BARLOG Plastics at KUTENO 2026: Material innovations, engineering tools, and flexible manufacturing concepts

Overath, 20 May 2026 – At KUTENO 2026, BARLOG Plastics GmbH will be presenting a wide range of material and service innovations across the entire plastics technology value chain in Hall 20, Stand K19. The focus will be on current issues relating to regulatory requirements, product development and efficient manufacturing solutions.

High-performance materials: New KEBAPEAK PEKK compounds

With the new KEBAPEAK 9000 product range, BARLOG Plastics is introducing high-performance compounds based on PEKK, which significantly expand the scope of application for high-performance thermoplastics. With a heat deflection temperature of up to 385 °C, these materials enable applications in temperature ranges that were previously difficult to access. A key feature of the new compounds is the combination of high temperature resistance and a high degree of crystallisation. This results in high mechanical strength and reduced wear, even under demanding tribological conditions and high surface pressures.

PFAS-free plain bearing materials as a response to increasing regulatory requirements

PFAS-free tribological compounds are a key focus at the exhibition stand. Against the backdrop of the ECHA proposal to regulate per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances, there is a growing need for alternatives to PTFE-modified materials. BARLOG Plastics addresses this challenge with application-specific material developments: rather than a universal replacement material, the company focuses on individually tailored solutions. Applications are specifically analysed in terms of temperature behaviour, chemical resistance and mechanical stress. On this basis, specially developed filler concepts are employed which do not contain PTFE yet still achieve very good friction and wear properties in tribological applications.

ECO Consulting and digital tools for material and product evaluation

Another key focus is on the evaluation of material and product concepts as early as the initial development phases. With ECO Selection, BARLOG Plastics supports material selection based on technical, economic and product carbon footprint-related metrics. In addition, the ECO Design Service supports the optimisation of components, taking into account factors such as material usage, reparability, recycling options at the end of the product’s life cycle, and the product carbon footprint (PCF). With ECO Simulation and ECO Calculator, the company provides digital tools that can be used to analyse and compare various material and product options. Through integration with injection moulding simulation – developed in cooperation with SIGMASOFT – simulation data can be incorporated directly into the calculation of the product carbon footprint. This means that relevant metrics on material usage, the manufacturing process, the product carbon footprint and costs are available at an early stage of development and can be factored into decision-making.

Rapid tooling and flexible manufacturing for accelerated development processes

In the field of component development and manufacturing, BARLOG Plastics will be showcasing expanded capabilities in rapid tooling at KUTENO. The process combines the speed of additive manufacturing with the precision of conventional injection moulding tools, enabling the production of functional prototypes and small batches from thermoplastics identical to those used in series production. This is supported by a broad range of machinery: on a total of 16 injection moulding machines with clamping forces ranging from 6 to 450 tonnes, standard injection moulding is complemented by 2K applications, liquid silicone rubber (LSR) processing and plastic-metal hybrid injection moulding. An additional vertical machine expands design freedom, particularly for complex component geometries.

Expansion of the KEBALLOY ECO portfolio

At the same time, BARLOG Plastics is continuing to drive forward the development of high-performance compounds containing recycled content. The focus is on materials that are also suitable for technically demanding applications and can, for example, replace metallic materials. The current development focus is on high-quality post-consumer recycled materials (PCR), which are intended to deliver both economic and technical benefits. The aim is to meet the rising demands on materials containing recycled content whilst simultaneously tapping into potential in the areas of lightweight construction, functional integration and cost reduction.

A holistic approach across the value chain

By combining materials development, component design, prototyping and series production, BARLOG Plastics positions itself as a development partner for industrial plastics applications. Its exhibition at KUTENO 2026 particularly highlights the interplay between technical performance and future-oriented optimisation.