American Process Inc. (API) (Atlanta, GA), Will & Co B.V. (Badhoevedorp, the Netherlands), and P.R.G. B.V. (Gemert, the Netherlands) recently signed a Joint Development Agreement to develop, produce and supply ready-to-use thermoplastic compounds reinforced with nanocellulose. While conventional cellulose-based fibers are currently used in plastic compounding for commercial products, high aspect ratio, crystalline nanocellulose can offer unique features including enhanced mechanical properties.
American Process Inc.’s CEO, Theodora Retsina, PhD, remarks “Nanocellulose is a novel, renewable performance material. Our trademarked Bioplus™ nanocellulose is a result of focused R&D efforts in those aspects that will enable competitive application development. Bioplus™ nanocellulose has low production cost, is thermally stable at high temperatures, and can be functionally dried as a powder that blends uniformly with hydrophobic polymers. We are delighted to join efforts with Will & Co B.V. and P.R.G. BV. to develop applications that will enable commercial production.”
According to Epco Blessing, Product Manager Plastics and Additives, Will & Co B.V., “Together with my colleagues Maarten Keijzer and Matthijs van Lint, we identified a growing demand within our European markets for conventional and biobased plastic compounds that have improved sustainability profiles along with high performance. With Will & Co we have strong focus on innovative technologies to support our customers on their sustainability efforts and to increase product/production performance. Therefore we are interested in expanding our product portfolio on high quality technical plastics and additives with API’s nanocellulose across a variety of applications and processing methods, including thermoforming, extrusion blow molding, and injection molding. Thus creating new and renewable thermoplastic compounds that are tailor-made for our customers”
Kim Nelson, PhD, API’s VP of Nanocellulose states, “Partnerships such as this one, which combines our expertise in nanocellulose production, customization, and handling, with Will & Co. and P.R.G.’s expertise in plastics formulation, compounding and market drivers, are critical for successful introduction of nanocellulose-enhanced products.”
About the Collaborators
Founded in 1995, API and its affiliates, are biorefinery technology companies focused on developing, demonstrating and scaling-up technologies for the production of biomass derived renewable materials, fuels and chemicals. API has developed five different varieties of nanocellulose suitable for diverse end-uses including reinforcement of plastics, rubber and brown packaging. All the nanocellulose varieties are demonstrated at the half ton per day scale at the Thomaston Biorefinery in Georgia.
Nanocellulose is a versatile high-strength, light-weight renewable biomaterial that Thomson Reuters named as one of the top 10 technologies that will change the world by 2025. API has been granted seven patents and has over 100 patents pending in the nanocellulose field.
Will & Co B.V. was founded in 1924 in the Netherlands with a focus on sales, marketing, and distribution of high-quality raw materials, additives and pigments in the areas of plastics, polyurethane, chemicals, coatings, ink and colorants, adhesives, water treatment, food technology, and cosmetics and personal care. The company also offers new product development services, from the design and development phase to production and assistance with the production process. Will & Co have extensive knowledge on sourcing, application & production technologies. Together with their suppliers and customers they work on breakthrough technologies and product applications.
P.R.G. B.V. is a product development and compounding company based in the Netherlands with a long history of collaboration with Will & Co on several engineering thermoplastics.
