Exhibitor interview: Sappi
Up next, we interview Juul Cuijpers, Product Manager for Sappi, who will be exhibiting at Compounding World Expo.
Sappi is a leading global provider of sustainable wood fiber products and solutions, in the fields of dissolving pulp, printing papers, packaging and speciality papers, casting and release papers, biomaterials and bio-energy. As a company that relies on renewable natural resources, sustainability is at their core.
Sappi Symbio is a product line of Sappi Biotech and provides cellulose masterbatch solutions to the plastics industry. They offer a natural solution to make products greener, lighter and stronger.
Sappi Limited (JSE) is headquartered in Johannesburg (South Africa), with 12,500 employees and 18 production facilities on three continents: Europe, North America and Africa.
What do you think sets your company apart from your competitors?
We have an extensive network throughout the industry and partnerships within the value chain are key to making success in innovation.
For Sappi Symbio we provide technical expertise to compounders through a dedicated team with in-depth knowledge and a track record in the polymer industry. Our expertise ranges from polymer processing knowledge to hands-on injection moulding experience and provide on-site support to clients. Reach out to us if you are interested to learn more.
Are there any new technology developments that your company is working on at the moment?
We have a lot of exciting things going on at our competence centres and R&D. Ranging from coating-free barrier papers to new cellulose-based fiber reinforcement solutions for (bio-)plastics. Our customers are looking for new ways to reduce their carbon footprints and to meet sustainability targets. With our nature-based solutions, we address that need. At the same time, cellulose fibre replaces incumbent solutions like talc and glass fiber which, besides a lower carbon footprint, enables weight reduction of up to 15%.
What are the biggest challenges facing the industry today, and how can this be overcome?
Innovation goes along with challenges, and the same holds for new solutions which are nature based. Sceptics about performance and quality consistency are things we often hear. However, with a proven track record in the automotive industry and for interior applications, we time-over-time prove that Symbio meets stringent requirements.
We overcome challenges by working closely throughout the value chain with all relevant stakeholders to expedite new material breakthroughs.
How do you see the sector developing in the next five to ten years?
Many things will still be the same as they are today, however, clearly, we will see more and more developments in recycling technology and use of renewable materials into our everyday products. Each one will need to make bigger steps in designing, developing and producing more sustainable materials. With our nature-based solutions, we aim for making an impactful step by contributing to a more renewable industry.
What are you most looking forward to at this year’s show?
It is always a great pleasure to meet customers and new prospects at the show. And it is always very exciting to see new projects being initiated by the wealth of information that exchanges during the 2 days of the show. We look forward to meeting you at our booth A404 and to see you for our presentation.
Sappi will be exhibiting at the Compounding World Expo Europe 2023.