SABIC, a global leader in the chemical industry, has announced a strategic partnership with KraussMaffei HighPerformance AG, KraussMaffei's Swiss subsidiary and manufacturer of high-performance injection molding systems known under the NETSTAL brand.

Besides the exchange of mutual know-how in the fields of polymer technology and processing, the aim of the partnership is the joint use and further advancement of the existing application center for thin-wall packaging at the NETSTAL plant in Näfels, Switzerland.

The official launch of the cooperation, which will focus on application, material and processing innovations in the thin-wall packaging industry through collaboration across the segment's entire value chain, is scheduled for the first quarter of 2021.

The existing application center for thin-wall packaging at the NETSTAL plant in Näfels, Switzerland.

“Together with NETSTAL, we will bundle our expertise in polymer science and processing to enable new material and injection molding solutions for the competitive edge of customers throughout the thin-wall packaging industry and beyond,” stated Sergi Monros, SABIC Vice President of Performance Polymers & Industry Solutions, Petrochemicals.

SABIC will be using the Innovation Center to develop material solutions with potential for improving important properties of thin-wall packaging applications, such as balance of stiffness, impact strength, cycle time reduction and sustainability. The NETSTAL Product Packaging portfolio can be further optimized as a result of improved material and process insights.

“The collaboration with SABIC will add significant momentum to the further development and commercialization of our product portfolio for innovative new thin-wall packaging applications,” said Renzo Davatz, CEO of KraussMaffei HighPerformance AG.

The Innovation Center will be fully equipped and expanded with advanced new development, processing, material and application testing facilities tailored to the needs of the packaging industry, including a dedicated laboratory for state-of-the-art injection molding and part performance evaluation.

“The joint application center will help us accelerate the pace of innovation and respond to our customers’ needs for changing market trends,” added Waleed Al Shalfan, SABIC Vice President Technology & Innovation for Polymers.