Plastics. Thuringiaʼs plastics sector – a growth industry in Central .

The Thuringian plastics industry is a success story with over 100 years of tradition. Known for their technical expertise and innovativeness, local plastics companies are among the biggest revenue generators in the state.

Thuringiaʼs plastics industry at a glance: Sub-sectors of the rubber and plastics >> approx. 520 companies industry by employees >> around 34,000 employees (Source: In-house calculations based on data supplied by the Thuringian >> € 7.2 billion in revenue State Statistical Office,companies with more than 20 employees, July 2018) >> 36.7 % export ratio >> 5 universities >> market and technology leaders such as BASF, MANN + HUMMEL, REHAU and Veritas >> nearby chemical parks with potential suppliers and customers (e.g. in Leuna, Bitterfeld and Zeitz)

Seize the opportunities that our region offers. Benefit from a prime location in Europeʼs heartland, highly skilled workers and a world-class research infra- structure. We provide full-service support for any investment project – from site other plastic products 42.2 % search to project implementation and panels, films, tubes, and profiles from plastics 18.6 % future expansions. Please contact us. building materials from plastics 15.1 % packaging materials from plastics 12.2 % other rubber products 11.9 % www.invest-in-.de/en/industries-technologies/plastics Skilled specialists – the keystone of success. The deep expertise of vocational training associations and institutions as well as world- class universities will prime your business to succeed. Thuringia knows the value of producing a workforce with skills tailored to a particular industry.

University education industries can acquire an executive de- gree in Product Management for Plastics About one third of all students are en- Engineering at the University of Applied rolled in engineering courses. Five uni- Sciences Schmalkalden. versities offer degree programs like me- chanical engineering and materials PolymerMat e.V. is Thuringia’s plastics science/engineering that are related to industry association. It unites compa- the plastics industry. nies, university and non-university re- search and development facilities as Special/advanced courses well as service providers. PolymerMat Ilmenau University of Technology: is deeply committed to promoting voca- Master in Mechanical Engineering with tional training programs for tomorrow’s “Plastics are still at the specialization in plastics engineering professionals and to ensure the training, further qualification and retention of beginning of their de- University of Applied Sciences skilled workers in Thuringian companies velopment cycle. With Schmalkalden: in a systematic manner. The association Master in Applied Plastics Engineering successfully contributes to consolidate its cutting-edge infra- and expand the dynamic development structure, skilled work- University of Cooperative Education the Thuringian plastics industry has un- -Eisenach: dergone in recent years. Further net- force, research institu- Bachelor in Engineering with focus on working activities help to improve the tions and universities, Plastics Engineering competitive edge and innovative poten- Thuringia is an ideal tial of the plastics industry. Thuringia is Vocational und further training recognized in Germany and abroad as a environment for the location for highly developed, ambitious national and interna- Thuringia strongly supports vocational ideas for polymer products. The plastics training programs for high school stu- industry is further expanding its posi- tional plastics process- dents and trainees. Managers and en- tion among the four strongest sectors in ing sector to grow.” gineers in the plastics and automotive Thuringia’s manufacturing industry.

Matthias Grafe, Managing Director, GRAFE Advanced Polymers GmbH, Blankenhain Plastics innovations secure market shares. Thuringia understands the importance of application-oriented research and development of high-performance polymers. You can benefit from working with competent partners and co-innovators at world-class industry research institutes.

Thuringian Institute of Textile and INNOVENT e. V. Plastics Research (TITK) The technological development organiza- Core competencies The Thuringian Institute of Textile tion INNOVENT, located in Jena, has been and Plastics Research (TITK) performs active in the fields of surface technology, The Thuringian plastics industry fo- both preliminary and applied research in magneto-optical systems and biomateri- cusses on the following production the industrial sector. It supports als. 140 employees pursue development segments: small and medium-sized companies in assignments on behalf of industrial com- their innovation endeavours by providing panies as far as the application stage. > injection and blow molding, them with scientific know-how, industry extrusion www.innovent-jena.de knowledge and a modern technical > functionalized plastics products infrastructure. > process technology for multi- TITV Institute of Textile Research material systems Main areas of research: Thüringen-Vogtland > surface finishing >> native polymer and The institute specializes in two fields – > optical molded parts chemical research the development and integration of mi- >> plastic, textile and crosystems in textiles and other flexible Smart Textiles, (bio)polymers, com- materials research structures and the development of inno- posites (compounds, hybrids, mul- >> functional polymer systems vative materials based on cutting-edge timaterials) and semiconductor ma- textile technologies and materials. Es- terials are also gaining increased www.titk.de pecially the combination of electronics importance. As far as the produc- and textiles creates innovative textile tion process is concerned, Thur- East Thuringian Materials products for completely new applica- ingia is leading in precision tech- Testing Company tions. nologies, rapid manufacturing, 3D The East Thuringian Materials Testing printing, coating technologies (in- Company for Textiles and Plastics, a Its core specialties include: terface technologies) and repro- subsidiary of TITK, provides services >> smart textiles cessing and recycling technologies. in plastics testing and problem >> surface functionalization simulation. >> flexible materials www.ompg.de www.titv-.de Thuringia: where success is made. Selected companies Thuringia offers outstanding opportunities for plastics Avery Dennison Materials GmbH, Gotha industry players to grow and innovate, as illustrated by the BASF Performance Polymers GmbH, many companies who have expanded or relocated here. Rudolstadt Carlisle Construction Materials GmbH, GRAFE Advanced Polymers GmbH parts such as cooling ducts, hatracks Waltershausen GRAFE is a family-run company that has and sidewall and ceiling panels for every Carpenter GmbH, Ichtershausen established itself as a leading German series of aircraft made by Airbus. Since Duo Plast AG, Unterbreizbach masterbatch manufacturer. The com- 2011, KTN belongs to Hutchinson Group. friedola Tech GmbH, Geismar pany employs more than 200 people in synthetic material dyeing, and exports Döllken Weimar GmbH MANN + HUMMEL GmbH, Sonneberg its products to more than 30 countries. Döllken Weimar GmbH is a leading Its research department is one of the manufacturer of skirting boards and floor FKT Formenbau und largest in the industry. profiles made from technical synthetics. Kunststofftechnik GmbH, Triptis It supplies its products to many countries Fromm Plastics GmbH, Kölleda ContiTech AG in all continents from its various sites. Its GEALAN Tanna Fenster-Systeme GmbH, ContiTech AG was the result of a merger customers are large and specialist Tanna with Phoenix AG; it employs around wholesalers as well as DIY and dedicated Geiger Automotive GmbH, Tambach- 1,300 people, making it one of the larg- flooring retailers. Dietharz est employers in Thuringia. The compa- KTS Kunststofftechnik Schmölln ny concentrates on the production of Weru Fenster und Türen GmbH GmbH, Schmölln tubing, conveyor belts, sound insulation Weru AG is a market leader in the Rehau AG + Co, Triptis and vibration insulation systems. production of vinyl windows for residential construction. Nearly 550 Schmuhl Faserverbundtechnik (FVT) GmbH & Co. KG, Remptendorf KTN Kunststofftechnik Nobitz GmbH employees produce high-quality vinyl KTN is a global player with a presence in windows and doors in Triptis, the Schuster Kunststofftechnik GmbH, over 50 countries and a major provider of company’s second production site Waltershausen all insulation services. In Nobitz, it outside of Rudersberg in Southwest va-Q-tec AG, Kölleda produces fiberglass-reinforced plastics Germany. Veritas Thüringen GmbH, Benshausen

Your LEG Service State Development Corporation of Thuringia (LEG Thüringen) Our consulting services are Dept. Investment, International Phone +49 361 5603-450 free. Simply set an appointment Business and Cluster Promotion Fax +49 361 5603-328 with our experienced investor Mainzerhofstrasse 12 [email protected] service team. 99084 Erfurt/Germany www.invest-in-thuringia.de/en

Picture Credit: Mauritius/Cultura; BASF SE; Conti Tech AG; Fromm Plastics GmbH; GRAFE Advanced Polymers GmbH

Version 05/2019