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Paper, Printing & Packaging news
NeWS
New developments in the Paper, Printing & Packaging industry
NiceLabel launches global partner programme
NiceLabel, a leading global developer of label design software and management systems, has announced the launch of its global partner programme. The programme is designed to help partners meet customer demand for the digital transformation of on-demand label printing.
The programme is driven by the evolution of the labelling software industry, characterised by an increased demand from customers for
Paul Vogt, Channel marketing Director, Nicelabel streamlined, more efficient ways of managing their labelling requirements.
The programme brings together a large community of new and existing partners worldwide in a structured, more collaborative way. Members of the programme gain access to technical and marketing support to assist sales generation and position themselves as trusted advisors to customers. “The labelling software market is maturing to the point where a partner programme is essential to bring structure, set expectations, and provide incentives and rewards,” explains Paul Vogt, Channel Marketing Director, NiceLabel.
The programme is three-tiered — Integrator, Partner and Reseller. The top two tiers, Integrators and Partners, are differentiated by their investment in technical competence. They have skills to configure, manage and deploy advanced NiceLabel-based solutions. Visit: www.nicelabel.com
Frugal Cup begins production in Wrexham
Frugalpac, manufacturers of fully disposable cups, has opened a new manufacturing facility in Wrexham, Wales. The Frugal Cup offers cafes and consumers an environmentally friendly solution to non-recyclable disposable cups.
The new factory includes 21 new production machines working on three dedicated lines. The Frugalpac facility will supply coffee shops across the UK with its easily recyclable cups.
At present, the vast majority of coffee cups are single use, and recycling plants can’t actually process those often perceived by customers as being recyclable. A report from the World Wildlife Fund and Eunomia Research & Consulting found that the UK, if the current trend continues, is on course to throw away 33% more single-use coffee cups by 2030 than it does at present. Frugal Cups will be available in three sizes - 8oz, 12oz and 16oz – in four Frugalpac-branded styles as well as offering bespoke designs. Made from recycled paperboard, with no waterproofing chemicals, the cup’s foodgrade liner separates easily during the standard recycling process. The paperboard and liner can then be recycled through separate streams which means that the cup can be disposed of in any recycling bin.
A Frugalpac statement said: “With ever increasing demand for brands and retailers to do more to support an environmentally-sustainable economy, our aim is to be the number one replacement for all the coffee cups in the market today. This is the start of the recycled coffee cup revolution, and we encourage consumers to find cafes that stock the Frugal Cup and to ask their local coffee shops to get Frugal!” Visit: www.frugalpac.com
uflex showcased its finest at indiaplast 2019
Uflex went all out at their booth at this year’s IndiaPlast, held at the IndiaExpo Centre in Greater Noida between 28 February and 4 March.
Uflex exhibited its wide range of products and solutions from all seven of its businesses.
Amongst the array of products on display from Uflex, what became the centre of interest at the booth was a Live Demonstration of the Uflex Recycling Machine at the Green Pavilion of PMMAI. The pavilion showed how Multi-layer Packaging (MLP) Waste is recycled into pellets through a fairly simple method. The subsequent process of pellets being manufactured into useful Industrial & Household Products was showcased simultaneously. Essential products manufactured from recycled pellets like benches, floor and wall tiles, ladders etc. were displayed at the booth highlighting how multi-layer plastic waste cannot only be recycled, but also re-used.
Uflex also showcased its EX LAM 400, extrusion coating and laminating machine and the Super-S-1300, a solventless laminating machine as well as introducing PETG resin, an amorphous polymer that does not crystallise thus making it an optimal replacement for transparent polymer.
The Uflex holography division also showcased a range of Customised Holographic Cartons, which combine holographic patterns to form distinct, hybrid designs for packaging. Visit: www.uflexltd.com
Tetra Pak launches connected packaging platform
Tetra Pak has launched its connected packaging platform, which will transform milk and juice cartons into information channels, data carriers and digital tools.
Driven by Industry 4.0, and with code generation, digital printing and data management at its core, the connected packaging platform will bring new benefits to food producers, retailers and shoppers.
For producers, the new platform will offer end-to-end traceability to improve the production, quality control and supply chain transparency. It will have the ability to track and trace the history or location of any product, making it possible to monitor for market performance and any potential issues.
For retailers, it increases supply chain visibility and real-time insights, enabling tracking of stock movements and monitoring delivery performance.
For shoppers, it will mean the ability to access information like the product was made, the source of ingredients and recycling information. Visit: www.tetrapak.com
INDUSTRYNEwS
Robotic flexibility without jeopardising line efficiency
ILAPAK is experiencing increasing demand for flow wrappers integrated with robotic feeding systems as bakeries push for greater flexibility from their packaging plant.
“In the past year or so, we have supplied at least ten flow wrapping lines incorporating robotic handling for products such as cakes, chocolate bars and pastries,” confirms Massimo Furlato, project engineering manager with ILAPAK.
Working with a third party robotics supplier, ILAPAK project manages these turnkey installations, taking complete responsibility for the seamless operation of the line and relieving customers of having to source individual pieces of equipment and coordinate with different suppliers.
The industry’s first IP65 rated fully modular flow wrapper, the Carrera 6000, is often at the heart of these lines. On this machine, size changeovers are executed in minutes, due to interchangeable product guides, removable stacking device and an interchangeable sealing head. It is capable of packing bakery items in various configurations, from individually wrapped goods to multi-packs. The wrapper has in-built quality control for detecting and rejecting broken products, a ‘no product no bag’ function and automatic reel splicing for continuous operation.
Speeds of up to 100 pieces per minute on multipacks and 300 per minute on individual items are within the machine’s capabilities. Visit: www.ilapak.co.uk
billerudkorsnäs & alpla join forces to pioneer paper bottles
BillerudKorsnäs and ALPLA announced the formation a joint venture in the Danish paper bottle company ecoXpac. BillerudKorsnäs has been a driving force in the ongoing development of a paper bottle, which was started by ecoXpac in 2010 and with Carlsberg Group since 2015.
ALPLA and BillerudKorsnäs share the ambition to drive packaging in a sustainable direction. The two companies intend to combine resources, competencies and strengths to support scaling ecoXpac in the commercialisation of a fully biobased, recyclable paper bottle.
In late 2016, Carlsberg Group revealed a first physical prototype of a paper bottle, the Green Fiber Bottle, and the first generation of paper bottles has since then been in a testing phase. The plan now is to continue the development to be able to launch and then scale up production. Following generations will be both fully biobased and have biodegradable barriers thereby fully realising the vision and enabling consumers all over the world to live more sustainably. It is to realise this vision the two companies come together on this journey of innovation.
“EcoXpac was founded with a strong vision for the future. That vision has never felt closer to reality than today,” says Martin Grosen Petersen, CEO of ecoXpac.
The transaction is expected to be completed by autumn 2019. Visit: www.billerudkorsnas.com
Berlin Packaging acquires French firm Verrerie Calvet
Chicago-based packaging firm Berlin Packaging has announced a deal to acquire French packaging manufacturer Verrerie Calvet, as it looks to strengthen its business in Europe.
Located in Aimargues in the south of France, Verrerie Calvet offers glass bottles and jars along with a range of metal containers, closures, and specialty boxes and bags for transporting and shipping wine and oil.
Verrerie Calvet will be integrated into Berlin’s Bruni Glass division and will be run in partnership with the Bruni Glass team in France, which has offices and warehouses at Nice.
Berlin Packaging CEO Andrew Berlin said: “Berlin Packaging has enjoyed tremendous growth in North America and Europe. Verrerie Calvet will be another avenue for us to create jobs, as we have done already around the world.”
Stéphan and Eric Calvet of Verrerie Calvet added: “We are excited to become part of the Berlin Packaging family and to embrace our new Bruni Glass colleagues. We are proud of what we have built, and we know this new partnership will bring much more opportunity.”
Berlin Packaging is a €2.3-billion supplier of rigid packaging products. Verrerie Calvet marks Berlin’s ninth acquisition since 2010 and the third in Europe since 2016. Visit: www.berlinpackaging.com
New can design boosts Ölgerðin’s sustainability credentials
Responding to the growing popularity of cans in Iceland, brewery Ölgerðin enlisted Ball Corporation, to help them design and produce cans for the iconic AVA fruit water brand.
A brand rooted in sustainability, Ölgerðin’s entire production factory is powered by sustainable energy sources with the water not needing any treatment before consumption. Iceland’s oldest beer and soft drinks producer decided to update its packaging to a new format with less environmental impact. utilising Ball’s 33-centilitre standard format, the new can design features Ball’s popular HD printing technique. Jóhannes Páll Sigurðarson, Brand manager at Ölgerðin, said: “As activists for sustainability, we are constantly looking for ways to improve our footprint and refreshing our packaging was the natural next step. By working together with Ball we’ve been able to tick this box with the introduction of a sustainable new can format, and we’ve also gained access to its experts’ valuable insight and guidance.” Visit: www.olgerdin.is
