Markets are shifting. Industries are transforming. Technologies are moving forward. This is a time of incredible change, accelerated by megatrends such as digitalization, globalization and sustainability.
Henkel’s Adhesive Technologies business unit has a 100-year history of providing pioneering solutions for almost every market and application in the world. That’s why our experts understand that there’s no innovation without collaboration. With an aim to provide spur collaboration with our customers and other partners such as suppliers and academia, we set up the IMEA Customer Experience Center in Navi Mumbai.
The center is housed in a building that has two levels dedicated to research and development, product development and innovation. It uses advanced digital tools and processes to improve knowledge sharing, increase efficiency and foster open dialog. The center is closely connected with the Inspiration Center in Düsseldorf and the global network of research and application centers of Henkel Adhesive Technologies to enable tailored solutions for local needs.
Inaugurated on June 7, 2022, the center is designed to inspire our customers to collaborate with our teams and other partners to co-create groundbreaking solutions by leveraging the power of both, digital and physical. Visitors to the center can experience our broad technology portfolio by taking a digital, physical and hands-on journey.
This center, we believe, will support us in leading today’s and shaping tomorrow’s markets with transformative solutions that are co-created with our customers and other partners.
Baked Goods: Automated Packaging for Sensitive Goods
Baked goods are popular, which lends them their enormous variety worldwide. Whether from the supermarket shelf or as frozen delivery – bread, bread rolls, croissants, pastries and cakes are sensitive foodstuffs that place high demands on production processes and packaging. Therefore, automation and digitalisation are also becoming increasingly important issues for the bakery industry. And the issue of sustainability has long since arrived in the sector.
Without any form of packaging, bread, bread rolls etc., are usually only available in a bakery. Freshly bought products should however also be promptly consumed. By contrast, industrially produced baked goods cannot do without packaging. Soft croissants or cakes, for example, are very sensitive to pressure, biscuits are often fragile. Robust trays are needed, while other baked goods can be safely packed inside tube bags. But packaging not only protects against mechanical hazards: Certain barrier properties allow packaging to extend shelf life without compromising on high quality. Growing mobility, an increase in single households and increasing consumption outside the home make reusable packaging for use to-go or smaller packaging sizes very attractive. Sustainable packaging materials must meet all these requirements as well, which are increasingly in demand by the market – a real challenge for the producers of baked goods and packaging. But recyclability, reduced usage of material and less packaging have long become trends within the baked goods sector, and so, monomaterial film, paper-based solutions and cardboard packaging with biobased coatings have already become industry staples.
Europe dominates the consumption of baked goods
Statista has determined the turnovers for the production of baked goods within the European Union: According to the results, Germany with a turnover of 22.7 billion euros and France with 21.5 billion euros are at the top, followed by Italy (6.7 billion euros), Spain (5.8 billion euros) and Poland (4.7 billion euros). On the global market for baked goods, according to Mordor Intelligence, Europe generates the largest share of turnover. According to the market researchers’ information, the developed markets in Western Europe are mature and saturated when it comes to baked goods, while the developing countries in Eastern Europe drive sales of biscuits and bread due to their high demand for convenience food products. The European baked goods market is said to be well established in terms of the supply chain, the product range, the sales channels and the preferences of consumers.
Automated solutions for the bakery industry
A newly developed picker technology based on linear motors guarantees an especially gentle handling due to even movement.
Things are not easy right now for the baked goods industry: High cost pressure, increasing variety of products, a change in consumers’ habits and the demand for more sustainability result in new requirements towards both production and packaging processes. In order to remain competitive, manufacturers of baked goods need flexible systems with which to react to market trends. In the future, it will be almost impossible to avoid a higher degree of automation. Digital processing and packaging machines are therefore of great importance, as is the growing integration of robots.
The Syntegon IDH pick-and-place solution offers a high grade of flexibility for both products and packaging style.
These automated assistants have become an integrated part of the bakery industry as well. Pick-and-place robots, equipped with suitable gripping tools, are even packaging sensitive products like biscuits, bars or other baked goods. If the product or format changes on the packaging line, only the associated gripping tool needs to be changed. Long downtimes are avoided this way. For example, Syntegon has developed a proprietary Intelligent Direct Handling (IDH) pick-and-place system for cookies, crackers and biscuits, which uses linear motor technology for an especially gentle handling of the sensitive products. The system also enables faster production speeds, as it can grip several products at the same time and place them on feeding belts or into trays in a single work step.
Packaging machine manufacturer R.Weiss Packaging offers complete packaging systems for the bakery industry, which are based on a modular system. This system uses standard modules for all packaging processes, like righting, top loading, closing, marking and palletising. The picker lines consist of several cells in a row, which, depending on the requirements, are equipped with several delta pickers mounted one after the other. They are designed for sorting and packaging unpacked products and products in primary packaging. Products pre-grouped in a line or fed chaotically are recognised by a camera system and fed into the top loading area through a transport system.
Robots are also used in final packaging: A strudel dough manufacturer from Vienna, for example, uses two Stäubli robots to meet the increasing demand. Among the special properties of the line are the hanging arrangement of the two robots as well as the absence of a safety guard. The Swiss manufacturer’s robots package strudel dough for the food industry in a 1.5-second-rhythm: four packages wrapped in foil, each containing two sheets weighing 125 grams each, are packed inside a box. One robot grips the units wrapped in foil, while the other prepares the box.
Cobots are fast learners
Collaborative robots, also known as cobots, make production even faster and more flexible. Packaging machine manufacturer Gerhard Schubert uses cobots in their machine concepts for fast feeding of different products. The new Schubert cobots tog.519 are ready for serialised production and are optimally suited for retrieving light-weight products via pick-and-place from a disordered feed and processing them with a frequency of 90 cycles per minute. The AI-supported programming and image processing has been designed in such a way that customers can easily carry out a format change without any necessary programming and in a very short time. In principle, the only thing that needs to be done is to hold the new product up in front of the cobot. According to the manufacturer, the advantages of this cobot solution are flexible application sites, a large variety of pick-and-place tasks, a high processing speed and its very simple operation.
Using different recyclable types of wrap on one system
This flow packer with flexible lateral sealing can process different recyclable wraps on the same system.
Depending on their consistency and ingredients, baked goods need packaging with different barrier properties. If products change frequently, manufacturers often have to quickly change between tube wraps with different properties. To solve this problem, Schubert offers a flow packer with matching sealing technology in their portfolio. This makes it possible to use both recyclable mono-plastic wraps and paper-based tube wraps on the same machine.
A full wrap solution reduces the materials used when labelling foldable trays.
Interpack exhibitor Multivac, too, is able to fall back on their experience from a wide range of different projects for the bakery industry. These include handling very different products, for example, toasties, bread or pancakes – and individually designed line concepts to match. For example, the company has developed a full wrap labelling solution for foldable plastic trays. Pressure-sensitive baked goods like cookies, muffins, donuts, pieces of pie or entire cakes are often packaged in such transparent foldable trays, which are then usually wrapped with a cardboard package band. The conveyor belt labeller by Multivac is said to save up to 70 percent of material compared to labelling with a cardboard package band. The model features servo-driven pressure brushes, which allow for C- and D-labelling of up to 120 packages per minute at a label width of up to 500 millimetres. Other than as a simple top label, a label can be placed in a C-shape over three sides or in a D-shape over all four sides of the packaging. Both the C- and D-labels have the advantage of sealing the package at the same time according to the manufacturer. With the new full wrap labelling solution, Multivac has expanded their portfolio for the baking trade and the bakery industry.
Producing baked goods at high speed
Many systems in the bakery industry work at very high speeds, but at the same time, there is an expectation of constant high quality. Mixing and kneading systems for constant operation, like those of interpack exhibitor Zeppelin, are the tools needed for the job and can produce 20,000 pretzels per hour, two million bread rolls a day or three tons of biscuit dough per hour. Before packaging, many baked goods must be precisely cut to size. Döinghaus offers individual solutions for cutting that utilise ultrasound, among them the universal cutter Ultracut Nado, which cuts both round and angular products. The size of individual pieces and segments, as well as different cutting speeds, are freely selectable using a touch panel with intuitive operation.
And igus GmbH from Cologne, manufacturer of plastic bearings made entirely of plastic as well contributes to seamless operations in the production of baked goods. A greaseless linear system, for example, is being used in an industrial wafer baking system made by specialised mechanical engineering company Walterwerk. The system bakes standardised wafers for the industrial production of ice cream, which are fed into a rolling station and rolled up while still warm. Afterwards, they are transported to the cooling tower over a conveyor belt, before the wafer is given a paper cone in the confection area. In this area, the linear bearings made of tribo-optimised high-performance polymers by igus are used during separating and feeding.
Exhibitors at interpack will present how sensitive baked goods can be safely produced and packaged nowadays from 4 to 10 May 2023 in Düsseldorf. The world’s leading trade fair for processing & packaging offers visitors modern solutions for the industrial packaging of baked goods in Halls 1, 3 and 4. Further information on interpack is available at www.interpack.com
Solvay Expands Industrial FFKM Portfolio with New Tecnoflon SHP Product Line
The new product line includes fully fluorinated synthetic rubbers with best-in-class chemical resistance and highest heat resistance among all elastomers
Solvay, a global market leader in fluorochemistry, has launched Tecnoflon SHP, a new product line of fully fluorinated synthetic rubbers (FFKM) that extend the company’s offering for unsurpassed performance in harsh industrial environments.
“There are a growing number of industrial processes where operators seek to minimize the need for maintenance and enhance safety,” states Andrew Lau, Senior Executive Vice President of Solvay Materials. “Components such as seals and valves in these processes are exposed to aggressive chemicals and increased service temperatures but may not require ultra-low metal levels that are ensured by our Tecnoflon PFR products. The superior thermal and chemical resistance of our new Tecnoflon SHP rubbers opens up the potential for demanding and low-maintenance applications that can enable significant improvements in the design and automation of many sophisticated processes, for instance, in chemical engineering, semiconductors fabrication and the oil & gas industry.”
Solvay’s new Tecnoflon SHP products combine classic FFKM performance with unique properties tailored to specifically challenging environments. Individual grades can satisfy extreme thermal requirements of heat stability up to 315°C and cold flexibility down to -30°C. With best-in-class resistance among all elastomers to fluids and chemicals used in the oil & gas industry and in chemical processing, they also provide the mechanical strength and resilience for components capable of sustaining higher pressures. This can be instrumental to protect people and equipment against the leakage of harsh chemicals.
Typical applications include O-rings, gaskets and flanges for enhanced safety and longer durability under most severe operating conditions, addressing ‘sealing for life’ targets (e.g. in complicated-to-service exploration or refinery equipment). The new FFKM rubbers also meet requirements for components designed for sub-fab semiconductor processes.
Most Tecnoflon SHP grades are commercially available, world-wide. All of them process easily, from compound mixing in two-roll mills without the need for exotic chemicals and simple pre-forming, preferably by means of screw extruders, to molding and curing at low shrinkage. They offer short curing cycles from 150°C to 180°C and require maximum 24 hours of post-curing in common air circulation ovens. Standard mills, presses, tools and ovens proven in the processing of partially fluorinated FKM elastomers can also be used for Tecnoflon SHP.
Chinaplas 2023: Extrusion Specialist Reifenhäuser Shows How Sustainability, Automation and Digitization Increase Profitability in Film and Nonwovens Production
Profitable blown film extrusion with lowest-priced recyclates
Fully automated feedblocks and dies increase productivity in flat film extrusion
Super-soft and perfectly drapeable Reicofil XHL nonwovens
Kdesign’s controlled air rings for blown film lines set performance benchmarks
The Reifenhäuser Group – leading manufacturer of extrusion lines and components – presents itself at Chinaplas 2023 (booth 10 J11) under the motto “The Time is Now” and shows how film and nonwovens producers master the three major topics of the industry: Sustainability, digitalization and productivity.
Reifenhäuser will be represented at the Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center with three business units, “Blown Film”, “Cast Sheet Coating” and “Reicofil”, as well as its subsidiary Kdesign, which specializes in controlled air rings for blown film lines. Chinaplas is the largest trade fair for the plastics and rubber industry in the Asian region and alternates annually between Shanghai and Shenzhen.
Producing profitable blown film from simple recyclate
Blown film line manufacturer Reifenhäuser Blown Film presents its EVO Fuison technology as the answer to one of the biggest challenges facing film producers. Legal regulations and global brand owners are increasingly demanding that recycled material be used in films for packaging. A major problem here is sourcing recyclate in good quality, sufficient quantity and at an economical price. As a result, the profit margin of film manufacturers decreases immensely. EVO Fusion enables blown film producers to become independent of expensive recyclate and instead use readily available, low-cost film waste and even printed laminates directly as raw material.
The EVO Fusion process is based on direct extrusion, eliminating the need for expensive thermal recycling processes. This means that fluff (film snippets) and all types of production waste and PCR material can also be processed directly if desired. Direct extrusion is made possible by a twin-screw extruder, which homogenizes the melt better, ensuring a stable process. In addition, processors can degas the system very easily and effectively, removing unwanted components from the recyclate.
Eugen Friedel, Director Sales at Reifenhäuser Blown Film, explains, “The market for sustainable manufacturing technologies and recyclable plastic products is increasingly growing in China. Against the background of today’s recyclate availability, EVO Fusion delivers an immediately applicable and, above all, economical solution.”
PAM option: producing flat film highly flexibly with fully automated die and feedblock
Starting up a flat film extrusion line requires a lot of experience and time. A whole series of individual operations is necessary until the feedblock and die are set correctly. With the PAM option (Precise, Autonomous, Mechatronic), Reifenhäuser Cast Sheet Coating will show at Chinaplast how flat film producers can fully automate this adjustment, which used to be mostly manual. This enables faster start-up of good production and improved overall equipment efficiency (OEE). Scrap and material usage are significantly reduced. In addition, recipes that have been set once can be stored and recalled at any time. Film qualities can thus be reproduced exactly – even by inexperienced line operators.
At the heart of the PAM system are motorized screwdrivers that automatically and highly precisely profile the film layers on the coextrusion adapter and set and control the die flex lip. The PAM option is available exclusively for Reifenhäuser’s Coextrusion Adapter Pro – the only coextrusion system on the market that allows profiling of the individual layers while the line is running. For flat dies, PAM is available as an optional feature for Reifenhäuser dies and also as a retrofit option for third-party systems.
Benjamin Pott, Sales Manager at Reifenhäuser Cast Sheet Coating, explains: “With PAM, our customers achieve fast changeover times and simplified line operation. High flexibility is a crucial factor for producers in China to keep their productivity high even with many product changes. Here, our automation option offers a unique competitive advantage.”
Reicofil XHL (Extra High Loft) offers a new level of quality for nonwovens
The manufacturer of nonwoven lines Reifenhäuser Reicofil is presenting its new RF5 XHL production platform for the first time in China. The suffix XHL stands for Extra High Loft. RF5 XHL is the evolution of the proven RF5 technology, targeted at super soft and drapeable nonwovens for the hygiene industry.
“Thanks to highly crimped fibers with reduced fiber size, our XHL nonwovens offer a new level of quality with super soft touch for nonwoven products made from them – such as top sheet and back sheet,” explains Markus Müller, Vice President Sales & Marketing of the Reifenhäuser Group. “At the same time, we achieve a huge improvement in the carbon footprint of up to 30 percent thanks to reduced resource use.”
The RF5 XHL technology relies on the specially patented BiCo process. This combines two different raw materials in one fiber in the spunbond process, creating a bimetallic effect and optimally crimping the fiber. This results in a weight reduction of up to 25 percent for fiber sizes at 1.0 denier. At the same time, thickness increases by up to 30 percent compared to state-of-the-art material.
The new RF5 XHL lines are also equipped with particularly energy-efficient components, enabling resource-saving nonwoven production at high line speeds. To reduce production waste to a minimum, all raw materials are made of polypropylene (PP), for simple and efficient inline recycling. In contrast, common mixed-material fabrics made of PP/PE or PET/PE are very difficult to recycle. In addition, to meet the ongoing demand for more sustainable nonwoven products, RF5 lines also process bio-based raw materials on request.
Kdesign: World’s best blown film technology at Chinaplas 2023
In addition to the Reifenhäuser business units, Kdesign – the world’s leading supplier of controlled air rings – will also be represented for the first time at the Reifenhäuser joint exhibition stand at Chinaplas this year. Kdesign has been part of the Reifenhäuser Group since the beginning of 2021 and will present how blown film lines with Kdesign components achieve more output, better film quality and less production waste. Special highlight: visitors to the booth will be able to try out Kdesign’s offline thickness measurement system “KDvision-Lab” on site.
“Participating in Chinaplas 2023 is a great opportunity for us to showcase our technology to blown film line manufacturers and film producers from China and across Asia. Steadily growing performance and quality demands in these markets will further increase the demand for Kdesign’s market-leading blown film technology,” explains Daniel Lamers, Head of Operations at Kdesign.
Digitization sustainably increases overall equipment effectiveness On top of this, Reifenhäuser is launching a digital offensive at Chinaplas that aims to sustainably support plastics producers in optimizing their overall equipment effectiveness. RE: GmbH, the digital start-up of the Reifenhäuser Group, has developed a solution that connects the entire production from the first to the last meter of the film or nonwoven roll – cross-vendor. The core of this digital solution is the powerful c.Hub Middleware and the ExtrusionOS Suite. At Chinaplas, RE: and Reifenhäuser will show customers how to keep an eye on their data in real time, analyze it, quickly troubleshoot, and ultimately optimize their processes.
“Supporting our customers closely on their digitization journey from the very beginning is very important to us,” explains Daniel Kajan, Director Product & Operations at RE: GmbH. “We guide them on how to fully leverage their data and turn their insights into profit.”
And this is how Reifenhäuser’s new digital solution works: the c.Hub Middleware connects, gathers and harmonizes data from ERP/MES systems and assets as well as peripherals of different ages, types and vendors. Thus, the c.Hub becomes the “single point of truth” for all data. Whether management, quality department, maintenance or operator, anyone can access the data, add contextual information, and draw useful conclusions at any time and from anywhere.
Customers can choose between ExtrusionOS bundles for different use cases, such as quality management, maintenance, or troubleshooting. These bundles include features such as product-specific alarms, EFSA/FDA reporting, and helpful tools for operators, e.g., to optimize product changeover.
Electronica Plastic Machines Ltd. Takes Home the Prize for ‘Best Industrial Automation’ at The ‘Modern Plastics Awards’ Ceremony, 2023!
Electronica Plastic Machines Ltd. (EPML), a leading manufacturer of Plastic Injection Moulding machines in India, is proud to announce that it has won the ‘Best Industrial Automation’ Award at the Modern Plastics Awards, 2023. The event, which was held at JW Marriott Hotel, Juhu, Mumbai on January 19, 2023, recognized the biggest and brightest entrepreneurs, innovators, and game-changers in the plastics sector of India.
‘Modern Plastics Awards’ is one of the most prestigeous award ceremonies in the Indian plastics industry. It was organized by one of India’s leading plastics monthly magazines, ‘Modern Plastics India’, in association with German Indian Plastics and Polymers e.V and Modern Plastics Global Network.
This year, the award ceremony was held in celebration of the organization’s 22nd anniversary. Over 800 nominations were reviewed and evaluated by an international jury, and 80+ founders, funders, corporate leaders, change-makers, and accomplished lifetime achievers across 300+ categories were recognised for their impact on the industry. Esteemed dignitaries including Consulate Generals and Ambassadors graced the award ceremony and presented the prestigious trophies to the well-deserving winners.
Of these, the ‘Best Industrial Automation Award’ is presented to companies that have demonstrated outstanding performance, innovation, and leadership in the field of industrial automation in plastics. Electronica Plastic Machines Ltd. was selected for this award based on its commitment to excellence, innovative approach, and overall impact on the industry through its dynamic processing capabilities.
Automation can open up new possibilities for manufacturers to reach new markets and customers. Today, injection molding is one of the cornerstones of plastics automation, one that EPML specializes in. As leading manufacturers of injection moulding machinery, EPML is able to meet the growing demands for new types of plastics and products, and use Industry 4.0 technology effectively to improve efficiency and productivity.
“We are delighted and honored to have won the ‘Best Industrial Automation’ award at the Modern Plastics Awards,” said Aditya Ratnaparkhi, Executive Chairman of Electronica Plastic Machines Ltd. “This award is a testament to our team’s hard work and dedication to providing state-of-the-art plastic injection moulding machines and allied plastic auxiliaries to our customers.”
Electronica Plastic Machines Ltd. is a manufacturer of plastic injection molding machines and allied plastic auxiliaries with over 25 years of experience. The company strives to stay up-to-date with evolving technologies and provide the best solutions to its clients in a rapidly changing industry. EPML is known for being a game-changer in the industry, having been the first in India to manufacture the ‘Micro Processor Base Injection Moulding Machine’.
The company is involved in the production of injection molding machines and related plastic auxiliaries. With a fully equipped machine shop and in-house inspection facility, EPML adheres to rigorous standards in quality, which has helped them build a loyal customer base and earn goodwill in the industry. The company’s machines produce precise finished products that find applications and use across various industries.
“We would like to thank the organizers of the Modern Plastics India Award Ceremony for recognizing our contribution to the plastics industry in India,” added Aditya Ratnaparkhi. “This award is a motivation for us to continue to innovate and improve our products, so we may provide the best possible solutions to our customers.”
Symphony Environmental India Offers Revolutionary Solution to Make Plastics Biodegradable!
The d2w biodegradable technology by Symphony Environmental creates a giant turning point in the plastics industry with its environment-friendly additives that makes plastics biodegradable.
Symphony Environmental Technologies, a UK headquartered company, invented a ground-breaking and scientifically proven d2w additive technology that makes plastics 100% biodegradable. Offering a futuristic and globally trusted solution to one of the world’s most severe environmental problems of non-biodegradable plastic waste, Symphony Environmental’s d2w additive can be used in plastics manufacturing to convert end-of-life plastics to nothing more than a soil component that is naturally bio-assimilated by bacteria and fungi. This novel innovation is a paradigm shift, making plastics behave green like any other biodegradable substance on the planet. The d2w technology has been studied for over 25 years and has passed heavy metal analysis and Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) eco-toxicity tests. When the environment is globally getting effected by plastics being released into open environment, landfills or oceans, where they stay for decades without degrading into the soil, the d2w technology by visionary scientists of Symphony Environmental is a game changer for the future of plastic use globally. This remarkable invention is a sought-after solution to the global plastic waste problem. Instead of being recycled, if the end-of-life plastics reach landfills or oceans, they are intrinsically converted to CO2, water and biomass through natural microbial action in a span of 17 to 22 months.
Several countries in the Middle East have already legislated to manufacture biodegradable plastic with such additives mandatory. With the invention of d2w technology, Symphony Environmental empowers governments, producers and brand owners to rethink the future of plastics by entering a new era of how plastics will be used and manufactured globally. As per the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report, about 85% of plastics turn into unregulated waste reaching oceans and landfills, and only 10% of plastics ever produced globally have ever been recycled. While the reduce, reuse, recycle (RRR) is quite often claimed to be one of the most effective mantras to solve the problem, it is not a solution. Also, compared to paper bags or products made from paper, there is 70% more environmental pollution than plastic alternatives. Many regulators worldwide could only see a way by banning single-use-plastics, though it undermines the applications of plastics, was then considered in environmental interest. The d2w technology now fundamentally changes everything in how plastics are viewed, produced and used in the future.
Symphony plastics sees things differently. The vision goes beyond the status quo and provides a solution without wasting resources on constructing recycling stations, industrial composting sites, banning certain plastics, or even causing deforestation by encouraging paper use. Speaking on the scientifically proven d2w bio-degradable formulation, Sunil Panwar, CEO of Symphony Environmental India, said, “We wanted to find a solution for the plastic packaging materials which doesn’t require banning of plastics and doesn’t put our valuable resources under stress. When plastics are a major environmental concern, at Symphony Environmental, we strived to find an
innovative and economical solution that works for the businesses, consumers and the environment the most economic, safe & sustainable way. Our approach involves redesigning of the consumer plastic packaging materials, where after the end of usage life packaging material will biodegrade itself both in land and in water without adversely impacting the environment. When India seeks a solution, we are happily here with one.”
The d2w technology is world’s most advanced process, which passes the American, British, UAE, French and Saudi standards for testing biodegradable plastics. Several global laboratories in the world including those in America, the United Kingdom and Spain, conclude that our pathbreaking d2w additive changes the molecular structure in the biodegradation process than simply fragmenting the material, which is then naturally bio-assimilated by microbes in the soil, thereby leaving no heavy metals or eco-toxicity behind post the biodegradation process. d2w is currently the most forward-looking and absolute way to an environmentally responsible solution for plastic products, films, or molded packaging needs.
The d2w technology is thoroughly researched, tested, and adopted globally, is now being offered to plastic manufacturers in India. It can be used in both food and non-food applications. It does not change the mechanical and opaque properties of the packaging material during its usage life. It issuitable for multiple applications in LDPE, LLDPE, HDPE, BOPP, PP Films, PP Raffia, Injection Molded, Blow Molded, Thermoformed (PP) products. Products like carrier bags, bin liners, aprons, gloves, plastic films, wrappers, bubble wraps, shrink films, mulch films, woven sacks, thin-walled containers, caps & closures, all kind of PE & PP based flexible and rigid packaging is possible with a d2w additives. Symphony Environmental India offers free technical support for all the d2w and d2p range of products to the manufacturers and customers. Symphony Environmental’s endeavor is to transfer valuable carbon material back to the ecosystem via natural ecological processes such as vegetation and micro-organisms.
Prime stages of biodegradation through d2w technology and its benefits:
1. Plastics are made sustainable by ensuring 100% biodegradation of the packaging material after the usage life ends.
2. This is done by adding 1% d2w (weight wise) in the form of a masterbatch at the time of manufacturing.
3. The product behaves like conventional plastic during its intended service life.
4. The product has 100% recyclable property after adding d2w.
5. After its service life, the bag or packaging may get recycled or end up in an open environment.
6. The d2w then takes effect, and the product begins to biodegrade in the presence of oxygen, sunlight (UV) & ambient heat.
7. The product will biodegrade in a continuous and irreversible process, leaving nothing but carbon dioxide, water, and biomass behind.
With commercially available technology, Symphony Environmental India has network of distributors covering most of India. Distributors have stocks available to deliver to the manufacturers of plastic packaging materials in a short period of time.
The Performance Review Institute (PRI) Registrar SM Acquires SRI Quality System Registrar (SRI), Enhancing Value for Customers
As an organization dedicated to providing a holistic approach to supply chain risk management and performance, PRI is proud to announce the expansion of its management systems certification portfolio through the acquisition of SRI Quality System Registrar.
SRI is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with three overseas offices, and will be a significant contributor to the growth of PRI’s global footprint in the areas of certification and training, as well as increasing the number of industries served.
PRI Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Jay Solomond, explained: “SRI was a natural fit for PRI – we share a commitment to customer satisfaction and technical excellence, brought to life through our mutual business and cultural values. This acquisition aligns with PRI’s vision to be the preeminent partner that drives flawless performance in high stakes industries. I am confident that uniting our teams will benefit customers around the world, adding more value to their experience, as they partner with us to achieve best-in-class management systems certification and professional development.”
Christopher Lake, President and Chief Operating Officer of SRI said: “I am very excited about the opportunity that SRI joining the PRI team brings to our clients, team members, and the future of the business. I’ve always thought very highly of PRI, and I don’t believe there is any better steward for what we’ve built at SRI over the past three decades.
“With 2023 being our 30th year in business, what better way to celebrate than taking this bold step into the future with PRI. PRI and SRI bring together two unmatched leadership teams, the most highly skilled people, and industry-leading clients to create what will be a new bar for the industry that no one will be able to match.”
To learn more information, visit www.priregistrar.org or contact PRI Registrar at priregistrar@p-r-i.org.
For more information on how SRI can help you build relationships for success in your supply chain, go to www.SRIRegistrar.com
Leaping Towards High-Quality Development of Plastics & Rubber Industries with Technological Innovations
In the past three years, the COVID-19 epidemic has brought various impact and pressure on the global economy and industries, while plastics and rubber industries are no exception. Under the fasting changing national policies, market environment and demand, plastics and rubber industries keep moving on against difficulties by adjusting the direction and pace of development from time to time. They are well-prepared for new opportunities arising from the strong recovery of China’s economy brought by high-quality development and further opening up. In this favorable context, CHINAPLAS 2023 is to be held at the Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center, PR China (SWECC), on April 17-20, 2023. It will be the first world-class plastics and rubber industry event held in China after the relaxation of pandemic controls, providing a huge stage for the entire industry to exchange high-tech technologies and explore business cooperation.
The show will be commenced in less than one month. Adsale Exhibition Services Ltd., the organizer of the exhibition, grandly held an online and offline international press conference in Shenzhen today (Mar 29). “Over the past year, the uncertain and unpredictable environment has increased the difficulty of organizing the exhibition. However, this year the exhibition can still set a new record in terms of scale, with a total area of 380,000 sqm, an increase of 8.6% from the 2021 exhibition. It is the first time for us to use all 18 exhibition halls of SWECC. It is encouraging and reflects the high confidence and expectations of the industry. Together with more than 3,900 prominent renowned exhibitors from all over the world, the show shall follow the themes of high-quality development and vigorous development of advanced manufacturing, join hands together with the industry towards high-end manufacturing, smart manufacturing, and green manufacturing,” said Ms. Ada LEUNG, General Manager, Adsale Exhibition Services Ltd. at the conference.
Seize the opportunity and strive for advanced manufacturing
Developing advanced manufacturing is an important element of high-quality development. Focusing on the high-end, smart, and green development of the manufacturing industry, CHINAPLAS 2023 shall present high-quality plastics and rubber innovative solutions, as well as high-quality concurrent events.
High-quality exhibitors + High-level activities for High-end Plastics & Rubber Industries: Over 3,900 quality exhibitors from China and abroad, including industry leaders such as BASF, DuPont, LG Chem, Evonik, Mitsubishi Chemical, Polyplastics, LyondellBasell, Borouge, Clariant, Sinopec, Wanhua Chemical, CNPC, Sinochem Plastics, Kingfa, Wote, Arburg, Brückner, Engel, Chen Hsong, Haitian, Yizumi, Jwell, Borch, Shaanxi Beiren, Liansu, Tederic, etc., are showcasing a full array of innovative solutions, including over 200 world / Asian debut technologies. It is expected that more than 1,400 materials suppliers and 3,000 sets of machinery exhibits will be on the same stage, supporting smart, efficient, cost-effective, and low-carbon manufacturing.
Promoting “Professionalization, Refinement, Specialization and Innovation (PRSI)” enterprises is a strong driver for high-quality economic development, and an indispensable impetus for breaking through the bottleneck of technology. Among this year’s exhibitors, over 400 enterprises are honored as “PRSI”, and more than 100 national-level enterprises are awarded as a “Little Giant”. The first “PRSI Shining Stars in Plastics & Rubber Industries – Enterprises Plaque Awarding Ceremony” will be held on the first day of the show (Apr 17). “PRSI” companies shall be awarded a special plaque under the spotlight on this international stage.
The birth of groundbreaking technologies often comes from the pursuit of continuous improvement in research and development, as well as the courage to innovate. SciXplore Forum, co-organized with Society of Advanced Molding Technology, shall be held concurrently. Under the theme of “Connecting Polymer Science with Applications”, well known scientists and academicians from Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Engineering, The Academy of Science of the Royal Society of Canada, Canadian Academy of Engineering, Russia Academy of Engineering, as well as executives of brands in the industry, will share their scientific achievements, cutting-edge perspectives, and first-hand industrial experiences in polymer industry. They will jointly explore the upgrade and transformation of the plastics and rubber industries, and inspire new ideas for the future. In addition, over 30 innovative technologies will be presented at Tech Talk, while the sharing and works of design masters shall be presented at Design x Innovation to inspire participants’ creative ideas.
△Taken at CHINAPLAS 2021.
Smart and green are the key words in plastics and rubber industries: Many manufacturing companies are demanding high production efficiency, cost reduction, low pollution, and low energy consumption. The exhibition will bring together almost 330 solution providers in Injection Molding and Smart Manufacturing Solutions Zone to showcase advanced smart manufacturing solutions such as automation and robotics technology, for improving production efficiency and optimize production processes, and facilitating the digital transformation of the manufacturing industry. In the 3D Tech Zone, visitors can experience the advantages of advanced 3D printing materials, technologies, and hardware in accelerating product development and production, and cost reduction. In addition, visitors can find the latest all-round sustainable solutions for environmentally friendly materials, processing technologies, and products in various theme zones, including Recycled Plastics Zone, Bioplastics Zone, and Recycling Tech Zone, and the newly established Innovative Products Zone. During the 4th edition of CHINAPLAS X CPRJ Plastics Recycling & Circular Economy Conference and Showcase, held one day before CHINAPLAS 2023, senior government officials and representatives from industry organizations, brands, machinery and material suppliers worldwide are invited to share their views on these relevant policies and industry trends.
△Taken at CHINAPLAS 2021.
Smooth foreign trade tides the world
Valuing the comprehensive cost advantages of Southeast Asia, many branded enterprises have invested in setting up factories in the region to obtain the Certificate of Origin, avoid tariff barriers, and establish supply chain network. The plastics and rubber machinery and materials from China, with their internationally competitive technology, outstanding durability and stability, and high cost-effectiveness, have caught eyeballs in the Southeast Asian market.
It has created favorable grounds for inviting overseas visitors to participate in CHINAPLAS 2023. After three years, overseas buyers, especially those from Southeast Asia, have accumulated great demand and enthusiasm for finding suppliers and partners in China. Since early this year, pre-registration of overseas visitors has been soaring, and the response in organizing delegations is encouraging as well. Currently, more than 30 overseas organizations from different countries and regions, such as Indonesia, Thailand, India, Vietnam, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, South Korea, Pakistan, Russia, Brazil, etc., have expressed their intention to organize delegations to attend the exhibition. Among them, there are plastics associations and end-user associations namely, Indonesian Packaging Federation, Thai Plastic Industries Association, Thai Auto-Parts Manufacturers Association (TAPMA), Indian Plastics Federation, Vietnam Plastics Association (VPA), Vietnam Electronic Industries Association (VEIA), Malaysia Bottled Water Manufacturers Association, Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM), Malaysia Plastics Recyclers Association, Malaysian Plastics Manufacturers Association, Philippine Plastics Industry Association (PPIA), Pakistan Plastic Manufacturers Association, etc. The organizer expects that the no. of overseas visitors in CHINAPLAS 2023 will resume to more than half of that before the pandemic. Most of them are from Asia, southeast Asia in particular.
△Overseas plastics associations and end-user associations look very much forward to the upcoming exhibition
Overseas visitors with orders and sourcing needs are planning to travel to Shenzhen in this spring, a golden season for sourcing and business talks. Do Thi Thuy HUONG, Executive Board Director, Vietnam Electronics Industries Association stated that they shall send delegations comprise of the main manufacturers of electronic industries in Vietnam to participate into CHINAPLAS, for the looking to partnerships and opportunities of business and investment from the both countries. Regarding the participation in CHINAPLAS, Sompol TANADUMRONGSAK, President, Thai Auto-Parts Manufacturers Association, hoped that they will have created some business opportunities between Thailand and China after the last 3 or 4 years. Aaron Timothy LAO, President, Philippines Plastics Industry Association, mentioned that more than 60 PPIA members has confirmed to attend the exhibition, and they very much anticipate to the new trends and technologies showcased by exhibitors from China and around the world at CHINAPLAS.
△Overseas plastics associations and end-user associations look very much forward to the upcoming exhibition.
“Bringing in” and “going out” – On one hand, we see the improvement of foreign trade. On the other hand, the exchange of personnel between China and foreign countries is gradually resuming to normal. Starting from Feb 6, cross border travel between the mainland, Hong Kong and Macau has fully resumed. Relevant authorities stationed abroad have already resume examining and issuing various types of Chinese visas, including travel visa since March 15. At the same time, the visa-free entry into Guangdong province is also resumed for foreigners in groups from Hong Kong and Macau. CHINAPLAS 2023 is ready to receive visitors from all over the world. The exhibition continues to see the support from global exhibitors, including nine country / region pavilions from Austria, France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, Japan, Taiwan, etc. Overseas exhibitors account for about 25% of the total number of exhibitors.
△Overseas plastics associations and end-user associations look very much forward to the upcoming exhibition
Partnering with plastics & rubber industries for “A Brighter and Shared Future, Powered by Innovation”
At the conference, the leaders of the exhibition organizers and co-organizers shared their insights on the current situation of plastics industry from different perspectives, and made predictions and suggestions. In 2022, the total production of plastic products in China was 77.716 million tons, a year-on-year decrease of 4.3%; the revenue and profit of China’s plastics machinery industry decreased by 7% and 11% respectively compared to the previous year. The profit margin remained at 10%, which was higher than the overall machinery industry’s profit margin of 6% during the same period. Since the start of 2023, China’s economy has achieved a stable and upward trend, and all sectors have started to strive for economic development. As a pillar of foundation industry in manufacturing, the plastics industry is about to embrace a new wave of development opportunities.
△Mr. Zhanjie WANG, President, China Plastics Processing Industry Association.
Mr. Zhanjie WANG, President, China Plastics Processing Industry Association shared that the government has intensively introduced various policies to encourage and support the industry, which is beneficial to its development. He recommended the industry to adhere to functional, lightweight, precise, ecological and intelligent; to strengthen the construction of standardization system; and to promote green, sustainable, double-carbon work, etc. Ms.Dongping SU, Executive Deputy President, China Plastics Machinery Industry Association saw the broad prospects in new energy vehicle industry and health industry contains opportunities, as well as the good opportunity for China’s plastic machinery industry to “go global”. She added that key investments and major engineering projects have been successively launched, which help create substantial work opportunities and provide strong support for the industry’s stable growth in the market side. Mr. An FU, Chairman, Guangdong Plastics Industry Association pointed out that the high-quality development of Guangdong’s plastics processing industry is reflected by the facts that the total profit has increased significantly, with a growth rate higher than that of the production output and sales revenue. Automobile production in Guangdong increased by 22% in 2022, the highest growth in recent years. The demand in high-performance plastic application industries in Guangdong provides substantial support for the high-quality development of the plastics industry.
△Ms. Dongping SU, Executive Deputy President, China Plastics Machinery Industry Association.
This year, the “Government Work Report” proposes a target for the expected growth of China’s gross domestic product (GDP) of around 5% in 2023, focusing on expanding domestic demand, accelerating the construction of a modern industrial system, strengthening the support of scientific and technological innovation for industrial
development, promoting energy conservation, carbon reduction, and pollution reduction in key areas, and fast-tracking the renovation of old communities and dilapidated houses. In the opinion of Ms. Ada LEUNG, General Manager, Adsale Exhibition Services Ltd., all these factors will drive the demand and development of the plastics
industry in both quality and quantity, giving confidence for the recovery of the entire upstream and downstream of the plastics industry.
△Mr. Marius BERLEMANN, Managing Director, Messe Düsseldorf China Ltd.
Mr. Marius BERLEMANN, Managing Director, Messe Düsseldorf China Ltd. also shared an exciting news at the conference. He announced that Dr Stephan KELLER, Lord Mayor of the City of Düsseldorf, will, in his first travel to China as the mayor of Düsseldorf visit CHINAPLAS 2023 which clearly demonstrates how valuable and important this exhibition and in general the ties to and with China are for them. Since Messe Düsseldorf China Ltd formed a strategic partnership with Adsale in 2005, it has become one of the co-organizers of CHINAPLAS. Messe Düsseldorf is a public company and to a large extent owned by the City of Düsseldorf. The lord mayor of Düsseldorf is also the Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Messe Düsseldorf.
△Ms. Ada LEUNG, General Manager, Adsale Exhibition Services Ltd.
When spring returns, China is filled with vitality. The exhibition industry has an important role play in promoting steady economic development. Many exhibitions have been intensively staged with crowds of people and busy logistics since early this year. Exhibitors, visitors, associations, media and other industry professionals have shown their high expectations for CHINAPLAS 2023, which will be held in mid-April, a good timing at the start of new financial year to reactivate high-quality face-to-face communications with Chinese suppliers and cooperation partners. As the leading plastics and rubber industry exhibition in Asia, CHINAPLAS 2023 will spare no efforts to welcome exhibitors and visitors from all over the world.
△Mr. An FU, Chairman, Guangdong Plastics Industry Association.
The integration of online and offline has become a new model and norm in the exhibition industry. In addition to physical exhibitions, the organizer has launched CPS+ eMarketplace, the global plastics & rubber solutions e-sourcing platform powered by CHINAPLAS, to bridge upstream and downstream enterprises in plastics and rubber industries to communicate efficiently online and get prepared for offline meetings. Downstream buyers can easily find plastics and rubber technologies suppliers from around the world by simply clicking their mouse, and to solve their procurement and production problems anytime, anywhere.
Presentation of new Allrounder 470 H hybrid milestone machine with Multilift robotic system
Arburg with solutions geared to the market
Exhibits focus on greater energy and production efficiency
At Equiplast in Barcelona from 30 May to 2 June 2023, Arburg (Pavilion P3/Level 0, Stand D34) will be focusing on energy and production efficiency. The Allrounder 470 H milestone machine is celebrating its premiere in Spain – with many technical innovations that are only available from Arburg. The hybrid machine saves energy, conserves resources, is production-efficient, user-friendly and reliable, and ideal for the e-mobility sector, for example. Another exhibit will be a Freeformer 300-3X for industrial additive manufacturing.
At the most important plastics trade fair in Spain, where Arburg has always been present, the market is expecting solutions. “E-mobility is an important market of the future, as several automotive plants are looking to produce e-vehicles in Spain,” reports Martin Cayre, Managing Director of Arburg Spain, who also sees great potential in a number of battery factories that are simultaneously in the pipeline. “Due to the high energy costs, we are seeing a clear focus on energy efficiency and machines with electric axes.” And our Freefomer 300-3X industrial 3D printer with a large build chamber also has great potential for this industry of the future.
New Allrounder 470 H: 50 per cent lower energy requirement
Arburg is launching a new machine technology with the milestone machine and is now presenting the hybrid Allrounder 470 H for the first time in Spain. The machine enables customers to leverage the benefits of the combination of electric clamping unit, hydraulic injection unit and the “Comfort”, “Premium” and “Ultimate” performance variants in a way that is even more customised to their needs, coupled with a reduction in acquisition and operating costs and a significantly smaller carbon footprint. In Cayre’s opinion, its energy efficiency and precision, comparable to that of an electric machine, together with its attractive price/performance ratio, are convincing arguments in its favour.
The technical facts of the new hybrid series speak for themselves: compared to a corresponding hydraulic machine, the energy footprint of the Allrounder 470 H is up to 50 per cent smaller. Depending on the application, this can save up to 12,000 kilograms of CO2 per year. The new oil management concept also saves resources: For one thing, around 35 per cent less oil is needed, and for another, waste machine heat is used to pre-heat the oil. The required cooling water capacity is also between 50 and 70 per cent lower. A reduction in the dry cycle time of up to 33 per cent results in significantly greater production efficiency.
Highlight: Application for the e-mobility sector
Martin Cayre describes the application on the Allrounder 470 H Comfort trade fair exhibit as a highlight for the e-mobility sector, for example: “This is a very good example of magnets as used in the e-mobility sector.” A material with a high iron content is injected and magnetised in the mould. A Multilift Select robotic system with a load capacity of six kilograms is used to handle the parts. In a 1+1-cavity family mould, toothed wheel and pole wheel are produced alternately in two cavities through turning from a PA6 with magnetic filler. Production is free of changeover and non-standard sequences. When the product is changed, only the second stored injection and mould program is selected and the runner in the mould switched over. The plastic filled with the magnetisable material is poled while still in the mould via permanent magnets.
Additive manufacturing: Freeformer for industrial 3D printing
For industrial additive manufacturing based on plastic granules, Arburg is presenting a Freeformer 300-3X with three discharge units at Equiplast. ARBURGadditive’s portfolio also includes a high-temperature version with build chamber temperatures of up to 250 degrees Celsius, a Freeformer 200-3X “soft” with special equipment for processing soft materials, and the new Freeformer 750-3X with a build chamber that is around 2.5 times larger – with the same external dimensions. The Freeformers feature a Gestica controller that is optimised for additive manufacturing in terms of process stability, part quality and build time.
Strong Arburg team – professional and forward-looking
Made up of highly trained and well-established employees who have been with the company for more than ten years on average, Arburg’s team in Spain is well prepared to meet the demanding market conditions. “Arburg offers comprehensive customer support, from machine design and automation to commissioning and process optimisation, and is also at the forefront when it comes to sustainability and digitalisation, not to mention eco-friendly and efficient production,” says Martin Cayre with conviction.
The milestone machine makes its debut at Equiplast 2023 in Spain. The hybrid Allrounder 470 H sets the stage for a new type of machine technology: particularly energy-saving, resource-saving, production-efficient, user-friendly and reliable.
Further information about Arburg can be found at www.arburg.com
Design Sprouts Material: a Special Event by Covestro and MM Design to Explore the Inseparable Relationship Between Materials and Design
Design Sprouts Material presents the bidirectional links between materials and design and their presence in people’s daily lives
An informative and experimental space for all visitors who want to interact with innovative materials, surfaces and colors
Covestro presents the CMF corner and a selection of its most important products
On occasion of Milan Design Week, Covestro, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of polymer materials and components, will participate in DESIGN SPROUTS MATERIAL, an event organized and hosted by MM Design. MM Design has been one of the most important international industrial design studios for over 30 years, with offices in Milan, Bolzano, São Paulo and Singapore. The exhibition Design Sprouts Material shows the inseparable and reciprocal relationship between materials and design, as well as their presence in people’s daily lives, from work to leisure and from mobility to relaxation at the end of the day.
With this installation, MM Design, in cooperation with Covestro, offers an informative and experiential space to all visitors who want to interact with innovative materials, surfaces and colors. MM Design will present the new digital library mathub, which aims to consider product design not only as a formal approach, but also as a way to imagine innovative scenarios starting from carefully selected materials. Mathub provides the opportunity to offer the most suitable, safe and sustainable materials, as well as an extensive network of suppliers who can carry out customized processes for new combinations of materials. Visitors can also take part in guided tours at certain times.
Living, lifestyle, mobility
With Design Sprouts Material, Covestro unfolds the range of its high-tech polymers and tells the story of their relationship with finished products, giving visitors the opportunity to explore the different areas where these products can be found: Home, Lifestyle and Mobility. For each product, the journey from idea to material to finished object is vividly explained in a story to capture the essence of the design process.
In the Lifestyle section is the CMF (Color, Material, Finish) section, which describes how the combined consideration of colors, materials and finishes determines the experience everyone has with the design objects they choose and use every day. This new design approach, which focuses on the sensory perception of material and object, is a reference point for the activities of the Color & Design Center, an international research center for color located in the heart of Covestro’s Italian plant in Filago.
To explain what the CMF approach means for design, Covestro will present its Aesthetic Configurator, a digital tool that allows experimentation with infinite combinations of colors, materials and surfaces, as part of Design Sprouts Material. Featured objects include the Fairphone 4 smartphone, shoes and fashion accessories, truck tarps that can be recycled into other objects, and an innovative model of a wearable smartwatch, all based on Covestro’s Desmopan thermoplastic polyurethane.
The Mobility area is dedicated to materials and projects for vehicle interiors, an area that is developing extraordinarily in view of the transition to autonomous driving: In the future, the passenger compartment will become a living room on wheels, where comfort and the appearance of details and colors will become increasingly important. The polycarbonates of the Makrolon range and the polycarbonate films of the Makrofol range from Covestro are playing a leading role in this context, thanks to their exceptional versatility and ability to transmit radiation, both in terms of illumination and the flow of information from the outside to the inside of the vehicle. Covestro’s thermoplastics are also protagonists in applications related to the electric car of the present and future, especially wallboxes, charging stations and examples of improved surfaces for data exchange in the residential and automotive sectors.
The Interior Furnishings area, on the other hand, will showcase examples of products made with innovative solutions from Covestro, such as the recyclable monomaterial carpet made from Niaga. It will be complemented in the Interior Garden area by a design chair and sink made from Arfinio. This is a revolutionary material and innovative technology that for the first time allows the use of aliphatic polyurethanes in injection molding (RIM). It allows the production of objects of any shape in a single production step, with clear advantages in terms of lightness, resistance and maintenance compared to other solid surfaces.
