Innovation

Leading through innovation

Trelleborg’s innovation capacity is part of our 120-year history and a major driver of long-term profitability and growth.

The starting point is clear: innovation should never be an end in itself. It only creates value when it gives customers a competitive advantage and bolsters their position in the market. That is why Trelleborg works closely with its customers, developing solutions that resolve their challenges – from extending the product lifecycle and enhancing performance to reducing energy consumption and environmental footprint of their products.

The Group’s innovation portfolio encompasses the entire chain, from new products and materials to advanced technologies and processes. It also includes services that simplify the day-to-day operations of customers, thus adding value to our offering. The greatest leap forward in innovation occurs when new capabilities are unlocked, such as improved design methodologies or testing capacities, which create the basis for enhanced solutions and materials.

However, innovation is often not about spectacular breakthroughs, but about gradual improvements in efficiency, quality and sustainability performance. This work is therefore centered on the key elements of process optimization, digitalization, automation and increased circularity. In parallel, new materials and technologies are under development that expand application areas and create new opportunities for customer applications.

Polymers for Tomorrow

Polymers for Tomorrow is Trelleborg’s Group-wide program for advancing the use of biobased and recycled materials as well as new polymers. Through collaboration with suppliers, start-ups, researchers and other external partners, we identify solutions that can increase circularity and reduce the climate impact of materials.

The program was launched in 2021 and is an important part of Trelleborg’s circularity efforts. Work is carried out continuously across the Group’s production units and includes a systematic analysis of our most important raw material categories. This enables us to identify opportunities to increase the use of materials with a lower climate impact.

Polymers for Tomorrow brings together materials specialists, R&D teams, process owners and other relevant functions within Trelleborg. We also collaborate with industry associations, research centers, suppliers, start-ups and strategic partners to monitor developments and drive innovation in materials.

Trelleborg’s target is for 25 percent of the materials used to be biobased or recycled by 2030. The target includes virgin biobased materials, recycled biobased materials and other recycled materials. By increasing the use of circular materials, we reduce our dependence on virgin fossil-based materials. At the same time, we evaluate new materials and solutions against the same high requirements for quality, functionality and performance.