BRAND-NEW
Norner Signs Deal to Build New Polymer Exploration Centre and Enters Future Materials Catapult
I
t is a pleasure for Norner to announce
work will start at the turn of the year
The centre was designed by architects
two very important news which are key
and will be completed in the spring of
Borve and Borchsenius from Porsgrunn
to its future: it has signed an agreement
2021. Norner is investing long-term,
and is expected to be completed in
with R8 Property on the construction of
and a 20-year lease has been signed
April 2021 (Fig. 2).
our new Polymer Exploration Centre and
between the parties”, says Kjetil Larsen
The Future Materials Catapult Centre is
it becomes part owner of Future Materials
CEO of Norner (Fig. 1) and continues
a national test centre for the materials
Catapult Centre - a national test centre for
“Our owners, Thai SCG, have a long-term
of the future, established in the fall of
the materials of the future.
strategy and commitment with Norner.
2017 by Arendals Fossekompani, Elkem,
The new Polymer Exploration Centre will
They are strengthening their position
Mechatronics Innovation Lab, ReSiTec
be a modern international research and
as a significant player in the plastics
and the University of Agder. The
technology centre for the plastics industry
industry through this investment.”
catapult will make the path from idea to © Norner
and provide research services throughout the value chain. With more than 40 years in
market shorter for Norwegian business by offering test
the industry, Norner today
facilities, expertise
has customers in more
and networks to
than 60 countries and has
develop sustainable
experienced a strong growth
advanced materials
in recent years. The creation
and production
of this new centre, together
processes.
with entering the Catapult
“The initiators
centre, will ensure that
behind Future
Norway develops a leadership
Materials are
in the development of future
very pleased that
sustainable plastic solutions.
Norner AS is joining
Norner and R8 Property signed, in 2017, an agreement for Norner to move all activities from Bamble to the new Powerhouse and
as a partner and
1
part owner in the
Figure 1: Håvard Moe, Chairman of the Board of Future Materials, Aslaug Hagestad Nag, Managing Director of Future Materials and Kjetil Larsen, CEO of Norner.
catapult”, says Chairman Håvard Moe and continues “Norner’s world-
a nearby application centre in Telemark. Due to increased space
“This is a very exciting project
leading expertise in polymers and
requirements, a nearly 5000 square meter
for Porsgrunn as a city, but
the plastics industry strengthens the
technology centre will now be established
also for Grenland, Telemark
Future Materials’ material broadness,
at the bank of the Porsgrunn river and
and the entire region”, says
while at the same time the company’s
neighbouring the Powerhouse Telemark.
R8 Property Development
philosophy of innovation, strategic
“We will get a significantly more efficient
Director Tommy Thovsland.
consulting and circular economy is
building and have consolidated all our
He says construction starts in
fully in line with the focus areas of the
operations into one house. Construction
December this year.
catapult centre.
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N. 60 - NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019 - international PAINT&COATING magazine