Kraemer opens new production facility boosting sustainability profile

After 3 years of construction, Kraemer have officially opened their new production facility in Liethe. This 50,000 m² site will focus on the company’s bio-based binders and resins for a variety of applications including printing inks, coatings and adhesives, accelerating their sustainability plans.

With focus on energy efficiency and environmental protection, Kraemer’s new site utilises heat pump technology, heat recovery and insulation of their systems and buildings. Their highly automated, efficient production processes are optimised for the use of sustainable, renewable raw materials – specialising in rosins extracted from pine forests. Sustainability has always been at the heart of Kraemer’s business and this is reflected in their environmentally friendly solutions with the best possible performance.

Rosins

This non-volatile exudate of pine resin is named after the former Ionian city of Rosin, where in ancient times, rosin was used for medicinal and magical incense. It is usually obtained by “scoring” or “tapping” conifer trees, mainly common pine. The balsam that drips out is collected manually and then heated to evaporate the turpentine oils.

Traditionally, this raw material has always been used as an adhesive and filler, but nowadays is mainly used as a binder and siccative in paints and varnishes or a tackifier in adhesives. The characteristics of a particular resin will depend on the ratio of isomers which varies with collection method and species of tree. For example, a study by Stinson and Lawrence showed that a higher abietic acid content leads to higher tendency for the rosin to crystallise. This is one of the many characteristics that Kraemer can stabilise, such as in their Bremar range, recommended for coatings, adhesives and printing inks.

In 2018, the EU was the world’s largest importer of rosins, importing 83MT across the year. With a growing demand for sustainable, eco-friendly raw materials, there is a renewed demand for rosins and a CAGR of 5.2% is expected from 2023-2032 from $1.4 billion in 2022.

Kraemer’s bio-based products

“Sustainability and being responsible with our resources are the foundation of our work”

Kraemer

Through the renewable nature of rosins, sustainable production and green alternatives, Kraemer’s products support customers in their sustainability goals. Kraemer have increased the proportion of their renewable raw materials in products to 71% and are continuously working to increase this share. For example, some of the Rokrapol, Rokralux and Bremazit range of polyesters are manufactured from 100% renewable raw materials. Kraemer also offer biogenic, self-cross-linking hybrid resin EcoShield 1, a binder recommended for sustainable packaging printing.

The use of these renewable raw materials, along with heat recovery processes, saves considerable amounts of crude oil and energy from fossil fuels. As there are almost no by-products generated, Kraemer can achieve very high yields with minimal waste. Any waste generated is returned to the system and used in thermal post-combustion to generate the energy required to heat reactions.

But don’t just take our word for it! Kraemer achieved silver level ecovadis sustainability rating in 2022 which puts them in the top 25% of over 100,000 companies evaluated.

With over 100 years’ experience in the production and processing of resins and binders based on renewable raw materials, Kraemer will have the right rosins for your application along with modified resins including polymers, resins and additives. To find the perfect bio-based product for you, please contact our technical sales managers!