A step closer to the circular economy: LEONHARD KURZ demonstrates RECOSYS® rPET at KUTENO 2024

Fürth/Germany, April 30, 2024: How can surplus transfer carrier media from the graphics industry be recycled and converted into new products? That’s what LEONHARD KURZ will show as a co-exhibitor with its partner DECKERFORM at KUTENO 2024, in the A2 Forum in Rheda-Wiedenbrück from May 14 to 16, 2024. At the supplier trade fair for the plastics processing industry, the thin-film specialist is presenting the latest development in sustainability: RECOSYS^® rPET.

From old to new: Production of a rPET coaster live on site

A live demonstration will be held at stand 1-D8 as a special highlight. Together with its partner DECKERFORM, KURZ will produce a coaster made from recycled PET, or rPET for short. The coaster, which has a translucent effect due to its natural material properties, can be given various finishes in the next step.

The base material for the coaster, recycled PET, is produced through RECOSYS^®, the world’s first take-back and recycling system for PET transfer carrier materials from the graphics industry. This program is being continuously further developed by KURZ. So far, the excess carrier material has been processed into robust injection molding material. At the next stage, processing into a pure rPET is now possible for the first time, which increases the range of possible applications for the recycled material many times over, including fibers but also outer packaging for everyday products. The coaster, which can be produced at KUTENO and taken home as a giveaway, is just one example of the possible uses of RECOSYS^® rPET.

“Sustainability plays an enormously important role for us. With every further development of our portfolio, we ask ourselves the question of what added value it offers for the environment and society. We had already reached a milestone with the introduction of RECOSYS^®. By optimizing our process, which enables further processing into rPET, we are now taking another big step towards a circular economy,” explains Johannes Romming, Project Manager Innovation & Sustainability at KURZ, and adds: “Together with our partner DECKERFORM, we are looking forward to showcasing the diverse application possibilities for recycled PET and exchanging ideas with colleagues from the industry.”

Broad portfolio of finishing solutions

In addition to RECOSYS^® rPET, KURZ - the expert for decorative and functional surfaces - will be exhibiting a selection of its broad product portfolio at KUTENO. “We want to give visitors a glimpse into our innovative processes and technologies and introduce them to our palette of sustainable application and finishing processes,” explains Johannes Romming.

About KUTENO

KUTENO is one of the leading B2B supplier trade fairs for the plastics industry and takes place annually in Rheda-Wiedenbrück, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. From 2025, the location of the event will be moved to Bad Salzuflen, also in North Rhine-Westphalia. In addition to machines for processing plastics, tools, and industrial technology, recycling technologies and solutions for the circular economy are also among the thematic focuses of the trade fair.

At a glance

KUTENO 2024 - in Rheda-Wiedenbrück from May 14 to 16, 2024
LEONHARD KURZ Stiftung GmbH & Co. KG: Stand 1-D8
Our trade fair presentation focuses on product development and plastics processing, recycled materials, other materials.