Liquid wood conserves resources
Jürgen Pfitzer
Profession:
Technical manager and engineer for manufacturing technology
Title:
Managing partner of Tecnaro GmbH in Ilsfeld
Profession:
Technical manager and engineer for manufacturing technology
Title:
Managing partner of Tecnaro GmbH in Ilsfeld
Jürgen Pfitzer is one of the founders of Tecnaro GmbH, a company that is establishing liquid wood as a renewable alternative to plastic.
In 1998, Tecnaro GmbH was set up in Pfinztal as a spin-off from the Frauenhofer Institute for Chemical Technology (ICT) with the aim of bringing a new kind of medium to market. Since its foundation, it has been developing, producing and selling premium thermoplastic materials made from liquid wood. Together with Helmut Nägele, Jürgen Pfitzer has been managing the company in Ilsfeld-Auenstein, Baden-Württemberg, since 1998.
How does your company contribute to the development of a bio-based economy?
The goal of the company is to develop, market and manufacture bio-plastic compounds made from renewable raw materials.
How did you come up with the idea of producing 'liquid wood'?
During the mid-'90s, some of our work at the Fraunhofer Institute involved environmentally friendly pulping. That's when we came across lignin, a waste material produced during the pulping process and burned immediately thereafter. The idea was to take those remains and try to develop thermoplastic materials capable of being worked easily.
What was most challenging about the process?
The biggest challenge wasn't developing the technology, but what came afterwards: getting on the market and selling this new class of material. That kind of thing didn't and doesn't take place overnight.
What do you find most inspiring about the project?
To be able to contribute to the conservation of fossil fuels and thus finite resources and, at the same time, combat climate change by reducing CO2 emissions. We are also pleased to see every product that makes it into mass production.
What do you plan on doing next?
In 2015, we invested in our own production and office buildings in Ilsfeld, near Heilbronn, with a view to implementing our ambitious plans for growth. We hope to use our technological lead in the area to continue ongoing, extensive research and development.
Interview: Beatrix Boldt
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