BP&R July/August 2021 by BP&R Magazine

British Plastics

and Rubber

bp&r Jul/AUG 2021

Yizumi gets spaced out THE RECENTLY LAUNCHED A5-EU SERIES JOINS THE RACE FOR SPACE — SEE PAGE 4 INTERPLAS PREVIEW Exclusive Interplas preview edition gives a first look at a selection of exciting announcements

SILVER SERVICE Explore the hygiene qualities of Silver Ion additives in high-touch technopolymer components.

D-SHIELD How a student designer created a product which will help reduce pesticide spray drift

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editor’s letter

www.britishplastics.co.uk Editor: GRACE NOLAN

T: +44 (0) 1244 952 375 E: grace.nolan@rapidnews.com head of media SALES-Plastics portfolio: Lisa Montgomery

T: +44 (0) 1244 952 372 E: lisa.montgomery@rapidnews.com Advertising Manager: MANDY O’BRIEN

T: +44 (0) 01244 952 519 E: mandy.obrien@rapidnews.com Advertising Manager: Gareth Jones

T: +44 (0) 1244 952 370 E: gareth.jones@rapidnews.com Head of studio: SAM HAMLYN

T: +44 (0) 1244 680222 E: sam.hamlyn@rapidnews.com SUBSCRIPTIONS:

T: +44 (0) 1244 680222 E: subscriptions@rapidnews.com PUBLISHER: duncan wood

T: +44 (0) 1244 680222 E: duncan.wood@rapidnews.com PRINT SUBSCRIPTION Qualifying Criteria UK – Free Europe – £249 ROW – £249 FREE digital issues available to view and download online British Plastics & Rubber is published monthly (8 times/year) by Rapid Plastics Media Ltd, Carlton House, Sandpiper Way, Chester Business Park, CH4 9QE T: +44 (0) 1244 680222 F: +44 (0) 1244 671074 © 2021 Rapid Plastics Media Ltd While every attempt has been made to ensure that the information contained within this publication is accurate the publisher accepts no liability for information published in error, or for views expressed. All rights for British Plastics & Rubber are reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without prior written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. ISSN 0307-6164 Incorporating Polymer Age and Rubber and Plastics Age. PEFC Certified This product is from sustainably managed forests and controlled sources PEFC/16-33-254

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this exclusive Interplas preview edition will give you a first look at a selection of exciting announcements from exhibitors

reparation for Interplas 2021, the UK’s leading plastics industry event, is in full swing! As a triennial event, over 400 exhibitors invest time and planning into demonstrating their latest machinery, equipment, products and services for visitors to view, test and experience at the show. Visitors will be able to see the entire spectrum of moulding and forming machines in action as well as materials, automation, contract manufacturing and supporting technologies including software, testing, inspection, surface treatments and much more. As BP&R is the headline media partner for Interplas, this exclusive Interplas preview edition will give you a first look at a selection of exciting announcements from exhibitors for the manufacturing processes, technologies, and services essential to the plastics sector. See page 12 for exhibitor highlights. The CPD certified conference programme will once again feature at Interplas 2021 presenting a wide range of industry topics from renowned speakers. Whether it’s the latest product innovations,

regulatory updates, medical plastics, packaging, or addressing challenges when it comes to the sustainability of plastics, there is something for everyone. With so much on offer for 2021, it is worth checking out the full conference programme on the event platform which provides detailed information on all talks and speakers. For the time being, Charlotte Chambers, Conference Producer for Interplas, has selected a few highlights on page 10. Enjoy the issue! grace nolan, EDITOR

the big story

Yizumi gets spaced out

T THE NEW YIZUMI A5-EU SERIES OF ENERGY EFFICIENT TOGGLE LOCK MOULDING MACHINES NOW HAVE MARKET LEADING ‘SPACE’ BETWEEN THE TIE BARS. THE COMPANY EXPLAINS THE EVOLUTION OF THIS POPULAR SERIES TO BP&R READERS.

he latest evolution of the popular A5 series now boasts specifications to match those of European competitors. The most obvious upgrade when inspecting the machinery is the tie bar spacing, this challenges the widely accepted assumption that far Eastern manufactured machines have small tie bar spacing versus available clamp force.

Energy efficiency is a dominant topic of conversation in the plastics industry – and rightly so, companies should strive to be as efficient as possible in all areas of the business. Therefore, having a machine that can accommodate larger tools when compared to several competitors of the same tonnage lock is an obvious advantage.

Looking at one example, the tie bar spacing on the new UN90A5-EU has increased from 360 x 360mm to 410 x 410mm. This percentage increase is typical across the complete A5-EU range.

“The A5-EU model improvements added to the great quality of the outgoing A5 series and our ‘personal touch’ of engineering support has given our customers the confidence to purchase multiple machines. We now have machinery in production all over the country, right from 60T clamp all the way to 2700T – with everything in between”

“One of the key attractions for us to work with Yizumi was their enthusiasm to want our feedback and to tap into our extensive knowledge gained from selling hundreds of machines to the UK and Ireland since 1999. This collaboration helped evolve the A5 series machine into a high specification machine [as standard] culminating in the latest A5-EU series becoming a class leader. Each Yizumi is manufactured with high quality recognised components, fitted with the latest drive technology and are industry 4.0 ready.” Naturally, larger tie bar spacing has also meant the platens are larger than previous versions, great for giving more real estate to mount complex moulds and fixings. Yizumi have also taken the opportunity to increase the clamp guard dimensions, which in turn has meant the water connections have been relocated to the rear of each platen, the connections are easier to work with and make mould changing quicker than before.

Other models from the Yizumi range also benefit from the larger clamp units. The D1 & DP series dual platen, direct lock machines ranging from 500T to 3400 tonnes clamp force are now available in Wide Platen Format. The FF series is a hybrid machine, blending the benefits of electric with the practicality of hydraulics. The FE series is the precision allelectric offering. With this expansive range of models, STV Machinery can provide solutions for every moulding application. We recognise the importance of technical support. Fortunately, our moulding machine refurbishment section has given our engineers the skills to transform tired machines with many faults into reliable fault free machines, trouble free for many years. This 20-year experience has created a very qualified and knowledgeable service team to support our Yizumi customers. With engineers based in the workshop much of the time, reaction time for engineer requests is often as quick as next day. Additionally, the in-house engineers are often available for any quick questions’ customer may have. This approach helps to make the whole experience of owning a Yizumi machine as efficient as possible.

Energy efficiency is a dominant topic of conversation in the plastics industry – and rightly so, companies should strive to be as efficient as possible in all areas of the business.

www.britishPLASTICS.co.uk

On the Cover Yizumi gets spaced out

The recently launched A5-EU series joins the race for space. See page 4

3 EDITOR’S LETTER 8 INTERPLAS PREVIEW

Interplas 2021 a mustattend event for the UK plastics industry In this issue, BP&R looks at some of the show floor highlights awaiting visitors in September.

22 EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

DIP winner addresses ‘digital divide’

Pol Blanch from Brunel university has claimed top prize in the 2021 Design Innovation in Plastics competition, with a product which will help reduce pesticide spray drift.

28 FEATURE

Regulars and Features

James Mountain, sales and marketing director at Fire Shield Systems, explores the rubber and plastic fire risks and shares his tips to mitigate them, in order to turn around the waste and recycling sector’s troubling fire record.

19 INDUSTRY NEWS

Reducing the Risk of Rubber and Plastic fires

31 FEATURE

Women in Plastics Spotlight

In the latest instalment of our series collaborating with the Women in Plastics initiative, we share a conversation with Adwoa Coleman, Africa Sustainability and Advocacy Manager at Dow P&SP.

43 FEATURE Squandering Silicone

Matthew Bishop, Operations Manager at Viking Extrusions, tells bp&r readers what we can do to recycle more silicone and make its development more sustainable.

24 MATERIALS NEWS 26 POLYMERMAN 27 MATERIALS HANDLING 29 MACHINERY NEWS 31 WOMEN IN PLASTICS 35 MASTERBATCH & ADDITIVES 39 RECYCLING 47 SOFTWARE GUIDE 47 BUYERS’ GUIDE 50 NEWS FROM THE FRONTLINE

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INTERPLAS 2021 a mustattend event for the UK plastics industry Specialist features add value to a visit to Interplas - with key areas and events that enable attendees to understand the issues they face, as well as finding solutions for them.

Here’s your guide to what’s on at Interplas 2021.

n 28-30 September 2021, Interplas will return to the NEC Birmingham for the first opportunity in four years, to meet face-toface with the entire Plastics supply chain. In its 70th year, Interplas 2021 will see more than 400 exhibitors present solutions, products, machines, and ideas from across the entire spectrum of moulding and forming machines as well as materials, automation, contract manufacturing and supporting technologies including software, testing, inspection, surface treatments and much more. Add to this, a full three days of conferences from some of the industry’s leading brands, authorities and organisations, as well as supplementary seminars, workshops and events, a visit to Interplas ensures you will get value, insight and experience you would not get at your desk. New for the show in 2021 is multiple features on the theme of sustainability in plastics, including show floor demonstrations, exhibits and a dedicated conference programme. 2021 CONFERENCE Interplas provides an engaging and value-added conference programme that is designed to impart insight and information. The conference in 2021 will take place across two dedicated stages. The first, the Main Stage, will have the theme of ‘Advancing UK Plastics’ and will present a mustattend programme for visitors looking to get a competitive advantage in their respective field thanks to a line-up of expert speakers. New for 2021, the Sustainability Stage will feature a three-day programme dedicated to helping companies find the best solutions for their respective sustainability challenges.

Horners’ Award- Winner to be announced Interplas has long been known as a show that champions UK plastics talent, and therefore will once again welcome back the ceremony for the Horners’ Award for Design and Innovation. The winner of the award will be announced by the Master Horner on the first day of the conference, during the break between morning and afternoon sessions at the Main Stage. Once the announcement is made the winner and other delegates will be around for networking and questions. Mediplas Pavilion The highly specialised area of manufacturing plastic parts for the medical industry is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the plastics industry and the Mediplas Pavilion will return once again in 2021 to focus the spotlight on the essential aspects and considerations of medical device manufacturing that are unique to the sector. Organised in conjunction with - and sponsored by - Medical Plastics News magazine, this special feature zone will enable visitors to quickly identify the exhibitors showcasing technologies, materials and services relevant to their field. The pavilion will provide a focus for medical manufacturing within the UK’s largest plastics exhibition and will bring together a host of industry experts to offer practical advice and guidance for manufacturers from initial concepts and design ideas, through to materials and process optimisation. KNOWLEDGE PAVILION After a hugely successful debut in 2017, the Knowledge Pavilion will return once again in 2021. A bank of highly experienced industry personnel from a cross-section of major institutions, consultancy bodies, trade associations, funding providers and livery companies will be on hand to answer questions and resolve queries in a dedicated and easy-to-find location. With innovation at the heart of the plastics industry, the Knowledge Pavilion enables visitors to accelerate their ideas, find information on suppliers and funding and learn about the trade organisations that can offer support. It also offers a space for networking, collaboration and sharing of ideas through trusted and recognised associations.

www.britishPLASTICS.co.uk

PLASTIKCITY PAVILION Online procurement and marketing hub PlastikCity will bring 20 of its partners to exhibit within the PlastikCity Pavilion (stand A40) at Interplas 2021. The PlastikCity Pavilion was first introduced at Interplas in 2017, and following a very successful show, the show organisers and PlastikCity are bringing it back. The pavilion is designed to provide booths for high-quality UK & IE suppliers that may not normally exhibit at the show, for example, suppliers who may not have the resources to occupy a large individual stand, or who wish to dip their toe in the water to assess the benefits. This year’s PlastikCity Pavilion exhibitors include: Applied Component Technology Associated Toolmakers – Big 3 Precision Certwood Dry Ice Energy Ireland ENL Group Heater Bands Kawasaki Robotics UK Leeds Plastic Engineering Matsuura Machinery Merriott Group The Plasticom Group Protool Plastics Group Refcool Refrigeration Spitfire AMS Sprint Tool & Die Taylor Engineering & Plastics Tekniplaz Wyvern Mouldings

CARL FUTCHER, PlastikCity’s Managing Director, commented: We were really pleased with the success of the PlastikCity Pavilion at Interplas 2017 and the buzz that it generated in that area of the hall, so it’s brilliant that we’re able to work with the organisers and bring it back for 2021. The PlastikCity Pavilion presents a perfect chance for visitors to gain access to these excellent UK & IE suppliers, who may not have a presence at the show otherwise. It’s also an excellent opportunity for our partners to further showcase their highquality products and services to the market. We’re excited to see what this show brings!”

At Interplas visitors will also be able to attend an exclusive Women in Plastics coffee morning, taking place 30th September 2021, to find out more about the benefits of joining and opportunities available. WOMEN IN PLASTICS For the third edition running, Interplas 2021 will welcome back industry association, Women in Plastics. Following on from previous success with both networking events and seminars, Women in Plastics is set to hold its biggest event yet in 2021. Women in Plastics will host its own conference session, focusing on attracting, training and retaining talent in the industry. With so many questions around quotas and the right people for the job, should you put people in a job due to gender, race or sexual orientation? The panel will discuss quotas, asking is it simply a promoted tokenism, box-ticking exercise, which could represent an unsustainable short-term fix? At Interplas visitors will also be able to attend an exclusive Women in Plastics coffee morning, taking place 30th September 2021, to find out more about the benefits of joining and opportunities available. A full round up of all news from the exhibitors will be featured in September’s issue of British Plastics and Rubber, along with exclusive interviews from conference speakers.

www.interplasuk.com www.britishPLASTICS.co.uk

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Conference Preview

he CPD certified conference programme will once again feature at Interplas 2021 presenting a wide range of industry topics from renowned speakers. Whether it’s the latest product innovations, regulatory updates, medical plastics, packaging, or addressing challenges when it comes to the sustainability of plastics, there is something for everyone. This year’s programme will be presented across two stages: • The Advancing UK Plastics Conference will see experts offer insights, opportunities and advice on how to work together as markets, trends and regulations continue to change. Speakers will discuss changes in the industry as a result of Brexit, COVID-19 and the net zero targets. There will also be topics presented from experts in areas such as medical, automotive, construction, extrusion and digital technologies. •

The Sustainability Stage is new for 2021 and will give visitors the opportunity to hear about some of the solutions for recycling and waste management issues, material innovations, and importantly a look at what is really deemed as ‘sustainable’ when it comes to plastics. This stage will also feature expert speakers from industry associations on the latest policy developments and funding available.

With so much on offer for 2021, it is definitely worth checking out the full conference programme on the event platform which provides detailed information on all talks and speakers. For the time being, Charlotte Chambers, Conference Producer for Interplas, has selected a few highlights. Women in Plastics: Attracting, Training and Retaining Talent 10:30-11:30, 30 September Women in Plastics is back for 2021! The conference will feature a keynote panel session to discuss the ways in which we can boost careers and talent in the plastics industry. With diversity also being an important factor for employers, it will be interesting to hear the panellists touch on this topic to discuss how they’re approaching building out their teams and skillsets. Women in Plastics will also be hosting a coffee morning right before the session which will be a great opportunity for networking and meeting your industry peers! Plastics Industry and Jaguar Land Rover in a Post Brexit/COVID World Ian Ray, SME Plastics, Injection Moulding and Process, Jaguar Land Rover - 14:0014:30, 28 September With automotive being one of the largest users of plastic, you don’t want to miss Ian Ray explore the current trends and objectives in the industry. This talk will highlight how the market has changed so rapidly since COVID-19 and Brexit, and how this will impact that plastics industry. What are the Biggest Challenges of Switching to Sustainable Plastics? Dan Jarvis, Business Development Manger, Plastribution, - 12:50-13:10, 28 September Whether to make the switch to sustainable plastics will be a decision that many organisations have to face, but how easy is it, and what are the difficulties that may come with this?

www.britishPLASTICS.co.uk

Dan is prepared to answers these questions and discuss how these plastics compare to the traditional plastics that have been used by processors. Regulatory Landscape for the Plastics Industry Post-Brexit Dr Anna Gergely, Director, EHS Regulatory, Steptoe and Johnson LLP 12:00-12:30, 28 September With more than 20 years experience in law firms and cutting-edge industry knowledge in environmental legislation, Anna will provide great insight into the recent regulations that affect the plastics industry. Hear about regulations relating to the strategy for Plastics in a Circular Economy, the EU Green Deal, the revised regulatory framework for bio-plastics and the recent development related to Brexit. Post-Industrial Waste and Your Next Business Opportunity Carlo Pattini, Product Sales Manager, Bandera - 13:00-13:30, 30 September The conference programme at Interplas will provide many talks that give tailored insight to the ways in which the UK plastics industry can lead the way in sustainable manufacturing, recycling and resource use. If you’re looking for a solution to re-use post-industrial scraps coming from film production, this is one you don’t want to miss. In this talk, Carlo will discuss how you can process the waste coming from a first blown film extrusion phase on a co-rotating twinextruder, back into a blown film line to develop a second product.

Same result. With recyclate. Recycled material is naturally subject to greater batch fluctuations than virgin material. Our intelligent assistance systems and technologies ensure a constant melt volume and thus consistently high product quality despite fluctuating raw material quality.

Learn more about the Topic Circular Economy.

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Exhibitor highlights Magog Industries to feature coatings technology

Magog Industries are showing at Interplas (Stand F51, Hall 4) their capabilities in design and manufacture of plastics processing screws and barrels for extrusion, injection moulding and blow moulding with a particular feature on coatings technology. “We constantly strive to offer solutions from optimal design to reduce wear to offering a wide range of surface technologies, explained John Allsop, Director and General Manager. “We design everything in-house but also work closely with specialist partners to meet our customers’ specific processing and production requirements”. Enhanced coatings specification include: Thin Dense Chrome (TDC) to enhance wear with low friction and is FDA Approved for food process environments. Ceramic Seal coatings reduce porosity and increase plating/coating life 4 to 10 times longer in corrosive environments.

4PLAS LTD to showcase expansion of 4TECH product range

In addition, HVOF (High Velocity Oxygen Fuel) that is thermally sprayed applied provides a crack-free 98 per cent density with hardness of 62 to 72 HRC. Through hardened D2 tool-steel and high-performance alloys such as Hastelloy (nickel-molybdenum) and Incoloy (nickel-ironchromium) are available from Magog for both screws and barrels. Further enhanced specifications for barrels include Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP) to reduce porosity and increase the density of the barrel surface and can be used as an alternative to Hastelloy or Incoloy when processing, for example PTFE or Fluoropolymers. Allsop added: “We’ve been focussing on looking at measures, particularly surface treatment for abrasion and potential corrosion to increase resilience and longevity specifically in ceramic and chrome seal coatings for demanding applications such as blown film extrusion.”

4PLAS LTD, a technically focused, UK based engineering materials supplier are exhibiting at Interplas 2021 (Stand D51) with the continued expansion of their 4TECH product range of highperformance speciality thermoplastic technical moulding compounds, combining an ever expanding range of performance engineering polymers, with a comprehensive range of speciality fillers, fibres and additives. The 4TECH grades include ultra-stiff, super-tough, high-heat,

ENGEL to display innovative hybrid concept ENGEL look forward to welcoming you to Interplas 2021. Using our innovative hybrid concept, you will see 12 machines in our virtual exhibition hall as well as

thermally conductive, electrically conductive (from anti-static through to high conductivity) highly flame retardant UL listed grades including halogen free and low smoke/ low toxicity, lubricated, laser markable, food/ medical, high density and antibacterial. The 4TECH range has also been further enhanced by the inclusion of PPO and

PPA high performance polymers. Available in standard grades and custom compounds to suit all requirements, the 4TECH product range compliments the existing wide range of standard Engineering materials from 4PLAS including PA, PBT, PET, PC, ABS, PC/ ABS, POM, PVC, TPE and filled polypropylenes as well a comprehensive recycled materials offering. The 4PLAS technical and sales team will be on Stand D51 Hall 4 to show examples and describe applications for the 4TECH range, and to discuss any requirements or opportunities for the entire 4PLAS product portfolio.

our live demonstration. Visit us on Stand AA10 & AA11 to explore our virtual showroom, take a plant tour around our manufacturing facility in Austria and talk to us about your requirements. From the machine, to integrated robots and peripheral equipment – ENGEL inject 4.0 products ensure greater transparency and efficiency along the entire production process, join us to see first-hand how our range of smart technologies and services can transform your manufacturing process. We look forward to meeting and discussing your projects.

www.britishPLASTICS.co.uk

PlastikCity to Unveil New and Improved Platform at Interplas 2021

Online procurement and marketing hub PlastikCity will launch

its latest generation procurement platform on stand A40 at Interplas 2021. Throughout 2021, PlastikCity has been upgrading its website to improve its functionality and usability, as well as update to fresh, modern branding. With over 1,200 pages now live on the site, the company

Colourmaster to showcase innovative BioSphere biodegradable additive Colourmaster are showcasing their innovative BioSphere biodegradable additive at Interplas, alongside the Avient Omnicolor masterbatch range. What is BioSphere? A biodegradable additive that accelerates the rate of biodegradation by up to 200 times without affecting a plastic’s properties in normal use or its ability to be recycled. BioSphere is suitable for almost all commercially available plastics, does not require any special conditions to work, and just needs to be disposed of in a microbe-rich environment such as landfill. It also works well in marine and compost environments. How does it work? Biodegradation occurs when microbes consume organic materials. Although plastics are organic,

the tough bonds in their polymer chain makes them hard for microbes to break down. The result is that plastics normally take hundreds or sometimes thousands of years to biodegrade. When products made with BioSphere additive are placed into active microbial environments, hydrolysis occurs severing the polymer chains. This reduces the molecular weight of the polymer making it easier to digest by microbes. Next the BioSphere additive attracts over 600 different kinds of microorganisms which fully consume the polymer product, thus completing the cycle of biodegradation. What is left behind? Just nutrient-rich biomass and water. Interested in finding out more? Visit Colourmaster in Hall 4 stand B50.

took the decision to implement the upgrade in stages. The first stage was completed in May 2021, which involved the launch of re-designed smart search facility, a brand-new homepage and page headers. These changes encourage users to find the required equipment and services via the search bar, ensuring they can quickly find what they’re looking for.

The final product will be unveiled on stand A40 at Interplas 2021, and will include brandnew partner profiles and quotation forms. Carl Futcher, PlastikCity’s Managing Director, commented: “Here at PlastikCity, we are always looking for ways to improve our service, and our website platform is the most important ingredient! We realised at the start of the

year that it needed an upgrade, which is a huge task considering how much the website has grown since our last re-design. “Our website development team have been working hard for months and we’re really excited to launch the new platform to the market. We’re confident that the re-design will vastly improve the experience of PlastikCity’s users".

achieve recognised industry standard levels of energy savings both in terms of electricity saving and together with very low water cooling requirement. The Borche machines are renowned for reliability and all machines now carry a three-year warranty. In addition to the Bi series Borche also have

available a range of Two Platen design machines up to 6800 ton together with a Multi Component range. Visitors to the stand can inspect the machines in detail and witness the machines in full operation, staff from Borche UK will be on hand to answer any queries and carry out demonstrations as required.

Borche UK to exhibit new Bi series of Servo Hydraulic Machines Borche UK will be exhibiting two machines from the companies’ new Bi series of Servo Hydraulic Machines on the Borche Stand CC10 in Hall 4. The new Borche Bi series of machines represent the company’s 4th generation of its highly successful and increasingly popular Servo Hydraulic machines and come complete with the latest KEBA touch screen control system. The Borche range of Servo drive machines

Kongskilde Industries to Showcase Pneumatic Solutions for Material Separation at Interplas 2021 Kongskilde Industries will showcase highly efficient pneumatic solutions at Interplas for dedusting and separation to escalate the value of your plastic granulate and recycled materials. Most recycled raw materials need to go through a separation process before they can be productively re-used. Material separation is an essential technique for the current industrial economy. An effective and simple material separation separates light impurities and dust. This process allows you to elevate recycled

materials to valuable reusable stock. It is important to recycle as much plastic as possible, both for our environment and the profitability of your business. A multitude of valuable functions can be gained from pneumatic separation including and beyond the purification of materials, recovery of by-products, enhanced recycling, segregation of contaminants, and freeing up the working environment from dust. Multiple Kongskilde components and operations can be combined to achieve the desired end-product.

www.britishPLASTICS.co.uk

With higher resin prices of raw material combined with the economic and environmental benefits of recycling, Kongskilde has introduced the AirWash system. The Kongskilde AirWash system cleans and conveys regrind all in one step. The patented design uses one blower sized to efficiently evacuate, convey, and clean your material. Unwanted fines, stringers and dust are collected in a sealed drum. The company will showcase two aspirators: The AirWash and the KIA, alongside a MultiAir blower. Visit Stand F20 in Hall 4 to learn more. 13

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Exhibitor highlights Faulkner Moulds to showcase Multi Award-Winning Toolmaking at Interplas Faulkner Moulds, three times UK ‘Toolmaker of the Year’, is set to give visitors a warm welcome at this year’s eagerly awaited Interplas exhibition (Hall 4 Stand J22). Lead members of Faulkner Moulds’ design and manufacturing teams will greet visitors with samples, images and other materials to showcase the company’s excellence in Toolmaking. Delegates are welcome to bring their project details and samples along for an initial consultation and free budget rapid price quotation, which will be calculated using advanced quotation software, developed inhouse. Serving many sectors, including medical, electronics, consumer, industrial, automotive and packaging, the Yorkshire-based

company provides a bespoke end-to-end service, investing in training and state-ofthe-art toolmaking technologies and techniques. With the ability to design and manufacture sophisticated product and tooling solutions, including twin-shot, unscrewing mechanisms, collapsible cores, overmoulds, multi-cavity and rapid cycle times, Faulkner Moulds prides itself on a strong track record of accuracy, efficiency and superb customer service. The company is highly experienced in Design for Manufacture and in creating complex multicavity tooling designed for rapid and highvolume manufacture. Faulkner Moulds recently manufactured a 16-impression tool, running successfully at a 7-second cycle time, fully guaranteed for a million shots (pictured). Continually investing in cutting edge software, machinery and measuring equipment, this year Faulkner Moulds has purchased a new CNC sparker that runs to a guaranteed 3 microns accuracy all day and is now recruiting their next Apprentice and Toolmaker.

Summit Systems Returns for its 11th Interplas Event Summit Systems, the UK’s leading ancillary equipment supplier, is returning to Interplas this year to demonstrate the cutting-edge technology now available through its material handling range. Summit Systems has been supplying ancillaries into the plastics industry for over 30 years, and is now a market leader in the sector. At Interplas 2021, the team will be showcasing its latest central material handling systems, which utilise the latest technology to set up and calibrate automatically. For visitors wanting

to reduce pipework runs, they will also be demonstrating the impressive self-cleaning single-pipe multi-material central conveying system. Additionally, the rest of Summit Systems’ large range of equipment, from cooling to blending and drying, will be presented through unique, interactive displays. Mike Jordan, Managing Director at Summit Systems, commented: “Our plans for the show are all coming together and being formulated right now, but we’ll be bringing something completely different to this year’s show. As

well as the vast range of impressive equipment on offer, we are also working on a special display illusion. Visit stand BB10 to see it in action!” This will be Summit Systems’ 11th appearance at Interplas; the company has exhibited at every Interplas show since Mike founded the company in 1989. He continued: “We are looking forward to seeing a crowd of pent-up plastics people who are excited to see new ideas, and who we can help enhance their manufacturing in 2021.” Visit Summit Systems on stand BB10.

Xtrutech’s XTS Range for Polymer Extrusion Xtrutech will be attending this year’s Interplas, stand M1 Hall 4, where process experts will be available to discuss process optimisation, offer solutions, and provide information on the XTS range for polymer extrusion. Xtrutech design and manufacture Twin Screw Extruders and bespoke ancillary equipment at its main headquarters in the UK. The company supplies XTS machines and OEM spare parts such as barrels, liners, and screw elements to customers across the globe. Xtrutech’s onsite testing facility is available for process trials for all

types of new polymer development. Customers can make use of the XTS24 laboratory line, alongside process experts who are happy to offer innovative solutions to processing requirements. Xtrutech’s bespoke ancillary range can be customised to support unique and specialist applications. The XTS range is ideal

www.britishPLASTICS.co.uk

for the compounding of medical plastics, pharmaceuticals, biodegradable polymers & more. “We have had recent success recycling PET fines with our XTS35 line consisting of; the XTS35 Twin Screw Extruder, twin-screw side feeder, water bath, pelletizer & our new infrared crystallisation unit.”

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exclusive Q&A

ASPIRE TO INSPIRE

AS A NEW START- UP, ASPIRE MACHINERY PARTNER WITH GLOBAL LEADERS AND SPECIALIST IN THEIR FIELD TO HELP THEIR CUSTOMERS REACH THEIR GOALS AND OBJECTIVES. GRACE NOLAN TALKED TO ANDY BARNES BUSINESS MANAGER AT ASPIRE MACHINERY TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE COMPANY AND WHAT ATTENDEES CAN EXPECT FROM THERE FIRST TIME EXHIBITING AT INTERPLAS 2021.

Q: Tell us about Aspire Machinery and how it was created? After having many years of experience supplying complete plastics processing production Lines, Including Blown Film Lines, Cast Film Lines, Sheet/ Foam and Recycling and Converting Lines to the Global markets, Aspire Machinery Ltd recognised there is an increasing need in the industry for supplying cost effective innovative solutions to enhance existing production capabilities, upgrade or change direction or extend the life of the customers’ Existing Assets. Q: What does the company bring to the plastics industry? Successful companies typically have a policy of continuous improvement for their Extrusion, Recycling or Converting process, and seek to maximise the potential, where purchasing innovative proven components and equipment to complement their existing technology, with a fast return on investment can make a huge difference in terms of capability, output and or quality. Furthermore, due to the ever-increasing demands of the market, customers may wish to change their business focus or diversify by adding new equipment and technology, an upgrade can assist potentially open new opportunities. Q: As a start-up what has been the biggest challenge? Meeting customers to technically review their requirements and understand their aspirations. Due to the COVID Situation visiting customers to inspect their existing equipment and current mode of operation has proven difficult especially for those companies in the food or medical packaging industry. Although, we’ve all become experts at Zoom/ Teams and What’s app Meetings, there is no substitute to actually visiting the customer and going out onto the production line to determine what could be achieved.

Although, we’ve all become experts at Zoom/ Teams and What’s app Meetings, there is no substitute to actually visiting the customer and going out onto the production line to determine what could be achieved.

GMA MACHINERY ENTERPRISE CO., LTD. GMA Extrusion Die

Bag on the roll production by FAS Converting Machinery AB. Recycling Equipment including Granulators, Shredder’s, Pulverisers and related ancillaries by Pulian International Enterprise Co Ltd. Extrusion Ancillaries including Gear Pumps, Feed blocks screen changers and Extrusion dies by GMA Machinery Enterprise Co.Ltd. Web Defect inspection systems and in/out of line Thickness Measurement + Profile Control systems By Nano-Trend Co Ltd. Q: What does the company have planned for the future? All our partners continue to develop their portfolio and continue to bring new patented technology to the market and we have plans to launch new products in 2021/2022. A new show room (Demonstration facility) is currently being prepared where we will be able to receive customers discuss their aspirations in detail and show the equipment. FAS Converting Machinery AB . The FAS Euroline, Is optimised for in-or off-line Garbage Bag Production , this ﬂexible servo driven bag making machine is equipped as standard with a driven C- Folder and single sealing bars. With FAS Tensionless sealing operation with heating from two sides , enabling bags on the roll production using LLD, LD, MD, HD recycled and Biomaterial

Q: What can visitors expect from Aspire Machinery at Interplas 2021? On Display at the Aspire Machinery Ltd in Hall 3, Stand DD30, will be Innovative Blown film cooling technology By VarDar Systems Ltd, together with the converting equipment for in line or out of line

Vardar systems Ltd: VarDAR or Variable Diameter Air Ring is a system designed to reduce “blocking” and the effects it has on the blown ﬁlm process, thereby improving quality and productivity.

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www.cjpsales.co.uk | Specialists in technical polymers

INDUSTRY | NEWS JEC Group and EuCIA to Host the 2021 Annual Gathering of the Global Trade Associations at the International Composites Summit JEC Group and the European Composites Industry Association (EuCIA) will be hosting their next Gathering of the global associations in the composites industry at the International Composites Summit (ICS), being held in London, UK on 8th and 9th September. The Gathering itself will take place from 4pm – 5.30pm on September 8th, where composites Trade Associations from across the globe have been invited to attend. Originally, the meeting, which is the 2nd gathering of its kind, was due to take place in March 2020, but of course due to the pandemic this has not been possible. With some restrictions lifting and so not to delay the meeting further, JEC Group and EuCIA were invited to host the meeting at this new UK event, which will allow for discussions on the lessons learned and the opportunities arising after COVID-19, specifically what the composites industry can learn from a disrupted supply chain. For those Global Trade Associations still under COVID19 travel restrictions a live stream access will be available. Eric Pierrejean, JEC Group CEO, said: “As we have not been able to host the event this year at JEC World, we are happy to make it happen at the first session of the ICS, supporting the launch if this new event initiated by Composites UK.”

Plastics manufacturers drive digitalisation with Made Smarter support Two plastic manufacturers are among the latest wave of businesses to secure support from a programme helping businesses boost productivity and growth using digital tools. Bloom-in-Box, a

manufacturer of ecofriendly plastic products, based in Burscough, is receiving help from the Made Smarter Adoption programme in the North West. It has invested in an electrical injection moulding machine which

UK entrepreneur secures funding for expansion of sustainable innovation An entrepreneur from Cornwall has secured a five-figure finance package from HSBC UK to help him expand his business into the US market. Muggi, which manufactures innovative sustainable drink carrying trays, was established in 2011 by David Trotter. Trotter came up with the idea when he needed a solution to the problem of keeping multiple drinks from spilling on choppy seas. Today, the product is also used to make carrying drinks easier for the elderly and for people with disabilities. Muggi is completely sustainable and made from recycled plastic, from household or

post-consumer plastic as well as fishing nets and ropes taken out of the sea. One of the business’ founding principles is to drive positive environmental and social change, so making its products long-lasting and sustainable has always

been a priority. Trotter will use the HSBC UK funding to fulfil an order of 16,400 Muggi from American television network QVC, after the well-known shopping channel reached out to him about featuring his products.

increases production speed and quality, enabling the business to increase production capacity by between 25-40 per cent. David Reardon, Director, said: “We believe that investing in the next generation of moulding machines will develop a more digitalised manufacturing environment aimed at improving efficiency, expanding production capacity, and generating more revenue. This will allow us to expand and invest in new ideas, create jobs and develop more environmental products.” Meanwhile, Plastic Card Services, a manufacturer of eco-degradable and recyclable plastic cards, based in Macclesfield, which has already benefited from the

programme has secured support for another technology project. Donna Edwards, Programme Director for the Made Smarter Adoption programme in the North West, said: “Industry 4.0 is the future of manufacturing. Through it, the entire sector can reap endless rewards that will ultimately lead to considerable – and sustainable – growth. But upgrading to new

technologies can seem like a complex and daunting task, and SMEs can miss out on significant improvements to their operations.” “I am delighted that so many manufacturing and engineering businesses of all sizes, from across all sectors, have realised the benefits of digital technology and would encourage other SMEs in the region to start their own conversation with us.”

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Specialists in technical polymers | www.cjpsales.co.uk

Schoeller Allibert UK launches dedicated taskforce to support chemical sector sustainability Schoeller Allibert has announced the creation of a dedicated sustainability task force in the UK to guide and advise customers on evolving regulatory measures regarding plastic packaging. Designed to support chemical manufacturers and suppliers navigating the changing legislative waters, the new group will support Schoeller Allibert UK customers through important changes affecting the supply chain, including the UK Plastic Tax,

Extended Producer Responsibility (‘EPR’) reforms and European Packaging Levies. The task force underpins the company’s core motivating force of moving chemical logistics from an insular, linear and fractured process to a robust and circular closed-loop system. The task force, which will focus on the UK legislative environment and will be in close contact and aligned with Schoeller Allibert’s corporate sustainability

Bioplastics company to expand after successful fundraising campaign Specialist M&A advisory firm Ciesco has confirmed that Chip[s] Board, which develops bioplastics from food waste, has completed fundraising to support the next stage of its development. Chip[s] Board will use

the funds to relocate staff and laboratories to Yorkshire, a central region for the supply of raw materials, and build a pilot plant to demonstrate production at scale. The company uses proprietary technology

strategy, will draw on individuals throughout the business to ensure that a holistic view of sustainability remains front and centre. Further strengthening Schoeller Allibert’s sustainability strategy, the business has recently appointed Britta Wyss Bisang as Group Global Sustainability Director. Noel Lynott, Country Sales Manager at Schoeller Allibert UK, explained: “We’re proactively taking away many of the

processes to develop bioplastics and bioplastic composites, initially from industrial food waste, such as potato waste. These match the performance of conventional plastics whilst being both biodegradable and recyclable post-use. Rowan Minkley, CEO of Chip[s] Board, founded the business with co-founder Robert Nicoll in 2017. Their intention was to use circular economy strategies to address issues in plastics, food waste and recycling. These pose a major challenge to the environment and are commensurate with global action to address the climate crisis. He said: “Our philosophy is that a circular economy within waste management and material production will create a new sustainable model, utilising the abundant resources we currently have rather than continuing to process virgin materials.”

environmental pressure points that are currently troubling chemical suppliers and supporting the creation of a circular economy. We do this

with more than just our comprehensive product range, we can use our extensive combined knowledge and experience, too.”

bio-bean launches Inficaf

bio-bean has introduced a new, sustainable raw material made from upcycled spent coffee grounds, Inficaf. From bioplastics to automotive friction, and from cosmetics to textiles and more, Inficaf offers versatility across a wide variety of industries to displace virgin or synthetic materials whilst also reducing waste. The company has created Inficaf from spent coffee grounds collected from UK businesses at every scale, including coffee

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shops, office blocks, airports and instant coffee manufacturers. Using the existing logistics infrastructure to reduce road miles, the Cambridgeshirebased company takes in the grounds at its recycling facility where it processes over 7,000 tonnes of spent grounds every year. When the grounds arrive, bio-bean processes and dries them to requirement before sieving and packing them up for innovative, new commercial and industrial applications.

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exclusive

DIP winner addresses

'DIGITAL DIVIDE'

P POL BLANCH FROM BRUNEL UNIVERSITY HAS CLAIMED TOP PRIZE IN THE 2021 DESIGN INNOVATION IN PLASTICS (DIP) COMPETITION, WITH A PRODUCT WHICH WILL HELP REDUCE PESTICIDE SPRAY DRIFT. GRACE NOLAN SPOKE TO HIM ABOUT HIS PRODUCT, CHALLENGES FACED AND WHAT’S NEXT.

Q: Tell me about your product and what inspired you. The product, ‘D-Shield’, is a semitranslucent shield that minimises spray drift, blocking pesticides from drifting during application. The shield, made from low density, heat resistant polypropylene, is designed to be carried by individuals using backpack sprayers, as is often the case in developing countries, where plots are smaller and the expense of agricultural machinery is prohibitive. I was initially inspired by the phenomenon called ‘digital divide’, which states that rural areas are becoming much less technologically developed than urban areas, building then a gap that can cause social issues. Q: Prior to the competition, had you done much work with polymers or plastics as part of your course? The MSc Integrated Product Design at Brunel University integrates manufacturing, CAD and sustainable design, in all of which I have worked with polymers. I have considered them in the design of sustainable products especially for the consumer electronics industry, along with a study of its mechanical and thermal properties. This has provided me a good skillset on the design and application of polymers for a wide range of sectors.

Q: Do you think the plastics industry offers exciting opportunities for young graduates? Yes, I think so. The manufacturing industry is one of the biggest in the UK and plastics are a key element in product design and engineering. Therefore, I believe that graduates from any related field can find a wide market where to start their careers. The social need for sustainable design and a circular economy are building an interesting scenario for young engineers and designers, in which we have the opportunity to apply our skills to find solutions that respect the environment. Q: Your design addresses a fundamental problem in the environment, do you think this will change people’s perspectives of plastics, in the sense that in the right context and application, they can be beneficial to environmental protection? I totally agree. The way plastics are treated today has a negative impact on the environment, but this doesn’t mean that we can’t make a good use of them. The product I propose is made mostly from polypropylene and it has a very positive impact on the environment and wildlife, preventing natural issues such as eutrophication or chemical pollution. So, at the end it’s important to make a balance of the context in which plastics are used,

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and to work on sustainable solutions to minimise its impact in depletion. Q: What was the most challenging part of the design process? In my opinion, the most challenging part was the research one. The brief (Design for a natural world) stated clearly the purpose of the product to be designed, but it was a challenge to find a relevant issue to be solved. Most of the project time was dedicated to find the right issue, the context and the user target, and this is probably the part that I enjoyed the most too. Q: What have you learnt from entering the competition? The Design Innovation in Plastics 2021 has been an opportunity to design a product that solves a real issue, and I have learned a lot from it. First, I have learned the dimensions of the impact that

the food industry has in our planet. The United Nations has listed it as one of the main concerns to address by 2030 and a lot of work has yet to be done to produce food sustainably for everyone. Also, I have learned a lot about multiple polymers and which suit better for each application, from its manufacturing to its disposal. The skills I

So, at the end it’s important to make a balance of the context in which plastics are used, and to work on sustainable solutions to minimise its impact in depletion.

have developed during the competition are very beneficial as a designer and I am looking forward to keep improving them. Q: What does the future hold for you and are you considering a career in plastics design? I am very interested in interaction design, and this is what I would like to do in the future. This can include plastics if it is from an industrial design standpoint, but also digital design. I would like to do both and not to close any door. I believe that design is multidisciplinary and having experience in both digital and physical can be very beneficial today because of the fast-paced changing environment, where digital media is becoming normal in most of the actions we experience throughout the day. Mostly, I like design.

The social need for sustainable design and a circular economy are building an interesting scenario for young engineers and designers, in which we have the opportunity to apply our skills to find solutions that respect the environment.

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WWW.PLASTRIBUTION.CO.UK | EXPERTS IN THERMOPLASTICS

MATERIALS | NEWS JSP form partnership with Polyformes JSP International has announced a partnership with Polyformes and will now be the only distributor of ARPLANK in the UK. ARPLANK is a noncross-linked foam material made from expanded polyethylene. When manufactured in Europe it contains 25 per cent recycled content. The threedimensional sphere of ARPLANK can absorb and dissipate energy, making it an ideal packaging solution to protect even the most fragile of products. Adrian Green, Head

of Sales and Marketing for Polyformes says, “We are very excited to bring this innovative packaging solution to the UK. We have put the ARPLANK material through its paces and found that not only do we like the protective qualities it gives but how receptive it is to the many operations used in converting it such as die cutting, splitting, water jet, laser, CNC milling, sawing and moulding. It fits in nicely with many solutions we provide to our clients and now enables them to become more sustainable.”

Icho Systems Choose Mediprene TPE for Award-Winning Therapy Ball HEXPOL TPE has collaborated with Icho Systems GmbH, a company bringing a modern approach to interactive therapy and systems for people with cognitive diseases. ichó is a therapy ball

for young and old; it was developed to promote cognitive and motor skills in a playful way. Current application areas include people with dementia and children, with a special focus on learning for people with autism.

Henry Royce Institute calls for National Steering Group for Digital Materials and Manufacturing The Henry Royce Institute for advanced materials (Royce) has made a call for the establishment of a National Steering Group for Digital Materials and Manufacturing, to help accelerate the development of digitalfirst approaches to materials science. The institute believes the need for digitalisation within materials science and innovation is stronger now than ever, given that advanced materials will be key to almost all the major challenges we face over the next decade and beyond. However, developing new materials has always been seen as a slow, risky, and expensive process, and 20-year development cycles are

not uncommon for safetycritical applications. Therefore, if the UK is to stand a chance of meeting its 2050 net zero commitments, there is an urgent need to bring the new materials required for net-zero technologies into service within the next five years. Much hope in achieving this timescale lies with Materials 4.0, a digital materials revolution which will accelerate the discovery, innovation, and validation of new materials. In this context Royce is providing a focus around which the materials community can coalesce on the Materials 4.0 revolution to ensure the needs of the materials community

are represented to government and funders. The central aim is to remove the current blockers to the establishment of Materials 4.0 and to permit the materials R&D community to develop the technologies required. Professor Iain Todd, Materials 4.0 Project Champion and Scientific Lead at Royce, said: “Just as Industry 4.0 is introducing a digital thread through manufacturing, Materials 4.0 is needed so that we can predict and control materials’ microstructures and performance through processing and, subsequently, in service through a materials digital twin.”

The ichó therapy ball is constructed from an injection moulded outer skin which houses the lights, speaker, sensors and electronics. Mediprene TPE was selected due to its softtouch haptics and good light permeability. The material also needs to be easily cleaned. Mediprene TPEs are resistant to the most common cleaning fluids used in the healthcare environment. As a medical product, the ichó therapy ball has been specially developed for use in a medical context; therefore, a medicalgrade material was

required. Representative Mediprene TPE materials have been tested for cytotoxicity according to ISO 10993-5 and for biocompatibility according to ISO 1099310 (Intracutaneous Reactivity)/-11 (Acute Systemic Toxicity) and USP Class VI. Mediprene materials are latexfree, which reduces the risk of allergic reactions. In accordance with ISO 10993 - 10 ‘Tests for Sensitisation and Irritation,’ a representative Mediprene compound was shown to have no sensitisation potential and classified as a nonsensitiser.

Guido Heinen, key account managermedical, HEXPOL TPE, added, “We are very proud to work with the team at icho systems on this project. They are helping to improve people’s lives and wellbeing; this fits with our aim to create materials that make a real difference.”

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WWW.PLASTRIBUTION.CO.UK | EXPERTS IN THERMOPLASTICS

IN THIS EDITION OF HIS REGULAR COLUMN, OUR RESIDENT MATERIALS EXPERT, MIKE BOSWELL, EXPLAINS HOW THE FORTHCOMING PLASTIC PACKAGING TAX LOOKS SET TO HAVE FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS FOR BOTH UK POLYMER PRODUCERS AND IMPORTERS OF PLASTICS RAW MATERIALS INCLUDING DISTRIBUTORS, TRADERS AND CONVERTERS.

Polymer raw material prices are set to increase as a result of the

forthcoming UK Single Use Packaging Tax

he introduction of Plastic Packaging Tax from April 2022 looks set to have financial implications for both UK polymer producers and importers of plastics raw materials including distributors, traders and converters. The tax liability results from the plastic sacks used to contain the plastic raw materials, these are commonly referred to as valve sacks or FFS bags, and under the forthcoming legislation will be defined as single use plastics packaging.

Whilst the policy objective of the new tax is to provide an economic incentive for businesses to use recycled material in the manufacture of plastic packaging, which will create greater demand for this material, the reality is that because of both the demanding nature of this application (the need to contain 25,000+ plastic granules as economically as possible) and the high proportion of pre-packaged polymer that is imported, the possibility to meet the recycled content threshold in any meaningful way is most unlikely. However, it should be noted that a high level of this packaging is already recycled into other products, given the straightforward provenance of the bags and high-performance grades of polyethylene used in their manufacture, and this may go on to meet legislative requirements in other applications. The implications of not being able to meet the minimum 30 per cent recycled content requirement for those who exceed the registration threshold of 10 tonnes of plastic packaging manufactured in or imported into the UK per annum, is a tax liability of £200 per tonne.

Who is ‘Polymerman’?

Mike Boswell is Managing Director of UK materials distributor, Plastribution, as well as the Chairman of the British Plastic Federation’s Polymer Compounders and Distributors Group and its ‘BREXIT Committee’. ‘Polymerman’ is the title used for announcements made via his Twitter account. This column is compiled using data from PIE (Plastics Information Europe) www.plastribution. co.uk | www.pieweb.com

In order to comprehend any likely tax bill, it is necessary to both consider the volume of polymer purchased in 25kg sacks, and also the weight of each sack. A standard weight for a 25kg sack is about 115g, which results in an equivalence of 2,174 tonnes of packaged polymer to meet the 10-tonne packaging tax threshold, and at a weight of 115g and with the current tax liability incur a cost liability of £0.92 per tonne or about £25 per full load delivery.

It is notable that any stretch wrap, shrink hoods and stretch hoods used to secure the 25kg bags to the pallet are treated as transit packaging and therefore do not incur a liability under the proposed tax regime. It is also possible that where 25kg bags are subject to ‘rip and tip’ into silo trucks that the 25kg bags would also be treated as transit packaging, but in the case of the liners used in sea-bulk containers that these would incur the tax liability. Assuming that about 50 per cent of the 4m tonnes of polymer processed in the UK is supplied in 25kg PE sacks, it looks like HMRC is likely to levy some £1.8m per annum in new taxes through this route alone. In terms of enforcement ‘HMRC will apply penalties to encourage people to meet their tax obligations. Penalties will act as a sanction to those who do not meet their obligations and reassure those that do that they are not going to be disadvantaged’. In the case of composite construction bags such as the laminated bags such as those used for hydroscopic polymers, such as nylons, if the largest component by weight is plastic, then the tax liability is based upon the entire weight of the sack. In conclusion, those importing plastics raw materials in 25kg bags at levels above 1.5kt will need to keep appropriate records, and where the volumes of packaging exceed 10 tonnes pay the appropriate tax. Plastic converts will need to mindful of any products that they themselves import, rather than volumes they purchase from a UK importer.

In order to comprehend any likely tax bill, it is necessary to both consider the volume of polymer purchased in 25kg sacks, and also the weight of each sack.

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MATERIALS HANDLING | NEWS Maguire adds value to its ULTRA product line by integrating FlexBus Lite Maguire has made its ULTRA dryer touchscreen controller even more powerful by integrating the Company’s FlexBus Lite software into the platform’s Arm Cortex microprocessor. FlexBus Lite, a standard feature on all touchscreen blender controls, is now integrated into the ULTRA dryer touchscreen controls, allowing users complete pump and receiver

control in a cell, in a user friendly and straightforward control system. FlexBus Lite features an Intuitive receiver and pump control – with features typically only found on larger central system controls. It allows control of 1 vacuum pump and full system functionality control of up to 10 materials receivers. The Icon based touchscreen shows each of the receiver’s activity in real time whether it

Hot runner systems by Oerlikon HRSflow avoids surface defects Oerlikon HRSflow has developed a Mechanical Stroke Regulator (MSR) for hydraulic driven valve gate systems that makes it easy to individually preset the opening positions of the pins in hot runner systems. Via a graduate scale adjusting screw the user specifies the individual oil volume, which the valve gate system then uses to bring the needles into the intended positions. In this way, the pressure drop for each nozzle can be set independently, and the pressure distribution during the packaging phase can be controlled.

Oerlikon HRSflow supplies its new MSR ready-to-install on all of the company’s existing hydraulic cylinder series equipped with electrovalves. Installation can be limited to individual nozzles of a system to save costs. Modifications to the existing hot runner cutout are not required. Combined with Oerlikon HRSflow’s FLEXspeed system, the speed of the pin can also be adjusted. Stephan Berz, Vice President Sales at Oerlikon HRSflow, comments: “We have recognised that numerous quality

is calling for material, receiving material into it, or showing material discharging. The pump and receiver settings can be easily adjusted in real time by the operator. “With the dryer, vacuum chamber and material retention hopper on load cells – you are able to completely regulate the drying rate to the process rate. This allows the operator to program a shutdown to any specific day and time,” said Frank Kavanagh, vice president of sales and marketing. “The control system then monitors the rate so that the loader will stop calling for material and the dryer will be empty. With the control system monitoring the rate, this makes material changes even easier.”

With the dryer, vacuum chamber and material retention hopper on load cells – you are able to completely regulate the drying rate to the process rate.

problems on parts that occur during the injection process can be positively affected by the management and correct positioning of the pin. The new MSR is the result of our developments to make the pressure drop proportional to the opening stroke of the pin. It allows for easy pin adjustment even with hydraulic actuation.”

The new MSR is the result of our developments to make the pressure drop proportional to the opening stroke of the pin. It allows for easy pin adjustment even with hydraulic actuation.

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FEATURE

J JAMES MOUNTAIN, SALES AND MARKETING DIRECTOR AT FIRE SHIELD SYSTEMS, EXPLORES THE RUBBER AND PLASTIC FIRE RISKS AND SHARES HIS TIPS TO MITIGATE THEM, IN ORDER TO TURN AROUND THE WASTE AND RECYCLING SECTOR’S TROUBLING FIRE RECORD.

R!SKY BUSINESS

s the effort towards sustainable materials increases worldwide, the UK is seeing a rise in rubber and plastic recycling. Before recycling, these materials are often stored for extended periods of time, and require intense processing to repurpose them, creating significant fire risks. Plastics today have evolved significantly since their origin and now contain a complicated mix of materials. This is also true for rubber, with tyres today containing over 200 different materials. Many of these ingredients are combustible, producing significant fire risks. Both rubber and plastic are oil-based materials, with the potential to act much like flammable liquids when alight. Fire suppression, therefore, is more challenging, and it is particularly important to understand all the risks and mitigation measures to ensure safety. RUBBER Rubber fires have the potential to spread rapidly and burn at incredibly high temperatures. Once these high temperatures have been reached, rubber will often begin to flow as a hot mass. This entraps the flammable vapours being released from the material and can create an explosive force if not quickly managed. Rubber is also a natural water repellent, meaning many extinguishing mediums will simply be shed and drained away. Therefore, traditional suppression systems, like ceiling sprinkler systems, are often limited in controlling the spread of fire. A particularly common type of rubber fire is tyre fires, as waste tyres for recycling are often stored for extended lengths of time. These tyre stockpiles have the potential for high heat output, a risk increased further by the air spaces between tyres. Tyres can also burn for a staggering amount of time, such as the Heyope Tyre Fire, which burned beneath the surface for 15 years before being fully extinguished in 2004. Burning tyres also release large amounts of oil, making water alone an even less effective extinguishing material. PLASTIC Plastic flames spread rapidly and can reach as high as two feet per second, or 10 times that of wood on the surface. Burning plastic will also melt

and run, causing the fire to spread in different and unpredictable ways. Recycled plastics are commonly used to produce refuse derived fuel (RDF) and solid recovered fuel (SRF), both of which carry key fire risks. Subcoal technology can also now be used to repurpose RDF and SRF into pellets, used for fuelling lime or cement kilns, for instance. These pellets have a high calorific value, meaning they are also highly susceptible to ignition. RESPONSIBILITIES AND REGULATIONS All waste sites must have a clear fire prevention plan (FPP), outlining all fire safety measures that are in place, as is mandated by the Environment Agency. This is agreed upon by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order (2005), which stipulates the reasonable steps that should be taken to mitigate fire risk. There is voluntary guidance pertaining to the suppression measures for different materials (NFPA 11, EN 13565), and there is also guidance specifically referencing the storage of rubber (ISO 2230:2002). HOW TO REDUCE THE RISK WHEN BULK STORING RAW MATERIALS Minimise pile sizes and storage times Regularly monitor sub-surface temperatures Ensure sufficient ventilation Separate stockpiles – physically or using fire walls. Water-based suppression solutions are often unsuitable for rubber and plastic storage. In these situations, compressed air foam systems will often be more effective, as the agent will stick to the materials and eliminate oxygen supply. DURING PROCESSING Ensure regular maintenance on all machinery to monitor friction and avoid mechanical failure Regularly clean all machinery to prevent build-up of combustible particles. Localised protection may be needed for parts of the processing machinery. Detection systems can also reduce risk by monitoring for flames or sparks, for instance with video or infra-red flame detection. WHEN STORING PROCESSED MATERIALS Rotate piles where risk of combustion is high Monitor temperatures regularly below the surface Control any additional material risks, such as exposed metal content. The high calorific value in RDF or SRF makes water alone ineffective for suppressing fires. In this case, Class A penetrating foam, using cannons, hose reel or deluge systems, is often more effective. These systems focus suppression towards a particular area or hotspot, penetrating the surface to suppress at point of ignition. A full fire risk assessment should inform your site’s fire mitigation measures, ensuring that your solutions are tailored to the site’s individual risks.

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pioneering plastics

MACHINERY | NEWS First joint IMD demonstration by Arburg and Leonhard Kurz For their first joint demonstration of InMould Decoration (IMD), Arburg and Leonhard Kurz showcased the in-mould lamination of a control panel for a washing machine. The process was made possible by combining an Arburg Allrounder 820 A and a film feed unit with control cabinet from Leonhard Kurz. MD technology offers great potential for the visual enhancement and functionalisation of plastic surfaces. Inmould film lamination also means not having to spend time and money re-working injection moulded parts. Designs can be varied and even changed completely in

next to no time. An electric Allrounder 820 A with a clamping force of 4000 kN produces control panels for washing machines from transparent MABS in a cycle time of around 60 seconds. The 1-cavity injection mould and the foil feed unit, which consists of an unwinder, rewinder and control cabinet, are by Leonhard Kurz. IMD is a continuous roll-to-roll transfer process: the carrier film featuring the decorative motif

is unwound above the clamping unit via a film feed, in the above example wiped free of dust with a oilcloth and then pulled through the injection mould, which is fitted with a clamping frame. During in-mould lamination with plastic,

Polestar Interactive announced as first strategic partner for FANUC UK FIELD system FANUC UK has announced Polestar Interactive as the first strategic network and systems integration partner for its Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) platform, FIELD (FANUC Intelligent Edge Link and Drive) system. Suitable for industrial applications ranging from subcontract machine shops through to major production facilities alike, FIELD system is an opensource platform which connects a broad range of FANUC and third-party production technology – including both new and legacy models. Its aim is to provide fast, centralised access to all production data within

a factory and help endusers take a decisive step towards Smart Factory status. The partnership will see Polestar Interactive support the rollout of FIELD system across a number of industrial subsectors, including the food and beverage, FMCG, pharmaceutical, automotive, aerospace, and utilities industries. Unlike other IIoT solutions, FIELD system is ‘edge-heavy’, meaning it collects, keeps and processes a wide range of production data at source, on the shop floor, rather than in the cloud. As such, it gives operators access to far more accurate real-

THE GHOST MACHINE WITH THE FIELD BOX

time data and analytics. For larger sites, FIELD system is also fully scalable across multiple cells within a factory, and allows manufacturers to make informed and intelligent decisions

that can drive tangible improvements in productivity. Oliver Selby, Business Development Manager at FANUC, explained: “Digital transformation is not a

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only the wafer-thin paint layers are transferred. This means that the component can be recycled easily at the end of its service life. Following unwinding, the carrier material can also be recycled into PET granules.

new phenomenon for manufacturers; however, the global events of the past 18 months have undoubtedly accelerated its take-up. Industrial companies may be able to overcome the current deficits and uncertainties of the workplace by intentionally embracing digital aspects including the data generated by workers, tools, machinery and platforms.” “With many manufacturers increasingly aware of what they need to do, we see FIELD system as a tool that can empower them to implement systems which can improve the overall efficiency and quality of the production process, while also facilitating smarter maintenance habits.”

IMCD can supply for all sectors of the Polymer industry IMCD UK is a leading company in the sale, marketing and distribution of speciality chemicals, serving customers in the Converter & Compounder industries for 25 years.

We offer: • Medical Polymers • Engineering Compounds • Purge Compounds

• Process Aids • Fillers • Flame Retardants Contact us for more information on how we can support you today. IMCD Advanced Materials Email: advmatuk@imcd.co.uk Tel: 020 8722 6975

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15/01/2021 15:04

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FEATURE

SPOTLIGHT GLENDA ROBERTS:

“Young recruits today just expect to see a well-balanced and diverse workforce.”

IN THE LATEST INSTALMENT OF OUR SERIES COLLABORATING WITH THE WOMEN IN PLASTICS INITIATIVE, IN WHICH BP&R SHINES A SPOTLIGHT ON ONE OF THE PLATFORM’S INSPIRATIONAL INTERVIEWEES, WE SHARE A CONVERSATION WITH GLENDA ROBERTS, GLOBAL PROJECTS AND MARKETING DIRECTOR AT TRIFAST PLC.

Interview | Grace Nolan Q: HOW DID YOUR CAREER PATH LEAD TO YOUR CURRENT ROLE? I was Regional Sales Manager with several American owned companies selling fast moving consumables such as food and beverage products to supermarkets and pharmacies. This was in the 1980’s before computerization, when stock management and replenishment planning to ensure that the product was in the right place, in volume and on time, was a very manual process. I could see that with new technologies emerging the need for large sales forces would become a thing of the past. I interviewed with an agency and landed a role in a Fastener Distribution company and the rest is history! Q: COULD YOU DISCUSS THE STRATEGY BEHIND TR’S SUCCESS IN PLASTICS AS A GROWTH AREA? TR has been known for their Vendor Managed Systems within customers production facilities since the 1980’s. It was quite revolutionary at the time and JIT stock became the vogue. As these systems provided real benefits for customers in terms of Total Cost of Ownership. It was inevitable the plastic fasteners and cable management products were added. Initially we focused on supplying the nonautomotive industry sector, but over time as we have developed the vendor base this is now a growth area for us. Having a prototyping capability, with much shorter tooling lead times for specials has been a winning combination. Q: WHAT ARE YOUR HOPES FOR 2021? DO YOU HAVE ANY UPCOMING PROJECTS? The pent-up demand following lockdown, and the trend for people upgrading their home, managing their health during this period has seen a significant rise in Domestic Appliance production and Health related products. All of these are fastener rich with a high content of plastic fasteners required.

The world will always need fasteners, so it has longevity, and our teams interact globally, so it is an exciting company to be in.

To drive business forwards during the Covid19 period, we have invested in new production machinery in Asia, Italy and the UK to build up our in-house capability and increase capacity on metal fasteners. The plastic fastener range is very diverse, and our focus is developing further world class vendors and adding them to our supply base. We are focused on adding new products to our existing extensive range and meeting the needs of the latest and exciting opportunities in Electric Vehicle (EV) and Battery Housings (BEV). At this moment in time, we are recruiting in a number of our Regions to further strengthen the teams, and also to bring in new skills. A good example which helped earlier this year would be where we have recruited specialists in customs processes due to Brexit which helped us through this difficult learning curve. Basically, there is never a dull moment! Q: HOW IMPORTANT DO YOU FEEL FEMALE ROLE MODELS ARE TO THE YOUNGER GENERATION AND DID YOU HAVE ONE? It was a very male dominated industry many years ago as most fastener companies then were manufacturers and not distributors. I did not have a female role model and never felt that I needed one either. I had some great people early on who recognised that if they helped and supported me that we would make a strong team with a combination of sales skills and their engineering expertise. Young recruits today just expect to see a wellbalanced and diverse workforce. Q: DO YOU FEEL THERE IS ENOUGH OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE NEXT GENERATION TO BE ENCOURAGED TO HAVE A CAREER IN YOUR LINE OF WORK? There are so many opportunities for the next generation in our industry. The world will always need fasteners, so it has longevity, and our teams interact globally, so it is an exciting company to be in. I have travelled on company business to four continents and love sharing interesting experiences with my colleagues! We are members of Women in The Fastener Industry (WIFI) who promote roles for women in the industry to open up opportunities and see the potential for a great career in fastenings, and I am living proof.

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exclusive Q&A

european

D DISTRUPOL IS A EUROPEAN LEADER WITH NEARLY 60 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE, INNOVATION AND EXPERTISE IN THE SALES AND APPLICATION DEVELOPMENT OF THERMOPLASTIC POLYMERS AND ELASTOMERS. HERE WE SPEAK TO THE NEWLY APPOINTED JOINT MANAGING DIRECTORS, RICHARD ORME AND ANDREW CANNING, ON ACQUISITIONS, GPD COMPANIES, SUSTAINABILITY AND LIFE AFTER THE PANDEMIC.

Q. It has been a very busy 6 months for Distrupol with the acquisition by GPD Companies and then the acquisition of Lautrup Chemicals. Can we expect more M&As and geographical / portfolio growth from Distrupol in the next 12-18 months? It’s very exciting to have been acquired by a ‘pure play’ plastics distribution platform whose focus is solely on the polymer industry. Our growth ambitions are hugely supported and complemented by the drive of GPD Companies, and this is also very attractive to both our customers and suppliers. The addition of Lautrup Chemicals to the Distrupol group hugely supports our intent for growth as we acquire a bigger market share in the Nordics and even further strengthen our relationship with one of our key suppliers, Ineos. We’ve enhanced our presence in the region, whilst expanding our customer base and portfolio, which is an incredible achievement of which we’re very proud and excited to develop over the coming years. Whilst we do not have further M&As cemented in the pipeline just now, as a business we are actively looking at the market to identify opportunities for further expansion and growth. GPD Companies entirely support this intent, and it is in line with the wider growth strategy. Q. How do you see Distrupol working and performing as a business as part of the newly formed GPD Companies group? Leveraging the support of a polymer-focused distribution platform such as GPD Companies will enable us to even better serve our customers and fulfil the growth plans of our suppliers. With our innovative and dedicated approach, we provide differentiated value across the plastics supply chain, and this will be greatly enhanced by being a member of GDP Companies. Q. How does your management style differ and how does this benefit your positions as joint MDs? We’re both hugely passionate about and committed to the success of Distrupol. Between us, we’ve spent 40 years with the business and our absolute priority is doing what is right by it. We both thoroughly understand the growth strategies for the business, and our joint responsibility provides the luxury of a huge abundance of ideas and solutions which we can then mould and develop for the greater good of the business. We are comfortable with each other enough to

challenge each other in a healthy, constructive way which is of course very important in our leadership roles. Our high-level responsibilities cover individual parts of the business, with Andy focusing on the commercial activity and business / application development side of our business functions, and Richard looking at sales activity, finance and customer strategy. Q. Where is Distrupol’s focus for the second half of 2021? First and foremostly, we endeavour to continue ensuring that we can meet the demands of our customers during the most difficult supply demand trading period that we’ve ever known. Our number one priority for the rest of the year is keeping our customers happy whilst remaining mindful of our supplier’s growth strategies (despite the challenges in supply). Our commitment to the full and seamless integration of Lautrup Chemicals into the Distrupol business is also an extremely high priority, to ensure a continuation of operations for both customers and suppliers alike. Q. What is Distrupol’s position on sustainability, both as a general topic of conversation and specifically as a leader in distribution in the polymer industry? We are obviously huge advocates of the positives of plastic, and how plastic is essential in a modern-day society, but we do accept and acknowledge areas where plastic usage needs to improve in terms of sustainability, and we

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excellence

ABOVE: RICHARD ORME

We are obviously huge advocates of the positives of plastic, and how plastic is essential in a modern-day society, but we do accept and acknowledge areas where plastic usage needs to improve in terms of sustainability.

BELOW: ANDREW CANNING

Sustainability section of our website. Q. What does the ‘new normal’ Distrupol look like as we (hopefully) shortly come to the end of the Covid-19 restrictions? Fundamentally, the pandemic has created a very difficult period for supply chains and trade flows across the globe, and we have made it our mission to try and go above and beyond customer expectations throughout this strenuous time. Of course, we’re looking forward to getting ‘back to normal’, which will hopefully be in a space where supply isn’t so stretched.

have made incredible additions to our portfolio and capabilities to support this. Our dedicated application development engineers are always working with customers to look at how we can improve the sustainability of their products, and we work tirelessly with our suppliers to support the distribution of their sustainable portfolios. Lots of information on this can be found in the

We do believe that our team thrives in a busy office environment where we can work interdepartmentally to provide outstanding customer service. We’re a close-knit team who bounce off of each other and being together in the office is a huge part of how we work. We do however want to learn from the experiences of the past 18 months, and we respect how flexibility is imperative for employee satisfaction. We want to get back to a point where relationships can continue to thrive, both internally and with our customers, which we believe is what matters at the heart of our business.

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People. Think. Plastics.

Think K.D. Feddersen For your home appliances With our extensive portfolio of engineering plastics from leading manufacturers, we offer you a wide range of products for use in contact with food and drinking water. We are looking forward to supporting your project needs for household appliances – including technical services and tailor-made logistics concepts.

Our partners:

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Your contact: Roberta Leech roberta.leech@kdfeddersen.com Paul Dean paul.dean@kdfeddersen.com K.D. Feddersen UK Ltd. Member of the Feddersen Group www.peoplethinkplastics.com

26.07.21 09:54

FEATURE FEATURE

R ROB COKER SPOKE WITH BROADWAY COLOURS’ NEW TECHNICAL MANAGER DR. CHANDRES SURTI ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTION MASTERBATCH MAKES TO THE CHALLENGE OF SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING. WE SHARE AN EXTRACT FROM THEIR CONVERSATION.

In what ways will your academic background help improve the performance of the masterbatch, and how will that in turn improve the performance of the material in application? My scientific and chemical background is quite diverse ranging from the traditional organic chemistry to biotechnology, speciality chemicals and monomers for the medical devices industry. My broad knowledge has furnished me with the skills to adapt and be flexible to changing environments and regulations, and to stay informed with new, innovative technologies.

packaging will remain a priority for brand owners. However, consumers are becoming increasing savvy and aware of the consequences of their purchases. Recyclability will become a marketing tool used to persuade the consumer, but there is no reason why the manufacturer must significantly compromise the eye-catching nature of their packaging to achieve their recyclability goals. PCR material is here to stay, and we need to work with it. Whilst there may be some negative impact on aesthetics, our goal is to support our customers through the difficult stages.

With regards to masterbatch, my primary goal is to introduce a new level of innovation and chemical knowhow to the performance of our masterbatches – whether that be the introduction of new additives, bio-sourced polymers or recyclables.

Which is more important to the consumer? Consumers are aware of the challenges the plastics industry faces and they want to play their part in the solution. It’s up to brand owners and manufacturers to take the lead in informing consumers of the facts and the changes they are making to produce recyclable and sustainable packaging. Brand owners have a real opportunity to communicate these changes in a positive way.

Supporting sustainability is of course a key objective too. I’m looking to work with customers to find suitable applications for our ‘Supra-Sustainable’ range of masterbatch – reducing the volume of virgin polymer, particularly in compounds and roto powders. I’ll also be working closely with our customers to find solutions for PCR polymers. The company has commissioned a new lab for you to lead. In what ways is this new facility stateof-the-art? Broadway Colours is significantly investing for the future, both in our new laboratory and by increasing production capacity. There will be substantial improvement in our analytical and technical ability, and we will be able to analyse raw materials and final products, as well as provide a faster and incredibly accurate colour matching capability. The investment will bring a range of new equipment to enhance the business and enable us to gather more information over raw material consistency to avoid downstream processing issues. It will also be a tool to support our customers whenever they experience problems and need guidance. The increased analytical capability will accelerate the rate at which we can develop new additive and pigmented masterbatches, and gather the data for processing and manufacturing. Which is more important to the manufacturer: eye-catching packaging or recyclability? Difficult question. I believe both will play a part. Consumer expectations are high and until consumer perceptions change, eye-catching

How will your technical expertise help reconcile the two? Being able to utilise recyclate and support the use of sustainable materials is something we’re continually working on at Broadway Colours. With the introduction and roll out of our SupraSustainable range, we have already met some of these needs. Our increased and improved technical capability will enable this progress to advance at pace. This will ultimately be beneficial to the consumer and manufacturer and will help in bridging the gap between the two. Our on-site colour matching suite provides the perfect facility for brand owners to visit us to approve samples using their specific PCR base material, which we know varies from batch to batch. How do Broadway Colours masterbatches increase the amount of recyclate used in a product whilst at the same time decrease the use of virgin materials? This is a technical challenge that masterbatch producers are facing. It will need the co-operation of raw material suppliers and brand owners to drive the change. There are challenges with the reproducibility and processability of recyclate. If there is consistency in the quality of the recyclate then this will filter down to masterbatch manufacturers and end users. In overall terms, Broadway Colours can offer greater influence in increasing the use of PCR through our compounding services.

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FEATURE

SILVER SERVICE

N NIGEL PRITCHETT, MANAGING DIRECTOR AT ELESA, DISCUSSES THE HYGIENE QUALITIES OF SILVER ION ADDITIVES IN HIGH-TOUCH TECHNOPOLYMER COMPONENTS.

INTERVIEW: ROB COKER

We all know the importance of hygiene in high-contact applications such as doorknobs and handles. What solutions does Elesa incorporate to ensure best practice? The Elesa SAN-Antimicrobial line is manufactured for this exact purpose, making it that bit easier to maintain best practice within a hygiene required setting. Such products are made of a special technopolymer containing antimicrobial additives based on silver ions on an inorganic basis (without active pharmaceutical ingredients, antibiotics or pesticides). This material penetrates through the cell surface and attacks the cell DNA, preventing the proliferation of unwanted organisms such as microbes, bacteria and fungi.*

And in which environments are we likely to find your medical products? This line is especially designed for medical, hospital environments but also for public and urban fittings where fungi and bacteria may also create problems. It is expected that you are more likely to find SAN products within a medical setting, but have been used for standard public use, too. Which plastics best suit these products and why? Polyamide-based technopolymers, as Silver Ions can be easily added during the manufacturing process, and these are among the highest quality plastics available. Why silver ions rather than zinc or other metals? Silver ions can eliminate bacteria and fungi, whilst zinc-molybdate coated products can only eliminate bacteria. We have opted for the superior method to adhere to customer hygiene requirements. *Covid-19 is a virus and the SAN Line silver ions additive has no effect on viruses.

In addition to this, both Elesa Clean Line and Stainless-Steel products have stainless steel inserts, many with a solid section. Whilst not self-sanitising, these products prevent the buildup of dust or dirt, are corrosion resistant, and can undergo full cleaning cycles with hygienic detergents. How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected demand for these products and solutions? Demand for machine components increased this past year, but only in the medical sector. We are fortunate to be a prominent business for many manufacturing industries’ needs, which helped to off-set the loss of custom in other areas for us such as automotive. Alongside our products designed for the medical field, we had requests for clamping components used toward the creation of protection frames and room dividers in offices and supermarkets.

Polyamide-based technopolymers, as Silver Ions can be added during the manufacturing process, and these are among the highest quality plastics

How have manufacturing practices been adapted to suit a) the pandemic and b) the demand? The Elesa manufacturing plant has been fully functional for most of the pandemic, with Government guidance adhered to in maintaining social distancing and putting safety first for all Elesa employees. An unexpected issue that has increased during the pandemic is sourcing raw materials, however. We are unsure if this is related, but fortunately we are highly stocked and have various long-term contracts keeping us in a positive position. As it stands, we are balanced in terms of order entry and production.

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MASTERBATCH & ADDITIVES | NEWS Mirotone creates hygienic finish with Biomaster technology

Leaders in built-in antimicrobial technology becomes united powerhouse

Australian-owned multinational Mirotone, a leading supplier of innovative and highperformance surface coatings, has launched a new range with Biomaster antimicrobial protection. Mirotone provides surface coatings for interior and exterior wood and a variety of other substrates which are used extensively in domestic, architectural and commercial applications. The new product offering with Biomaster antimicrobial technology is effective against a wide range of bacteria, inhibiting microbial growth on

Microban International is bringing together its Microban and Ultra-Fresh brands and technologies under a single umbrella. Following the initial acquisition of Thomson Research Associates in 2016, Microban International will now completely harmonise the two organisations, as these titans unite to operate as a single company under the Microban International name. By consolidating their services and combining over 100 years of collective industry experience,

surfaces, offering product protection and complementing existing hygiene protocols. While disinfectants can be instantly effective in removing bacteria, after a couple of hours the effect wears off and contamination can occur again. Biomaster inhibits microbial growth between cleans and minimises the risk of cross-contamination. Antimicrobial protected coating solutions are ideal for high traffic areas, for example in building entrances and foyers, in shopping centres and hotels, childcare, hospitals, theatres and studios. Emma Tune, Mirotone Marketing Manager, said: “We are excited to launch a new range of Biomaster protected Mirotone coatings. This new range will give our customers the ability to offer their finished products with the added benefit of antimicrobial protection.”

Microban International can better serve its partners all around the world. Microban will continue to develop innovative solutions for both product lines, and further extend its turnkey services and partner support – including technical, regulatory, and legal guidance – to remain a well-rounded and trusted advisor for all. Michael Ruby, Vice President of Global Business at Microban International, commented: “Microban is proud to take this step, not only for the company but for its partners. Pushing the boundaries of innovation and building long-standing, meaningful business relationships has always been at the heart of our organisation, and this exciting step will allow us to foster, nurture and develop new and existing connections. This is an opportunity for us to move forward; to continue to invest in ground-breaking technologies that benefit end-users, creating the broadest product portfolio in the industry while extending the reach of our valuable turnkey services for all of our partners.”

Solvay launches ‘breakthrough’ adhesive and surfacing technologies for aerospace industry Solvay is launching AeroPaste 1006, 1009 and 1100 adhesive pastes and BR 179 nonchromate primer. These breakthrough aerospace adhesives and surfacing technology innovations aim to increase part assembly efficiency and also offer unmatched processing flexibility. AeroPaste® is Solvay’s new generation of epoxy-based structural paste adhesives that provide film-like property and performance, comparable or superior to leading film adhesives on the market. Designed

specifically to enable rapid assembly and automation, this new portfolio of paste adhesives will support industrialisation requirements in the aerospace industry. BR® 179, Solvay’s next generation, sustainable, non-chromate primer is a sustainable solution for adhesive bonding. This non-chromated primer provides corrosion resistance comparable to benchmark chromated primers. BR® 179 offers superior tolerance to primer thickness variations, excellent

mechanical properties and unmatched usage flexibility with an out-life of up to 180 days, making it the ideal primer for aerospace fabricators. Mike Blair, Head of Research & Innovation for Solvay Composite Materials Global Business Unit, said: “Solvay’s deep understanding of the industry’s needs and challenges is driving our new product developments. By focusing on innovation, process efficiencies as well as sustainability, we provide a step change to our customers.”

By focusing on innovation, process efficiencies as well as sustainability, we provide a step change to our customers.

www.britishPLASTICS.co.uk

WE DRIVE THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY.

VISIT US: CHINAPLAS, Shanghai / China 21 – 24 April 2020 Booth 2.1 J59

Whether it is inhouse, postconsumer or bottle recycling: you can only close loops in a precise and profitable way if machines are perfectly tuned for the respective application. Count on the number 1 technology from EREMA when doing so: over 6000 of our machines and systems produce around 14.5 million tonnes of high-quality pellets like this every year – in a highly efficient and energy-saving way.

CHOOSE THE NUMBER ONE.

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When it comes to matching colour, we are top of our class. We develop amazing new colours and special effects for some of the worlds leading brands.

Performance Masterbatches Telephone: +44 (0)1495 310583 Email: customer.service@pmb.co.uk

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08.01.20 11:48

RECLAMATION & RECYCLING | NEWS FMCG and retail leaders join forces to boost flexible plastic recycling in UK Five of the UK’s largest branded manufacturers: Mars UK, Mondelēz International, Nestlé, PepsiCo and Unilever, have collaborated to form a £1 million fund to help make flexible plastic recycling economically viable for recyclers and easier for consumers. The Flexible Plastic Fund is a UK industry

first and is being led by producer compliance scheme, Ecosurety, with support from environmental charity, Hubbub. In collaboration with manufacturers, retailers and recyclers, the Fund intends to improve flexible plastic recycling and reduce plastic pollution by giving the material a stable value.

We hope by boosting infrastructure, government and local authorities will be motivated to facilitate flexible plastic recycling in the UK

Bright Green Plastics Grows its Recycling Prowess with SevenFigure Investment Bright Green Plastics, the Yorkshire-based plastic reprocessing firm, has invested a significant seven figure sum into upgrading its facility with new ground-breaking washing and extruding machinery, allowing for the recovery of even more post-consumer waste. The firm’s new wash plant is designed to shred, wash, purify and granulate post-consumer waste into ready-torecycle flake product. Processing up-to five tonnes per hour, the energy-efficient machine recycles all its own water and will produce the firm’s purest ever PP and PE flake.

The upgraded extruder, which melts the plastic and transforms it into recycled plastic pellets, ready to be put back into the manufacturing cycle, will process up to three tonnes of PP and PE plastic per hour, and allow the firm to work with material previously too difficult to handle, such as flexible plastics. Both machines are set to be fully operational by the end of the year to facilitate the company’s unprecedented growth over the past 12 months due to large new contract wins, along with the EU’s new packaging levy and the looming UK plastic tax, which will be

The long-term ambition of the Fund is to drive progress towards creating a circular, UK based flexible plastic recycling market that allows flexible plastic recycling via household collections. Robbie Staniforth Head of Innovation and Policy at Ecosurety said: “Historically the UK recycling system

has not provided enough motivation to recycle flexible plastics. By creating a sustainable market for this material, longer term improvements can be made to ensure the flexible plastic that remains necessary for packaging is reliably recycled and eventually contributes to a circular economy,

applied to manufactured or imported plastic packaging that does not contain at least 30 per cent recycled material. Steve Spencer, Managing Director at Bright Green Plastics, comments: “It’s crunch time for our industry. The EU and UK plastic tax may be welcome, but it’s also common knowledge that the UK’s capability to produce recycled plastic compounds is currently under capacity. With continued investment into new technology and equipment, we’re working towards bridging that gap." “As the fastest growing UK recycler of PP and PE plastics, we will continue to invest to keep up with the ever-growing demand for high quality recycled compounds, for

as long as recycling plastics in the UK remains viable. As such, we are eagerly awaiting the outcome of the EPR consultation as, thus far, our business sees no benefit of the reform at all for the true recyclers of all materials in the UK.”

thereby tackling plastic pollution.” “We hope that by boosting this infrastructure, government and local authorities will be motivated to quickly facilitate flexible plastic recycling in the UK by making it easy for consumers to recycle via household collections in the future.”

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Biffa expands plastics recycling capability in Scotland Biffa plc has announced the completion of a deal to acquire Scotland’s only postconsumer plastics recycling facility (PRF) from Green Circle Polymers Ltd (GCP) located in Grangemouth for £10 million. The acquisition was first announced in Biffa’s FY21 full year results on June 1, 2021. The Grangemouth facility is one of the largest PRFs in the UK and every year processes around 50,000 tonnes of plastics such as mixed plastic bottles and plastic tubs and trays so that they can be used to create new recycled plastic material. The acquisition bolsters Biffa’s plastics recycling capability by providing more recyclable plastic feedstock in line with the Group’s strategy to quadruple its plastic recycling capacity by

Sainsbury’s rolls out largest flexible plastic packaging recycling system

This acquisition builds on our leadership position in closedloop recycling and strengthens Biffa’s capacity to process and recycle more plastic waste in Scotland. 2030. The facility also has the capability to sort coloured plastic material and metal cans. Michael Topham, Chief Executive, commented: “This acquisition builds on our leadership position in closed-loop recycling and strengthens Biffa’s capacity to process and recycle more plastic

Yorkshire packaging firm joins world first recycling project PFF Group, a Yorkshirebased food packaging company, has signed up to help deliver a world first, the production of food grade mechanically recycled polypropylene. The NEXTLOOPP project – a global initiative launched by sustainability consultant Nextek - aims to produce the first commercially

available high quality food grade PP (FGrPP) which could be available in the UK by 2022, boosting sustainability and environmental targets. The absence of FGrPP means that PP food packaging is currently made from virgin plastics. As a NEXTLOOPP member, PFF will

The NEXTLOOPP project has the potential to ensure postconsumer PP is appreciated as the valuable resource it should be.

Following a successful trial in the North East of England, Sainsbury’s has rolled out an innovative new recycling system to a total of 520 supermarkets allowing customers to recycle all flexible plastic packaging which is not commonly accepted for kerbside collection by local authorities. The front of store recycling points will make it easier for customers to make more sustainable choices by offering a trustworthy recycling system where they can correctly

dispose of flexible plastic packaging. This includes packaging such as crisp packets, food pouches, salad bags and biscuit and cake wrappers. Claire Hughes, Director of Product and Innovation at Sainsbury’s, said: “Making recycling easier for our customers is a key part of our strategy to minimise the impact of singleuse plastics on the environment, alongside our own ambitious target of reducing the use of plastics in our own operations by 50 per cent by 2025.”

waste in Scotland.” “As a leading enabler of the circular economy in the UK, this investment helps us support Scotland’s vision of a greener future, as it prepares to introduce the Deposit Return Scheme to reduce littering and improve recycling levels.”

collaborate on the pilot production of FGrPP, taking part in manufacturing trials and product demonstrations. Lee Wilkinson, Group Supply Chain Manager at PFF Group, said the company’s participation in the project underlines its ongoing commitment to being at the forefront of developing a sustainable, circular plastics economy. He said: “The NEXTLOOPP project has the potential to ensure post-consumer PP is appreciated as the valuable resource it should be, by being recycled into food approved packaging at scale, in a truly circular way.”

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Ferlin Gravimetric Blenders for Regrind / PCR dosing & blending Full traceabilty

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FEATURE

SQUANDERING S L CONE

M MATTHEW BISHOP, OPERATIONS MANAGER AT VIKING EXTRUSIONS, A COMPANY THAT MANUFACTURES EXTRUSIONS, INCLUDING THOSE OF THE RUBBER SILICONE TYPE, TELLS BP&R READERS WHAT WE CAN DO TO RECYCLE MORE SILICONE AND MAKE ITS DEVELOPMENT MORE SUSTAINABLE.

hanks to its practical uses and benefits, silicone usage is increasing in many industries all over the world. It is an important material for future development, and it has been estimated that for every tonne of CO2 produced to manufacture silicone, its application ends up saving about nine tonnes in the long run. So, silicone may yet play a part in helping with the transition to a greener world. But there is a problem that we aren’t talking about, and that is silicone recycling. Right now, silicone isn’t recycled anywhere near as much as it should be. A part of the reason is because it’s difficult to chemically breakdown. In a way, silicone’s resistance to weathering is kind of a good thing. After all, unlike plastic, it does not fragment into microplastics and, even in landfill sites, tends to resist everything nature throws at it. Meaning it doesn’t escape and disperse out into the environment. This may actually be the reason why it isn’t recycled enough. After all, operations managers might ask, if it takes 500 years for chemical weathering to make a problem out of silicone, what’s the rush? THE RECYCLING PROCESS Presently, the best methods to recycle silicone include breaking it into little pieces and then putting it in a high-temperature, high saline environment. Only then will silicone’s molecular bonds break down. It can be recycled (or more accurately, repurposed) in other ways too. For example, silicone shredded into pieces can be used to make rubber mats. If it sounds like there isn’t much to say here, it’s because there isn’t. Silicone recycling has so far been limited. Although there are some companies that specialise in recycling, the process isn’t encouraged and because it isn’t, silicone recycling is seen as expensive and time-consuming. And considering the environmental impact is minimal, it’s tempting to just throw it in the ground and leave it there.

By challenging the current culture, and bringing about conscious efforts to re-sterilise rather than replace, we can reduce waste and environmental impacT.

To bring about a culture of silicone recycling, things need to change. I have heard, anecdotally, that because carting off silicone “by the tonneload” is strenuous and expensive, it can be hard to justify. So, a system, or a networking strategy, needs to be put in place to directly encourage it. Which I’m sure in the long term will drive down costs. SUSTAINABLE SILICONE Silicone already has a good reputation for sustainability because it has a high material purity, is oil and mineral free, and is not a part of the oil value chain. But like pretty much everything, there is still more to be done to make it more so. It’s almost as if silicone’s good reputation has hindered it. There are grades of silicone that fit perfectly in medical and food processing and this silicone could be repeatedly sterilized for reuse rather than just thrown away. By challenging the current culture, and bringing about conscious efforts to re-sterilise rather than replace, we can reduce waste and environmental impact. The silicone industry has also missed opportunities to improve on sustainability due to a lack of coherency and transparency in regulatory standards. Just last year, the European Chemicals Agency voted to severely limit or ban certain types of silicone from being used in certain products and items. And now the Global Silicones Council is arguing with the EU over what it deems to be a verdict founded on “flawed reasoning”. The EU’s panic seems to focus on the possibility that siloxanes can leach out of silicone and into the human body. But how intensely silicone is cured can prevent siloxanes from “leaching”. If the silicone industry had been clearer, listened and communicated to Europe’s regulatory bodies more clearly, then this entire debacle could have been avoided. Alternative types of silicone could have been sought after, in place of the problematic D4, D5 and D6 types, and even if not, curing intensity could have been upped to put to bed any fears. SUMMARY Silicone is an important, useful material and, globally, we are squandering its benefits. It is safe, but we can make it safer. It’s relatively benign to the environment because it is chemically durable. But let’s set a good precedent and recycle and repurpose it anyway. Let’s not take it for granted.

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FEATURE

ONE BRICK at a time

P PHIL SMITH REPORTS ON DORSET START-UP GREENBRICK WORKSHOPS WHICH, SUPPORTED BY A LOAN THROUGH YTKO GROUP’S OUTSET FINANCE PROGRAMME, IS SETTING ABOUT TURNING PLASTIC WASTE INTO BRICKS.

Dorset team of social entrepreneurs have launched an ambitious start-up which is turning plastic waste into building materials, and empowering communities in developing countries to do the same. Greenbrick Workshops was founded by Ben Gibbons, and soon joined by co-founder Connor Winter, after the Covid-19 pandemic forced them to return to the UK from Nepal, where they had been working with rural communities to reduce the damage caused by plastic pollution. After catching the last flight back from Nepal before the borders closed in March 2020, they began setting up a plastic recycling workshop that would enable them to develop their product. The workshop itself is entirely contained within an old Hovis van, which the duo turned into the UK’s first plastic brick workshop. Here, waste plastic is washed and shredded, heated up to 250 degrees, and pushed into a steel mould. It might seem a technical process for someone who studied English at the University of Oxford, but Ben stressed that it was not done alone. “We’re lucky to have had a design engineer, Ella Fenwick, join the team to lead prototype development; and as a team, what makes us strong is our connection to a wider community,” he said. “What we’re doing was made possible by an open-source network called Precious Plastic, which has enabled us to use an open-source mould for our first prototype. We’re simply refining it to enable it to scale more effectively.” Their ethos reflects their roots in communitybased collaboration. “The solutions are already out there; our task is to make sure that everyone has access to them,” Ben explained. The team are working with NGOs in Zimbabwe and Mozambique to set up local workshops that can use their technology to build affordable houses, and their overall organisational ambition is clear: 1,000 workshops in 10 years, which would prevent around six million tonnes of carbon dioxide otherwise released from plastic burning and the production of clay bricks and cement. This would also recycle around 800,000 tonnes of plastic otherwise headed for the ocean, or around 1 per cent of global ocean plastic leakage. The Greenbrick start-up was made possible because of the YTKO Group’s Outset Finance programme, which provided a £11,500 loan.

An official delivery partner of the Government’s Start-Up Loan Scheme, this scheme provides new businesses with a sustainable solution to the challenges of affordable finance; especially for start-ups and young businesses with no track record and a lack of financial collateral. “The whole process took just three weeks from start to finish, which was incredible,” Ben revealed. “The advisor helped me to improve my application, suggesting that I look at my competitors to consider how to position our community interest company.” Greenbrick is one of over 22,000 businesses to have been supported by YTKO over a 14-year period. Analysis of 36 funded programmes across the South West, South East, London, East of England and Midlands, published in March 2021, showed YTKO assisted 22,508 growth-ambitious businesses and 30,752 entrepreneurs. It also revealed that 51 per cent of those supported by YTKO were female entrepreneurs and 20 per cent Black, Asian and Minority Ethnicity (BAME), compared to national averages of an estimated 23 per cent and 5 per cent respectively. Overall, YTKO’s performance delivered a ‘conservative’ net impact of £282 million GVA, a £362 million triple bottom line impact and a ROI of £10.70 for every £1 invested. “We are incredibly proud of achieving such high levels of both improved productivity and job creation, increasing the competitiveness of the UK economy during the longest period of economic uncertainty in the UK,” said YTKO Group CEO Bev Hurley CBE. “It also robustly demonstrates that financial and social exclusion can be overcome, and therefore how we are impacting directly on the levelling up agenda and left-behind places, pioneering a more inclusive economy.”

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NEWS FROM THE FRONTLINE

IN THE LATEST INSTALMENT OF HIS EXCLUSIVE COLUMN FOR BP&R, DIRECTORGENERAL OF THE BPF, PHILIP LAW DISCUSSES HIS RECENT LETTER OF COMPLAINT TO LIZ TRUSS, THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND THE BPF ONLINE POLYMER COURSES.

’ve just sent a letter of complaint to Liz Truss, the Secretary of State for International Trade. Overall, I think she is doing a good job in difficult circumstances, making progress with post Brexit free trade deals. However, one of the decisions recently taken by her department did rub me up the wrong way. I recently received the news from DIT that they intended to end the TAP scheme ( Tradeshow Access Programme), which provides grants of £1,000—£2,500 to UK SMEs participating at foreign trade shows. The scheme has been running in various guises for decades (they were previously called SESA grants), providing direct support to UK enterprise by offsetting some of the cost of exhibiting. Historically TAP grants enabled companies to exhibit on BPF stands at fairs in export locations like China, India, Mexico, Central Europe, Turkey and the Middle East. It enabled fledgling exporters to test the waters and take the first steps to having a permanent presence in these markets. They were particularly useful to small firms. I will just quote you a central message in my communication to Liz Truss: “The TAP provides vital support for UK exhibitors participating in foreign exhibitions that promote UK exports – we know from experience that without this support many companies would not be able to take part. 80 per cent of BPF members are exporters, so this change in policy on the TAP is of immense concern to our members.” We all know the strains the government’s Budget is under but nevertheless It seems a rather petty thing for DIT to do. Their total budget for TAP, for all business was just £9 million and was already half of what it had been in 2002. For a relatively small amount of money, they achieved immense leverage in terms of business brought into the UK. I had to remind her that according to their own DIT study, they had established that TAP enabled 97 per cent of businesses to identify new business contacts and 84 per cent to increase

their marketing and sales activity. It all seems rather illogical when we are trying to position the UK to get into global markets on the back of new trade agreements. The UK has applied to join the Trans - Pacific Partnership. I will be very interested to hear from the government how our businesses are going to commune with those in Chile and Vietnam amongst others without the encouragement to get to exhibitions in these regions. Back to home! BPF recently held a very successful webinar on moving towards the goal of Net Zero Cabon Emissions now enshrined in a government target 2050 with a staging mile post at 2035. It’s something I am personally passionate about as it’s an opportunity to do better, cleaner business and potentially add to profitability. It will require action on many fronts within companies – more energy efficiency, more resource efficiency through design and a review of company travel policies. In our industry we have a head start in having one of the largest national Climate Change Agreements ever developed and we plan to make it even bigger with increased participation. BPF is getting a great name for its online polymer courses. To help companies get started on the Net Zero Carbon Emissions journey we have now launched a course on ‘Effective Energy Management for Plastics Processors’ and we are offering it half price until the end of August. Part 1 provides essential background information on understanding and monitoring energy use, as well as covering core services like drying materials and the use of compressed air. Part 2 focuses on specific manufacturing processes such as blow moulding and injection moulding, so users can select one or multiple modules based on the processes used at the site(s) they work at. Upon completion, learners receive a certificate. The BPF’s eLearning platform already has nearly 800 students enrolled and over 700 certificates have been awarded. All courses can be accessed at PolymerCourses.com.

In our industry we have a head start in having one of the largest national Climate Change Agreements ever developed and we plan to make it even bigger with increased participation.

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