Materials sector in Benelux

Luxembourg’s strong track record in the manufacture and processing of many types of innovative materials is well proven with internationally renowned companies being located in Luxembourg for many years. Such materials include, for example, plastics & polymers, metals, composites, minerals, glass, wood and paper, which are produced and processed in support of many business sectors.

One of the major applications for Materials Technologies is in the automotive industry where Luxembourg is a key location for first and second tier suppliers, with more than 30 different sites employing over 10,000 people in total, including more than 2,200 highly qualified technicians and researchers (e.g. Goodyear Innovation Centre,  Delphi,  IEE, etc). The sector generates in excess of 1.5 billion EUR of sales turnover per year.

With an export surplus of 10 billion EUR in 2012, the sector of plastics and rubber largely contributes to the positive trade balance of Belgium – a worldwide leader in the transformation and production of plastics per capita. Companies in this sector are at the forefront of innovation, for which Belgium is well known.

Dutch excellence in high-performance materials and fine chemistry benefit from a strong foundation in basic and petrochemicals. The Rotterdam area in particular, with its global portand many refineries, is a major petrochemical hub. Interesting examples of strong regional clusters in these technology areas are: a cluster focused on fine chemicals and industrial biotechnology in the west, a specialization in industrial biotechnology and materials in the north, and a focus on materials and fine chemicals in the south.

Biggest Companies in the sector

Materials Clusters

Materials Fairs