Italy-based materials company Xenia has launched a programme to facilitate partnerships with universities, research and technology centres.
Participating institutions will gain access to Xenia’s thermoplastic composite materials, including advanced materials injection moulding applications and 3D-printing materials designed specifically for fused granulate fabrication (FGF) additive manufacturing. FGF is an extrusion-based 3D printing technique where plastic pellets are melted and fed through a nozzle.
The company said it expects the initiative to result in new sustainable solutions by driving innovation.
Xenia’s portfolio includes more than 150 compounds, from engineering polymers (e.g. HDPE, POM, ABS, PET-G) to high-performing ultra-polymers (e.g. PEI, PESU, PEEK, PPS) with carbon or glass fibre reinforcement.
Other industry-academia collaborations include the Circular Plastics programme in the Netherlands, which recently granted €6 million to 10 projects featuring Sabic, BASF, Carboliq, Coperion, Borealis, and Plastics Europe.