German healthcare giant Merck partners with Bengaluru lab

Bengaluru: Bengaluru-based STEER Engineering, which specialises in materials transformation, has announced a research collaboration with German healthcare and life sciences firm Merck, to create co-rotating twin-screw extruder technology to process special effect pigments for the plastics industry.

Processing special effect pigments, which is used to add glitter in cosmetics, fashion industry, apparels and paints, is still a major challenge for the plastic industry, as the pigment loses its platelet structure in the processing stage, according to experts.

STEER labs will carry out the research work in Bengaluru to overcome the challenge, and both the companies will validate the tests before launching the tech platform, according to Babu Padmanabhan, STEER managing director & Chief Knowledge Officer.

STEER, with manufacturing locations in Peenya, Bengaluru and Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu, has 60 global patents for its innovations. The 175 crore by revenue company, has presence in teh US, Europe, China and Japan, works with major plastic compounders.

Merck, a leading company in healthcare, life science and performance materials, generated sales of € 12.85 billion in 66 countries. “The research collaboration is an acknowledgement of our capabilities and technology by a global leader,” Padmanabhan said. “Our rich legacy of research and patented technologies will complement the objectives of this unique venture,” he added.

Disclaimer: This information has been collected through secondary research and IBEF is not responsible for any errors in the same.