TecnA Plastics & Rubber - March 2020

Plastics & Rubber

International Magazine for the global Plastics & Rubber Industry TecnA Plastics & Rubber N.2 - Marzo 2020 Poste Italiane SpA - Spedizione in Abbonamento Postale D.L. 353/2003 (conv. in L. 27/02/2004 n. 46) art. 1 comma 1 NE/TV

www.tecnaplastics.com

contents

Plastics & Rubber

6 The plastic industry is opening up the doors to robots

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18

New offset line for pail decoration

Positive participation trend

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Dense phase pneumatic conveying systems

40 Premium technologies for top performances

46

Looking to the future with confidence

62 TecnA Plastics & Rubber Issue 2 - March 2020 Year II

Plastics & Rubber

Publisher Fabiana Da Cortà Fumei Editorial Staff Sabrina Fattoretto Design Claudia Bosco Collaborators Anita Pozzi Elena Abbondanza Franco Giordano International Magazine for the global Plastics & Rubber Industry

Printing L’Artegrafica Srl

Direzione e Redazione Editrice EDF Trend srl Corso del Popolo, 42 31100 Treviso – Italy Tel. +39 0422 549305 Fax +39 0422 591736 redazione@tecnaplastics.com www.tecnaplastics.com N° iscrizione ROC (Registro degli Operatori di Comunicazione): 22054 In questo numero la pubblicità non supera il 45% Poste Italiane SpA - Spedizione in Abbonamento Postale - D.L. 353/2003 (conv. in L. 27/02/2004 n. 46) art. 1 comma 1 NE/TV

TecnA Plastics & Rubber N.2 - Marzo 2020 Poste Italiane SpA - Spedizione in Abbonamento Postale D.L. 353/2003 (conv. in L. 27/02/2004 n. 46) art. 1 comma 1 NE/TV

The plastics industry jumps into action

Publisher Editrice EDF Trend srl Corso del Popolo, 42 31100 Treviso – Italy All right reserved.

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ANIMAL FEED TECHNOLOGY

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WORLD OF PLASTICS & RUBBER

The plastic industry is opening up the doors to robots

ABB meets all the requirements of industrial companies, with models that can handle a wide spectrum of tasks across the entire production cycle ith a broad range of 6-axis robots, ABB meets all the requirements of industrial companies, with models that can handle a wide spectrum of tasks across the entire production cycle, offering full flexibility.

Specifically in the plastic industry, ABB expertise ranges from simple one-robot installations for plastic resin processing to complex automation plants for large factories producing advanced composite materials.

All industries, from automotive to packaging, from life science to electronics, can find an effective solution with 6-axis robotic automation, thanks to the breadth and depth of ABB Robotics’ offer and skills.

“ABB’s market approach is focused on products and most of all solutions,” explains Alberto Vimercati, Sales

W

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Manager, Robotics & Discrete Automation, General Industry, “developed in collaboration both with end customers and with OEMs. Robots are general-purpose machines in principle, but ABB offers robotic solutions or “packages” specifically designed for the plastic industry, covering all segments and applications: automotive components, eyewear, chairs, design complements, cutlery, soundproofing panels, earthquake emergency shelters and so on. Every process can be automated with robots and for each process ABB offers suitable robot sizes and models.”

Successful collaboration: from industrial robots to cobots Collaborative robots are entering the plastic industry in great style, taking up the production of an extensive range of plastic parts, eyewear, fittings and many small items that require machine tending, handling and assembling operations. From single-arm YuMi to small articulated robots such as IRB 1100 and IRB 1200, all sixaxis models are carving out a market niche, up to 4-axis Scara robots for gasketing, including ceiling-mounted versions.

Like any other sector, the plastic industry can rely on ABB’s portfolio of advance and digital services. The Connected Services suite, an integral part of the ABB Ability platform, allows to connect robots to a server, in wireless or wired mode, to access a wide range of services options, predictive and proactive maintenance, program backup and restore, analysis and optimization

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of single robots or entire fleets. With Remote Service, ABB experts can provide remote support, directly connecting to the work cell and interacting with the digital twin in full safety conditions.

Offline programming Offline programming (OLP) is currently the best tool to maximize the ROI of robotic systems. RobotStudio, ABB’s simulation and offline programming software, allows to program all robots from a PC in the office without stopping production. RobotStudio is based on ABB VirtualController, an identical copy of the software that controls the

operation of robots in production. In this way, highly realistic simulations can be made, using real programs and configuration files, identical to the plant floor.

The robot becomes a 3D printer The latest frontier of robot applications in the plastic industry is additive manufacturing (AM), or 3D printing. ABB offers a 3DPrinting feature included in the RobotStudio Power Pac package, with toolpath management capabilities designed for companies that extrude all types of materials, mainly plastic, resin, polyester and rubber. From the workpiece CAD model, the software extrapolates the slices and generates the toolpaths for layer deposition by the robot. The XYZ points of each slice are translated into six-coordinate points for robots by a post-processor specifically developed for 3D printing. The solution can simulate material deposition rates, check the reachability of all points and manage additional external axes, for instance rotary tables or traversing guides.

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EXHIBITIONS

Resource efficiency and sustainability are driving Fakuma 2020 Roughly 2000 exhibitors will provide a comprehensive overview of all plastics technologies at the 27th Fakuma international trade fair for plastics processing

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rade visitors will receive up-to-date information on processes, technologies and tooling covering all aspects of plastics processing...from injection moulding, in which Fakuma holds an internationally leading position, right on up to extrusion technology, thermoforming and 3D printing.

Everybody who’s anybody in the field of industrial plastics processing will meet at Fakuma 2020 in Friedrichshafen. The trade fair will occupy all available hall space in the modern exhibition centre on Lake Constance. 1933 exhibitors from 40 countries and nearly 48,000 expert visitors from 126 nations came to Lake Constance in 2018. Trade fair promoters P. E. Schall GmbH & Co. KG have announced that the world’s leading technical event for injection moulding will be even more international in 2020.

Digital transformation as tangible reality...

As an industry and technology barometer for injection moulding, Fakuma is the first port of call where innovations covering all aspects of materials, machines,

peripherals, processes and simulation are concerned.

Visitors are provided with a comprehensive overview of all plastics technologies: injection moulding, extrusion technology, thermoforming and 3D printing. As a working event for established practitioners, Fakuma is consistently aligned to the process sequence in the field of plastics processing. Exhibitors and expert visitors are able to discuss concrete new projects directly with each other on an equal footing. Digitalisation, networking, extended process integration and system solutions for equipment and peripherals have long since arrived at the plastics processing machines as well, and will continue to drive the industry: to

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EXHIBITIONS

Fakuma Messe Press Office

2018, and this will be amongst the most important issues at the event in 2020 and will be dealt with intensively.

Objective clarification, closed-loop systems, global action Due to the fact that the plastics industry has a serious reputation problem, factual clarification and a differentiated discussion are much needed.

For example, plastic plays an important role as a packaging material for soft drinks and mineral water, which are the most relevant beverages for PET bottles on the German market: the one-way deposit has a positive effect, resource recycling is a nearly closed loop and PET bottles don’t contain any plasticisers.

Due to its comparatively minimal weight, plastic packaging has a better ecological balance sheet in Germany than glass bottles. Sustainability necessitates the use of more and more plastic.

It will only be possible to master the waste problem at the global level by means of higher recycling rates and improved efficiency in waste management. Closedloop systems will be required in all areas. Everyone involved in the value creation chain – including final consumers – must work together and live up to the challenge. Mutual work on all of the decisive steps within the loop is required – including production, product use and disposal. In this respect, Fakuma 2020 will be a highly interesting and indispensable platform which provides information concerning technology trends for environmentally compatible production, the use of recyclates and more efficient injection moulding processes. The event will take place in Friedrichshafen from the 13th through the 17th of October, 2020. www.Fakuma-Messe.de an ever greater extent, numerous options which up until recently were still in the planning stages, or only existed as visions or in theory under the heading of digital transformation, will be implemented and rendered tangible as factual reality at Fakuma 2020. ...Being transformed into reality as well: efficiency, sustainability, environmental protection Environment, sustainability, resource efficiency and recycling management will also be important issues in addition to digitalisation, which are driving industry as well. The current climate debate, extremely problematic plastic waste situations and the generally poor image of plastics at the moment are promoting the need to implement economical and gentle production processes and, above all, to implement effective, broad-ranging recycling management. The fact that circular economy has also arrived where the production of plastics processing machines is concerned was already demonstrated at Fakuma

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EXHIBITIONS

The most varied raw material solutions and technologies for the plastics industry can be found at Interplast 2020, from August 11 to 14, in Joinville

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he global manufacturer of specialty chemicals and advanced materials, Arkema, brings its diverse product portfolio to Interplast. The company supplies its products to recognized global brands in three broad lines: high performance materials, industry specialties and coating solutions.

Arkema has 20,000 employees and is present in 55 countries. In Brazil there are 400 employees, distributed in five production units, three laboratories, 11 distribution centers and three commercial subsidiaries. The main customers are concentrated in the civil construction, plastics industry, coatings, paints, refrigeration, packaging, oil and gas, automotive and transportation.

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Baerlocher is a leading global supplier of additives to the PVC industry and is a leader in the transition from conventional Ca/Zn based stabilizer. The company also offers additives for the plasticizers market to improve the quality of products such as floors and coatings, and products from the automotive industry. Baerlocher is located in Americana, São Paulo, where it produces stabilizers, lubricants and other additives for PVC. Provides solutions for the pipe and fitting markets, door and window profiles, electric linings, wires and cables, accessories for the automotive industry, footwear, toys, household goods, construction, paints, coatings, packaging, among others.

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Chemson is a company based in Austria and one of the leading global manufacturers of additives and polymers for the plastics industry.

Products include additives and auxiliaries that meet the needs of a wide range of end products. The company currently has operations in Austria, Germany, Great Britain, Brazil, China, USA and Australia, and has an extensive global service network.

Chemson understands that additives and auxiliaries have a great influence on PVC processing and confer the typical properties to the final product material. The company develops different combinations with its clients, resulting in differentiated properties, from thin lines to ultra-resistant PVC materials. It has professionals who participate in the development of its customers’ products, contributing with the excellence of the final result, meeting the expectations and needs of the market.

Fabrício Petroquímica is located in Triunfo, in the Rio Grande do Sul petrochemical complex.

Produces and markets processed and recycled petrochemical products, and provides services to the petrochemical and plastic processing industry. Develops raw material for injection, blow, extrusion and rotational molding lines. It has the latest laboratory and equipment to perform mechanical and physicochemical tests. It also offers its own fleet and trained professionals for the safe transportation of developed materials.

Japanese Sun Ace is recognized as one of the global leaders in the production of PVC stabilizers and metal stearates. Provides solutions for different markets such as food, personal care, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, plastics and rubbers and cement. The company has a policy of continually investing in product innovation to enhance the solutions offered to the market.

Sun Ace’s Brazilian unit is located in Sumaré, interior of São Paulo, where it serves the entire Brazilian and South American markets.

Organized by Messe Brasil, Interplast is a SIMPESC realization, with support from entities such as ABIPLAST, ABIMAQ and ABINFER.

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Interplast Press Office

Different raw material solutions can be checked at Interplast

WORLD OF PLASTICS & RUBBER

Automa by Magic, almost 50 years in extrusion blow moulding Automa offers excellent service, improved components and implemented solutions to meet any blow moulding requirement

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utoma.

Who does not recognize this name? Who has never heard of it or has never met it at a trade

fair?

Almost 50 years of history in Extrusion Blow Moulding; over 3500 produced machines, most of them still in operation.

Well, Automa is back.

After the period of time that led to its liquidation, it has returned.

Thanks to the foresight of Ferruccio Giacobbe (Magic MP) who avoided the prestigious Italian brand ending up in foreign hands, here it is again, on the scene of the Extrusion Blow Moulding industry.

Automa by Magic has been established in October 2018, thanks to a concerted action by some professionals of the sector and Magic MP itself. It continues to provide for and support Automa customers, and others, with spare parts, technical service, new PLC systems with its own software, UNIKOÂŽ, which vertically fits into any Extrusion Blow Moulding machine, both continuous and accumulation ones.

Not restricted to the above, Automa by Magic is also born to build new hydraulic machines, based on Automa and Magic

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projects, revisited in a modern way, with improved components and implemented solutions.

The equipment range includes the traditional shuttle machines, single and double station, and models with accumulator heads for the automotive and technical products industries.

For those customers who are strongly faithful to a technical tradition which makes them independent; for those destinations where the stability of the

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electricity line can be an enemy of all new full electric technologies; for these and other cases, the demand for hydraulic solutions is still active.

Automa by Magic, in its new building in Imola (Bologna, Italy), manufactures new EBM machines using a network of highly qualified and experienced suppliers. The machines are manufactured, tested and then sent to their destinations where skilled technicians carry out the commissionings.

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Also existing machines complete overhaulings are carried out inhouse. Automa By Magic technical department intervenes to plan and develop all necessary conversions and updates agreed with endusers. Special attention is dedicated to all those technical improvements aimed to extend machines life and increase the active and passive safety, in case it is not sufficiently adequated or totally

absent. This, besides the equipment modernization, increases machines efficiency, production and operators safety.

Automa by Magic has an automated storage/retrieval system with various types of spare parts for Automa and Blow Star machines.

All spare parts are produced according to original drawings, adopting the same technologies and materials as in the past and

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when possible upgrading them with last generation components and long lasting solutions. Many parts are technically updated to improve their performances and are produced with CNC machines, to obtain perfectly and easily interchangeable items, even years later. This guarantees the duration and quality of the spare part itself.

Each customer will find in Automa

by Magic a partner for any need he might have.

Spare parts, optionals, new molds, accessories and/or special solutions will be controlled and integrated in any existing machine, making it as new.

Automa by Magic provides customers with more than thirty years of experience in the field as its staff is made up of technicians and experts who have gained their valuable experience with Automa and other manufacturers, allowing Automa by Magic to assist customers in general on various brands in the Extrusion Blow Moulding market.

The partnership of two brands that have technically and technologically influenced the Extrusion Blow Moulding worldwide market, are joined today in Automa

by Magic. All this can only be a new and great benefit for the market and for customers who still have their machines running and can continue to use them for many more years to come.

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New offset line for pail decoration Italian company MOSS is going to install a new plastic pail decorating line at a prominent manufacturer of plastic packaging of Central Asia

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he Italian company MOSS srl, based in Reggio Emilia and with more than 50 years of experience in the printing machines industry, is going to install a new plastic pail decorating line at a prominent manufacturer of plastic packaging of Central Asia.

This new line consists of two equipment, also available as stand-alone production units, already in MOSS range for long time: the first machine is the renowned 6-color offset printer MO 4013 that, for this occasion, is directly linked to the MP8 LAC lacquering machine.

The whole line is fully automated through a feeding/ denesting system and a stacker with piece counting and collecting table, respectively positioned at the start and at the end of the line. Besides, pails are gently transferred from printer to lacquering machine by means of an automatic manipulator.

Thanks to its high flexibility, this printing line allows for an effective and efficient processing of pails in up to 20-liter capacity with 20 units per minute throughput, that can reach the remarkable figure of about 35 units in case of 5-liter items. Pails with plastic and metal handles are easily decorated thanks to a specific system exclusively designed to the purpose.

The special “from-stack-to-stack” arrangement makes the work of the operators much easier; on top of that, the special configuration frees up resources and it enables to increase the overall productivity of the line.

Ink and lacquer curing take place through on-mandrel UV systems, respectively installed on the offset printer and on the lacquering machine.

The dry-offset printing technology translates into low ink consumption, flexibility, high printing accuracy and reliable print reproduction, thus making this decorating line an option to, or a complement of, other decorating systems like the In-Mould Labelling (IML) or Heat Transfer (HT), the latter already present in MOSS range for over a

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decade and particularly suitable for responding to small batch production.

MOSS has been able to install this printing line into 4.0 smart factories for several years now, thanks to the technology residing within all their equipment, combining cutting-edge engineering and ease of use.

A B&R PC/PLC manages the whole line through a simple, intuitive and multilingual touchscreen HMI. Remote control makes it possible for the machine to interact with the factory IT system to allow for data collection and analytics, including production statistics and energy consumption. It is even possible to load scheduled productions from one’s office computer or from any place where Internet access is available. A WiFi industrial-grade tablet is an added benefit that allows the operator a smoother control of the equipment.

The control system of the described printing line, like the entire post-2010 MOSS production, allows for remote diagnostic by MOSS programmers to implement new software releases, troubleshooting (even video callaided) and apply system modifications.

In addition to this, production and performance reports can be accessed worldwide by means of an internationally-recognized protocol and a dedicated smartphone APP – now available for iOS and Android – allows for real-time monitoring of all MOSS machines.

This fully automated line is a point of pride for MOSS, the only Italian company to produce and supply dryoffset printing systems for pails to world-leading plastic packaging manufacturers for more than 30 years.

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EXHIBITIONS

Plast 2021: positive participation trend About 550 companies have confirmed their presence within the first enrolment deadline, 10 February, for PLAST 2021 international exhibition for the plastics and rubber industries which will take place in Milan from 4 to 7 May 2021

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up “The Innovation Alliance”, namely IPACK-IMA, MEAT-TECH, PRINT4ALL and INTRALOGISTICA ITALIA – it will constitute the major European show dedicated to the capital machinery industry, taking up all the halls in the FieraMilano fairgrounds. In this context, the Secretariats of the five shows are defining an agreement in order to create an event of international relevance during the show, in cooperation with one of the most renowned global organizations in the area of the circular economy.

The event will see the participation of top managers from multinational companies who will be able to contribute their experiences on the theme of sustainability, above all in the plastics sector. This conference will provide an opportunity to highlight the sector’s commitment – something that has been visible for

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some time now – to the introduction of circular and sustainable materials, technology and manufacturing processes, in order to encourage energy saving and environmental protection. In addition, the show and its programme of collateral events will include other occasions dedicated to the in-depth exploration of specific application areas, such as automotive, building, medical products, agriculture and so forth. As we have now become accustomed, PLAST will host three satellite shows, focusing on three sectors of excellence in the field, with the respective start-ups: RUBBER(at its fourth edition, dedicated to the world of elastomers, in collaboration with Assogomma), 3D PLAST(at its third edition, highlighting additive manufacturing and related technology) and PLAST-MAT (at its

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A Più srl - PLAST 2021 Press Office

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n analysis of the figures relating solely to direct exhibitors who have registered to date – just under 400 – shows an improvement when compared to three years ago, with an increase, though only slight, in the total exhibition area booked (+1.5%).

This is an encouraging result, above all considering the current situation hallmarked by international tension and concern affecting trade, investments, and the planning of promotional activities, on the part of all companies, including those operating in the plastics and rubber sector. Companies can still register for PLAST 2021 up until the second and final deadline, 10 May 2020, benefiting from a 10% discount on the participation fees and priority assignment in the respective exhibition halls. The list of participating companies is constantly updated on the website plastonline.org. PLAST will be the most important event in Europe for 2021 in the plastics and rubber sector, and – together with the collateral exhibitions that make

EXHIBITIONS

second edition, presenting solutions in innovative plastic materials). In the meantime, the organizational Secretariat of PLAST 2021 is continuing its intense promotional campaign: after its attendance at many trade fairs in January – from Saudi Arabia to India and Russia – it will also be present, over the coming months, at PLAST ALGER, PLASTPRINTPACK NIGERIA, PLASTPOL, EQUIPLAST, PLASTPRINTPACK ETHIOPIA, ARGENPLAS, FIP. Below we provide some key figures for the past edition

of PLAST, which took place from 29 May to 1 June 2018 in Milan: •total fair area: 55,000 m² net •exhibition sectors represented: 75% machinery, 20% materials and products, 5% services •total exhibitors: 1,510 from 55 countries (57% Italian, 43% foreign; 1,049 direct and 461 via representatives) •satellite fairs: RUBBER (rubber industry), 3D PLAST (3D printing and related technologies), PlastMat (innovative materials) •visitors: 63,000 (27.5% from outside of Italy) representing 117 countries.

PLAST 2021 again joins with The Innovation Alliance. After the great success in 2018, the five international tradeshows (IPACKIMA, MEAT-TECH, PLAST, PRINT4ALL, and INTRALOGISTICA ITALIA) will offer to professionals from all industrial sectors a showcase of technological excellence from different manufacturing worlds in Italy and abroad, brought together as way to put a strong focus on the entire supply chain. An offer that will show the best solutions for the manufacturing industry, different applications ranging from the engineering of rubber and plastic to their recovery and recycling, also in view of always more sustainable and circular industrial processes, to food processing technologies, from food and nonfood packaging to custom graphic printing and labelling, right down to the material handling and the warehousing.

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Innovation and sustainability in the circular economy SMI’s latest developments and the considerable and continuous investments in Research & Development have led to the launch of compact, ergonomic, and eco-friendly machines

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y manufacturing machines with an innovative design equipped with IoT technology, SMI provides customers from all over the world with smart solutions, capable of satisfying their needs in terms of production efficiency, operational flexibility, energy saving and ease of use and monitoring of bottling and packaging lines.

The latest developments and the considerable and continuous investments in Research & Development have led to the launch of compact, ergonomic, ecofriendly machines, such as the ECOBLOC® ERGON integrated systems for the stretch-blow moulding, filling and capping of rPET containers recently installed at Danone Group’s Societé des Eaux de Volvic plant.

When we talk about purity and quality, it is the accurate work carried out by the bottling company Societé des Eaux de Volvic that comes to mind. The whole bottling

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process undergoes careful controls to satisfy the high levels of quality required by the French company and its owner Danone, a goal that is achieved by protecting the water source and safeguarding the natural environment all along the distribution chain, till the moment the bottled product is consumed. All of this is taken care of in minute detail, involving partners and suppliers, as with the recent investment for the purchase of a new bottling line, for 8L containers in 100% recycled plastic (rPET), which involved SMI for the supply of an integrated system ECOBLOC® ERGON. The project is the result of a strong synergy between Volvic-Danone and SMI; both companies shared goals and expertise from the design phase to the installation works, with every choice rotating around the necessity to get higher than average bottle performance and quality, safeguarding the final product, eco-friendliness and operational efficiency of the whole production process.

From the source to the table: the quality is always under control Sustainable development, respect for the environment and product quality and purity are the fundamental elements at Société des Eaux de Volvic SA, company, which has been part of the French Danone food and beverage group (water dept.) since 1992. The natural purity and unequalled quality of Volvic water begins by carefully protecting the source and accurately monitoring the natural environment from where this precious liquid flows. The water is conducted through stainless steel pipes from the source to the bottling plant, without any external contact; therefore, from the depth of the volcanic stratum it reaches the protected environment of the inside of a sterile bottle. To protect the liquid from any external contamination, Volvic

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WORLD OF PLASTICS & RUBBER bottling plant was designed according to advanced automation and security criteria, fully satisfied by the ECOBLOC® ERGON integrated system supplied by SMI to the French company. The bottle has the fundamental role of maintaining the purity of the spring water and preserving the quality until the product is consumed; for this reason, the bottles blown, filled and capped by the ECOBLOC® ERGON system need to go through a long series of controls within the bottling line and every day undergo accurate tests carried out by Volvic Quality Laboratory.

100% rPET bottles Volvic natural, mineral water arrives at the consumers’ table as pure as when it flows from the source and is not treated in any way that can alter the taste; for this reason the container plays a vital role towards maintaining the purity of the water, from the source to when it is consumed. The most widely used material for bottling water is PET (polyethylene terephthalate), an unbreakable, plastic material that is lightweight and 100% recyclable. Volvic’s high regard of environmental issues led the French company to develop modern solutions for the recycling of PET, so that a new bottle can be produced from an old one. Volvic was one of the first companies to use recycled plastic (rPET) to produce containers and caps, slowly increasing the percentage of rPET, until it hit 100% with the new 8 litre bottle. The 8L container with a square base, in the same style as the smaller Volvic bottles, was studied by a designer at Danone to create an extremely practical, home use, container-dispenser. Its shape, part of which is slightly tilted, ensures that the bottle can be easily positioned on a flat surface and, thanks to the special cap which is used as a tap, the supply of the product is convenient and easy. The new design of the maxi container was accurately reproduced by SMI, to create the moulds that are installed on the ECOBLOC® ERGON HC EV integrated system and which allow it to manufacture a harmonious bottle with a clean design, that perfectly mirrors the purity of the water that it contains.

Eco-packaging and eco-formats are concepts that have always been a part of Volvic. Between 2008 and 2012 the French company reduced the quantity of plastics used in its bottles around the world by 6,5% and since 2008 it has reduced the carbon footprint (total emission of greenhouse gases) of the packaging by 40%.

Recognisable by the green cap, Volvic 0.5 L and 1.5 L bottles were the first in France to be produced with a type of plastics that is 20% of vegetable origin, favouring the use of renewable materials. Furthermore, as large capacity formats use less plastics, Volvic has always tried to promote them and produce ecological formats, like the 8L bottle, bottled by the ECOBLOC® ERGON HC EV recently supplied by SMI. SMI solutions for Société des Eaux de Volvic SA To satisfy market request for bottled water, in 100% recycled PET (rPET) containers, the French company invested in the purchase of machinery from the ECOBLOC® ERGON HC EV range, supplied by SMI, the ideal solution to produce, fill and cap square based 8L containers in rPET, with a production capacity of up to 3,200 bottles/hour. The new investment was studied in detail, creating strong teamwork between the experts at Volvic and Danone and the designers at SMI. The complete production process was designed so that every step of the bottling is kept under constant control; indeed, it is here that the water coming from the deep underground comes into contact with the external environment and is at a greater risk of contamination which would compromise the sensory, chemical, physical and microbiological properties. The Société des Eaux de Volvic SA, also, pays particular attention to everything that concerns sustainable development,

environmental respect, product quality and purity; for this reason the whole bottling, packaging and distribution process was designed around these values and the machine supplied by SMI was integrated with sophisticate inspection systems, which, starting with the preforms, carry out a long series of checks to maintain the quality and purity of the spring water.

Main advantages of the integrated system: • compact, flexible solution for stretch-blowing, filling and capping bottles in PET, with the advantage, in terms of reducing production costs, as the system does not need a rinser, nor conveyors between the blower and the filler or accumulation • isolating system between the “dry” area of the blower and the “wet” one of the filler, through a jet of high pressured, sterile air in excess of 5Pa, which guarantees a clean, hygienic filling system • application of various accessories to guarantee that the filling system is extremely clean and easy to sanitise with advanced cleaning systems • innovative preform suction system, situated on the oven infeed star, to remove any tiny impurities that could be on the inside of the preform itself. The air that is inserted into the suction system is filtered, and it is part of the air recovery system that comes as standard on all the range of SMI stretch-blow moulders.

• machine integrated with sophisticated inspection systems with cameras to guarantee the quality of the bottled water, monitor the production process and avoid particles and/or impurities being deposited on the inside of the unblown preforms • the preforms are blown with sterile air in a sterile environment; this sterility is maintained for all the process of filling and capping • precise and fast operation, thanks to the electronic, operation control, to motorised stretch rods and the use of high efficiency valves with flow-meters • reduced energy consumption: the stretch-blow module is equipped with a double stage air recovery system, which allows the reduction of energy costs tied to the production of high pressure compressed air • high energy efficiency, thanks to IR lamps fitted onto the preform heating module • base of the filler area is made in stainless steel 316 and slightly sloped to ensure that any spilt liquids go down the drains • electronic capping unit equipped with cap-orienting system during application, which controls correct

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positioning of caps, and a rejection system for overturned caps • cap sterilisation through jets of ionised air on the cap channel • washable cap accumulation table, in stainless steel, equipped with an optional system to suction the caps to remove any impurities that might have deposited on them while moving along the hopper • reduced maintenance and running costs of the machine The second life of packaging in a circular economy Designed especially to give families the possibility to enjoy the uniquely, precious, Volvic mineral water, in a way that respects the environment, the new 8L eco-bottle was created in 100% recycled plastic (rPET) and is 100% recyclable! It is the first totally recyclable container launched on the market, thanks to the use of caps and labels that are also 100% recycled. For Danone the future of plastic bottles in the beverage industry will move towards rPET and therefore it is betting on this material. In fact, the water division of the French multinational is a great user of plastic bottles for its products under the Evian, Volvic, Badoit and

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Salvetat brands, and it is already thinking about bottling them in rPET made from 100% recycled plastics. The bottle created by the ECOBLOC® ERGON HC EV, supplied

by SMI, will be the first 100% rPET water container on sale in France, seeing that 8L containers have already captured 10% of brand value sales, and with an important growth of 13,1% in 2018, the success of the new totally, recyclable format is guaranteed. Creating an 8L PET container in 100% rPET is the result of joint work between the specialists at Danone and at SMI. SMI provided the French technicians with one of their own stretch-blowers, so that they could carry out a series of blowing tests while accurately testing the preforms and bottles; these tests allowed them to regulate the “top load” resistance and the material distribution, a step at a time, developing a specially made preform with a specific shape. The biggest challenge, when using recycled preforms, is to guarantee the constant resistance of the bottle when it is being blown, this operation is very difficult with preforms made from recycled material.

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Developing leading-edge technology Established in 1992, Delia has specialized in production and planning of manipulators and robots for machinery for moulding rubber items

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elia srl was established in 1992 and has specialized in the production and planning of manipulators and robots for machinery for moulding rubber items.

The company has been operating for a number of years in cooperation with manufacturers and users of machinery for rubber material and has done much to update the working cycles and performance of the machines.

Delia has developed a series of special equipment and manipulators and moulds for all rubber items or rubber with metal inserts for the automotive industry, household appliances (white industry), medical, zootechnical industries and sports equipment.

Delia Srl’s innovating robotic cells have been engineered to improve the quality of rubber moulded products and the productivity of the machines to produce them.

Thanks to DELIA new work cells, which can be combined with anthropomorphic and Cartesian robots, it is possible to perform the following operations: - multiple extraction of moulded rubber pieces with metal or plastic inserts and their de-burring on-board machine; - quality controls; - loading of any metal, plastic or rubber inserts into the mould; - orienting and stacking the rubber moulded pieces inside purpose-built boxes ready for shipping.

Other outstanding products of the company are: • Robotized cells for the production of items for the automotive sector like bellows - the system draws and trims the bellows and fits up the injection peduncles by means of precise, fully automatic electrical and pneumatic movements); • Single thermoregulated blocks; • Double thermoregulated blocks allowing moulding simultaneously by two moulds placed on both the sides of the block; • Injectors and volumetric pumps for rubber injection; • Insert fitting machines; • Cutting machines, and many other systems to improve the quality of rubber moulded products and the productivity of the rubber moulding machines.

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Picture 1 Double thermoregulated block is used to inject into several points in the mould; it consists in a steel block where are placed injection runners, which are maintained at a safety temperature of 60-90 C°, thanks to the crossing of a thermoregulated fluid in a special circuit placed in the platen. The device is equipped by a set of regulators to check the amount injected by every nozzle. Injection nozzles are self-adaptable in height, as to fit better in the moulds. The special nozzles conformation allows to make up for possible skews of injection holes. The device, besides to inject into several points of the same plate, allows to inject in two work plate at the same time, too.

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Picture 2 and 2a Robotized work cell for automatic multiple extraction of molded rubber pieces with metal or plastic inserts and their de-burring on-board machine; quality controls; loading of any metal, plastic or rubber inserts into the mold; orienting and stacking the rubber molded pieces inside purpose-built boxes ready for shipping.

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EXHIBITIONS

interplastica and upakovka 2020: The two events where optimism lords it over

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t this year’s editions of the two trade fairs held at the Central Exhibition Complex Expocentre in Krasnaya Presnya from 28 – 31 January there were clear indications of stabilisation.

A total of 937 exhibitors from 40 countries attracted approx. 24,950 visitors, mainly from Russia and the neighbouring states. The mood in the halls was good and exhibitors praised the high quality of leads.

As a member of the interpack alliance upakovka, with its ranges in the packaging and related processing industry, addresses the target groups, food, beverage, confectionery, bakery, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, nonfood and industrial goods. The food industry is one of the most important manufacturing industries in Russia and of high strategic relevance.

Since the start of the food embargo this industry has experienced stable

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growth and boasts high added value. Russia continues striving to support the increase in domestic production to counteract the dependence on imports of some products. In late 2019 the Russian President Vladimir Putin therefore adopted a “food doctrine” that stipulates further increases in the self-sufficiency rate for the most important staple foods.

Strong demand for high-quality foods Demand especially for high-quality foods as well as for convenience and fast-food products continues to be high although the current weak developments in purchasing power are holding back sales. According to the VDMA, the sale of pre-packed foods was up by 1.2% in 2019 against the previous year rising to 31.3 m tons.

Market researchers expect demand to pick up again and rise to just under 6% in total to reach 33 m tons by 2024. Above-average growth rates are expected especially for ready-meals, baby foods, breakfast cereals, savoury snacks, high-quality chocolate products as well as sweet pastry goods and snack bars.

Bottled water und functional beverage trending The growing health and wellness trend is impacting demand for soft drinks. Bottled water and functional and enhanced beverages are trending. In 2019 sales of soft drinks stood at just under 14 billion litres and are expected to go up by 14% by 2024. Disproportionately high growth is expected for bottled water but also for energy drinks. upakovka 2020 was therefore already supported by the associations Russian Bottled

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Water Producer Union (BWPU) and Russian Union of Producers of Soft Drinks and Mineral Water (UPSD) in the run-up to the event.

To meet the consumer demand for high-quality and innovative products, the Russian food and beverage industry continues to invest in expanding its production capacities – and they find the matching suppliers and solutions at upakovka. As before, the most important supplier of modern processing and packaging technology to the Russian industry is Germany. Upakovka 2020 again showed that machinery “Made in Germany” is in high demand: German exhibitors were satisfied with the results of the trade fair and expected predominantly good post-fair business, said VDMA, the German Engineering Federation.

Over the first 11 months of 2019 German manufacturers exported food machines and packaging machines worth EUR 324 million to Russia.

Unabated interest in innovationparc forums Since upakovka has been organised under the umbrella of the interpack alliance the special theme “innovationparc” – adapted from the interpack trade fair in Düsseldorf – has formed an integral

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Messe Düsseldorf Press Office

Positive atmosphere, exhibitors and visitors alike praise the trade fair duo and evidence the revival of the packaging and related processing industry as well as for the plastics and rubber industry

EXHIBITIONS part of the ranges in Moscow. As early as 2019 the programme of the innovationparc forum had generated such interest that it was already extended to include a second stage running concurrently with the first. This year the high number of participants once again pointed to even greater levels of interest. As the event kicked off, the SAVE FOOD theme played a pivotal role. Involving the FAO plus experts from government organisations as well as research institutes the forum under the heading “From Food Loss to Circular Economy” dealt with sustainability and the opportunities for a corresponding food production. The contribution made by the packaging sector and related industries all geared to the circular economy and recycling was discussed in the slot “Circular Economy in the Area of Packaging – Expectations and Reality” with a view to various materials. The Russian government placed this topic on the agenda last year to especially address the general problems of disposing household waste in the country. The recycling rate of currently about 7% is to be increased to 36% in 2024. The level of interest taken in the talks delivered was therefore correspondingly high. Topics, trends and problems related to the beverage sector were covered in the session “Beverage Industry and Bottling Technologies – Global Initiatives, Challenges and Opportunities”. In this session supported by the UPSD association experts shed some light on different packaging types and new technologies for producers of

soft drinks and other fast-moving consumer goods. Finally, the session “Packaging Market Current State and Development Prospects” covered the global packaging market and local trends. “innovationparc has increasingly developed into a key attraction and special hot spot at upakovka where the exchange on trending and future themes in the industry is centre stage. Precisely this spirit is what a quality trade fair is all about,” rejoices Bernd Jablonowski, Global Portfolio Director Processing & Packaging at Messe Düsseldorf.

The next upakovka in Moscow will be held from 26 to 29 January 2021 – again in parallel with interplastica. www.upakovka-tradefair.com

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GVF Impianti: Dense phase pneumatic conveying systems Quality and innovation are keywords to GVF Impianti, the partner for the supply of quality solutions for pneumatic conveying in dense phase and bulk material handling

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ith more than 50 years of experience, GVF Impianti Srl is the ideal partner able to supply quality solutions for pneumatic conveying in dense phase and bulk material handling in sectors like plastic, pet-food, food, chemical and construction materials.

The wide range of production represents the know-how and the experience gained in each sector of application, making the company become able to design and produce components, complex machines as well as complete turn-key plants since 1964.

Quality and innovation are keywords of GVF Impianti work.

In-house production of PED compliant vessels To improve the production quality and to control all the production processes internally, GVF Impianti Srl is WPS (Welding Procedure Standard) certified.

The company produces in-house PED compliant vessels for its pneumatic conveyors, certified by TÜV (CE0948).

This leads to a higher possibility of products customization and to a stronger level of control for the entire production system quality.

Low transport speed, reduced energy consumption and no products’ contamination during transport The dense phase pneumatic conveying system transports the product at low speed, using a small amount of air and reducing the energy consumption.

GVF Impianti’s technology prevents contamination between the transported materials thanks to a process control that executes cleaning cycles every product’s change.

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It is also available on request a special version of GVF Impianti’s dense phase pneumatic systems, suitable for fragile products, that thanks to a very low transport speed and a very good transport cycle management allows to preserve the product’s granules.

In addition, an innovative loading cone valve made in Ni-Hard cast iron allows to transport also highly wearing products with very good results.

Distinctive marks What distinguishes all GVF Impianti’s pneumatic conveyors is the special design of the components and the unique air distribution system, which distributes the compressed air in three main parts of the vessel: in the outlet, laterally and inside the vessel.

To these features you should add: - an automatic management system - a low wear of pipelines and bends - reduced product un-mixing - a very low air consumption - an efficient air/product ratio - no mechanical moving parts - low operational and maintenance costs - construction material both in carbon steel and stainless steel Three main types of conveyor explain the production range: GA (with loading butterfly valve suitable for normal wearing products), GC (with an innovative loading conevalve for highly abrasive products), GA COMBO (compact and modular for reduced available space).

On request it is available also the version with load cells, for weighing the material before the transport, the HP (High-Performance) version for long distances and big hourly capacities, the HT version for products with high temperatures and the Atex classified version.

A full range of components for the pneumatic transport lines completes the company pneumatic conveying systems’ production: pipeline’s boosters, wear-resistant bends, wear-resistant terminal boxes, two-ways diverter valves and multi-ways diverter valves (from 3 up to 12 ways).

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7th drupa Global Trends Report: Global print industry faces economic and environmental challenges

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on margins but increasingly the better companies counter this by continual innovation. Investment plans remain strong, as printers and suppliers all recognise the need to remain competitive. The findings come from the 7th major annual survey issued last November to the drupa Expert Panel of senior decision takers recruited from printers and exhibitors at drupa 2016 and run by Printfuture (UK) and Wissler & Partner (CH). Almost 600 printers and almost 200 suppliers participated with all regions well represented. Globally 17% more printers described their company’s economic condition as ‘good’ compared with those who reported it as ‘poor’. For suppliers the net positive balance was even stronger at +32%. However, there is a clear trend with confidence peaking in 2017 after the long slow recovery

Messe Düsseldorf Press Office

The results, from a survey show a global industry that remained positive but reflected more challenging global economic conditions

he 7th drupa Global Trends Report will be published in April 2020.

The results, from a survey conducted before the outbreak of the corona virus and the postponement of drupa to April 2021, show a global industry that remained positive but reflected more challenging global economic conditions. Packaging and Functional market sectors are better placed than Publishing and Commercial. North America remains buoyant but confidence has slipped in Europe and across all other regions. Developing regions are held back by concerns about political instability and corruption, while developed regions are nervous of an inevitable cyclical economic downturn. There is constant pressure

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following the 2007/8 recession and a more cautious approach developing since. As always, conditions vary between markets and regions. The Packaging market sector thrives best with Functional, Commercial and Publishing following in that order1. Indeed an increasing number of Commercial and Publishing printers are attempting to diversify into the other two markets.

Financial measures confirm these trends with margins struggling in all market sectors, but Publishing showing the clearest evidence of active decline in revenues.

North America stands out as buoyant over the whole seven years of the drupe Global Trends Reports. Europe showed increasing confidence until 2018 but has declined since, while all other regions are in decline.

Suppliers’ fortunes follow those of their customers both regionally and by market, although in many cases they have the advantage of serving a wider range of markets and regions. For several years printers have responded to the constant pressure on margins by increasing turnover and keeping costs to a minimum. Sabine Geldermann, Director drupa and Global Head Print Technologies at Messe Düsseldorf, commented: “Increasingly we are seeing clear evidence that whilst cost reducing steps will continue, printers are recognising the need to innovate – by launching new products and services in their existing markets or by entering new markets.” Hence, investment plans remain strong with more printers in all regions reporting they will raise capital expenditure next year than those reporting a decrease. Again, the balance of those increasing investment by market was positive for all, but strongest in Packaging then Functional, Commercial and finally Publishing. Finishing is the most popular investment target followed by Print technology and then PrePress/Workflow/MIS. While finishing plans vary too greatly to allow any forecasting, we can comment on planned Print technology investments.

Digital toner cutsheet colour is most popular, followed

by Sheetfed offset, but there are significant variations by

market. Richard Gray, Operations Director at Printfuture, stated: “For the first time we asked specifically about the broader socio-economic pressures and there were two clear patterns reported across the globe. For the developed regions the focus was concern about the risk of, or reality of, economic recession in the country or region, followed by concern about global trade wars and the impact of global warming/environmental pressures. For the developing regions, it was corruption and political instability creating economic recession that dominated. Clearly we must now add the impact of the corona virus, a concern for all which, however, is not yet represented by the report.” The industry coped with the last severe recession and will cope well enough with a global slowdown, even though now it will be exaggerated by the impact of the corona virus. The crucial difference is that, in most markets, the industry has adapted their business models to the challenge of digital communications. Investment is the key to keeping ahead of the curve.

1 - Commercial includes direct mail, business forms, security, wide-format, trade finishing for commercial work, transactional, photoproducts Publishing includes newspapers, magazines, catalogues, conventional book production, short-run digital books, on-demand digital books, trade finishing for publications - Packaging includes labels, cartons & carton board, flexible packaging, corrugated/secondary, rigid, point of sale/point of purchase/banners - Functional (industrial/decorative/textile) includes printed electronics, 3D products, ceramics, textiles, wall coverings/ other decorative printing

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Messe Düsseldorf Press Office

EXHIBITIONS

WORLD OF PLASTICS & RUBBER

Premium technologies for top performances

NTE Process was established after more than 20 years of success and a solid reputation based on the technological expertise and knowing of the industrial processes of Nol-Tec Europe

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TE Process is the single source provider specialized in the process solutions for the plastic compounds, tire and rubber industry and in bulk material handling that will support you in all phases of design, supply and innovation of industrial plants.

It can provide you with the best turnkey solutions on the market, thanks to patented technologies and international partners.

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Over the last twenty years, the company has evolved from being the engineering company of pneumatic conveying in 1998 to a single global point of reference for all the needs of your business to always be able to be the sole partner for your company’s daily needs, in a flexible and efficient way.

For this reason, the main market leaders of rubber and tire plants chose NTE Process for the rubber compounding process and to produce tires, tire components for the automotive industry, and electrical cables – areas where precise mixing of raw materials, high safety and quality standards are essential to ensure great performances.

Also the primary plastic compounders trusted the NTE Process solutions such as masterbatch recipes, innovative air mixing systems, accurate dosing and gentle conveying of fillers, fibers and plastic pellets able to prevent any fines or product degradation.

The main NTE Process applications dedicated to the plastic, rubber and tire industries are the following: • storage systems of raw materials; • powder dense phase pneumatic conveying systems “No Purge” concept with the patented Air Assist® technology (carbon black, silica, talc, small chemicals, additives, etc.) to hoppers;

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• accurate batching for powder and oil dosing for the exact preparation of the recipes; • dust collectors; • precision rubber cutting lines; • railcar and truck unloading through the NTE Process Boot-Lift M529 that considerably reduces risks for operators during connection phase since it is completely automated and driven by pneumatic cylinders with variable stroke according to customer requests; • automation and control systems.

Both vacuum and dense phase conveying systems provided by NTE Process proved to be the best technologies as raw material handling systems for the main tire manufacturers as it guarantees: • to protect the integrity of the carbon black pellets during the pneumatic conveying (fines increasing <5%); • to preserve the conveying pipes from premature wear in the case of pneumatic conveying with Air Assist® technology for silica conveying (fine, granular, silica chunk); • dust free management of bag dump and big bag unloading stations for carbon black, silica, zync oxide, resins and fillers.

Other NTE Process’ typical applications are: • dust free bag dump and big bag unloading stations for raw materials and additives (small chemicals); • Atex proof handling systems for very explosive products such as resins; • Wonderbatch®: in-line formulation (innovative technologies for pigment room automation) which guarantees high flexibility to store ingredients off line from the production flow, but ready for immediate use;

• dedusting systems to store silos and daybins; • oil and silane injection, partially, into day bins: an innovative solution is designed to produce a product that has the ingredients dispersed and distributed sufficiently thoroughly that will process satisfactory in the next process and give the required properties for the end application.

The mixing is performed by our innovative mixers (Air Mixer M244 & Jetmixer® M531) which are combined with the NTE Process Liquid Injection Skid M535 and you can inject up to 6 liquids at the same time, avoiding dust packing on the nozzle and drop effect that generally characterizes traditional injection systems.

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The NTE Process’ Innovation and Research Centre offers its customers the opportunity to test its technologies. NTE Process R&D Team “Apeiron” can perform both scientific tests (fluidity, aeration, consolidation, etc.) as well as full scale tests (spray drying, drying, solid-liquid mixing, parallel processing, pneumatic conveying, etc.).

The right process and design will be defined and calibrated on the basis of the specific needs of your business. In this phase, detailed reports will provide you with the most relevant information for the predictive analysis of performance and the preliminary system design.

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The 24th PLASTPOL International Fair of Plastics and Rubber Processing at Targi Kielce South and Eastern Europe’s largest trade crafted around plastics industry returns to Targi Kielce - the upcoming unveiling is held from 6 to 9 October 2020

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with discussion panels, seminars, matchmaking and networking meetings as well as the industry plebiscites’ final results announcements.

Record-breaking PLASTPOL 2020 Most of last year’s exhibitors have already confirmed their presence at PLASTPOL 2020.New companies galore also join the expo for the first time. We already know that this year’s expo will be record-breaking one - the number of exhibitors has never been so great.

This is a clear indicator that the event has generated an increased interest every consecutive year. Foreign industry representatives represent more than fifty percent of exhibitors, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Turkey, the Czech Republic, Portugal, Italy, Iran, India, Taiwan, China or from Oman, Russia and Korea, to name a few countries represented at the expo.

A rich and diversified expo agenda The expo programme has traditionally abounded with specialized conferences and discussion panels - all those parties are offering the chance to learn more about plastic processing innovative methods, including injection moulding, production process optimization and many other. PLASTPOL means business insiders meetings where industry-related professional engage in fruitful conversations and expand their business contacts.

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Plastpol Press Office

LASTPOL International Fair of Plastics and Rubber Processing has already become a permanent fixture in the business calendars owing to the fact that PLASTPOL is one of the largest, cyclical, professional events staged in Targi Kielce. Previous expo projects have clearly demonstrated the lively interest in the expo’s theme.

The expo is the experts’ meeting platform - they all come here to present the latest data on plastics and rubber processing in Poland and Europe. It has become the expo tradition to abound with conferences combined

EXHIBITIONS

PlasticsEurope Polska Foundation in conjunction with thePolish Association of Plastic Converters invites you to join the conference held on the eve the expo, i.e. 18 May. The conference features Polish and international experts. The conference is a knowledge pool on current problems of Polish and European plastic processors, including Single Use Plastics regulations, image of plastics among the general public, Brexit and implementation of the VC “Plastics 2030”.

The PlasticsEurope Polska Foundation Conference, held within the scope of the expo, has already become the exhibition tradition - Kielce is the place to present the latest industry data related to production and materials demand in Poland and Europe.

The conference on “Packaging for recycling. Circular economy in practice” is organised by the Waste Management and Recycling Cluster in conjunction with the Recycling Academy.

PLASTPOL will also see the Omniplast competition finals. Targi Kielceand is the contest organiser, however ever since the first contest edition. the industry portal Tworzywa.pl has been its knowledge partner.

The two-day Plastech Info technical seminar is yet another important point on the agenda. The seminar gives an insight into technological innovations and the current state of the plastics processing industry.

BioPlastic Zone New at the expo- the BioPlastic zone. Biodegradable, compostable, bio-based products, consulting, research and certification services, raw materials, components, additives for bioplastics processing - this and much more at the new expo section. The special expo space is dedicated to raw materials and products as well as processing and machines, recycling, certification and testing of bio-based, biodegradable and compostable materials. The zone

will be enhanced with the BioPlastics Forum which features the guest speaker - Hasso von Pogrell, the European Bioplastics Association managing director.

New projects at Targi Kielce Innovative solutions present at this year’s PLASTPOL are presented in the media - the bulletin of 7,000 copies. The publication will be sent to companies, institutions and people interested in the plastics processing industry. The latest project is implemented jointly by Targi Kielce and the Tworzywa quarterly- join us for the “Journalists’ meeting at PLASTPOL 2020”.

Foreign media which send their representatives into Kielce are able to learn about PLASTPOL format - this is the place to see Polish leading plastics and rubber processing industry companies’ presentations.

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Looking to the future with confidence bfm celebrates its 45th business anniversary and inaugurates new production facilities of 1500 square metres that will also house a new R&D area

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fm company has been present in the field of plastic machinery for over forty years and today it is acknowledged as one of the leading companies in the “Made in Italy” for the construction of “Take off & Automatic Winders” to suit extrusion blown film lines (bfm is official partner of Luigi Bandera SpA), and “Flexo printing machines” Central Drum up to 10 colours and Stack Type 2-4-6-8 colours.

This year, also on the occasion of its 45th anniversary, bfm will celebrate the inauguration of a new building adjacent to the existing one. A new production area of 1500 m2 facility, housing a new Research & Development area, is in fact going to be operational from the first half of 2020.

It is an opportunity “to make a point” on the future of the company, that is investing heavily in terms of resources and technology, to be always at the forefront in an increasingly competitive commercial context. bfm looks to the future with confidence, sure that the anniversary of 45 years of activity and the inauguration of the new production

reality can become a new starting point.

At next Drupa 2021, which will be held in Dűsseldorf in April, bfm will be pleased to offer a novelty in its range of flexographic printing machines.

“SIRIO 8 SERVO PLUS” is the bfm novelty.

It is an 8-colour “Stack type-reel to reel” machine, designed for printing on various plastic materials for packaging market but also suitable for paper materials.

Each counter roller is driven by “torque motor”, printing groups positioning by servomotors according to the printing repeat length required.

Motorized registers and automatic pre-setting systems are some of its relevant technical features.

The printing units are equipped with a closed chamber doctor blade with the possibility of self-alignment, able to print from a minimum repeat length of 300 mm up to a maximum of 1200 mm, with a printing width up

ECOFOG System

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to 1800 mm. Besides, the standard machine is also equipped with sleeves system for quick change in the machine for both cylinders, Cliches and Anilox .

Finally, SIRIO 8 SERVO PLUS is equipped with a fully automatic revolver type winder able to wind up reels up to 1000 mm diameter and with non-stop reel changes; Unwinder with different solutions: fixed, shaftless or revolver.

Still in the stack type sector, bfm will present a “Line for industrial bags” complete with printing, gusseting and embossing for tubular (FFS), a line that has recently had a great success.

The industrial bag (FFS) is a flat tube with an embossed area and side gussets.

This type of bags is normally used for the packaging of granules of plastic polymers (LDPE-HDPE-PP), fertilizers, salts, bulk goods.

This FFS line (Form, Fill & Seal) is composed of a motorized unwinder suitable for reels with a maximum diameter of 1500 mm, a 4-colour flexo printer (which can also be with 2 and / or 6 colours depending on the customer’s request) width 800 mm, gusseting and embossing and finally an automatic winder, mod. W 400 - width 800 mm.

This line can also be equipped with corona treatment (refreshing or total) automatic filming guides and micro-perforators.

In the central drum Flexo printer field, bfm will have the pleasure of

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offering to potential customers its Marte 8-colour Gearless flexographic printing machine, designed using the proven application experience from Bosch Rexroth, the industry leader in the automation of printing and converting machines The Marte Printer is available in different printing widths; standard repeat length from 350 mm up to 800 mm (or 1200 mm Plus Model); the maximum production speed is 400 meters per minute.

The continuous improvement of bfm machines is for the company a daily task: every machine shows always something new, thanks to its attention to the inputs coming from the market and from its customers.

Let’s meet at Hall 16 – Booth B74.

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Fimic, the melt filter specialist 2020 starts in pursuit of expansion and with new trade fairs for Fimic

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ince 1963, Fimic has been building a reputation as a recycling company, initially producing guillotines for cutting paper and plastic and then, in the 1980s, with the production of automatic, self-cleaning melt

filters for the post-consumer and post-industrial recycling of plastic.

Fimic’s self-cleaning melt filter is based on the principle of scraping because it collects the contaminants trapped by one of two types of filtering screens using a hollow blade holder. A laser-drilled screen is used for filtering from 80 to 300 microns or a punched screen for filtering over 300 microns.

With the laser-drilled screen from 80 to 300 microns, the final recycling application will be blown film extrusion, whereas from 300 microns and above, a punched screen is normally used for injection moulding.

Fimic melt filters can be adapted to any single- or twinscrew extruder for production from 300 to 3,000 kilos and for any type of plastic material (e.g. PP, LDPE, HDPE, ABS, PS, PVC, PET, PVB, XPS, EPS).

The melt filter is generally used for highly contaminated plastic materials where the contamination of the plastic material with paper, metals, sand, cardboard, wood and infusions, quickly clogs up a manual filter and so, the decision is made to install an automatic screen changer.

Fimic, however, is renowned on the market as having the cheapest filter to manage. The filters and blades are the only parts that need changing after purchase and

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FIMIC Filter RAS 300

Fimic’s company policy is to offer them at a cost that is three times lower than its competitors on the market.

With the installation of its 300th filter in 2020, Fimic is now recognised worldwide as a highly reliable partner for all recycling companies.

Fimic’s strengths lie not only in customised production based on the customer’s material, extrusion line and general recycling system, but also in the instant installation and support service thanks to five mechanical and electrical in-house installers and spare parts which are shipped within 24 hours by accessing a dedicated website with a reserved area for every customer.

A team of twenty-five staff dedicated to recycling and specialised in filtration is the backbone of Fimic.

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AMUT winder PROWIND: The best available stretch winding solution in the market Lately, AMUT ACP 2000 P15 stretch film winder, whose last version was named PROWIND, has boosted high success around the globe

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ts originality at the beginning of this year was even proven by Milan’s court with its decision to cancel 4 Italian patents presented by other company for stretch film winding.

This court decision is very important, but the most important aspect for AMUT is the customers’ appreciation of this winder, resulting from the purchase orders for it.

The PROWIND winder concept allows its installation on whatever Cast Film Line, not depending on who it is manufactured by, resulting in high increasing of line output, state of the art shaped rolls and possibility to produce inline all three types of rolls: handy, machine and jumbo rolls, with roll maximum weight of 55 Kg. Last year, AMUT’s Polish Customer Cast S.A., who is the biggest producer of pre-stretched film in Poland, installed their first PROWIND

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winder on their existing line. As the result of this winder performances, this customer ordered another two units, which will be installed on their existing lines.

Mr. Modlinski, president of Cast S.A. says: “Before purchasing the first PROWIND unit, being the same probably most expensive on the market, we checked all the various winders produced and offered in Europe. At that time, we thought that decision to go for PROWIND, considering the cost of the same, would have been approved by a significant increasing of our production output and by a remarkable improvement of our rolls quality. But we could not even imagine that, with this new PROWIND

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winder, our continuous production output with 17micron film on our existing 1500 mm wide, made in 2011, would have reached over 900 Kg/h.

During the winder commissioning in our factory we run different tests with the different formulations and we reached an impressive output of over 1100 Kg/h net. And this is only because of the extrusion section that we could not increase more but if the extrusion section would allow, with this winder we could easily reach even 1200 Kg/h net on 1500 mm wide machine.”

As a result, an additional purchase order for 2 more units of PROWIND was done by CAST S.A., the installation of which is scheduled for the second quarter of this year.

Besides this two units for our Polish customer CAST, within the second quarter of this year AMUT will deliver different PROWIND winding units to be installed on existing lines around the globe from Czech Republic to Malaysia.

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EXHIBITIONS

Interview with the director of Equiplast, the International Plastics and Rubber Event Pilar Navarro: “We have designed a trade show that will set out to vindicate the importance of this sector for the socio-economic development and well-being of all”

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rom 1-4 December the Gran Via venue will host the 19th edition of Equiplast, Fira de Barcelona’s International Meeting of Plastic and Rubber. In this interview, the director of the trade show, Pilar Navarro, reveals the main new features of the most significant trade fair event of the sector nationally and one of the most important in Europe.

Talking about attractions, what will Equiplast 2020 offer in comparison to the 2017 edition?

Every three years, the organisation of Equiplast takes on the challenge of designing and organising a trade fair event that can surprise everyone, as well as being a great business opportunity for all professionals in the sector. And in this regard, working hand in hand with the main associations, entities and companies, we have designed a trade show that sets out to highlight and assert the importance of this sector for the socio-economic development and welfare of all.

We want to emphasise that the sector is doing its homework in environmental matters both by legal obligation and moral conviction, as well as to demonstrate that the commitment that the sector is making to recycling and circularity is real. Thus, we will have a scale model recycling plant, Reciplast, which will operate throughout the trade show.

Accordingly, we have announced the first edition of the Equiplast-

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Pilar Navarro

Shape the Future Awards, which will reward projects or products made from recycled plastic or other sustainable materials.

Can you tell us what Equiplast 2020 will be like?

Hall 3 of Fira de Barcelona’s Gran Via venue will once again be a major production centre, highlighting the strength of the sector. We will have several activities to recognise the effort the sector is making to minimise and reduce its environmental impact without losing its level of competitiveness. At the same time, we will offer leading professional visitors the opportunity to see the new items from the main exhibitors through eight sectoral routes in closed groups of 25 people according to their sector-specific application. We will complete our offering with several days of discussions and seminars that will focus on three main themes: the circular economy, technology transfer, and digital transformation.

Which sectors will be present in Equiplast 2020?

As a flagship event, year after year, we will once again have a wide representative sample of all the segments that make up the plastics and rubber sector, which is fundamental for socio-economic development. We will have a large presence of Italian, German and French exhibitors, as the most representative countries, as well as a large number of Spanish firms both manufacturers and distributors.

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What kind of actions has Equiplast carried out to publicise the 2020 edition among exhibitors and visitors?

We are aware of what the change of dates means for professionals in the sector, which is why we have drawn up a programme of actions to approach the market, listen to its concerns and encourage debate.

We have maintained an extensive agenda of contacts with the main associations and companies in the sector from all over Spain and in partnership with Fira de Barcelona’s international affiliates to publicise what Equiplast has to offer, together with Expoquimia and Eurosurfas, in the international arena. At the international level, we have designed an International VIP Buyers Program, focusing on the most accessible foreign markets such as North Africa and Latin America, which has enabled us to secure the presence of various reverse trade missions.

Finally, as director of Equiplast, what are the main challenges facing the plastics and rubber sector?

The sector must continue to work along the same lines as it does now in terms of its commitment to sustainability and the circular economy. Accordingly, I believe that all the players must continue to work to disseminate the advantages of plastic and to value its contribution to people’s well-being to counter those voices that are demonising the sector.

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WORLD OF PLASTICS & RUBBER

Industrial equipment to increase efficiency in production plants With over 40 years of experience, Barra Project International offers high degree of plant and product customization and design, planning, and production all made in Italy

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macro areas of competence born from the desire to offer 360° support in the management of bulk organic and/or inorganic solid material of different size in every industrial sector: from wood to plastic, from cement to aggregate, from milling to animal feed and much more.

1. AIRFLASH® & AIRFOM® - compressed air cannons Compressed air fluidization systems for granular materials stored in silos, hoppers, load cells, connection channel etc. The air-cannon, powered by compressed air (Pmax 10bar), generates a shock wave that acts directly on the material to be released without affecting the storage structures: these high-speed air injections eliminate bridges, compactions and incrustations of material that otherwise would reduce the load capacity of the storage facility and impede their emptying. The fluidizing action of the cannon is an improvement compared to traditional vibration systems whose use is often counterproductive

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RASKIA Belt Cleaner as they increase the level of compaction of the material, damage the structures and cause noise pollution.

As various and different are the industrial realities, so wide and varied is the range of Barra Project aircannons, suitable for equipping any type and size of storage structures (cannon range from 0,5Lt to 150Lt; application temperatures [-10°C; +100°C]; possible to be installed even in areas subject to corrosion and/or thermal radiation).

Main advantages: a. reduction/elimination of downtime risks due to the storage structures blocking b. greater safety for local operators thanks to the elimination of direct manual interventions to release the clogged materials c. continuous movement of the material and cleaning action of the structures; this avoids the creation of dead zones where the material is at deterioration risk for long periods of storage and optimizes the capacity of the storage facility 2. ECOFOG® - nebulization plants to reduce industrial dusts Thanks to the production of fog by spraying water at low pressures (air 2÷3bar; water 0.2÷0.5bar), ECOFOG® technology captures the dust particles avoiding their dispersion in the environment. The fog moistens the dusts making them fall back on the material itself and binding them to the material in a cohesive way, therefore the classic procedures for collecting and disposing of industrial dusts are not necessary (which happens instead for traditional filtration systems).

Main advantages: a. The infinitesimal water supply used for the fog creation does not wet the material: thuseliminating the need for drying treatments.

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WORLD OF PLASTICS & RUBBER

AIRFLASH Aircannon

b. ECOFOG® facilitates the movement of highly volatile materials: with a constant nebulization ECOFOG® manages to weigh down the particles on the material thus reducing their dispersion.

3. RASKIA® - cleaners for rubber conveyor belts Simple, robust and space-saving cleaners. Thanks to modular sector scraping blades and elastomer shock absorbers, continuous adhesion to the carpet is guaranteed even in the case of belt discrepancies and in conditions of wear of the scraping blade. Since the characteristics of the materials to be removed are different, different are also the models of RASKIA® cleaner: blades entirely in high wear resistance polyurethane, blades in polyurethane with hard metal scraping insert, blades entirely in steel with hard metal insert. RASKIA® cleaners are also versatile in terms of tensioning solutions: mechanical, pneumatic and pneumatic selfpowered rechargeable tensioning, specially designed for those positions that are difficult to access.

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AIRFOM Aircannon

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young and dynamic engineering team, an agile and lean production, years of experience and close collaboration with its customers for creating ad hoc solutions and experimental installations, are the ingredients of Barra Project International Srl which

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makes available to the market its products, designed to provide the right support at every stage of your production chain: a more efficient production plant is safer and less expensive to manage.

Barra Project International does not sell products, it provides solutions!

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WORLD OF PLASTICS & RUBBER

Crossroads of advanced projects and high technology Filtec is much more than a supplier: it is the right partner you can choose to develop projects and to make real your ideas

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iltec is a family company founded in 1993 in Badia Polesine (IT), a strategic location, crossroad of the major north Italian

airports.

Filtec develops and sells solutions for the polymers pelletizing process.

Today, the cutting systems range is complete â&#x20AC;&#x201C; from the vertical to the horizontal type, in air, water ring and underwater type â&#x20AC;&#x201C; with them it is possible to run every kind of polymer, even the most critical ones. Part of the products range includes screen changers, water filters, horizontal and vertical centrifuges, vented vibrating screens.

Filtec is more than a supplier: it is the right partner to choose to develop projects and to make real your ideas. Specialized in underwater and watering pelletizers, Filtec has

already produced more than 1400 systems worldwide with throughputs of 100 - 12,000 kg/hr.

The GRO Watering Pelletizer represents the perfect balance between quality and economy and it is the correct approach to the cutting systems from 20 to 3000 Kg/h and more. This simple and compact technology allows an easy and fast cleaning during the switch to different plastic materials and / or colours, as well as a safe pelletizing process.

On the other hand, the UW Underwater Pelletizer is ideal for high MFI polymers. This system offers different advantages such

as no faults in the cooling system, no stinking gases, a homogeneous product without agglomerates and perfectly spherical pellets. The UW Pelletizer can be simply activated with a button and it is provided with a fully automatic control system.

Filtec is the perfect choice for compounders, recyclers and for all companies looking for the best quality pellets with low energy consumption, with durable and reliable equipment.

Filtec will exhibit at:

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EXHIBITIONS

Plastics industry jumped into action Plastic packaging is vital for protecting our food and keeping it fresh, which reduces contamination and waste. And, of course, blister packs, pouches, bottles and other types of plasticbased packages enable the efficient distribution and dosing of vital pharmaceutical products

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fter first paralyzing China, the ongoing coronavirus pandemic is now testing the very fabric of societies worldwide. It is challenging governments, companies and individuals alike, while reinforcing the key role played by plastics and polymers in keeping people safe and healthy.

The irony is that, until recently, plastics in some quarters was being considered the scourge of the earth, from a sustainability perspective. But the need to find ways to contain the spread of the virus and to both serve patients and protect healthcare workers and others has served to underscore the very properties that help to make plastics so vital to society â&#x20AC;&#x201C; including its ability to promote hygiene while being highly disposable.

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Single-use plastics play key role Some government bodies, including in the U.S. states of New York and Maine, have stopped eco-driven plans to implement bans on single-used plastics such as retail shopping bags, as they are less likely to spread germs than frequently reused fabric carriers.

Others have un-banned expanded polystyrene food containers, as they are unquestionably effective as packages for take-out and home-delivery food from restaurants.

Meantime, the demand for certain types of plasticintensive products is soaring. This includes housings and parts for medical gear such as respirators and ventilators, as well as personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers such as masks, gowns, and goggles. And as hospitals and clinics in some areas struggle to keep up with the patient influx, other standard medical products continue to help the cause â&#x20AC;&#x201C; from polycarbonate syringes and IV components, to PVC medical tubing and blood bags.

3D printing to the rescue Additive manufacturing has a vital role to play, as well.

Recently, an Italian 3D printing start-up called Issinova jumped into action, reverse-engineered a valve for a ventilator machine, and within hours was able to produce replacements for out-of-stock valves that helped to save the lives of several people in a hospital in Brescia. Local news reports said the company used a filament extrusion process and several Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) machines to 3D print a plastic valve at a cost of about $1 per part. The original part costs about $11,000, according to the report. Others see additional opportunities to use 3D printing to produce critical, in-

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EXHIBITIONS

demand medical components in the face of ongoing parts shortages.

In Wisconsin, meanwhile, a U.S. plastics publication recently reported, PET sheet manufacturers, 3D printers and packaging companies are joining forces to turn out clear plastic face shields that are badly needed in the University of Wisconsin health system.

Ineos Styrolution donates masks Styrenic resin supplier Ineos Styrolution, meanwhile, in early March sent 20,000 single-use face masks to be distributed to communities across local districts of Foshan and Ningbo, in support of China’s response to coronavirus. Ineos says it sourced these supplies through its networks within the Asia Pacific region. The firm sent 10,000 single-use face masks to Sanshui Center of Disease Control in Foshan, as well as to the Ningbo Petrochemical Economic and Technological Development Zone in Ningbo.

Copper-infused compounds kill bacteria Carefully formulated plastic compounds also are helping the cause. Tennessee-based Techmer PM LLC has been working for years with supplier Cupron, which uses a patented process to produce oxidized copper that, when compounded with different types of resins, yields a material that can kill bacteria.

Techmer blends the copper with polymers such as polypropylene, polyester and nylon and supplies it in pellet or flake form to firms such as

Virginia-based EOS Surfaces, which press-molds it to make solid surface countertops and tables that have been proven to dramatically reduce the incidence of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs). The compound, which also can be impregnated in fabrics (such as bed linens, hospital gowns or face masks) is proving to be effective against the COVID-19 virus, in addition to the bacteria that cause staph infections.

Others have long been incorporating antimicrobial additives into plastic compounds to reduce the transmission of various diseases.

Plastic packaging protects food Plastic packaging is vital for protecting our food and keeping it fresh, which reduces contamination and waste. And, of course, blister packs, pouches, bottles and other types of plastic-based packages enable the efficient distribution and dosing of vital pharmaceutical products.

It surely is true that sustainabilityrelated challenges remain as regards plastics waste, and the resultant issue of ocean plastics, but there can be no denying the good that plastics plays every day, but particularly now during the current pandemic crisis.

You can learn more about these important applications, and many fast-advancing materials and equipment technologies that are enabling these life-saving applications, at CHINAPLAS 2020.

This 34th edition of the show will take place August 3-6, 2020, at the

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National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai, after having been postponed from its original dates of April 21-24 because of the coronavirus.

CHINAPLAS 2020 is organized by Adsale Exhibition Services Ltd., Beijing Yazhan Exhibition Services Ltd., and Adsale Exhibition Services (Shanghai) Ltd. and co-organized

by China National Light Industry Council - China Plastics Processing Industry Association, China Plastics Machinery Industry Association, Messe Düsseldorf China Ltd., the Plastic Trade Association of Shanghai.

The event is also supported by various plastics and rubber associations in China and abroad.

First introduced in 1983, CHINAPLAS has been approved by UFI (The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry) since 2006. CHINAPLAS is exclusively sponsored by the Europe’s Association for Plastics and Rubber Machinery Manufacturers (EUROMAP) in China for the 31st time.

CHINAPLAS is currently Asia’s leading plastics and rubber trade fair. www.chinaplasonline.com.

Plastics

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WORLD OF PLASTICS & RUBBER

Big success for the centralized dosage systems of Plasco Srl Competence, customized and cutting-edge solutions, efficient after-sales service, are the peculiar features that make Plasco an outstanding leader

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fter having successfully installed a double centralized dosage station in northern Italy, Plasco srl, a company located nearby Ferrara (northern Italy) specialized in the developing and manufacturing of volumetric and gravimetric dosage systems for granule and powder, has installed another station in Tuscany and another one is under production for a company in Veneto.

There are several possible fields of application: from the food industry to the cosmetic-pharmaceutical industry, injection molding and recycling of plastic material, but the main one for this particular system is the blow film extrusion.

Plascoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s strengths are versatility and competence, offering customized solutions, an excellent quality / price ratio to minimize return on investment, constant research for cutting-edge technological solutions and the efficient service of post-sales assistance, to satisfy the customer quickly and effectively.

The last centralized system developed by Plasco has been installed in a major company located in the Tuscany region, producing high-level technical film for food and non-food packaging, with a capacity production of 1000 kg/h. This centralized dosing system has been designed to supply 8 extrusion lines, with the possibility of setting a different recipe for each line, choosing from 9 virgin materials.

Specifically, Plasco designed and built

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a customized gravimetric station for the preparation of the premixes and the management of all material passages from the silos to the extruder. The various materials are taken from the silos with a centralized feeding system and stored inside the hoppers of the gravimetric station. When the system receives the material request from the extruder, the screw feeders dose the â&#x20AC;&#x153;batchâ&#x20AC;? (recipe) inside a scale.

Once completed, the recipe is discharged into a conveying hopper and immediately transported inside the mixer positioned above the extruder that had made the request. Subsequently, a cleaning sequence starts, carried out inside the scale and the hopper by means of a compressed air system to avoid contamination of materials. Since it is a completely automatic system, one of its advantages is the zeroing of material waste usually caused by the

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manual preparation of the recipes.

The whole system is managed by a last generation Siemens PLC with a complex software, that is completely designed inside Plasco. The user interface, very intuitive thanks to a 3D graphic that mirrors the system, is realized with a touch-screen PanelPC 12”. The operator simply needs to enter the required percentages for each component and associate the recipe to the destination line: the system will manage in full autonomy and with a mathematical algorithm, the safe preparation and transfer of the processed recipe. In this specific case, a communication protocol was also created to exchange data with the company management system, to comply with the “Industry 4.0” requirements. Furthermore, it is possible to have a traceability of the several materials used in the various recipes. The electrical panel is equipped with a remote assistance module to provide immediate customer support.

The Plasco system has made it possible to obtain various economic and productive advantages: a

clean and efficient plant, a better quality of the finished product and the use of internal resources in a more rational way. Above all, the client was able to reduce the costs resulted by the material waste, caused by the manual preparation of the mixtures, he had before installing the new centralized dosage system.

With the acquisition of a well-known company specialized in industrial automation based on PLC-PC, software development, process controls, construction of electrical panels for plants and automatic machines, Pasco can broaden its market proposals, offering a 360-degree hardware and software service.

“Today our company is able to offer flexibility and competence that allow us to assist the client in a professional manner, proposing a technical and qualitative improvement of the production processes - says Martina Giatti, Plasco sales manager The realization of this complex dosage and transport system is the confirmation.”

EXHIBITIONS

Consolidated International Plastic Exhibition in Argentina An industry committed to the environment, the circular economy and innovation

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• Packaging, • Automotive and Transportation • Building • Electric engineering • Electronics and mechanics • Telecommunications • Home’s products • Doctor and health care • Manufacture of plastic products • Rubber manufacturing • Rubber Processing • Chemical industry • Packaging / Distribution • Construction of machines and facilities • Farming • Precision medical / mechanical technique • Information and communication technology • Energy / photovoltaic technique • Sport / free time

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Argenplas 2020 Press Office

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AIP organizes every two years one of the most important international exhibitions of the Latin American Plastic Industry: Argenplás.

With a large number of companies that have participated and hundreds of commercial operations carried out, the International Exhibition of Plastics, Argenplás, opens its doors every two years to visitors from all over the world, consolidating once again as the most important exhibition of plastic in Argentina and one of the most prestigious in the region.

The sectors of the plastics industry that will be present at the XVIII International Exhibition of Plastics, Argenplás 2020 are:

More than 17 thousand visitors of the most outstanding professional profile as businessmen, executives, engineers, technicians and professionals related to the sector, manufacturers, transformers and users of plastic products, transformers of raw materials, people of managerial levels, technology and production, sales and marketing; They are already thinking of Argenplรกs 2020, the largest business meeting for and for the plastic industry in Argentina and for all Spanishspeaking countries.

For additional information visit the Argenplรกs 2020 website www.argenplas.com.ar.

EXHIBITIONS

The plastics industry paving the way for rebound The Chinese industries have been normalizing operations and the plastics industry, among others, has to stay positive and prepare for the expected market rebound

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s the leading industry trade show CHINAPLAS was confirmed to be rescheduled to early August, many of the exhibitors are already planning to strengthen their presence at the upcoming show.

The Chinese industries have been normalizing operations as the spread of the coronavirus was slowing down.

Indeed, the plastics industry, among others, has to stay positive and prepare for the expected market rebound after the epidemic.

The official media of CHINAPLAS, CPRJ, has recently released the news about the resumption of operations and some exhibitors’ responses: Large enterprises are relatively quick to resume work and production compared with small and mediumsized enterprises. Upstream industries and technology-intensive enterprises are faster than downstream industries and labor-intensive enterprises.

Meanwhile, governments at all levels have promulgated a number of policies to proactively coordinating the resumption of production and work of enterprises, ensuring the stable economic development.

For instance, Beijing has introduced comprehensive financial support

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measures, Shanghai has set up tax reduction and exemption targets, and Guangzhou has also launched work and production resumption policies.

The plastics industry may rebound quickly Most of the production bases of LANXESS in China have resumed production since February 10 in accordance with the prevention and control actions of the Chinese central and local governments.

Under the circumstances, LANXESS has been doing best to minimize the impacts of the coronavirus epidemic on the company and its business partners.

“At this point it is difficult to provide a reliable outlook into the second half. We believe however that business may rebound quickly once the situation is controlled and are already planning accordingly,” Ulf Dressler Vice President, Corporate Communications APAC at LANXESS commented.

LANXESS welcomes the decision to reschedule CHINAPLAS 2020, which is “in line with the company’s policy to place the safety of its employees and business partners first”.

Darren Soo, Head of Sales Asia Pacific at Clariant, said that the impacts of the epidemic on the plastics industry are heavy. Nevertheless, he agreed that huge consumer demands will be coming after the epidemic is over.

In addition to latest products such as halogen-free flame retardant and high performance additives, Darren Soo unveiled that Clariant will also showcase more applications for medical and protective products at CHINAPLAS 2020.

Clariant has approximately 1,400 employees across 16 locations in China. Since Clariant has no production sites or offices in Wuhan or the Hubei province, there is no significant impact at this moment.

The company is strictly following the latest instructions from the Chinese government on both traveling and employment-related arrangements.

“According to the recent assessment, the lack of medical supplies such as

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masks and isolation clothing has been boosting the production capacity of the corresponding downstream breathable membranes and nonwoven fabrics manufacturers,” Liang Bin, President of JCTIMES, said.

JCTIMES sold more than a dozen sets of breathable film die and meltblown non-woven die in the last few days.

Liang Bin is optimistic about the market rebound. He believes that the medical industry will have huge potential after the coronavirus epidemic is over. “For the plastics industry, as long as we continue to upgrade equipment and products and focus on services, the competition is ourselves,” he remarked. Expecting innovative technologies and medical products the key trends of the industry, JCTIMES will showcase more latest medical-related technologies and products at CHINAPLAS 2020.

Qiu Hongli, Chairman of Ningbo Well-Lih Robots Technology Co., Ltd. expressed his understanding to the postponement of CHINAPLAS 2020. He particularly mentioned that there will be a “significant growth” in the medical consumables and packaging sectors after the epidemic is over. At the same time, the demands for automation and smart manufacturing will also increase.

CHINAPLAS is the only trade show that Coperion (Nanjing) Machinery Co., Ltd. joins every year. The Chinese operations for the extruder maker Coperion will have a booth area of 180sqm this year.

“Our main concern for the new show date is the high temperature in August, which will be a challenge to the comfort of the exhibition halls. And it is relatively close to the 2021 show,” Joanne Shen, Managing Director of Coperion Nanjing commented.

During the epidemic, many of the company’s customers have been actively participating in the

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production of medical supplies such as goggles and masks.

“The epidemic will pass anyway, and the short-term difficulties will be resolved,” she said. “Local customers are well aware of the delay in delivery, and the project delivery time of large import equipment is not seriously affected. For export projects, we need to explain to overseas customers in more details.”

The iconic CHINAPLAS 2020 to provide a positive impulse for the market China is one of the largest export markets for the German plastics processing machinery industries. Therefore, the VDMA Plastics and Rubber Machinery Association has been keeping close eye on the latest developments related to the coronavirus outbreak.

According to the German industry association, no member company maintains production facilities in the particularly affected Hubei region, and also no member has yet reported a coronavirus inflected case.

Regarding when the market will return to normal, Thorsten Kühmann, Managing Director, commented that many member companies expect the situation to slowly level off again in March, and the outbreak “does not change the fundamental importance of the Chinese market for our industry in the future”.

VDMA Plastics and Rubber Machinery Association is one of the co-organizers of the CHINAPLAS 2020 concurrent event “Industry 4.0 Factory of the Future”.

Thorsten Kühmann believes the iconic industry trade fair “can certainly provide a positive impulse” especially when the Chinese economy is weakening as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.

VDMA Plastics and Rubber Machinery Association said the coronavirus outbreak has not yet led to significant delivery problems in the German mechanical engineering industry.

However, due to the long throughput times in mechanical engineering, it is possible that “these difficulties will only really become apparent in the coming weeks”.

The coronavirus outbreak has not yet led to significant delivery problems in the German mechanical engineering industry. Apart from slower production from many suppliers in other industries, the mechanical engineering companies are also facing the challenges of logistics restrictions.

At present, companies in Germany can still compensate for these difficulties by switching to other production locations or suppliers, but Thorsten Kühmann remarked that “the situation must be reassessed from week to week.”

CHINAPLAS is re-scheduled to August 3-6, 2020 to be held in the National Exhibition and Convention Center, in Hongqiao, Shanghai, PR China. Focusing on “Smart Manufacturing”, “Innovative Materials”, and “Green & Circular Solutions”, the organizer is to present 340,000 square meters of exhibition space, and bring together more than 3,800 renowned global exhibitors.

Visitor pre-registration is opened and those who preregister on and before May 22, 2020 will receive a visitor badge by mail in advance. www.chinaplasonline.com

EXHIBITIONS

• More than 5,000 attendees attended the three-day exhibition at Deutsche Messe • Over 170 speakers from the industry’s leading companies and institutions present across 12 dedicated conference streams. The event also included a series of short courses, enabling participants to receive CPD certificates from the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3) and the University of Akron •A celebratory gala dinner held to mark the 20th anniversary of the exhibition, and to present the Tire Technology International Awards for Innovation and Excellence

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he 2020 Tire Technology Expo provides visitors from across the globe an unrivalled opportunity to network with colleagues and see the latest advancements in tire technology.

The international show, held February 25, 26, 27 hosted more than 5,000 attendees, over 300 exhibitors and 170 industry speakers across the exhibition, conference, course program and awards dinner. Tire Technology Expo 2020 is the world’s premier technology showcase, with displays of equipment and materials covering the complete tire manufacturing process, from laser tire cleaning and marking, crack-resistant bladders, hydraulic presses and ultra-precise calendaring, to HIL simulation and laser engraving. Among the 300-strong exhibitor base, visitors

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found major players from the tire sector –including Continental, Michelin and Hankook – all of which showcased their latest innovations and products. Attendees were also be able to take part in a series of IOM30-accredited short courses (rates apply) on a variety of topics, including future tire regulations, computer modelling, rubber compounding, and tire mechanics.

While most of the courses were aimed at experienced engineers who are looking to deepen their knowledge, some are suitable for beginners too, ensuring all attendees found a course suitable for their level of ability. Among the notable speakers at this year’s conference are Dr Hans Dorfi, director of digital engineering, Bridgestone Americas, who talked about the role of intelligent tires in future mobility and

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transportation; Eduardo Minardi, founder of Minardi Global, whose presentation focused on the changes needed to overcome future mobility challenges; Patrick Pallot, tire design fellow, Michelin, who discussed virtual design; and Dr Jorge Lacayo-Pineda, expert in materials evaluations, Continental AG, who discussed cluster morphology of silica and salinization. In addition to the packed conference program and bustling exhibition, a spectacular gala dinner was held to mark the 20th anniversary of the expo. During the evening, the Tire Technology International Awards for Innovation and Excellence were presented.

The awards were judged by a fully independent, international panel of journalists and industry experts, with a number of accolades up for grabs, including the Lifetime Achievement Award, Tire Manufacturer of the Year Award and the very topical Environmental Achievement Award.

For more information about Tire Technology Expo, visit: www.tiretechnology-expo.com/en.

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Tire Technology Expo Press Office

Tire Technology Expo celebrates its 20th year in Hannover

WORLD OF PLASTICS & RUBBER

New leadership for PlasticsEurope Virginia Janssens appointed as Managing Director to represent an industry that is in full innovation mode addressing plastics value chain challenges

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lasticsEurope, the pan-European trade association representing plastics manufacturers, is pleased to announce the appointment of Virginia Janssens as Managing Director. She takes up her role on 16 March 2020. Ms. Janssens has been the Managing Director of the European Organization for Packaging and the Environment (EUROPEN) since 2012.

“We are delighted that Virginia join us. Her talents, expertise and leadership skills are crucial for the future of PlasticsEurope”, said Javier Constante, President of PlasticsEurope and Vice-President Dow. “She brings a proven track record in advocacy on sustainability related challenges and value chain collaboration, which is invaluable to deliver on our sustainability goals, alongside our stakeholders”, he continued.

Virginia Janssens added: “I am honored to take on the position of Managing Director at PlasticsEurope. With purpose, openness and sense of responsibility, I look forward to representing an industry that is in full innovation mode addressing plastics value chain challenges.

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PlasticsEurope is one of the leading European trade associations with centres in Brussels, Frankfurt, London, Madrid, Milan and Paris. It is networking with European and national plastics associations and has more than 100 member companies, producing over 90% of all polymers across the EU28 member states plus Norway, Switzerland and Turkey. The European plastics industry makes a significant contribution to the welfare in Europe by enabling innovation, creating quality of life to citizens and facilitating resource efficiency and climate protection. Over 1.6 million people are working in close to 60,000 companies (mainly small and medium sized companies in the converting sector) to create a turnover of more than 360 bn EUR per year. The plastics industry includes polymer producers - represented by PlasticsEurope, converters - represented by EuPC and machine manufacturers - represented by EUROMAP. For further info see the web links: www.plasticseurope.org www.plasticsconverters.eu www.euromap.org

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WORLD OF PLASTICS & RUBBER

More than 30 years of innovation and commitment to quality ZANOLA NETWORK is highly recognized in the market for everything about mould finishing parts

Z

ANOLA NETWORK is a young, flexible and dynamic business network that conducts activities on behalf of third party in the moulds for plastic injection sector.

ZANOLA NETWORK follows the logic and the will of its founder, Alfredo Zanola, that, working day by day since 1985, has built these two companies willing to satisfy more and more his customers, relying on quality and productive innovation rather than on a mere pricing policy strategy.

Because of this, the company has become a sort of “Moulds Factory” which provides the finishing services only or the entire supply chain from the project development, prototyping, construction, finishing to the assembly and the realization of the plastic particulars with maximum quality and professionalism for each phase.

The historic brand in the network is ZANOLA ZWT, highly known for over 30 years in the market for everything that concerns the moulds finishing part: in relation to polishing, the company has patented its own polishing scale “Scala Zanola” and Manuela and Sara Zanola

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other manners of optical lapping, welding (laser, tig, mig, plasma) and it started many cooperation and won many awards thanks to its MicroincisioneR and laser engraving.

In the last 6 years, it has improved its moulds planning and construction knowledge that is why it can provide a full service, being equipped with a milling/CAM department in which it has heavily invested, already having the necessary technical knowledge for every step of moulds construction.

Moulds project development and construction This is an innovative technical department that creates 3D digital designs starting from the mathematics of the product or from a real item. A group of people with more than 10 years of experience and young designers ready to always offer more innovative and bright ideas especially in the mould modification phase.

The information flow starts from the technical department and spreads in the production department through a technological network that guarantees the file management system and provides real and immediate information.

The company also provides a prototyping service that uses a technology that can reproduce very complex items in a short period of time starting from the mathematics realized through CAM 3D. ZANOLA NETWORK can reach a resolution up to 16 micron, with smooth surfaces and extremely precise details. Then the items can be varnished or given a metallic effect following the customers’ instructions.

It does not have a single reference

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market but, thanks to its approach to every single process, it gained a deep experience and the possibility to manufacture many kinds of products: hydraulic and electric sectors, lenses, visors and helmets, cosmetics, medical, white goods, household products, and automotive.

The adjustment department can handle the complete assembly and maintenance of moulds up to 20t. The department is controlled by 2 technical area managers who monitor the project progresses on the basis of open issues prepared by the technical department and supplied to every operator. The department is provided with 8 independent work islands equipped with jib cranes to lift weights and a common workstation equipped with a pillar and flag drill, parallel lathe and two grinding machines.

The moulds quality is judged for its perfect functionality as well as for the aesthetic aspect of the finished piece.

Due to this, since ‘70s, ZANOLA NETWORK has given importance to the moulds polishing process and it is able to guarantee to its customers the best finishing grade of the moulded product.

It polishes every kind of moulds from the plastic injection to the die casting

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WORLD OF PLASTICS & RUBBER

moulds. Its polishing method is manual because, regardless of what other people do, ZANOLA NETWORK still believes that is the better way to guarantee the perfection of the moulded product. In 2005, this company patented its “SCALA ZANOLAR“ that codifies the different types and grades of polishing that can be reached on ZANOLA steel moulds. This normalization makes the identification of the finishing level requested for all the parts involved in the construction process unequivocal: The “SCALA ZANOLAR” defines and codifies the polishing grade that is possible to reach on the moulds. It states the visual evaluation method of the correct polishing. It indicates the roughness parameters RA and RZ of each finishing.

It offers steel reference standards for each finishing. It proposes reference ABS samples for each finishing. It associates some products family indicating the finishing code and the reference finishing. In 2015, ZANOLA NETWORK updated its specialized welding centre microincisioneR and laser engraving that has been existing for 13 years in Brescia area.

Over the years, ZANOLA NETWORK centre has collaborated with iron and steel industries experts, for the study of materials and treatments, with steelworks and with mechanical

engineering for what concerns the application studies.

A 320 m2 technological centre equipped with machinery that allow fixing every kind of mould with different dimensions and weight. Every welding machine has an automatic cooling system that assures the requested laser parameters during all the operation cycle.

ZANOLA NETWORK offers innovative ideas to repair the damaged or used moulds or to modify them. The welding patents and the prestigious recognition of AUBERT&DUVAL, FA.RO ACCIAI, LUCCHINI SIDERMECCANICA and STANDEX guarantee high-quality performances.

The WHITE ROOM Welding Centre includes: • The TIG welding with the preheating furnace allows a perfect execution of welding beads on steel cores and cavities and other materials.

• The Plasma welding is a welding technique, especially for the moulding steels, characterized by a restrained heat contribution and a good precision.

• The MMA welding is an arc welding technique suitable for welding beads of elevated thickness and characterized by an easy portability.

• The MIG and MAG welding is a wire welding technique suitable for massive thick welding beads and the repair of big parts.

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• The brazing is a welding technique that allows to realize joints of many dimensions leading to fusion only the brazing alloy, keeping intact the items.

For all its welding techniques, ZANOLA NETWORK provides the White Room Express service, whereby it repairs the moulds among the customer following the national and international regulations.

The laser welding is a very successful method of welding for the industry and for the high precision toolmakers, because it is an extremely precise repair technique that causes a minimal thermal input.

ZANOLA NETWORK laser welding stations are equipped with a solidstate pulse laser in the range of 150 and 200 watt.

ALEA srl is ZANOLA NETWORK’s newest society established in 2013. It deals with the trial and small or large production of plastic moulds.

ALEA is composed by highly qualified employees with a long experience in the sector and ready to satisfy all your demands. The department is provided with a well-equipped machinery park and an automation robot with a gripping hand supplies each one.

From the beginning, the department has developed some technologies to support the production: airmoulding, tampography, bi-injection moulding.

Since 2014, the company has organized the moulding department in order to follow the small and large production and pre-series. It works on 3 shifts and there is a shift manager for each one, and two technical managers who supervise the production. In a team there are also employees dedicated to quality control.

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The new generation visual inspection systems Doss Visual Solution extends its comprehensive product range of visual inspection systems with increasingly performing innovative solutions

D

oss Visual Solution, a dynamic Italian company, leader in the design and production of visual inspection systems for the quality control, extends its already vast range of products with increasingly performing innovative solutions, able to comply with the real needs of its customers worldwide.

Zehn is the first model of this new generation of visual inspection systems. The machine is very compact in its dimensions; thanks to a special anti-reflection technical glass table, the quality of the images,

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acquired by the top and bottom cameras, is at the same quality level.

The new light system configuration, offering variable geometry angulation, is able to convey a homogeneous illumination to the article, thus implementing the performances of the inspection tools.

An important technical feature of Zehn is the revolver camera system: a group of 4 lenses, whose frame field can vary from 30-45-60-90 mm, assuring an extremely high level of flexibility along with the different articlesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; geometry. With the same machine, it is possible to check articles belonging to various size ranges by choosing the suitable lens with a simple button in the software interface.

The machine checks the outside surface of the article by means of a 7 cameras vision unit which can be combined with different mirror sets, whose configuration can be studied according to the articleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s shape and height, thus allowing an uncommon versatility of the application.

Moreover, the vision units are also equipped with a multi-shot system able to take up to 3 different pictures for each part with various light conditions, customized on defect

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type and areas, without influencing the speed of the machine. In this way, the machine guarantees a unique performance in terms of defect detection and production output.

All the units, positioned on the main central shaft, including the camera group, can be lifted automatically to make the access to the main maintenance operations easier and quicker. This feature is welcomed by operators and machine users because it allows a fast cleaning of the table and rapid adjustments at batch change. The machine is equipped with a webcam to help customers in case of faults or mechanical problems. It is an excellent help also for the operator to keep an eye on the machine at distance.

The completely renovated software, with a new graphic display, supports the operator with reports and statistical analysis. It allows the creation of specific recipes for each article batch.

The machine can be equipped with packaging systems, dials or palletizers with boxes, to offer a complete product, sorted, checked and packed. www.doss.it

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exhibitions 2020 CHINAPLAS (Shanghai, China) – 3-6 August 2020 – www.chinaplasonline.com INTERPLAST (Joinville, Brazil) – 11-14 August 2020 – www.interplast.com.br ROSPLAST & ROSMOULD (Moscow, Russia) – 25-27 August 2020 – www.rosplast-expo.com RUBBERTEC CHINA (Shanghai, China) – 16-18 September 2020 – en.rubbertech-expo.com INTERPLAS (Birmingham, UK) – 29 September-1 October 2020 – www.interplasuk.com PLASTEX (Brno, Czech Republic) – 5-9 October 2020 – www.bvv.cz/en/plastex PLASTPOL (Kielce, Poland) – 6-9 October 2020 – www.targikielce.pl PLASTIC EXPO (Osaka, Japan) – 7-9 October 2020 – www.plas.jp/en-gb.html PLAST ASIA (Bangalore, India) – 7-10 October 2020 – www.plastasia.in FAKUMA (Friedrichshafen, Germany) – 13-17 October 2020 – www.fakuma-messe.de EXPOPLAST (S. Miguel, Peru) – 21-24 October 2020 – www.expoplastperu.com MECSPE (Parma, Italy) – 29-31 October 2020 – www.mecspe.it PLASTIC & RUBBER INDONESIA (Jakarta, Indonesia) – 18-21 November 2020 – www.plasticsandrubberindonesia.com ARGENPLAS (Buenos Aires, Argentina) – 24-27 November 2020 – www.argenplas.com.ar EQUIPLAST (Barcelona, Spain) – 1-4 December 2020 – www.equiplast.com PLASTIC EXPO (Tokyo, Japan) – 2-4 December 2020 – www.plas.jp

2021 ARABPLAST (Dubai, UAE) – 9-12 January 2021 – www.arabplast.info INTERPACK (Düsseldorf, Germany) – 23 February- 3 March 2021 – www.interpack.com TIRE TECHNOLOGY (Hannover, Germany) – 2-4 March 2021 – www.tiretechnology-expo.com GULF PRINT & PACK (Dubai, UAE) – 6-8 April 2021 – www.gulfprintpack.com DRUPA (Düsseldorf, Germany) – 20-30 April 2021 – www.drupa.com PLAST (Milan, Italy) – 4-7 May 2021 – www.plastonline.org

index ABB SPA www.abb.com

1, 6-7

AMUT SPA www.amutgroup.com

50-51

ARABPLAST 2021 www.arabplast.info

44

ARGENPLAS 2020 www.argenplas.com.ar

66-67

AUTOMA by MAGIC SRL www.automabymagic.it

2,13-15

BARRA PROJECT INTERNATIONAL SRL www.barraproject.it

54-56

BFM SRL www.bfm.it

45-47

BORDIGNON TRADING SRL www.bordignon.com

71

CHINAPLAS 2020 www.chinaplasonline.com

24, 62-63, 68-69

DELIA SRL www.deliasrl.it

25-27

DOSS VISUAL SOLUTION SRL www.doss.it

76-77

DRUPA 2021 www.drupa.com

10, 36, 38

EQUIPLAST 2020 www.equiplast.com

52

FAKUMA 2020 www.fakuma-messe.de

8-9, 80

FILTEC SRL www.filtec.it

58-59

FIMIC SRL www.fimic.it

48-49

FRANCESCO FRANCESCHETTI ELASTOMERI SRL www.f-franceschetti.it

72

GIMAT SRL www.gimat.bo.it

61

GVF IMPIANTI SRL www.gvfimpianti.it

31-33

HEKLA SRL www.hekla-moulding.com

73

INTERPLAST 2020 www.interplast.com.br

12

INTERPLASTICA 2021 www.interplastica.de

28-29

MACCHI SPA www.macchi.it

57

MEPOL SRL www.mepol.com

67

MONTELLO SPA www.montello-spa.it

IV^ Cover, 11

MOSS SRL www.moss.it

3, 16-17

NOL-TEC EUROPE SRL www.nol-teceurope.com

39-41

OLDRATI GROUP www.oldrati.com

30

PCT EUROPE SRL www.pcte.it

34-35

PEGASO INDUSTRIES www.pegasoindustries.com

37

PLAS MEC SRL www.plasmec.it

53

PLASCO SRL www.plasco.it

64-65

PLAST 2021 www.plastonline.org

18-19

PLASTICS EUROPE www.plasticseurope.org

72

PLASTIC&RUBBER INDONESIA 2020 www.plasticsandrubberindonesia.com

60

PLASTPOL 2020 www.targikielce.pl

42-43

PRESMA SPA www.presma.it

II^ Cover

SMI SPA www.smigroup.it

20-23

TECMES SRL www.tecmes-italia.com

III^ Cover

TIRE TECHNOLOGY 2021 www.tiretechnology-expo.com

70

ZANOLA www.zanolanetwork.it

69, 74-75

Plastics & Rubber