Full Report
Siemens' new SIRIUS 3RQ4 coupling relay is made of a bio-based, halogen-free, flame-retardant plastic from Envalior.
Analysis Summary
# Industry News: Sustainable Materials Drive Innovation in Industrial Components
## Summary
Siemens Smart Infrastructure has partnered with materials science firm Envalior to launch a new line of SIRIUS 3RQ4 coupling relays featuring housings made from a bio-based, halogen-free plastic derived from used cooking oil (UCO). This collaboration exemplifies a broader industry shift towards integrating circular economy principles and material sustainability into core industrial product design, setting new benchmarks for environmental performance in control components.
## Key Details
- Date: October 10, 2025
- Companies Involved: Siemens Smart Infrastructure, Envalior
- Category: Partnership and Product Launch (Sustainable Component)
## The Story
Siemens has introduced the new SIRIUS 3RQ4 coupling relay series, where the housing utilizes Envalior’s Akulon K225-KS B-MB plastic. This material is notable because it consists of 70% bio-based content sourced from used cooking oil (UCO), adhering to a mass balance concept to avoid incinerating the waste stream. The collaboration ensured the sustainable material met stringent industrial requirements, including high heat resistance, chemical resistance, and flame retardancy (UL94 V-0 at 0.4mm thickness). The new relays also meet the Siemens EcoTech label criteria, boasting 33% lower energy losses in the semiconductor variant, elimination of problematic materials like halogens and PFAS, and are designed for easy recycling. The relays are offered in three variants catering to harsh environments, plug-in replacement needs, and high-frequency switching applications.
## Business Impact
### For the Companies Involved
- **Siemens:** Enhances its portfolio's sustainability credentials, aligning with corporate environmental goals (EcoTech label), and potentially gaining market access from customers valuing green procurement. The fully automated production at Amberg shortens the European supply chain for these specific products.
- **Envalior:** Demonstrates the viability of replacing fossil-based engineering plastics with high-performance, bio-based circular materials in demanding industrial applications, strengthening its reputation as a leader in sustainable material solutions following its 2023 formation.
### For Competitors
- Competitors in industrial control gear manufacturing face increased pressure to disclose and improve the circularity and material origin of their components. Those lacking similar bio-content engineering plastic offerings may find their products less attractive in sustainability-focused tenders.
### For Customers
- End-users, particularly those operating under strict ESG mandates or in regulated environments (like ATEX-certified areas), gain access to high-performance relays with a significantly improved environmental footprint without compromising on durability or functionality. Reduced energy loss in the semiconductor variants also translates to lower operational costs over the lifecycle.
### For the Market
- This sets a measurable benchmark for sustainability in critical industrial hardware, signaling that "sustainability" is moving beyond software or energy management into the foundational physical components of industrial automation infrastructure.
## Technical Implications
The success hinges on Envalior's ability to deliver engineering plastics (Polyamide 6 grade) that maintain prime material quality (e.g., achieving UL94 V-0 rating, excellent flow behavior for thin-wall designs) derived from waste sources. The relays feature advanced characteristics, including safety-ready B10d values, ATEX certification, and an increased switching capacity of up to 6A in the semiconductor variants, matching conventional relay performance.
## Strategic Analysis
- **Market Positioning:** Siemens is strongly positioning its Smart Infrastructure division at the intersection of industrial reliability and environmental responsibility, leveraging strategic supplier partnerships to embed circular economy practices deep within its product line.
- **Competitive Advantage:** This initiative creates a first-mover advantage in highly specified, sustainable electromechanical components. It shifts the purchasing decision criteria beyond mere cost and performance to include verifiable material provenance.
- **Challenges:** Scaling the supply of high-quality, bio-based engineering plastics derived from UCO without negative supply chain impacts remains a critical challenge. Maintaining competitive pricing against established, high-volume fossil-based equivalents will also be key.
## Industry Reactions
- **Analyst Opinions:** Analysts likely view this as a significant proof point for the feasibility of mass-balancing sustainable materials in mission-critical industrial components, moving them from niche concepts to mainstream integration.
- **Expert Commentary:** Experts will highlight the importance of multi-tier collaboration (Siemens working with Envalior, who sources from the food waste stream) to achieve true circularity in industrial supply chains.
- **Market Response:** Expect increased inquiries across the automation sector regarding the availability and performance metrics of such sustainable materials for comparable enclosures and components.
## Future Outlook
- **Predictions and Expectations:** We can expect Siemens to apply this material strategy across other components in the SIRIUS line, and for Envalior to solidify similar partnerships in automotive and high-end electronics.
- **What to watch for:** Further adoption metrics regarding the uptake of the EcoTech-labeled relays, and announcements from Envalior detailing expansion plans for bio-based material production capacity.
## For Security Professionals
While primarily focused on sustainability, the use of standardized, electronically accessible documentation via an ID link (reducing physical paper) slightly streamlines logistic control. Furthermore, the robust material specification (flame retardant, chemically resistant) ensures the physical integrity of these control components, which is fundamental to operational technology security postures.