Saudi petrochemicals and plastics group SABIC is working with US product design firm Nottingham Spirk to develop new uses for its specialty materials. With this partnership SABIC wants to leverage its ability to expand value for its customers while also contributing to Saudi Vision 2030.

In a statement, the Riyadh, Saudi Arabia-based group said: “This relationship brings together the benefits of SABIC's proprietary specialty thermoplastic offerings and Nottingham Spirk's award-winning capabilities to design and commercialize breakthrough products across multiple industrial verticals."

"SABIC's thermoplastics portfolio is renowned in many key industries such as automotive, aircraft and rail interiors, and electrical and electronics," noted Ernesto Occhiello, executive vice president of SABIC’s Specialties business unit. "Working closely with Nottingham Spirk and taking part in their proven innovation process enables us to look at the entire value chain differently for fresh creative ideas that support our customers’ growth aspirations," he added.

John Spirk, co-president of Cleveland-based Nottingham Spirk, said that the more his firm learned about the capabilities of SABIC's advanced plastics portfolio, the more inspired it was to start the collaboration. "The combination of SABIC's diverse portfolio of material solutions, along with our expertise in designing novel products that fill unmet end-user needs, create an infinite number of exciting possibilities for business innovation," Spirk said.