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Solvay (Alpharetta, Ga., U.S.) has joined the ThermoPlastic Composites Research Center (TPRC, Enschede, Netherlands) as a Tier 1 member, which grants Solvay access to the TPRC’s thermoplastic composites research as well as the ability to steer fundamental development activities complementary to Solvay’s internal research such as forming and overmolding, cost-effective manufacture of large structures, material performance and sustainability.

Solvay is investing heavily in thermoplastic composites technology development and process industrialization, and recognizes the TPRC as a leading innovative R&D platform. Solvay’s recently opened Product Development Center in Alpharetta, Ga., U.S., and Customer Engagement Center in Brussels, Belgium will work closely with the TPRC as the company starts engaging in joint collaboration projects.

“Solvay’s research and innovation experts will work hand in hand with the TPRC on selected projects where we see joint benefits. Solvay and the TPRC are both committed to increasing the adoption of thermoplastic composites by the aerospace and automotive industries, and our membership will strengthen our ability to contribute to industry developments,” says Dr. Jim Pratte, senior research fellow for Solvay Composite Materials Global Business Unit.

“The addition to our membership of Solvay, one of the leading suppliers of specialty thermoplastic polymers and thermoplastic composite materials will allow the TPRC to broaden its focus beyond aerospace into automotive applications where there is an overlap of processing technology and materials particularly when we look at the rapidly developing urban air mobility [UAM] market segment,” says Harald Heerink, general manager at the TPRC.

The TPRC is the world-leading research, development and innovation center for thermoplastic composites, and is focused on enabling the use of this technology in large-volume applications and eliminating technological barriers toward its widespread adoption.