September 2018 Volume 20 | Issue 04
WASTE OR OPPORTUNITY – WHAT DO YOU SEE?
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IN THIS ISSUE Pg 6
Pg 27
INDUSTRY NEWS
FILM & SHEET
M&As in plastics are always big news but
Materials and processing news for film and
recently the headlines were dominated by an
sheet production that caught our attention in
acquisition that never happened – because for
recent weeks.
Pg 10 COVER STORY
Pg 35 CAPS & CLOSURES Lightweight, attractive, child-proof, accessible. Caps and closures technology has a lot of criteria to meet, and we look at the innovators
the plastic waste game, laying bare just how
leading the way.
coming into focus, Vanden is optimistic about
Pg 42
the opportunities.
FAKUMA
There has never been a more crucial time for
outing of Fakuma. We look at what lies in store.
Pg 50
world. We report back from EREMA’s Discovery
EUREKA
technology was on show.
HEATING & COOLING
art & production robert wood
advertising head of media sales lisa montgomery lisa@rapidnews.com
subscriptions@rapidnews.com qualifying readers europe - free, ROW - £249 outside qualifying criteria £249 please subscribe online at www.eppm.com
LEGO has kept its promise to invest in finding non-petroleum feedstocks for its colourful building blocks and has formed an exciting
Pg 22
editorial editor rose brooke rose.brooke@rapidnews.com
subscriptions
Friedrichshafen yet again in 2018 for the latest
recycling machinery to make its mark on the Days, where some of the world’s best recycling
C.E.O. duncan wood
tel: +44 (0) 1244 680222
It’s back. EPPM makes the pilgrimage to
RECYCLING MACHINERY
Tel. +44 (0) 1244 680222 Fax. +44 (0) 1244 671074 Web: www.eppm.com
senior sales executive david roberts david.roberts@rapidnews.com
much recycling of plastic products Europe is
Pg 13
Carlton House, Sandpiper Way, Chester Business Park, Chester, CH4 9QE.
production
China’s National Sword legislation has changed
really doing. While the challenges are only now
head office
assistant editor grace nolan grace.nolan@rapidnews.com
the first time the German government planned to veto a takeover by a Chinese company.
Volume 20 Issue 04
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London.
© September 2018
Leader in cooling technology for plastics
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processing Frigel is our spotlight interview in this section, which looks at all sorts of temperature control technologies.
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From The Editor
China games From China pulling the rug out from under Europe, to Europe moving the goal posts against China, the rules of the game between Europe and the Asian superpower are changing. The Chinese economy has undergone a metamorphosis over the past decade, with a growing middle class dictating demand for better cars, better packaging – better lifestyles in general. With this change comes a sudden domestic availability of quality postconsumer polymers that never existed in high enough quantities before, making buying in post-consumer plastics from Europe and the rest of the world less necessary in order to ensure the production of marketable recycled plastic materials. And so – among other reasons – National Sword dictated the drawbridge be raised and incoming plastic waste left at the water’s edge. While China has been building up serious economic power, its influence across the world has snowballed with mergers and acquisitions, but unlike the celebrated, record-breaking acquisition of KraussMaffei in 2016 by ChemChina, now the governments of the world are watching China’s buying habits closely, and guarding their IP jealously. The Trump Administration in Washington DC made its point clear in 2016, that China is a threat to American prosperity and the US’s position at the top of the tree, and it seems Europe has gradually adopted a similarly protective stance. Germany’s veto of the Leifeld Metal Spinning buyout by Yantai Taihai Group was the first time the German government has vetoed a Chinese takeover of a German company and sets a new precedent for how large-scale M&A is viewed at decision-maker level. Our September issue begins with these stories in more detail, and it is important to look at them together, as we consider how Europe’s relationship with China might be changing, with both sides making new terms that have marked a change in direction. At the beginning of 2018, I was convinced that the war on plastics and the marine plastics backlash following Blue Planet II would be the biggest gamechanger in European plastics processing this year, but with hindsight I was wrong. China’s relationship with Europe
China’s relationship with Europe will make the biggest immediate impact
will make the biggest immediate impact – both in terms of the implications of National Sword and the protection of IP and sales revenues that comes with a less favourable climate for Chinese investors and their deep pockets. Rose Brooke, Editor
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INDUSTRY
Does Leifeld buyout veto signal sea-change for business with China? The German government’s ground-breaking veto of a Chinese takeover bid of a machine tool manufacturer could spell the beginning of a new chapter for how the country does business with the Asian superpower. WORDS | Rose Brooke
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he Chinese influence on the global plastics industry is considerable. Go to any trade show and the Chinese pavilion is ever-present - a buzzing hub of deal-making and purchasing – while China-headquartered Haitian casts a long shadow over the injection moulding machinery halls.
As well as developing technology and enterprises domestically, the Chinese plastics industry’s strategy for growth is focused greatly on acquisition. KraussMaffei, one of Germany’s best-known plastics processing machinery giants, was bought by ChemChina for $1 billion (€925 million) in January 2016, breaking records at the time for a Chinese group’s acquisition of a German company. Boosted considerably by the KraussMaffei purchase, 2016 was a record-breaking year for industrial mergers and acquisitions for China, and included the takeover of Kuka by the Midea Group. In 2015, the country reached new highs for M&A with $677.5 billion invested, according to data from PwC, but this figure was smashed in the following 12 months, with $753.5 billion, dropping to $671.0 billion in 2017 – which is still nearly 50 per cent more than the $370.4 billion recorded in 2014. Industry, technology and materials are of significant interest to Chinese investors, spending $57.9 billion, $47.1 billion and $34.7 billion in M&A in these markets respectively in 2017, which were largely similar to the previous years’ data. One of the key differences was in 2017, there were fewer mega deals, while overseas regulators began to take a closer look at Chinese M&A, which in 2016 amounted to more than 2013 and 2014’s M&A investment combined. Germany shored up its measures to step in and prevent unwanted takeovers in July of last year, with 80 deals being explored since the government tightened its investigation of these purchases. The government’s decision to block the takeover of North Rhine-Westphalia-based Leifeld Metal Spinning by Yantai Taihai Group made global business headlines because it was the first time Germany had used these measures to veto the sale of a German company to a Chinese buyer on security grounds.
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The decision follows a lengthy government review looking into the negative impact of the sale, concluding the purchase would ‘raise national security concerns’, in stark contrast to the Kuka takeover in 2016, which the Economic Ministry claimed did not pose a threat to “the security and the public order of Germany”. The company is a leading producer of metals for the automotive, aerospace and nuclear industries. Deputy Director at the Mercator Institute for Chinese Studies in Berlin was quoted as saying that “Germany is well aware of the threat” China poses in terms of its ambitions to lead the world in advanced manufacturing under its Made in China 2025 programme. Germany is following the likes of Canada, the UK and the US, where the Trump government’s manifesto has been unsentimental in its mission to pull the ladder up from China’s grasp.
NOTABLE CHINESE PURCHASES OF GERMAN BUSINESSES ✪ 2012: Sany buys industrial pump manufacturer Putzmeister for €360 million ✪ 2016: Beijing Enterprises acquires EEW Energy for €1.4 billion ✪ 2016: China Three Gorges buys German offshore wind farm Meerwind for €1.6 billion ✪ 2016: ChemChina buys KraussMaffei for $1 billion ✪ 2016: Midea offers Kuka €115 per share, valuing the company at €4.4 billion ✪ 2017: HNA becomes largest shareholder in Deutsche Bank
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INDUSTRY
The sustainable sportswear race The plastics industry has been developing textiles and other materials for performance clothing and footwear from recycled plastics and bioplastics for years, but which big brands are investing in it? WORDS | Rose Brooke
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fter years of recycled or bio feedstocks making their way steadily into the value chain without much fanfare, all of a sudden recycled and bioplastics are the brand booster to grab the attentions and the wallet of a new breed of eco-conscious consumer, who likes to tell a sustainability story with their consumer choices. We look in on four major high street sportswear retailers and how they’re harnessing more sustainable plastics to make top-of-the-range performance apparel in an increasingly competitive market.
ney adidas by Stella McsurCpriasinrt has become the g that Stella McCartney
s, activist roots, it is un s partnership with adida With her animal rights n designer. McCartney’ hio s, fas ean are Oc aw for ly y tal rle en Pa r ar with partne world’s most environm an plastics in its footwe . oce line of n hio use fas the a in ed ce ion which has champ s being given pride of pla es of sustainable plastic is one of the latest cas elling nature with 18 line in August chann 20 er int l/W Fal its ed ey launch vative fabrics including adidas by Stella McCartn e line includes eco-inno Th R’. WE PO RE MO = T ton. the slogan ‘LESS IMPAC L yarn and organic cot y’s Ocean Plastic, EONY vative recycled polyester, Parle are made with eco-inno of our footwear in FW18 rd see. thi to a nt d wa an l we are ce app en r time to be the differ It’s “More than half of ou . stic Pla ean Oc tio y’s such as Parle nch of the collec n. and recycled materials, ed McCartney at the lau lain exp .” do we all in more To act now and to mean d Nations in 2015, y for Oceans at the Unite rle Pa h wit e d sho s stic ocean pla filaments reclaimed an adidas launched its first tirely from strands and en de ma ng bei t par per with the prototype’s up ste. recycled from ocean wa
Image credit: adidas
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Reebok Cotton + Corn
Global fitness brand Re ebok launched its Cotto n + Corn based mater initiative of sustainable ials commonly used tod products last year, bring ay. Second, when the ing footwear product made using plant-based hits the market we know bioplastics to market tha our consumers don’t wa t is more to sacrifice sustainably sourced, nt on how sneakers look equivalent in perform and perform. Finally, we ance, and care about compostable at end of wh at happens to the shoes life. when people are done with them. So we’ve foc The first Cotton + Corn used on plant-based ma trainer has just launch terials such as cor n and cotton at the beg ed onto the market. The shoe is ma inning, and compostabili de with an organic cot the ty in en d.” ton upper, and a polymer base ori ginating from industria llygrown corn. The initiative ha s been made possible thanks to Reebok’s partnership wit h DuPont Tate & Lyle Bio Products, developers of Susterra Image credit: Reebok propanediol – a petroleu m-free nontoxic bioplastic. “With Cotton + Corn we ’re focused on all three phases of the product lifecycle,” said Head of Reebok Future Bill McInnit. “First, with product dev elopment we’re using ma terials that grow and can be replen ished, rather than the petroleum-
Image credit: H&M
H&M Activewear
t circular, closing ke its fashion 100 per cen H&M has pledged to ma the loop for textiles. h street retailer for the long run’, the hig Under the theme ‘In it bras, hoodies, of sports tights, sports launched a new range ers at the tom cus wear for its female training tops and yoga ’ amount ant min edo ‘pr a n pieces contai pany’s beginning of 2018. The com the and elastane reflecting of recycled polyester conscious fashion. commitment to creating s said: “By sportswear Petra Smead Head Designer of H&M aim is to the e, inin functional and fem bringing together the And not n. tio lec col rts spo , conscious give customers a stylish hnique tec g – we utilised a new knittin n or just through the fabrics yar s les ng garments while usi ng that creates seamless nki thi ble na tai sus h function wit fabric waste. Blending is the way forward.” and fashion in this way
Nike Grind
Image credit: Nike
The playfully-named Nik e Grind is a collective ter m for the materials one of the world’s best-loved trainer manufacturers is using in its sports sho and more. es Nike Grind materials are made using the compan y’s surplus manufacturing materials and athletic footwear, which is recycl ed and then repurpose into new footwear. Nike d grinds and recycles rub ber, polymer foam, fibre leather, vinyl and textile , materials that are the n incorporated into performance products ran ging from new Nike footwe ar and clothing, as well as into sports sur faces at sports facilities. Currently, Nike Grind is being used in 71 per cent of Nike footwe ar and clothing, while the company has diverted some 5 billion plastic bottles from landfill since 2012. The Nike Grind scheme extends further than jus t what’s brushed off the factory fl oor and its PET bottle col lections, as Nike encourages its cus tomers to drop off their old trainers at specific collec tion points to have the ir shoes recycled – giving performance sportswear what the brand calls ‘th e ultimate comeback’.
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COVER STORY
Double edged sword China’s National Sword ban on the import of non-industrial plastic waste from other countries was a watershed moment for plastics recycling and plastics processing in general in Europe. Not only would the decision to raise that particular drawbridge lay bare just how much plastic we are capable of recycling at home, but it would also shine the spotlight on government waste figures that have been effectively ‘greenwashed’.
T
here are positives and negatives to National Sword. On the one hand, there’s new demand for a waste stream to channel the waste that was otherwise being sent to China for processing, leading to greater investment in and awareness of recycling technology in Europe. On the other, there is the realisation that plastic waste is being left in limbo as the recycling stream warms up to cope with the volume of materials to process – or worse, these materials are being shipped to other willing buyers who perhaps are not as closely regulated as China’s waste industry. The plastics industry has waded into this debate, as we, along with Vanden Recycling, look at the rubbish, and the opportunity the plastics industry and other stakeholders face as we square up to its sustainability, and solder the holes in the circular economy.
What a load of rubbish WORDS | Rose Brooke
N
ine months into China’s Operation National Sword ban on the import of waste into the country and the cracks are beginning to show.
The University of Georgia has calculated the impact of the legislation and how that will impact the world’s plastics and recycling industries, with some 111 million tonnes of plastic waste being displaced between now and 2030 due to the ban. China and Hong Kong imported more than 72 per cent of all the world’s plastic waste, with high income countries of the Americas, Europe and Asia accounting for more than 85 per cent of all global waste exporters, while the European Union was the top exporter as a trade bloc. “We have relied on exporting plastic recycling to China for 20 years and now people do not know what is going to happen,” Simon Ellin, Chief Executive of the Recycling Association, was quoted by The Guardian as saying. China’s ban on importing plastics was always going to be a huge challenge for the international waste stream, with many fears that materials such as plastics that ought to be recycled would lose their valuable chemistry when they were sent to be incinerated. However, Managing Director at the Confederation of European Waste-to-Energy Plants Ella Stengler told EPPM that hardly any more waste has been arriving at European incineration facilities, prompting fears the waste is being sold on to other countries in Asia and Africa where it is likely to be landfilled at poorly-regulated sites.
This is worrying news for the ongoing War on Plastics, as Thailand and Vietnam are among the world’s top five ocean plastics dumpers, and the problem is only going to worsen as by 2025 it is projected that consumption of plastics in Asia will rise by some 80 per cent, surpassing 200 million tonnes. Closer to home, Poland has placed greater restrictions on accepting foreign waste in anticipation of more illegal imports coming into the central European country following the China ban. “Without bold new ideas and system-wide changes, even the relatively low current recycling rates will no longer be met, and our previously recycled materials could now end up in landfills,” said University of Georgia Associate Professor of Engineering Jenna Jambeck, who co-authored the aforementioned study. She added that it is hard to predict what will happen to the plastic once destined for China, where there is a lucrative plastics recycling market, but due to the rise of domestic consumption and falling quality of imported plastics, there is less need for plastic materials to be brought in for reprocessing. “Some of it could be diverted to other countries, but most of them lack the infrastructure to manage their own waste let alone the waste produced by the rest of the world.”
UK HM Revenue & Customs data shows that in the first four months after the ban was put into place, the country’s waste exports to Malaysia more than tripled, while waste exports to Vietnam rose by 50 per cent and Thailand is now receiving unbelievably high volumes of waste, 50-times greater than before the Chinese ban was laid down.
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What a load of opportunity WORDS | David Wilson, Managing Director, Vanden UK
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t is still too early to see what the implications of National Sword are. Running parallel to that we have seen a huge amount of interest in plastics and how we use them sustainably including recycling them properly at the end of their life. Blue Planet II, of course, was essential in raising the profile of sustainable plastic use, giving unprecedented media attention to plastics and plastics recycling. This led to the UK Government responding with a consultation on how to use the tax system to address single-use plastic waste, proposals for deposit return schemes, and the Resources and Waste Strategy is expected later this year that will contain more proposals on responsible recycling of plastics. WRAP also recently launched the Plastics Pact that brings together brands, retailers, manufacturers, producers, recyclers, local and national government and others to attempt to meet targets on recyclability and increased recycling by 2025. Many retailers and manufacturers have responded already with proposals. Tesco for example has developed a preferred list of materials to be used by suppliers including PET and HDPE among others, while the Co-op intends to trial more use of recycled content in water bottles, even if it leads to a slight deterioration in the transparency of the product. All of this should be welcomed and I hope other retailers follow these examples. Working collaboratively to ensure the materials available to recyclers are easy to recycle means everyone benefits.
Vanden has been in a prime position to respond to this increased focus on environmentally sustainable plastic use. We could see the China ban coming well in advance. This is because we operate in Asia and understood the issues being faced there. This created the opportunity for us to invest in UK recycling. Last year, we opened our plastics recycling facility in Peterborough, and its success so far has led to further investment. Our facility gives us the opportunity to buy and sell plastic here in the UK and process a high-quality feedstock to put back into the manufacturing process. We expect that the current focus on sustainable plastic recycling will lead to others seeing this opportunity for investment in the UK too. But of course, it will take time for new facilities to get planning permission, install equipment and reach the point where they are recycling material ready for use in manufacturing. Prior to the China ban, we were seeing investment in plastic recycling in countries such as Malaysia, Vietnam and Turkey in particular, and many of those facilities have come onstream during the period of the ban. Investment decisions made before the Chinese announced the ban are leading to the construction of recycling facilities that are yet to open. Plus, the ban has helped to bring about further investment that will lead to new facilities opening in the coming months and years too. There is no doubt that many of these Asian countries, plus Poland, are looking to tighten their regulations on imports, and rightly so. We should not be sending rubbish to these countries, but a high-quality product that can be recycled. It is up to us to put the right collection and processing infrastructure in place to ensure we provide a highquality material Exporting high quality plastics for recycling into a commodity is often the most sustainable solution if done properly. www.vandenrecycling.com
We have seen a huge amount of interest in plastics and how we use them sustainably including recycling them properly at the end of their life
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AMUT closes the l p Closing the loop for more plastics, and ensuring no plastic products fall by the wayside on the road to recycling, is AMUT’s mission. And the Italian innovator has made huge inroads to circular economy in 2018 so far.
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his year, AMUT has been busy forging relationships that are closing the plastics circular economy loop.
With a new bottleto-bottle plant, and the world’s first facility for polyethylene and aluminium p o l yc o m p o s i te (POAL) recycling, AMUT is flexing its muscles as a leader in the recycling space, and not a follower, with ambitions that extend far beyond Italy.
Why not find new sources of revenue, selling recycled PET to third parties, in a virtuous circle for everyone?
First for POAL recycling In September, AMUT will be opening its first recycling plant for POAL including Tetrapak packaging, producing Ecoallene, a recyclable material produced by Ecoplasteam. The Spinetta Marengo plant will produce some 7,000 tonnes of Ecoallene resin per year, closing the loop for what has traditionally been a problematic material to recycle due to high costs, resulting in much POAL ending up in landfill or wasteto-energy.
aluminium particles and it can be used for injection moulding and extrusion for products for the automotive, building and consumer goods sectors.
Bottle-to-bottle AMUT has also launched a new bottle-tobottle recycling facility in Presenzano for Ferrarelle, the Italian mineral water-bottling company. Ferrarelle is one of the first beverage companies in Europe to close the loop in PET bottles treatment by internally dealing the whole process. With AMUT washing technology, Ferrarelle will produce up to 3,000 kg/h of flakes recycled from post-consumer PET bottles and will use flakes suitable for food application thanks to a re-gradation process. The high quality and purity r-PET flakes will be processed directly to produce preforms and final bottles. After the bottling process, the new generated bottles finally reach the supermarket shelves.
“Under full production process, we expect to exceed our annually preform in-house requirement – actually around 700 million/ year,” said Pietro Bortone, Presenzano Plant Manager. “The flakes we produced with AMUT are of high quality level and why not find new sources of revenue, selling recycled PET to third parties, in a virtuous circle for everyone?” One of the benefits of in-house bottle-tobottle recycling and production is that once the bales are sent to the feeder, a detector performs an initial positive selection to separate bottles from contaminants before washing. The solution for the upfront part of the line allows the treatment of PET bottles bales that are not properly sorted. The bottles are conveyed to the DelabellerPreWasher, and are then dried using lowenergy technology. NIR detectors for colour/ metal separation take care of final sorting and purify the stream from any non-PET material. The flakes are then washed again to remove all fine pollutants. The combination of these machines treats even highly polluted bottles, achieving excellent results in term of final product quality and output. “With our new recycling plant in Italy, Presenzano, we take a step further in the eco-friendly attitude we have been pursuing over the last years,” said Bortone.
The recycled end product is easy to colour and to additivate, and has an attractive metallic appearance thanks to its
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A design for life Erema’s Discovery Days in June 2018 covered the need for design for recycling heavily in an action-packed three-day event which brought stakeholders from every sector and level of the value chain together to square up to the challenges of plastics recycling and closing the circular economy loop. WORDS | Rose Brooke
T
hat National Geographic cover landed on newsstands just before the Erema Discovery Days in Ansfelden, Austria, 27th29th June 2018, and had more of an impact on the event than many might have anticipated.
We as raw material manufacturers, producers, processors and recyclers together have to identify new markets, make use of previously untapped sources of plastic
Being a leading plastics recycling technology manufacturer and pioneer, Erema is well positioned as a champion for the circular economy, but some of the speakers billed for the event were feeling less confident to step under the interrogation lights amid the War on Plastics, which is allegedly why some representatives from prominent companies excused themselves at the last minute.
‘Circular economy is the answer’ EPPM attended Day Two of the event, which overlapped with partner ENGEL’s Inject 4.0 event in nearby Linz, where Circular Economy was top of the agenda. The official title for the day was ‘Circular Economy, The Plastics Industry’s Perspective’. CEO of Greiner Group Alex Kühner was the keynote speaker who presented Greiner’s Plastics for Life vision, which was created back in 2013 and is now facing the struggle of plastics’ appalling public image. “Circular economy is the answer,” stated Kühner. “The economy needs to change, product design needs to change, and separating is a very hot topic.”
Marine plastics is one of the single biggest influencing factors on the plastics industry in 2018, and Erema made its position on the matter clear from the start, by demonstrating its souvenir frisbees made using ocean waste, which were handed to each speaker as a gift. A generous gesture, which went further than being a mere green token as the presentations and panel discussions would reveal. Manfred Hackl, Erema Group CEO, opened the event: “To reach the new European recycling goal of 55 per cent by 2030, more than 10 million tonnes of recyclate has to be used in the end markets. “Compared to 2014, this corresponds to more than double the amount of recycled material. To achieve this, we as raw material manufacturers, producers, processors and recyclers together have to identify new markets, make use of previously untapped sources of plastic ... and implement even stronger design for recycling in the long term.”
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RECYCLING MACHINERY SPONSORED BY
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He encouraged working groups to come together to help consumers be more circular by redesigning products for reuse and recycling, as well as reducing the overall usage of plastic in packaging. The drivers for circular economy, he said, as materials, optimisation and eco-design We should not be and that other ideas such as bioplastics recycling for the sake are being scrutinised.
of recycling, we need to really close the loop
Antonino Furfari, Managing Director of Plastics Recyclers Europe, was up next, and addressed the mixed messages from governments that consumers and industry have been fed about plastics and waste, and that in 1996, landfill was acceptable for plastics, but now it is considered worse than a last resort. “We face big challenges,” he stated, “And design for recycling is the answer. But we should not be recycling for the sake of recycling, we need to really close the loop ... Plastics’ image is in danger and we have to work together.”
Capitalising on 4.0
Erema is committed to quality and transparent recycling technology and its ReFresher technology in combination with the INTAREMA ensures the thermal-physical odour minimisation of recyclates. At the event, visitors were encouraged to get their noses into jars of recyclate labelled ‘good smell’ and ‘bad smell’. Needless to say, the deodorising technology works. Odour management – one of the main complaints about recycled plastic materials - considerably broadens the field of application for recyclates from post-consumer material. In the smart factory, EREMA offers online quality monitoring of colour and MVR value while processing. The Manufacturing Execution System re360 gives plastics processors a digital overview of production data. This is not only for EREMA machines, it can also be used for a company’s entire range of machinery – ideally from plastic bales to recyclate.
The presentations on the plastics circular economy included select projects that demonstrate how circularity can work with clear cooperation and communication, with the Johannes Kepler University’s Linz Institute of Technology (LIT) Factory demonstrating a 4.0 pilot factory that allows local companies to access digitalised production in the test lab, to allow them to develop their production technologies to be more efficient and less wasteful.
Trust in quality
The spotlight was also shone on Europe-wide initiatives to promote recycling such as EuCertPlast and RecyClass, which are driving up standards in design for recycling and the use of plastic materials.
With over 1,000 participants from 54 countries, the Erema Discovery Days were a triumph for the company and for plastics recycling.
Europe’s plastics processing and recycling industry is already in a strong position to transform this experience into a working plastics circular economy.
“EREMA began manufacturing recycling systems for production waste 35 years ago,” said Hackl. “This division now accounts for over 50 per cent of our turnover and we are proud that more and more international packaging producers place their trust in our quality.”
“The circular economy is not only an ecological must, it also gives Europe the chance to position itself as a pioneer of the green economy,” said Hackl.
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The event included a tour of the Erema site, which involved getting up close and personal to an Erema recycling line. The noise, the smell and the grime makes facilities like these among the most overwhelming of plastics processing environments but hammered home how hard recyclers work to close the circular economy loop.
As circularity becomes even more important to brand owners and manufacturers, Erema anticipates demand, so it is introducing complete engineering and integration systems for plastics recycling systems, while offering customers support in the early planning stages.
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www.erema.com
RECYCLING MACHINERY NEWS SPONSORED BY
BIRMINGHAM GRANULATORS LTD
Billion dollar baby A fresh study reveals how the worldwide recycling machinery market is set to expand in the coming years, and how much plastics recycling is pushing this growth. The global recycling machinery market is set to exceed $1.2 billion (€1.05 billion, £0.94 billion) by 2025, with baler machinery proving to be the most in demand technology for the industry. A new report from Global Market Insights revealed that presses for converting piles of waste into neat blocks will take nearly one-third (30 per cent) of the recycling equipment space, with these systems experiencing a CAGR of 5.7 per cent, reaching $390 million by 2025. The Asia Pacific region will gain on the global landscape, with China being identified as the biggest earner for the Eastern Hemisphere.
This growth across the board is being propelled by a rising demand for plastics recycling technology, off the back of public outcry at the rising levels of marine and environmental plastics wasting in the natural world, supported by pressure at government level. As such, the plastics recycling market in particular is expected to hit revenues of $470 million by 2015. The study states that some 7.7 billion tonnes of plastic is manufactured on Planet Earth annually – 5.4 billion tonnes of which go unrecycled.
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Tinius Olsen automated systems It’s all about...
PRODUCTIVITY REPEATABILITY TRACEABILITY Tinius Olsen has developed scalable technology blocks to automate tensile, compression, flexural, impact, melt flow and hardness tests. Capable of testing 1000+ specimens in a 24-hour period, saving time and making money.
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Scalable technology blocks Tinius Olsen is excited to introduce the next evolution in materials testing – scalable automation. At Tinius Olsen we have taken a fresh look at how our customers use materials testing machines and software to meet their specific needs in today’s commericial environment. Accuracy, resolution, data rates, control, precise adherence to test standards, calibration, measurement of uncertainty and traceability are all essential parameters tuned to the highest standards and capabilities in Tinius Olsen testing machines and software. The next workplace evolution is to ensure this technology is used as efficiently as possible in your test lab and in the control of your materials’ product quality and performance. It’s about providing a financially quantified step gain in productivity using Tinius Olsen technology. To achieve this we have developed scalable technology blocks to automate tensile, compression, flexural, impact, melt flow and hardness tests. Our systems can deal with low milli-Newton forces to high thousands of kNs and process from 30 to 1250 tests a day. Tinius Olsen can provide an affordable solution to deliver the step change in productivity and profitabilty your business needs.
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RECYCLING NEWS SPONSORED BY
Borealis to acquire Ecoplast Kunststoffrecycling
BIRMINGHAM GRANULATORS LTD
In a ‘logical next step’, Borelais is expanding its mechanical recycling capabilities with the acquisition of an Austrian plastics recycling company. Leading provider of polyolefin solutions Borealis announced in July 2018 that it intends to acquire 100 per cent of the Austrian plastics recycler Ecoplast Kunststoffrecycling. Subject to regulatory approvals, the purchase will put 35,000 tonnes of recycled polyolefin from post-consumer plastic from both industrial and domestic waste streams into the hands of Borealis every year. Ecoplast currently produces high quality HDPE and LDPE recyclates predominantly for the plastic film market. Vienna-headquartered Borealis currently generates €7.5 billion in sales revenue annually and has been growing thanks to a successful string of acquisitions – most recently in recycling businesses. The company took over German plastics recycling company mtm in 2016 in a deal the company said ‘underlines Borealis’ commitment to the circular economy’, which would put the company in a strong position as a plastics recycling player. “It is a logical next step for us to expand our mechanical recycling capabilities, which are key to our sustainability and circular economy efforts,” said Alfred Stern, Borealis CEO. “Borealis wants to be a provider for circular economy plastic solutions and we see Ecoplast as an important complement to mtm in Germany. mtm’s focus is on rigid, injection moulding solutions. Ecoplast’s core competence is recycling flexibles from highly contaminated household and commercial waste into a product that is suitable for thin film production.” www.borealisgroup.com
PRE reviews installed PET recycling capacity PRE has found that collection must be improved for European PET recycling capacity to be fully exploited. Plastics Recyclers Europe (PRE) has evaluated 78 recycling facilities in Europe to get a clear idea of how much PET is being recycled versus capacity. PET recycling capacity in Europe hit 2.1 million tonnes in 2017, with Germany (27 per cent), France (15 per cent), Italy (14 per cent) and Spain (nine per cent) accounting for 65 per cent of the PET recycling market. With 1.9 million tonnes of post-consumer PET being transformed into 1.4 million tonnes of recyclate that was then produced into new plastic products, this data shows some 200,000 tonnes installed PET recycling capacity goes unexploited, according to PCI Wood Mackenzie data commissioned by Petcore Europe. “Given the unused installed capacities there is much room for growth in the European PET recycling market, but in order to achieve the higher recycling rates the rate of collection must be improved and quality of waste increased,” said Casper van den Dungen, PRE Vice President and PET Working Group Chairman.
Today, an average of 57 per cent of PET bottles are recycled in Europe and PRE is encouraging the plastics industry to collaborate and implement the necessary measures if recycling rates are to increase to 55 per cent by 2030, as stipulated in the European Commission’s Waste Package. “Limited collection has always been a drawback for PET recyclers. Trust shall be built in the sector in order to secure investments as well as the absorption of these new volumes of recyclates on the market,” stated van den Dungen.
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www.plasticsrecyclers.eu
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HEATING AND COOLING
Eurochiller acquires IsoCool Italian cooling technology champion Eurochiller has acquired IsoCool in the UK in a deal that IsoCool describes as a ‘natural progression’.
Italy-based cooling group Eurochiller has announced it has acquired IsoCool in the UK. IsoCool supplies energy-saving and performance enhancing cooling systems to a range of industries, building a solid reputation in temperature control along the way, particularly in plastics processing. IsoCool’s accreditation from The Carbon Trust underlined its credibility in recent years. “We have worked as a partner of Eurochiller for many years,” said Nigel Hallett, Managing Director of IsoCool. “Both companies know each other very well, with many complimentary competencies and
we have achieved an enviable level of cooperation. It has therefore, been a natural progression for Eurochiller to acquire IsoCool and I believe that this will make both companies stronger.” The acquisition moves Nigel Hallett into the position of Sales and Marketing Director. Eurochiller is a manufacturer and developer of cooling technology, with a focus on high-quality, energy-saving systems, and bespoke solutions. The Eurochiller Group comprises three industry leading specialist companies that come together to offer world class products and services of the highest quality. www.eurochiller.com
Airmould technology reduces cooling time without compromise Reduced cooling time without compromising on quality, WITTE Automotive Group relies on Wittmann Battenfeld’s gas injection moulding technology for car door handle manufacture. Wittmann Battenfeld’s Airmould nitrogen injection moulding technology has allowed Germany’s WITTE Automotive Group to reduce its cycle times without compromising on quality in car door handle production thanks to an innovative cooling system.
pressure of up to 300 bar acting as a piston, displacing 25-30 per cent of the liquid melt from the core. The gas pressure inside the hollow part counteracts shrinkage through cooling, eliminating sink marks on the outer surface.
The Northern Bohemia plant manufactures some 3.5 million units a year utilising 14 injection moulding machines from Wittmann Battenfeld with clamping forces of between 1800 and 5500kN, linear robots and other equipment for automatic down-stream finishing of door handles manufactured.
At the end of the cooling time, the moulded part and overflow cavity contents are removed, with the latter being extracted for reuse with virgin material. Using this method, the cycle time is reduced to about 45 to 50 seconds depending on the handle model.
Handles produced without integrated electronics are one-piece injected hollow parts that have been gas injection moulded for thin walls and effective and economic cooling. The cavity is filled and solidified by being cooled on the cavity wall, then nitrogen is blown into the melt under a
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“Due to our position in the just-in-time supply chain of the automobile manufacturers, we are
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absolutely dependant on permanently reliable production equipment,” said WITTE’s Production Manager Pavel Katas. “Here we have always been able to bank on Wittmann Battenfeld injection moulding technology.” www.wittmann-group.com
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HEATING AND COOLING
Chiller checklist: Maintenance musts to protect a system Alistair Michie, Service Manager UK at ICS Cool Energy advises on best practice for chiller and system maintenance in plastics processing environments to help mitigate the risk of downtime, extend the lifetime of equipment, and provide peace of mind that everything possible is being done to keep a process running. Words| Alistair Michie, Service Manager UK at ICS Cool Energy
W
hether it’s to assist with individual mould cooling or to cool an entire factory, chillers are an essential piece of process cooling equipment in the European plastics industry. Adopting best-practice for chiller Any issues and system maintenance in plastics processing is spotted can key to ensuring longevity, quickly turn into productivity and efficiency.
serious faults if left unaddressed so checks should be made daily
A day-to-day approach
In the first instance, there are some straight-forward things that industrial end-users in the plastics industry can do on a day-to-day basis in the interest of keeping things running. Checking for irregular or unusual sounds and vibrations should form part of a daily routine as well as monitoring temperatures of process fluids. Visual checks should also be undertaken, taking note of and removing debris in the area surrounding the chiller, as well as keeping an eye out for any fluid leaks, excessive condensation,
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and loose components on the chiller such as thermal insulation. Any issues spotted can quickly turn into serious faults if left unaddressed so checks should be made daily by more than one person and noted in a daily log. However, if the chiller performance deteriorates or begins to display fault codes, it is time to call in an expert.
A deeper look A more thorough examination of equipment will also be required, preferably on a weekly basis, and at the very least once a month. Before starting these checks, the side panels of the unit will need to be removed and the unit will need to be isolated from the electrical supply. Once safe, the fixings and fastenings on the unit can be inspected, ensuring they are tightly secured and adjusted as necessary. All pipework should then be examined to be certain there is no fluid leaking from the equipment. If any is found, an expert should be contacted immediately.
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Refrigeration circuit checks When it comes to any work being undertaken on the refrigeration circuit, this should be conducted only by an F Gas certified engineer. The engineer should look through any existing logs detailing the date of the last check or commissioning including system design If the chiller data, and after taking note of the general surroundings performance they should inspect the deteriorates or four main components (the begins to display compressor, the evaporator, the condenser and the fault codes, it is expansion devise) and time to call in log the circuit(s) during an expert operation. Inspecting these components ranges from checking the oil level and condition of a chiller’s compressor to checking the fluid inlet and outlet temperatures of a chiller’s evaporator and condenser. Beyond these checks there are several other important considerations which need to be made.
Magazin: EPPM
Sprache: EN
Format: 164x235+3mm
Thema: Stempel mit Rastfunktion
AS: 06.08.2018
MARKING STAMPS
First is checking the equipment’s glycol concentration. Glycol prevents water from freezing, allowing low temperature operation. If the concentration is too low though, this can cause irreparable damage and contamination to the refrigerant circuit and its components. Ideally the glycol should be inhibited, and a biocide added to protect the system from corrosion and bacteria. The refrigerant leak test is a legal requirement for many refrigeration circuits and any leak found must be repaired without undue delay, as loss of refrigerant damages the environment and reduces the efficiency and capacity of equipment. Using the above information, plastics processing end-users can create a detailed action plan which encompasses daily checks and routine planned preventive maintenance. This should include regular chilled water analysis and an ongoing treatment programme.
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HEATING AND COOLING
Cool and in control Frigel has enhanced its digital control technology for the Microgel RCP Chiller - a firm fixture on the injection moulding production floor. EPPM spoke to the company at NPE 2018 about what it believes injection moulders need in terms of data and digital technology for process cooling. . WORDS | Rose Brooke
I
ndustry 4.0 is a word that is batted around the plastics processing industry a lot these days, but what does it really mean and how is it most usefully applied?
The goal is to help customers have a true feeling for the kilowatt per kilogram of resin for processing because nobody takes into account the chillers
To temperature control industry leader Frigel, the notion of Industry 4.0 could mean everything to some customers and nothing to others, and when it comes to chillers, is Industry 4.0 something they are looking for when considering that part of their production line? Instead of slapping Industry 4.0 labels on its new developments, Frigel prefers to use the words ‘advanced digital control’, when developing its technology to improve customers’ sustainability, quality, productivity and profitability.
“Duccio (Frigel CEO Duccio Dorin) doesn’t want to say ‘let’s create Frigel 4.0’,” said Fosco. The new control updates allow customers to access data anywhere in the world from their chilling systems connected to their injection moulding units to help them close the loop at thermal load and energy, flow and temperature. This is something Fosco believes will appeal the most to bigger customers, but it will be interesting to see if smaller plastics processors are looking to access more data about their chilling technology.
At NPE 2018 in Orlando, Frigel showcased the extension to its digital control technology for the Microgel RCP Chiller.
The Microgel RCP Chiller does away with central chiller systems in PET preform, large-part blow moulding and high-speed multi-cavity injection moulding applications. By taking the capabilities of the unit to the next level, the addition of advanced digital controls gives users the ability to capture processcooling energy consumption data and more easily adjust the unit for specific moulding conditions for optimal efficiencies and cost savings. “The goal is to help customers have a true feeling for the kilowatt per kilogram of resin for processing because nobody takes into account the chillers,” explained Al Fosco, Marketing Manager, Frigel North America.
Industry four-point-oh? Fosco steers clear of the term Industry 4.0 because he is aware there is an ambiguity around the phrase to those who haven’t been instrumental in its rise through European plastics processing in particular. Without putting a label on it, the concept of connectivity and control makes sense in cooling as the next step for capturing
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data in a way that is secure and easy to access, but Frigel’s technological evolution is one borne of its own innovations and developments, and not the company jumping on the Industry 4.0 bandwagon.
Plastics on repeat The Microgel RCP Chiller is engineered with a high-efficiency, high flow/pressure process pump, enabling it to provide turbulent flow and low temperature rise across large and multi-cavity moulds. The unit also features motorised servo-modulating valves, eliminating sharp temperature peaks and valleys found with traditional on/off solenoid valves. The digital control extension technology allows the customer to use onboard troubleshooting technology combined with monitoring technology to manage data from units all over the world in one place, allowing service departments to work remotely. In addition, the technology allows customers to ensure they are creating the exact same plastic parts, whether the mould is in Italy, the US, or China, or in all three locations making the same part. Once the chiller settings are optimised for that tool, the data is stored so in a month’s time, if the mould is put back in the machine, the operating parameters are set and ready to go – and if something goes wrong then it is likely to be something outside of the Microgel. “You set the flow for a specific tool and if it reads above or below that pre-set band an alarm will be sent,” explained Fosco. “It allows those with a global company that’s making the same car
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bumper in the UK that they have in production in the US on the same machine to ensure that those two chillers across the Atlantic are operating exactly the same. So, once they certify that tool, wherever it may go they can globally produce that part and make sure they have proper flow. Guaranteed repeatability, Variable speed no defects, no warping. That mould drives ensure should work the same today as it does six months from now.” that the pumps
operate at speeds commensurate with the mould requirements, so you’re only using the energy required for that tool
Savings for success The package Frigel offers customers is reliability, quality and sustainability, and the new control system for the Microgel gives out energy readings to allow customers to keep on top of their consumption, while helping to reduce their carbon footprints by supporting water savings and energy savings.
“Sustainability is Frigel’s middle name,” Fosco said. “Variable speed drives ensure that the pumps operate at speeds commensurate with the mould requirements, so you’re only using the energy required for that tool, and customers get real-time data including energy readings.” The lifespan of a Microgel, which is built to suit the needs of individual customers, is around 20 years, and Frigel is confident in its understanding of customers’ requirements and the robustness of the technology to provide an ROI with all its systems, including water savings, chemical savings and energy efficiency, allowing prospective customers to compare Frigel’s data with a competitor.
“We send Microgels out all the time on trial and we’ve never had one come back that I know of,” Fosco stated. “We give you 30-60 days and we help set it up and inevitably customer cycle times are reduced and they’re making better parts. It’s been very successful.” This, along with a custom-made solution for each plastics processor, is all part of Frigel’s ‘Diamond Service’, which promises to continue delivering the best in process cooling technology to ensure customers have the competitive edge. “I started in 2009 with Frigel and I was excited about the features and the equipment then - but they don’t stop improving,” said Fosco. “What we’re doing is enhancing the products to make them even more sustainable and energy efficient. That’s the Diamond Service advantage.”
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www.frigel.com
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-30ºC up to +350ºC
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Bidding Ends: Tuesday 9th October 2018 at 3.00pm (UK Time) Viewing by Appointment only ∙Clever Sleeving Line comprising: Vertical Cups Loader, 2 Portable Double Sleeve Reel Storage Units, Clever GSD 422 Sleeve Applicator, Clever STJ3 1Air Steam shrinking Tunnel & Stacking Cup unloader (Line Built 2011) ∙AMUT AMP 850 2F Thermoforming Machine ∙Qty TRIA & MECCANOPLASTICA Granulators ∙(3) ILLIG RDM 70k Automatic Pressure Forming Machines ∙OMSOHERGO Colour Dry Offset Cup Printing Machine (2002) ∙(4) VAN DAM 565 MTO/UV, 6 Colour Dry Offset Printing Machines (1999) ∙MONTOLI DS2 CF 4 UV, 6 Colour Dry Offset Printing Machine ∙Qty Custom Built Stacker Units
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FILM & SHEET
EconCore partnership progresses continuous honeycomb cores An innovative partnership between EconCore and MEAF is facilitating the development of all-thermoplastics continuous honeycomb cores using energy efficient extrusion. EconCore is making strong progress in development of new all-thermoplastics continuous honeycomb cores by partnering with MEAF and the installation of a fullyfunctional laboratory-scale extrusion and forming line at the company’s facilities in Leuven, Belgium. At the heart of the line is a purposebuilt 50-mm extruder, built by MEAF in Yerseke, The Netherlands, equipped with a special 500-mm sheet die built by flatdie specialist EMO Extrusion Molding in Micheldorf, Austria. EconCore honeycomb structures are produced from a single continuous thermoplastic sheet using the company’s patented ThermHex technology. This involves a sequence of thermoforming, folding and bonding operations. Prior to the installation of the new purpose-built extruder, EconCore was carrying out its honeycomb developments using sheet unwound from a roll.
“Now that we can produce our own sheet in-line, we have more flexibility in our operations and it is obviously much easier to make changes to the material formulations,” said Wouter Winant, Technical Manager. The MEAF extruder has a 50-mm barrel holding a screw with an L:D of 34:1, which is typical for polyolefins. However, it also has a superior heating capability, with each of its five zones rated at 5.8 kW. Despite this high power rating, the extruder is highly energy-efficient, in line with MEAF’s philosophy of creating extrusion systems with low carbon footprints.
years now, on various projects, and the results have always been very encouraging,” said Tomasz Czarnecki, EconCore COO. “Both our companies are small/medium-sized, with a flexible approach to getting things done, and a strong thirst for success, so we work together well. www.econcore.com
“We have been cooperating with MEAF for several
New PTi tech centre opens up extrusion PTi’s new Technology Development Center will bring the best of its extrusion technology to customers interested in trialling it. Processing Technologies International LLC (PTi), a leading global manufacturer of high-performance sheet extrusion machinery, has announced the opening of its Technology Development Center (TDC), a demonstration centre that is dedicated to product development and process trials for customers on production-scale systems. The TDC showcases the company’s most innovative sheet extrusion lines and directly assists customers with their product development efforts. “We’re not only excited that our state-ofthe-art facility features the latest sheet extrusion technology to help our customers in all phases of product development, we are also thrilled that we have been able incorporate this equipment into PTi
University’s various training programmes for our customers’ operators, process engineers, and maintenance personnel,” said Matt Banach, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing for PTi. These training programmes offer PTi customers’ new employees the opportunity to familiarise themselves with operations through hands-on experience, while providing continuous education regarding the importance of safety, maintenance, and maximising efficiency of equipment and processes for those already familiar with the extrusion processes. The 15,000-sq-ft TDC houses two demonstration sheet extrusion systems including PTi’s High Vacuum Twin-Screw Extruder sheet extrusion system, featuring
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Bandera’s patented dryerless technology which allows PET to be processed without the need for raw material drying and crystalising. The second line features PTi’s SUPER-G HighSPEED Extruder, a high-speed solution that delivers improved melt quality. The new facility is an integral part of PTi’s recent $10 million (€8.7 million, £7.8 million) plant expansion at the Aurora headquarters. The expansion was in response to growing demand for sheet extrusion equipment. The company increased overall plant capacity by 50per cent and added 40,000 square feet of primary manufacturing and office space and up to 40 new jobs.
www.ptiextruders.com
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FILM & SHEET
Biodegradable films from horticultural wastes becomes a reality Project BIOVEGE makes biodegradable films and nets for vegetables using materials obtained from horticultural wastes. WORDS | Grace Nolan
BIOVEGE, a project AIMPLAS has participated in, has been successfully completed now the first results from biodegradable films and nets made from horticultural wastes have been made available. The project has resulted in new biodegradable films and nets for horticultural products. The project gathered food colourants and additives from harvest waste in Almería. With circular economy in mind, BIOVEGE extracted high value chemistry from this waste, preventing it from being lost to landfill. The project extracted sugars from watermelon, which has been developed into different types of biodegradable films, used as shrink film for the packaging of cucumbers and the manufacturing of bags for weighing agricultural products.
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From other horticultural products such as tomatoes and peppers, active substances like vitamins, antioxidants and food colourants can be used to enrich meat preparation with an antioxidant capacity of more than 20 per cent. Coordinated by Alhóndiga La Unión, four other companies have taken part in the project, Ecoplas, Morera y Vallejo Industrial, Torres Morente and Domca. Funded by the Centre for the Development of Industrial Technology (CDTI) through the ERDF Innterconecta 2015 programme, the technical part of the project has been led by AIMPLAS and other research centres, Tecnalia, Cidaf and Las Palmerillas Fundación Cajamar participated.
www.formacion.aimplas.es
The world of ENGEL Efficient. Reliable. Innovative. As one of the world’s leading companies in the field of plastics machine manufacturing, we offer our customers integrated system solutions. This means: injection moulding technology from a single source. Machine, automation, process, training and service are all perfectly integrated with ENGEL. And we always look to the future. Innovation and the latest technologies offer our customers a decisive competitive advantage. be the first.
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FILM & SHEET
DSM and APK collaborate on recycling multilayer food packaging films Royal DSM is collaborating with APK to increase the sustainable benefits of multilayer food packaging films. Royal DSM, a global science-based company, is collaborating with APK to increase the sustainable benefits of multilayer food packaging films.
APK and DSM are also able to address the “End-of-Life” stage of the Life Cycle of a multilayer PE/PA6 packaging film using APK’s Newcycling process.
Many multilayer barrier films for food packaging consist of a combination of PE and PA6.
The process makes it possible to recover high-quality re-granulates with properties close to virgin plastics, from complex mixtures and multi-layer composites.
PE acts as a barrier for moisture and PA6 as a barrier for oxygen, extending the shelf life of the packaged food. This packaging cannot be produced with a mono-material PE film, as the layer thicknesses to achieve sufficient barrier properties would become too high. The addition of PA6 in the multi-material solution reduces the total layer thickness significantly and improves the mechanical integrity of the film, resulting in less rupture of the films during transportation and logistics.
“The Newcycling process works highly cost-efficient and offers a competitive, sustainable material source,” said Florian Riedl, Head of Business Development at APK AG. “The re-granulates, generated from multilayer PE/PA6 packaging waste, can be used again in demanding flexible packaging which contributes to the target of a circular economy.” APK is building a plant for recycling multilayer PE/PA6 packaging, using Newcycling process, which will start up in Q4 of this year.
In light of this, a lower food waste percentage improves carbon footprint in a Life Cycle Analysis.
www.dsm.com
Covestro strengthens global film production with €100 million investment The investment of more than €100 million will see a capacity expansion at four locations, with over 100 new jobs planned. Covestro is investing over €100 million (approximately £88.8 million) to expand its global film production to meet the growing demand in all regions. The company intends for over 100 new jobs to be created worldwide for the operation of the new plants, which includes the expansion of the associated infrastructure and logistics. Based on modern co-extrusion technology, one of the new production facilities is being built in Map Ta Phut, Thailand and is scheduled for completion by the end of 2019. Covestro is also building new co-extrusion lines in Dormagen, Germany, scheduled for completion in the fourth quarter of 2020
and at its Guangzhou site in China, the focus will initially be on converting the existing co-extrusion line. The company says by selectively adjusting the surface structure, using additives or coating, the films can be equipped with further innovative functions. Michael Friede, Global Head of the Coatings, Adhesives and Specialties segment, said: “We want to expand our global film production as quickly as possible to meet the growing demand in the regions. With modern and efficient production facilities, we want to offer our customers growth opportunities and strengthen them in their competitive environment.” www.covestro.com
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FarragTech GmbH is proud to look back on over 25 years of experience in the field of plastics periphery. With our products come long term improvements in plastics manufacturing and equipment for which we grant a 5 year full warranty. We insist on quality - you should insist on FarragTech! • Plastics resin drying • Internal cooling for blow molders • Mold sweat protection • Special solutions
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Temperature control made simple Feeling the heat? Relax, we’ve got it covered. Flexible, reliable and ready-to-use, our Modular Process Control Platform makes process heating and cooling incredibly effortless. Based on your injection molding or extrusion requirements, we configure a solution that’s utterly reliable: temperature-resistant up to 200°C (392 °F), no moving parts, and a dynamic range of 1:200. Benefit from a complete control loop manufactured by fluid experts – it saves you valuable engineering and assembly time. Leave temperature control to us, and take it easy. Want to know more? Contact us: +49 (0)79 40 10-0
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FILM & SHEET
H t house flowers Ampacet is bringing innovative films to greenhouses and other agri-film applications with new technologies allowing growers to get the most out of their crop.
P
lasticulture is a growing market with increasing requirements towards higher crops quality and yields to meet the needs of growing population.
In order to help satisfy the market needs, Ampacet has developed a range of masterbatches for greenhouse and tunnel AGRISTAB 372 applications including provides greenhouse A G R I S TA B 372 , AGROCLEAR RANGE, film with outstanding HEATSCREEN 34 and resistance to THERMIC 337.
pesticides, allowing usage of up to 5,000 ppm sulphur for a greenhouse that can last for more than three years
To protect crops from pests and diseases, farmers usually apply fumigation pest control. Sulphur evaporators are one of the most commonly-used methods to fumigate greenhouses. But the use of sulphur fumigation leads to a loss of UV stabilising properties of the greenhouse film. Photooxidation of sulphur deposited on the greenhouse film surface can yield acidic species, deactivating light stabilisers (Hindered Amine Light Stabilizer - HALS) and resulting in early degradation of the film and shortening greenhouse shelf life.
Buggin’ Typical greenhouse film containing conventional NOR HALS stabilisers is
designed for maximum 3,000 ppm sulphur content and three years, or four seasons, of effectiveness, while the market tends to require greenhouses with longer life-spans and higher pesticide usage, to withstand up to 5,000 ppm sulphur for a duration of more than three years. Innovative AGRISTAB additive technology fulfils new market requirements for a multiseason greenhouse with highly intensive pesticide usage, beyond the Spanish Committee for Plastics and Agriculture (CEPLA) recommendations. AGRISTAB 372 provides greenhouse film with outstanding resistance to pesticides, allowing usage of up to 5,000 ppm sulphur for a greenhouse that can last for more than three years. AGRISTAB 372 also enables use of lowergauge greenhouse films in structures and the ability to target typical pesticide usage levels of, for example, 1,500 to 3,000 ppm with lower amounts of stabilisation. AGRISTAB 372 does not affect the colour of the greenhouse film and offers excellent light transmission and optimised crop yield.
Haven’t the foggiest Another typical problem faced in greenhouses and low tunnels is linked to fogging phenomena. Being aware of these challenges, Ampacet has broadened its AGROCLEAR range and introduced its new AGROCLEAR 752 for
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one-to-two-season greenhouses, low tunnels and early harvest crop protection films. Ampacet AGROCLEAR 752 allows, at very low addition rates, to provide outstanding and consistent anti-fog properties to protection films used in agriculture and horticulture fields. It maintains an excellent film transparency, avoids problems linked to fog formation (light transmission reduction and plant damages), optimises plant growth and supports crop yield. Ampacet has previously introduced AGROCLEAR 651 (102651), an efficient anti-fog masterbatch technology specially designed for critical multi-seasons low tunnels and greenhouses films providing a very long term antifogging effect. HEATSCREEN 34 provides a cooling effect to greenhouses used in very hot climates, limits overheating of the greenhouses’ inner atmosphere and avoids dehydration of the plants. This enables an optimised plant growth. THERMIC 337 retains a maximum heat inside the greenhouse and low tunnels during the night by blocking the far infrared spectrum emitted by the ground, providing a ‘thermic’ effect. This allows the greenhouse or low tunnels inner atmosphere temperature to achieve an additional 1°C to 3°C during the night leading to a higher plant growth rate, higher yield and anticipated harvest.
www.ampacet.com
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CAPS AND CLOSURES
Sacmi complete closures solution stars in SA Sacmi continues to invest in Africa, which is already a key market for complete PET processing solutions. with a faster, greener and more economical solution for their caps and closures. Sacmi is bringing complete solutions for the beverage market to FDT Africa 2018, one of the top food and drink technology shows in South Africa, taking place in Johannesburg from September 4th-6th. Taking centre-stage will be Sacmi’s cap and preform manufacturing machines which - via the automatic CPB Link magazine - integrate downstream with complete blowing, filling and container labelling solutions. This is the new Sacmi HeroLINE, which provides greater logistic efficiency, reduces consumption and optimises
production performance. Also available in the new HeroBlock configuration, this solution represents the very best from Sacmi, the world’s only competitor capable of providing solutions for every stage of beverage production. Capable of leading the way in numerous fields and industries, Sacmi has also succeeded in transferring all the advantages of compression technology to container production. A key example is compression blow forming, an innovative solution that lets manufacturers produce
lighter, better-performing containers of higher quality at lower cost. This cuttingedge solution combines the very best characteristics of alternative technologies and is gaining ground on all the world’s key markets, especially in the dairy and pharma sectors. Sacmi has been winning over the dynamic African market thanks to its far-reaching assistance and outstanding service, which ranges from initial design to after-market solutions. www.sacmi.it
Performance un-capped ENGEL has upped the performance of its e-cap, which will be in demonstration mode at Fakuma 2018. ENGEL has ramped up the performance of its e-cap technology, bringing an all-electric ENGEL e-cap 2440/380 to Fakuma 2018, where it will produce 26 mm caps – including tamper-proof bands made of HDPE – in under two seconds cycle time under realistic manufacturing conditions. The ENGEL e-cap is the only cap machine on the market providing all-electric operation with a clamping force range as high as 4,200 kN. At the same time, it is the most energy-efficient machine in its class. Despite
its substantial output, the e-cap at Fakuma only needs around 0.4 kWh of electricity to process a kilogram of plastic granulate. A 72-cavity mould from z-moulds (Dornbirn, Austria) will be used at the trade fair. As far as peripheral units, the exhibit will include a dry air system from Blue Air Systems (Kundl, Austria) and a camera inspection system from IMDvista (Brügg, Switzerland). As a system solutions provider, ENGEL delivers fully-integrated and automated manufacturing cells around the world
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from a single source. Efficiency potential is maximised and overall energy consumption kept to a minimum where the injection moulding machine, mould and peripheral systems are properly coordinated from the start of the project. Alongside energy efficiency, the all-electric e-cap machine’s features include extreme precision. This ensures the greatest possible number of good parts, even in the production of demanding lightweight caps. www.engelglobal.com
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CAPS AND CLOSURES
Netstal offers the complete solution package for cost-effective production of PET preforms and beverage bottle caps
Lean, green cap-making machine Netstal has been taking the hybrid ELION on tour this year, impressing beverage makers with a faster, greener and more economical solution for their caps and closures.
K
raussMaffei’s 180th anniversary celebrations in June 2018 gave partners and other stakeholders the chance to admire the very best of the KraussMaffei Group’s plastics processing technology. Netstal’s industry 4.0-ready ELION technology was given a considerable platform at the event in Munich, after making a big appearance at NPE 2018’s Bottle Zone the previous month, for its versatility in the production of caps and closures.
In keeping with industry 4.0 With a four-second cycle and 32 cavities, visitors to KraussMaffei’s headquarters could see a hybrid Netstal ELION 2200 producing some HDPE 29,000 screw cap closures an hour, each weighing just 2.8 grams. Output volumes this large have always required much attention be paid to quality assurance, increased efficiency and operability. In line with these principles and with the spirit of industry 4.0, Netstal joined forces with Intravis to demonstrate the integration of external peripheral data in producing caps and closures. In a continuous control loop, the machine control system receives upto-date information on individual product characteristics from the Cap Watcher III visual inspection system. The information gained allows the injection moulding machine to calibrate itself and continuously produce screw-cap closures while adhering to extremely strict tolerances.
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Light barrier Data collection, speed and offering a complete solution were on the table at the first ever Bottle Zone at NPE 2018, where a hybrid ELION was on display to convince dairy and carbonated beverage makers that there is a faster, greener and future-proof option for caps and closures. In partnership with PRELACTIA, Netstal demonstrated the ELION caps and closures production system with added light barrier technology for dairy products, as choosing PET packaging for milk has economic, aesthetic and ecological benefits, offering UHT milk up to six months’ shelf life. “In contrast to the co-injection process of other manufacturers, we see decisive advantages with our overmoulding solution. We can precisely define the two layers, and thus the barrier effect. In addition, a PRELACTIA bottle always consists of pure PET, which considerably simplifies the recycling of the empty bottles,” said Matt Membrino, Sales Manager, Netstal US. “With the current PET-LINE generation of PET systems and the hybrid ELION series, Netstal offers the complete solution package for cost-effective production of PET preforms and beverage bottle caps.”
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www.kraussmaffei.com
International trade fair for plastics processing
D 16. – 20. OCTOBER 2018
a FRIE DRICHSH A FE N
The Entire World of Plastics 26th Fakuma ! More than 1700 exhibitors from all over the world
4 Injection moulding machines
will present global offerings for technologies, processes and
4 Thermal shaping technology
products made of plastic, as well as equipment and tooling for
4 Extrusion plants
plastics processing, in 12 exhibition halls.
4 Tool systems 4 Materials and components
@ www.fakuma-messe.com
Organizer:
P. E. SCHALL GmbH & Co. KG
+49 (0) 7025 9206-0
B
fakuma@schall-messen.de
g
CAPS AND CLOSURES
Cap development for the future Child-proofing, anti-counterfeiting, operability for the elderly and sustainability are all key when developing an attractive cap, but this is no easy task. Sumitomo (SHI) Demag addresses how to achieve all the above in one design. Packaging injection moulders need to find a sweet spot between heightened product security, ease of opening, and keeping products fresh all while using less packaging. Despite these competing agendas, there’s no rationale for poor design, says Kevin Heap, packaging expert at Sumitomo (SHI) Demag UK. “As well as introducing complex security measures and child resistance closures, injection moulders serving the packaging sector need to offer packaging functionality for target consumers,” Heap stated. By 2080, people aged 65 years and over are expected to account for 28.7 per cent of the EU population, compared with 18.9 per cent in 2015. While accessibility is essential
when appealing to older generations, the issues of opening a child proof cap or getting inside clam shell packaging are by no means confined to those who’ve reached retirement. “Packaging designs need to subtly make products easier to handle and open in a universal way without categorising consumers into ages, while also incorporating anti-refill and tamper evidence features,” Heap noted. A recent example developed on a Sumitomo (SHI) Demag IntElect system was a combination aluminium and plastic tamper evident snap-on security closure. Comprising a non-refillable valve for highrisk markets, it also includes an innovative
tamper evidence mechanism that provides an irreversible opening event to leave permanent evidence of initial opening. This cap works by releasing a plastic part when each bottle is opened. It is impossible to reinsert this part back into the cap’s neck and when it drops down it reveals a highlighted ring to indicate that the bottle has been opened. “As we look to the future and changing demographics, it’s important to balance product security with easy opening packaging. It’s also critical to remember that young people are just as likely to experience the challenges of difficult to open packaging as older generations,” Heap said. www.sumitomo-shi-demag.eu
United Caps poised for green growth With an extension of its R&D facilities, acquisitions, innovative portfolio additions, and an increased value of customer offerings, United Caps is poised for accelerated growth with sustainability in mind. United Caps has made it known that it is making significant progress in its growth initiatives. The company has completed an extension of its R&D facility in Messia, France, to meet the demands of business growth and deliver faster time to market for customers. It also recently acquired Spanish closures company Embalatap and has added bioplastics-based GREENER closures and new anti-counterfeiting measures to its portfolio. “The goal is to not only position ourselves for growth, but in doing so, to significantly increase the value we bring to our customers,” said Benoit Henckes, CEO of United Caps. The expansion of the R&D facility, which comprises a 30 per cent increase in both
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staff and floor space, will enable the company to develop both standard and bespoke products more quickly. Moreover, the Embalatap acquisition adds more products to the United portfolio, especially relating to edible oils typically used in the Southern European market. In pursuit of more environmentally sustainable solutions, United has collaborated with Braskem, a leading Brazilian petrochemical company, to deliver eco-friendly United Caps Greener bio-sourced plastic caps and closures made from sugar cane. Green polyethylene begins its life as sugar cane, a renewable resource that quickly replaces itself and is designed to have the
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same characteristics, quality and properties as conventional PE, sharing the same production route. That, combined with the fact that sugar cane consumes a significant amount of carbon dioxide, gives green polyethylene a negative carbon footprint. “We already have added bioplastics-based products to our portfolio: such as the VICTORIA Closure, a 30/25 screw closure designed for still drinks; and the PROFLAT Seal, ideal for dairy products and still drinks,” Henckes added. “These are being warmly received by our customers, and we expect their availability to drive new customer interest as well.” www.unitedcaps.com
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RECYCLABILITY
Plastics redefines recyclability Confidence in recycling has dwindled as shocking statistics about plastics in the environment and ending up in landfill creep into the headlines, but plastics recycling leaders are squaring up to the challenge by setting out what recyclable plastic truly is, in a real-world context.
T
he global plastics waste crisis has prompted debates on how much plastic waste is recycled once it is disposed of, and how can we increase the amount of plastics recycled while reducing the amount of plastics ending up in landfill, Waste to Energy or in the environment. One of the barriers to plastics recycling is misinformation. Too many plastic products are labelled recyclable when too few municipal recycling facilities (MRFs) are capable of recycling them, or if the packaging is multi-material and unless separated will not be recycled (if separation is even possible). To help encourage more brands to choose their materials based on their genuine recyclability and to boost consumer faith in recycling, which has been dampened by confusion and complexity, the Association of Plastic recyclers has joined with Plastics Recyclers Europe and PETcore Europe to redefine ‘recyclable’ when it comes to plastics.
Now, in order for a plastic product to be considered recyclable, it must fulfil four criteria. 1. The product must be made with a plastic that is collected for recycling, has market value and/or is supported by a legislatively mandated programme. 2. The product must be sorted and aggregated into defined streams for recycling processes. 3. The product can be processed and reclaimed/recycled with commercial recycling processes. 4. The recycled plastic becomes a raw material that is used in the production of new products. Material must be able to demonstrate that they can be collected and sorted in decent quantities and must be compatible with existing industrial systems, or are available in sufficient enough quantities to justify the investment in new recycling systems. “Recently, we have seen many announcements regarding legislative measures on plastics products and pledges of the industry actors committing to making their products recyclable,” stated Ton Emans, President of Plastics Recycling Europe. “As recyclers, we are a fundamental part of the solution to the issue of sustainability of plastics, and we need for the appropriate audiences to understand what is necessary to label a product or package ‘recyclable’. We welcome these commitments and encourage others to follow. Nevertheless, clear and universally endorsed definitions and objectives are needed.”
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RECY FA
As recyclers, we are a fundamental part of the solution to the issue of sustainability of plastics, and we need for the appropriate audiences to understand what is necessary to label a product or package ‘recyclable’
26–28 March 2019 MOC Munich, Germany
www.plasticsrecyclers.eu
AUSTRIA – recycler Europe’s best cycled with 63% re
8.4M TONNES of plastic waste collected in EU in 2016
S OF WASTE E N N O T N B 2.4 EU in 2014 produced by 55% EU target for re use and recycling for 2025
r arget fo t U E 5 <10% by 203 g n i l l fi d lan 8% of EU waste is consumer goods 34% of EU waste is construction
d users: n a s t r e p ll PU ex a g n i l l a C ative PU v o n n i r e Discov markets w e n r o f ons applicati
s with exhibitor l a n o ti a n ter s • Meet in U solution P e v ti a v o inn s of sentation e r p e v li nce ations • Experie nd applic a s e in h c ma gain inars and m e s e e fr EW N PU topics • Attend t n re r u c to insights in ity stainabil Su
Area
The portfolio includes:
Raw materials +++ PU products and systems +++ Materials and semi-finished products +++ Processing machinery, systems and equipment +++ Services
Innovative PU solutions for various industries:
www.pse-europe.com WWW.EPPM.COM
Organisers: Mack Brooks Exhibitions Ltd
EU RECYCLIN G FACTS
“At the end of the day, recyclability goes beyond just being technically recyclable there must be consumer access to a recycling program, a recycler must be able to process the material, and there must be an end market,” stated President and CEO of The Association of Plastics Recyclers Steve Alexander.
2nd International Exhibition for Polyurethane Solutions
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FAKUMA PREVIEW
Fakuma 2018 expectations buoyed by industry optimism Optimism throughout the European plastics industry is helping lay a solid foundation of confidence ahead of the 26th Fakuma plastics and rubber trade show in Friedrichshafen.
T
he optimistic mood permeating the European plastic processing landscape is buoying expectations ahead of this October’s Fakuma.
Despite quality requirements and processing regulations tightening and demands for better-performing, more sustainable and more attractive materials on an upswing, the challenges ahead are not dampening the progressive attitude of the manufacturing sector, or indeed OEMs and brand owners. Fakuma is one of the European and international plastics community’s best-loved events, and this year takes place in Friedrichshafen from October 16th-20th, before taking a break in 2019 – a K year.
Production on the rise In Europe, production is up 99 per cent over the last eight years – indicating that normal trade has resumed following the financial crisis. Since 2009, production is now up to €15.3 billion. Last year, the sector’s production output under Euromap experienced above average growth amounting to seven per cent, while this group anticipates two per cent growth in 2018.
Fakuma is a plastics marketplace with a family atmosphere
Fakuma will present how plastics are being used to advance automotive and packaging technology, with high-profile exhibitors such as BASF - which just increased its Neopor insulating material capacity by 40,000 tonnes -demonstrating the new technology that is replacing the old (in Neopor’s case, Styrofoam).
Performance and quality loom large at Fakuma every year, as well as innovation and exploration. Whether injection moulding, extrusion, thermoforming, foaming or 3D printing is involved – raw materials producers, machine builders and manufacturers of precision parts will present all they have to offer in the way of innovation throughout the entire value chain.
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International appeal The international trend to invest in new machines and systems remains high, which is affecting lead-times for materials and machines. At the same time, steady growth is being impeded by the lack of qualified personnel, which may be a booster for automation solutions presented in Friedrichshafen in October. Among those at Fakuma to shop, network, research and discover as visitors, Fakuma organisers expect some 48,375 delegates from some 120 countries to explore the 1,900 stands, and visitor numbers from Asia are increasing. The Asian contingent is profiting from international growth of the industry sector as well. In particular Chinese competitors have become stronger according to Euromap. In 2017 they produced machines and systems valued at €11.1 billion – 180 per cent more than in 2009. Fakuma remains a popular destination for the European and worldwide plastics processing industry for lots of reasons, but as Fakuma exhibitor advisory committee member Sandra Füllsack puts it, the event is a “plastics marketplace with a family atmosphere” – which is why exhibitors and visitors keep returning year after year.
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www.fakuma-messe.de
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AKRO-PLASTIC
Arburg
AKRO-PLASTIC has set itself the task of modifying a PA 6 to achieve comparable properties to a PA 6.6. The new development is called AKROMID B+. Reinforced with 50 per cent glass fibres, this compound achieves the same strength at 80 °C as a conditioned PA 6.6 GF50. “Our new polymer-modified PA 6 grade is priced between PA 6.6 and PA 6 and thereby opens up considerable savings potential,” said Thilo Stier, AKRO-PLASTIC. “We will be presenting the first components made of the new material and complemented material values such as ageing and conditioning to trade fair visitors at our stand.”
Arburg offers a chance to experience the future of injection moulding, both digitally and in reality, on the “Road to Digitalisation”. The experts will be on hand at a number of stations to guide visitors along the path towards future-proof and efficient plastic parts production. These include new assistance packages, a first insight into a new customer portal and examples of “smart services”. The new-look Allrounder 820 H will be seen for the first time in a ‘Packaging’ version, while the Arburg Turnkey Control Module (ATCM), a data collector for complex turnkey systems will also make its debut.
Hall B2, Booth 2209
Hall A3, Booth 3101
www.akro-plastic.com
www.arburg.com
BARLOG Plastics
Brabender
BARLOG Plastics, a specialist in innovative plastics, will be presenting a particularly low-emission material for vehicle interior applications. In addition to the well-known technical properties of POM, the KEBAFORM XFA range from BARLOG Plastics offers a significant reduction in formaldehyde, meeting the stringent requirements of the automotive industry. Whether in nature, dyed or in unfavourable processing conditions - the formaldehyde emission value according to VDA 275 is less than 2.0 ppm.
For manufacturers that require flexible processes involving a wide range of raw materials, Brabender Technologie has developed a quick solution for bulk materials – the Easy Change version of the popular FlexWall Plus model. A feeding exchange module enables users to substantially reduce downtimes during product changeovers. One module will be in production while the other is being cleaned. This allows further quick product changeovers once the dry and wet cleaning process has been completed. Also showcased at the exhibition is the FiberXpert fiber feeder, which Brabender Technologie unveiled last year. It has now been proven in a range of different industries.
Hall A3, Booth 3209
Hall A6, Booth 6213
www.barlog.de
www.brabender.com
ENGEL
eurolaser
ENGEL will demonstrate a further reduction in cycle times for the production of caps. An all-electric ENGEL e-cap 2440/380 will be used to produce 26 mm caps, including tamper-proof bands made of HDPE, at a cycle time of under two seconds under realistic manufacturing conditions. The ENGEL e-cap is the only cap machine on the market providing all-electric operation with a clamping force range as high as 4,200 kN. At the same time, it is the most energy-efficient machine in its class. Despite its substantial output, the e-cap due to be showcased at Fakuma only needs around 0.4 kWh of electricity to process a kilogram of plastic granulate.
eurolaser CO2 laser systems are ideally suited for cutting and engraving extruded or cast acrylics, films and other plastics. Noncontact laser cutting is fast and precise. It instantly produces clear, smooth edges, without chips and post-processing. eurolaser is one of the world’s premium suppliers of modular laser systems of up to 3.20 meters in width and length. The eurolaser table concepts are individually configured and are suitable for integration into industrial workflows. Additional time-saving automation components can be selected, from the shuttle table system via remote operation, through to automatic placement by the Pick’n’Place robot module – all can be seen live at Fakuma.
Hall A5, Booth 5204
Hall A4, Booth 4220
44
www.engelglobal.com
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www.eurolaser.com
FANUC
FKuR
One of the main highlights is the new a-S450iA. New developments have led to the 4500kN clamping force IMM the market has been expecting for years. Furthermore, a production cell, incorporating a 100-ton ROBOSHOT, will produce technical parts in engineering grade plastics under “Variotherm” mould process. The system works hand-in-hand with a six-axis FANUC LR Mate robot and a CR-7iA robot for parts assembly and handling. ROBOSHOT machines fulfil strict user requirements aimed at low energy consumption and flawless injection moulding quality, combined with stable repeatability and maximum process security. FANUC and TIG will also demonstrate Euromap 77 for plastics processing according to industry 4.0.
FKuR will be presenting its broad portfolio of bio-based thermoplastics for injection moulding, thermoforming and extrusion, including the advanced injection moulding grade Bio-Flex S 7514 as well as bio-based TPE and PP grades for a variety of applications. Bio-Flex S 7514 is a biodegradable compound based on PLA, which has been optimised by FKuR for particularly comfortable and efficient processing. The variety of bioplastics from FKuR also includes bio-based TPEs as well as compounds based on PP. Terraprene, the bio-based TPE compounds for extrusion and injection moulding, have a bio-based content of 40 per cent to 90 per cent. Terralene PP has a bio-based carbon content of approximately 35 per cent.
Hall B3, Booth B3211
Hall B4, Booth 4404
www.fanuc.eu
www.fkur.com
Gamma Meccanica
HRSflow
Thanks to GM Tandem technology it is possible to recycle heavily printed, high humidity and highly contaminated plastic materials. The line is composed of a COMPAC unit equipped with the Ecotronic system, a primary extruder, primary screen changer, a connection neck with a special degassing chamber, a secondary extruder and, as an option, a second screen changer for finer filtration/ purification of the melt and then the pelletising system. The ECOTRONIC system, by increasing the number of revolutions above the nominal speed of the motor, allows to control the temperature without adding water and to process materials with a high percentage of humidity.
HRSflow will be demonstrating the universal application of its FLEXflow technology of servo-electric driven valve gate solutions based on examples of complex, high-quality parts. Produced with the help of advanced hot runner solutions, they will range from technical parts for the automotive industry to an extremely thin-walled laptop housing and an ultra-light tool box. In all cases, the ability to individually control the pressures and flow velocities at each gate makes the FLEXflow technology an optimal solution for large and small applications, even with thermoplastics that are very difficult to process. The company will also present the option of using touchscreens to control the FLEXflow settings.
Hall A6, Booth 6218.
www.hrsflow.com
www.gamma-meccanica.it
Hall A2, Booth 2217
K.D. Feddersen
KRAIBURG TPE
Following the trend towards lightweight construction, e-mobility and the aesthetic appeal and surfaces of plastic components, K.D. Feddersen’s Fakuma motto this year is “Lightweight construction with aesthetics”. Also in high demand and also presented by the distributor are low-noise and low-emission materials. “We look forward to helping visitors experience the topics of aesthetics and lightweight construction with all of the senses at our presentation table, with various construction components, and in face-to-face discussions with our staff,” stated Wolfgang Wieth, Head of New Business Development at K.D. Feddersen, describing the concept of the trade fair stand.
KRAIBURG TPE is highlighting current applications for its TPEs as well as two advanced new material series that provide excellent properties for automotive interior and consumer applications. The new THERMOLAST K series comprises several compounds with excellent surface properties for automotive interior parts. Along with the standard black and natural colours, customer-specific colours are also available. The new compounds in the FC/AD/PA THERMOLAST K series are aimed at manufacturers in the consumer and food industries. These materials have been developed specifically for food contact and feature excellent adhesion to polyamides.
Hall B2, Booth 2209
Hall B5, Booth 5303
kdfeddersen.com
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www.kraiburg-tpe.com
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FAKUMA PREVIEW
KraussMaffei
LWB-Steinl
KraussMaffei will show how with the PX 320, a single production step creates a complete 10-inch human-machine interface display with integrated electronics, black decorative frame and scratch-proof coating. The new little sister in the PX series, the PX 25, with its clamping force of only 250 kN, is aimed at articles with low shot weight, for example precision components for clocks, gears and gearbox elements. At Fakuma, the PX 25 will make sealing rings made of liquid silicone with an intricate undercut and a weight of only 0.15 g, in a 14-second cycle time.
LWB-Steinl is present for the first time at FAKUMA 2018. The injection moulding machine manufacturer LWBSteinl will present examples of its injection moulding machines for processing elastomer and thermoplastic materials. In addition, LWB Automation, founded in 2017, will be making its trade fair debut. With its new group company, LWB-Steinl expands the range of machines to include handling and finishing solutions. As a testimonial for their integration they present a highly automated production cell for the production of twocomponent shaft seals.
Hall A7, Booth 7303
Hall 4, Booth 4123
www.kraussmaffei.com
www.lwb-steinl.com
MAS
ProTec
MAS will give an overview of the latest versions of the product groups “Conical co-rotating twin screw extruders” and “Continuous disk melt filters” at Fakuma. Within the MAS range, the conical co-rotating twin-screw extruder is characterised by a very stable melt pressure, usually no melt pump for pressure stabilisation or pressure build-up is required. The high-homogeneous plastic melt provides the best preconditions for effective melt filtration and degassing, which is important for the processing of recycled material For the conception of an integrated recycling-compounding-plant, the MAS extruder is combined with a CDF melt filter system (disc filter for continuous filtration) and a subsequent single-screw degassing extruder, which delivers a perfectly degassed melt to a subsequent granulation.
ProTec Polymer Processing GmbH is premiering the “SOMOS Perfoamer” manufacturing solution at this year’s Fakuma. This enables the new “PLASTINUM Foam Injection Molding” process presented by Kunststoff-Institut Lüdenscheid and Linde AG in 2017 to be used for physically foaming plastics parts on an industrial scale. ProTec’s innovation includes all the components for drying and temperature adjusting polymer pellets, loading them with CO2 under pressure and then feeding them to any desired injection molding machine, which generally requires no modification.
Hall 6, Booth 6409
Hall B3, Booth 3119
www.mas-austria.com
sp-protec.com
Starlinger
WITTMANN BATTENFELD
Starlinger, worldwide leading supplier of machinery and complete lines for woven plastic bag production, recycling and PET extrusion and refinement, will return to Fakuma where it will present its packaging and recycling technology. Starlinger will present its systems for recycling PET and film, and its proven systems such as the recoSTAR lines offering innovative solutions for enhanced flexibility for an ever-changing market. Moreover, the company will present its high-tech weaving technology for sack conversion. Starlinger experts will be on-hand to discuss its technologies and recent acquisition of Barmag Spinnzwim at the show.
WITTMANN BATTENFELD’s new VPower will be introduced for the first time to the general public at Fakuma. With the development of the VPower, the company’s vertical machine models are now also being remodeled to fit the PowerSeries design. The new VPower stands out primarily by its high energy efficiency, compactness and user-friendliness. The machine’s generously dimensioned rotary table is powered by a servo-electric drive as standard and laid out for short rotation times. The injection unit can be converted from vertical to horizontal and vice versa even after commissioning.
Hall A6, Booth 6416
Hall B1, Booth 1204
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www.starlinger.com
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www.wittmann-group.com
A melting pot for sustainable innovation Fakuma brings together every kind of stakeholder in the plastics universe, and at the moment the topic of recycling and the waste stream for plastics at end of life is hotter than it’s ever been. Organisers of Fakuma believe there is no better place to share ideas than at the show. The entire processing sequence is wrapped up in ecologically responsible handling of plastics. What happens today with PE, PS, ABS or PET and CFRP, when it reaches the end of its initial service life? Experts from all over the world will find solutions to this issue at Fakuma. Recycling is in great demand. Even high-tech materials like CFRP are being recycled more and more frequently and reused for new purposes. The prevention of so-called “downcycling” by means of modern processes and recycling of materials sorted according to type is important in this respect. “The plastics industry has been becoming more and more sustainable for a number of years already”, said Fakuma Project Manager Annemarie Schur. This not only applies to the recycling of materials, but rather to energy-saving and thus more economical manufacturing processes, energy-efficient machines and
biodegradable plastics as well. And the sustainable alternatives are in no way inferior to their conventional predecessors with regard to durability, processability and weight. In addition to new “green” products, Fakuma will also present all of the components and systems which are required for conventional as well as innovative processes. Whether injection moulding, extrusion, thermoforming, foaming or 3D printing is involved – raw materials producers, machine builders and manufacturers of precision parts will present all they have to offer in the way of innovation “For many exhibitors, Fakuma is a highly practical platform for unveiling their innovations to the public for the first time”, added Schur.
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www.Fakuma-Messe.de
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K 2019 PREVIEW
K 2019 to reflect success of ‘16 There is no escaping the fact that the behemoth that is K Show returns in little more than a year, and organisers hope to meet the stellar achievements of 2016.
K
2016 was an incredible show, bringing the entire global plastics community together for seven action-packed days in Düsseldorf – and it definitely doesn’t feel like two years ago.
Like it or not, K 2019 is back and the countdown is now on with 13 months to go until we all meet again.
This tri-annual trade show has a special status among global trade shows
K 2019 organisers have not been aiming to expand on 2016 (after all, how can the show possibly get any bigger?) but it does want to meet the standards for excellence achieved at the last outing. Next year’s K show will focus on innovative materials and technologies, digitalisation and the circular economy.
The deadline for registrations is now over for the October 16th-23rd show and already organisers are anticipating the event will be the launch pad for many new technologies in plastics and rubber processing. In 2019, some 3,000 exhibitors will again flock to Düsseldorf to attend the global event and CEO of host Messe Düsseldorf Werner Dornscheidt is looking forward to welcoming the industry back again to repeat the winning atmosphere of the past show.
“One thing is already clear: K 2019 will again provide a comprehensive overview of the global market,” Dornscheidt stated. “Thanks to its unrivalled internationality, both in terms of exhibitors and visitors, and because it covers a unique product and service range, this tri-annual trade show has a special status among global trade shows and provides the perfect stage for pioneering presentations.” As the special status of K 2019 is reflected by the impressive feedback from the global industry, it also underlines this important role by addressing the most important issues that concern the industry, and plastics place in a plasticsceptic world is part of this. ‘Plastics shape the future’, a special show within the K fair, presents pioneering areas of application for polymer materials and takes a closer look at how these materials with their diverse properties are affecting modern environments. At the Science Campus, university and research organisations will present current activities and results – where research meets economy. Over the next few months, the Science Council and its sub-committees will define the key topics to be addressed by the special show and the Science Campus. They will focus on innovative materials and technologies with a substantial impact on global challenges such as water, energy and waste management, resource efficiency, digitisation and sustainable development. www.k-online.com
K 2016 Fast Facts
3,293
232,053 visitors from
exhibitors
61
countries represented 48
161 countries
71% foreign visitors
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58% European visitors
12% 25% Asian visitors
American visitors
5% ROW
EPPM Classifieds
To advertise here please contact David Roberts: T: +44 (0) 1244 952 348 E: david.roberts@rapidnews.com
FAKUMA MARKETING OPPORTUNITIES If itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the Fakuma audience you are targeting, let EPPM be your platform. We have a number of marketing devices you can take advantage of to accommodate any budget across print and online. For More Information Contact David Roberts david.roberts@rapidnews.com (+44) 1244 952 348
To advertise here, or place display adverts in print or online
T: 01827 838840 E: info@granulators.org www.granulators.org
Contact: David Roberts Tel: + 44 (0) 1244 952 348 Email: david.roberts@rapidnews.com
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Used Plastic Processing Machinery
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EUREKA SERIES
LEGO inspires next generation with sustainable alternatives New Lego elements have been made with polyethylene from sustainably sourced sugarcane. WORDS | Grace Nolan
I
n 2012, the LEGO Group first shared its ambition to find and implement sustainable alternatives to the current raw materials used to manufacture LEGO products by 2030. More than 60 billion LEGO elements were made in 2014 and finding alternatives to the materials used to make these bricks would significantly reduce the LEGO Group’s impact on the planet. Jørgen Vig Knudstorp, CEO and President of the LEGO Group, said: “Several factors influence the environmental sustainability of a material, the composition of the material, how it is sourced and what happens when the product reaches the end of its life. When we search for new materials these factors must be considered.” The Group has collaborated with companies and experts on the task in recent years and announced in 2015 the decision to significantly boost the search for sustainable materials. Continuing with existing as well as new partners with expertise in the field, new LEGO elements have now been technically developed that are identical to existing
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LEGO botanical elements, made with polyethylene from sustainably sourced sugarcane.
We aim to inspire children’s imagination and creativity, as well as an understanding of important sustainability issues
LEGO collaborated with the Natural History Museum in London for its latest building experiences, where visitors were invited to build their own creations using the new LEGO plants. Young builders were challenged to combine LEGO plant elements and bricks to build their own sustainable superhero and create a natural habitat fit for Plantus Maximus, the LEGO sustainability mascot.
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Visitors also took part in the Natural History Museum quest with Plantus Maximus, an adventure around the Museum to learn more about the natural world and how to help protect our planet. More events are planned as part of the year-long partnership which will focus on learning through play to inspire the next generation to help protect our planet. “Through the partnership with the Natural History Museum we aim to inspire children’s imagination and creativity, as well as an understanding of important sustainability issues,” said Tim Brooks, Vice President, Environmental Responsibility at the LEGO Group. Fiona McWilliams, Director of Development and Communications at the Natural History Museum, added: “We are delighted to announce our year-long partnership with the LEGO Group and we look forward to creating unique and interactive experiences which spark children’s curiosity, engage with visitors and encourage the next generation to explore the natural world through play.” www.lego.com
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Sustainable Development: A Critical Component of Our Business Plan! Ampacet offers to its customers a wide range of sustainable masterbatch solu�ons that helps to Reduce, Recycle and Re-use. Come to visit us at Fakuma, booth B1-1309, and discover Ampacet carbon black free color solu�ons, our BIORANGE of masterbatches for compostable bioplas�cs & biodegradable applica�ons, REC-O-BLACK 216 made from recycled
&
recovered
post-consumer
feedstock, Blue Edge 78 counterac�ng the “dirty” effect of recycled PET, Odor Scavenger neutralizing odors of post-consumer recycled material
and other sustainable solu�ons
helping to preserve our planet. Sustainability is dynamic, ever changing and evolving. Ampacet has been, is currently and will con�nue to be proac�ve with its sustainability solu�ons for environmental and societal concerns. For further informa�on, please contact us at: marke�ng.europe@ampacet.com