Monitoring production across value chains comprising compounding

Abstract

A method for monitoring and / or controlling a production process comprising a compounding process for producing a plastic article or component thereof, wherein the plastic article or component thereof is to be produced based on one or more input material(s) including polymer(s), filler(s) and / or additive(s) produced at least in part from one or more non-fossil input material(s), the method comprising the steps of: - providing one or more digital identifier(s) associated with the one or more input material(s) including polymer(s), filler(s) and / or additive(s) to be used for the production of the plastic(s) article or component thereof; - based on the one or more digital identifier(s) providing property data associated with the input material(s), wherein the property data relates to a variation in one or more properties of the input material(s) including polymer(s), filler(s) and / or additive(s) produced at least in part from the one or more non-fossil input material(s); - providing reference production data associated with the production of the plastic article or component thereof, wherein the reference production data relates to production conditions for producing the plastic article or component thereof from input material(s) produced from fossil input material(s); - generating, based on the property data associated with the input material(s) and the reference production data associated with the production of the plastic article or component thereof, adjusted production data for the one or more production processes of a plastic article or component thereof; - providing the adjusted production data for monitoring and / or controlling a production process of the plastic article based on input material(s) as signified by the one or more digital identifiers.

Description

[0001] MONITORING PRODUCTION ACROSS VALUE CHAINS COMPRISING COMPOUNDING

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The disclosure relates to the field of monitoring and / or controlling sustainable industrial manufacturing processes across value chain players, in particular to production processes that use chemical materials. The disclosure relates to methods, apparatuses, input material(s), network node(s) and computer elements for monitoring and / or controlling a production of a plastic article or a component thereof, wherein the plastic article or component thereof is to be produced from one or more input material(s) which is / are produced using one or more non-fossil input material(s).

[0004] TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

[0005] Industrial manufacturing processes are complex production processes with a high variation of input material(s). With the transformation to the use of non-fossil input material(s) the materials produced from such non-fossil input materials exhibit property variations, which are difficult to control due to variations in non-fossil input materials. This is particularly complex in chemical production and any materials that enter production chains from the chemical production. W02022058408A1 relates to a method for controlling a downstream production process for manufacturing an article at a downstream industrial plant by processing at least one thermoplastic polyurethane ("TPU") and / or expanded thermoplastic polyurethane ("ETPU") material using the downstream production process.

[0006] W02022058409A1 relates to a method for controlling a downstream production process for manufacturing a chemical product using at least one precursor material.

[0007] SUMMARY

[0008] In one aspect disclosed is a method for monitoring and / or controlling a production process comprising a compounding process for producing a plastic article or component thereof, wherein the plastic article or component thereof is to be produced based on one or more input material(s) including polymer(s), filler(s) and / or additive(s) produced at least in part from one or more non-fossil input material (s), the method comprising the steps of: providing one or more digital identifier(s) associated with the one or more input material(s) including poly- mer(s), filler(s) and / or additive(s) to be used for the production of the plastic(s) article or component thereof; based on the one or more digital identifier(s) providing property data associated with the input material(s), wherein the property data relates to a variation in one or more properties of the input material(s) including pol- ymer(s), filler(s) and / or additive(s) produced at least in part from the one or more non-fossil input material(s); providing reference production data associated with the production of the plastic article or component thereof, wherein the reference production data relates to production conditions for producing the plastic article or component thereof from input material(s) produced from fossil input material(s); generating, based on the property data associated with the input material (s) and the reference production data associated with the production of the plastic article or component thereof, adjusted production data for the one or more production processes of a plastic article or component thereof; providing the adjusted production data for monitoring and / or controlling a production process of the plastic article based on input material (s) as signified by the one or more digital identifiers.

[0009] In another aspect disclosed is an apparatus for monitoring and / or controlling a production process comprising a compounding process for producing a plastic article or component thereof, wherein the plastic article or component thereof is to be produced based on one or more input material (s) including polymer(s), filler(s) and / or additive(s) produced at least in part from one or more non-fossil input material(s), the method comprising the steps of: an identifier providing interface configured to provide one or more digital identifier(s) associated with the one or more input material(s) including polymer(s), filler(s) and / or additive(s) to be used for production of the plas- tic(s) article or component thereof; a data providing interface configured to provide based on the one or more digital identifier(s) providing property data associated with the input material(s), wherein the property data relates to a variation in one or more properties of the input material(s) including polymer(s), filler(s) and / or additive(s) produced at least in part from the one or more non-fossil input material (s); a data providing interface configured to provide reference production data associated with the production of the plastic article or component thereof, wherein the reference production data relates to production conditions for producing the plastic article or component thereof from input material(s) produced from fossil input material(s); an adjusted production data generator configured to generate, based on the property data associated with the input material (s) and the reference production data associated with the production of the plastic article or component thereof, adjusted production data for the one or more production processes of a plastic article or component thereof; a data providing interface configured to provide the adjusted production data for monitoring and / or controlling a production process of the plastic article based on input material(s) as signified by the one or more digital identifiers

[0010] In another aspect disclosed is a method for producing a plastic article or component thereof, wherein the plastic article or component thereof is to be produced based on one or more input material(s) produced from one or more non- fossil input material(s), comprising the steps of: receiving input material(s) to the production process; providing one or more digital identifier(s) associated with the one or more input material(s) to be used for production of the plastic(s) article or component thereof to an operating system of the production process; based on the one or more digital identifier(s) providing property data associated with the input material(s) to the operating system of the production process, wherein the property data relates to a variation in one or more properties of the input material(s) produced at least in part from the one or more non-fossil input material(s); providing reference production data associated with the production of the plastic article or component thereof to the operating system of the production process, wherein the reference production data relates to production conditions for producing the plastic article or component thereof from input material(s) produced from fossil input material(s) generating, based on the property data associated with the input material(s) and the reference production data associated with the production of the plastic article or component thereof, adjusted production data for the production process of a plastic article or component thereof; providing by the operating system of the production process the adjusted production data for monitoring and / or controlling a production process of the plastic article based on input material (s) as signified by the one or more digital identifiers; producing the plastic article or component thereof.

[0011] In another aspect disclosed is an apparatus for producing a plastic article or component thereof, wherein the plastic article or component thereof is to be produced based on one or more input material(s) produced from one or more non-fossil input material(s), comprising the steps of: a input material receiving unit configured to receive input material(s) to the production process; an identifier providing interface configured to provide one or more digital identifier(s) associated with the one or more input material(s) to be used for production of the plastic(s) article or component thereof to an operating system of the production process; a data providing interface configured to provide based on the one or more digital identifier(s) property data associated with the input material(s) to the operating system of the production process, wherein the property data relates to a variation in one or more properties of the input material(s) produced at least in part from the one or more non-fossil input material (s); a data providing interface configured to provide reference production data associated with the production of the plastic article or component thereof to the operating system of the production process, wherein the reference production data relates to production conditions for producing the plastic article or component thereof from input material(s) produced from fossil input material(s) an adjusted production data generator configured to generate by the operating system of the production process, based on the property data associated with the input material (s) and the reference production data associated with the production of the plastic article or component thereof, adjusted production data for the production process of a plastic article or component thereof; a data providing interface configured to provide by the operating system of the production process the adjusted production data for monitoring and / or controlling a production process of the plastic article based on input material(s) as signified by the one or more digital identifiers; a production unit configured to produce the plastic article or component thereof. In another aspect disclosed is a method for producing a plastic article or component thereof, wherein the plastic article or component thereof is to be produced based on one or more input material(s) produced from one or more nonfossil input material(s), comprising the steps of: receiving input material(s) to the production process; providing adjusted production data generated to the methods and / or apparatuses disclosed herein by an operating system of the production process configured to monitoring and / or control the production process, wherein the adjusted production data is provided by the operating system, or a network node communicatively coupled to the operating system; producing the plastic article or component thereof.

[0012] In another aspect disclosed is an apparatus for producing a plastic article or component thereof, wherein the plastic article or component thereof is to be produced based on one or more input material(s) produced from one or more non-fossil input material(s), comprising the steps of: a input material receiving unit configured to receive input material(s) to the production process; a adjusted production data providing interface configured to provide adjusted production data generated to the methods and / or apparatuses disclosed herein by an operating system of the production process configured to monitoring and / or control the production process, wherein the adjusted production data is provided by the operating system, or a network node communicatively coupled to the operating system; a production unit configured to produce the plastic article or component thereof.

[0013] In another aspect disclosed is the use of the adjusted production data for monitoring and / or controlling a production process of the plastic article based on input material(s) including polymer(s), filler(s) and / or additive(s) as signified by the one or more digital identifiers.

[0014] In another aspect disclosed is a plastic article or component thereof produced comprising a compounding process based on one or more input material(s) associated with a digital identifier and property data per input material, wherein the production of the plastic article or component thereof is monitored and / or controlled based on adjusted production data as generated according to any of the methods disclosed herein or by the apparatus disclosed herein.

[0015] In yet another aspect disclosed is a computer element with instructions, which when executed by one or more computing node(s), is configured to carry out the steps of the method(s) of the present disclosure or configured to be carried out by the apparatus(es) of the present disclosure.

[0016] Any disclosure, embodiments and examples described herein relate to the methods, the systems, apparatuses, chemical products, and computer elements lined out above and below. Advantageously, the benefits provided by any of the embodiments and examples equally apply to all other embodiments and examples. EMBODIMENTS

[0017] Reliable monitoring and / or controlling of a production process comprising a compounding process of a plastic article or component thereof is crucial when the one or more input material(s) are produced from one or more non-fossil input material(s) and exhibit property variations due to varying non-fossil input material(s). This makes it challenging to keep the properties constant for further production processes comprising a compounding process of a plastic article or component thereof and / or the use of the plastic article or component thereof due to a high variation of the input material properties. High variation of input material properties may relate to the usage of one or more non-fossil input material(s) for producing input materials to be used for producing the plastics article or component thereof. In addition, it is a challenge to achieve properties suitable for further production processes of the plastic article or component thereof and / or the use of the plastic article or component thereof due to a high variation of the input material properties leading to a high variation of the precursor(s). This may be overcome by providing one or more digital identifiers associated with the input material(s) relating to the property data of the input material(s) to monitor and / or control the production process comprising a compounding process of the plastic article or component thereof based on the property data.

[0018] By generating, based on the property data related to the input material(s) and / or the production data, adjusted production data for the production process of a plastic article or component thereof, a stable production of a plastic article or component thereof can be achieved despite the variation of properties of input material(s) due to the variation in use of non-fossil input material(s) for producing the input material(s). This limits the variation of the properties of the produced plastic article or component thereof by tailoring the production data such as process parameters and / or input material concentrations to the respective input material properties by collecting property data related to the specific input material(s) used for the production of the plastic article or component thereof and associated with the digital identifier. As a result, production of plastic article or component(s) thereof leads to a narrow variation of properties resulting in stable quality of the produced plastic article® or component(s). Advantageously, input material(s) are made suitable for further processing despite the high variation of properties since the property variations are compensated by generating, based on the property data associated with the input material, adjusted production. This digital adjustment enables the use of input material(s), which were used to be declared as being out-of-specification, while still producing plastic articles or components thereof in-specification

[0019] In the following, embodiments of the present disclosure will be outlined by ways of examples. It is to be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to said embodiments and / or examples.

[0020] The production process chain of the plastic article or component thereof may include multiple participant production systems. The production process chain of the plastic article or component thereof may include the production systems, which participate in the production of the plastic article. The production process chain of the plastic article or component thereof may produce one or more output material(s) from input material (s) provided per stage of the production process chains of the plastic article or component thereof. The production process chains of the plastic article or component thereof may include a complex production network producing multiple output material(s) via multiple production process(es). The production process chains of the plastic article or component thereof may include multiple stages of the production. One stage may be performed by one participant of the production system

[0021] One or more input material(s) may be provided to the production process or participant production system for producing one or more output material(s). The input material(s) may be an input for or to the production process of the plastic article or component thereof. The input material(s) may be an input for or to the chemical production network as a part of the production process chain of the plastic article or component thereof. The input material(s) may be a precursor product, an intermediate material, a feedstock or a raw material used to produce the plastic article or component thereof. The input material(s) may comprise any input material entering any production process of the plastic article or component thereof. The input material(s) may include input material(s) such as natural, organic, or inorganic material(s). The input material(s) may be fed to the production process of the plastic article or component thereof to produce the plastic article or component thereof. The input material(s) may be fed to the production process of the plastic article or component thereof including one or more production process(es) with multiple process steps. The input materials) may be fed to the production process of the plastic article or component thereof at the start of the production process chain or at any intermediate stage of the production process chain. The input materials entering the production process of the plastic article or component thereof may be used to produce one or more the plastic article or component(s) thereof.

[0022] Input material(s) for monomer and / or polymer production may include non-fossil input material(s) such as bio-based, recycled and / or renewable input material(s). Input material(s) for the compounding process may include polymers and / or additives and / or fillers produced based on non-fossil input material(s) such as bio-based, recycled and / or renewable input material(s). Input material(s) for the molding or extrusion process may include compounded polymers, produced based on non-fossil input material(s) such as bio-based, recycled and / or renewable input material(s).

[0023] Non-fossil input material(s) may relate to recycled, bio-based and / or renewable input material(s).

[0024] Examples for recycled input materials are pyrolysis oil, pyrolysis gas, mechanically recycled polymer material or chemically recycled polymer material. The recycled material may relate to a mechanically or chemically recycled material Recyclate or recycled material may include non-discrete material that may be further processed to produce new materials or chemical products. Recyclate or recycled material may include liquids, pellets, beats, powders, or the like.

[0025] Examples for bio-based or renewable input materials are bio-based pyrolysis oil, bio-based pyrolysis gas, bio-based synthesis gas, bio-based hydrogen, bio-based naphtha, bio-based methane, bio-based ethane, bio-based propane, bio-based chemicals, renewable pyrolysis oil, renewable pyrolysis gas, renewable synthesis gas, renewable hydrogen, renewable naphtha, renewable methane, renewable ethane, renewable propane or renewable chemicals or any combinations thereof. The fossil input material(s) or virgin input material(s) may include virgin raw material(s). Virgin raw material(s) may be raw material provided from natural resources. Examples for fossil or virgin input material(s) are crude oil, naphtha, methane, or the like.

[0026] One or more digital identifiers associated with the one or more input material(s) to be used for production of the plastics) article or component thereof may be provided. The digital identifier may comprise any identifier uniquely associated with the input material. The one or more digital identifier(s) may be uniquely associated with the input material(s) used for the production of the plastic article or component thereof. The digital identifier may be an input material identifier or feedstock identifier. The digital identifier may be associated with the physical entity of the input material or feedstock. The digital identifier may be associated with a batch of input material. The digital identifier may be associated with a single batch of input material. The digital identifier may be associated with a group of batches of input materials. The digital identifier may be associated with multiple physical entities of the input material. The digital identifier may be associated with continuous or semi-continuous stream of input material. The digital material identifier may be associated with a stream of the input material e.g. over a certain time period or from a certain supplier.

[0027] The digital identifier associated with the input material(s) may be linked or connected to property data in particular one property or more properties of the input material(s). The digital identifier associated with the input material(s) may be linked or connected to reference production data, such as process data and / or input material concentrations, associated with the production of the plastic article or component thereof. The digital identifier associated with the input material(s) may be linked or connected to adjusted production data, such as process parameters and / or adjusted input material concentrations, associated with the production of the plastic article or component thereof.

[0028] The digital identifier may be a decentral identifier. The decentral identifier may comprise any unique identifier uniquely associated with the producer of the input material(s) and input material(s). The decentral identifier may comprise any unique identifier uniquely associated with the producer of the plastic article or component and the plastic article or component. The decentral identifier may include one or more Universally Unique Identifier(s) (UUID) or a Digital Identifier(s) (DID). The decentral identifier may be issued by a central or decentral identity issuer. The decentral identifier may include authentication information. Via the decentral identifier and its unique association with the producer of the plastic article or component and plastic article or component access to property data may be controlled by the producer of the plastic article or component. This contrasts with central authority schemes, where identifiers are provided by such central authority and access to data is controlled by such central authority. Decentral in this context refers to the usage of the identifier as controlled by the data owner.

[0029] Property data may relate to one property or more properties of the input material(s). Property data relating to the input material(s) may be related to digital identifier. Property data may relate to characteristic(s) of the input material(s). Property data may relate to the properties of the input material produced at least in part from one or more non-fossil input material(s). Property data may relate to the properties of the input material produced at least in part from multiple non-fossil input material. Property data may relate to the properties of the input material resulting from the use of varying non-fossil input material(s) or mixture(s) of non-fossil input material(s) for producing the input material.

[0030] Property data may refer to chemical and / or physical and / or mechanical properties of the input material(s) Property data may relate to chemical properties. Chemical properties may describe the change of a substance's chemical composition given a specific set of conditions. Chemical properties may describe the change of a substance's chemical composition given a specific set of conditions. Chemical properties may include flammability, toxicity, acidity, reactivity, combustibility, or the like. Property data may relate to physical properties. Physical properties may be used to describe the physical characteristics of a substance. Physical properties may be observed or measured without changing the identity of the substance. Physical properties may include color, density, viscosity, hardness, a boiling point, flashpoint, melting point, and / or pour point or the like. Mechanical properties may relate to the behavior of materials under the action of external forces. Mechanical properties may include modulus, strength, elasticity, or the like. Chemical and / or physical properties and / or mechanical properties may relate to any properties of input material(s) that may be relevant and / or critical for the production process(es) of a plastic article or component thereof.

[0031] The property data may be associated with the feedstock used to produce the input material (s), a production process of the input material(s) and / or a production process using the input material(s). The property data may relate to at least one property of the feedstock used to produce the input material(s) or component thereof. The at least one property of the feedstock may relate to the use of fossil and / or non-fossil feedstock.

[0032] Property data may be associated with the input material properties relating to the product performance of the input material. The product performance may relate to technical and / or quality requirements.

[0033] Property data related to the input material® may be associated with production conditions used to produce the input material. Property data may relate to the properties of the input material produced at least in part under varying production conditions. Property data may relate to the properties of the input material produced at least in part under different production conditions. Property data may relate to the properties of the input material resulting from the use of varying production conditions. Manufacturing property data may relate to the production process and / or equipment operation used to produce the input material(s)

[0034] The property data may relate to at least one production process associated with the input material(s). The production process may relate to any processing and / or processing step relating to the use of input material(s). Processing may include a chemical reaction, blending, modification and any combination thereof of the input material. Processing steps may include any production steps directly and / or indirectly involved in the processing of the input material such as intake of the input material® and / or additional solids and / or liquids, plastification, mixing of different input material®, dispersion, homogenization, degassing, injection, cooling and / or any additional processing steps such as shaping, cooling, pelletizing and / or transportation. Property data may relate to the equipment data and / or equipment operating conditions of the production process associated with the input material®. Equipment operating conditions relating to the production process associated with the input material may relate to any characteristics or values that represent the state of the equipment such as the calibration status, speed, maintenance data and / or vibration measurement. The equipment and / or equipment operating conditions may be adapted based on the property data to adhere to the product performance of the input material for the processing of the input material(s). Equipment data relating to the production process associated with the input material(s) may include data collected from sensors, actuators, production control system, extruders, heaters, cooling units, screws, cylinders, die heads and / or pelletizers and any combination of data thereof.

[0035] The property data may relate to the production process using the input material(s). The property data may relate to the operating instruction for the production process. The operating instruction may correlate to the equipment and / or equipment operating conditions of the production of the input material(s).

[0036] Reference production data may be associated with the production of the plastic article or component thereof. Reference production data may relate to the production of the plastic article or component thereof from input material(s) with pre-defined properties. Reference production data may relate to the production of the plastic article or component thereof from input material(s) with properties that lie in a predefined range or lie in a pre-defined specification for the production of the plastic article or component thereof. Reference production data may relate to the production of the plastic article or component thereof from input material(s) that are produced from fossil input material(s). Reference production data may relate to the production of the plastic article or component thereof from input material(s) that are produced under pre-defined production conditions, e.g. resulting in properties that lie in a predefined range or lie in a pre-defined specification for the production of the plastic article or component thereof. Reference production data may relate to a reference production of the plastic article or component thereof from input material(s) that are produced from fossil input material(s). Reference production data may include input material concentration (s) associated with fossil input material (s). Reference production data may include process data associated with the production of fossil input material (s). Reference production data may include input material concentration(s) and / or process data. Reference production data may include reference property data associated with input material(s) produced from one or more fossil input material (s)

[0037] Input material concentration(s) may relate to a recipe for producing the plastic article or component thereof. Input material concentration(s) may specify the combination and / or proportion of the input material(s). Input material concentrations) may refer to a quantitative measure of the amount of input material(s). Input material concentration (s) may refer to an amount of input material(s) in a solution or mixture. Input material concentration(s) may be expressed as a ratio or percentage indicating the proportion. Input material concentration (s) may influence properties of a plastic article or component thereof.

[0038] Process data relates to operating conditions used for producing the plastic article or component thereof produced from fossil input material(s). Process data may be associated with monitoring data obtained prior to, during and / or after the production process of the plastic article or component thereof. Process data may relate to data being collected prior to, during and / or after the production process of the plastic article or component thereof. Process data may include recorded and / or measured data. Process data may be measured and / or recorded through various sensors and instruments that are integrated into the compounding equipment Process data may include time-series data of process data Process data may include time-series data of equipment operating conditions.

[0039] Adjusted production data may relate to reference production data that is adjusted according to the property data of the input material(s) used for producing the plastic article or component thereof. Adjusted production data may relate to reference production data that is adjusted according to property data relating to a variation in one or more properties of the input material(s) produced at least in part from the one or more non-fossil input material(s).

[0040] The adjustment of the reference production data may depend on the property of the input material(s) affected by the use of one or more non-fossil input material(s). In particular, the adjustment may depend on the property of the input material(s) that varies due to multiple and varying non-fossil input material(s) or input material mixtures being used for the production of the input material(s). For example, the variation of the properties of the input material(s) may relate to using different types of non-fossil input material(s). Different types of non-fossil input material(s) may include bio-based, recycled and / or renewable input material(s). Further for example, the variation of the properties of the input material(s) may relate to using different mixtures of non-fossil input material(s). Different mixtures of non-fossil input material(s) may include different mixtures of bio-based, recycled or renewable input material(s). Different mixtures of non-fossil input material(s) may include different bio-based and recycled and renewable input material(s)mix- tures. Different mixtures of non-fossil input material(s) may include at least two types of bio-based, recycled and / or renewable input material(s).

[0041] Adjusted production data such as adjusted process parameters and / or adjusted input material concentrations may relate to reference production data such as process parameters and / or input material concentrations being adjusted based on the provided property data related to the input material(s). Adjustment of production data may refer to the modification or alteration of process parameters and / or input material concentrations prior to, within and / or after a process to achieve desired process conditions and / or product(s). Adjusted production data may be reference production data adjusted in relation to a target property of the plastic article or component thereof The target property may relate to the quality, functionality, and / or performance of the plastic article or component thereof.

[0042] Plastic article or component thereof may relate to an article or component thereof containing plastic. Plastic article may include at least a component including one or more plastic material(s). The plastic article or component thereof may at least partially made from plastic material. The component may be a chemical component or a discrete component of the plastic article. Plastic material may relate to a plastic compound, a combination of plastic compounds, a composite material, a combination of composite materials, a foamed material, a combination of foamed materials, an additive, a combination of additive, or combinations thereof. Plastic material may comprise one or more elements selected from the group comprising: polyethylene (PE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), linear LDPE (LLDPE), high density polyethylene (HDPE), polyoxmethylene (POM), polypropylene (PP), polyamide (PA), poly ethylene terephthalate (PET), poly butylene terephthalate (PBT), acrylnitril-butadiene-styrene (ABS), polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), polyurethane (PU), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), polystyrene (PS), polylactic acid (PLA), polyvinylchloride (PVC) or polycarbonate (PC). Articles containing plastics may include thermosets, e.g. hard and durable plastics used, for instance, in car parts, thermoplastics e.g. moulded into packaging and / or elastomers, e.g. soft plastics with rubber-like properties Uses of articles containing plastics may include packaging for food or non-food products, textiles, building and construction, batteries, automotive or electronics. Application of articles containing plastics may include bottles, mattresses, foils, fibers, or the like.

[0043] In one embodiment the property data associated with the input material(s) including polymer(s), filler(s) and / or additive^) may relate to at least one property that correlates to the production process used to produce the input materials). The at least on property may be derived from and / or digitally measured by the production process used to produce the input material(s).

[0044] Properties may vary based on the production of the input material(s). There may be multiple production processes for producing the input material(s). The production process of the input material(s) may vary based on the feedstock type. The production process may comprise compounding, extrusion, injection molding, compression molding, thermoforming, blow molding, film / sheet casting, additive manufacturing and any other processing method for producing plastic materials or components thereof.

[0045] In another embodiment the reference production data associated with the production of the plastic article or component thereof may include reference compounding production data associated with the compounding process. The reference production data may be selected based on the compounding process as part of the production chain of the plastic article or component thereof. The reference production data including reference compounding production data associated with the compounding process may be provided based on the target properties of the plastic articles or component thereof being dependent on the compounding process.

[0046] In another embodiment the reference production data may be provided based on at least part of the property data associated with the one or more input material(s) including polymer(s), filler(s) and / or additive(s) or with output produces) produced by the compounding process based on the input material(s) including polymer(s), filler(s) and / or additive^). The reference production data may be selected based on at least part of the property data associated with the one or more input material(s). The at least part of the property data associated with the one or more input materials) may include property data being relevant for selecting the reference production data The at least part of the property data associated with the one or more input material(s) may include variation of property data being relevant for selecting the reference production data. Providing the reference production data based on at least part of the property data associated with the one or more input material(s) may include selecting the property data point(s), which may be relevant for the production of the plastic part or component thereof.

[0047] In another embodiment the compounding production data associated with the compounding process may include measured production data selected from the group comprising: compounding production data associated with one or more cylinder(s), compounding production data associated with one or more weigh feeders, compounding production data associated with one or more venting(s), compounding production data associated with one or more compounding machine part(s) and / or compounding production data associated with properties of the material(s) in the compounding process, compounding accessories, post-extrusion processes, strand cooling processes, product transportation processes, pelletizing and / or under water granulation. The measured values may be measured with variable methods and may be derived from other measurements, such as temperature measurements being usually derived from changes in electrical current or radiation. This may cover more diverse applications such as using infrared-radiation spectroscopy to detect melt or general material compositions which may also be measured with other methods. Examples of measured values associated with the compounding process may include target temperature, current temperature, heating power current, heating power maximum, heating power minimum, cooling power current, cooling power maximum, cooling power minimum, filling amount, target throughput, current throughput, throughput maximum, throughput minimum, feeding pressure (liquid), feeding mode (gravimetric I volumetric), screw speed, pump speed (liquid), volume flow, pressure (e.g. vacuum pressure), gas composition, filling level, target gear oil temperature, current gear oil temperature, motor temperature, torque, power consumption, speed, cooling water temperature, cooling water volume flow, melt temperature, melt viscosity, melt pressure, melt composition, compound geometry (including topology) before pelletizing, compound geometry (including topology) after pelletizing, moisture content, mechanical properties, burning behavior, density, thermal conductivity, electrical properties, optical properties or the like.

[0048] In another embodiment the adjusted production data may be generated based on measurements derived from one or more sensor(s) in one or more compounding process(es). The compounding processes may use mostly continuously and / or discontinuously measured data from sensors attached to or integrated in individual part(s) of equipment. The sensor(s) may be attached to or integrated in individual part of equipment comprising one or more cyli nder(s), one or more weigh feeders, compounding production data associated with one or more venting(s), one or more compounding machine part(s).

[0049] In another embodiment generating the adjusted production data may include generating adjusted production data for the one or more compounding processes based on the property data associated with the input material(s) including polymer(s), filler(s) and / or additive(s) for producing a plastic article or component thereof. The at least on property may influence the compounding process. The at least one property may be derived from and / or digitally measured by the production process and / or the non-fossil input material(s) used to produce the input material(s). Properties may vary based on the non-fossil input material(s) used to produce the precursor(s) for producing the polymer(s). Properties of the non-fossil input mated al (s) may vary based on the use of non-fossil feedstock to produce the non-fossil input material(s). Properties may vary based on the type of the non-fossil feedstock used to produce the educts. Properties may vary based on the production of the input material(s). There may be multiple production processes for producing the input material(s). The production process of the input material(s) may vary based on the feedstock type. In another embodiment generating the adjusted production data may include generating adjusted production data for the one or more downstream production process(es) of the compounding process for producing a plastic article or component thereof based on the property data associate with output product(s) produced by the compounding process based on the input material(s) including polymer(s), filler(s) and / or additive(s) and the compounding production data. The data may be used to adjust the processing according to the provided data and may realize a comparable behavior of the produced plastic article or component thereof by the output product(s) produced by the compounding process. Downstream production processes) may relate to one or more production processes following the compounding process. Downstream production process(es) may comprise injection molding, extrusion, compression molding, thermoforming, blow molding, film / sheet casting, additive manufacturing and any other processing method for producing plastic materials or components thereof.

[0050] In another embodiment the plastic article or component thereof and / or the one or more input material(s) for producing the plastic article or component may be produced from one or more polymers selected from the group comprising: polyamide (PA), polyurethane (PU), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyvinyl acetate (PVA), polystyrene (PS), poly acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), poly styrene acrylonitrile (SAN), poly acrylate styrene acry-lonitrile (ASA), polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon), thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU), poly(methyl acrylate) (PMA), poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), polybutadiene (BR, PBD), poly(cis-1 ,4-isoprene), poly(trans-1 ,4-isoprene), polyoxymethylene (POM), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polybutylene adipate coterephthalate (PBAT), polyester (PES), polyether sulfone (PESU), polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (P3HB), poly-4-hy- droxybutyrate (P4HB), polyhydroxyvalerate (PHV), polyhydroxyhexanoate (PHH), polyhy-droxyoctanoate (PHO), polylactic acid (PLA), polysulfone (PSU), polyphenylene sulfone (PPSU); and copolymers and mixtures thereof.

[0051] In another embodiment providing the adjusted production data for monitoring and / or controlling a production process of the plastic article based on input material(s) as signified by the one or more digital identifiers includes providing the production data to a downstream production process of the compounding process. Downstream production processes) may relate to one or more production processes following the compounding process. Downstream production process(es) may comprise injection molding, extrusion, compression molding, thermoforming, blow molding, film / sheet casting, additive manufacturing and any other processing method for producing plastic materials or components thereof Providing of the adjusted production data for monitoring and / or controlling a production process associated with the one or more digital identifier may include accessing the data through one or more access elements including the digital identifiers), wherein the access element may be configured to access the data of a data providing network node of a decentral network. The one or more access elements may relate to or include decentral identifiers) and a digital representation linking to the data.

[0052] In another embodiment the precursor used to produce the one or more polymer(s) may be produced based on biobased, recycled and / or renewable input material, wherein the bio-based, recycled and / or renewable input material replaces at least in part crude oil and / or natural gas as raw material input to the production value chain of the precursor. The precursor may be an intermediate in the production chain of the polymer(s). If the input material(s) include fossil and / or non-fossil material(s) may be determined based on the fossil and / or non-fossil material(s) input into the plastics value chain at the start of the production value chain The polymer(s) may be used as input materials) for the compounding process(es). The compounded polymer(s) may be produced based on the precursor(s) and / or may comprise filler(s), additive(s), pigment(s) and / or additional polymer(s).

[0053] In another embodiment the property data relates to a variation in one or more properties of at least the precursor used to produce the one or more polymer(s) produced based on bio-based, recycled and / or renewable input material or based on any mixture of bio-based, recycled and / or renewable input material. Properties may vary based on the non-fossil input material(s) used to produce the input material(s). Properties of the polymer(s) may vary based on the use of non-fossil input material(s) to produce the precursor(s). Properties may vary based on the type of the non-fossil input materials) used to produce the precursor(s). The variation of the properties of the at least one precursor may relate to using different mixtures of non-fossil input material(s). Different mixtures of non-fossil input material(s) may include different mixtures of bio-based, recycled or renewable input material(s). Different mixtures of non-fossil input material(s) may include different bio-based and recycled and renewable input materi-al(s)mixtures. Different mixtures of non-fossil input material(s) may include at least two types of bio-based, recycled and / or renewable input material(s).

[0054] In another embodiment the reference production data may be provided by a data providing network node associated with a downstream production process of the compounding process. The producer of the downstream production process of the compounding process receiving the one or more output product(s) produced by the compounding process based on the input material(s) including polymer(s), filler(s) and / or additive(s) produced at least in part from non-fossil input material(s) may provide the reference production data to the data consuming network node associated with the compounder by a data providing network node. The reference production data may be provided by a data providing network node associated with the production process of downstream production process to a data consuming network node associated with an adjusted production data generating engine.

[0055] The participant of the production chain associated with the data consuming network node may generate the adjusted production data based on the property data and the reference production data provided by a data providing network node associated with the production process of the plastic article or component thereof.

[0056] In one embodiment the one or more digital identifier(s) associated with the one or more input material(s) may be uniquely linked to the property data of the respective one or more input material(s). The decentral identifier may comprise any unique identifier uniquely associated with the producer of the input material(s) and input material(s). The decentral identifier may comprise any unique identifier uniquely associated with the producer of the plastic article or component and the plastic article or component.

[0057] In one embodiment the property data related to input material(s) may be provided by a data providing network node associated with a production of the input material(s). The data related to the input material(s) may have a unique connection between the data and the input material(s). The input material(s) may be uniquely associated with the property data and the producer of the input material(s) via the decentral identifier. The access to the property data related to the input material(s) may be controlled by the producer of the input materials). The providing of property data may enable to generate adjusted production data, such as adjusted process parameters and / or adjusted input material concentration, for the production process of a plastic article or component thereof based on the collected data.

[0058] In another embodiment the providing of property data related to the input material(s) associated with the digital identifier may include accessing the data through one or more access elements including the digital identifier, wherein the access element is configured to access the data of a data providing network node of a decentral network. The one or more access elements may relate to or include decentral identifier(s) and a digital representation linking to the data.

[0059] In another embodiment the one or more digital identifier(s) associated with the input material(s) may include decentral identifier(s). The decentral identifier(s) may include one or more identifier(s) used in the decentral network and allowing for data exchange via the decentral network. Data exchange may include discovery of the decentral identifier for network nodes of the decentral network, authentication of network nodes of the decentral network and / or authorization of data transfers via a peer-to-peer communication between network nodes of the decentral network. The decentral identifier may be associated with participants of a plastic material chain, particularly the material loop, including chemical product producer, monomer producer, polymer producer, compounding system, injection or extrusion system, plastic product production, article producer, article user. The decentral identifier may be associated with material entities of a material chain, particularly the material loop, including chemical product, monomer, polymer, intermediate chemical, intermediate part, component, component assembly, and / or article. The decentral identifier may be linked to a digital representation of the property data associated with the input material(s). The digital representation includes a representation for accessing the property data or parts thereof, wherein the property data may be stored in a data base associated with the one or more input material(s) producer for access by a user of the one or more input material(s) such as the plastic article or component thereof producer.

[0060] In another embodiment the access element may relate to authorization mechanisms that provide access to property data set(s) depending on the digital identifier The authorization mechanisms may include authorization rule(s) including data transaction instructions or data transaction protocols, such as data usage policies, smart data contracts or more complex data processing instructions associated with data providing and / or data consuming services. Through the authorization mechanism, access to the property data and usage of the data may be controlled in a secure manner. The one or more authorization mechanisms associated with the digital identifier as generated by one or more data providing decentral network nodes may be provided to a data consuming network node for accessing the property data or a part thereof. Alternatively, the one or more authorization mechanisms may be provided to at least one central or decentral authorization data registry, preferably accessible by the data providing network node and / or the data consuming network node. In another embodiment the property data may relate to at least one property that correlates to the production process and / or the non-fossil input material(s) used to produce the input material(s). The at least on property may be derived from and / or digitally measured by the production process and / or the fossil input material(s) used to produce the input material(s).

[0061] Properties may vary based on the non-fossil input material(s) used to produce the input material(s). Properties of the non-fossil input material(s) may vary based on the use of non-fossil feedstock to produce the non-fossil input materials). Properties may vary based on the type of the non-fossil feedstock used to produce the educts. Properties may vary based on the production of the input material(s). There may be multiple production processes for producing the input material(s). The production process of the input material(s) may vary based on the feedstock type.

[0062] In another embodiment the property data may relate to at least one property that correlates to the production process using the input material(s) and / or an output product produced by the production process based on the input materials). The production process using the input material(s) and / or an output product produced by the production process based on the input material(s) may use the property data or the at least one property to monitor and / or control the production process. The property data type may vary based on the correlation. The value of the property data may vary based on depending on the production process using the input material(s)and / or an output product produced by the production process based on the input material(s). and / or the requirements of the production process using the input material(s) and / or an output product produced by the production process based on the input material (s).

[0063] In another embodiment the input material(s) may be produced based on one or more, preferably multiple, non-fossil educt(s), wherein non-fossil educts or input material(s) include bio-based, renewable, recycled material(s). Alternatively, or in addition to fossil educt(s) being used to produce input material(s), non-fossil educt(s) may be used. The property data of the input material(s) may include properties relating to the production based on one or more, preferably multiple, non-fossil input material(s).

[0064] In another embodiment the reference production data may be provided by a data providing network node associated with the production process of the plastic article or component thereof.

[0065] The producer of the plastic article of component thereof receiving the one or more non-fossil input material(s) may provide the reference production data to the data consuming network node associated with the producer of the one or more non-fossil input material (s) by a data providing network node. The reference production data may be provided by a data providing network node associated with the production process of the plastic article or component thereof to a data consuming network node associated with an adjusted production data generating engine.

[0066] The participant of the production chain associated with the data consuming network node may generate the adjusted production data based on the property data and the reference production data provided by a data providing network node associated with the production process of the plastic article or component thereof. In another embodiment the reference production data may include reference property data associated with the fossil input material(s) used for producing the plastic article or component thereof. The reference property data may include include property types and / or property values. Property values may include property ranges that may relate to the production of a plastic article or component thereof being in spec from in spec fossil input material(s) using the reference production data.

[0067] In another embodiment the reference production data may be provided based on the production process of the plastic article or component thereof. The reference production data may be dependent on the production process of the plastic article or component thereof. The reference production data may be selected based on the production process of the plastic article or component thereof. The reference production data may be selected based on the production process such as injection moulding or extrusion. The reference production data may be provided based on the target properties of the plastic articles or component thereof being dependent on the production process.

[0068] In another embodiment the reference production data may be provided based on at least part of the property data associated with the one or more input material(s). The reference production data may be selected based on at least part of the property data associated with the one or more input material(s). The at least part of the property data associated with the one or more input material(s) may include property data being relevant for selecting the reference production data. The at least part of the property data associated with the one or more input material(s) may include variation of property data being relevant for selecting the reference production data. Providing the reference production data based on at least part of the property data associated with the one or more input material(s) may include selecting the property data point(s), which are relevant for the production of the plastic part or component thereof.

[0069] In another embodiment generating the adjusted production data for the production of the plastic article or component thereof may include adjusting the reference production data according to the property data associated with the one or more input material(s) relating to a variation in one or more properties of the input material(s). The adjustment of the production data may include adjusting the production data according to the variation of the property data associated with the input material(s).

[0070] In another embodiment the adjusted production data for the production of the plastic article or component thereof may include selecting at least one adjustment based on the property data associated with the one or more input materials). Selecting at least one adjustment may include selecting the adjustment based on the variation of the property data associated with the one or more input material(s). Selecting at least one adjustment may include selecting the adjustment based on the relevant variation of the property data associated with the one or more input material(s) influencing the production process of the plastic article or component thereof.

[0071] In another embodiment generating the adjusted production data for the production of the plastic article or component thereof may include selecting at least one adjustment based on the property data associated with the input materials) that relates to at least one property that is derived from the production process and / or the non-fossil input material (s) used to produce the input material(s). The at least on property may influence the production process of the plastic article or component thereof. The at least on property may be derived from and / or digitally measured by the production process and / or the fossil input material(s) used to produce the input material(s) Properties may vary based on the non-fossil input material(s) used to produce the input material(s). Properties of the non-fossil input materials) may vary based on the use of non-fossil feedstock to produce the non-fossil input material(s). Properties may vary based on the type of the non-fossil feedstock used to produce the educts. Properties may vary based on the production of the input material(s) There may be multiple production processes for producing the input material(s). The production process of the input material (s) may vary based on the feedstock type.

[0072] In another embodiment generating the adjusted production data for the production of the plastic article or component thereof may include: determining, if the property data associated with the one or more input material(s) produced from non-fossil input material(s) is in at least one property boundary specified by the reference property data; if it is not in the at least one property boundary, generating the adjusted production data includes adjustment of the production data based on at least one variation of the property data associated with the one or more input material(s). if it is in the at least one property boundary, generating the adjusted production data includes validating the property data associated with the one or more input material(s).

[0073] Validating the property data associated with the one or more input material (s) may include validating the reference production data. Validating the property data associated with the one or more input material (s) may include providing the reference production data. Validating the property data associated with the one or more input material(s) may include providing message data indicating that the property data is in at least one property boundary.

[0074] The property boundaries may include one or more property values and / or property value ranges. The property boundaries may relate to one or more property type(s). Property type(s) may be dependent on the variation of the non-fossil input material(s).

[0075] Determining, if the property data associated with the one or more input material(s) produced from non-fossil input material(s) is within a boundary of the reference property data may include mapping the property data associated with the one or more input material(s) according to the reference production data including reference property data associated with one or more fossil input material(s).

[0076] In another embodiment the adjusted production may be provided by a data providing network node associated with the production of the input material(s). The adjusted production data provided by a data providing network node associated with the production of the input material(s) may be generated by the producer of the input material(s). The adjusted production data may include adjusted process parameters and / or adjusted input material concentrations that may be provided to a data consuming network node associated with the user of the input material(s). The adjusted process parameters and / or adjusted input material concentrations may be adjusted based on the further use of the input material(s). The adjusted process parameters and / or adjusted input material concentrations may be adjusted based on the production process of the input material(s).

[0077] In another embodiment the adjusted the adjusted production data may be generated based on measurements a derived from sensors in a production process.

[0078] In another embodiment the adjusted production data may be generated based on a data-driven relationship. The data-driven relationship may describe one or more non-linear relations between input data and output data. Input data may refer to data to be provided to the data-driven model and / or to data being received by the data-driven model. Output data may be data to be received from the data-driven model and / or to be provided by the data-driven model. Hence, the data-driven model may determine the output data based on transforming the input data via one or more non-linear relations. Input data may relate to the property data associated with the input material(s) and / or the reference production data. Output data may relate to the adjusted production data and / or the validated reference production data and / or property data.

[0079] In another embodiment the adjusted production data may be generated based on a physico-chemical relationship. The physico-chemical relationship may relate to physico-chemical properties of the one or more input material(s) that influence the physico-chemical properties of the plastic article or component thereof. Physico-chemical properties may be obtained from the one or more input material(s) and / or the plastic article or component thereof by way of analysis.

[0080] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0081] In the following, the present disclosure is further described with reference to the enclosed figures. The same reference numbers in the drawings and this disclosure are intended to refer to the same or like elements, components, and / or parts.

[0082] Fig.1 illustrates an example embodiment of a circular material loop including material participants connected through a decentral network with decentral network nodes associated with material participants.

[0083] Fig.2 illustrates an example embodiment of a plastics value chain 210 with fossil and / or non-fossil input ma- terial(s) and the provided data related to the input material(s).

[0084] Fig. 3 illustrates an example embodiment of monitoring and / or controlling the compounding system 300.

[0085] Fig. 4 illustrates an example of a method for monitoring a production process comprising a compounding process of a plastic article or component thereof Fig. 5 illustrates an example embodiment of monitoring and / or controlling the compounding system and data transaction through a decentral network.

[0086] Fig. 6 illustrates a simplified example embodiment of a digital twin of plastic material(s) provided for access and associated property data

[0087] Fig. 7 illustrates a simplified example embodiment of a digital twin of plastic material(s) provided for access and associated property data.

[0088] Fig. 8 illustrates a simplified example embodiment of a digital twin of plastic material(s) provided for access and associated property data.

[0089] Fig. 9 illustrates an example decentral network environment with network nodes configured to provide property data associated with the input material(s) and / or the adjusted production data for monitoring and / or controlling a production process of the plastic article in association with providing the input material (s).

[0090] Fig. 10 illustrates examples of plastics production processes of Polyamide 6.6, Polyamide 6 and PBT.

[0091] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0092] The following embodiments are mere examples for implementing the method, the apparatus, the system or applications disclosed herein and shall not be considered limiting.

[0093] Fig. 1 illustrates an example embodiment of a plastics value chain 100 including material participants 101.1-4 connected through a decentral network 102 with decentral network nodes 103.1-4 associated with material participants 101.1-4.

[0094] The participant network shown in Fig.1 may be a plastics value chain 100 The plastics value chain may include the production systems, which participate in the production of the plastic product, plastic part or a component thereof such as monomer and / or polymer production 101 1, compounding system 101 2, injection moulding or extrustion system and / or plastic product production system 101.4.

[0095] The plastics value chain 100 may include one or more linear material chain(s), such as production chain(s) and / or recycling chain(s). The plastics value chain, may include the production, use and / or recycling of physical materials or products produced by using such materials or containing such materials. The product may be a material, a chemical product, an intermediate chemical product, a discrete component containing material, a discrete component assembly, an end product, an end-of-life product, a product to be recycled, a recycled product or a recyclate (not shown). Material or chemical product may refer to a chemical compound, a chemical ingredient, a chemical molecule, a chemical composition, a chemical mixture, a chemical formulation, an intermediate chemical product, or a chemical base material that may be used to produce discrete products. Chemical material or product flows may include nondiscrete material flows that may be further processed to produce discrete products or components. Chemical material or product flows may include liquids, pellets, beats, powders or the like. The discrete product may include the discrete component, the discrete component assembly, the end product, the end-of-life product, the product to be recycled, or the recycled product.

[0096] The chemical material or product may be produced by the participants of the plastics value chain using fossil and / or non-fossil input material(s). Non-fossil input material may refer to recycled, bio-based or renewable input material. Examples for recycled input materials are pyrolysis oil, pyrolysis gas, mechanically recycled polymer material or chemically recycled polymer material. The recycled material may refer to a mechanically or chemically recycled material. Recyclate or recycled material flows may include non-discrete material flows that may be further processed to produce new materials or chemical products. Recyclate or recycled material flows may include liquids, pellets, beats, powders or the like. The raw materials may include or refer to starting materials used to produce the material or chemical product.

[0097] Examples for bio-based or renewable input materials are bio-based pyrolysis oil, bio-based pyrolysis gas, bio-based synthesis gas, bio-based hydrogen, bio-based naphtha, bio-based methane, bio-based ethane, bio-based propane, bio-based chemicals, renewable pyrolysis oil, renewable pyrolysis gas, renewable synthesis gas, renewable hydrogen, renewable naphtha, renewable methane, renewable ethane, renewable propane or renewable chemicals or any combinations thereof.

[0098] The fossil input material(s) or virgin input material(s) may include virgin raw material(s). Virgin raw material(s) may be unused raw material that has not been subjected to any processing other than for its production. Examples for fossil or virgin feedstock are crude oil, naphtha, methane or the like.

[0099] The participant(s) 101.1-4 of the plastics value chain 100 may be connected through material flow(s) 104. The material flow 104 may correspond to the flow of product or material from one participant 101.1-4 of the plastics value chain 100 to the downstream participant 101 1-4 of the material loop 100. The material flow 104 may refer to a continuous or a discontinuous flow of product or material The flow of product or material may include any means of transportation suitable to transport the product from one participant 101.1-4 to another downstream participant 101.1- 4. The means of transportation may include pipes, containers, barrels, packages or the like. The material flow 104 may be a one-sided flow, such as a directional material flow 104. The material flow 104 may flow from the up-stream participant 101.1-4 to the downstream participant 101.1-4 of the plastics value chain 100, such as the material flow 104 from the compounding system 101.2 to the injection molding or extrusion system 101.3. The material flow may include reverse material flow 104 from the downstream participant 101.1-4 to the upstream participant 101.1-4 of the plastics value chain 100. For example, material may flow 104 from the injection molding or extrusion system 101.3 to the compounding system 101.2, e.g. when the plastic material does not adhere to quality specifications and no information associated with the plastic material properties and / or process parameters and / or input material concentration is available.

[0100] The virgin raw materials may be provided to the chemical production network such as the monomer and / or polymer production 101.1 as fossil feedstock. Alternatively, or additionally, non-fossil feedstock such as recycled, bio-based and / or renewable materials may be provided to the chemical producer as feedstock. The chemicals may be produced at the monomer and / or polymer production using the fossil and / or non-fossil feedstock. The chemicals may be provided to a compounding system 101 .2. The chemicals may be used to produce any intermediate product such as a plastic material. Any intermediate product such as the plastic material may be provided to the injection moulding or extrusion system 101 .3 to produce a plastic part. The plastic product may be produced using the plastic part in a plastic production system.

[0101] The plastic product may be provided to the plastic product user. At the end-of-life, the end product may be disposed by the user and / or recycled (not shown).

[0102] In addition to the connection through material flows 104, the material participants 101.1-4 of the plastics value chain 100 may be connected through data flows 105 via the decentral network 102. The decentral network 102 may include one or more decentral network nodes 103.1-4 associated with material participants 101.1-4 of the plastics value chain 100. In a decentralized or decentral network 102, the decentral network nodes 103.1-4, in contrast to a centralized network, do not exclusively rely on a central network node. In other words, no single entity is the sole authority of the network. The decentral network 102 may include decentral and central network nodes. The decentral network 102 may include central network nodes that may control and / or monitor the decentral network nodes 103.1- 4. For example, central network node(s) may provide authentication information, which allow at least two decentral network nodes 103.1-4 to establish a peer-to-peer communication channel between respective decentral network nodes 103.1-4.

[0103] The network nodes 103.1-4 may be computing nodes. The computing node may be any device or system that includes at least one physical and tangible processor, and a physical and tangible memory capable of having thereon computer-executable instructions that are executed by a processor. Computing nodes are now increasingly taking a wide variety of forms. Computing nodes may, for example, be handheld devices, monitoring systems, control systems, laptop computers, desktop computers, mainframes and / or data centers. The memory may take any form and depends on the nature and form of the computing node. The decentral network nodes 103.1-4 may be connected via a wired and / or wireless connection such as one of Ethernet, USB, LAN, WLAN and the like. Wireless communication may use, for example, WLAN, Wi-Fi, cellular, and / or Blue-tooth. The decentral network nodes 103.1-4 may be configured to perform peer-to-peer data transactions, illustrated by the arrows 105 indicating data flow.

[0104] The decentral network nodes 103.1-4 may be configured as data consuming and / or providing network nodes. The decentral network nodes 103.1-4 may be configured to provide data to other network node(s) of the decentral network 102 and / or to consume data from other nodes of the decentral network 102. For instance, the decentral network node 103.1 associated with the monomer and / or polymer production 101.1 , compounding system 101.2 or the injection moulding or extrustion system 101.3 may be configured to provide data related to the production of the respective components to downstream participants. Further for instance, the decentral network node 103.3 associated with the injection moulding or extrustion system 101.3 may be configured to access data from the network node 103.2 associated with upstream participants such as the compounding system 101.2

[0105] The decentral network node(s) 103.1-4 may comprise computer-executable instructions configured to provide, consume and / or process data, such as property data associated with the chemical, intermediate or end product produced or processed within the plastics value chain 100. The network node(s) may run a data providing service configured to provide data to another decentral network node 103.1-4 of the decentral network 102. The decentral network node(s) 103.1-4 configured to provide data may be associated with a data owner or a data generating node associated with a material or product produced or processed within the circular loop 100. The decentral network node(s) 103.1-4 may be connected to one or more dedicated data storage(s) storing the data associated with material or product produced or processed in the plastics value chain 100. The dedicated data storage(s) may be under control of the data owner or data generating node associated with the material or product produced or processed in the circular loop 100. The data owner may be the respective participant 101.1-4 of the plastics value chain 100, the data generating node 103.1-4 is associated with. The data generating node 103.1-4 may have access to the dedicated data storage(s). Access to data associated with material or product produced or processed within the plastics value chain 100 may hence be under control of the data owner the respective decentral network node 103.1-4 is associated with. This allows to retain full control over data associated with material or product produced or processed within the plastics value chain 100 by the data owner. At the same time this enables sharing of data associated with material or product produced or processed within the plastics value chain 100 under controlled conditions, for example by using appropriate protocols including authorization and authentication mechanisms or schemes to establish peer-to-peer communication.

[0106] The decentral network node 103.1-4 configured to consume data may comprise computer-executable instructions for accessing and / or processing data within the decentral network 102, such as data associated with material produced or processed within the plastics value chain 100 and provided by a decentral data providing network node 103.1-4. The decentral data consuming network node 103.1-4 may be controlled or owned by or associated with any upstream or downstream participant of the plastics value chain 100.

[0107] The decentral network 102 may include further decentral network nodes 103.1-4. The further decentral network nodes 103.1-4 may not be associated with further participants of the circular loop 100. The further nodes may be decentral infrastructure service nodes (not shown in Fig. 1). The decentral infrastructure service nodes may provide services for decentral participant nodes 103.1-4, such as verifying the identity of the decentral network participant nodes 103.1-6 prior to performing a data ex-change. The decentral network participant node(s) 103.1-4 may be associated with or include certificate(s), such as X.509 certificate(s). The certificate(s) may be associated with an identity manager including e.g. a certificate issuing service and / or a dynamic provisioning service providing dynamic attribute tokens (e.g. OAuth Access Tokens). This way the decentral network node(s) 103.1-4 may be associated or connected to a unique identifier embedded in a X.509 certificate that identifies the respective decentral network node(s)

[0108] 103.1-4. The information required to verify the certificate may be provided via an authentication registry associated with the certificate issuing service and / or a dynamic provisioning service. For instance, in the IDSA Reference Architecture Model, Version 3.0 of April 2019, a decentral data providing network node associated with the data owner, a Certification Authority (CA), a Dynamic Attribute Provisioning Service (DAPS) and a decentral data consuming network node associated with the data consumer are used to verify the identity prior to performing a data exchange (not shown).

[0109] The material or product produced by participant(s) 101.1-4 of the plastics value chain 100 may be associated with material or product data associated with properties of the material or product produced by participant(s) 101.1-4 of the circular loop 100. The material or product data may be provided for access by the decentral data providing network node 103.1-4 associated with the material or product producer. Access to the material or product data may be controlled by the decentral data providing network node 103.1-4. The material or product data may be accessed by decentral data consuming network node(s) 103.1-4 associated with further participants 101.1-4 of the material loop 100, such as any upstream or downstream participant 101.1-4.

[0110] The data flow 105 between decentral network nodes 103.1-4 may be directly or indirectly associated with the material flow 104 between the participants 101.1-4 of the plastics value chain 100. For instance, the data flow 105 may be directly associated with the material flow 104, if data associated with a plastic material provided from the compounding system 101.2 to the injection moulding or extrusion system 101.3 is accessed by a decentral data consuming network node 103.1-4 associated with said injection moulding or extrusion system 101.3. For instance, the data flow 105 may be indirectly associated with the material flow 104, if data associated with a chemical product such as a polymer produced by monomer and / or polymer production 101.1 is accessed by a decentral data consuming network node

[0111] 103.1-4 associated with injection moulding or extrusion system 101.3.

[0112] Data transactions between decentral network nodes 103.1-4 may be based on a decentral identifier associated with the material or product data to be accessed. The decentral identifier may be associated with the physical entity of the material or product. The decentral identifier may be uniquely associated with the physical entity of the material or product. The decentral identifier may uniquely identify the material or product within the decentral network 102. The decentral identifier may be associated with further decentral identifier(s), such as decentral identifier(s) of material(s) or product(s) used to produce the end product. This may allow to track the material (s) or product(s) used to produce a product, such as an end-product. The decentral identifier may be included in a material access element associated with the material or product as is described in more detail in the context of Fig.2-8.

[0113] In particular, the generation of access elements associated with data related to the production of the feedstock or the component thereof at each stage of the production chain allow for monitoring material flows through the decentral network. The monitoring of the material flow through the decentral network may allow to adjust the input material concentration and / or the process parameters based on the data. The monitoring of the material flow through the decentral network may allow to share the adjusted the input material concentration and / or the adjusted process parameters based on the data. The adjustment of the input material concentration and / or the process parameters e.g. in compounding may allow to produce high quality materials based on a variation in input material properties.

[0114] Such monitoring and / or controlling by providing access to property data related to the production of the plastic material and / or plastic article and / or the component thereof will be described in more detail by way of examples in the following Figs. 2-8.

[0115] Fig.2 illustrates an example embodiment of a plastics value chain 210 with one or more fossil and / or non-fossil educts used to produce one or more input material (s) used to produce plastic materials used to produce one or more plastic parts and the provided data related to the respective input(s).

[0116] The plastics value chain 210 may include multiple processing steps. The processing steps may be performed by multiple participants as described in detail in Fig.1. The plastics value chain 210 may include a chemical production network such as the monomer and / or polymer production, a compounder 202 and / or a user of the plastic material produced by the compounding such as an injection moulding or extrusion system 203 and / or a plastic product production system (not shown).

[0117] The chemical production network may be the first participant of the plastics value chain 210. The chemical production network may include multiple interlinked processing steps. The chemical production network may be an integrated chemical production network with interrelated production chains. The chemical production network may include various processing steps of the production chain. The chemical production network may include multiple different production chains that have at least one intermediate product in common. The chemical production network may include multiple stages of the chemical value chain. The chemical production network may include the producing, refining, processing and / or purification of gas or crude oil. The chemical production network may include a cracking step performed by a steam cracker, or a syngas plant connected to multiple production chains that output chemical products from the effluent of such plants. The chemical production network may include multiple production chains that output from one or more feedstock(s) one or more output material(s) The chemical production network may include multiple tiers of a chemical value chain. The chemical production network may include a physically interconnected arrangement of production sites The production sites may be at the same location or at different locations. In the latter case the production sites may be interconnected by means of dedicated transportation systems such as pipelines, supply chain vehicles, like trucks, supply chain ships or other cargo transportation means.

[0118] The chemical production network may chemically, physically, or thermally convert feedstocks or input materials to one or more output material(s). The chemical production network may convert feedstocks by way of chemical, physical and / or thermal conversion to one or more output material(s). The feedstocks may be fed to the chemical production network at any entry point marked by a system boundary of the chemical production network. The feedstocks may be fed to the chemical production network at the start of the chemical production network. Feedstocks may for example make up the feedstock of a steam cracker. The feedstocks may be educts for a cracking step The feedstock may include non-fossil feedstock and / or fossil feedstock for the manufacture of chemical intermediates and chemical output material(s). The feedstock may include non-fossil feedstocks such as recycled, bio-based or renewable feedstock. Examples for recycled feedstock are pyrolysis oil, pyrolysis gas, mechanically recycled polymer material or chemically recycled polymer material. Examples for biobased or renewable feedstock are bio-based pyrolysis oil, bio-based pyrolysis gas, bio-based synthesis gas, biobased hydrogen, bio-based naphtha, bio-based methane, bio-based ethane, bio-based propane, bio-based chemicals, renewable pyrolysis oil, renewable pyrolysis gas, renewable synthesis gas, renewable hydrogen, renewable naphtha, renewable methane, renewable ethane, renewable propane or renewable chemicals or any combinations thereof. The fossil feedstock or virgin feedstock may include virgin raw material(s). Virgin raw material(s) may be unused raw material(s) that has not been subjected to any processing other than for its production.

[0119] Examples for fossil or virgin feedstock are crude oil, naphtha, methane, or the like.

[0120] The chemical production network may use the fossil and / or non-fossil input material (s) to produce chemicals. Chemicals may be input material(s) for further production process(es). Chemicals may be used to produce the compound. The compound may be used to produce the plastic article or component thereof.

[0121] The chemicals may be provided as input material(s) for the compounding system 202. Input material(s) may be associated with property data. The property data associated with the input materials may vary. The variation properties of input material may refer to upstream participant(s) of the plastics value chain 210. The variation of input material properties may refer to requirements of downstream participant(s) of the plastics value chain 210. The variation of input material properties may refer to the processing at the upstream participant(s). The variation of input material(s) may be based on the educts used to produce the input material(s). The variation of input material(s) may refer to the use of fossil and / or non-fossil feedstock used as educts to produce input material(s). Non-fossil feedstock may have high property variations. High property variations may be based on the multiple possibilities of producing the non- fossil feedstock. High-property variations may be based on multiple feedstock types for the recycling system producing the non-fossil feedstock. Multiple feedstock types may be based on a waste stream, which may be collected and / or sorted and recycled. Fossil feedstock may have higher purities and a narrower property spectrum.

[0122] Input material properties may be relevant for the further processing such as compounding. The input material properties may be provided to the compounding system 202 by the chemical production network via a decentral network as shown in Fig. 1. Input material properties may refer to viscosity, density, melting point, or the like. The data related to the input material(s) such as the input material properties may be used to adjust the production process of the plastic material. The adjustment(s) may include adjustment of the compounding process such as process parameter(s) and / or input material concentration(s). The input material concentration (s) may refer to the share of the input materials). The input material concentration (s) may refer to the formula of the input material(s).

[0123] The compounding system 202 may include at least a compounding process. The compounding process may be a central process of the compounding system 202. Compounding may refer to a plastics processing process. The compounding process may be followed by additional process step(s). Additional process step(s) may include shaping and / or cooling and / or pelletizing. Compounding 226 may be used for the modification of a polymer by adding other input material(s). The input material® 202 may be polymers and / or additives and / or fillers. Compounding may refer to blending the input material(s) 202 Compounding may refer to a controlled chemical reaction inside the compounding process. Compounding may refer to blending the input material(s) and / or having a controlled chemical reaction The product, such as the compound or plastic material, may be a reworked base polymer. The product may be a mixture of a base polymer with any or any combination of input material(s) 202. The compounding process is described in detail in the context of Fig. 3.

[0124] Additives may influence properties of the compound in relation to their processing, usage and / or recycling behavior. This may include influences which result in maintaining properties under processing or usage conditions. The concentration of an individual additive in the compound may be minor in relation to the concentration of the base polymer. Common classes of additives may comprise plasticizers, flame retardants, antioxidants, acid scavengers, light and heat stabilizers, lubricants, pigments, antistatic agents, slip compounds and thermal stabilizers.

[0125] Pigments are educts that may influence the optical properties of a compound. This may be the color in the visible spectrum. Pigments may not significantly influence other compound properties. The concentration of an individual pigment in the compound may be minor in relation to the concentration of the base polymer.

[0126] Fillers may improve the properties of the compound in relation to their processing, usage behavior and / or recycling behavior. Fillers may be added to improve the mechanical properties of the compound during usage. Fillers may be inorganic, such as glass fibers or mineral fillers. Fillers may be organic fillers such as aramid fibers. The concentration of a filler in the compound may be as high or above the concentration of the base polymer.

[0127] To operate the compounding system 202 a production operating system may be employed. The operating system may use measurements of the compounding process derived from sensors to monitor the compounding. The operating system may use measurements and data from an upstream participant of the plastics production chain to control the compounding. The control of the compounding may be closed loop. The compounding system operator may store the compounding process data such as measurements. The compounding system operator may store the adjusted process parameters and / or adjusted input material concentration. The compounding system operator may use models to analyze the compounding data. The compounding system operator may derive process parameter and / or instructions / or material properties for the downstream participants of the plastics value chain 202. The output material of the compounding may be a compound such as a plastic material.

[0128] The plastic material may be the input material(s) for the production of a plastic part. The plastic part may be produced using injection moulding or extrusion. The properties of the plastic material (s) may vary. The properties of the plastic material(s) may vary based on the input material(s) used to produce the plastic material(s) and / or the process parameter and / or the input material concentration® as described before. Property data related to the input material® may be provided to the injection moulding and / or extrusion system 203 via a decentral network as shown in Fig.1. Process data and / or input material concentration may be provided to the injection moulding and / or extrusion system. Process data and / or input material concentration may be provided to the injection moulding and / or extrusion system may be provided to the injection moulding and / or extrusion system 203 via a decentral network as shown in Fig.1. The data may be provided via the production operating system. The process data and / or input material concentrations) may be provided based on historized process data and / or input material concentration (s). Based on the property data and / or process data and / or input material concentration(s) the processing of the plastic material may be adjusted. Adjusted processing may lead to produced plastic parts or components thereof with a low variation of part properties. The produced plastics parts may have equal product qualities compared to produced plastic parts using fossil feedstocks.

[0129] Data transactions between the participants of the plastic material chain may be based on a digital identifier associated with the input material data to be accessed. Examples of property data are described in the context of Fig. 6-8.

[0130] Fig. 3 illustrates an example embodiment of monitoring and / or controlling the compounding system 300.

[0131] The compounding system 300 may include multiple processing steps. The process of producing a compound may be adjusted based on the variation of input material properties and / or input material concentrations and / or process parameters. Monitoring and / or controlling of the compounding may be performed to reduce variations of material properties and to adhere to the product performance being relevant for further production processes of the plastics value chain based on the input material properties.

[0132] The production steps included in the compounding system may be defined by the system boundary 305 of compounding system 300. The system boundary 305 may be defined by location or control over production processes. The system boundary 305 may be defined by the site of the compounding system. The system boundary 305 may be defined by production processes controlled by one entity or multiple entities jointly. The system boundary 305 may be defined by a value chain with staggered production processes to an end product, which may be controlled by multiple entities separately. The compounding system 305 may include at least a compounding process. The compounding system 305 may further include a waste collection and sorting step, a recycling step such as pyrolysis, a cracking step such as steam cracking, a separation step to separate intermediates of one process step and further processing steps such as compounding to convert such intermediates to output material(s) 306 leaving the system boundary of the compounding system 300. The further processing steps such as injection moulding or extrusion may be outside the system boundary of the compounding system 300.

[0133] For producing one or more output material(s) 306 different input material(s) 304 may be provided as physical inputs to the compounding system 300 as described in detail in Fig. 2. The physical input material(s) 304 and output materials) 306 may be associated with one or more properties such as those related to the compounding system 300. The input material properties may vary. The variation of input material properties may be based on the plastics value chain 100 described in Fig. 1 and / or 210 in Fig.2. The variation of input material properties may be based on the production of the input material(s). The variation of input material properties may be based on the feedstock used to produce the input material(s). The variation of input material properties may refer to the use of fossil and / or non-fossil feedstock. Non-fossil feedstock may have higher property variations. Fossil feedstock may have less property variations due to higher purities and a narrower property spectrum. Input material properties may relate to the further processing such as compounding. Input material properties may refer to viscosity, density, melting point, or the like.

[0134] On entry of the input material(s) 304 at compounding system 300, the input material properties may be registered

[0135] On entry of the input material(s) 304 the quantity of the input material(s) may be registered. On entry of the input materials) 304 the date of the entry of the input material(s) may be registered On entry may be defined as the entry at the compounder 300. The input material properties such as those related to the product data may be digitalized. The production operating system 302 of the compounding system 300 may be configured to ingest such input material property data.

[0136] The production operating system 302 may be configured to access data related the input materials 304, the processes and / or the output material(s) 306 of the compounding system 300. On entry of the input material(s) 304, input material property data 308 may be provided via a communication network to a computing interface of the production operating system 206. The input material property data 308 data may be transferred from a computing system to the operating system 302.

[0137] A digital identifier may be uniquely linked to the physical material(s) such as the input material(s). The linking may include a physical or virtual link of identifiers uniquely associated with the physical input material(s). For physical linking a tag or code may be physically connected to the material, e.g., by printing a QR code on the packaging. For digital linking different identifiers associated with the physical material may be linked. Digital identifiers may include an order number, a batch number, LOT number or a combination thereof. A data provider, such as a QR code reader, may be configured to provide data 308 related to the one or more input material(s) 302 and respective properties to a computing interface configured to register the properties associated with the input material(s) 304.

[0138] The input material(s) 304 may include non-fossil input material(s). The input material(s) 304 may include input materials) being produced using non-fossil input material such as non-fossil feedstock (see Fig.2). The input material(s) 304 may include at least partially non-fossil input material(s). The input material(s) 304 may include non-fossil and / or fossil input material(s). The input material(s) 202 for the compounding system 300 may include polymers and / or addi- tive(s) and / or filler(s) and / or pigment(s) as described in detail in Fig.2.

[0139] The data related to the input materials 308 may include the digital identifier and property data such as material properties associated with the input material(s) 202 as described in detail in Fig.2. Data related to the input material(s) may relate to property data and / or process data and / or input material concentration(s). Input material properties may be relevant for the process parameters and / or input material concentration (s) in compounding. Input material properties may refer to viscosity, density, melting point or the like. The data related to the input material(s) 308 may include measurements derived from the production of the input material(s). The data related to the input material(s) 308 may include process parameter(s) for the compounding of the input material(s). The process parameter for the compounding of the input material(s) may relate to the input material properties of the respective input material(s). The process parameters may be derived from a model.

[0140] The property data related to the input material(s) 308 may be provided on, prior or after providing of the one or more input material(s) 304 at entry points to the compounding system 300. The digital identifier may be linked to the data related to the input material(s) 308 associated with the respective input material(s) 304 and the amount of input material The amount of input material(s) may be a measured amount of input material(s) 304 fed to a plant or storage of the compounding system 300 for producing one or more output material(s) 306 from the input material(s) 304. The digital identifier associated with the respective input material(s) 304, the input material properties associated with the respective input material(s) 304 and the amount of input material(s) 304 provided to the compounding system 300 may be provided to the production operating system 302.

[0141] Compounding 326 may refer to a plastics processing process as described in detail in Fig. 2.

[0142] Compounding equipment may refer to any assets related to the compounding process. The compounding equipment may refer to any assets, which are directly involved in the compounding process. The compounding equipment may refer to any assets, which are used in the pre-treatment of the compound. The compounding equipment may refer to any assets, which are used in the post-treatment of the compound. The equipment may refer to sensors, actuators, the production control system, extruders, heaters, cooling units, screws, cylinders, die heads and / or pelletizers. Equipment operating conditions may refer to any characteristics or values that represent the state of the equipment such as the calibration status, speed, maintenance data and / or vibration measurement.

[0143] The compounding process may be a continuous process employing an extruder. The compounding process may be conducted using various extruder types. Extruder-types may be single-screw extruders, twin-screw extruders and / or multiple-screw extruders such as planetary roller extruders. The extruder-types may be built-up in a modular way. The extruder may be built-up in segments. The segments may partition the extruder in parts such as process steps. The segments may partition the extruder along the longitudinal axis. The segments may start at the beginning of the compounding such as the intake. There may be additional intake(s) in following segments (not shown). The segments may end at the exit of the compounding / extruder such as the die head The segments may comprise multiple extruder-types The segments may comprise input material feeds. The segments may be altered to adapt the extruder to the variation of input material properties.

[0144] The tasks of an extruder may be the intake of input materials). The tasks of an extruder may be the discharge of the reworked ingredient and / or ingredient mixture. The discharge may be the compound. Additional processing steps that may be fulfilled by an extruder are any combination of: Intake of additional solids or liquids and / or plastification and / or mixing of different input material(s) and / or dispersion and / or homogenization and / or degassing. At the end of the extruder a die head may be attached. After compounding, the compound such as the plastic material may be cooled. After cooling the plastic material may be pelletized. Pelletizing may refer to cutting the plastic material into smaller parts. The plastic material may be fractioned. The plastic material may be packaged for additional process steps such as transportation.

[0145] The production operating system 302 may be configured to monitor the compounding system 300 and / or the compounding 326. The production operating system 302 may be configured to monitor the additional process steps. The monitoring of the compounding 326 may be based on process parameters such as compounding process parameters. The monitoring of the compounding 326 may be based on the input material data 308. One process step monitored may be the feed of input material(s) 304 or the release of output material(s) 306. Another process step monitored may be the registration of input material data entering the compounding line. Yet another process step monitored may be the concentration of input material(s) 304. Concentration of input material(s) 304 may refer to the concentration at the start of compounding 326. Concentration of input material(s) may refer to the concentration during compounding 326. Concentration of input material (s) may refer to the concentration at the end of compounding 326. Yet another process step monitored may be the compounding of the input material (s) 304. Yet another process step monitored may be the adjustment of the process parameters. Yet another process step monitored may be the feed of additional input material (s) 304.

[0146] The production operating system 302 of the compounding line may be configured to control the compounding system 300 and / or the compounding 302. The production operating system 302 may be configured to control the additional processing steps. The controlling of the compounding 326 may be based on compounding process parameters. The controlling of the compounding 326 may be based on the input material property data 308. One process step controlled may be the feed of input materials 304 and / or the release of output material(s) 306. Another process step controlled may be the registration of input material data entering the compounding 326. Yet another process step controlled may be concentration of input material (s) 304. Yet another process step controlled may be the compounding of the input material (s) 304. Yet another process controlled may be the process parameters such as the compounding process parameters. Concentration of input material(s) 304 may refer to the concentration at the start of compounding 326. Concentration of input material(s) 202 may refer to the concentration during compounding 326. Concentration of input material(s) 202 may refer to the concentration at the end of the compounding 326. The process parameters may be controlled during compounding. Yet another process step controlled may be the adjustment of the processing parameters. Yet another process step controlled may be the feed of additional input material(s) 304.

[0147] Compounding process data may refer to data measured during the production process. Compounding process data may be measured via one or more sensors. Compounding process data may be time-series data of compounding process data. Compounding process data may be time-series data of equipment operating conditions. Compounding process data may be time-series data of compounding process data and / or equipment operating conditions. Compounding process data may be acquired during the one or more process steps of the compounding 226.

[0148] Compounding process data may refer to any to the production process related variables such as extruder torque, extruder screw speed, extruder temperatures, compound temperatures, compound pressure, compound viscosity, compound composition, compound moisture, additive and / or pigment and / or filler dispersion, additive and / or pigment and / or filler orientation, time, level, and the like. The temperatures involved in compounding may vary depending on the setup and the processed materials. Input material(s) may be fed into the extruder at room temperature but may be preconditioned otherwise. Polymeric material(s) may be fed at a temperature below their melting temperature. For most engineering plastics, this may cover a temperature range of 5-150 °C. The plastic compound may then be discharged in a molten state, typically corresponding to a temperature range of 200-460 °C, depending on the used materials Employed heating in the compounding process may be individually defined for each zone, section, module, or cylinder. The heating may be oriented at these temperature ranges. Hence, typical cylinder or singular machine part temperatures used may be in the range of 5-400 °C, depending on the used materials.

[0149] Compounding process data may refer to data being measured during the pre-treatment of the plastic material. Compounding process data may refer to data being measured during the post-treatment of the plastic material. Compounding process data may refer to data being measured during the pre-treatment and / or post-treatment of the plastic material such as cooling media temperature, cooling media heat exchange rate, compound moisture, compound geometry before pelletizing, compound geometry after pelletizing, density, optical properties and the like.

[0150] During compounding 326, the compounding process data may be measured by one or more sensors. Sensors may be used for measuring parameters related to the compounding process data. Sensors may be used for measuring parameters related to the compounding equipment. There may be different types of sensors. The types of sensors may be based on the parameter the respective type of sensor senses. The types of sensors may be based on the sensing principles the respective sensor uses. The measurement(s) may be performed in frequent time intervals. The time intervals may have a length of less than half an hour, preferably less than 30 minutes, more preferably less than 15 minutes.

[0151] The production operating system 302 may be configured to gather the process data such as the compounding process data. The production operating system 302 may be configured to gather the data related to the input material(s) such as the input material properties. The production operating system 302 may be configured to gather the input material concentration. Compounding process data, data related to the input material(s) and / or input material concentration may be associated with the compounding of the respective material portion such as a batch. Compounding process data, input material properties and / or input material concentration may be associated with the compounding of the respective material portion and / or the digital identifier of the respective material portion. Compounding process data, input material properties and / or input material concentration may be gathered prior, during and / or after the compounding. Compounding process data, data related to the input material(s) 308 and / or input material concentration may be stored in a database 322.

[0152] The measured compounding process data associated with the compounding 326 may be analyzed. The data related to the input material (s) 308 may be analyzed. The measured compounding process data and / or the data related to the input material(s) 308 may be analyzed. The analysis may be conducted prior to the compounding process. The analysis may be conducted during the compounding process. The analysis may be conducted after the compounding process. The analysis may be conducted before and / or during and / or after the compounding process. The analysis may be conducted analyzing a sample at a laboratory.

[0153] In an embodiment, the analysis may include a comparison with reference measurements. The analysis may be provided based on the modeling with reference measurements. The analysis may be provided based on modeling with compounding process data and / or reference measurements such as reference compounding processing data The analysis may be provided based on modeling with input material properties and / or reference input material properties. The analysis may be provided based on modeling with input material concentrations and / or reference input material concentrations. The analysis may be provided based on modeling with reference measurements such as reference compounding process data and / or reference data related to the input material(s) 308 and / or reference input material concentrations.

[0154] Reference compounding process data may be stored in a database. Reference compounding process data may include a given value adhering to desired compounding data. The reference compounding process data may refer to historical compounding process data. The reference compounding process data may refer to the requirements of compounding processing data to be suitable for further processing in the production chain. The reference compounding process data may comply with the requirements of predetermined specifications such as specifications for the compounding 326. The reference compounding process data may comply with the requirements of established acceptance criteria such as acceptance criteria for the output material(s) 306. The reference compounding process data may comply with the requirements relating to the use of the produced product such as the plastic material and / or plastic part. The reference compounding process data may comply with the requirements relating to the recycling of the produced product. The reference compounding process data may refer to a value range or to a value. The reference compounding process data may have been determined using one or more tests, thus defining the requirements for the product to be suitable for one or more applications. The data derived from the analysis may relate to viscosities, mechanical properties, burning behavior, density, thermal conductivity, electrical properties and / or optical properties.

[0155] Based on a comparison of and / or a model using compounding processing data and / or the reference compounding processing data, a report may be provided. Based on the comparison of and / or a model using compounding processing data and / or the reference compounding processing data, a warning signal may be provided. Based on the comparison of and / or a model using compounding processing data and / or the reference compounding processing data, adjustment data may be provided.

[0156] The deviation of the reference compounding process data to the compounding process data may be transferred to the model. The deviation of the reference compounding processing data to the compounding process data may be monitored. The deviation of the reference compounding processing data to the compounding process data may be used for controlling the compounding 326. The monitoring and / or controlling of the compounding process may include generating adjusted process parameters and / or adjusted input material concentrations. The adjustment of the process parameter and / or the input material concentration may be performed in a closed-loop manner. The adjustment may be performed in frequent time intervals. The time intervals may have a length of less than half an hour, preferably less than 30 minutes, more preferably less than 15 minutes

[0157] A complex model may be suitable for the processing of adjusted parameters based on the compounding process data and / or the property data related to the input material(s) and / or the input material concentration. The model may be used to determine one or more adjusted process parameters for the compounding process. The model may be used to determine one or more adjusted process parameters for downstream process(es) of the production chain. The model may be used to determine one or more adjusted input material concentrations for the compounding process. The model may be used to determine one or more adjusted input material concentrations for downstream processes) of the production chain. The model may be used to determine one or more adjusted input material concentrations and / or one or more adjusted process parameters. The adjusted parameters may be the output data of the model. The output data may be part of a training data set.

[0158] Input data of the model may be the property data related to the input material(s) 3O8.The input data may be the compounding process data such as current compounding process data. The input data may be the reference measurements such as historical process data. The input data may be the concentration of the input materials. The input data may be property data related to the input material(s) and / or the compounding process data and / or the concentration of input material properties. The input data may be part of the training data set.

[0159] The model may represent a correlation between output data and input data. The model may obtain the correlation between output data and input data based on a training data set comprising a plurality of input data and a plurality of output data.

[0160] The model may comprise at least one machine-learning architecture and model parameters. For example, the machine-learning architecture may be or may comprise one or more of: linear regression, logistic regression, random forest, piecewise linear, nonlinear classifiers, support vector machines, naive Bayes classifications, nearest neighbors, neural networks, convolutional neural networks, generative adversarial networks, support vector machines, or gradient boosting algorithms or the like. In the case of a neural network, the model may be a multi-scale neural network or a recurrent neural network (RNN) such as, but not limited to, a gated recurrent unit (GRU), vision transformer or a long short-term memory (LSTM) recurrent neural network.

[0161] The model may be parametrized based on the training data set. The data-driven model may be trained based on the training data set. The training data set may comprise at least one input and at least one desired output. The training data set may comprise a plurality of input data and a plurality of output data. T raining the model may include parametrizing the model. The data-driven model may be parametrized and / or trained to provide output data based on input data. Providing output data based on input data may include determining output data based on input data. Providing output data based on input data may comprise mapping input data to output data. The data derived from the analysis may relate values for viscosities, mechanical properties, burning behavior, density, thermal conductivity, electrical properties and / or optical properties.

[0162] Based on the data derived from the measurements, the analysis and / or the model, the production operating system may be configured to generate adjusted compounding process parameters and / or adjusted input material concentration The adjusted process parameters and / or adjusted input material concentrations may be used for monitoring and / or controlling the compounding 326 Based on the data derived from the measurements, the analysis and / or the model, the production operating system may be configured to generate adjusted compounding process parameters and / or adjusted input material concentration for the downstream participant in the plastic value chain as described in Fig. 2. The adjusted process parameters and / or adjusted input material concentrations may be used for monitoring and / or controlling the production process by the downstream participant.

[0163] Examples for adjusted compounding process parameters may include higher speed of the screws, temperature of the extruder to compensate a high viscosity during compounding. Examples for adjusted input material concentrations may include higher concentration of a filler or the feed of additional other polymers.

[0164] The adjustment of the compounding process parameter and / or the input material concentration may be performed in a closed-loop manner. The adjustment may be performed in frequent time intervals.

[0165] An example for adjusted compounding process parameters may be based on the monitoring of the viscosity during compounding 326. The viscosity of the compound may be directly measured with inline or online rheometry devices. The viscosity of the compound may be derived from compounding process parameters such as melt pressures, extruder torque and throughput. The viscosity may be derived by recalculation the viscosity of the produced plastic material from measured pressure and force values, such as the extruder torque, and calculation of the volume flow, which may be derived from throughput and geometry of extruder and / or die head. The viscosity may be derived by employing offline reference measurements of the viscosity. The offline reference measurements of the viscosity may be linked to monitored changes in compounding process parameters such as melt pressures, extruder torque and melt temperatures. A change in the monitored processing patterns may be allocated to a corresponding viscosity change. The measurement of the temperature may allow for additional allocation of the viscosity to a specific melt temperature. Based on the monitoring of the viscosity and / or additional models as described, the input material concentration may be adjusted.

[0166] The adjusted process parameters and / or adjusted input material concentrations may be used for monitoring and / or controlling the compounding 326.

[0167] A compounding data collector 310 may be configured to gather data associated with the compounding. Data associated with the compounding may include process parameters and / or input material concentrations and / or property data related to the input material(s) and / or adjusted process parameters and / or adjusted process parameters.

[0168] An identifier provider ID2 318 may be configured to provide the digital identifier associated with the plastic material produced by the compounding system 300 and provided at the exit point from the compounding system 300. An outbound assignor 316 may be configured to assign the determined compounding data to the digital identifier ID2. The outbound assignor 316 may be configured to provide the compounding data associated with the plastic material to a data consumer such as a plastic material user. The outbound assignor 316 may be configured to provide the compounding data associated with the plastic material to a decentral network 218 as described in the context of FIG. 1

[0169] Fig. 4 illustrates an example of a method for monitoring a production process comprising a compounding process of a plastic article or component thereof.

[0170] In block 401 one or more digital identifier(s) associated with the input material(s) including polymer(s), filler(s) and / or additive(s) to be used for production of the plastic article may be provided. The digital identifier® may be uniquely linked to the input material(s) as described in detail in Fig. 3. The digital identifier(s) may be associated with one or more digital identifiers. The digital identifier(s) may be one or more decentral identifier(s). The decentral identifier(s) may comprise any unique identifier uniquely associated with the producer of the input material(s) and input materials). The decentral identifier may include authentication information. Via the decentral identifier and its unique association with the producer of the input material(s) and input material® access to property data related to the input material(s) may be controlled by the producer of the plastic article or component.

[0171] The input material(s) may include non-fossil input material(s) and / or fossil input material(s) as described in Fig.2.

[0172] In block 402 based on the one or more digital identifier(s) property data associated with the input material(s) including polymer(s), filler(s) and / or additive(s) may be provided. The property data may relate to a variation in one or more properties of input material® produced at least in part from the one or more non-fossil input material(s). The property data related to the input material(s) 308 may include measurements derived from the production of the input material(s) from the one or more non-fossil input material(s). The property data related to the input material(s) 308 may include measurements derived prior and / or after the production of the input material (s). The data related to the input material(s) 308 may include process parameter for the compounding of the input material(s). The process parameter for the compounding of the input material(s) may relate to the input material properties of the respective input material (s) The process parameters may be derived from a model.

[0173] The digital identifier associated with the respective input material(s), the input material properties associated with the respective input material(s) and the amount of input material® provided to the compounder may be provided to the production operating system as described in detail in Fig. 3.

[0174] In block 403 reference production data associated with the production of the plastic article or component thereof may be provided, wherein the reference production data relates to production conditions for producing the plastic article or component thereof from input material(s) produced from fossil input material(s). Reference production data may relate to process data and / or input material concentration®. Process data may refer to compounding process data measured at the beginning, end of and / or during the production process. Input material concentrations may refer to the share of the input material(s) measured at the beginning, end of and / or during the production process. Process data and / or input material concentrations may refer to historical data. Process data and / or input material concentrations may refer to reference values for producing a plastic article and / or component thereof. The process data may be provided by a production operating system. The process data may be provided by a data providing network node associated with the production of the input material(s). The process data and / or input material concentrations may be provided as described in detail in Fig. 3.

[0175] In block 404 based on the property data associated with input material(s) and the reference production data associated with the production of the plastic article or component thereof, adjusted production data for the production process of a plastic article or component thereof may be generated. The generation may include comparison of the data derived from the measurements, comparison of the data derived from the measurements and historical data, the analysis of the data derived from measurements and / or employing a data-driven model. The model may comprise at least one machine-learning architecture and model parameters as described in detail in Fig. 3. The production operating system may be configured to generate adjusted production data for the producing a plastic article or component thereof.

[0176] In block 405 the adjusted production data for monitoring and / or controlling a production process of the plastic article based on input material(s) as signified by the one or more digital identifiers may be provided. The adjusted production data may be provided associated with the input material(s) for monitoring a production process of a plastic article or component thereof. The adjusted production data may relate to adjusted process parameters and / or adjusted input material concentration. The adjusted production data may be provided by a data providing network node associated with the production of the input material(s). The production operating system may be configured to monitor the compounding system and / or the production of the plastic article or component thereof based on the adjusted process parameters and / or adjusted input material concentrations. Monitoring may include the processes as described in detail in Fig. 3.

[0177] Fig. 5 illustrates an example embodiment of the monitoring and / or controlling of the production process and data transaction via the decentral network.

[0178] The compounding system 500 may include multiple processing steps. The production steps such as input material concentrations and / or the process parameters may be adjusted based on the variation of input material properties. Monitoring and / or controlling of the compounding may be performed to adhere to the product performance for further production processes of the plastics value chain based on the input material properties. The input material properties may be collected and / or provided via the decentral network as described in detail in Fig. 1.

[0179] For producing one or more output material(s) 506 various input material(s) 504 may be provided as physical inputs to the compounding system 500 as described in detail in Fig. 3. The physical input material(s) 504 and output materials) 506 may be associated with one or more properties. The properties may be related to the compounding system 500. The property data such as the input material properties may vary. The variation of input material properties may be based on the plastics value chain 210 (see Fig. 2). The variation of input material properties may be based on the production of the input material(s). The variation of input material properties may be based on the feedstock used to produce the input material(s). The variation of input material properties may refer to the use of fossil and / or non-fossil feedstock. Non-fossil feedstock may have higher property variations. Fossil feedstock may have less property variations due to higher purities and a narrower property spectrum. Input material properties may relate to the further processing such as compounding. Input material properties may refer to viscosity, density, melting point or the like.

[0180] The production operating system 502 may be configured to access data related the input materials 504, the processes and / or the output material(s) 506 of the compounding system 500. On entry of the input material(s) 504, input material property data 508 may be provided via a decentral network to a computing interface of the production operating system 506.

[0181] The input material(s) 502 may be associated with an access element such as a product passport. The access element may include a decentral identifier 508 and data related to product data associated with the plastic waste. Data related to the product data may include one or more digital representation(s) pointing to product data or part(s) thereof. The digital representation may comprise at least one interface to a decentral data providing network node. It may include an endpoint for data exchange or sharing (resource endpoint) or an endpoint for service interaction (service endpoint), that is uniquely identified via the data transaction protocol. The digital representation(s) pointing to product data or parts thereof may be uniquely associated with the decentral identifier. Data related to the property data may include the property data or parts thereof. Data related to the property data may include data related to the product and or the processing of the product as illustrated in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3. The decentral identifier(s) 508 may be associated with the physical entity of the input material(s) 502 entering the compounding system e.g., in the form of a QR-code having encoded the decentral identifier 508. The QR-code of the input material 502 may be read through a QR-code reader 509. The decentral identifier(s) 508 may be associated with the physical entity of the input materials) 502 entering the compounding system 500 and the amount of input material(s) 502 entering the compounding system 500.

[0182] Based on the received decentral identifier(s) 508, a request to access the property data associated with the decentral identifier(s) 508 may be triggered by the decentral data consuming network node 503.2a associated with the compounding system. The request may be provided to the decentral data providing network node associated with the monomer and / or polymer production (see Fig. 1). The decentral data consuming network node 503.2a and the decentral data providing network node associated with the monomer and / or polymer production may both be part of the decentral network 102 as illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0183] The property data provided by monomer and / or polymer production may be used for the monitoring and / or controlling of the compounding system as described in detail in Fig. 3. Monitoring and / or controlling of the compounding system may include the adjusting of the process parameter and / or input material concentrations based on the property data provided by the monomer and / or polymer production.

[0184] A compounding data collector (not shown in Fig.5) may be configured to gather data associated with the compounding such as property data associated with the compounding. Property data associated with the compounding may include process parameters and / or input material concentrations and / or data related to the input material(s) and / or adjusted process parameters and / or adjusted process parameters. Property data associated with the compounding may include instructions sets and / or operation instructions for the further processing.

[0185] A request to generate the access element may be generated, for example by a requestor (not shown). The requestor may be configured to generate a request to provide a decentral identifier associated with the product data such as the property data. The request may further include an owner identifier associated with the data owner of the product data and / or a product identifier. The request may be provided to the decentral identifier provider ID2 516.

[0186] The decentral ID provider 516 may be configured to generate and provide the decentral identifier. The decentral ID provider 516 may include a decentral ID generator configured to generate the decentral identifier. The decentral ID provider 516 may be coupled to a decentral ID generator (not shown). The decentral ID provider 516 may be configured to provide the decentral identifier to access element generator 514. The decentral ID provider 516 may be configured to provide the generated decentral identifier to an assignor configured to assign said decentral identifier to a physical identifier connected to the produced product. Such association may include encoding the decentral identifier ID2 516 into a QR code and providing the QR code for labelling the packaging of the output material(s) 504. This way a physical identifier may be provided that relates the physical entity of output material (s) with the decentral identifier ID2.

[0187] The access element generator 514 may be configured to generate the access element associated with the product. The access element, such as an access element associated with the plastic material, may include the decentral identifier ID2 provided from decentral ID provider 516 and data related to the property data (e.g. data related to the plastic material data). The data related to the property data may be gathered from database 522 The data related to the property data may be generated by access element generator 514 based on the property data stored in database 522. The data related to the property data may include one or more digital representation (s) pointing to the property data or parts thereof as previously described. Data related to the property data may include the property data or parts thereof. The access element may include or be related to one or more authentication mechanisms associated with the decentral identifier ID2 and the data related to the property data. The access element generator 514 may be configured to provide the generated access element to access element provider 503.2b.

[0188] The access element provider may be a decentral data providing network node associated with the compounding system 500. The access element provider 503.2b may be a part of the decentral network 100 as described in detail in Fig. 1 . The access element provider 503.2b may be configured to provide the access element for access by decentral data consuming network node(s), such as a decentral data consuming network node associated with a consumer of the plastic material, such as injection molding or extrusion system 101.3 (see FIG.1 ). For instance, the access element provider 503 2b may be configured to provide the access element to a access element registry (not shown) The data consuming service 503.3 may be configured to access said access element registry. The access element provider 503.2b may be configured to provide the property data associated with the access element data to a decentral data consuming network node 503.3.

[0189] Via the decentral network, the plastic part production system such as the injection moulding or extrusion system may access the data related to the property data associated with the plastic material through the decentral identifier and the access element. The property data may be associated with data relating to the adjusted compounding process parameters. The property data may be associated with data relating to the adjusted compounding process parameters, which are determined by the model. The plastics part manufacturer may adjust the plastics part processing based on the estimated processing and / or material behavior.

[0190] Fig. 6 illustrates a simplified example embodiment for a digital twin of plastic material(s) provided for access and associated property data.

[0191] The example data structure may be associated with plastic material(s) or a part thereof. The data structure may be regarded as a digital twin or a part of the physical entity of the plastic material or the part thereof. The digital twin may be a digital representation of a physical entity of the product or part thereof with a defined semantic description of said physical entity of the plastic material or part thereof. The digital twin of the physical entity of the plastic material or part thereof is hence a digital version of said physical entity. Once created, the digital twin can be used to represent the physical entity of the plastic material or part thereof in a digital representation of a real-world system. The data contained in the data structure may depend on the type of plastic material or part thereof. The data contained in the data structure may depend on the data provided to the injection moulding and / or extrusion system.

[0192] In this example, the data contained in the data structure include the input material type such as the ID associated with the digital identifier, the indication of the property type such as viscosity and / or melting point, the property data related to the property type and the material composition The material composition may relate to the feedstock used to produce the input material(s) or the feedstock for the educts used to produce input material(s). The ID and the property data such as the property type and the material composition may be uniquely linked to the ID. The unique relation enables the adjustment of the process parameters and / or input material concentrations in relation to the respective input material data associated with the digital identifier.

[0193] Via the decentral network, the injection moulder or extrusion system may access the digital twin through the decentral identifier and the access element as described in detail in Fig. 1 and Fig. 5. The data may be used to adjust the process parameters of the injection moulding and / or extrusion to adhere to the product performance and / or low variation of the property data of the plastic part based on the property data.

[0194] The variations of viscosity may affect the mechanical properties of a plastic article or component thereof. The variations of viscosity may influence toughness or elastic modulus of a plastic article or a component thereof. This may be compensated by adjusting the plastic forming conditions such as shear, shear rate, elongation and / or rate of elongation and / or the cooling conditions during production of a plastic article or part thereof.

[0195] Adjustments of the process parameters based on the property data related to the input material(s) may include the adjustment of the injection pressure based on the plastic material rheology to allow for comparable mold-filling and / or adjustment of tooling temperatures to influence the degree of crystallinity and hence the final mechanical part-proper- ties Sharing of property data related to the input material(s) may allow to compensate variations of the properties related to the input material(s) leading to plastic article(s) or components thereof with low variations of properties.

[0196] Fig. 7 illustrates another simplified example embodiment for a digital twin of plastic material(s) provided for access and associated property data relating to the production ID and operating conditions.

[0197] The example data structure may be associated with plastic materi al (s) or a component thereof. The data structure may be regarded as a digital twin or a part of the physical entity of the plastic material or the part thereof as described in Fig. 6.

[0198] In this example, the data contained in the data structure include the input material type such as the ID associated with the digital identifier, the indication of the property type such as viscosity and / or melting point, the property data related to the property type, the material composition, the production ID and / or the operating condition. The material composition may relate to the feedstock used to produce the input material(s) or the feedstock for the educts used to produce input material(s). The production ID1 includes data relating to the extrusion X such as the data including the extrusion system of a plastic part producer and / or data including an extrusion plant. The operating condition may relate to at least one operating condition of the respective compounding process used to produce the input material(s) relating to ID1. The operating conditions may include measurements derived from sensors during the respective compounding process. The operating condition of the compounding may include data of compound composition, rheology data, extruder screw speed and / or additive / pigment / filler orientation. The operating conditions may help to enhance the data shown in Fig. 6. This may allow to provide input material(s) being suitable for specific further processing such as indicated in the production ID. Being suitable for specific further processing may relate to properties derived from operating conditions.

[0199] In another example, the operating conditions may relate to the operating conditions of the production process of the plastic article or component thereof using the compound, such as the extrusion or the injection moulding. The production ID and / or the operating conditions may be sent the operating conditions based on the production process as signified by the production ID to the data consuming network node associated with the production process of the plastic article or component thereof.

[0200] The ID and the property data such as the production ID and the operating conditions may be uniquely linked. The unique relation enables the adjustment of the process parameters and / or input material concentrations in relation to the respective input material data associated with the digital identifier. Examples for adjusting process parameters and / or input material concentrations are described in Fig. 6.

[0201] Via the decentral network, the injection moulder and / or extrusion system may access the digital twin of the input materials) through the decentral identifier and the access element as described in detail in Fig. 1 and Fig. 5.

[0202] Fig. 8 illustrates another simplified example embodiment for a digital twin of plastic material(s) provided for access and associated property data relating to the production ID and operating instruction.

[0203] The example data structure may be associated with plastic material(s) or a part thereof. The data structure may be regarded as a digital twin or a part of the physical entity of the plastic material or the part thereof as described in Fig. 6.

[0204] In this example, the data contained in the data structure may include the input material type such as the ID associated with the digital identifier, the indication of the property type such as viscosity and / or melting point, the property data related to the property type, the material composition, the production ID and / or the operating instruction. The material composition may relate to the feedstock used to produce the input material(s) or the feedstock for the educts used to produce input material(s).

[0205] The production ID1 may include the data relating to the extrusion X such as the data including the extrusion system of a plastic part producer and / or data including an extrusion plant. The operating instructions may include the instruction set 1 for the extrusion system x of the input material relating to the input material type ID1 . Instruction set 1 may include the operating instructions for extrusion X of input material relating to ID1 based on the operating conditions of the compounding process and / or the property data and / or material composition used to produce the respective input material.

[0206] The ID and the property data such as the production ID and the operating instruction may be uniquely linked. The unique relation enables the adjustment of the process parameters and / or input material concentrations in relation to the respective input material associated with the digital identifier

[0207] Via the decentral network, the injection moulder or extrusion system may access the digital twin through the decentral identifier and the access element as described in detail in Fig. 1 and Fig. 5.

[0208] Fig. 9 illustrates an example decentral network environment with network nodes configured to provide property data associated with the input material(s) and / or the adjusted production data for monitoring and / or controlling a production process of the plastic article in association with providing the input material(s). The decentral network environment may include one or more network node(s) associated with the compounding system, the injection moulding or the extrusion system and / or the adjusted production data generating engine. The network nodes may be associated with a data consuming service comprising computer-executable instructions for accessing and / or processing data associated with the data owner. The network nodes may be associated with a data providing service comprising computer-executable instructions for providing and / or processing data associated with the data owner for accessing and / or processing by the data consuming service. The data owner in this example may be the compounding system such as the input material producer. The data owner may comprise any entity generating data. The data generating node may be coupled to the data owner or the entity owning or producing physical products from or for which data is generated. The data may be generated by a third-party entity on behalf of the entity owning physical products from or for which data is generated.

[0209] The property data may include for example the viscosity and / or melting point of the input material. The validation inputs may include one or more production data properties related to production data used to generate the input environmental property. The production data may include process data gathered from compounding of the input material and / or property data of the materials used to produce the input material. The property data may include data as described in the context of Figs. 6 to 8.

[0210] The input material as produced by the compounding system may be provided in association with a digital asset as described in the context of Figs.1 and 5. The input material may be associated with a physical identifier connected to the input material. The physical identifier may be related to the digital asset associated with the input material. The digital asset may include the digital identifier. The digital asset may include property data or parts thereof, such as one or more properties like viscosity, recycled content or bio-based content. The digital asset may include a digital representation of the property data or parts thereof such as one or more properties like viscosity, recycled content or bio-based content.

[0211] The digital asset may further include or relate to authentication and / or authorization information linked to the digital identifier. The authentication and / or authorization information may be provided for authentication and / or authorization of a data provider and / or data consumer. The digital identifier may include or relate to a decentral identifier, that is uniquely associated with the input material. The decentral identifier may be connected to the digital representation of the property data. The digital representation may include a representation for accessing the property data or parts thereof. The decentral identifier may include a Universally Unique IDentifier (UUID) or a Digital IDentifier (DID). The decentral identifier may include any unique identifier uniquely associated with a data owner and / or input material.

[0212] The data owner may be the producer of the input material. Via the decentral identifier and its unique association with the data owner and / or input material access to the property data may be controlled by the data owner.

[0213] The digital asset including the digital representation of the property data comprising one or more properties like viscosity, recycled content or bio-based content may be stored in a decentral data base. The property data may be stored in a data base associated with the data owner, such as the producer of the input material. The property data may be provided from a decentral network node associated with the production of the input material to one or more decentral network node(s) associated with the production of the output material and / or the adjusted production data generating engine.

[0214] The input material may be physically delivered to plastic(s) article or component thereof producer using the input material The input material may be connected with a QR-code having encoded the digital identifier. The plastic(s) article or component thereof producer using the input material may read the QR-code through a QR-code reader. The digital identifier may be provided to a data base associated with the plastic(s) article or component thereof producer using the input material. In other embodiments the plastic(s) article or component thereof producer using the input material may retrieve the digital identifier through the decentral data base.

[0215] Based on the received digital identifier a request to access the property data associated with the digital identifier may be triggered by the data consuming service associated with the network node(s) of the plastic(s) article or component thereof producer and / or the adjusted production data generating engine configured to generate adjusted production data based on the property data and / or production data. The digital identifier may be provided to the data providing service of the producer of the input material. In addition, authentication and / or authorization information may be provided.

[0216] The request may be authenticated and / or authorized to access the property data associated with the digital identifier. Based on successful authorization and / or authentication access to the property data or parts thereof associated with the digital identifier may be granted.

[0217] For access the digital identifier may be provided to the data providing service of the producer of the input material. The data providing service may use the received digital identifier to retrieve the property data or parts thereof associated with the input material from the data base associated with the producer of the input material. The property data or parts thereof associated with the input material provided to the data providing service may be provided to the data consuming service associated with the network node(s) of the production of the plastic(s) article or components thereof and / or the adjusted production data generating engine. The property data or parts thereof associated with the input material may be stored in the data base associated the production of the plastic(s) article or components thereof and / or the adjusted production data generating engine.

[0218] Through the digital identifier or decentral identifier, the property data or parts thereof can be uniquely associated with the input material. Through the decentral network the property data or parts thereof may be transferred between the producer of the input material and the production of the plastic(s) article or components thereof and / or the adjusted production data generating engine. This way the property data can be shared with unique association to the input material and without central intermediary directly between the value chain players. This allows for transparency of property data or parts thereof across the value chain. In an embodiment the production data may provided by a data providing network node associated with the production process of the plastic article or component thereof. The production data may be provided to the adjusted production data generating engine and / or the data consuming service of the input material(s) producer. The production data may be associated with an decentral identifier

[0219] Based on the property data associated with the input material (s), the production data associated with the production of the plastic article or component thereof, adjusted production data for the production process of a plastic article or component thereof may be generated. The adjusted production data may be generated by the adjusted production data generating engine.

[0220] The adjusted production data generating engine may include a method for generating adjusted production data of a plastic article of component thereof, wherein the plastic article or component thereof is to be produced based on one or more input material(s) produced from one or more non-fossil input material(s), the method comprising the steps of: providing property data including at least one digital identifier associated with the input material(s); providing production data including a digital identifier associated with the production of the plastic article or component thereof; generating, based on the property data associated with the input material(s), the production data associated with the production of the plastic article or component thereof, adjusted production data for the production process of a plastic article or component thereof; providing the generated adjusted production data for the production process of a plastic article or component thereof.

[0221] The adjusted production data generating engine may be configured to generate adjusted production data for the production process of a plastic article or component thereof. The generating engine may be part of the network node associated with the input material(s) producer, plastic article or component thereof producer and / or the adjusted production data generator. In the latter case, the property data may be provided from a decentral network node associated with the production of the input material(s) to generation instructions provided by a decentral network node associated with a adjusted production data generator configured to generate the adjusted production data. The generated adjusted production data may be provided from a decentral network node associated with a adjusted production data generator to a decentral network node associated with the production of the plastic article or component thereof.

[0222] Fig. 10 illustrates examples of plastics production processes of Polyamide 6.6, Polyamide 6 and PBT.

[0223] Fossil and / or non-fossil input material(s) may be used as input material(s) for the production of the one or more polymers) as illustrated in Fig. 10. Non-fossil input material (s) may relate to recycled, bio-based and / or renewable input material (s). may be multiple examples for fossil and / or non-fossil input material(s). Examples for recycled input materials are pyrolysis oil, pyrolysis gas, mechanically recycled polymer material or chemically recycled polymer material. The recycled material may relate to a mechanically or chemically recycled material. Recyclate or recycled material may include non-discrete material that may be further processed to produce new materials or chemical products. Recyclate or recycled material may include liquids, pellets, beats, powders, or the like. Examples for bio-based or renewable input materials are bio-based pyrolysis oil, bio-based pyrolysis gas, bio-based synthesis gas, bio-based hydrogen, bio-based naphtha, bio-based methane, bio-based ethane, bio-based propane, bio-based chemicals, renewable pyrolysis oil, renewable pyrolysis gas, renewable synthesis gas, renewable hydrogen, renewable naphtha, renewable methane, renewable ethane, renewable propane or renewable chemicals or any combinations thereof.

[0224] The fossil input material(s) or virgin input material(s) may include virgin raw material(s). Virgin raw material(s) may be raw material provided from natural resources. Examples for fossil or virgin input material(s) are crude oil, naphtha, methane, or the like. If the input material(s) include fossil and / or non-fossil material(s) may be determined based on the fossil and / or non-fossil material(s) input into the production value chain at the start of the production process. The precursor used to produce the one or more polymer(s) may be at least partially produced based on bio-based, recycled and / or renewable input material(s), which replaces at least in part crude oil and / or natural gas.

[0225] Polyamide 6.6, Polyamide 6 and / or PBT (Polybutylene terephthalate) may be used as polymer input material(s) for the compounding process. Polyamide 6.6, Polyamide 6 and / or PBT (Polybutylene terephthalate) may be the compounded polymer(s) comprising filler(s), additive(s), pigment(s) and / or additional polymer(s).

[0226] The present disclosure has been described in conjunction with preferred embodiments and examples as well. However, other variations can be understood and effected by those persons skilled in the art and practicing the claimed invention, from the studies of the drawings, this disclosure and the claims.

[0227] Any steps presented herein can be performed in any order. The methods disclosed herein are not limited to a specific order of these steps. It is also not required that the different steps are performed at a certain place or in a certain computing node of a distributed system, i.e. each of the steps may be performed at different computing nodes using different equipment / data processing.

[0228] As used herein .determining" also includes .initiating or causing to determine", "generating" also includes .initiating and / or causing to generate" and “providing” also includes “initiating or causing to determine, generate, select, send and / or receive”. “Initiating or causing to perform an action” includes any processing signal that triggers a computing node or device to perform the respective action.

[0229] In the claims as well as in the description the word “comprising” or “including” or similar wording does not exclude other elements or steps and shall not be construed limiting to the elements or steps lined out. The indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. A single element or other unit may fulfill the functions of several entities or items recited in the claims. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in the mutual different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used in an advantageous implementation or further elements may be included. Providing in the scope of this disclosure may include any interface configured to provide data. This may include an application programming interface, a human-machine interface such as a display and / or a software module interface. Providing may include communication of data or submission of data to the interface, in particular display to a user or use of the data by the receiving entity. Any disclosure and embodiments described herein relate to methods, apparatuses, materials, computer program elements lined out above and vice versa. Advantageously, the benefits provided by any of the embodiments and examples equally apply to all other embodiments and examples and vice versa.

[0230] All terms and definitions used herein are understood broadly and have their general meaning.

Claims

CLAIMS:1 . A method for monitoring and / or controlling a production process comprising a compounding process for producing a plastic article or component thereof, wherein the plastic article or component thereof is to be produced based on one or more input material(s) including polymer(s), filler(s) and / or additive(s) produced at least in part from one or more non-fossil input material (s), the method comprising the steps of: providing one or more digital identifier(s) associated with the one or more input material(s) including polymer(s), filler(s) and / or additive(s) to be used for the production of the plastic(s) article or component thereof; based on the one or more digital identifier(s) providing property data associated with the input materials), wherein the property data relates to a variation in one or more properties of the input material(s) including polymer(s), filler(s) and / or additive(s) produced at least in part from the one or more non-fos- sil input material(s); providing reference production data associated with the production of the plastic article or component thereof, wherein the reference production data relates to production conditions for producing the plastic article or component thereof from input material(s) produced from fossil input material(s); generating, based on the property data associated with the input material (s) and the reference production data associated with the production of the plastic article or component thereof, adjusted production data for the one or more production processes of a plastic article or component thereof; providing the adjusted production data for monitoring and / or controlling a production process of the plastic article based on input material (s) as signified by the one or more digital identifiers.

2. The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein the property data associated with the input material(s) including polymer(s), filler(s) and / or additive(s) relates to at least one property that correlates to the production process used to produce the input material(s).

3. The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein the reference production data associated with the production of the plastic article or component thereof includes reference compounding production data associated with the compounding process.

4. The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein the production data associated with the compounding process includes measured production data selected from the group comprising: compounding production data associated with one or more cylinder(s), compounding production data associated with one or more weigh feeders, compounding production data associated with one or more venting(s), compounding production data associated with one or more compounding machine part(s) compounding production data associated with properties of the material(s) in the compounding process, compounding accessories, post-extrusion processes, strand cooling processes, product transportation processes, pelletizing and / or under water granulation.

5. The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein the adjusted production data is generated based on measurements derived from one or more sensor(s) in one or more compounding process(es).

6. The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein generating the adjusted production data includes generating adjusted production data for the one or more compounding processes based on the property data associated with the input material(s) including polymer(s), filler(s) and / or additive(s) for producing a plastic article or component thereof.

7. The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein generating the adjusted production data includes generating adjusted production data for the one or more downstream production process(es) of the compounding process for producing a plastic article or component thereof based on the property data associated with output product(s) produced by the compounding process based on the input material(s) including polymer(s), filler(s) and / or additive(s) and the compounding production data.

8. The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein providing the adjusted production data for monitoring and / or controlling a production process of the plastic article based on input material(s) as signified by the one or more digital identifiers includes providing the production data to a downstream production process of the compounding process.

9. The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein the precursor used to produce the one or more poly- mer(s) is produced based on bio-based, recycled and / or renewable input material, wherein the bio-based, recycled and / or renewable input material replaces at least in part crude oil and / or natural gas as raw material input to the production value chain of the precursor.

10. The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein the property data relates to a variation in one or more properties of at least the precursor used to produce the one or more polymer(s) produced based on biobased, recycled and / or renewable input material or based on any mixture of bio-based, recycled and / or renewable input material.11 . The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein the reference production data is provided by a data providing network node associated with a downstream production process of the compounding process.

12. The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein the reference production data is provided based on at least part of the property data associated with the one or more input material(s) including polymer(s), filler(s) and / or additive(s) or with output product(s) produced by the compounding process based on the input materials) including polymer(s), filler(s) and / or additive(s).

13. An apparatus for monitoring and / or controlling a production process comprising a compounding process for producing a plastic article or component thereof, wherein the plastic article or component thereof is to be produced based on one or more input material(s) including polymer(s), filler(s) and / or additive(s) produced at least in part from one or more non-fossil input material(s), the method comprising the steps of: an identifier providing interface configured to provide one or more digital identifier(s) associated with the one or more input material(s) including polymer(s), filler(s) and / or additive(s) to be used for production of the plastic(s) article or component thereof; a data providing interface configured to provide based on the one or more digital identifier(s) providing property data associated with the input material(s), wherein the property data relates to a variation in one or more properties of the input material(s) including polymer(s), filler(s) and / or additive(s) produced at least in part from the one or more non-fossil input material (s); a data providing interface configured to provide reference production data associated with the production of the plastic article or component thereof, wherein the reference production data relates to production conditions for producing the plastic article or component thereof from input material(s) produced from fossil input material(s); an adjusted production data generator configured to generate, based on the property data associated with the input material(s) and the reference production data associated with the production of the plastic article or component thereof, adjusted production data for the one or more production processes of a plastic article or component thereof; a data providing interface configured to provide the adjusted production data for monitoring and / or controlling a production process of the plastic article based on input material(s) as signified by the one or more digital identifiers.

14. A plastic article or component thereof produced comprising a compounding process based on one or more input material(s) associated with a digital identifier and property data per input material, wherein the production of the plastic article or component thereof is monitored and / or controlled based on adjusted production data as generated according to any of the methods disclosed herein or by the apparatus disclosed herein.

15. Use of the adjusted production data for monitoring and / or controlling a production process of the plastic article based on input material(s) including polymer(s), filler(s) and / or additive(s) as signified by the one or more digital identifiers.

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