A*STAR's IMRE and Omni-Plus System Ltd collaborate to enhance high-performance engineering plastics

Researchers from A*STAR’s Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (A*STAR’s IMRE) and A*STAR’s Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology (A*STAR’s SIMTech) are collaborating with Omni-Plus System Ltd (OPS, a Singapore-based materials manufacturer, to enhance the development of high-performance engineering plastics. This partnership aims to addres the increasing demand for advanced, cost-effective, and sustainable polymer composites across various industries, including household electronics, automotive, and medical equipment.

From left: Dr Maureen Tan, Deputy Executive Director of IMRE, Prof Loh Xian Jun, Executive Director of IMRE with Mr Marcus Neo, Chief Executive Director of  Omni-Plus System Ltd (OPS) and Mr Daryl Neo, Chief of Development Office of OPS

Driving Innovation for a Sustainable Future

The global sustainability movement, coupled with regional competitive pressures, is pushing the boundaries of material science. The project’s primary goal is to develop new product portfolios of advanced functional compounds and establish robust compounding capabilities. This initiative will provide unique value by supporting emerging applications for sustainable compounds and propelling the industry toward a more sustainable future.

In addition to developing new product portfolios, this collaboration will establish capabilities to:

These efforts will lay the groundwork for an advanced materials research hub in Singapore, serving as an R&D testbed for supply-chain partners to co-develop premium products.

This joint effort will focus on developing high-performance and transparent polymer alloys with composite-equivalent properties. These alternative resins, characterised by extreme matrix homogeneity, will combine high strength, toughness, and transparency. The project will also explore the processability of these newly developed resins to facilitate mass commercial production.

Researchers from A*STAR’s Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (A*STAR’s IMRE) will spearhead the development of reactive polymer formulations aimed at enhancing the physical properties of high-performance polymer composites. The team will also address the significant challenge of creating high flame-retardant recycled polymer composites to meet the rigorous demands of the automotive industry. Together with researchers from A*STAR’s Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology (A*STAR’s SIMTech), the project will assess the processability of the newly developed materials to ensure smooth transition to large-scale manufacturing and market deployment.  

From an economic perspective, a versatile flame-retardant (FR) system applicable to  both virgin and recycled polymers offer substantial cost savings, simplifies inventory management, and reduces waste. This aligns with OPS's business roadmap and underscores the importance of expanding utilisation across consumer electronics and other sectors.