Innovative projects with environmental impact studies for local production

RadiciGroup High Performance Polymers is participating in Chinaplas 2024, to be held from 23 to 26 April at the National Exhibition and Conference Center in Shanghai, China.

Accompanying the growth of the Chinese plastics and rubber industries for more than 30 years, Chinaplas is an important meeting platform at which RadiciGroup will be present again this year with a stand (Hall 7.2 stand D38) showcasing the latest innovations for a variety of sectors such as automotive, electrical/electronics, appliances and consumer goods.

The automotive industry continues to occupy a prominent position for RadiciGroup, being the top market in terms of volume, even in China. In a national context characterized by significant economic challenges, an important signal emerged in 2023, when Chinese automotive manufacturers surpassed global competitors operating locally through joint ventures for the very first time: this step stresses the importance for RadiciGroup of maintaining direct connections with the decision makers and development departments of the major local and international OEMs and TIER suppliers, with the goal of developing proposals for the sector that can cater for evolving technical and environmental requirements.

"RadiciGroup's participation in Chinaplas 2024 is an extraordinary opportunity to strengthen and expand our partnerships with all the players in the automotive industry in China", says Alberto Sessolo, Country Manager for China of RadiciGroup High Performance Polymers. "We are committed to offering innovative and sustainable solutions that meet the changing needs of the market, while always maintaining the quality and reliability of our products".

The electrification of the automotive sector is one of the main challenges: there is an emerging drive to reduce the weight of the components housed in cars by replacing the metal parts with new products and innovative plastic solutions. RadiciGroup also offers a range of orange-coloured products for the production of components under high electrical voltages.

Applications of these and numerous other RadiciGroup products in the automotive sector, with particular emphasis on electric cars, can be seen using RadiciGroup AutoInsight, a new tool developed by the Group to navigate the car in 3D mode and view in a simple and intuitive way the components made from the Group's safe, innovative and sustainable materials. The tool can be used from pc, tablet and mobile: it allows you to have a description of the materials at a glance, save your favourite products, and download the relevant product information. A cutting-edge digital tool suitable for every visitor profile because it allows 'free' levels of in-depth analysis according to each person's interests and skills.

"Exactly one year ago we officially opened our new production site here in China, in Suzhou" – recalls Sessolo –Today the plant is fully operational and it is a tangible proof for all our stakeholders of the Group's long-term commitment in this Country. We are expanding our workforce, particularly in the areas of Research & Development and Marketing, to ensure that we are ready to seize emerging market trends and turn them into innovative products".

A growing sector in China is that of solar energy and photovoltaic panels: every new condominium building in the Country must include the installation of these technologies, which, in turn, must be made with specially designed materials: in this direction, RadiciGroup has already developed materials of the Radiflam® family which are optimized for connectors, designed to withstand very challenging atmospheric conditions (UV rays, rain, etc.) with high impact resistance even at low temperatures.

In addition, there is a clear increase in demand for products with a low environmental impact. RadiciGroup has already marketed, also in China, some grades of Renycle® (polyamide from pre- and post-consumer sources) for innovative applications in several sectors, and this is expected to be the trend in the medium-long term. The Renycle® products are measured through the LCA methodology (Life Cycle Assessment) which calculates the environmental impact during the life cycle, from the production phase of the primary raw materials (upstream) to the production phase of the compound (core process). The raw materials and production processes are sourced and manufactured locally, so the LCA characterizations of the products placed on the market are also carried out locally. This results in products that generate a reduction in CO2 emissions, given the limited incidence of transport and thanks to production carried out in a high-performance LEED Gold-certified plant that can count on a roof-mounted photovoltaic panel system for the use of renewable energy.

The RadiciGroup team of experts will be available at the stand (Hall 7.2 stand D38) for the entire duration of the fair, ready to interact with customers, discuss the latest innovations and forge new synergies for the future. There will also be a specific event dedicated to the latest innovations in the product portfolio with a focus on Renycle® and the topic of sustainability. Appointment at the RadiciGroup stand on April 23rd at 2.00 pm and April 24th at 10.30 am.