IWK / OST
The IWK (Institute of Material Engineering and Plastics Processing) is part of the OST (University of Applied Sciences Eastern Switzerland).
The institute was founded in 2005 and in the meantime around 45 employees. The main focus in the research is on plastics processing, as injection molding, compounding, extrusion (pipe, profile, cast and blow film and filament), various fiber reinforcement processes, welding and bonding technologies as Additive Manufacturing.
WHAT IS IWK'S MOTIVATION FOR SUSTAINABILITY?
If we want to live longer on earth, we have to learn to live with the earth, not from the earth. We have only one.
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BRIEFLY INTRODUCE OST’S PROCESS OF INVENTING A NEW MATERIAL.
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IWK is focused on processing and material optimization. We make ideas real by developing the right process.
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TELL US MORE ABOUT THE ADVANTAGES OF RECYCLED OCEAN PLASTIC FROM THE ASPECT OF CARBON FOOTPRINT AND CIRCULAR ECONOMY?
Ocean Plastic recycling is hopefully only an intermediate step to solve the problem. But if we want to solve the problem, we have to give the waste value. Without a value, people won't collect the plastic trash. Therefore it is a key step for the future. (carbon footprint will maybe not lower, but also not higher as with classical plastics and circular economy will be difficult with food contact)
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WHAT IS YOUR GOAL OF JOINING THE SOLARIS COMMUNITY?
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We are active in the Solaris Community because it is very important to make an approach from design. People are buying things because they like the design. So design is the key, the material mostly an add-on.
