POINTE-CLAIRE, Quebec, May 28, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FPInnovations and the Centre Technique du Papier (CTP) signed a partnership agreement today. Pooling their capabilities will enable both organizations to develop and increase the added value of cellulose bio-based materials so these can more quickly be put to various uses beyond the traditional markets for wood-based industries (fibre, pulp, paper, cardboard). The skills and expertise of these two institutions are well-known and recognized worldwide. They are both leaders in research, manufacturing, and characterization of cellulose biomaterials, and they share the ambition of giving these materials new properties and functionalities.
The agreement was signed today in the heart of Grenoble's "Cellulose Valley," at the CTP, in the Rhône-Alpes region of France. The Rhône-Alpes region is known for having the most woodlands in the country and for being the country's leading wood-producing area. Representatives of the Canadian Embassy were on hand for the event and Natural Resources Canada offered its strong support. Political representatives of the Rhône-Alpes region, the County, and the Community of Commune were also present.
Quick facts
Examples of cellulose biomaterials:
- Crystalline cellulose (with properties equivalent to Kevlar®). The first large-scale production plant is being operated in Windsor, Quebec, Canada by CelluForce and will find new potential for oil and gas well production.
- Cellulose filaments (CF). Large-scale CF production recently occurred in Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Canada by Kruger Inc. in collaboration with FPInnovations, after only five years of intensive research and development work. CF is also being treated by means of new chemistry, such as chromatogeny—a technology created and developed in Grenoble, France. The CTP boasts the first industrial pilot plant for demonstration in the world.
New properties and functionalities attributed to these biomaterials:
- Outstanding water resistance (hydrophobicity)
- Increased film-forming characteristics, 100% high-added-value cellulose
- Increased mechanical properties (resistance and solidity)
- High-performance resistance to surface wear-and-tear
- Barrier and reinforcement properties for many products
Examples of non-traditional markets:
- Electronics for packaging and smart objects
- Home energy efficiency
- Coating and paint formulations
Quotes
"Through this partnership agreement, CTP and FPInnovations want to promote cooperative relations and exchanges at the academic, scientific, technical, and business levels in order to support innovation in the forest-wood-paper-cardboard sector," statedPierre Lapointe, President and CEO of FPInnovations.
"This will give rise to the selection of promising projects gradually coming within the scope of our general research programs, in order for innovation to take root in our companies. With one foot in research and the other in industry, our two centres—situated at the interface of knowledge, expertise, and know-how—surpass the uncertain nature of research to respond to industry and social concerns as well as to national and international market expectations," confirmed Gilles Lenon, CEO of the CTP.
About FPInnovations
FPInnovations is a not-for-profit world leader that specializes in the creation of scientific solutions in support of the Canadian forest sector's global competitiveness and responds to the priority needs of its industry members and government partners. It is ideally positioned to perform research, innovate, and deliver state-of-the-art solutions for every area of the sector's value chain, from forest operations to consumer and industrial products. FPInnovations' staff numbers more than 525. Its R &D laboratories are located in Québec City, Montréal, and Vancouver, and it has technology transfer offices across Canada. For more information about FPInnovations, visit www.fpinnovations.ca.
About the CTP
For more than 55 years, the CTP has been a French Industrial Technical Centre, an establishment of public utility whose role is to promote the technological development of the pulp, paper and board production and converting industry in order to improve its performance, productivity and competitiveness in keeping with the requirements of sustainable development.
The CTP's activities include applied research, consultancy, expert appraisals, services and training for the paper-making industry with a view to transferring know-how concerning virgin and recycled raw materials, processes, products and the associated services in order to meet market requirements and expectations more effectively. Drawing on the experience of its 135 employees, its laboratories and industrial pilot facilities at the Grenoble and Douai sites, the CTP is preparing the future of products and processes through innovation! For more information on the CTP, visit our website: www.webCTP.com.
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