November 15, 2022 - The latest innovative solutions of the RadiciGroup High Performance Polymers and Specialty Chemicals Business Areas were on display at the K 2022 trade fair in Düsseldorf.

RadiciGroup, a vertically integrated polyamide producer and – for over forty years – an engineering polymers manufacturer, has been engaged in broadening its solutions to meet today’s sustainability, performance and safety requirements which have been the main drivers for the development of the Group’s new proposals for its numerous target markets, ranging from automotive and e-mobility to electrical/electronics, water management, and industrial and consumer goods.

“Compared to the last edition of the K,” emphasized Erico Spini, global marketing manager of RadiciGroup High Performance Polymers, “the Group came to the trade show with an expanded portfolio of reduced environmental impact solutions, obtained using materials from preand post-consumer recycling or materials from organic sources. Our goal is to be a partner for those customers who want to implement projects in which sustainability is an essential requirement, without foregoing performance, always the core feature of our entire offering.”

Regarding recycling and recovery, Radici´s leading range is Renycle, a brand identifying engineering polymers made with a variable percentage of post-industrial or post-consumer polyamide recycled through mechanical recovery. According to RadiciGroup, the recycled polyamide is sorted and processed, providing full traceability, and has an environmental impact much lower than the virgin material for each of the formulations, according to the specific LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) study.

“At K 2022, we were exhibiting numerous e-mobility applications,” Mr. Spini continued. “In this field, our focus is on a new line of products for high-voltage applications, including e-mobility connectors, which are required to be coloured orange for safety reasons. Furthermore, we have also developed special materials, such as Radilon DT and Radistrong Aroma, with the highest characteristics for water management that ensure a long life. In this sector, safety is a central issue, since products for many applications have to be approved for contact with drinking water".

Mr. Spini wrapped up his comments by pointing out: “Lastly, at our stand, we also set up an area dedicated to 3D printing filaments, a new opportunity for us to leverage our many years of experience and know-how in compounding. Radilon Adline Filaments for 3D printing are based on Radilon polyamide grades and are suitable for prototyping, as well as the production of actual functional parts. We are looking to the future and to 'special' projects, guided by our experience.”

RadiciGroup High Performance Polymers says that its production sites worldwide have recently obtained or renewed ISO 14001 Environmental and ISO 45001 Occupational Health and Safety management system certifications.

“From the outset, the High Performance Polymers Business Area strategy has been based on our closeness to customers,” stressed Cesare Clausi, global sales manager of the BA. “We want to be able to offer them not only state-of-the-art products but also timely and efficient services locally, by creating synergies with our global organization in areas like R&D, sales and marketing, and technical assistance. It is crucial for us to be near to the industrial activities of our customers in order to ensure our high quality standards everywhere around the world and to propose innovative and sustainable, global solutions from the viewpoint of products and production processes. In short, we share the same values at all our sites and realize them through our well-defined commitments that translate into products manufactured by certified systems worldwide.”

“Over the last two years,” Mr. Clausi concluded, “we have strengthened our international presence through new, modern production facilities, thus increasing our production capacity and efficiency in the Americas, Europe and China. The goal is to be proactive with all our customers and to be their strategic partner in developing the solutions of the future together.”

During K fair, a special presentation illustrated a practical example: the RadiciGroup CAE Service’s approach to designing a part traditionally made of aluminium using the Group’s latest-generation specialty polymers for structural applications. The title: “A case history of metal replacement with Radilon engineering polymers”.

Also at the show, the Specialty Chemicals Business Area – the main supplier for the other Group Areas – showcased the products made at its Novara (Italy) and Zeitz (Germany) sites, two of the most advanced chemical plants in Europe that produce adipic acid, nitric acid, hexamethylenediamine and other chemical intermediates, PA6 and PA66 polymers, specialty polymers, such as PA612, and polymers obtained from biopolyamides, such as PA610 and PA510. These materials are used for the manufacture of a variety of products in the plastics and synthetic fibres industries and in numerous other sectors, including automotive, electrical/electronics, and consumer and sporting goods.

The Radicigroup has approximately 3,000 employees, sales revenue of EUR 1,508 million in 2021 and a network of production and sales sites
located throughout Europe, North America, South America and Asia. RadiciGroup is one of the world’s leading producers of a wide range of chemical intermediates, polyamide polymers, high performance engineering polymers and advanced textile solutions, including nylon yarn, polyester yarn, yarn made from recovered and bio-source materials, nonwovens and personal protective equipment for the healthcare field. These products are the result of the Group’s chemical expertise and vertically integrated polyamide production chain and have been developed for use in a variety of
industrial sectors, such as: automotive – electrical and electronics – consumer goods – apparel – furnishings – construction – household appliances– sports. With its business areas – Specialty Chemicals, High Performance Polymers and Advanced Textile Solutions – RadiciGroup is part of a larger industrial group that also includes textile machinery (ITEMA), energy (GEOGREEN) and hotel (SAN MARCO) businesses.

Source: RadiciGroup