Product solutions in bioplastics - One-stop-shop
The Danish Technological Institute supports you throughout all stages, from idea to finished bioplastic product.
We have professional expertise in biomaterials and production methods, as well as facilities for prototype manufacturing and small-scale production in bioplastics. This constitutes a “one-stop-shop,” where we facilitate the entire journey towards a new bioplastic product.
Material selection
Choosing the right material for a product requires many considerations. Does it have the right strength? The right appearance? Is it sustainable?
The Danish Technological Institute assists with selecting and procuring the right material. We ensure that the product meets functional requirements and applicable legislation. With access to industry-standard material databases, we always have knowledge of the latest and best raw materials on the market.
If you have a good idea for utilizing an untapped resource, we also have facilities for creating new materials by blending biomass with bioplastics.
Prototypes and small series production
After choosing a raw material, prototypes must be made.
3D printing technology has made it possible to create prototypes quickly and affordably. In bioplastics, it has long been possible to make prototypes in the bioplastic PLA, but UV-curable bioresin has also gained ground. At the Danish Technological Institute, we can 3D print in a wide range of bioplastics, including materials with natural fibers.
Uniquely, at the Danish Technological Institute, we can cast prototypes and small series in 3D-printed molds. This means it is possible to make prototypes and small batches in the actual bioplastic material intended for mass production. This allows us to verify that the product design and material choice are correct before investing in expensive production tools. If the design needs to be changed, it is as simple as printing a new mold and casting a new prototype.
We produce prototypes and small series in bioplastics, both using injection molding and thermoforming.
Product testing
The Danish Technological Institute has a DANAK-accredited plastics laboratory, where we can perform tests to document the properties of plastic products. We conduct, among other things, mechanical tests, climate tests (accelerated aging), and tests for biodegradability (EN 13432:2000).
Scaling up to production
Once a prototype has been satisfactorily tested, it is time for mass production. Here, we provide guidance on solutions that cover raw material supply (or production, if it is a newly developed material), injection molding production, and thermoforming, as well as quality tests. For smaller productions, we can often offer to carry them out directly at the Danish Technological Institute.
We can help you with:
- Advice on material selection for bioplastics and biocomposites
- Advice on product design and production with biobased and/or biodegradable raw materials
- Sustainability analysis for a bioplastic product
- Biodegradability/stability studies of materials and finished items
- Testing, characterization, and quality assurance of biobased and/or biodegradable raw materials
- Development projects in bioplastics and biodegradability
- Advice on setting up production
Case: Danish hemp turns into biodegradable plates
Is it possible to injection-mold hemp to make biodegradable plates? The answer is yes, but there is room for further development. That is what Sustainable Service Solutions discovered in a MADE Material Demonstration Project, where the Danish Technological Institute helped develop and test the right hemp recipe.