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ASSOCIATION OF ROTATIONAL MOULDERS AUSTRALASIA LTD • ARMA

ARMA President’s Report – Trudi Duncan

The mood in the room at the first Annual ARMA Conference, this year in Melbourne in September, reflected the growth and resilience of the Rotational Moulding industry these last few years. I was reminded many times over of how lucky we are as an association group to have so many ‘competitors’ in the room avidly listening, excited, and inspired to share with each other. Most memorable, the roomful of members receiving their recognition for 20 plus years of membership to ARMA and in addition, the great contribution of Graeme Hall to Rotational Moulding – a great friend, mentor, and colleague.

For most, the last few years have been filled with a full book of orders, plenty of positive outlooks, and a relatively well-oiled supply chain in the grand scheme of things. For some, emerging from the post-covid boom is a bit like a hangover after the party. Staff shortages advertised jobs taking longer to fill, skilled staff thin on the ground, gas shortages, energy price hikes, rising interest rates, the sliding Australian and New Zealand dollar, etc, all signs of a nervous economy. Despite this, as an industry, there certainly appears to have been considerable effort spent planning for “the next frontier” and time and money spent on R&D to see growth out the other side. If you have been caught short in the momentum of the last 24 months, however, it is never too late to plan for change, and even a small amount of preparation will go a long way if your markets are starting to get tight. To Michelle and the rest of the Board –Graeme, Chris, Ian, Grant, Anant, Karen, Mark, and Kate - the industry is very fortunate to have such a knowledgeable group of people working for the better of this association and our industry’s future. Your efforts do not go unnoticed. With our annual conference, continued work on the Tank Standard, submissions on the NZ Climate Commission Report, visits to members across Australia and New Zealand, In-Factory Training sessions, and a growing membership base and the working groups, good times were had, and our finances are in a healthy state with many highlights in the year to come.

It was a whirlwind start and a somewhat unusual term as President, but I feel very privileged to have been able to work with you all. Michelle’s work leaves me with great pride and a sense of confidence about the continued growth of our association and industry in this region and I look forward to connecting with you all again soon.

ARMA CEO’S Report – Michelle Rose

As I reflect on the last 12 months, it has thrown me with not only how quick the year has gone but also how busy it was. At the end of 2021, we were uncertain what the next year would bring as most of our regions were still in lockdown, but we kicked off 2022 with a bang and we were off, with unforeseen disruptions.

While the shipping and logistics delays were already underway, these were compounded by the rising costs of materials and energy, and then added in were staffing issues. Problems that were occurring not just in our part of the world but globally continue now. I am contacted several times a week by members needing staff and am helpless to assist, I have reached out to partner associations in other parts of the world to investigate sponsoring staff to find they are unwilling to ask their industries as no one wants to lose skilled staff. Some companies are now following the path of obtaining government labour agreements just so they can man their machines.

And while this is all happening, there is still growth, with a lot of clients looking to bring their products back on shore as well as movement with company ownerships and parties looking to buy both here in Australia and New Zealand.

ARMA is also going through a stage of growth with the addition of Conference Manager Karly Gniel, who successfully stepped in to manage our first Rotomould Conference in 3 years. It was also my first opportunity to stand in front of you as CEO and to spend time talking to you in person again. Both Karly and I are already planning Rotomould 2023 in Queenstown and providing the opportunity to network again.

We also welcomed our next Icon of Industry for 2022 and a

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huge congratulations to Graeme Hall for this achievement, it is most deserved. As well as this, we implemented the first of our annual Length of Membership Awards for companies that have supported ARMA for over 20 years. There were 28 honourees with the majority receiving their plaque at the conference.

It was an extremely frenzied year for me, with so much happening from webinars, to visiting factories and keeping on top of the everyday running of ARMA having just returned from a much-needed week off, it reminded me of how much we all need to take a breath, step back and reflect not only on where we have been but where we are heading.

The future direction of ARMA will soon be discussed in our strategic planning session by the ARMA Board in December and I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Board for providing the support that was needed as volunteers this year.

I would also like to recognise Graeme Hall, who will be leaving the Board next month. You have provided us with exemplary leadership, and you will be missed. A final thanks to Trudi, the outgoing ARMA President. We were both new to our positions when we stepped up to lead ARMA, and I would like to personally thank you for your guidance and support over the last 2 years.

It’s exciting times and ARMA is poised to make the most of them as we step into a new year.

ARMA Honours 2022 Icon of Industry – Graeme Hall

The Icons of Rotomoulding Award was implemented in 2016, and since then we have had 13 inductees. This year we received several nominations and the board reviews how each one meets the eligibility requirements and this year’s icon met most.

Graeme Hall of Viscount Rotational Moulding – PACT Group has made a significant invention or breakthrough along with the development of an outstanding product. He has provided a long and valuable service to the rotational moulding industry and ARMA, with a record of constructive, collaborative action within a range of government agencies and other groups.

Graeme has also dedicated his professional career to the rotational moulding industry both through an outstanding personal contribution and in helping to create growth through innovation. He has provided leadership in the industry through engagement with partners at the local, national, and international levels and left a positive legacy within the business they work for; and with ARMA.

Graeme has served within ARMA on various projects and subcommittees, served on the Board for a few years rising to President and now as Past President. He has also been heavily involved in ARMO, the global affiliation, serving on the Board as the ARMA Representative. Grant Palling from Matrix Polymers shared “Speaking as an ARMA Board member”. Graeme is the ultimate professional when it comes to representing PACT Group, ARMA, and the Rotational Moulding Industry. He is passionate about rotational moulding and about doing what’s right for ARMA members. We can always rely on Graeme’s words of wisdom and level head in a crisis. I’ve learned a lot from Graeme in my time in Rotomoulding and say congratulations on receiving this welldeserved Icon award. Thanks, mate.” Ian Gough of Gough Plastics shared “Graeme is a mountain of knowledge, with a willingness to share and improve others. Working with him on the Board, he’s proven to be a wise man, with a cool head in many different situations.” That night Ann Rowland of Ferry Industries, our 2019 inductee, congratulated Graeme by video.

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THE NORDIC ASSOCIATION OF ROTATIONAL MOULDERS • NORDIC ARM

Nordic ARM Conference 2022

2022 Nordic ARM Conference Attendees

Copenhagen airport Kastrup was the perfect venue for the 12th Nordic ARM Conference for more than 110 attendees, including 25 exhibitors. The conference room, break-out rooms, restaurant, and beer tasting were all at the hotel. The conference was well attended from the ARMO board by 5 presidents from different affiliates.

As usual, the conference had a high technical level, and the Nordic moulders contributed well. Pekka Mustonen from Uponor presented how they successfully converted their rotational moulding machines burners from using propane to using natural gas. Christoffer Haarbye from Rotostøp presented how they managed to clean their moulds without damaging the mould surface by using laser technology. Dadi Valdimarsson from Sæplast and Rotovia shared their experience by using RFID labels from PSI together with Walter Bonazzi from PSI. Lars Haugli from Pioner Boats, explained about their new set-up buildings and their latest innovations.

Workshops

The focus area for this conference was the circular economy, automatization, and innovations. Regarding circular economy

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Marek Szostak and Barbara Szostak Katia Zoppetti Wayne Wiid and Nick Moldan

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Nordic ARM Conference 2022 (continued from page 56)

Christina Busk from the Danish Plastic Federation presented their amazing work they have made for product responsibility, Brede Mordal from Replast by Quantafuel presented new marking systems for rotomoulded products to ensure that they will be recycled as rotomoulded products, Ronny Ervik from Norner gave a presentation on the most important obstacles that need to handled when using recycled materials, Dr. Carlos Barreto from Norner presented an EU project were one of the results was how they managed to make rotomouldable PP from WEE waste and Ronny Ervik also presented a project run by Nordic Plastic Recycling (NPR) were NPR is now offering a recycled material from the end of life products, where mechanical properties are near to prime.

Regarding automatization, we got insightful information on how to increase productivity without increasing labour from Oliver Wandres from Maus, Matteo Cortesi from Persico, Johan Potargent from AMS Robomould, and Frank Harleman from Hengelo. The Nordic ARM is very grateful for the intensive innovations ongoing at the machine and mould manufacturer.

Regarding Innovations professor Marek Szostak from Poznan University presented their work of biobased polyethylene composites, Julie Philippron from P-Laser presented their latest laser technology used to clean moulds without damaging the mould surface, Katia Zoppetti from DRAM presented their always-growing portfolio of accessories, Angelique Brocatus from LyondellBasell presented their new high mfr polyethylene with amazing mechanical properties, Konstantia Asteriadou from Lysis presented their new functional coatings and Magda Wolczynska and Dharana Jayawardane presented very interesting opportunities in hydrogen tanks.

The Nordic ARM workshops were very well attended. The enthusiasm and involvement were as always very good. Some of the workshops could have, if allowed, continued into the late hours.

This year the Nordic ARM invited a recognized micro-brewery to present remarkable design, excellent (tall) tales, and very good tastes. After the Nordic ARM dinner, the famous Nordic ARM quiz took place and this year’s winner was Kristoffer Fjeld Langrind from Pioner Boat. The next Nordic ARM Academy will be in January / February 2023. The new thing will be that it will be held in Norway, in Norwegian for Norwegian moulder, in Sweden in Swedish for Swedish moulders, in Denmark in Danish for Danish moulders, and in Finland in English (with translator) for the other moulders. Dadi Valdimarsson from Rotovia was elected as new board member for Nordic ARM. The next Nordic ARM Conference will take place in January / February 2024 in Reykjavik, Iceland.

Lukasz Bywalec, Ronny Ervik, and Dawid Urbanek

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BRITISH PLASTICS FEDERATION ROTATIONAL MOULDING GROUP • BPF

BPF Annual Accident Statistics Data Published

The BPF’s Annual Accident Survey helps to gather useful information to support the plastics industry in its quest for improved Health & Safety performance. This year’s report shows that the sector’s performance is improving after a challenging year in 2020. Key headlines: • 95 accident returns, representing 16051 employees • 0 fatal injuries to workers • 13 major RIDDOR accidents reported – down from 18 the previous year • Major RIDDOR accidents resulted in 484 lost days • 1164 non-RIDDOR accidents were reported, resulting in 120 days lost • 22 reportable diseases – down from 27 last year

The report not only shows the top 5 accident categories, but also the top accident categories by sector. This year’s report is available to download here – member log in required.

The Rise In COVID-19

Members will have seen in the news that COVID-19 infections in the UK are rising and have topped more than one million, with a 14% rise in people testing positive - the biggest increase since the summer. BPF have received anecdotal reports that members are seeing this increase, and many are resuming some of the safe working practices.

Combined with warnings of an early “wave of flu” these challenges are likely to put members under enormous pressure to work safely in an already difficult period for the sector.

Additionally, there seem to be anecdotal reports suggesting that covid testing is less effective at detecting new variants and resulting in false negatives, therefore increasing the transmission rate. A recent study looked at three rapid tests and found a modest decline in their sensitivity during the omicron wave versus delta. During omicron, the tests identified as few as 70% of symptomatic people infected with the virus, and only one test hit the WHO’s standard of 80% sensitivity among people with symptoms. The standard advice seems to be that despite having a negative result people should still repeat the test a few days later.

HSE no longer expects every business to consider COVID-19 in their risk assessment or to have specific measures in place, however, members are advised to monitor the HSE and Government websites and look out for BPF updates.

Association of Rotational Moulders Australasia Inc. Tel: +61 (0) 7 3812 1450 www.rotationalmoulding.com CEO: Michelle Rose Cheif Executive Officer: Michelle Rose michellerose@rotationalmoulding.com

Association of Rotational Moulding (Central Europe) e.V. (ARM-CE) MAUS GmbH - Rotationsgießformen Am Viehweg 9 - D-76229 Karlsruhe Amtsgericht Mannheim, HRB 103433 Tel.: +49 (0) 7 21 / 9 48 74 12 Fax: +49 (0) 7 21 / 9 48 74 44 Mr. Oliver Wandres, ARM-CE Chairman info@rotational-moulding.de www.rotational-moulding.de Association of Rotational Moulders Southern Africa PO Box 6966 Birchleigh 1621 Gauteng, South Africa Tel: +27 82 772 3769 Fax +27 12 541 1738 Chairman: Grant Heroldt info@armsa.co.za www.armsa.co.za

British Plastics Federation Rotational Moulding Group 6 Bath Place Rivington Street London EC2A 3JE United Kingdom Tel: 020 7457 5000 Fax: 020 7457 5045 Chairman: Mr. Philip Maddox PhilipM@LeafieldEnv.com IT-RO Italia Rotazionale Katia Zoppetti Via E. Brigatti 12 20152 Milano (MI) Italy Tel: +039 348 7652560 www.it-ro.it

The Nordic Association of Rotational Moulders Executive Board Chairman: Mr. Ronny Ervik ul. Zielona 8, 61-851 Poznan, Poland Tel: +48 607-126-004 Fax: +48 61-858-8611 info@rotomoulding-europe.org www.nordicarm.org Society of Asian Rotomoulders (StAR) 40/145, Ground Floor, Chittaranjan Park New Delhi 110019 Tel: + 91-11-41630157 Fax: +91-11-41634952 Mob: + 91- 9810305356 sb.zaman@staraisa.org arnacz@satyam.net.in www.starasia.org