WEBVTT 1 00:00:05.000 --> 00:00:07.000 If we want to maintain today‘s standards, 2 00:00:07.040 --> 00:00:12.000 future generations will have to rely on bioplastics even more than we do now. 3 00:00:12.040 --> 00:00:16.000 Plastics are finite, as they are won from crude oil. 4 00:00:16.040 --> 00:00:19.050 Bioplastics are a great alternative – they give us more independence concerning 5 00:00:20.000 --> 00:00:24.050 raw materials. Our research cluster deals with bioplastics. 6 00:00:25.000 --> 00:00:28.000 We are affiliated with Faculty II, Mechanical and Bioprocess Engineering, 7 00:00:28.040 --> 00:00:30.040 at the Ahlem campus. 8 00:00:31.000 --> 00:00:37.000 We produce and modify bioplastics. 9 00:00:37.040 --> 00:00:39.000 Thanks to our industrial scale like facilities, we are able to cover the plastic product chain, 10 00:00:39.040 --> 00:00:44.000 ranging from materials up to real products with a size of 50 cm. 11 00:00:46.040 --> 00:00:50.000 In recent years, our team has become quite large. 12 00:00:50.040 --> 00:00:55.000 It’s now divided into different groups and focal points. 13 00:00:55.040 --> 00:00:58.040 Our teams work on the sustainability, public relations, 14 00:00:59.000 --> 00:01:00.050 material development and engineering. 15 00:01:05.000 --> 00:01:08.000 Producing bioplastics is like baking. 16 00:01:08.040 --> 00:01:14.000 There’s a recipe and different ingredients that determine the final product‘s characteristics. 17 00:01:14.040 --> 00:01:16.000 The extruder is like a giant kneading machine. 18 00:01:16.040 --> 00:01:18.000 weighing the material that is molt, ingredients are dispensed and released 19 00:01:18.040 --> 00:01:27.040 as well as cut at the front in the form of tiny, lenticular plastic granules. 20 00:01:30.000 --> 00:01:32.000 We make bioplastics from plant-based materials 21 00:01:32.040 --> 00:01:38.000 like starch or sugar. 22 00:01:38.040 --> 00:01:47.040 Bioplastic can be both biodegradable and durable. 23 00:01:49.000 --> 00:01:56.000 Meanwhile, our research focus is on durable bioplastics with new special material properties 24 00:01:58.000 --> 00:02:04.054 and the use of residues as raw material with its advantages specially with the view of sustainability. 25 00:02:04.040 --> 00:02:10.000 Under high pressure it is injected into the tool where it cools down. 26 00:02:10.040 --> 00:02:18.000 A robot removes the component from the tool and places them on the conveyor belt for further processing. 27 00:02:19.000 --> 00:02:25.000 Right now, we are producing the top and bottom part of a computer mouse. 28 00:02:25.040 --> 00:02:29.000 Once all parts have been manufactured, they are delivered to a company for assembly. 29 00:02:31.000 --> 00:02:35.000 Environmental awareness is growing. 30 00:02:35.040 --> 00:02:37.050 Many people are concerned about sustainability. 31 00:02:38.000 --> 00:02:44.000 What happens to the huge amounts of trash we produce? 32 00:02:44.040 --> 00:02:48.000 In Germany, throughout Europe, we need alternative solutions. 33 00:02:49.000 --> 00:02:51.000 This research cluster is important as it tries to establish a strong 34 00:02:51.040 --> 00:02:59.000 network of all these new interlinked technologies. 35 00:02:59.040 --> 00:03:02.000 This University brings together various disciplines that we also engage in, 36 00:03:02.040 --> 00:03:07.040 like industry 4.0. Hanover University of Applied Sciences thus promotes 47 00:03:08.000 --> 00:03:14.000 the idea of research, not only with regard to basic research.