First bio-data line: Federal Chancellor Scholz takes the "touch test" at LAPP
Olaf Scholz at the Hannover Messe
Stuttgart/Hanover, 22 April 2024 - VIP visitors to the LAPP stand at the Hannover Messe: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, accompanied by Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, learnt about the innovations of the Stuttgart-based global market leader for integrated solutions and branded products in the field of cable and connection technology.
Matthias Lapp, CEO of the Lapp Group, presented the first ETHERLINE® FD bioP Cat.5e data cable, which consists of a partially bio-based sheath material based on corn, to the Federal Chancellor as a highlight. The special thing about it is that previous data cables only had cable sheaths made of plastic. The new, sustainable version with a bio-based outer sheath consists of 43 per cent renewable raw materials. This reduces the carbon footprint by 24 per cent compared to the fossil-based jacket.
"Touch it, Mr Chancellor"
Matthias Lapp presented the organic version of the cable to the two politicians. "Feel it, this is what an organic sheath feels like. There is a lot of sustainability in this product," said Matthias Lapp. The organic version has the same product characteristics as a data cable with a fossil-based sheath. Both variants are suitable for particularly demanding applications: for example, for continuous-motion use in drag chains or in moving machine parts. They enable lightning-fast information exchange for the transmission of analogue and digital signals in the frequency range up to 100 MHz. They also offer optimum protection against electromagnetic interference. The organic outer sheath is also insensitive to mineral oil-based lubricants and is resistant to many chemicals. In LAPP's own test centre, the company tested the cable for over one million bending cycles in the drag chain.
LAPP focusses on sustainability
During the visit, it was particularly important for CEO Matthias Lapp to emphasise how committed the family-run company is to sustainability. LAPP is constantly working to further improve the carbon footprint of its products and processes. When it comes to cables, LAPP always considers two main components: the copper and the plastics for the cable sheathing. LAPP already uses large quantities of secondary raw materials for copper. In the past, purely fossil-based materials - i.e. plastics - were used for sheathing materials. "Of course, we are constantly working on developing sustainable products and expanding this step by step across our entire portfolio. And we already have the next sustainable control line in the pipeline," says Matthias Lapp.