry - especially on the production of plastic parts, as their production is still very resource-intensive today.
In the EMProBio research group ("Energyand material-efficient production processes for biogenic plastics"), the Thuringian Center for Mechanical Engineering and its five partner institutions *) are working on technologies and processes to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in all phases of the life cycle of plastic components and, in particular, to make their production more environmentally friendly. The central approach is to increase energy and resource efficiency in production. For two years, scientists and engineers are developing sustainable production strategies to reduce energy consumption, emissions and raw materials.
Resource-intensive materials are to be replaced by so-called biogenic composite materials made from renewable raw materials, which consume less energy and resources and also bind carbon dioxide. Composite materials such as fiber-reinforced plastics are being used more and more frequently, particularly in lightweight construction. In addition to technical fibers made of glass, carbon or aramid, natural fibers from biological sources such as flax, hemp, jute or wood are becoming increasingly important. The focus of the EMProBio The aim is to create components that are not only durable but also environmentally friendly.
In order to meet the practical requirements of small and medium-sized plastics processing small and medium-sized companies in Thuringia, An industrial advisory board made up of Thuringian companies from the plastics sector and experts in climate neutrality and sustainability ensures that the research is closely aligned with the needs of industry.
The coordinator of the research group, Prof. Stephan Husung, Head of the Product and Systems Engineering Group at TU Ilmenau, is confident that he can help Thuringian companies to expand their business models and gain a competitive edge: "Our research work will turn Thuringian plastics processors into quality suppliers for biogenic plastic components, with a much broader range of services and products. For these small and medium-sized companies, the Thuringian Center for Mechanical Engineering will be the point of contact for resource-conserving production and the corresponding balancing of resources with the expertise we are developing in the EMProBio project."
*TU Ilmenau, Ernst-Abbe-Hochschule Jena, GFE - Gesellschaft für Fertigungstechnik und Entwicklung Schmalkalden e. V., Günter-Köhler-Institut für Fügetechnik und Werkstoffprüfung GmbH (ifw Jena), Schmalkalden University of Applied Sciences
