Plastics for E&E applications, “fuse box meets dryer” 2017 in Würzburg
As in previous years „Kunststoffzentrum (SKZ)“ organized the event “fuse box meets dryer”, at fortress Marienberg in Würzburg. Due to support of the industrial partners Clariant, A.Schulmann, BASF, Kraus Maffei, Lanxess und Weidemüller this cross-industry meeting was hold for the 11th time. This year’s focus was on „plastics in E&E applications“, about which different companies hold presentations and presented their latest scientific results.
The prelude of this event and first possibility for first interaction was given at „Zehnscheune“ in Würzburg, in the evening of 29th of May, where Elmar Schmitt (Clariant) gave the opening speech. The next two days different companies gave presentations accompanied by an associated exhibition. The focus of this presentations was on new fields of application, materials, machine technics and processing technologies.
One question overshadowed this event: How will Trump and Brexit have an influence on the development of German economy. This question was discussed by Prof. Dr. Peter Bofinger (professorship VWL, university Würzburg) after the welcome speech of conference leader Prof.Dipl.-Ing Ansgar Jaeger (University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt) and the representative of SKZ, Dr. Marco Thornagel. Negative effects are not assumed, rather a positive development is forecasted.
At the first day of this event two topics were examined in five different presentations: materials and product development and processing technologies. The different presentations had the focus on important topics like flame retardancy and optimizing of tracking resistance (Polyphenylensulfide PPS), presented by Joachim Bernhard, ALBIS Plastic GmbH. Polyketones and their special combinations of properties were presented by Dr. Roland Wehmeyer, A. Schulmann GmbH. Especially the more and more important halogen free flame retardant plastics were not forgotten. Elke Metzsch-Zilligen, Fraunhofer LBF, hold a presentation on the great challenges, which will arise due to the prospective challenges of recyclability of flame retardant plastics. This aspect has to be taken in consideration at the development of such materials, to avoid later difficulties. The last two topics dealed with future electromobility, presented by Alexander Bartels and Andrè Lambrecht (DuPont de Nomours GmbH). The actual trends and flame retarancy requirements were discussed. Michael Halfmann from Currenta GmbH & Co. OHG hold a presentation on flame retardancy requirements for railway vehicles (EN 45545), which round up this range of topics.
At the second day the main topic was shifted to processing technologys and design of materials. Here in particular the optimisation and possibilities of realisation were presented. The concept of „industry 4.0“ and the trend towards „smart home“ is gaining more and more importance, which leads to new requirements in this application area.