Page 26 - Plastics News February 2020

CompAny news

UR, MiR collaborating on $36M INEOS, UPM Biofuels to produce

‘cobot hub' in Denmark renewable plastic from wood-

based residue
obile Industrial Robots, Universal Robots invest $36M
Min robot development and productionWith financial NEOS and UPM Biofuels have announced a long-term
backing from their joint U.S. parent company Teradyne, Iagreement to supply a renewable raw material for
Mobile Industrial Robots (MiR) and Universal Robots (UR) bio-attributed polymers to be produced at INEOS’
have acquired a 50,000m2 building site in Odense, where facility in Köln, Germany. As per the agreement, INEOS
$36 million will be invested in the construction of a will use UPM BioVerno, a sustainable raw material
from renewable residue of wood pulp processing, to
produce bio-attributed polyolefins. These materials
will be used in a range of products, including plastic
food packaging and pipes. According to the companies,
applications will also include BIOVYN, the world’s first
commercially available bio-attributed PVC, which is
produced by INEOS business INOVYN. Each step in the
production process has been certified by the Roundtable
on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB). The process begins
with UPM Biofuels converting the wood-based residue
(crude tall oil) into hydrocarbons, through to production
of the final polymer. The result of UPM Biofuels’
production is a bio-based cracker feedstock that does
major cobot hub. Collaborative robots – cobots – are now not compete with food production. By replacing fossil
the fastest growing segment of industrial automation based raw materials with UPM BioVerno in its cracker,
because they are a type of user-friendly robots that can INEOS products will contribute to a significant reduction
work closely with humans without the need for safety in carbon emissions.“The collaboration with INEOS is a
guarding.The new cobot hub supports Teradyne’s mission great step forward in the bio-economy,” commented
to further strengthen the significant leads that both MiR Maiju Helin, head of sustainability and market
and UR have established worldwide.“MiR and UR are
leading the world in the collaborative robot revolution
that’s making automation solutions available to companies
of all sizes. Teradyne continues to invest aggressively
in the development of new products, solutions, and
sales channels and this new facility is a key part of our
growth strategy,” says Mark Jagiela, president and CEO
of Teradyne.The building site is in Odense’s industrial
district close to UR’s current headquarters, which will also
become part of the new cobot hub. The two companies
will continue as separate entities with the aim to create development at UPM Biofuels. “UPM BioVerno products
an attractive environment that will help attract new now help to reduce climate and environmental impacts
employees to facilitate the continued growth expected in an even broader range of applications. INEOS’ and
by the two companies in the coming years. The Danish UPM Biofuels’ commitment to RSB certification creates
robotics industry is currently booming; the 2019 annual a strong common ground to build on.” Rob Ingram,
survey from trade association Odense Robotics shows that CEO of INEOS Olefins & Polymers Europe North, added:
8,500 people now work for Danish robotics companies, “The agreement supports INEOS plans to make plastic
3,900 of them in and around Odense, Denmark’s third from renewable raw materials, which contribute to a
largest city. significant reduction in carbon emissions.

Plastics News Februar y 2020 26