Siemens Envalior 2025: Eco-Friendly Fry Oil to Coupling Relays for Sustainable Electrical Components

Introduction to the New Coupling Relays

Siemens Smart Infrastructure has introduced a new series of coupling relays that are making waves in the industry. These relays feature a housing made from plastic containing 70 percent bio-based material, sourced from biomass waste. The Akulon® K225-KS B-MB plastic, developed by Envalior, is a significant step forward in sustainable manufacturing.

The raw material for this plastic comes from used cooking oil (UCO), which is a byproduct of the food industry, restaurants, snack bars, and households. Since UCO is no longer suitable for human or animal consumption, it does not interfere with food or animal feed production. Instead of being incinerated, Envalior uses it to produce engineering plastics based on a mass balance concept.

Collaboration Between Siemens and Envalior

Andreas Matthé, CEO of Electrical Products at Siemens Smart Infrastructure, emphasized the importance of this collaboration: “Collaborating with Envalior to create this bio-based plastic is an important step towards advancing the use of more sustainable materials in our electrical products. We are pleased to work with Envalior as another strong partner on our journey towards a more environmentally friendly portfolio.”

Envalior is a global supplier of high-performance engineering materials, known for its commitment to sustainability. The partnership with Siemens has resulted in the development of the SIRIUS 3RQ4 coupling relay, which offers three versatile variants tailored to meet various industrial requirements.

Variants of the SIRIUS 3RQ4 Coupling Relay

The first variant of the SIRIUS 3RQ4 coupling relay features an integral relay output, designed for harsh environmental conditions and areas with specific safety requirements. These relays have safety-ready characteristic values (B10d values) and are ATEX-certified for use in potentially explosive atmospheres. They can be optionally equipped with gold-plated contact elements for switching very low currents or with printed circuit boards with protective coatings suited for railway applications.

The second variant includes plug-in coupling relays, ideal for applications requiring quick relay replacement during operation. These are also available with gold-plated contacts as an option.

For applications demanding very fast, soundless, and frequent switching, the third variant features a semiconductor output. This variant has a virtually infinite service life and is used where replacing conventional relays can be costly and time-consuming. Siemens has increased the switching capacity of these semiconductor variants to up to 6A, matching the performance of conventional elementary relays.

Sustainability and Environmental Impact

The SIRIUS 3RQ4 coupling relays are designed with sustainability in mind throughout their entire lifecycle. They meet the strict criteria of the Siemens EcoTech label, which includes 33 percent lower energy losses in the semiconductor variant compared to previous versions. Additionally, problematic materials such as halogens or PFAS are eliminated.

At the end of their life, the product can be easily dismantled and recycled. Envalior’s Akulon® K225-KS B-MB, a bio-based, halogen-free, flame-retardant polyamide 6 grade plastic for injection molding, is the ideal choice for these coupling relays. This material is characterized by a significantly improved environmental profile, high heat resistance, and excellent chemical resistance, making it suitable for many electrical engineering and power distribution applications.

Envalior’s Commitment to Sustainability

Dr. Marc Rudolf, Global Key Account Manager at Envalior, highlighted the success of the project: “A key success factor in this project was achieving excellent flow behavior in thin-wall designs and a UL94 V-0 rating at just 0.4 mm thickness, while simultaneously achieving an outstanding green share from bio-waste sources but at prime quality.”

The new SIRIUS 3RQ4 coupling relays feature a space-saving slim-line design for optimized use in control cabinets. They have been designed and intensively tested for use in combination with Siemens controllers. Fully automated production at the Siemens plant in Amberg shortens the supply chain in the German and European markets. The coupling relays are shipped in more sustainable cardboard boxes in standard multi-piece packaging. Operating instructions and all relevant information can be accessed electronically via an ID link on the device.

Envalior’s Focus on Renewable Energies

In addition to manufacturing bio-based products, Envalior focuses on renewable energies. In 2024, Envalior covered over 50 percent of its global electricity needs with renewable energies. By 2030, Envalior aims to reduce emissions by another 35 percent through various measures, including expanding renewable energies to 100 percent, implementing local emission reduction initiatives, and switching to climate-friendly heat sources. Envalior invests in renewable energies close to its production sites around the world.