Nidacell™ technology was developed by the New Business Development (NBD) team based on the Solvay Research & Technology site in Neder-over-Heembeek (Brussels).
The innovative aspect of the process lies in the potential to manufacture ‘honeycomb’ panels, in a continuous operation, firstly in PVC. But it can also be adapted to a wide spectrum of commercial polymers, combining PVCs (flexible, rigid, recycled) with speciality polymers, as well as to processing wood-plastic composites or even biodegradable plastic materials.
By signing its first assessment agreement with Ondex (previously entity of the Industrial Foils SBU – sold to Renolit group), New Business Development is allowing its original process for manufacturing ‘honeycomb’ structures to make its industrial debut. By having access to the Nidacell™ process, Ondex is giving itself the means to assess, in a reliable way, the potential commercial outlets that a new segment (that of multi-layer materials with a ‘sandwich core’) offers for its current range of PVC sheets.
In May this year, a semi-industrial production line will be installed on the Chevigny St Sauveur site of Ondex, situated in Burgundy (France). This is a key stage in starting delivery of the first batches of ‘honeycombs’ awaited by one of the European leaders in the manufacture of high added-value technical floors, and by various prospective buyers from the construction and nautical industries and the sport and leisure sectors.
This first agreement is also attracting strong signs of interest from Solvay Advanced Polymers (SAP), which, together with NBD, is studying the possibility of making monocomposite sandwich panels based on ‘aeronautics-approved’ RADEL® R polyphenylsulfone. The SAP and Nidacell™ teams took part together in the JEC Composites trade fair held in Paris on 28th, 29th and 30th March 2006 (see http://www.jeccomposites.com/).
Two examples of the successful development of an NBD project within the group’s businesses!
