European Rubber Journal Recognizes Innventik’s Reactor Among Its Top 10 Sustainability Innovations
Santander, Spain – June 2026. Innventik is pleased to announce that its Compact Plug-Flow Prepolymerization Reactor has been recognized among the leading innovation projects in the global rubber and elastomer industry by the European Rubber Journal (ERJ). The technology was featured in the latest edition of ERJ’s prestigious Elastomers for Sustainability (E4S) Top 10 Projects Ranking, where Innventik achieved the #2 position worldwide among projects evaluated for their level of innovation, commercial potential, and contribution to sustainability. The recognition follows the recent publication of Innventik’s technical article, “Advancing Flexibility Between Batch and Continuous Elastomer Production,” authored by Dr. Walter Ramirez and Mr. Jorge Campos, which discusses how advanced reactor concepts can help address some of the most pressing challenges facing elastomer manufacturers today.
Addressing a Key Industry Challenge
The rubber and elastomer industry is under increasing pressure to improve sustainability, reduce emissions and energy consumption, increase operational flexibility, and deliver increasingly specialized materials with tighter quality specifications. Many synthetic rubber facilities continue to operate using technologies developed decades ago. While these processes remain robust, manufacturers are increasingly seeking new approaches capable of improving efficiency, flexibility, process control, and environmental performance. Innventik’s Compact Plug-Flow Prepolymerization Reactor was conceived to help address these challenges by providing a practical bridge between traditional batch polymerization and continuous manufacturing. The patented reactor concept is designed to stabilize the earliest and most sensitive stages of polymerization before the main reactor system, improving process robustness while minimizing disruption to existing production assets.
Advanced Reactor Technology
The reactor incorporates several innovative engineering features, including:
- Plug-flow reaction behavior with minimal back-mixing
- Controlled partial conversion and viscosity development
- High-efficiency heat transfer
- Dual agitation systems for mixing and self-cleaning
- Multiple injection points for monomers, initiators, solvents, and functionalization agents
Unlike conventional tubular reactors, the design combines high-performance mixing with self-cleaning capabilities, helping to reduce fouling, hot spots, and gel formation while improving heat and mass transfer. The technology was originally conceived for solution elastomer systems such as SSBR and LCBR but may also have applications in EPDM, specialty elastomers, and functionalized polymer systems.
Improving Flexibility Between Batch and Continuous Manufacturing
One of the key objectives of the reactor concept is to help bridge the operational gap between batch and continuous production. By stabilizing the most sensitive reaction stages and preconditioning the reaction mixture before entering the main reactor system, the technology may enable:
- Improved process consistency
- Enhanced operational flexibility
- Faster transitions between operating modes
- Reduced process variability
- Improved heat-removal performance
- Greater robustness during start-up and grade transitions
Rather than replacing existing reactors, the technology is intended to function as an enabling tool that strengthens process performance while leveraging installed assets.
International Intellectual Property Protection
The technology is protected by a growing international intellectual property portfolio, including:
- Granted Spanish Patent ES 2983867 B2
- International PCT Publication WO2025/221134 A1 (PCT/MX2025/050031)
- China Patent Application 202580003162.7
- US Patent Pending
These milestones reflect Innventik’s commitment to developing and protecting innovative technologies that create value for the global elastomer industry.
Recognition by the European Rubber Journal
The E4S ranking highlights projects that demonstrate excellence in innovation, commercialization potential, and sustainability impact within the rubber and tire sectors. The inclusion of Innventik’s Compact Plug-Flow Prepolymerization Reactor among the world’s leading sustainability-focused innovations represents an important validation of the technology’s potential relevance to future elastomer manufacturing.
Looking Forward
Innventik continues to engage with elastomer producers, technology developers, engineering companies, and research organizations worldwide to explore applications of the reactor technology and other advanced process innovations. As the industry seeks more sustainable, efficient, and flexible manufacturing solutions, Innventik remains committed to supporting the development of next-generation technologies for elastomers, polymers, and advanced materials.
Read the Full Article
“Advancing Flexibility Between Batch and Continuous Elastomer Production”
For more information regarding the technology, licensing opportunities, or technical collaboration:
Dr. Walter Ramirez
Managing Partner
Innventik S.L.
walter@innventik.com