The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) has awarded Husky Technologies (Husky) with the PLASTICS 2023 Innovation in Bioplastics Award. The naming came as part of PLASTICS' eighth annual online #BioplasticsWeek awareness and education event.
Husky won the award for its UltraMelt hot runner system which was engineered for the efficient and sustainable injection molding of bioresins. Bioresins, made in whole or in part from renewable biological resources, present unique challenges in injection moulding.
According to Husky, UltraMelt specifically addresses these challenges with non-reactive surfaces and stainless-steel components to preserve the sensitive chemistry of bioresin materials and minimize degradation. After testing and optimization, UltraMelt was introduced to the marketplace in 2022, becoming a solution for bioresin melt delivery.
"This is the first time PLASTICS has awarded an equipment company and their original technology for using more bioplastics, and I congratulate Husky on this achievement," said Patrick Krieger, PLASTICS' vice president of sustainability. "Equipment design is complex and takes significant investment. The time and resources Husky spent on this technology speaks to the importance and potential of bioplastics in the plastics industry."
"On behalf of the Husky team I would like to thank you, the Plastics Industry Association, for this prestigious honour. Bioplastics, together with advancements in circular polymer processing, are key parts of Husky's sustainability strategy," said John Galt, CEO of Husky. "We are convinced that by working together as an industry we will turn challenges into opportunities. We will demonstrate that the circular economy is not just a buzzword but a reality. Polymers preserve and protect more effectively than any other substrate. They can be formed into an infinite number of shapes and sizes."
A formal presentation of the Bioplastics Innovation Award will be made on the Sustainability Stage at NPE2024: The Plastics Show, which will take place from May 6 to 10, 2024, in Orlando, Florida.
