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At this year's KUTENO (May 14 - 16, 2024), the Kunststoff-Zentrum in Leipzig (KUZ) will be presenting current projects and services relating to the topics of "Material Development & Recycling". The focus here is on renewable raw materials and upgrading recycled materials. There will also be an exciting competition for visitors to the stand (Foyer / EN10).

With effect from April 1, 2024, Dr. Matthias R. Jacob is the new Managing Director of Kunststoff-Zentrum in Leipzig gGmbH (KUZ). Before joining KUZ, Dr. Jacob was Chief Operating Officer at CERQ. Here, he played a leading role in the product development, design, industrial engineering and production of large energy storage systems and their components.

On 4 and 5 June 2024, the Kunststoff-Zentrum in Leipzig (KUZ) is hosting the "Digitalization / AI in Plastics Processing" conference for the third time. The two-day conference is a leading platform for experts from the fields of production, machine technology, services and research and development. The guests use the event to exchange ideas and develop innovative ideas together.

More than 50 research institutes and universities represented Saxony's excellent scientific landscape at the Technische Sammlungen Dresden on March 8 and 9, 2024. The first SPIN2030 science festival attracted 8,000 visitors, who were able to experience Saxony's wide-ranging and diverse research live on five floors, try it out and interact directly with the researchers.

The dynamically developing plastics and medical technology markets are facing significant challenges. Factors such as sustainability, digitalization and demographic change are having a significant impact on corporate decisions. How are these two sectors reacting to the current changes and what benefits can companies derive from these developments?

The KUZ was awarded the eku Future Prize in the "eku success" company category for its "RecyclingDay - children discover the recycling of plastics" project.

Four main exhibits provide an insight into the focus topics of miniaturization, digitalization/KI, electrical testing and the circular economy.

STEM-enthusiastic young people from Leipzig schools are on a discovery tour at the KUZ as part of the Junior Engineer Academy.

Review: The Festival of the Future transformed Leipzig's market square into a colorful spectacle

Together with the Sustainability Team, the children were able to participate and watch with their own eyes how plastic waste became toys.

On May 4, 2023, the symposium "PUR Forum: Polyurethanes and Sustainability" will take place. This year's event is dedicated to sustainability - a topic that is also coming into focus in the polyurethane industry. The annual symposium is regarded as an established meeting place for PUR experts.

Receive funding of up to 1000 euros per trainee: The KUZ offers two seminars as part of the "AusbildungPlus" support program.

With its RecyclingDay project for schools, the Kunststoff-Zentrum in Leipzig (KUZ) was able to convince the jury of the Sustainability Project, the "Competition for Shaping the Future with Passion", for the N category.

The use of recycled plastics is the cornerstone of a functioning circular economy. The clear labeling of recyclates and recycled content of plastic materials is essential. Since June 2021, the new DIN SPEC 91446: 2021-06 standard has provided comprehensive specifications on data quantity and quality for material classification. According to this standard, recyclates can now also be tested in the accredited testing laboratory of the KUZ.

The debate about the potentials and challenges of digitalization and the application of artificial intelligence has also reached the plastics industry. Initially conceived as a seminar, and finally organized as a successful symposium, the event on the topic of "Digitalization / AI in plastics processing" took place on July 12, 2022 at the premises of Kunststoff-Zentrum in Leipzig gGmbH: Almost 30 experts from small to large companies from Germany and Austria met for a day to exchange knowledge and ideas on how best to exploit the opportunities of digital transformation and the use of artificial intelligence to make production processes more sustainable and efficient. Theory and practice-oriented knowledge Six stimulating presentations offered a valuable mix of theory and practical knowledge. They provided an inspiring insight into the latest techniques and methods as well as the future prospects of digitalization and artificial intelligence in plastics processing. The presentations were accompanied by lively discussions that sharpened the view that these trend topics deserve deeper insights and further research in order to fully exploit their potential in plastics processing. Digitalization and artificial intelligence in plastics processing The presentations began with a comprehensive overview of current and future developments in digitization and artificial intelligence at KUZ. Topics such as IT security and common interfaces for data exchange were also considered. Highly innovative tools, such as precise sensors and measuring systems, sophisticated control technology and smart assistance systems, were presented as effective measures that can make plastics processing operations more transparent and sustainable and ensure the resource-efficient use of operating resources. A concluding discussion on the joint application of machine learning and artificial intelligence methods to predict defect risks and initiate optimal measures in injection molding concluded the first part of the event. Live demonstrations in the technical center The vivid presentations and stimulating discussions were enriched by three live demonstrations in the Technikum to provide even more insights into digital practice. This enabled innovative ideas and new approaches for future projects and collaborations. Thanks go to all speakers and all participants for their participation. The KUZ is looking forward to the upcoming planning of further professional events in 2023 to provide space for more intensive exchange of experiences. More impressions

Who in the plastics industry is not familiar with the situation: The materials required for the manufacture of products are rapidly becoming more expensive, and in some cases the materials required are no longer available. In such a case, substitute materials have to be produced very quickly and qualified for the applications to be manufactured. The KUZ helps you with the material selection and the changeover.

We are pleased to be one step further on our way to becoming a sustainable research institute. Since the beginning of 2022, we have been purchasing green electricity from our regional electricity provider Stadtwerke Leipzig GmbH, 100% of which was generated in European hydroelectric, wind power or photovoltaic plants.

The aim of the RESPONSE transfer project is to implement medical and medical technology innovations using the manufacturing methods of microplastics technology. In particular, the requirements of product development and approval processes are taken into account. To this end, on the one hand, in the field of microextrusion, solutions for material-flexible small-volume production are being developed for the extruder die and for process control. On the other hand, in the field of micro injection molding, exemplary process chains for injection molded micro parts are designed.

On June 18, 2021, the KUZ, represented by its managing director Dr. Thomas Wolff, was honored to receive the Family Friendliness Award of the City of Leipzig 2021 in the category "Special Award for an IHK Company". An independent jury selected the 6 award winners in different categories from over 100 submissions.

The research project "ReUp-3D-Printwaste", funded by the BMWi, started at the KUZ. As the short title already suggests, the project is dedicated to the recycling as well as the qualitative upgrading of printing waste by means of suitable chemical additives in order to be able to reuse them in the 3D printing sector.

On the initiative of the Chemistry Teacher Training Center of the University of Leipzig, the KUZ supported the further training of elementary school teachers on September 16, 2020. For many years, there has been a cooperation in the further training of chemistry teachers, so far mostly of the high school level. This year, 18 elementary school teachers from Saxony gathered to gain insight into the world of plastics, plastics processing and also the current discussion on plastics and sustainability.