For years Rudolf GmbH researched a renewable impregnation agent for textiles.
The Geretsried company has now succeeded in doing this.
To implement this project, the company receives financial support from the very top: The Federal Environment Ministry is funding the pilot project with 800,000 euros.
Geretsried - The funds are to be used to build a plant for the production of fluorine-free impregnation agents in Geretsried.
"The aim is to create an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional fluorine-based products to make textiles water-repellent," announced the Ministry of the Environment.
This saves 1,500 tons of so-called fluorinated water repellants for impregnation annually.
In addition, the use of bio-based raw materials enables a significantly better CO2 balance than conventional means based on crude oil.
Fluorine-free impregnating agent on an organic basis
Water repellants are used in the textile industry for finishing and impregnation, especially for outdoor clothing, in order to make them water-repellent.
For a long time, fluorocarbon polymers, which are made from petroleum-based raw materials, were used for this.
"In addition to their positive technical properties, however, they also represent a strong burden on the environment and can lead to long-lasting degradation products," says the press release.
That is why the Rudolf company intends to produce fluorine-free impregnating agents on an organic basis.
At least 90 percent of the raw material used should be obtained from waste products from the food industry that cannot be recycled, such as rice husk wax, so that there is no competition with food production.
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Dr.
Wolfgang Schumann is the managing director of Rudolf GmbH in Geretsried.
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“The innovative pilot project makes a contribution to the transition to the circular industry and sets an example in the clothing industry”, praises Florian Pronold, Parliamentary State Secretary in the Federal Environment Ministry.
Rudolf managing director Dr.
Wolfgang Schumann is very happy about the funding.
“This is a great appreciation for the performance of our research and development department,” he said in an interview with our newspaper.
“And I am grateful for the support of research activities in Germany.
That's great. "
Investment of five million euros
To implement this completely new technology, the traditional company will invest a good five million euros at its headquarters in Geretsried this year.
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