“I firmly believe that we have managed to present a concept that will overcome any remaining reservations: a technology comprising a bending procedure at a competitive cost and delivering high- performance thermoplastic composite reinforcements.” Ronald Müller “From the outset, Arkema has demonstrated considerable interest in the technology developed by our high-tech start-up. In general, we focus on the production of se- mi-finished products for the construction sector, such as fiber-strengthened thermoplastic rods, tubes and strips. This includes fiberglass thermoplastic composite rein- forcements, for which we are developing a bending technology. Our aim is to share our expertise to help companies that want to develop bendable reinforcements or make their reinforcements more flexible. In this regard, Elium resin opens up a number of possi-® bilities: its mechanical properties are equivalent to those of epoxy resin, but it is unique in terms of additivation . Its highly fluid nature means that a variety of particles can be added and will be uniformly distributed in the finished product, the properties of which can be changed easily. It can be bent, welded, injected into a mold and melted, among other options. I think that all these advantages counterbalance a potentially higher cost than that of other thermoset resins. I firmly believe that we have managed to present a concept that will overcome any remaining reservations: a technology comprising a bending procedure at a compe- titive cost and delivering high-performance thermoplastic composite reinforcements. Arkema is working with us on developing this concept, which we intend to present in July 2021.” ■ RONALD MÜLLER, founding director of industrial equipment manufacturer Carbon Armors GmbH (Plochingen, Germany) 31