Emma Söderhjelm, K.D. Feddersen Plastics Machinery AB, Joakim Wiedesheim, Polymer Technology Institute (PTI) and Bengt Rimark, K.D. Feddersen Plastics Machinery AB.
This autumn, Emma Söderhjelm, Quality Manager at Swedish K.D. Feddersen Plastics Machinery AB, begins a PhD project aimed at deepening the knowledge of degradation processes and recyclability of polyamides – one of the most important material groups in the plastics industry. The research will be carried out in close collaboration between K.D. Feddersen and the Polymer Technology Institute (PTI), Värnamo, Sweden, and is funded by the prestigious Swedish Wallenberg Initiative Material Science for Sustainability (WISE) through the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation.
Polyamides are widely used in applications ranging from automotive components and electronics to packaging and textiles. However, their recyclability poses major challenges. Söderhjelm’s research will focus on understanding how polyamides degrade over time and on developing new methods to improve their recyclability. The project represents an important step towards reducing plastic waste and advancing the circular economy within the plastics industry.
“We are very pleased to welcome Emma Söderhjelm into this role and look forward to the insights her research will deliver,” says Bengt Rimark, CEO of K.D. Feddersen Plastics Machinery AB. “This initiative clearly demonstrates our commitment to building a more sustainable plastics industry. Improving the recycling of polyamides is essential if we are to meet future demands for circular material flows and contribute to a greener future.”
“Emma’s project is another key step in PTI’s development and will support the continued expansion of our activities. Alongside our new facilities currently under construction, it forms an important part of a more sustainable future for the Swedish plastics industry,” adds Joakim Wiedesheim, CEO of PTI.
For Emma herself, the project represents both an academic opportunity and a personal milestone.
“This is an incredibly exciting project in a progressive environment! To have the chance to pursue a PhD and delve into such an important aspect of future chemistry – while being able to do it in my hometown – is truly a dream come true,” says Emma Söderhjelm, who adds that she is eager to get started.
The project is a concrete example of how industrial expertise and academic research can join forces to address global sustainability challenges. KD Feddersen, a leading distributor of engineering plastics, and PTI, a development and innovation center for polymers, will provide Söderhjelm with a unique environment closely linked to industrial needs. The funding from WISE – the largest individual research initiative in Sweden’s history – underlines the project’s strategic significance for Sweden’s position in material science and sustainability research.
Further information can be found at https://feddersen.group
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