Why breakthrough materials matter – but only at scale
“Turning new technologies into scalable industrial solutions must go hand in hand, says Petrik Ziebeil”, CTO for IPCO.
Innovation in industrial processing is often discussed in terms of breakthrough materials or new technologies. At IPCO, we see it differently.
For an idea to power long-term, profitable growth, it cannot be isolated or a one-off. It must come from an integrated model driven by materials science, scalable production, collaboration and long-term strategy.
We believe this end-to-end approach is what transforms ideas into innovations: new solutions that perform reliably at industrial scale, deliver measurable business impact and support growth over decades, not quarters.
Innovation starts with materials – but does not end there
Across industries, materials are evolving rapidly. From panels in the construction industry to the interiors of aircraft, manufacturers are seeking higher performance, lighter constructions and improved durability, as well as sustainability, circularity and second-life applications.
These developments are essential – but material innovation alone is not enough.
Equally important is the ability to produce these materials efficiently, reliably and at scale. A material that performs well in tests but can’t be manufactured consistently, safely or sustainably will never deliver real value.
Innovation, therefore, needs to focus in parallel both on the development of materials and on scalable production technology.
From the earliest stages, materials must be designed with industrial reality in mind – continuous production, real operating conditions and commercial constraints – or they will fail to deliver value at scale.
Co-developing is a necessity not an option
Innovation is not something to do in isolation. Over the years, many of our most successful developments have been the result of joint projects with customers and partners, combined with research initiatives and industry collaborations.
Working closely with customers allows us to solve real problems, not just theories. It gives us early insight into emerging requirements, market conditions, regulatory pressures and performance targets, while enabling customers to de-risk new processes before committing to full-scale investment.
We also work closely with the research community. Initiatives such as WISE – the Wallenberg Initiative Materials Science for Sustainability – connect new materials research and emerging start-ups working with novel, sustainable materials. While these innovations often begin at very small scale, it is helping bridge the gap to industrial reality.
Collaboration helps us continuously refine technologies, identify new application areas and remain closely connected to the latest developments across materials, processing and manufacturing.
From concept to industrial reality
How and where innovation happens is crucial. At IPCO, we carry out development work at customer sites, research institutes and in our own five productivity centers.
These centers play a critical role in our innovation model – they are a playground for industries’ product vision.
They allow us to validate materials, processes and equipment under realistic conditions, bridging the gap between pilot scale and full industrial production. Customers can test, optimize and scale solutions with confidence, while we ensure that new technologies meet requirements for uptime, efficiency, safety and sustainability. This process is essential to turning promising prototypes into real, robust industrial solutions. Innovation aligned with long-term value For us at IPCO, innovation means supporting our customers’ long-term success while learning and growing ourselves. That means aligning R&D investments with clear strategic priorities, focusing on lifecycle performance rather than short-term gains, and measuring success through real outcomes: productivity, reliability, energy efficiency and reduced environmental impact. By combining expertise in materials and scalable industrial processing alongside customer collaboration, we create solutions – and partnerships – that are built to last.
Learn more about IPCO’s innovation capabilities, test centers and processing solutions at www.ipco.com
