UIF partners with India's Praj Industries for PLA production tech
thyssenkrupp Uhde's polymer specialists Uhde Inventa-Fischer (UIF), a subsidiary of the global leader in chemical engineering and construction, and Praj Industries Limited (PIL), a global leader in industrial biotechnology solutions, announced a strategic partnership to jointly offer an end-to-end integrated technology for the production of Polylactic Acid (PLA). This strategic partnership offers a unique, seamless solution that sets them apart in the arena of bioplastics.
thyssenkrupp Uhde's UIF and Praj Industries have formed a strategic partnership to deliver end-to-end technology for Polylactic Acid (PLA) production. Merging expertise in chemical engineering and biotechnology, they aim to offer cost-effective, sustainable bioplastic solutions. The partnership supports a circular economy and adapts to diverse feedstocks, boosting global PLA adoption.
The indiscriminate use of fossil-based plastics and the often irresponsible disposal, especially of single-use plastics (SUPs), call for urgent, innovative, and sustainable solutions. Polylactic acid (PLA), as a sustainable alternative to conventional plastics holds significant potential in advancing a circular bioeconomy. To meet this global need, PIL and UIF are leveraging their combined expertise in industrial biotechnology and chemical engineering to enhance PLA technology, ensuring efficient, cost-effective and sustainable production processes.
Nadja Håkansson, CEO thyssenkrupp Uhde: 'We see a perfect match of two world-leading technologies: Uhde's PLAneo process can now be offered as an integrated solution with Praj Industries' lactic acid production. Together, we can design and deliver complete PLA plants. Our joint vision is a competitive solution to replace conventional plastics with sustainable alternatives.'
Dr. Pramod Chaudhari, Founder Chairman, at Praj Industries: 'Praj's Bioprism portfolio for renewable chemicals and materials, with a focus on bioplastics, underscores our commitment to a sustainable future. Our strategic partnership with Uhde marks a significant step in driving the global shift toward a circular economy by enabling cost-effective biomanufacturing and the establishment of biorefineries. With our award-winning proprietary PLANERA-technology and this collaboration, we aim to tackle the challenges posed by fossil-based plastics and contribute to a more sustainable planet with innovative, bio-based solutions.'
The partnership will be able to offer an end-to-end integrated technology, covering the entire PLA production process from feedstock conversion to polymer production. Different grades of Lactic acid can be produced from this technology which find applications in food and industrial sectors. A broad range of PLA grades can be produced, addressing the diverse requirements of various industries such as packaging, textiles, and hygiene supplies. Both companies have a strong global presence, enabling them to deliver innovative solutions to customers worldwide and adapt to practically any agricultural feedstock containing either starch or sugar, including second generation feedstocks based on non-food raw materials.
A shared commitment to sustainability drives the partnership, focusing on developing environmentally friendly and socially responsible solutions. Praj recently inaugurated India's first-of-its-kind 'Demonstration Facility for Biopolymers' near Pune, India, where it is producing lactic acid and lactide. This facility will serve as a crucial platform for testing and validating the joint offering, enabling the partners to showcase the potential of PLA and accelerate its commercialization. Note: The headline, insights, and image of this press release may have been refined by the Fibre2Fashion staff; the rest of the content remains unchanged.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (HU)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Economic Times
2 days ago
- Economic Times
China discloses chilling details of monstrous DF-5B missiles with nukes 200 times destructive than Hiroshima bomb, capable of striking the entire US
Live Events Strategic implications Why now? (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel In a rare disclosure, China 's state broadcaster, CCTV , has released key specifications of the DF-5B intercontinental ballistic missile ICBM ), a powerful silo-based weapon capable of delivering nuclear strikes across the continental United release comes at a time of geopolitical and economic tensions between China and the West, particularly the US, over issues ranging from Taiwan to military expansion in the South China Sea. With a range of 12,000 kilometers and a warhead yield up to 4 megatons, the DF-5B represents a significant component of China's growing nuclear deterrence DF-5B is a two-stage, silo-based ICBM developed in the early 1970s and deployed in 1981. It measures 32.6 meters in length, has a diameter of 3.35 meters, and weighs approximately 183 missile is capable of delivering a single nuclear warhead with an explosive yield between 3 and 4 megatons of TNT, making it roughly 200 times more powerful than the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima. Its range extends up to 7,460 miles (12,000 kilometers), allowing it to reach targets across the continental United States and Western Europe. Analysts see the disclosure of the DF-5B's capabilities as a strategic move to demonstrate China's nuclear deterrence strength. The missile's range and payload capacity position it as a formidable component of China's nuclear triad, ensuring a credible second-strike capability. This development comes amid rising tensions with the United States, particularly concerning security dynamics in the Indo-Pacific region. Former PLA instructor Song Zhongping stated to the South China Morning Post that the DF-5 was vital in establishing China's intercontinental nuclear capability.'Without the DF-5, China wouldn't be regarded as a nation with credible intercontinental strike capability. It was instrumental in China's emergence as a nuclear power, demonstrating to the world that China must be taken seriously,' he also suggested that the disclosure might be a calculated step towards introducing next-generation, silo-based public unveiling of the DF-5B's specifications may signal a shift in China's approach to transparency regarding its military capabilities. By disclosing such information, China could aim to project confidence in its defense posture and deter potential adversaries. This move also aligns with broader efforts to modernize and expand its nuclear forces, ensuring parity with other major nuclear September 25, 2024, the Chinese Ministry of National Defence announced that the People's Liberation Army Rocket Force (PLARF) had test-launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) into the South Pacific. Analysts suggested that the missile utilized in this test was likely a modernized version of the Pentagon's assessment indicated that China possesses more than 600 operational nuclear warheads, with expectations that this number will exceed 1,000 by 2030. Furthermore, the US Department of Defense estimated that China has established around 320 missile silos at three major besides India, China is the only country that adheres to a no-first-use policy regarding nuclear weapons, asserting that it will not engage in their use against non-nuclear states.
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Indian Express
Trump-Xi phone call, rare earths shortage looms, and 36 years of Tiananmen
It has been a week of important developments on all things China. On Wednesday (June 4), US President Donald Trump called Chinese President Xi Jinping 'VERY TOUGH, AND EXTREMELY HARD TO MAKE A DEAL WITH' in a social media post. Barely two days later, the leaders spoke to each other on a phone call. The direct communication matters amid the low in US-China ties, but more pressingly, in re-energising talks for a trade deal following the tariff escalation and climbdown. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said last week that discussions were 'stalled', as we mentioned in our tracker, and a call could happen soon. It's also significant given the recent Chinese export controls on rare earth minerals, which are crucial to global industries ranging from automobiles to defence. While the restrictions were announced in April, the effects are finally being felt, as companies' stocks are petering out. Wednesday also marked the 36th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre, when China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) cracked down on student protestors in Beijing. It is seen as a watershed moment in the story of modern China. Here is a closer look at these developments: To recap, the countries' official representatives met in Geneva in early May, agreeing to reduce the tariffs they imposed on each other and to future trade talks. As has been the case of late with the US and China, the fragile truce soon came under threat. Trump's Wednesday post said, 'I like President Xi of China, always have, and always will, but he is VERY TOUGH, AND EXTREMELY HARD TO MAKE A DEAL WITH.' Both sides also accused each other of violating the Geneva talks. A Trump-Xi call, and even a possible meeting, has been speculated since they last spoke in January. This was, however, in the relatively simpler, pre-tariff era. Trump wrote on Truth Social that the 'very good phone call' only included trade discussions, lasting for an hour and a half. Their trade representatives will meet soon. Xi also extended an invitation for Trump to visit China, which Trump reciprocated. On the Chinese side, the Foreign Affairs Ministry's readout said the US had initiated the talks in Geneva. 'The U.S. side should acknowledge the progress already made, and remove the negative measures taken against China,' it said. Trump spoke about the importance of their ties and said he 'wants the Chinese economy to do very well,' the document stated. UPSHOT: The US-China relationship has evolved at a fast-moving pace in Trump's second term. China has been unwilling to back down amid the US imposing tariffs, restricting immigration and blaming China for the trade deficit in their economic ties. In official statements, China has emphasised 'win-win cooperation' and avoiding zero-sum games. But neither China nor the US can be seen backing down unilaterally, with strongman leaders at the helm. At the same time, the interdependence of the world's two largest economies means neither can maintain the status quo of trade roadblocks. While a phone call undoubtedly hints at intent for resolution, its details are unknown. Notably, Trump last visited China in 2017, and Xi also met Trump in Florida that year. Trump's critics accused him of not challenging Xi's policies while in China. It also didn't do much for the subsequent tariff war that Trump launched some two months later. Trump mentioned rare earth minerals in his post after the call with Xi, saying, 'There should no longer be any questions respecting the complexity of Rare Earth products.' What that means for their availability, however, is unclear. Rare earths are 17 elements on the periodic table, including promethium (Pm), samarium (Sm), ytterbium (Yb), and yttrium (Y). All have similar chemical properties and appear silver-coloured. They are not 'rare' in terms of their abundance, but are difficult to process once extracted. China has maintained a monopoly on their processing since the 1990s. It also deemed them 'protected and strategic mineral' resources, and has kept its global supply dynamic based on its requirements. Rare earths' unique magnetic and optical properties lend them to a multiplicity of uses, including making phosphors, or substances that emit luminescence, for digital displays and screens. Increasingly, REEs are being used to build powerful magnets, with uses in automobile manufacturing — power steering, electric windows, power seats, and audio speakers. UPSHOT: China's decision to restrict exports was seen in the context of its trade war with the US, but its effects are now being felt globally. Reuters recently reported that some European auto parts plants have suspended output, and Mercedes-Benz is considering ways to protect against shortages. And, according to the Financial Times, EU businesses are lobbying the Chinese government to fast-track approval of rare earth export licences for 'reliable' European companies. Suzuki Motors suspending the production of its Swift cars in India is also being linked to the rare earths magnets. In an official statement on Wednesday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio commemorated the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989. The statement spoke of 'the bravery of the Chinese people who were killed as they tried to exercise their fundamental freedoms,' adding that freedom, democracy, and self-rule are 'not just American principles.' Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said Rubio's 'erroneous statements… maliciously distort historical facts… and seriously interfere in China's internal affairs.' Domestically, the Chinese government heavily censors commemorations of the day. UPSHOT: China is a one-party authoritarian state, with one leader who has increasingly centralised power in recent years. At the same time, it is also true that factions of hardliners and comparatively liberal leaders have existed in the Communist Party since its inception in the early 20th century, and shaped its history. The Tiananmen protests led to hardliners successfully steering the party in a more conservative direction. One major driving factor for the agitations was the 1978 economic reforms unleashed by reformist leader Deng Xiaoping, which led to a greater appetite for broader reforms of the state. Another grievance was corruption, as several contracts in the newly liberalised economy were being awarded to party leaders or the people they favoured. The crackdown on the protests resulted in a more repressive state, with little tolerance for criticism or dissent. The South China Morning Post reported that Hong Kong police officers arrested two people and took away 10 others on Wednesday, as some residents brought flowers and candles to a spot for commemoration. The state media website People's Daily reported that the government has launched an online public consultation for its next five-year plan for national economic and social development. The 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) will be the next in the series of key strategic documents. State media agency Xinhua reported that the first Five-Year Plan (1953-57) emphasised heavy industry and industrialisation, the seventh Five-Year Plan (1986-1990) aimed to resolve basic subsistence needs, and the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25), launched after 'China achieved the goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, focused on high-quality development.' UPSHOT: The framework borrows from the Soviet model of a planned economy, similar to how India did through the Planning Commission from 1950 to 2014. The Chinese plans previously included GDP targets, but have, of late, dispensed with them. Five-year plans indicate the government's future strategy and its own assessment of the economy. For instance, the 14th plan was formulated during the Covid-19 pandemic, and therefore stressed supply chain resilience, getting the middle class to increase its consumption, and boosting domestic demand. Rishika Singh is a Senior sub-editor at the Explained Desk of The Indian Express. She enjoys writing on issues related to international relations, and in particular, likes to follow analyses of news from China. Additionally, she writes on developments related to politics and culture in India. ... Read More
Business Standard
3 days ago
- Business Standard
Praj Industries gains on securing biorefinery project in Paraguay
Praj Industries rose 2.50% to Rs 502 after the company secured an international assignment from Enersur SA, one of Paraguay's leading renewable energy firms, to develop a fully integrated biorefinery project in the South American nation. Under this strategic partnership, Praj will support the development, evaluation, and phased implementation of the biorefinery, which aims to produce ethanol alongside co-products such as distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS), corn oil, biogas, bio-bitumen, and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). This project builds on an earlier contract awarded to Praj by Enersur for a 600 m/day corn-based anhydrous ethanol plant in Canindey Paraguay, expected to be operational by October 2026. Prajs responsibilities include technology licensing, engineering design, core equipment supply, and on-the-ground supervision. The initiative is expected to create significant employment opportunities, foster rural development, and support the global transition to low-carbon energy. Pramod Chaudhari, Founder Chairman of Praj Industries, said, This partnership goes beyond ethanolit embodies our shared vision to harness the full potential of bio-based innovations for clean energy, circular economy, and long-term energy resilience across South America. Praj is an industrial biotechnology company focused on the environment, energy, and agri-process industry, with 1000++ customer references spanning 100+ countries across all 6 continents. The company's consolidated net profit fell 56.7% to Rs 39.80 crore on a 15.6% decrease in operational income to Rs 859.70 crore in Q4 FY25 over Q4 FY24.
