Compounding

Swedish company starts producing biomaterial with Coperion extrusion system

March 10, 2021

The material, known as Renol, which produces a low carbon burden and requires minimal water, can replace fossil-based plastics.

Bruce Geiselman

Related To:

Coperion & Coperion K-Tron

RenCom AB is using a Coperion ZSK twin-screw extrusion system to make its thermoplastic biomaterial.

Renol, a new thermoplastic biomaterial, can be used in percentages of up to 50 percent along with other resins to make plastic products such as injection molded parts and grocery bags.

By Bruce GeiselmanRenCom AB, a Swedish company whose founders have a background in the pulp and paper industry, has started producing a thermoplastic biomaterial known as Renol on a Coperion ZSK twin-screw extrusion system.

In February, the companies announced the start of production.

“We are now in a position to produce Renol in large quantities and thus make a major contribution to the challenges with fossil-based plastics,” said Johan Verendel, RenCom’s chief technical officer.Renol, a biomaterial made from lignin, replaces fossil-based plastics. It can make up as much as half the resin in recipes for films (such as shopping bags) and injection molded plastic products such as furniture and automobile parts, and as a replacement for non-biodegradable rubber as an infill material in artificial turf. It can be used directly in existing processing equipment without any modifications to machines or methods.Renol requires little water and produces a minimal carbon footprint, and it has good mechanical and physical properties, according to Rencom and Coperion. “We are very happy to be able to support this innovative company on their exciting journey,” said Peter von Hoffmann, Coperion’s GM of engineering plastics and special applications. “We see big potential for their lignin-based product decreasing the carbon footprint by substituting fossil-based plastics.” The two companies announced in 2020 that they were conducting studies in Coperion’s extrusion test lab in Stuttgart, Germany, and planned to begin production soon.Coperion delivered a ZSK twin-screw extruder, strand pelletizing system, lignin bag dump station, big bag station and gravimetric feeders to RenCom. RenCom can produce more than 1,000 tons of Renol each year.

Bruce Geiselman, senior staff reporter

bgeiselman@endeavorb2b.com

For more information:Coperion Corp., Sewell, N.J., 856-256-3175, www.coperion.comRenCom AB, Knivsta,Sweden, 46-76102-1536, www.lignin.se

About the Author

Bruce Geiselman | Senior Staff Reporter

Senior Staff Reporter Bruce Geiselman covers extrusion, blow molding, additive manufacturing, automation and end markets including automotive and packaging. He also writes features, including In Other Words and Problem Solved, for Plastics Machinery & Manufacturing, Plastics Recycling and The Journal of Blow Molding. He has extensive experience in daily and magazine journalism.