Fillers and additives are essential components of modern plastic formulations – from targeted property modification to process optimization. Participants in the two-day seminar “Fillers and Additives in Plastics” on November 25 and 26 at the SKZ site in Peine will learn about the innovations, applications, and technical challenges currently driving the industry.

Science meets practice: current developments presented in a compact format
The seminar takes a practical look at the entire process chain – from the selection of suitable additives and fillers to their processing and manufacturing-related and application-specific issues. After the opening by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Martin Bonnet (TH Köln) and Andreas Grzeskowiak (SKZ Peine), there will be technical presentations on additive classes, application profiles, dispersion techniques, and the targeted adjustment of filling degrees, particle size distributions, and thermal stability. The role of natural fillers such as calcium carbonate and talc and their influence in polymer matrices will be examined, as will the extrusion of filler masterbatches, including plant design and process engineering. The first day of the seminar will conclude with insights into the production and performance of titanium dioxide and alternative white pigments such as lithopone and zinc sulfide. The day ends with a joint dinner for networking.

The second day is devoted to process optimization with calcium carbonate, additive combinations, and their applications in extrusion and injection molding. The program is supplemented by contributions on multifunctional waxes, dispersing aids, aging protection, flame retardants, and modern high-performance fillers such as kaolin, mica, and wollastonite.

“This seminar brings together scientific depth and industrial application practice,” emphasizes Andreas Grzeskowiak, site manager at SKZ in Peine. “Thanks to the expertise of our speakers from raw material production, compounding, and application technology, participants will gain valuable insights into the efficient and future-proof use of fillers and additives.”

Technical relevance and growing demands
With the increasing demands on plastic components, the importance of additives and fillers is also growing steadily. They optimize mechanical properties, flow behavior, surface quality, and weather resistance in a targeted manner—and help to minimize warping, shrinkage, and brittle fracture. Whether glass or carbon fibers, mineral fillers, carbon blacks, or functional additives: the right combination is crucial for quality and cost-effectiveness. At the same time, sustainability, recyclability, and regulatory requirements are becoming increasingly relevant in the development of new formulations.

Further information and registration for the course