BioCelain Competence Center
We can bring biopolymers into real-world applications.
WHAT IS BCC
From Biopolymer Development to Real Applications
The *BioCelain Competence Center – BCC* is a practical development and processing platform for bioplastics and bioelastomers at EXIPNOS.
Its objective is to bridge the gap between material development and real industrial applications.
New biobased materials are not only developed and characterised in the laboratory. Within the BCC, they can also be compounded, processed into real products, tested and further optimised for their intended application.
The BCC therefore brings together material science, processing technology and product development within one integrated environment.
As the competence centre is currently being established, its technological capabilities will expand continuously over the course of the project.
Our Approach
Develop. Process. Apply. Recycle. Digitalize.
The BCC follows an integrated development approach.
Develop
We develop biobased materials and material formulations with application-specific properties and performance.
Process
The materials are transferred from laboratory and pilot scale into scalable plastics processing technologies.
Apply
Real products, components and demonstrators are manufactured in order to evaluate the material directly in its intended application.
Recycle
Recyclability, recycled material loops and circular material concepts are considered as part of the development process.
Digitalize
Process data, material data and development results are collected and structured in order to create knowledge for future applications.
Technologies
Building a Broad Processing Platform
The BCC is being equipped step by step with a broad range of processing technologies for the development and application of biobased materials
Injection
Moulding
DCIM
Extrusion
Blow Moulding
Film Processing
Thermoforming
3D Printing
Compounding
Material Testing
Material Development
Developing Materials for Real Processing Conditions
Material development is at the core of the BioCelain Competence Center.
A particular focus is placed on biobased polymers, including polyester-based materials such as PBS.
New formulations are developed according to the requirements of the intended processing technology and final application.
The objective is not only to achieve suitable laboratory properties, but to create materials that can be processed reliably and used in real products.
The BCC therefore connects material formulation directly with processing trials and application development.
Products & Applications
From Granulate to Real Products
A central objective of the BCC is to demonstrate biobased materials in real products.
Different processing technologies will enable us to produce prototypes, demonstrators and pilot products for a wide range of applications.
The website should show these products visually and give each major product category its own subpage.
The product portfolio will grow progressively as new technologies are installed and new development projects are completed.
Reusable Products Examples :
Reusable Products
- Cups
- Plates
- Cutlery
- Bowls
- Food-contact products
Packaging
- Bottles
- Containers
- Cosmetic packaging
- Thermoformed packaging
Gardening & Agriculture
- Plant pots
- Agricultural products
- Biodegradable applications
Technical Components
- Technical moulded parts
- Customer-specific demonstrators
Automotive
- Interior components
- Material demonstrators
- Functional interior parts
Films & Sheets
- Flexible material concepts
- Thermoformed sheets
- Packaging sheet applications
Textile & Fibre Applications
- Textile material concepts
- Fibre applications
- Biobased fibres
Product Development
Developing Material and Product Together
One of the key advantages of the BCC is that material and product development can take place in parallel.
A formulation can be adapted according to the requirements of a specific product, processing technology and tool.
The resulting product can then be tested, evaluated and further optimised.
This integrated approach helps to identify processing challenges and application requirements at an early stage.
It also allows new BioCelain® materials to be developed much closer to their final industrial application.
Pilot Production
From Prototype to Pilot Series
The BCC is designed to go beyond individual laboratory samples.
As the relevant processing equipment becomes available, prototypes, demonstrators and pilot quantities can be produced for testing and market-oriented development.
Pilot production allows materials and products to be evaluated under more realistic conditions before industrial scale-up.
This can support:
- Application Testing
- Customer Trials
- Field Tests
- Product Optimisation
- Market Validation
- Preparation for larger-scale production
The available pilot production capabilities will expand progressively during the build-up of the BCC.
Customer-Specific Development
Develop with us
The BCC is intended as a platform for cooperation with industrial customers, research organisations and material partners.
Together, we can develop the material, evaluate its processing behaviour and transfer it into a real product.
Where technically feasible and depending on the available equipment, customer-specific tools and product geometries can also be integrated into development projects.
Circularity & Recycling
Thinking Beyond the First Product Life
Circular material concepts are an important part of the BCC approach.
Where technically and economically meaningful, materials and products should be considered not only in terms of their first application, but also with regard to reuse, recycling and future material loops.
Research topics include:
- recyclability
- recycled material loops
- reprocessing
- material property retention
- combination of biobased and circular concepts
- application-specific end-of-life strategies
The aim is to create material solutions that combine renewable raw materials with responsible use of resources.
Digital Material Development
Creating Knowledge from Material and Process Data
Digitalisation is another important element of the BCC.
Material properties, processing parameters and application results can be systematically collected and evaluated.
The objective is to build structured knowledge about the relationship between:
Material Formulation
Processing Parameters
Product Geometry
Final Properties
This data can support future material development, processing optimisation and the transfer of knowledge between different applications.
Research & Cooperation
Connecting Industry, Research and Regions
The BCC is designed as a cooperative platform.
EXIPNOS works together with partners from industry, research institutions, universities, machine manufacturers and regional networks.
The objective is to combine different areas of expertise and accelerate the transfer of biobased materials into industrial applications.
The BCC also provides a foundation for future research projects, industrial cooperation and new value chains.
The platform will continue to grow during and beyond the current funding period.
Funding & Project Background
Building the Infrastructure for the Bioeconomy
The BioCelain Competence Center is being developed within the German funding programme *KMU-innovativ – Industrielle Bioökonomie*.
The project is funded by the *Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space – BMFTR* over a period of three years.
The funding creates the basis for establishing the infrastructure required to combine material development, processing, application testing, recycling and digitalisation within one integrated competence centre.
During the project period, processing and development equipment is being acquired, installed and commissioned step by step.
The BCC is designed to strengthen the industrial implementation of biobased materials and create a foundation for future applications, cooperation projects and industrial value creation.
The BCC Vision
Turning Biopolymers into Industrial Reality
The long-term objective of the BioCelain Competence Center is to shorten the path between new material development and industrial application.
We want to create an environment in which materials can be developed, processed, tested and improved together with the final product.
By combining material expertise, processing technologies, application development, recycling and digitalisation, the BCC is intended to become a practical platform for the next generation of biobased products.
The competence centre will continue to grow as new technologies, products and cooperation projects are added.
We do not want biopolymers to remain in the laboratory. We want to bring them into application.