Dutch bioplastics specialist Helian Polymers BV and South Korea based CJ CheilJedang BIO (CJ BIO) have partnered to develop high added value PHA based and customer specific biopolymer solutions.

Helian Polymers has been active in bioplastics ever since 2007, as well as trading in color concentrates and additives on an international scale. With increased regulations and social concerns regarding petrochemically based plastics Helian is stepping up its efforts to supply both biobased and biodegradable materials and develop bespoke applications with its customers.
In 2012 Helian Polymers started the brand colorFabb, which has become one of the world's leading and most innovative 3D printing filament producers. Being an independent company since 2015, colorFabb has always worked closely with Helian Polymers to develop new materials for FFF / additive manufacturing.
Now, in 2021, Helian Polymers reinvigorates its focus on biopolymers. Helian Polymers will develop custom made and high-value PHA based solutions catered to specific customer needs. Starting in 2020, R&D has already begun with partners like CJ BIO to develop a certifiable fully biodegradable 3D printing filament. Through its connection with colorFabb 3D, Helian Polymers is in a unique position to develop innovative PHA based formulations and bring it to the market with high priority.
As Ruud Rouleaux, CEO of Helian Polymers, explained: "It is in our DNA to develop truly innovative material solutions. In a world with growing awareness about sustainability and the need to take ecological responsibility we are very excited to announce the partnership with CJ CheilJedang Bio, presenting a unique opportunity to start working with their biobased building blocks, that we regard as enabling cornerstones for PHA based material solutions."
The cooperation with CJ BIO is the result of a long search for a partner and material to create a truly sustainable 3D printing filament consisting of 100% PHA based building blocks.Working with CJ BIO's flexible and amorphous PHA grade enables Helian Polymers to fine tune desired mechanical properties and overcome well-known problems with PHA like brittleness and shrinkage (due to its high crystallinity). This new PHA grade acts as an enabler, which allows Helian Polymers, closely working with CJ BIO and colorFabb, to launch a portfolio of PHA based filaments with different properties and high added value.
Partnering with CJ BIO is a logical step for Helian Polymers. CJ BIO is the world's leading supplier of fermentation based bio-products for animal and human nutrition with 11 manufacturing facilities in six countries. Presenting itself as a leading World-Class Green Biotechnology company CJ BIO's focus on PHA materials are a perfect fit for Helian Polymers' activities in this rapidly changing world. As part of the larger CJ Group, headquartered in Seoul, Korea, CJ BIO values first, best and different in all aspects and aims to create innovative products.
Kuk-Ki Hong, Team leader of biodegradable business team in CJ BIO said:“We are grateful to Helian Polymers for their professional effort to developing new biodegradable 3D filaments with CJ BIO’s amorphous PHA. This new biodegradable polymer has possibility to be used for diverse applications and Helian Polymers has shown its reality through practically applicable product to society. We will continue to expand our partnership to fulfill both companies’ commitment to circular economy.”

www.helianpolymers.com