Premix tackles 5G energy efficiency challenges with new materials

LuxTurrim5G partner in spotlight

Premix is an innovative manufacturer of functional plastic materials. Their tailored material solutions control static electricity and enable fast wireless data transfer in various industries such as automotive, electronics, diagnostics, healthcare & wellbeing and wireless communication. In LuxTurrim5G, Premix focuses on developing new antenna cover materials to enable higher efficiency in 5G base stations.

The story of Premix began in 1980, when Antti Kiikka left the family business in the paint company Teknos and founded Premix to focus on color masterbatches. A few years later, Premix launched their first portfolio for electrically conductive compounds, PRE-ELEC®, which over the years have grown to a European market leader. In 2009, Premix started the production of a new material portfolio with controlled dielectric properties, PREPERM®, which quickly gained a foothold in telecom base station antennas. The newest addition to Premix’ functional materials is the antimicrobial technology PREXELENT™, which prevents problems caused by harmful microbes. Today Premix employs around 100 employees in Finland, Germany and China. Revenue 2018: 36 M€

Premix joined the first LuxTurrim5G project in 2017 with the aim of developing new materials for 5G antenna covers, also known as radomes.

“The main drawback with common radome materials used in LTE are their non-optimum dielectric properties. When we use old-school, lossy materials in millimeter-wave frequencies, the radome wastes 20-30 % of the energy since the signal power is converted to heat”, says Jan Järveläinen, Business Development Manager at Premix.

During the course of the project, Premix developed and launched a totally new series of materials dedicated to high frequency radomes. This development had also clear synergies to another segment needing materials with better signal penetration characteristics – automotive radars – which also work in the millimeter-wave range to enable high resolution in for instance adaptive cruise control.

In the current, second phase project LuxTurrim5G+, Premix continues to improve radome materials and processing techniques together with Nokia, Aalto University, VTT and Tampere University. The aim is to develop and manufacture radomes, which enable base stations to cover a very wide angle – and minimize the infrastructure needed. A concrete outcome of the project are radomes, which Premix has manufactured for radars in the Kera area. The radars have already been installed in the new LuxTurrim5G smart poles for traffic monitoring and control.

“Since the use of dedicated antenna materials also has a significant impact on energy efficiency and sustainability, we find our contribution in LuxTurrim5G to be very valuable”, says Hanna Ristola, Managing Director of Premix.

Premix and Spinverse are also collaborating on Premix’ latest material innovation, the antimicrobial technology PREXELENT™, in the fight against harmful microbes and food waste.

In 2020, Premix celebrates its 40th anniversary. The launch of the new technology continues the company’s long history of creating materials that matter.