Smart surfaces and new materials highlight in the fair

Bayer Material Science AG comes with a stand of 1,000 square meters and numerous innovations. In a company that produces annually more than four million tonnes of raw materials over forty floors all the figures seem to be superlative. Thus, between 2004 and 2006 the company intends to invest about three billion euros worldwide: 2.1 billion in the construction and maintenance of facilities and 900 million in r & d, including development activities close to the customers. Records an annual turnover of 7.5 billion euros (2003) and employs 18,000 workers around the world.

The skins of TPU moulded blow molding is already possible on an industrial scale.

Understand the complexity of this type of groups after so many business movements is complicated. We should therefore explain in brief what is Bayer Material Science: since the beginning of 2004 operates as an independent of the Bayer Group company. Until then it was an area of business of the Group: Bayer Polymers Business Area. Its range of products comes from five business units: Polyurethanes (42% of sales), polycarbonate (25%), coatings, adhesives and sealants (16%), polyurethane thermoplastic (3%) and inorganic chemical products of base (3%). The rest of sales comes from its two subsidiaries (Refractory metals) H.C. Starck and Wolff Walsrode (derived from cellulose). Two key sectors that target high-value products are the construction and the electrical and electronic, each of them with 17.5 per cent of the total sales.

In the view of Noerenberg, the first quarter of 2004 was satisfactory: "Discounting the effects of exchange rates and changes in the business portfolio, our turnover exceeded by 8.2 per cent for the same quarter of last year." "The operating result also improved a 37.8 per cent, to EUR 135 million." However, the Director acknowledged that the situation of the profit margins is still not satisfactory due to the sharp rise in costs of raw materials. "We must continue to improve our margins to finance long-term growth and innovation." "That is why we have announced price increases in many of our products".

A new hardware can store data using holography using PC Makrofol ID sheets.

The company gets about 20 percent of its turnover with products that have less than five years old, and this percentage tends to increase. On average, each working day apply for a new patent. In addition, Bayer Material Science invests some 300 million euros a year in r & d, figure that includes next to the client development activities.

The composite, lightweight but extremely robust sandwich elements, improve pieces of bodywork, platforms for loading and even snowboards.

The highlights of his participation at the K 2004 show are the areas of "best ideas", "best practices" and "best service". Under the heading of 'best ideas' presented their ideas and visions for the future, that in some cases go beyond their current business portfolio.

An example: store securely and easily carry greater amounts of data each time will remain an issue of news in the future. Bayer Material Science has created the foundations for a new hardware that allows to store data using holography using sheets of polycarbonate Makrofol ID. Currently, the pencils of memory, devices with credit card or programmable keys based on holographic sheets format are still visionary applications. However, they could cover possible requirements of the market in the future.

In the area of "best practices" are grouped products, applications and technologies of effective for many different consumer sectors. The housings of optical data such as CDs and DVDs of polycarbonate, the thermal insulation of refrigerators with rigid foam polyurethane, water-based automotive paintings derived from its raw materials or transparent thermoplastic polyurethane ski boots are only some of the possible products thanks to Bayer Material Science.

In the field of the moons of automobiles, the future has already begun. Rear lateral moons and the panoramic roof of different models of Smart are already manufactured in series with the polycarbonate Makrolon.

The composite, lightweight but extremely robust sandwich elements, are another innovative development. In this simple technology as intelligent combine slices of glass fibre with a structure of cells of paper, they impregnate by both sides with Baypreg polyurethane spray system and then pressed into a mold at high temperatures.

Pieces of bodywork, can thus be manufactured for example platforms for loading and even snowboards.

Thanks to a new variety transparent and resistant to wear and tear of the thermoplastic polyurethane Desmopan, it is possible to provide interesting optical effects to sports items, allowing for example translate dramatically graphics or logos. In addition, the material provides an attractive view of the "inner life", for example in ski boots.

In the development of innovative products, Bayer Material Science increasingly to the possibilities of nanotechnology. With its help it is possible to produce materials with properties and totally new functions, which are clearly superior to conventional products or radically new features benefits. An example are the raw materials for paints with structures of scale nanoscópica, which provide the necessary resistance to scratches in the transparent upper layer of the bodywork of the car.