Norner to build polymer R&D centre; enters Future Materials Catapult
Norway’s industrial polymer R&D services provider Norner, which is owned by Thailand chemical group SCG, is to set up a new Polymer Exploration Centre, an international research and technology centre for the plastics industry and provide research services throughout the value chain. With more than 40 years in the industry, Norner says that today it has customers in more than 60 countries and has experienced a strong growth in recent years. The creation of this new centre, together with it entering the catapult centre, will ensure that Norway develops a leadership in the development of future sustainable plastic solutions.
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Norner and R8 Property signed, in 2017, an agreement for Norner to move all activities from Bamble to the new powerhouse and a nearby application centre in Telemark. Due to increased space requirements, a nearly 5,000 sq m technology centre will now be established at the bank of the Porsgrunn river and neighbouring the Powerhouse Telemark.
“We will get a significantly more efficient building and have consolidated all our operations into one house. Construction work will start at the turn of the year and will be completed in the spring of 2021. Norner is investing long-term, and a 20-year lease has been signed between the parties.”, says Kjetil Larsen CEO of Norner. He added, “Our owners, Thai SCG, have a long-term strategy and commitment with Norner. They are strengthening their position as a significant player in the plastics industry through this investment.”
The Future Materials Catapult Centre is a national test centre for the materials of the future, established in the fall of 2017 by Arendals Fossekompani, Elkem, Mechatronics Innovation Lab, ReSiTec and the University of Agder. The catapult will make the path from idea to market shorter for Norwegian business by offering test facilities, expertise and networks to develop sustainable advanced materials and production processes.
“The initiators behind Future Materials are very pleased that Norner AS is joining as a partner and part owner in the catapult.”, says Chairman Håvard Moe. He continued, “Norner’s world-leading expertise in polymers and the plastics industry strengthens the Future Materials’ material broadness, while at the same time the company’s philosophy of innovation, strategic consulting and circular economy is fully in line with the focus areas of the catapult centre.
“We look forward to being part of such a strong team that Future Materials already is, and we have good faith that we can further develop Future Materials together as a leading centre for future materials both nationally and internationally. Plastics and composites are an important part of the materials of the future, and we believe that existing and future customers will have great pleasure and benefit from the fact that the catapult centre will now cover such a wide area, says Kjetil Larsen CEO of Norner.