9 Jul 2008
Borealis boosts innovation with new R&D investment
• Latest research tool enables high-speed polymerisation experimentation
• Technology supplied by R&D integration partner Symyx Technologies
Borealis, a leading provider of innovative, value creating plastics solutions, has started up a Parallel Pressure Reactor (PPR) research tool, supplied by U.S. R&D integration partner Symyx Technologies, as part of a project to drastically reduce the time taken to develop new materials. The first polymerisation trials were successfully completed on May 30, 2008, at Borealis’ Innovation Centre in Porvoo, Finland.
The PPR is a fully automated workflow system that comprises 48 mini-reactors, each with a volume of just a few millilitres, which can simultaneously carry out 48 polymerisation experiments in a single day – far faster than current norms. It is ideally suited for catalyst and process research.
Borealis is responding to the ever-increasing need to minimise the time to bring new ideas to market. Current and upcoming investments by Borealis Innotech, its multi-site R&D organisation, are devoted to increasing basic research in polymerisation and process technology as one means of achieving that goal. Key end-use markets such as building and construction, as well as automotive and advanced packaging should benefit substantially from these investments.
“This new equipment provides a major step forward for our research community and helps us develop innovations much faster and more efficiently,” says Alfred Stern, Borealis Vice President for Innovation and Technology.
Borealis is investing a total of around EUR 10 million in new R&D tools and a further EUR 60 million in improved infrastructure, which includes new laboratory buildings.
“These investments will provide the optimal environment to make our research teams more innovative, supporting our strategy to achieve a step change in innovation,” adds Alfred Stern.
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Borealis
Borealis Head Office
IZD Tower
Wagramerstraße 17–19
A-1220 Vienna
Austria
Notes for editors
Borealis and Borouge
Borealis and Borouge are leading providers of innovative, value creating plastics solutions. With more than 40 years of experience in polyolefins and using our unique Borstar® technology, we focus on the infrastructure, automotive and advanced packaging markets. We have production facilities, innovation centres and service centres across Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific and work with customers in more than 170 countries around the world to provide plastic materials that make an essential contribution to society and to sustainable development. We are committed to the principles of Responsible Care® and to leading the way in 'Shaping the Future with Plastics.’
Symyx Technologies, Inc.
Symyx Technologies, Inc. is the scientific R&D integration partner to companies in the life sciences, chemicals, energy, electronics and consumer products industries. With scientific R&D under tremendous economic and technical pressure, we help companies reduce R&D risk and enhance R&D productivity to help them bring more and better products to market quickly and cost-effectively. Our integrated technology platform combines Symyx Software (electronic laboratory notebooks, content, laboratory logistics and analysis), Symyx Tools (modular and integrated workflows that can be enhanced by Symyx software) and Research (collaborative research and directed services) to support the entire R&D process
For more information on Borealis and Borouge, a joint venture between Borealis and the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, visit www.borealisgroup.com and www.borouge.com.
More information about Symyx, including reports and other information filed by Symyx with the Securities and Exchange Commission, is available at www.symyx.com.
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This new equipment provides a major step forward for our research community and helps us develop innovations much faster and more efficiently," says Alfred Stern, Borealis Vice President for Innovation and Technology.
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