Armin Holzner has worked for Semperit for 30 years and has headed the Research and Development department for 24 years. With responsibility for eight R&D locations worldwide, 183 employees and over 250 projects, he plays a key role in the company’s progress. The focus is increasingly on topics such as the circular economy and energy efficiency. In this interview, he reveals why these areas will occupy his team the most in the future and what is at the heart of research and development.
Research & development is always about progress. What are the main areas at Semperit?
Holzner: We have divided development into three areas: firstly, material development, secondly process development and thirdly product development. Supported by the laboratories, knowledge management and intellectual property rights. And yes, all areas are about innovation and improvement. In some cases, this can be a tiny corner that is added to or taken from a product, but sometimes it can also be a revolution, as in the case of the circular economy.
In 2023, Semperit invested around EUR 18 million in research & development. Which projects were driven by these investments?
Holzner: A lot of progress has been made in the hose sector, for example with the abrasion-resistant, flame-retardant cover for hydraulic hoses and with our extra high-temperature-resistant hose, where we have almost reached the end of development. We are probably the best in the world in this area. In the case of conveyor belts, we develop surfaces that prevent the transported goods from sticking to the belt. Such anti-stick conveyor belts are what the market demands. We developed a new material for profiles in order to achieve a very good sliding effect with a very good sealing effect at the same time. This was achieved by coating a rubber seal with thermoplastic vulcanizate. This product is intended to replace brush seals in sliding doors, significantly improving the sealing effect of these door elements. Another development relates to highly thermally insulating gaskets specifically for aluminum windows, which are currently being launched on the market. In the case of rail pads, we developed a “silent pad 2.0” in a combination of new material with a new geometry, which enables further noise reduction in rail traffic. However, these were just a few examples, as we worked on a total of 253 R&D projects last year. A very important factor for us is that our priority A projects are completed on time. Last year, we reached the finish line with 91 percent, which is a good result, but of course we want to do even better here too.
“I have the most exciting job in the whole company.”
Armin Holzner, Head of R&D, Semperit
What is the starting point of an R&D project – is it always a market requirement?
Holzner: Often, but not always. Over the last five years, we have built up our own innovation pipeline, which is fed with ideas both internally and from the market. It is now much broader and has its own system. That was a truly groundbreaking change at Semperit.
Speaking of groundbreaking. That also applies to the efforts towards a circular economy. Where is Semperit currently standing?
Holzner: Yes, circularity is our biggest focus. This year, we are trying to reuse 100 metric tons of our own recycled material in our products as a first milestone. In the case of rail pads, for example, we are currently working on a project with Deutsche Bahn. Customers for cable car rings, ski foils, track belts and pipe seals also require products with sustainable or recycled content; and we have already succeeded in recycling up to 70 percent of our window profiles. Customers are showing great interest, as this in turn enables them to reduce the CO2 footprint of their products. The decisive factor is that the quality does not suffer as a result of the recycled material, and the properties remain unchanged. And that’s anything but trivial.
But trivial would probably be a kind of threat for a researcher anyway, wouldn’t it?
Holzner: That’s right, I would quickly get bored without complicated problems. I am a very curious and persistent person. I get stuck into solving problems and don’t give up. Because even if you tried something five years ago and it didn’t work out, it may very well work now with new framework conditions. I’m also someone who likes to question things fundamentally, and I think that’s not just important for developers. In short, I think I have the most exciting job in the whole company.
Is there something that you would describe as the heart of research& development at Semperit?
Holzner: Innovation management is immensely important, because if we focus on the wrong project, it’s just a matter of empty miles. That’s a management task. But at the heart of it for me is the ability of each team member to solve problems – with knowledge, analysis, logic and creativity. Because only with these tools can I coordinate material, process and product in such a way that the result is what the customer wants and buys. Ultimately, you can see the result in the figures.In 2023, Semperit generated EUR 85 million in revenue with new products.
Finally, a forecast for the future: which topics will occupy you and your R&D team the most in the coming years?
Holzner: Clearly the circular economy and energy efficiency in processes. The framework conditions will change. In seven to ten years, it will no longer be a question of “can” or“should”, but of “must”. We are therefore investing in our production methods to make them as energy efficient as possible. I am very optimistic about this, because there is so much potential when you look at the big picture. And in the area of circularity, a large number of start-ups have popped up that are trying to recycle rubber using new methods. We would never have dreamed of this five years ago. We cooperate with them, send them our off-spec products and get recycled material back. We are learning an enormous amount at the moment.
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