42 minute read
Upfront
WADSWORTH, OH USA — Jerico Plastic Industries, Inc. has promoted Robert (Bo) Colbert to Technical Product Manager. He joined Jerico in October 2019 as the Senior Account Manager for the southeast Atlantic Region and was promoted to National Sales Manager later that year.
Colbert’s unique experience in both technology and sales recently led to the company creating a new position that increases its ability to monitor and meet customer needs throughout the sales and product development process. Establishing this key position reaffirms our commitment to advancing materials, redefining product innovation, and driving growth for our customers.
In his new role, Bo will oversee support from both a technical and sales aspect of business and play an integral role in advancing performance materials and new product development.
“Our customers continue to seek ways to incorporate new materials and sustainable objectives into their processes, which highlights our emphasis on evolving and adapting through product development and technology,” noted Colbert. His industry experience spans decades and aside from his roles at Jerico, he has held various manufacturing, production, and management positions in molding and plastics companies since 1992. With two manufacturing facilities, one in Minerva, Ohio, and one in Greensboro, Georgia, Jerico Plastic Industries, Inc. is committed to excellence in compounding for rotational molding. As a custom manufacturer of color compounds, specialty resins, and recycled products, the company currently offers rotational molding PP, cross-linkable PE, flame retardant PE, and special effects PE compounds, PE adhesion compounds, and non-traditional engineered sustainable compounds for rotational and injection molding.
For more information, contact Brandi Frey, Vice President of Manufacturing — 330-334-5244, info@jericoplastic.com or Stephen Copeland, President — steve@jericoplastic.com
The new isothermal container approved for the transport of dry ice by Rotogal is born. Specially designed for dry ice storage and logistics.
Isothermal container approved: What sets it apart from other approved isothermal containers are its qualities.
It has a large load capacity superior to that of any other manufacturer, in addition to allowing the transport of more than 400 kg. Its insulation values are the highest on the market.
Its design gives it all these qualities. It is the result of the collaboration of our design department with some of the best international producers. All have contributed their vision based on their needs as users. The result of all this makes this isothermal container approved for dry ice perfect.
Specially designed for the frozen products sector. Controlled temperature, cryogenic cleaning, and grape transport make it the best on the market.
Strong, resistant, and durable, made of double-walled polyethylene and injected with polyurethane foam. The approved isothermal container has elements to ease handling. Diseñado para garantizar un correcto apilado, aporta las máximas garantías en su uso. The opening of the lid is done with 2 pneumatic pistons, which allows to keep the lid open in total safety without harming the workers.
All the elements that complement the container, such as the axes for the lid or the brackets that support the pistons have been made of first quality 316 stainless steel, ensuring durability and preventing corrosion. The number of openings of this approved container is controlled with an inviolable seal. Also, this model includes the novel geolocation system, which allows the container park to be located in real time.
If you want to know more about our isothermal containers approved for dry ice transport and know all the variety of models and uses of our products, you can visit our website: www.rotogal.com. You will be able to know more specifically all the possibilities offered by our online catalog. You can choose the product that best suits your preferences. What we assure you is that durability and strength is what defines our products.
UPFRONT
Palsgaard to showcase full range of plant-based polymer additives at K 2022
Expansions in plant-based product offering, carbon-neutral production capacity and global sales network to help customers grow and reduce their carbon footprint.
JUELSMINDE,
DENMARK — Palsgaard, a world leader in plant-based emulsifiers and polymer additives for the global food, packaging, and plastics industries, will take the opportunity of K 2022 in Düsseldorf, Germany to position itself as a preferred supplier to polymer producers, masterbatch manufacturers, and compounders seeking to lower their carbon footprint and go renewable. At the world’s largest plastics trade fair in Hall 7, Level 1, Booth D20, Palsgaard will present its complete portfolio of sustainable polymer additives and offer first-hand insight in new developments.
“As the plastics industry is transforming from a linear to a circular economy, there is a fastgrowing demand for renewable alternatives to conventional fossil-based formulations,” says Ulrik Aunskjær, Global Business Director, Bio Specialty Additives at Palsgaard. “Beyond the more basic raw materials feedstock, this also applies to functional additives, where common synthetic chemistry is under increasing regulatory pressure while consumers demand more natural, safe, and healthy ingredients also in the polymers in which their products are packaged. At Palsgaard, we are addressing these issues with a full range of plant-based, food-grade polymer additives, backed by advanced customer and application support.”
In packaging plastics, Palsgaard’s Einar® additives serve as highly effective anti-fog and anti-static surfactants, dispersing aids, ageing modifiers, EPS coatings, and mould release agents. At K 2022, the company will introduce new plant-based innovations in its growing portfolio, developed and optimised at Palsgaard’s Polymer Application Centre in Denmark to help customers stay ahead of increasingly stringent regulations, such as on food-contact, without compromising performance or quality. All these products provide an excellent drop-in replacement for fossil-based additives in existing polymer formulations and have a perfect fit in new responsible packaging solutions.
Palsgaard will update K 2022 visitors on significant investments made into the future of its polymer additives business. The expansion of the company’s carbon-neutral production capacity is proceeding as scheduled. After the successful commissioning of a new emulsifier pellet line with a capacity of 10,000 tonnes in 2020, the Juelsminde site will receive a state-of-the art spray tower, which is expected to go on-stream in the fourth quarter of 2023 and add 30,000 tonnes to Palsgaard’s existing spray capacity. This will be complemented by multiple new reaction, distillation, and esterification plants, altogether doubling the company’s overall production capacity by 2024.
In addition, new sales offices in Brazil, the United States, and China will strengthen the support of customers in these regions,
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as Palsgaard is delivering on its strategy to develop long-term close partnerships and grow its global service capacities.
Visit Palsgaard at K 2022 in Düsseldorf from October 19 through 26 in Hall 7, Level 1, Booth D20 to meet the company’s product and market specialists and discuss the sustainable benefits and superior performance of the company’s plant-based polymer additives.
Palsgaard is a world leader in plant-based emulsifiers and polymer additives for the global food, packaging, and plastics industries. Since its founder Einar Viggo Schou invented the modern plant-based food emulsifier in 1917, the company has provided advanced industry know-how and innovation to an increasingly diversified customer base. From application centres around the world, Palsgaard’s experienced technologists support brand owners and manufacturers in optimising their sustainability using natural, renewable ingredients, and additives to mitigate their carbon footprint.
Palsgaard helps manufacturers grow and protect their brands by meeting consumer and regulatory demands for greater responsibility. The company is currently the world’s only commercial source of fully sustainable emulsifiers and additives based on RSPO SG-certified palm oil as well as rapeseed, sunflower, and other vegetable oils. All products are non-GMO, have full EU and FDA food contact approvals, and meet halal and kosher requirements.
The company’s food emulsifiers and emulsifier/stabiliser systems have a long history of adding to the quality and shelflife of bakery, confectionery, condiments, dairy, ice cream, and margarine products. At the same time, they can significantly improve the taste, mouthfeel, and texture while using fewer resources. Palsgaard’s plant-based polymer additives, including anti-fog and anti-static formulations for food and other packaging, build on this expertise and are rapidly emerging as highly effective and sustainable alternatives to conventional petrol-based additives.
Palsgaard, with headquarters in Juelsminde, Denmark, is owned by the Schou Foundation and has 653 employees across 17 countries. The company operates plants, sales offices, and warehouses across four continents. All their six production sites in Denmark, the Netherlands, Mexico, Brazil, China, and Malaysia are carbon neutral. In 2021, Palsgaard achieved a turnover of USD 260 million (DKK 1.7 billion) with products sold to customers worldwide in more than 120 countries.
Learn more about the company’s product and service portfolio at www.palsgaard.com/polymers.
UPFRONT
PSI Brand Expands their Sales Team in North America
NAPIER, NEW ZEALAND — PSI Brand is pleased to announce our newest sales team member, Matthew Tornow, long-time veteran of the Rotational Molding Industry. Matthew will join Toby Huff, our Regional Sales Manager, enhancing the brand experience of our customers’, assisting, and servicing with their branding needs.
Matthew’s 40 years of working history is colored with manufacturing. Starting at Whirlpool Corp. in Ohio for 15 years in multiple roles from special projects, people management, press operation, assembly line, and injection molding. After graduating from college, a move to Virginia gained a sales & marketing job with a manufacturer of large substation transformers. A realignment here re-positioned him at a different company, providing experience in retail, product movement, and customer buying habits. This further transitioned him into a broker role representing 40+ lines of products for the restaurant business.
At this point, Matthew realized a deviation from an industry he really enjoyed, manufacturing and production. This led to 12-years in the roto industry with Gala Industries, enjoying a role as the MicroPellet Applications Manager in the Process Engineering Department. This position brought focus to two main areas; 1) production of Micros, determining and development of equipment, and 2) understanding how Micros were used. After investing in both processes, Matthew acquired a STP Rotomolding shuttle machine, capturing data used to analyze the many variables of rotomolding, with which he learned what actions make a successful Micros molding. This also involved strong customer interaction, working with major material producers, compounding companies, and other molders. His goal was to show the difference of using a Micros versus powder, so often led to molding on-site and/ or at roto plants. Eventually, when Gala sold, Matthew started his own business representing companies including STP Rotomachinery Group and now PSI Brand. Please feel free to reach out to Matthew at 540 795 9113, email matthew.tornow@psibrand. com to inquire about PSI Brand’s products and services, or to ask about new applications, opportunities, or molding issues that he may help you address.
PSI Brand is a family-owned and operated company with over 40 years of experience in the Rotational Molding Industry, dedicated to improving your sales through increased brand awareness, reducing labor and inventory costs, combined with prompt supply. As ex-roto-molders, their products are designed with operator in-mind, so ease-of-application with a ‘replace or return’ guarantee means there’s little or no risk to improve your brand experience.
For more information check us out on www.psibrand.com, to contact PSI Brand direct, please call Jim Crawshaw on our freephone 1877 616-2346, or via email at jim@psibrand.com.
Air Sampling Devices Market to Witness Huge Growth by Key Players: Sensidyne, SIBATA, GL Sciences, Casella, Perkinelmer
This report provides an informative view about the competitive aspect of the global market. It includes a detailed picture of the exhibition of a portion of the essential global players working in the Air Sampling Devices market. The research study also provides historical record with profits predictions and forecasts from 2022 to 2028. Also, the business manufacturing of the notable manufacturers is emphasized with technical data in the report.
This report is a valuable resource that focuses on the challenges faced by the organizations and perspective adopted by key market players to control those threats. It covers main regions of the global market, as well as areas like North America, South America, Asia Pacific, and the rest of the society. @ https://www. reportsnreports.com/contacts/requestsample.aspx?name=5551617
The report provides a comprehensive analysis of company profiles listed below:
- Sensidyne - SKC - SIBATA - GL Sciences - AP BUCK - GASTEC CORPORATION - Zefon - AC-Sperhi - Casella - Delin - Perkinelmer
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Air Sampling Devices Market Segment by Type:
- Particulate Monitoring - Biologic Air Monitoring
Air Sampling Devices Market Segment by Application:
- Industrial Manufacturing - Health Industry - Environment Industry - Scientific Research - Others
The study report offers a comprehensive analysis of Air Sampling Devices Market size across the globe as regional and country level market size analysis, CAGR estimation of market growth during the forecast period, revenue, key drivers, competitive background, and sales analysis of the payers. Along with that, the report explains the major challenges and risks to face in the forecast period. Air Sampling Devices Market is segmented by Type, and by Application. Players, stakeholders, and other participants in the global Air Sampling Devices Market will be able to gain the upper hand as they use the report as a powerful resource.
Scope of this Report:
• This report segments the global Air Sampling Devices market comprehensively and provides the closest approximations of the revenues for the overall market and the sub-segments across different verticals and regions. • The report helps stakeholders understand the pulse of the
Air Sampling Devices market and provides them with information on key market drivers, restraints, challenges, and opportunities. • This report will help stakeholders to understand competitors better and gain more insights to better their position in their businesses. The competitive landscape section includes the competitor ecosystem, new product development, agreement, and acquisitions.
For more information call: + 1 888 391 5441 or email sales@reportsandreports.com
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The Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA) Congratulates Patricia Moore, PhD, FIDSA, for receiving the World Design Organization’s 2022 World Design Medal
Dr. Moore was inducted into IDSA’s Academy of Fellows in 2003. She has held prominent roles within the Society, including West District Vice President, and is widely considered to be a pioneer of Universal Design. IDSA is a longtime member of WDO.
MONTREAL, CANADA — World Design Organization (WDO)® announced recently that internationally renowned designer and gerontologist Dr. Patricia Moore has been named as the recipient of the 2022 World Design Medal™ for her significant contributions to the advancement of the industrial design profession.
As a pioneering figure in design, Dr. Patricia Moore is a leading authority on consumer lifespan behaviours and requirements. For a period of three years from 1979 to 1982, Moore travelled throughout the United States and Canada disguised as women of more than 80 years of age. This experience of responding to people, products, and environments as an elder enabled an empathetic approach to design that informed much of her future work, from NASA to Whirlpool.
“Patricia represents an inspiration to many, and her decadeslong career stands a testament to her commitment to accessible and inclusive design,” stated WDO President David Kusuma. “WDO is honoured to take this opportunity to recognize her leadership, creativity, and intellect that to this day continues to have a profound impact on the industrial design landscape and the designers of tomorrow.”
Following a public call for nominations, Moore was selected from among a list of nominees representing 11 countries around the world by the World Design Medal Selection Committee. The committee, composed of members of the WDO and Board of Directors and Senators, acknowledged Moore’s many years of dedicated service and her impact on the design community as a whole.
“To live life with the blessing of a creative career is a joy that defies description, but to have the support of the family that is the WDO is the greatest gift of all,” stated Patricia Moore. “I have no doubt that as we emerge from a crippling global pandemic, the WDO will provide for systematic dignity, equity, and recovery with the leadership that can only be achieved by Design.”
The official World Design Medal presentation took place on 29 June 2022 on the occasion of World Industrial Design Day, during WDO’s 24-hour virtual event let’s talk: leadership. Moore joined the programme to share her insight on the topic of design leadership as part of a 30-minute session moderated by WDO President, David Kusuma.
More information on the World Design Medal can be found by visiting https://wdo.org/programmes/world-design-medal/
IDSA Returns to In-Person Conference in September
HERNDON, VA USA — The IDSA is beyond excited to return to an in-person format for the International Design Conference 2022. International Design Conference (IDS) is a platform to advance your career and provide a fresh insight into the latest trends, conversations, and industry evolutions you need to know about.
Join us in Seattle, Washington from September 12-14, 2022, to reconnect with your community and enjoy three days of design and discourse. IDC is your space to establish new connections that amplify the bold and unique voice of industrial designers.
For more information go to www.idsa.com
UPFRONT
Tank Holding Consolidates Refuse Brands
LINCOLN, NE USA — Tank Holding, North America’s largest rotational molder, has consolidated and rebranded all the company’s refuse container brands into one brand, Snyder Refuse. This will be conveyed on all related products and marketing communications.
The consolidation brings the recently acquired brands of WRP Containers, RMI, Duracast, and RMU brands together under one brand with 7 FOB shipping points. “Snyder Refuse product offerings provide the industry with the broadest product portfolio and the largest plastic refuse container manufacturing footprint in the industry,” said Sean Barber, Director of Sales and Marketing for Tank Holding’s refuse product segment. “The consolidated brand also aligns both commercial and residential product lines into one integrated platform to more efficiently respond to customer needs nationally,” Barber continued.
The Snyder Refuse product portfolio includes Front Load, Side Load, and Rear Load commercial dumpsters ranging in size from 2 cubic yards to 8 cubic yards, receptacles, and liners. The Residential offerings include Round Cans ranging in size from 200 gallon to 450 gallon and Roll Out Carts in the 40-to-100-gallon range.
Snyder Refuse is a brand of Tank Holding, which also manufactures a wide variety of proprietary plastic products, like bulk storage tanks, intermediate bulk containers, laundry and linen carts, insulated material handling bins, food handling containers, and hoppers, as well as a broad range of custom products. Tank Holding products are marketed through a number of industry leading brands like Norwesco, Snyder Industries, Bonar Plastics, Bushman, Chem-tainer, Meese, and Stratis Pallets. The company is owned by Olympus Partners and the management team. Tank Holding currently operates over 40 manufacturing plant locations and employs over 1500 people throughout North America.
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Chevron Phillips Chemical Receives 16 Texas Chemical Council Safety Awards
Chevron Phillips Chemical announced recently it received 16 safety awards from the Texas Chemical Council (TCC) for excellence in safety and operational performance.
Seven company facilities throughout Texas received recognition. The Pasadena Plastics Complex earned TCC’s highest honor, the “Best in Texas” safety award. The Borger plant received its first Mary Kay O’Connor Process Safety Center Award, which celebrates innovations in process safety with no Tier 1 and 2 process safety events.
Elliott Johnson, senior vice president of environment, health, safety, and security said Chevron Phillips Chemical’s commitment to safe and reliable operations is vital to its success, and that earning these awards demonstrates our commitment to Our Journey to Zero EHSS strategy. “The awards reaffirm our core value of putting the safety of our employees, contractors, and the communities where we operate, first and foremost,” Johnson said.
“We are so proud of all our teams’ hard work and dedication to safety excellence,” said Bryan Canfield, senior vice president of manufacturing. “This wouldn’t be possible without the collective efforts of all of you – thank you.”
TCC’s annual award program commemorates member companies that have displayed outstanding results in their commitment to safety, caring for Texas, and their communities. Applications are anonymous and judged by a group of industry peers and community members.
“We congratulate the 2022 TCC Award winners for their remarkable efforts in safety performance,” said TCC President Hector Rivero. “They continue to transcend expectations with their operational expertise. Their achievements serve as motivation to others in the industry, and we could not be more thankful for their astounding work.”
Company awards by location:
Borger • Dr. Sam Mannan Award for Zero Process Safety Incidents • Excellence in Caring for Texas • Mary Kay O’Connor Distinguished Process Safety Award • Zero Contractor Incident • Zero Employee Incident
Cedar Bayou (Baytown) • Caring for Texas
Kingwood Research and Technology Center • Caring for Texas
Orange • Caring for Texas • Dr. Sam Mannan Award for Zero Process Safety Incidents
Pasadena Plastics Complex • Best in Texas • Dr. Sam Mannan Award for Zero Process Safety Incidents • Occupational Safety Distinguished Service • Zero Contractor Incident
Port Arthur • Caring for Texas
Sweeny, Clemens & Old Ocean Facilities • Sustained Excellence in Caring for Texas
LyondellBasell’s High Pressure LDPE Technology
ROTTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS – LyondellBasell (NYSE: LYB) recently announced that Zhejiang Petroleum & Chemical Co. Ltd. (ZPC) will license again the LyondellBasell high-pressure polyethylene technology at their facility located in Zhoushan City, Zhejiang Province, P.R. of China.
The Lupotech process technology will be used for both a 100 KTA Autoclave and a 300 kiloton per year (KTA) Tubular line. Both production trains will be producing mainly ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers (EVA). Furthermore, an additional 400 KTA Tubular line producing low-density polyethylene (LDPE) homo polymers will be built at the same site.
“We are excited that ZPC decided to grow their assets of licensed LyondellBasell polyolefin technologies with their latest award of our tubular Lupotech T and autoclave Lupotech A technology. In the near future, ZPC will produce in total more than 2,700 KTA polyolefins based on our process technology,” said Neil Nadalin, Director Global Licensing and Services at LyondellBasell. Nadalin added: “The latest additions will be dedicated to produce high value EVA and LDPE applications such as solar panel lamination and encapsulant enabling the global energy transition as well as the production of cost efficient homopolymer LDPE resins.”
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Mr. Li Shuirong, Chairman of Zhejiang Petroleum & Chemical Co. Ltd., stated: “The selection of LyondellBasell’s Lupotech process technologies represents a win-win situation for both ZPC and LyondellBasell. These technologies allow us to not only expand our production capabilities, but also further improve the excellent performance and quality of our LDPE and EVA products.”
Decades of experience in high-pressure application design makes the Lupotech process the preferred technology for EVA/ LDPE plant operators. High reliability, unmatched conversion rates, and effective process heat integration are key attributes of the Lupotech process, designed to ensure this technology’s on-going energy efficiency.
More than 14,000 KTA of LyondellBasell high pressure LDPE technology has been licensed by LyondellBasell in over 80 lines around the world.
New licensees take advantage of LyondellBasell’s in-house expertise of continuous production improvement, product development according to the latest environmental regulations, and our know-how in high pressure design, by optionally joining our Technical Service program.
In addition to the Lupotech T and Lupotech A process technology, the LyondellBasell licensing portfolio of polyolefin processes and catalysts includes:
Hostalen – Leading low-pressure slurry process for the production of high-performance multimodal high-density polyethylene (HDPE).
Spherilene – Flexible gas phase process technology for the production of linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), mediumdensity polyethylene (MDPE), and HDPE.
Spherizone – The breakthrough multi-zone circulating reactor provides a unique and innovative platform to manufacture polypropylene products with novel architecture and enhanced properties.
Spheripol – The leading polypropylene (PP) process technology with more than 30 million tons of licensed capacity. With globally recognized quality grades featuring leading monomer yield and investment costs to make it the technology of choice.
Metocene PP – Innovative add-on technology for the production of specialty polypropylene products using single-site catalyst systems.
Avant – Advanced Ziegler-Natta, including non-phthalate, chromium, and metallocene catalysts for entire range of polyolefin production.
For more information, please visit www.lyondellbasell.com or follow @LyondellBasell on LinkedIn.
Bring Your Spa Products to Life
Add sparkle and shine with Stone Effect Color Compounds!
Jerico’s complete line of aesthetic compounding materials brings a natural granite or stone look to your rotational molded products. Stone Effect specialty color compounds are designed for outdoor applications like hot tubs, lawn and garden accessories, and patio furniture. Use one of our popular Stone Effect colors or explore different color intensities using our line of Stone Effect color concentrates. Either way, we work with you to acheive your optimum color and design expectations every time!
Call or Click Today!
(330) 730-1140 | jericoplastic.com
Family-Owned and Operated Since 1997 Committed to Excellence in Rotational Molding Phone (330) 334-5244 JericoPlastic.com Fax (330) 334-9123 info@jericoplastic.com
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New at K 2022: the START-UP ZONE
Newcomers showcase innovative developments and ideas for the plastics and rubber industries.
Start-ups are young, creative, flexible, and particularly stand out with their innovative solutions. So, what better fit for K 2022, The World’s No. 1 Trade Fair for Plastics & Rubber, than to offer a dedicated presentation area to newcomers specialised in the development of innovative products and solutions revolving around plastics and rubber? And this is precisely what K 2022 will be doing with their START-UP ZONE to be found in Hall 8b of Düsseldorf Exhibition Centre at K from 19 to 26 October 2022.
At present, young companies can still apply for participation in the START-UP ZONE thereby using the unique opportunity of presenting themselves and their developments and making international business contacts with a high-calibre expert audience from all over the world at this the most important trade fair for the plastics and rubber industries.
Basic requirements for participation in the START-UP ZONE include: • Company no more than 10 years old • Headcount below 100 • Annual turnover below EUR 10m
Already registered for the START-UP ZONE are Plastship from Germany, a European marketplace for recycled plastics to promote the circular economy online and offline, HEALIX from the Netherlands, the company collects nets, ropes and other plastic waste based on synthetic fibres to recycle them into high quality circular polymers for the global production supply chain, HAGE 3D from Austria, this start-up produces large format industrial 3D printers, and the developers of ENLYZE from Germany offer companies a software solution to perform quality control already during the manufacturing of a product.
For detailed information and the application form go to: www.k-online.de/start-up-zone-enor contact Mr Benedikt Salmen, SalmenB@messe-duesseldorf.de. For more information on K 2022 go to: www.k-online.com
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Xcelerant Growth Partners and PolNac USA join forces in U.S. rotomolding market
MADISON, WI USA — Xcelerant Growth Partners, a multi-disciplined consulting firm led by long-time rotomolding industry professional, Tom Innis, and PolNac USA (Pasadena, TX), a supplier of resins and compounded materials to the global rotational molding market, have established a partnership in the promotion of PolNac USA’s product line in the U.S. market.
“Xcelerant focuses on connecting the industry supply chain to deliver turnkey solutions,” said Innis, in response to the recently forged partnership with PolNac USA, “and the ability to promote PolNac USA’s line of high-quality materials adds an invaluable component in delivering complete solutions to customers.”
Commenting on the partnership, Glenn Iken, PolNac USA’s Managing Director stated that “by adding Tom and Xcelerant to our team, we can leverage his long-standing industry relationships to expand sales and establish PolNac USA as a premier materials supplier in the U.S. rotomolding market.”
PolNac USA markets its line of rotograde materials under the Rototech brand name. All Rototech materials sold into the U.S. market are sourced, processed, packaged, and warehoused
in the U.S.
For more information, contact Tom Innis, Principal CEO – Xcelerant Growth Partners, LLC at tinnis@xcelerantgrowthpartners.com
ROTOLOAD™ powder weighing & dispensing systems
» ROTOLOAD™ is the ONLY solution to ALL of your powder resin handling needs. » ROTOLOAD™ is the ONLY comprehensive line of powder resin conveying and weighing equipment, specifically designed to meet the demands of the Rotational Molding Industry. » ROTOLOAD™ uses vacuum to load your material, hold it above your process machine, and dispense, quickly and accurately. In addition it is the ONLY solution to the question of how to reduce under and overweight parts, mess, downtime and resin loss.
Manufactured by Wittmann Battenfeld Canada Inc.: 35 Leek Crescent | Richmond Hill, ON L4B 4C2
Roelf van der Wijk
A philanthropist, mentor and teacher.
Susan Gibson, JSJ Productions, Inc.
The Greek playwright Aeschylus coined the term philanthropy in the 5th century BC. It meant “love of humanity”. Today, philanthropy means generosity in all its forms and is often defined as giving gifts of “time, talent, and treasure” to help make life better for other people.
When one seeks to promote the welfare of others, especially by the generous donation of one’s own wealth and talents, others are served, lives are changed, and futures are re-directed. By all accounts, Roelf van der Wijk was the kind of humanitarian that sought to serve humanity by opening opportunities for education and culture to those that deserve and need it most. Through the generous and giving spirit of Roelf, his wife Fenny, and their daughter Linda, lives are being changed. Through time, families and generations are being changed as well. And this is how Roelf van der Wijk will be remembered.
Well known to many in the Rotational Molding industry, Roelf van der Wijk passed away on February 4 of this year. His enormous persona and legacy will endure not only in the lives of his family and friends he so richly touched, but in the lives of hundreds of students his foundations have and will continue to serve in the future.
In 1988, Roelf van der Wijk sold Fusion Kunststoffen BV, a rotomoulding company in in Deventer, the Netherlands that he had taken over from Rubbermaid in 1981. This sale changed the financial condition of his family. Roelf and his wife Fenny decided to donate some of the profit for greater good. They chose to benefit causes in society they felt were important, in the realm of education and culture, and based on humanist principles.
When a destructive earthquake hit Gujarat (India) on 26 January 2001, Roelf reached out to his rotomoulding friends Dhanu Patell and Shivinder Singh Chawla of Reinhardt Teknik, first and foremost to see if they and their families and employees were safe, but secondly to see how he could support. The enormous loss of lives and homes spurred Roelf to donate a sum through United Way of Baroda for the reconstruction of homes in Kutch.
This first donation for reconstruction was through the United Way of Baroda (UWB), of which Shivinder was Chairman at the time. This started a discussion between Roelf, Shivinder, and Dhanu on how a more sustainable and long-term support could be implemented. Roelf always felt that education was the key that unlocked the world for him and made his accomplishments in life and in business possible. Naturally, the ideas for longterm structural support focused on education. The discussions culminated in the idea to start a program for needy and bright students in Gujarat and Rajasthan who passed out of high school with good marks, however, could not pursue a university education due to financial constraints. They agreed that this program should offer interest free loans, without collateral, for all study related expenses: educational fees, transportation, hostels, food, and everything needed to allow the student to focus on studies without tension. Fusion Study Foundation (FSF) was founded in 2004, and
after a face-to-face meeting with the board of UWB in the early summer of 2005, the program started officially at the start of that same academic year. Based on the trust and respect between the people involved and the organization, it was agreed that UWB would manage the program in India, and FSF would transfer the funds once a year and remain in the lead, as Roelf used to say, in all aspects of the project. Roelf, Fenny, former Executive Director of United Way of Baroda, Dr. Binita Verdia, and students at a Get-Together in Vadodara. The original project plans were drawn up to select 10 students per year for five years, with a provision that some of those students would possibly continue to do a master’s degree with support of the foundation and of UWB. This way the project would support 50 students in total. The organizers were hoping there would be 30 students with a bachelor’s degree and 20 with a master’s degree in the end. With this intention, the first selection was done, knowing very well that with no preparation and no publicity, the first batch of students would have to be smaller than 10. The burden that first year was on Dhanu and Shivinder to select students, and after several interviews they selected three, two boys and one girl. Arpit studied medicine, Kandarp engineering, and Vrunda went for her Bachelor’s in Pharmacy. The following year 11 students were selected, 5 who were already in university and 6 who had just passed their 12th grade standard exams. After the original project phase of 5 years was completed, the program had selected 88 students, far more than
originally envisioned. Of these 88, 77 students took the loan. Not only did FSF and UWB provide the funds, but a big part of the project was also building a community network of students. To accomplish that, the program organizes two Get-Togethers a year (at least in non-Covid times). Seeing the change in students and the impact on their lives, the partnering organizations decided to continue the project and extend it. Not only that, UWB’s board members and local organizations also decided to sponsor students through the program.
Staff of UWB and FSF have visited schools all over Gujarat to spread awareness in the most interior places of the state and have conducted the selection interviews together for many years now. The program has grown beyond anyone’s wildest dreams and is still going strong. Between the two organizations nearly 1,000 students have been sponsored or are being sponsored as of the selection of 2021, a year in which over 175 students were selected after conducting just over 250 interviews on zoom, due to Covidrestrictions.
More than 180 of the graduated students have returned the full amount of their loan, or more, and more than 196 students are in the process of paying back. Not only that, students and alumni pay back in kind too, in a strong support network, maintained on WhatsApp and through personal interactions. The program is starting to become truly revolving and will hopefully become fully self-sustaining. Roelf maintained interest and commitment to the
Monika Patel and Jaydeep Khandhediya met in 2012 at a foundation Get-Together, were married in 2017, and now have a beautiful daughter.
program and was actively discussing how it was going until the last days of his life.
Who better though to speak to what the program means than the students? The stories of Monika (2008 batch) and Jaydeep (2011 batch), Valji (2008 batch), and Jagruti (2006 batch) are just a few of many.
Monika Patel (2008 Batch of FSF), Working Partner at R.B Technologies and Partner at R.B Exim Hub & Bronze Corporation, Rajkot, Gujarat
Today’s generation knows the value of education, but just think if you were born in a country where there is no scope of financial support and family backgrounds are too poor to support your higher education financially. Secondly, when a girl is studying, people think that 10th or 12th class is enough. When her family background is not that educated, they cannot understand the importance of education. Yes, I was from this type of family. My mother, a single parent struggling to give all the happiness to me and my younger sister. I wanted to become a doctor, but due to financial crisis, I could not pursue a science stream after the 10th grade. I had to choose commerce and passed it with very good numbers. Then the bigger question, how I would be able to complete my graduation with the lack of finances? In the corner of my heart, I was very sad, but we are so thankful to God and one of my teachers showed us a ray of hope – Fusion Study Foundation (FSF) - an organization that has been helping students like me for the last 17 years in cooperation with United Way of Baroda. FSF primarily supported me financially to complete my bachelor’s and master’s degrees. FSF also supported me morally to grow in my life. The love and care from the family of all members, especially from the van der Wijk family, is a precious experience. The journey was amazing, and I am proud to be a part of this United FSF family. Such a great-hearted lady, Linda van der Wijk and her amazing parents, have and are doing such an honourable job of creating a life for many students like me. I am really inspired by the United Way FSF members, and I am willing to help needy students in the future.
Jaydeep Khandhediya (2011 Batch of FSF), Owner R.B Technologies, Partner R.B. Exim Hub, Partner Bronze Corporation, and Founding Committee KASSA
Middle class parents struggle to give a better education to their children and the struggle becomes harder when there are two or more children in the family. Parents must give equal importance to all their children’s educations. I am the one whose parents faced this situation while I was taking admission for electronics and communication engineering. I have seen my parents struggling to save money and also seen them borrowing money for education for two of us because my brother was studying in B.Tech while my admission was confirmed in B.E. After completing my first
The FSF-UWB Get -Together for students and alumni in January 2020.
Jagruti and other students at the Get-Together in January 2022.
year of engineering, I was about to drop out of college due to financial crisis in the family, but God had planned something different for me. An interest free education loan for needy, bright students from Fusion Study Foundation (FSF) in co-operation with the United Way of Baroda has worked for me as a ray of hope, not just for completing my higher studies, but by improving my family environment and motivating me to make my whole life better. I am so thankful to the visionary founders of this project, Mr. Roelf van der Wijk and his wife Fenny. Capable of affording a luxurious life, they chose simplicity instead to assist in the lives of aspiring students like me. I am truly inspired by Linda Van Der Wijk for her dedicated contribution in this wonderful project and support to each of the students of this family. Many students have completed their bachelor’s and master’s degree courses with the help of this ray of hope. Many more are still studying, and this family is growing day by day. In my view, FSF is not only about helping students for their higher education, but it is about the vision of developing a better society by providing for a better future for students and their families.
Jagruti Darji, 05 May 2022, (Medical Officer, Mumbai)
I was a girl from a lower-middle class family, living in a onebedroom kitchen raw house with my family. I didn’t know what to say when people ask me what it would be like to be when I grew up? This question mostly surprised me because how could I know what would be in the future? Was I allowed to decide? Then, I thought ‘yes, I want to be a doctor’. My only answer to everyone’s question thus became a doctor. I was good in studies. I cleared my 12th grade, and then the only question was how I would pay for my fees going forward (even if only the nominal amount)? I had two younger brothers, and I knew my parents would have to give their attention to them. I wasn’t the only one, but as they say, where there is a will, there is a way. Then out of nowhere one of our neighbors showed my father an FSF interestfree scholarship ad from the newspaper. We see these kinds of ads often, so not much attention is given. However, miraculously our hopes made us inquire about things, and it was for real. I applied, got an interview, and the task ahead was to clear the interview. I was a shy, introverted girl with zero confidence. I was average looking, and ready to be a cry baby, but I went for the interview. I didn’t know how to speak in English, except for a few sentences. I cleared the interview, and bang my story changed. I scored well in 12th grade, got admission to MBBS, and it was a complete turning point for me. The only thing I had to worry about was to study. I worked hard, and the independence gave me the confidence to give my best in everything I do. This changed my approach toward life. When you’re not the burden for your own family it is a big achievement. How miraculous life is! FSF entered in my life as a miracle because I did not stop believing
in my dreams, and FSF stood by me through my journey as a backbone. There are not enough words to explain how grateful I am to the universe for sending these beautiful people into my life. Dream big and put your all faith in them.
Valji Gadhavi, 03 May 2022, Lecturer in Polytechnic College
I am currently working as a lecturer in Government Polytechnic College – Bhuj. I was born in a farm family in the small remote village of Gujarat. I got my primary education in the government school of my village and pursued my intermediate from Jawakar Navodaya Vidyalaya. After completing my school education, I wanted to pursue mechanical engineering, but the economic situation of my family was not good. They could not pay a huge amount of my educational expenses, so I was about to give up my ambition and pursue a BSc, but suddenly Fusion Study Foundation (FSF) came into my life and all my aspirations awoke again. FSF helped me to come out from a state of dilemma and boosted my confidence. FSF took responsibility for all my educational expenses and continuously provided mentoring and encouragement throughout my academic journey. Today my life is full of happiness, and not only mine, but the lives of my siblings as well. They also pursued their career after I began earning. I owe my success to the efforts and aide provided by FSF and UWB. I extend my sincere gratitude to FSF and UWB.
The success of the program led to even more projects. In 2011 Roelf and Fenny started a second foundation, Charity Fund Rijsholt. Charity Fund Rijsholt builds upon the experience with UWB and FSF and sponsors programs in The Netherlands, Thailand, and India. All the projects are still based on the same humanist principles and the same clause of nondiscrimination and with the same focus on education, resilience, and self-reliance. Through these other projects more than 10,000 children have been given support to build a better tomorrow for themselves, their families, and their communities.
Charity Fund Rijsholt
Charity Fund Rijsholt was founded in 2011 to give children, young people and women in the Netherlands and the rest of the world a chance: a chance for self-fulfillment and development; a chance for an independent and dignified existence. Education is often the key to a better life for children and for women. Unfortunately, many women and children still do not have the opportunity to receive regular education. The reasons for this are diverse. Just to name a few, it is not promoted or because it is not available, is too expensive, and/or is not culturally accepted. www.charityfundrijsholt.com, email: info@charityfundrijsholt.com
Fusion Study Foundation
Fusion Study Foundation has been operational since 2005. The focus – now – is mainly on implementation and execution of a project in Gujarat (India) in cooperation with project partner United Way of Baroda, based in Vadodara, in the state of Gujarat in west India. Students have been selected for interest free loans since August 2005. The beneficiaries have received monetary loans for college fees, but also for stationary, books, transport and/or hostel fees where necessary and all other study related expenses, and they have received additional guidance and support when needed. To date more than 450 students have become engineers, doctors, dentists, and pharmacists, etc. www.fusionstudyfoundation.com – email: info@ fusionstudyfoundation.com
Dhanu Patel honors Roelf van der Wijk
On behalf of Shivinder, myself, our families, and Fusion Study Foundation… each one of us walks the earth with a purpose and a few of us accomplish it with rewards beyond compare. Roelf van der Wijk believed only in humanity and lived by that code.
Roelf was a mentor that lives on in the hearts of those he touched. He was a humble philanthropist, a man who could read a drawing with one eye and put the other one on a balance sheet, and in 10 seconds find the errors technically and commercially. An ability I have not seen otherwise in my life.
In 1980, Roelf bought the rotomoulding division of Rubber Maid in Holland, where he came up from the shop floor to management and started fusion Kunstoffen, a company he started with Shivinder Chawla. He also mentored Celal Beysel who in turn is a mentor to many in the rotational molding industry.
Roelf drove us to Reinhardt gmbh and commanded a meeting that led to our collaboration. Behind every success there is a mentor, a well-wisher who guides and holds our hands while we learn to run. Behind every man there is a wonderful woman, and for Roelf her name is Fenny van der Wijk. She is very compassionate, understanding, and loving.
Roelf and Fenny have given so much, and so silently, without the slightest fanfare. I am talking of the Fusion Study Foundation (FSF) in India, which is run through the offices of United Way of Baroda. FSF has received millions of rupees for the education of needy and deserving children. The operations are run by none other than their wonderful, dedicated, passionate, and warmhearted daughter Linda, who is supported by her husband Alko. This act of generosity helps people solving their problems over the long term. It’s not charity, it’s giving them a new life, giving their families a new life.
Roelf has taught all of us to move beyond the circumstances that you are born in and this he has done this by example. Today, 1,500 boys and girls are in the education program, they are provided with not just college fees but hostel, food, laptops, and other expenses. The best part is Linda will know each one by name and how they have fared in their exams, a remarkable ability which comes from her DNA. She will nurture every student through graduation, e.g., and doctorate if need be.
Roelf and Fenny made provision to educate almost another 3,000 children. We started with US $100,000. Seeing the very positive outcome, today this lovely family of well-wishers have committed approximately US $2 million. I cannot end without a phrase from Winston Churchill, which was lived by Roelf van der Wijk:
“We make a living by what we get, BUT we make a life by what we give.
Celal Beysel, Floteks, remembers Roelf van der Wijk
I was 31 years old and had decided to go into the rotomolding business when I first met Roelf van der Wijk by purely coincidence. I was in Düsseldorf at the K-Fair, where I had met Mr. Steenbruggen, the sales manager of Fusion Kunststoffen, Holland, at a raw material stand. After a short conversation, he advised me to call his boss, Mr. van der Wijk. To my astonishment, he invited me to visit his company, a 2.5 hrs. drive from Düsseldorf, to see the first rotomolding company in my life. I was allowed to stay at Fusion for 2 weeks, learning the technology of rotomolding.
Why would he do this? His explanation was simple: rotomolding is in its childhood, trying to enter the world of plastics production techniques, but has no school. Rotomolders need to teach each other for it to become a strong sector. “Of course, we do not teach to direct competition,” he said. His teaching efforts were extended to Pakistan and India, as well.
Roelf was a man of principles, with a very strong shell, hard to break to see his core. I do not think anybody in the world has seen his soft side, except for his wife and daughter, Fenny, and Linda. Only his friends know that his outer shell was brittle, so one had to be careful, not to offend him. The first time he was in Turkey to visit my company, I told him I would be at his hotel at 8.00 am. I was late by 10 minutes, because of rain and traffic. I was shocked to see him waiting for me outside the hotel, under the rain. He scorned me: If you want me to help you, you have always to be on time. Wow, what a lesson!
After a few years, he decided to sell his company to Bonar. There was a celebration evening, organized by Bonar and I was invited. Linda was studying in USA at that time. After Roelf’s speech, we heard a saxaphone from the backstage and Linda entered the scene, with tears in her eyes. This was the only time I have seen Roelf’s soft, loving, sentimental soul.
In the 39 years I have known Roelf, he was my mentor, in rotomolding. I try to follow his teachings and promote rotomolding where needed. I will miss him.
Thank you to Linda van der Wijk, Dhanu Patel, and Celal Beysel for their collaboration with this article.
