ProPack Pro October 2021

.pro

ProPack People Technology Business

www.propack.pro October 2021

A FOCUS ON:

ePac to launch in Australia soon ePac Flexible Packaging is due to open its first local manufacturing facility in Q4

J.L.Lennard and T. Freemantle partner Scan to listen to Jet Technologies’ podcast

Scan to listen to Screen GP Australia’s podcast

The Screen L350UV SAI series: Stable, Accurate and Integrated

The distributorship deal will enable T. Freemantle to expand its Aussie reach

East Coast Canning goes direct-to-can Invests in Australian-first direct-to-can digital printing technology, which it aims to have running by March 2022 ALSO INSIDE...

AIP’s virtual conference

y s, so does m I love the card reat and g hey came up customer... T . rnaround time super quick tu

Toni

ys WOW. You gu All I can say is n a d I am uly delivered have well & tr your t the quality, speechless a turnaround. service & the

Indy

ss cards this ed the busine iv e c re st ju e W l! Really re so beautifu e’re so morning, they’ with these, w lp e h r u yo ll a ut. appreciate they turned o Emily w o h h it w d e impress

your impressed with I’m more than daily , workflow and online platform communication updates. Your wless. process was fla

Pete

livery and rnaround, de tu , e ic rv se e h T n such dible. It’s bee re c in ll a re a quality a printer lly have found a fin to f lie re a 0 years is well after 2 th f o ll a Olga s e o who d . ry st u d in e th of being in ce for mer experien o st u c in d e I’ve work has easily ave to say this h I d n a rs a I’ve ever 10 ye -end service o -t d n e st e b track been the er was easy to rd o e h T . d e Oliver iv . rece rd was superb a d n a st t n ri p and the

‘CUSTOMER IS ^ KING AT HERO PRINT’ ...AND IT SHOWS o Queen

AUSTRALIA’S BEST TRADE PRINTER

EDITOR’S NOTE HAFIZAH OSMAN

Building a sustainable brand Packaging, generally, used to be an afterthought for many brands in their product development strategies.

But now, with customers demanding that sustainability, reusability and recyclability play a key role in packaging, it has become one of the first few things to consider.

Sustainable branding and packaging of today involves having to create and maintain an identity within a company’s ethos, which is also reflected in its packaging. It is crucial as it needs to reflect added value in terms of social and environmental benefits.

With the release of the 2025 National Packaging Guidelines, brands have an overarching set of

recommendations to guide them through the process, which many have adopted, or are in the process of adopting.

And it is paying off – look at the transitions of Nestlé, Mondelez or local retail companies such as Coles and Woolworths, for instance.

They have all committed to sustainable practices and are forging ahead to lead by example.

And packaging companies, with the right focus and innovation capabilities, are set to benefit as the new landscape potentially presents opportunities for significant growth and new partnerships in supporting brands that are revising or creating new packaging portfolios.

That, in turn, has seen brands and packaging businesses working ever so closely together, in not only coming up with the best sustainable packaging ideas, but also in building a symbiotic relationship.

This means that thought leadership from packaging companies has become a critical asset.

This issue of ProPack.pro investigates industry best practices in building a sustainable brand, addressing sustainability with innovation in the packaging industry and showcasing real-world examples of brands and packaging businesses that have worked together to develop innovative solutions.

We hope you enjoy the read.

Hafizah Osman Editor hosman@intermedia.com.au Ph: +61 431 466 140

Stay informed… visit www.propack.pro and subscribe to receive the latest packaging industry news and views

ProPack Industry Supporters

Managing Director & Publisher: James Wells Editor: Hafizah Osman Design: Carrie Tong

Sales Manager: Brian Moore Sales Manager: Carmen Ciappara Production Manager: Jacqui Cooper

Pre-Press Manager: Tony Willson Printed by: Hero Print, Alexandria, NSW 2015 Mailed by: D&D Mailing Services

ProPack.pro is published by Printer Media Group, registered in Australia ABN 47 628 473 334. This publication may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form in whole or in part without the written permission of the publishers. While every care has been taken in the preparation of this magazine, it is a condition of distribution that the publisher does not assume any responsibility or liability for any loss or damage which may result from any inaccuracy or omission in the publication.

DISCLAIMER This publication is published by The Intermedia Group Pty Ltd (the “Publisher”). Materials in this publication have been created by a variety of different entities and, to the extent permitted by law, the Publisher accepts no liability for materials created by others. All materials should be considered protected by Australian and international intellectual property laws. Unless you are authorised by law or the copyright owner to do so, you may not copy any of the materials.

The mention of a product or service, person or company in this publication does not indicate the Publisher’s endorsement. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent the opinion of the Publisher, its agents, company officers or employees. Any use of the information contained in this publication is at the sole risk of the person using that information. The user should make independent enquiries as to the accuracy of the information before relying on that information. All express or implied terms, conditions, warranties, statements, assurances and representations in relation to the Publisher, its publications and its services are expressly excluded save for those conditions and warranties which must be implied under the laws of any State of Australia or the provisions of Division 2 of Part V of the Trade Practices Act 1974 and any statutory modification or re-enactment thereof. To the extent permitted by law, the Publisher will not be liable for any damages including special, exemplary, punitive or consequential damages (including but not limited to economic loss or loss of profit or revenue or loss of opportunity) or indirect loss or damage of any kind arising in contract, tort or otherwise, even if advised of the possibility of such loss of profits or damages. While we use our best endeavours to ensure accuracy of the materials we create, to the extent permitted by law, the Publisher excludes all liability for loss resulting from any inaccuracies or false or misleading statements that may appear in this publication.

Copyright © 2021 — Charted Media Group Pty Ltd

4 ProPack.pro October 2021

www.propack.pro

CONTENTS

IN THIS ISSUE...

P18-19

Corrugated fuelling the box-drop bonanza P14-17

P6-8

The Screen L350UV SAI Series: Stable, Accurate and Integrated P6-8 The Screen L350UV SAI Series, available from Jet Technologies, is built to last and is able to deliver on customers’ needs today and well into the future

Global packaging company, ePac Flexible Packaging, launches in Australia P10-11 Its first manufacturing facility is due to open its doors in Melbourne in the fourth quarter of this year

J.L.Lennard extends T. Freemantle’s reach in Australia

P12

The distributorship deal with J.L.Lennard will let T.Freemantle further spread its existing presence in Australia

Online shopping is the new mainstream way to shop in the pandemic era, and corrugated board is literally the package that delivers the goods

P26

East Coast Canning gets Australian-first directto-can tech P25 It has selected a vendor for its new equipment, having considered manufacturers in the US and Germany

Packaging Forum backs plastics phase-out P18-19

How to create unique and innovative labels P26

Small changes can have a big effect, as evidenced by the strategies of some companies based in New Zealand

Eurostampa’s Gian Franco Cillario discusses the art of printing labels

Luxury items news: The latest packaging movements within the luxury space P20

Future-proofing pharma packaging P28-30 The entire value chain is turning to new technologies to transform pharmaceutical packaging

Read about Lunatic & Lover’s recent packaging award win, Jacob’s Creek’s new visual refresh and Giesen’s updated crest and packaging

Sustainable packaging design case studies P32-33

AIP Conference: What rethinking packaging design entails P22-24

The AIP has developed a series of best practice and award-winning examples of innovative and sustainable packaging design from A/NZ

The journeys that some companies have taken in terms of packaging designs are inspiring, and others should learn by example

Pack Diary

P34

A guide to the upcoming packaging industry events globally

THIS ISSUE SUPPORTED BY

www.propack.pro

October 2021 ProPack.pro 5

COVER STORY

The Screen L350UV SAI series: Sta The Screen L350UV SAI series, available from Jet Technologies, is built to last and is able to deliver on customers’ needs today and well into the future

1

T

outed as the most flexible and automated label production system in its class, the Screen L350UV SAI inkjet system series for labels and packaging recently made its debut in Australia after a global debut at Labelexpo Europe in 2019.

Offered locally through Jet Technologies, the press is an upgrade from the Screen L350UV V1 and V1+ and features improved colour reproduction and scalability, enabling it to meet a wide variety of market needs.

Jet Technologies and Screen, together, first showed off the press in March at a co-hosted Digital Innovations session at Jet Technologies’ Sydney demonstration centre, bringing together prospective and existing customers, supply partners and media at the event.

Since the wraps were taken off the machine, Jet Technologies and Screen have seen a keen interest in the Screen L350UV SAI from players in the industry and have made a few installations since, despite challenges presented by COVID. Jet Technologies director Jack Malki said, “Launching a new product has been difficult to do these past 18 months with COVID restrictions.

Although its launch was smaller than it would have otherwise been, we had a strong attendance at that event and have since sold six L350UVs. “That is an outstanding result for our team. DS Labels was the recipient of the very first Screen L350UV in Australia over six years ago and is also the first in the industry to install the Screen L350UV SAI. “The DS Labels team came to look at the press as soon as it landed at our premises and were convinced with what they saw and decided to purchase a unit. This solidified our relationship 6 ProPack.pro October 2021

1. (l-r) Screen GP Australia’s Peter Scott and Jet Technologies’ Jack Malki with the Screen L350UV SAI inkjet system during their co-hosted Digital Innovations session

further as we were thrilled to have their continued trust in Jet Technologies and Screen.”

When it comes to labels and packaging, Jet Technologies is the most integrated supply partner in Australia and New Zealand, with a product offering that covers everything bar the self-adhesive materials.

“We apply the same approach to the L350UV and further support.

Depending on the client and their needs, we work with them across a wide range of aspects – from pre-press software and automation via our partnership with ESKO – to finishing needs via our partnerships with Prati and Kocher + Beck with varnishes, films and whatever else can help in between,” Malki said.

“Our business model across all of our product groups is to have product experts for each one and an infrastructure around them to deliver that expertise directly to the client.”

A strong business relationship

Screen and Jet Technologies have been in partnership for 12 years, building on their relationship since then.

“At the start, the relationship was like any other manufacturer/distributor relationship where you work together on learning about the products and finding market opportunities to develop sales,” Malki said.

“Over time, as the two companies got to know one-another (not an easy task with a giant Japanese multinational),

the relationships warmed substantially and we developed a heightened level of trust that has led to a very different relationship from the start.

“Today, I would describe the relationship as extremely intertwined, where we have input in product development at the earliest stages and where I would describe it as a partnership where we are both working to our collective strengths to achieve great results.”

And offering the Screen L350UV SAI to the local market has only enabled Jet Technologies and Screen to further drive their presence in the region.

“The great thing about working with Screen is that its vision is long-term; so, when we started working with Screen on the L350UV, we knew that it was not just one version of a press that we were working on but rather, an entire series of inkjet presses,” Malki said.

“Sure enough, this is the third iteration of the L350UV, but every single one installed in Australia is still going strong. Client success and satisfaction is ultimately the best marketing tool for us. It takes time to build a strong reputation, which often requires a holistic approach.

“When we speak to our potential clients, we put them in contact with existing clients and that strategy has been our best-selling tool.”

A closer look at the L350UV

The Screen L350UV SAI comes in the S, E and LM models, with the units www.propack.pro

COVER STORY

able, Accurate and Integrated featuring additional slots for mounting inkjet printheads. Along with CMYK, most of the units can be loaded with white, orange and blue inks for a total of seven colours (the LM model excludes blue). The system also features proprietary colour management technologies developed in collaboration with CGS Publishing Technologies International, providing a wider range of colour expressions.

The flagship S model delivers print speeds of up to 60m per minute, while the high-end S model is joined by an entry-level model with reduced installation costs (E), and a dedicated model for low-migration (LM). Each of these three systems can be upgraded on-site with additional colours.

Screen Australia managing director Peter Scott said the Screen L350UV SAI series retains the original model’s key attributes of high uptime, reliability, productivity, print quality and expands on these with the addition of orange and blue ink for a wider colour gamut.

“More productivity with a print speed of 50 metres per minute when printing white, plus a significant reduction in set-up time prior to print is one of its key features. Its reverse feed capability is a waste saving feature, minimising the material between jobs,” he said.

“Its double UV curing results in increased adhesion on certain materials. Another important feature of the new SAI model is scalability – there are a range of different models to suit customers’ needs and the presses can be upgraded.”

Scott added that the L350UV SAI’s key attributes are best explained by its abbreviated name.

“SAI is an acronym for Stable, Accurate and Integrated. Expanding on this, we have Stable: Outstanding stability which enables high-speed printing at up to 60 meters per minute and 50 metres per minute when printing white. Accurate: A range of up to seven inks provides wider gamut and superior colour reproduction.

Integrated: High scalability with various upgrade options ensures the flexibility to meet the customer’s requirements well into the future,” he said.

“In today’s market, it’s all about reliably turning around lots of shortrun jobs very quickly, sometimes with variable data. But at the same time, it has to be done without waste and with the highest print quality and colour www.propack.pro

2. (l-r) Screen GP Australia’s Peter Scott, new L350UV SAI owners DS Labels’ Deane and Mark Sproule, as well as Jet Technologies’ Jack Malki

2

3. (l-r) Screen GP Australia’s Derek Field and Barcode Australia’s Evan McHarg check out the speed of the Screen L350UV SAI inkjet system 4. The Screen L350UV SAI inkjet system is touted as the most flexible and automated label production system in its class

3

4

Continued on page 8 October 2021 ProPack.pro 7

COVER STORY Continued from page 7

accuracy. The L350UV SAI enables maximum productivity and maximum profit for short run work and the ability to move into new markets as opportunities arise.”

Suiting the evolving needs of the packaging industry

The press, especially the L350UV SAI S model, supports the needs of the packaging industry as it comes with a chill roller, making it versatile enough to print on thin films for flexible packaging without warping and is also robust enough to print short-run folded carton, tube work and aluminum lidding.

“We have a customer in the UK, Hine Labels, that uses a low migration L350UV+ to produce short-run pouches. These presses have proven their versatility for the packaging industry,” Scott mentioned.

“While short-run labels and packaging are its bread and butter, we have many customers who also use it for much longer-run work in up to tens of thousands of linear metres.

The chill roller makes it suitable for printing on thin and heat sensitive films for producing pouches.

“We have customers who have used their presses to print on aluminum lidding and also tube stock. The LM or low migration model is for customers who wish to exceed the various global standards for migration in food packaging, such as the Swiss ordinance and Nestlé standards.”

The L350UV SAI is also perfect for producing typical narrow web selfadhesive labels for industries including FMCG, food, beverage, and industrial.

“Being a digital press, it can also print black and full colour variable data, for example, along with serial numbers and barcodes. And it has been certified to produce security labels for product authentication and traceability,” Scott said.

“The demand for shorter runs and quicker turn arounds is continuing to grow. The L350UV SAI enables label converters to consistently produce labels of the highest quality in the shortest amount of time and without costly waste and long makeready times of traditional flexo presses, which are more suited to longer print runs.

“Of course, unless there is an inline inkjet print bar or imprinter, flexo presses cannot do variable content such as unique QR and bar codes or versioning.”

Built for the present and lasting into the future

Scott said the L350UV SAI is an example of how Screen has developed its technology even further to provide a solution that is more stable, more 8 ProPack.pro October 2021

5. The Screen L350UV SAI comes in the S, E and LM models, with the units featuring additional slots for mounting inkjet printheads

5

6. The Screen L350UV SAI series retains the original model’s key attributes and expands on them with the addition of orange and blue ink for a wider gamut

6

accurate and more integrated in working with all the main third-party packaging workflow software and its own EQUIOS program.

“Screen’s approach has always been to expand our core technologies of surface processing, direct imaging and image processing to create new technologies and solutions that benefit society,” he said.

Success stories with a Screen L350UV press Onpack Based in Melbourne, Onpack was established in 2017 after purchasing a Screen L350UV and two Prati finishing lines. Originally from a sheet-fed offset background, it has become a leading and very versatile supplier of narrow web self-adhesive labels through the use of its L350UV press.

Springfield Solutions Springfield Solutions, a 100 per cent digital UK label specialist, recently expanded its capacity with a new Screen L350+ LM – its fifth Screen machine. The company needed the press for the extra capacity to serve growing demand from customers, during and after the pandemic. It has also now dropped flexo altogether and is an all-Screen digital operation.

“Combined with our expertise in web transport systems and inkjet technology, it was a natural progression to develop a solution for the growing narrow web label and packaging market. As with all our products, the press also had to be extremely reliable, low maintenance and high uptime.”

The L350UV SAI is also built to deliver on future needs of the industry.

“It is versatile enough to print on a range of different materials for current and new applications. It can be upgraded in the field when additional colours and a wider gamut are required and most importantly, it is robust enough to be printing for many years,” Scott added.

“We have machines that are now more than seven years old and still printing as well today as they did when first installed.

“A Screen L350 used machine is in high demand, either for first-time digital label printers or for those without budgets for a new machine.

The L350UV SAI is built to last and able to deliver our customers’ needs today and well into the future.” www.propack.pro

THE BEST-SELLING INKJET PRESS IN AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND AND SE ASIA

TAKE A FRESH LOOK AT THE L350UV SAI Screen L350UV SAI series delivers: • Industry-leading productivity (up to 80m/min) • Highest reliability (>93% Uptime) • Ability to upgrade on site

www.screenaust.com.au

www.jet-ap.com

FOCUS EPAC FLEXIBLE PACKAGING

Global packaging company, ePac Flex Its first manufacturing facility is due to open its doors in Melbourne in the fourth quarter of this year

1

G

lobal digital printing for flexible packaging company ePac Flexible Packaging has launched in Australia, with its first manufacturing facility due to open its doors in Melbourne in the fourth quarter of this year.

The new manufacturing facility will be located eight kilometres from the Melbourne CBD, at the new Newlands Road food manufacturing hub in Coburg, bringing its digital printing technology to the local scene. ePac is based entirely on digital printing technology from HP, namely the Indigo 20000, which is available from Currie Group.

The company said this technology platform enables it to provide fast times to market – between five to 15 business days, economical short and medium run length jobs, customisation, and the ability to order to demand to avoid costly inventory and obsolescence. ePac was established in the US in 2016 to provide locally-based consumer packaged goods companies the ability to compete with large brands with great packaging, give back to the communities it serves, and contribute to the creation of a more sustainable, circular economy.

Since the opening of the company’s first manufacturing facility in 2016, ePac’s mission has mainly been to help small brands obtain big brand presence and grow.

After its expansion of sites in the US and North America, it commenced on its European expansion in 2018.

Now, it includes multiple facilities in the UK and one in France. It has also recently seen further expansion in North America as well as Indonesia, South Korea and Ghana. Its head office is in the US. Currently, ePac has 20 manufacturing sites globally and an annual turnover of US$200 million.

The business serves local brands of all sizes, with a particular focus on small and medium sized businesses producing snacks, confections, coffee, natural and organic foods, pet food, and nutritional supplements.

10 ProPack.pro October 2021

1. ePac will soon establish itself in Australia to provide locally-based consumer packaged goods companies the ability to compete with large brands with great packaging

ePac Flexible Packaging Australia managing director Jason Brown said, “ePac helps local brands grow into major contributors within the community, with a unique offering for brands to rapidly go to market with great packaging. Opening our first facility at Newlands Road is an exciting milestone for ePac Australia, and we’ve already had a great response from the community.

“This facility will have cutting-edge digital printing assets installed, such as the HP Indigo 25000, coupled with market-leading conventional finishing equipment in the form of solvent lamination, pouch makers, value inserters and slitters.

“This production platform will allow ePac Australia to deliver the highest quality digital packaging in the industry. Our sales and marketing teams will be looking to engage with the Australian pet food, and food and beverage sector to effectively communicate the value we can bring to help them grow their brand in the market.

“We will also be looking to engage in our local community to give something back through our ‘ePac cares’ initiatives. This is a core initiative of ePac globally, to partner with the local community and ensure that we fulfill our role on a community engagement and support level.”

Why launch in Australia?

Brown said the business launched in Australia as it noticed an increasing number of small and medium sized brands looking to build their business in the country.

“In recent years, technology has become more widely accessible and social media has created a platform for entrepreneurial minds and the rise of small business. Our global brand has contributed to many small business success stories across our established markets in the US, Canada, Europe, Asia and Africa, off the back of this growth,” he said.

“In Australia specifically, there’s an increasing number of small and medium sized brands across numerous categories, including the explosive growth in coffee, natural foods and petfood. We strive to serve these markets. This traction is also especially true of fast-growing food categories like vegan or Keto brands.

“With the explosion in entrepreneurial companies launching new products comes a market that demands a professional look. However, some are tipped to take it to that next level but can’t source locally produced packaging from the bigger packaging companies as their volume is too small.

“These are the type of customers that we aim to reach in Australia and will serve well – those who require small and nimble print runs or those who may want to iterate and trial new products to market before making large investments in particular, print executions.”

A few trends have also driven ePac’s launch into Australia. Brown said Australians have been moving towards the concept of ‘buy local’ for a number of years, but the choice to support small business has only gained traction recently, namely off the back of the summer bushfires and COVID-19. www.propack.pro

EPAC FLEXIBLE PACKAGING FOCUS

xible Packaging, launches in Australia “With more Aussies consciously turning their attention to the local businesses in their community, owners of small and medium-sized startups are looking to scale up their operations to meet the demand of their growth.

In the context of the pandemic in Australia particularly, there is a need for cost-effective, time-sensitive packaging solutions for these upand-coming businesses,” he said.

“On a similar note, Australians are increasingly considering the planet when it comes to making purchase decisions. As such, there is a growing need for these up and coming small and medium sized businesses to lean into sustainable packaging – something that ePac will introduce into the Australian market with its digital printing technology.”

Additionally, with the COVID-19 pandemic heightening the impact and instability of offshore production, Brown mentioned that sourcing from the overseas Asian market has caused an imbalance in supply and demand, that led to stock shortages across supermarket shelves.

As such, through building its presence directly in the Australian market where it produces onshore, ePac will be able to strengthen Australian supply chain partnerships by allowing businesses to directly deal with a local partner.

“Furthermore, quality is something that can never be fully ascertained when sourcing offshore. For many companies, the investment in subpar packaging is a sunken cost that often leads to obsolescence or lessens the quality of their brands. It is difficult to rectify production quality issues with overseas suppliers, so having a partner on the ground in Australia will enable us to deliver high production quality. This is also a selling-point for our customers who are concerned about their impact on the environment and their carbon footprint when sourcing offshore,” Brown said.

Building on ePac’s mission

ePac’s mission has always been about helping small brands obtain big brand presence through great packaging, ultimately, giving back to the communities it serves and contributing to the creation of a more sustainable, circular economy.

This mission underpinned the opening of its first manufacturing facility in 2016 and has continued to be the focus for ePac as it experiences growth in international markets.

According to Brown, launching into www.propack.pro

2. ePac Flexible Packaging Australia managing director Jason Brown

2

the Australian market provides ePac with a new customer-base to further achieve its mission of giving back to community businesses whilst helping the environmentally conscious brands access sustainable packaging solutions.

“We’re excited to be part of the rapid growth of small business in this region, supporting up and coming businesses on their journey to achieving big brand presence,” he said.

In addition, Brown mentioned that ePac’s digital printing technology is a unique point of difference against its competitors, allowing the business to provide new, competitive offerings to its Australian customers.

“Of these offerings, we’re particularly proud to provide small and medium run-length orders within a five to 15 business day lead time.

“By allowing businesses to order to demand, the whole process minimises obsolescent costs and waste, avoiding piles of inventory sitting around,” Brown mentioned.

“Additionally, our offerings aim to bring a new sustainable solution to the Australian market, with our locallymanufactured packaging including products that are made with recyclable materials and materials with postconsumer recycled content.”

Brown said the company’s head office team are constantly pushing the boundaries of what ePac sites can offer to their customers.

“This can be as simple as a new film structure delivering enhanced

functionality or improved sustainability credentials to tech advances that change the brand experience. One such development has been the partnership between ePac and Scantrust to launch ePacConnect. ePacConnect incorporated Scantrust’s serialised and secured QR codes onto printed flexible packaging, aiming to deliver customer engagement tools, brand security features, and sales and distribution analytics,” he said. “ePac is currently also working on enhanced web-to-print solutions that will continue to offer our customers great packaging solutions.

“Further to this, we’re able to apply many of the learnings from the US to the Australian market, to better serve our customers. It means we can cut right to the chase and help our customers grow with the knowledge we have already gained through tried and tested experience.”

Moving forward, ePac has a view to expand its operations into other locations across the country. “ePac is planning to expand its operations into other parts of Australia and New Zealand sometime in the future, but until then, our customers will be able to access the offerings via the Melbourne manufacturing facility.

The industry can also expect a true partnership with ePac, where we aim to play an integral role in enabling brands to achieve the big brand presence that they rightly deserve,” Brown added.

October 2021 ProPack.pro 11

UPDATE J.L.LENNARD

J.L.Lennard extends T. Freemantle’s reach in Australia with distie deal The distributorship deal with J.L.Lennard will let T. Freemantle further spread its existing presence in Australia

1

A

ustralian distributor for food machinery J.L.Lennard has taken on UK based manufacturer of cartoning and sleeving, T. Freemantle, as its client in Australia.

T. Freemantle offers small manual and semi-automatic machines right through to fully automatic high-speed systems. The company has had a presence in Australia before, but with this deal is able to further spread its presence in the country.

T. Freemantle also offers simple, robust and reliable solutions for the food and beverage industries and in particular, their past success has been in the packing of a large range of products including: chilled ready meals, deserts, dairy products, frozen foods, bakery and pastry, soups and sauces, as well as confectionery.

More recently, it has been very successful with beverage multipack machinery in the small to medium bottling and canning operations as its automatic beverage multipack machine delivers maximum labour saving, superior line efficiency and higher line speeds.

The machine can run a wide range of different can and bottle sizes and counts and is best suited to smaller

2

12 ProPack.pro October 2021

1. T. Freemantle offers simple, robust and reliable solutions for the food and beverage industries, which will be made available locally through J.L.Lennard 2. T. Freemantle has been very successful with beverage multipack machinery in the small to medium bottling and canning operations 3. T. Freemantle offers small manual and semi-automatic machines right through to fully automatic highspeed systems

brewers with medium capacity requirements. The Auto Cartoner incorporates product marshalling on the infeed as well as many key features such as fallen can and bottle detection, pressure regulated pushing and low friction components throughout. The fully automatic cartoner is capable of handling speeds of 18,000 cans an hour based on a four or six pack.

As for the businesses that are looking for a smaller piece of machinery that can help them to increase production whilst making a smaller investment, T. Freemantle offers its semi-automatic beverage multipack machine.

The specifically developed SemiAutomatic Beverage Cartoner is aimed at craft brewers looking for flexibility and automation. The machine is suited to can and bottle multipacks in counts from four to 12 and can run

comfortably at a rate of up to 9,600 cans or bottles per hour.

“One of the reasons that we introduced this machine is to move towards more environmentally-friendly ways of packing. The outer cardboard cases will mean that shrink wrap is no longer necessary as the boxes can now be stacked in a brick like way to ensure maximum balance,” T. Freemantle mentioned.

“When you combine quality machinery with the J.L.Lennard renowned sales, spare parts and service support, T. Freemantle is the ideal cartoning solution for all small to medium sized applications,” J.L.Lennard said.

“Freemantle’s continuing success and reputation are built on the commitment to deliver simple and efficient machines that are easy to operate and deliver value for money.”

3

www.propack.pro

FOCUS CORRUGATED

Corrugated fuelling the Online shopping is the new mainstream way to shop in the pandemic era, and corrugated board is literally the package that delivers the goods

1

By Peter Kohn

C

orrugated packaging is enjoying a boom. The global folding carton market is expected to exceed $220 billion by 2026, according to research by consulting firm Smithers. While COVID-19 has caused some bumps along the way and there remain challenges ahead, corrugated has benefited from the pandemic too.

The industry has been a beneficiary of a huge uptick in demand for homedelivered goods bought online.

Beyond obvious limitations such as deformation under extreme stacking pressure, ability to withstand extreme weather conditions, and considerations about the weight of items packaged in corrugated containers, corrugated has proven itself to be a broadly and consistently reliable substrate for the folding cartons industry.

It is lightweight, safe, strong, offers protection from most attacks of moisture and bacteria, cost-effective, and offers great potential for promotional embellishment through printed graphics.

A very significant advantage is corrugated’s eco-friendliness. The material almost always contains recycled content and is recyclable and reusable.

And a high degree of flexibility means it can be manufactured in an endless array of shapes and sizes to suit the shipping of almost any product.

ProPack.Pro asked several vendors to go into detail about their product offerings and share their outlook for the corrugated box market.

Agfa

Shipping costs have been rising rapidly since mid-2020, a serious problem that continues to impact not just the packaging and printing sector, but all kinds of businesses in Australia, according to Agfa Oceania managing director Mark Brindley.

14 ProPack.pro October 2021

1. Agfa’s Arkana smart processor offers consistent, highquality plate processing with minimal chemistry usage and maintenance

“Vessel shortages and a shortage of large containers continues to be difficult and is predicted to get worse before it gets better,” he said.

“Our packaging customer base has remained consistent with demand through the COVID crisis. This is due to increased demand for packaging created by increased online shopping.”

Agfa’s newest software solution, Amfortis, is a dedicated all-in-one PDF workflow solution for packaging converters and printers, covering all prepress production tasks from preflighting, stepping-and-repeating, and proofing to rendering. It is a single system with one interface to smoothly manage the entire prepress production and drive all output devices. Amfortis uses Agfa’s Digital Quick Strip mechanism to render a single artwork, which then gets stepped to fill a complete print sheet.

“This has two great advantages.

Unlike other software solutions – which step-and-repeat artwork before rendering it – Amfortis keeps file sizes and therefore hardware requirements low, which speeds up your production process,” Brindley said.

“It ensures a perfectly consistent print quality. As the box is rendered before it is placed, it will always retain its characteristics, no matter its position or orientation. The single rendered artwork can also be used for soft and hard proofing, and for remote approval.”

Brindley added that Agfa offers complete and robust offset printing solutions for packaging printers. These include thermal digital plates which are

durable on press, compatible with UV and metallic inks, and have run lengths up to 150 million copies. Agfa also offers complete computer-to-plate systems to image and process offset printing plates. Agfa’s Arkana smart processor offers consistent, highquality plate processing with minimal chemistry usage and maintenance, allowing printers to further reduce their CO2 footprint.

“Arkana features a small developer tank, drastically lowering replenishment rates and considerably reducing chemical consumption.

Thanks to Agfa’s patented gum cascade system in which the gum both cleans the plate and protects it with a finishing layer, Arkana no longer requires water for plate rinsing. All in all, it produces up to 50 per cent less collectable waste compared to other systems on the market,” Brindley said.

Böttcher Australia

Böttcher Australia managing director Mitch Mulligan said the company, which offers rollers and other press consumables, sees packaging, together with its rising opportunities for printing on packaging material, as a trend accelerated significantly by the online shopping boom during the COVID era. And he predicted that virtual store transactions will only keep increasing.

“It will continue to grow as transition to the online shopping model becomes more and more the new normal,” Mulligan mentioned.

And with that “new normal” in which packaging material is in strong www.propack.pro

CORRUGATED FOCUS

he box-drop bonanza demand has come an increased demand for the ancillary products and consumables that keep carton manufacturing and printing lines ticking along at optimal levels. For example, these include specialised rubber coverings to enhance, assist and maintain a high-quality carton product, he explained.

A key component of Bottcher’s rollout to the corrugated packaging sector is its BottcherTec corrugated cardboard feed rollers. Mulligan said the function of a feed roller is to ensure uniform, non-destructive sheet transport at high machine speeds and cycle frequencies. Frequent format changes and high workloads with small formats contribute to uneven roller covering wear and tear, which has a negative impact on sheet transport and rubber covering service life.

Equally important is non-destructive material transport with minimal shaft compression and resulting loss of mechanical properties. BöttcherTec offers several solutions that meet this requirement, from proven, economical single-layer constructions to dual-layer systems designed to provide enhanced wear protection.

Durst Australia

Corrugated and fluted card particularly lend themselves to short-run boutique packaging, Durst Oceania managing director Matt Ashman said. The company offers wide-format digital printers, such as the Durst P5 350 and 350 HS. The present-day challenges in the Australian corrugated packaging sector are twofold, according to Ashman.

“The COVID situation has massively increased home shopping and the clickand-collect paradigm. All of this needs more packaging, but also requires shorter runs and more diverse SKUs. This challenges the standard setup of high volume, limited SKUs, so the answer is digital packaging.

3

2

2. The EFI Nozomi C18000 Plus press is a leading digital technology in corrugated packaging (Photo courtesy of Electronics for Imaging Inc.) 3. Corrugated and fluted card lend themselves to shortrun boutique packaging, which Durst’s P5 350 does exceptionally well

These scenarios are not a challenge to a digital workflow; they are what a digital workflow is designed for,” he said.

For manufacturers, converters and downstream companies, there is now the opportunity to embrace digital manufacturing, according to Ashman.

“Businesses that embrace change and adopt digital print and finishing can reap the rewards. The forecast is good, especially as more and more primary packaging is going co-curated.

This is for many reasons,” he said.

“One main reason is the quality of printing onto co-curated digital can give a much more superior result than traditional direct-to-corrugated solutions. Traditionally this type of packaging was very much secondary.

If it was to be primary, it would be a two-step litho-lam (litho printed paper, laminated to low-quality corrugated).

But with digital and the advent of claycoated digital media, this can be transformed into a high-quality onestep process.”

Ashman sees two ink technologies for corrugated, and many options for production. Firstly, there is UV ink, which he described as “tried and trusted” and giving high print quality and performance in the non-food packaging arena. Secondly, there is Durst Water technology, a water-based

ink technology for packaging and corrugated, which is suitable for all the areas that UV applies to as well.

But with the addition of food packaging, water-based ink’s unique high-quality, high-speed odourless ink film makes it ideal for sensitive primary packaging.

EFI Nozomi

Both the corrugated packaging space and the various brands supplied by corrugators are intently focused on sustainability nowadays, EFI AsiaPacific vice-president of sales Rodd Harrison said.

“As an equipment supplier, there has been an important focus within EFI on making sure corrugated board printed on EFI Nozomi presses is both recyclable and re-pulpable. And any digital solution in the market today must print well on recycled board.

The Nozomi performs exceptionally well in that regard,” he said.

EFI Nozomi users saw global doubledigit increases in volumes throughout the last year, in a time when many other segments of print have been challenged, Harrison added.

“The pandemic has brought forth a boom in online activities, and as a result, many types of fast-moving consumer good (FMCG) product brands are looking to improve their packaging. And digital print has been an important solution for brand presence, both in traditional retail and e-commerce,” he said.

“Sustainability has also made corrugated packaging more important than ever, as brands look to create corrugated packaging solutions that can replace plastic packaging.

“Take for instance, one of Australia’s leading corrugated producers, Opal.

It uses our EFI Nozomi printer to help Continued on page 16

www.propack.pro

October 2021 ProPack.pro 15

FOCUS CORRUGATED Graph Pak

Continued from page 15

customers innovate by optimising designs through digital printing in ways that enhance consumer appeal, especially in retail furniture promotional displays. EFI is focused on growing its packaging footprint in Asia-Pacific and we value-add to our customers with our digital solutions.”

The EFI Nozomi C18000 press is a leading digital technology in corrugated packaging.

Late last year, EFI launched the Nozomi C18000 Plus, a new version of the single-pass digital inkjet corrugated printer. Job processing for the Nozomi C18000 Plus is five per cent faster, thanks to the latest version of the EFI Fiery NZ-1000 DFE used to control the printer. It additionally features Smart Ink Estimator, which can accurately analyse image data for more-precise control of ink costs, as well as Fiery Edge, to deliver colour and quality enhancements.

In addition, EFI’s MarketDirect Pack Central solution enables packaging and corrugated providers to raise value for their customers with features like the SmartBox Designer, a web-based tool that enables packaging providers to host their product library online and allows their customers to create 3D visual mock-ups before placing an order.

Furthermore, the EFI Corrugated Packaging Suite, a comprehensive ERP and manufacturing execution system for corrugated, offers versatile, modular software solutions for premium corrugator efficiency and converting performance, while minimising paper waste throughout the manufacturing workflow.

Graffica

Graffica director Neil Southerington said packaging – in the form of carton board and decorative boxes, as well as corrugated for shipping carton and outers – has been on the rise for at least seven years.

“With online shopping, more corrugated boxes are circulating everywhere. Early on, the product

5

4

4. One of Graph Pak’s offerings through APR is the Maxi Box Plus 2 5. Graffica’s Century die cutters, such as the Century 1650Q semiauto, offer professional die cutting machines at realistic prices

was packed in the cheapest generic box available, often way too big for the product, full of void fill. Now, this method is unacceptable; a cheap box is not a cheap box when you lose a full layer on a pallet or on a smaller scale, the size of the oversize box adds a couple of dollars to the courier cost,” he said.

“We have found acceptance with our range of fully-automated corrugated box machines in A/NZ, both in traditional sheet plants and in warehouse situations.

“A box can be set up in the office in a minute or two, sent to the machine, which sets itself in under a minute, and then produces fully formed, industrystandard slotted boxes, glued inline with a single-colour print – at more than 500 pieces per hour.”

Carton board folded box production is also currently enjoying greater sales, Southerington said.

“The A/NZ market has always been lower in run lengths but high in quality.

Many printers don’t have the equipment or expertise to take on packaging jobs that require a crash lock carton or one with a window, so they go to a finishing specialist,” he mentioned.

“However, there are options. For higher-volume carton manufacturing, Century has recently released several alternatives to double handling and reduced human operation. Our Century die cutters, such as the Century 1650Q semi-auto with or without stripping, offer professional die cutting machines at realistic price levels. These semi-auto machines will produce five times as much as a handfed clamshell machine, in a safe way – carton board or corrugated.”

Graph Pak managing director Tom Ralph identified one of the largest challenges to the corrugated packaging sector as the demand for volume, with COVID-19 pushing more and more goods online amid increased urgency about getting corrugated packaging to the market. He is upbeat about opportunities in the sector.

“The opportunities that have come from the pandemic are driven by demand and hopes for a more prosperous future. Other drivers include the need for more environmentally responsible packaging, with plastic being replaced as a packaging material, and greater demand for cardboard and corrugated,” he said.

“Our offering to customers is along these lines. We can offer die cutters and folder box gluers, as well as carton erecting machines and window patching or pasting machines to the corrugated sector.

“We can also offer both flatbed die cutting machines platen-style, as well as short, compact, robust rotary die cutting systems which are becoming more and more popular due to the capabilities of handling shorter runs with limited space.”

Ralph noted that carton erecting machinery is becoming more and more popular, and said he has seen an upsurge in requests for solutions that are economical, reliable and user-friendly.

During the COVID era, Graph Pak acquired a new blue-chip partner, APR Solutions, a converting and finishing specialist in Italy, with a focus on folder-gluers, applicators of doublesided tape, and envelope making machines. APR offers a solution for short-run, complicated, timeconsuming box manufacturing.

One of Graph Pak’s offerings through APR is the Maxi Box Plus 220, designed to automatically apply a wide range of silicone tape and adhesive tape, such as mono-adhesive tape, double-sided tape, tear tape and magnetic tape. It features a continuous-friction and suction ‘Feeder Plus’, for continuous production. The machine handles various formats of different die-cut, creased and slotted materials, from 200grams and up to 15mm. All tape applications are controlled by PLC and touch-screen, using dedicated software. Through the high-precision applicator placement with the new linear makeready system, a very fast changeover is achievable, saving time and enhancing production capability.

HP PageWide

HP PWI South Pacific sales and marketing manager Bruce Caldwell identified digital print as a key driver in supporting e-Commerce time to 16 ProPack.pro October 2021

www.propack.pro

CORRUGATED FOCUS

6

market needs and varied production volumes, together with critical supplychain benefits.

“The packaging segment is indeed a growing inkjet segment; therefore, we see a growing interest and demand for HP’s PageWide corrugated presses.

This opens up opportunities for HP and our customers, as corrugated packaging is definitely a growth engine to produce corrugated boxes at a lower cost, faster and better – as part of the increased requirements in supply-chain efficiency,” he said.

Caldwell sees the scalable portfolio of HP PageWide digital corrugated presses as delivering speed, quality and variability to produce high volumes with high versatility through pre-print liners for corrugation or ready-to-go post-print boards. The format of each platform delivers benefits for different applications and operating models.

HP’s preprint presses, including the T1100 and T400 series, have changed the dynamic in corrugated production, offering high-speed, high-quality output with incredible flexibility and unique advantages in time to market, he said. The HP C500 corrugated press, similarly, is a highly evolved innovative single-pass, digital post-print solution that helps converters to reduce the cost of making boxes at scaled volume production, creating new opportunities and competitive advantages.

HP’s PageWide digital corrugated presses use true water-based inks and are the only field-proven corrugated digital presses to deliver offset-like print quality, states Caldwell. The HP PageWide T1190 web presses enable pre-printing the top liner before corrugation, while the HP PageWide C500 Press is a direct-to-board postprint solution for printing on corrugated sheets. The HP PageWide

www.propack.pro

6. HP offers a complete digital print portfolio with its range of HP PageWide corrugated presses 7. The inline configuration of Print & Pack’s FFG 924 NT RS means that precision printing is an integral part of the production process

T470 six-colour press is also a webbased solution designed for digital lamination production.

“Our PageWide corrugated customers see an increase in the demand for e-Commerce workflows for small business and consumer needs, and with the advantage of HP’s true water-based inks, they can offer a sustainable packaging solution.

Corrugated packaging produced with the HP PageWide corrugated presses is the right solution for those who consider the environment and the consumer demands for sustainability,” Caldwell said.

Print & Pack

Print & Pack Australia sales manager Miro Williams identified opportunities for corrugated packaging.

“An increase in online purchasing activity during the lockdown periods around Australia has seen an increase in demand for corrugated and packaging products. This has seen a significant amount of Bobst machinery installed in Oceania in the past 12 months, which is truly a great result,” he said.

“We’ve seen a diverse range of machines installed, capable of producing a wide variety of products for the corrugated board market.

“Some include flatbed die cutters and full FFG (Flexo Folder Gluer) as well as rotary die cutting lines, which seem to indicate healthy growth in the industry. Print & Pack, together with Bobst, looks forward to continuing this trend and better servicing the Australian market. For example,

Bobst folder-gluers are designed to deliver versatile performance, high product quality, as well as excellent reliability.”

The modular nature of these lines mean that they are available in several versions, allowing versatile production from simple to highly complex cartons and in different sizes.

Inline Flexo Folder Gluers (FFG) represent a complete box-making solution. The inline configuration of the FFG 924 NT RS means that precision printing is an integral part of the production process, so that the best graphic quality comes at no cost to the machine’s overall box-making productivity. As for the FFG 8.20 BS Expertline, it offers shelf-ready packaging, even for semi-coated paper with varnish. It also allows very high production speeds – at 24,000 boxes per hour – ensures a consistent quality of boxes and enables cost of ownership to be reduced. In flatbed die cutting, the Expertcut 1.6 provides accuracy and consistency in die-cutting. It features a highly productive workflow, allowing job changeovers to take less than eight minutes, delivering good speeds on long runs and quick changeover on short runs. The Visioncut 1.6 is also available in a PR (Power Register) version – Bobst’s system that delivers print-to-cut accuracy, even on litholaminated board.

“By focusing on reducing waste, and increasing production capabilities and the number of products you can create with our equipment, we provide the versatility needed to compete in the current market,” he added.

7

October 2021 ProPack.pro 17

FOCUS THE PACKAGING FORUM

Packaging Forum back Small changes can have a big impact, as shown by some New Zealand companies

1

N

ew Zealand’s largest packaging industry group has welcomed its Government’s move to phase-out difficult-torecycle and some single-use plastics.

The Packaging Forum CEO Rob Langford said the Forum, and its Soft Plastic Recycling Scheme (SPRS), had largely supported the proposal during its consultation period, and were pleased to see Government take the next step.

“There was a long consultation period, as there should be, and it’s great to see Government moving forward.

It’s essential there are end-of-life solutions in place for packaging and in the case of the plastic types being phased out that is not the case.

“Oxo-degradable plastics are a prime example as they are neither recyclable or compostable,” Langford said. He added that it’s important to note bio plastics (often referred to as ‘compostable plastic’) will also be part of the single-use plastic item phase-out.

The Forum cautioned against the phase-out causing unintended consequences. As industry moves to alternative materials there must also be the development of recycling, reuse and other end-of-life solutions for these materials, as well as consideration around food safety, Langford said.

The Forum’s submission during the consultation period called for a full cost benefit analysis, which follows

4

18 ProPack.pro October 2021

Treasury guidelines, to assess impact on business, food safety, shelf life, as well as cool-chain (particularly for export items).

“That’s where the $50 million Plastics Innovation Fund announced

by Government is therefore very welcome and will be vital in helping industry transition and overcome challenges,” Langford mentioned.

“We are watching with interest to see how those funds will be allocated and excited to see what innovative solutions are developed as a result.”

Phase-out timeline

By late 2022: • PVC meat trays • PS (polystyrene) takeaway food and beverage packaging • EPS (expanded polystyrene) food and beverage packaging (including meat trays) • Degradable plastic products (e.g. oxo-degradable) • Plastic drink stirrers • Plastic stemmed cotton buds (including bio-plastics) By mid-2023: • Plastic produce bags (not including pre-packaged produce) • Plastic plates, bowls and cutlery (disposable) • Plastic straws • Plastic produce labels By mid-2025: • All other PVC food and beverage packaging • All other PS food and beverage packaging (e.g. yoghurt packs)

The Packaging Forum is a memberbased organisation, which operates the Glass Packaging Forum and Soft Plastic Recycling Scheme, as well as having a number of technical advisory groups.

Small change — big impact

Removing plastic tags from bread bags is a small change that can have a big impact – and two companies have now announced such a change in their packaging.

George Weston Foods will replace plastic bread bag tags with fully recyclable cardboard ones on Ploughmans Bakery and Bürgen bread.

The new tags will be used to seal all Ploughmans and Bürgen loaves throughout New Zealand, seven days a week.

This is the first step in the company’s plastic tag elimination programme, which will eliminate 18 million plastic tags from the waste stream in the first year and ultimately remove 75 million.

This will represent over 26,250 kgs of plastic that will no longer litter footpaths, roads, carparks and beaches or leach into waterways from landfill.

Meanwhile, Nature’s Fresh is also beginning to transition away from plastic tags – phasing in new recyclable cardboard bread tags one day a week from 14 August, on all Nature’s Fresh loaves from its Auckland Bakery. The progressive rollout will then move through its network of bakeries across New Zealand, all initially one day a week, with the intention of moving to exclusive use of recyclable cardboard bread tags at every bakery and every www.propack.pro

THE PACKAGING FORUM FOCUS

ks plastics phase-out 2

day, within the next few months.

Nature’s Fresh has the opportunity to remove up to 15 million plastic bread tags from landfill each year.

The cardboard bread tags on Nature’s Fresh loaves will be fully recyclable*, and made from 100 per cent recycled content, but don’t compromise on durability – in fact, they are considerably less prone to the dreaded ‘snapping’ that can occur with plastic bread tags.

The switch from plastic to recyclable cardboard tags on Nature’s Fresh loaves comes off the back of Goodman Fielder’s recently launched corporate sustainability goals, which include other commitments like switching its fleet of 110 sales force vehicles to hybrid models by the end of 2022, reducing fuel consumption of the fleet by 41 per cent, and in July this year moved to 100 per cent renewable electricity at all of its Goodman Fielder operated Bakeries.

But what about the plastic bags still used for packaging the bread?

Nature’s Fresh is also a proud supporter of the Soft Plastics Recycling Scheme, which aims to come up with ways to turn soft plastics into useful products, such as fence posts. Nature’s Fresh trucks are currently used to collect the soft plastics collected by the Soft Plastics Recycling Scheme from Christchurch before transporting it back to Auckland to be processed, to help solve the problem of getting soft plastics from the South Island to the processing facility in Auckland.

Goodman Fielder NZ CEO Bernard Duignan said, “We are committed www.propack.pro

1. Difficult-to-recycle and some single-use plastics will soon be phased out in NZ 2. The Packaging Forum’s Rob Langford 3. George Weston Foods (NZ) Limited’s Mark Bosomworth 4. (l-r) The Packaging Forum’s Rob Langford, Heinz Wattie’s Mike Pretty, Mayor of Napier Kirsten Wise, Mayor of Hastings Sandra Hazlehurst, Future Post’s Jerome Wenzlick and The Warehouse’s Yi You at The Warehouse in Hastings

to using our reach as a force for good.

Commencing the rollout of recyclable cardboard bread tags on our Nature’s Fresh loaves is an important milestone for Goodman Fielder and is the start of our rollout across all brands, which will see a total of more than 100 million plastic tags annually removed from circulation.

Soft plastic recycling for Hawke’s Bay

Hawke’s Bay residents are now able to recycle their soft plastic packaging for the first time at participating stores in Hastings, Napier and Waipukurau.

Mayor of Hastings Sandra Hazlehurst and Mayor of Napier Kirsten Wise welcomed members of The Packaging Forum’s Soft Plastic Recycling Scheme to the region to launch the new collection service.

The event was held at The Warehouse in Hastings where shoppers were invited to be the first to recycle their soft plastic bags and wrappers.

The distinctive recycling bins are at The Warehouse stores in Hastings and Napier South, Countdown stores in Hastings, Napier (Munroe Street); Napier South (Carlyle) and Waipukurau as well as at PAK’nSAVE Tamatea, and New World Havelock North and Waipukurau. More locations will join the programme over the coming weeks.

Langford said they are delighted to bring soft plastic recycling to the Hawke’s Bay. “Over 70 per cent of New Zealanders now have access to our recycling service, and we have 160 drop off

3

points around the country. The scheme covers the entire process, from collection through to processing, and is 100 per cent funded by industry.

“Our members are committed to reducing the amount of plastic by designing out plastic where feasible and promoting the scheme on pack to increase recycling,” he said The soft plastic collected in the region will be recycled at Future Post’s plant in Waiuku, South Auckland.

Future Post founder Jerome Wenzlick said the partnership with the Soft Plastics Recycling Scheme benefits everyone.

“Every Future Post contains 1500 bags and wrappers. So, every time Hawke’s Bay shoppers fill one of the soft plastic collection bins, that’s another post off our production line.

As we have grown, the scheme has expanded, and it’s great to be able to recycle soft plastics from here and turn them into posts for the region’s vineyards,” he said.

The Soft Plastic Recycling Scheme has over 125 members representing around 78 per cent of post-consumer soft plastic materials consumed annually. The scheme pays for the costs of collection through to processing. *Due to their small size, the best way to ensure the new recyclable cardboard bread tags are properly processed by our NZ recycling system is to collect them in an envelope before depositing with general paper/cardboard recycling.

Images were taken prior to the Delta outbreak in New Zealand.

October 2021 ProPack.pro 19

FOCUS LUXURY ITEMS

Lunatic & Lover wins packaging award

L

unatic & Lover co-founder Matt Bridge said he is surprised about how much of a morale boost winning at the recent NZ Spirit Awards has given the team.

“Receiving this emphatic recognition from industry peers is tremendously gratifying and has validated all the decisions we made to get to this point,” he said.

Launching its product to market mid-pandemic, the Lunatic & Lover team spent a long time perfecting the rum’s unique flavour profile and the packaging design in

order to stand out from the crowd – which paid off, as it won Best NZ in Category – Rum and the inaugural Viniquip New Zealand Design Packaging Award.

“There’s a lot of competition out there (more and more every day in the craft space), so it’s absolutely essential that the branding and bottle design capture the customers attention and make them want to know more,” he mentioned.

Bridge said the packaging process for the winning Lunatic & Lover Barrel Rested Botanical Rum was, at times, exhausting.

1. Lunatic & Lover’s Angie Bradley, Nick McFarlane and Matt Bridge with the packaging award sponsor Horst Klos from Viniquip

1

2

2. Lunatic & Lover Barrel Rested Botanical Rum

“There were a couple of times where we were told it couldn’t be done and we almost walked away from the whole concept. We are lucky enough to be able to pull the trigger on the final design after working on it

for two years. It’s probably not a road I would recommend every new distillery to go down but we had a vision and knew we wanted to achieve a design that could be considered iconic,” he said.

Jacob’s Creek introduces stylish new look

A

ustralian wine brand Jacob’s Creek has revealed a visual refresh to its classic packaging across all formats and varietals.

Designed to reflect a Modern Australia with a nod to the brand’s heritage, the new look is made to be stylish with greater timeless appeal.

With award-winning winemaking dating back 170 years to the banks of Jacob’s

Creek where Johann Gramp planted his first vines, the new label dials up this rich history, heroing the brand story and signature from Gramp & Sons.

Premium new colours emphasise the distinctive Jacob’s Creek personality, while a new label shape catches the eye.

The new packaging carves out a unique and modern territory for Jacob’s Creek, with research signalling that newly packaged products were

more likely to be bought, including for sharing occasions. The refresh will roll out along with eyecatching point-of-sale support, as well as print, digital and social amplification to drive awareness and cement this new look.

The refresh also includes the brand’s new claim, ‘committed to sustainability at our winery in Australia,’ signalling a prosperous future for the wine and the place.

Jacob’s Creek’s refreshed wine packaging is made to be stylish with greater timeless appeal

Giesen updates crest and packaging

F

or nearly forty years, the various evolutions of the Giesen crest have been present on the winemaker’s distinct bottles.

In the present day, with the Giesen range growing and changing, the company has decided it’s time to take the heritage and quality that the current crest signifies, and give it an update. Given popular developments like the Giesen Estate Blush and no alcohol Giesen zero per cent, it seemed logical to make sure the bottles and crest stayed as fresh as the wine itself.

The new Giesen crest reflects the innovative, vibrant and

20 ProPack.pro October 2021

driven team that are behind Giesen. The design and associated packaging refresh aims to be classic, clean and crisp, with an updated style that stays true to the brand’s legacy.

“Our founders’ passion for wine began with the first glasses shared between grandfather and grandsons. After countless glasses enjoyed since, the occasion of sharing wine with our closest friends and family keeps us making it today for those around the world to do the same,” Giesen Group chief winemaker Duncan Shouler said.

The updated look will be rolling out over the Giesen retail range soon.

The new Giesen crest reflects the innovative, vibrant and driven team behind the brand

www.propack.pro

ww

VOC FREE

t-g urs w.d

HEAVY METAL FREE

FLEXIBLE PRODUCTION

REACH COMPLIANT

/ om p.c rou

P5 350/HS + DURST AUTOMAT Multitrack & Multiroll

durst-group.com/p5

Hybrid automation

Workflow/Analytics software

p5

FROM PIXEL TO OUTPUT

Up to 650 sqm/h

FOCUS AIP CONFERENCE

What rethinking packa The journeys that some companies have taken in terms of packaging designs are inspiring, and others should learn by example

T

he Australian Institute of Packaging (AIP) recently held its two-day virtual conference, with rethinking packaging design as its overarching theme. Industry thought leaders from the industry got together to discuss key packaging elements, such as sustainability and recyclability, and their positive impacts on not only businesses but also the environment.

In the first of the keynotes, Sealed Air for Junee Lamb account manager Paul Parker, Southern Fresh Foods sales and marketing manager Brock Dunn, Simplot packaging technologist Michael Van Dord and N.A.V.I Co. Global managing director Gilad Sadan looked at ways to lower packaging’s environmental impact by embedding innovative and intuitive design features to Save Food Packaging to minimise food waste at the start of the supply value chain.

Van Dord spoke about the Edgell Supa Crunch Delivery Box solution that was the silver winner within the Save Food Packaging Design of the Year at the Australian Packaging Innovation and Design Awards 2021.

He said with consumers expecting quality food even with food deliveries, Edgell needed a solution to keep its chips crunchy for up to 40 minutes after the cooking was finished.

“While this is aimed at customer satisfaction, it also has a direct correlation to reducing food waste – and this is done through extending the life of a chip, and therefore, giving it the best opportunity to be eaten,” Van Dord said.

“Simplot, as a company, is always pushing to provide quality products.

We aim to ensure that our products are of the highest quality and have the best chance of reducing food waste. This has been tackled through many avenues in this instance, including the design of the food itself, the processing of the food to make sure there’s minimal waste, the use of quality 22 ProPack.pro October 2021

Top Row (l-r): Impact International’s Aleks Lajovic; Telstra’s Alita McMenamin; Lovekins’ Amanda Essery; La Manna Premier Group’s Anika Dobbie; Reflo’s Gary White; N.A.V.I Co. Global’s Gilad Sadan; O F Packaging’s Joe Foster and Zero Co’s Mike Smith Bottom row (l-r): Southern Fresh Foods’ Brock Dunn; Wellman Packaging’s Craig Wellman; Pact Group’s Deanne Holdsworth; Cyclpac’s Edward Whitehead; Brookfarm’s Sally Carter; MaCher’s Simon Back; Pana Organic’s Tara Anderson and Colgate-Palmolive’s Ted Bailey

ingredients and packaging optimised for the food.”

Parker spoke about Junee Lamb and Sealed Air’s Cryovac Total Bone Guard as protection of food remains a core purpose for the business.

“Packaging is not like what it used to be before. It now must satisfy the needs of all stakeholders and align to the 2025 Sustainable Packaging Principles. So, the role of packaging has become more challenging for products like bones as they’re sharp and may compromise the integrity of packaging,” he said.

“Rather than up gauging the entire area of the bag, this solution is designed to deliver protection where it is needed most as it features rotated patches which protect both edges of the bag and small patches which protect a small area on one side of the bag.”

Dunn and Sadan spoke about the changing consumer behaviours of purchasing products online and cooking fresh food more often as a result of lockdowns resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“One of the main things we’ve seen through COVID is that when restaurants were shut, there was an enormous surplus of product that was available for harvest in farms. As such, without the protection of packaging, they would have wilted very quickly on retail shelves,” Sadan said.

Southern Fresh Foods and N.A.V.I Co. Global then worked together on a new format packaging development.

“It was important for us to maintain the visibility of the produce – good quality sells itself. But we also added recipe cards and nice packaging that would attract the customer.”

The need to lower the environmental impact

In the second keynote presentation, Brookfarm, O F Packaging, Zero Co and Oasis Spices looked into how they have actively embraced sustainable and circular design into their packaging and how they are taking bold steps to lower their environmental impact. qDesign for Oasis Spices director Michael Grima spoke about the innovative packaging transformation of Oasis Spices.

“Apart from moving away from single-use plastics, we had a vision to tell a story with the brand. So, we did a total revamp of Oasis’ packaging where the product was the hero and addressed consumer usability, design for refill and recyclability, as well as material and process considerations,” Grima said.

“The packaging now commands attention in the aisles and promotes a return and refill system.”

Brookfarm head of operations and procurement Sally Carter said environment, community and real food are the core values of its business, and together with its partner O F Packaging, has been able to bring a sustainability focus to its business.

“Our mission, over the last few years, has been to deliver Brookfarm products with the same level of freshness, in a fully-recyclable pouch,” she said.

“In our quest to find balance between providing the freshest cereals to our customers and having the softest touch possible to our earth, Brookfarm has been working with O F Packaging to launch a world-first kerbside recyclable soft plastic pouch.”

O F Packaging managing director Joe Foster added that the idea involved www.propack.pro

AIP CONFERENCE FOCUS

kaging design entails

a specialised label that would allow a pouch to be rolled into a semi-rigid shape and move through existing kerbside co-mingled recycling collection without causing issues to the mechanical aspects of the process.

“The ‘roll and recycle’ label and packaging material had to work in cohesion to provide the right function to allow the correct process for recycling to occur,” he said.

“The technological function that the label and recyclable pouch combination provided the Brookfarm product is an Australian first and provided a kerb side recyclable pouch packaging format that required no changes to existing waste infrastructure.”

Zero Co. founder Mike Smith spoke about the benefits of the company’s ‘forever bottles’, which are made from ocean, beach and landfill plastic and designed to be refilled and used forever, and its ‘reusable refills’ made with landfill diverted plastic that is designed to be cleaned, sanitised and reused.

“We began shipping the product to customers in November 2020 and since then have pulled about 500,000 water bottles worth of plastic out of the ocean and inspired more than 37,000 Aussie households to ditch SUP,” he said.

“We have built a local supply chain that enables us to collect plastic from Aussie beaches, process it here in Australia and turn it into our ‘forever bottles’. We have also built a world-class technology that enables us to clean and sanitise used pouches.”

Standing out from the crowd

In another keynote session, Nestlé, Lovekins, Impact International and La Manna Premier Group for Cutri Fruit www.propack.pro

all suggested ways of standing out against competitors. Using renewable materials, interactive consumer engagement on pack and changing the branding of a pack to push the message of recyclability are just some of the ways they are leading the way in their categories.

Lovekins founder and CEO Amanda Essery spoke about her company’s packaging journey, and how it transitioned from plastic bottles in 2016 to plastic tubes to now using SARAH Tubes from Impact International – a sustainable, FDAapproved, and protected product that is also internationally registered with anti-counterfeiting measures.

“By 2025, our goal is to incorporate more sustainable, eco-friendly and biodegradable materials through componentry and raw materials.

Lovekins has partnered with our tube manufacturer Impact International to invest in a section of trees in a forest in NSW to help reduce carbon emissions and contribute to a healthier planet,” she said.

Impact International managing director Aleks Lajovic said his company’s mission is to support its customers by supplying innovative, high-quality packaging in an ethical, knowledgeable and environmentally conscious manner.

“When we speak about packaging, it’s very important that we design packaging to be recyclable. But it’s also extremely important to focus on how you manufacture your packaging because recyclability and sustainability are two separate things.”

Nestlé confectionery head of marketing Joyce Tan shared an

example of a campaign that the company produced in 2020 for KitKat. “The campaign was designed to motivate people to make the right choice and recycle their KitKat wrappers, and other soft plastics, correctly,” she mentioned.

“The key messages were to recycle, to give the planet a break, through REDcycle, as by returning the soft plastics to REDcycle, they could be turned into useful items.”

La Manna Premier Group marketing manager Anika Dobbie addressed how Cutri Fruit launched a new variety of Saturn peaches with a packaging campaign that was exciting, userfriendly, cross-functional, sustainable and educational.

“The key consumer drivers were focused on flavour, freshness, sustainability, provenance and recyclability. What we did with these drivers was make sure that we were carrying them through all elements of our campaign,” she added.

Becoming a circular business

The Collective and Colgate-Palmolive both understand the important role that recycled content plays in ensuring a business is not only meeting the 2025 National Packaging Targets, but also truly becoming a circular business by design.

Colgate-Palmolive Asia Pacific packaging sustainability manager Ted Bailey, Wellman Packaging managing director Craig Wellman and Pact Group C&I New Zealand sales general manager Deanne Holdsworth elaborated on why recycled content is so valuable to their businesses.

Holdsworth said leading the circular economy through sustainable packaging is crucial and its customer, The Collective, has managed to do that with its Kefir drinking yoghurt range.

“The challenge was to produce a sustainable packaging solution which performs well, protects the product, has shelf appeal and aligns with The Collective’s brand strategy,” she said.

“The solution we created saw the product switch from 100 per cent PET to 97 per cent rPET, which not only delivered a 27 per cent reduction in product weight but also reduced CO2 emissions by 98 tonnes, saved about 3.37 megalitres of water and eliminated about 20 tonnes of solid waste annually.”

Continued on page 24 October 2021 ProPack.pro 23

FOCUS AIP CONFERENCE Continued from page 23

Bailey spoke about ColgatePalmolive’s 2025 packaging sustainability aims, which includes reducing the use of virgin plastics by a third, removing all unnecessary and problematic packaging and making all its packaging recyclable, reusable or compostable.

In the South Pacific, the company has moved all PET bottles to 100 per cent rPET. “We look at sustainability in two different ways – minimal impact and positive impact. Minimal impact focuses on minimising the impact of a business through recyclable packaging and reduction of waste.

This is a strategy of efficiency and cost-reduction,” he said.

“Positive impact is a focus on driving change in the world, of championing a new vision through brand and behaviour – this is a strategy of radicalism and growth. In the near term, we will increase recycled content, reduce plastic consumption and engage with innovative solution providers to build on our aims.”

Wellman provided an update on Wellman Packaging’s sustainability vision and its recent projects and challenges using recycled plastics, which included challenges processing at 100 per cent rPET, as well as the crystallinity and temperature stability of rPET and additives.

“But we have a sustainability vision of E-Zero, which is to cause zero harm to the environment and to create an advanced environmentally conscious manufacturing platform for fast moving consumer goods,” he said.

Moving away from the norm

Reflo, Cyclpac, MaCher and Coles have all shown the industry how changing packaging materials have resulted in a more circular and sustainable packaging designs.

Cyclpac co-founder and managing director Edward Whitehead mentioned that the primary objective of soft plastic packaging is to protect and preserve food, while also extending its shelf-life and communicating information to consumers.

“As we transition to new products for new markets and new applications in the circular economy, we need to think about the primary objectives – of remove, reduce, reuse, recycle, re-think and re-design – but also commercial implications, their 24 ProPack.pro October 2021

(l-r): Nestlé’s Joyce Tan; Zipform Packaging’s Nicholas Payne; Sealed Air for Junee Lamb’s Paul Parker; qDesign for Oasis Spices’s Michael Grima; Coles’ Caitlyn Richards; Birdstone Collective’s Grant Davies and Simplot’s Michael Van Dord

practical implementations, compromises, client expectations and market expectations too,” he said.

Specifically for the coffee industry, Reflo director Gary White spoke about the problems inflicted by single use coffee capsules, which led to the company’s creation and introduction of its Podpress System.

“The Podpress System enables re-use of capsules for a wide range of coffee machines in a convenient and fast process,” White said.

“It also allows for the user’s preferred coffee in the capsule and supplied reusable capsules are moulded in foodsafe polypropylene. A multi-capsule filling table enables rapid filling and tamping down of coffee in the capsule and Podpress can seal nine capsules in a couple of minutes.”

Coles Group responsible sourcing manager Caitlyn Richards deep dived into its Coles Hot Smoked Salmon case study, which faced a challenge of nonrecyclable coloured PVC tray and laminate film.

“The solution that we created was a tray that is kerbside recyclable with a film recyclable via REDcycle. It contains rPET and Plantic renewable plant-based plastic,” she said.

“It’s not a simple, straight-forward change that many think it is. The dedication from the team to find the right solution that ticks all the boxes has been tremendous.

“We look forward to driving even more improvements across our value chain and working with other packaging manufacturers to do that.”

MaCher general manager Simon Back introduced the company’s FlexiHex sustainable packaging solution, a paper-based product made from recycled and FSC-certified materials.

“Its hexagonal cellular structure creates an elasticity, allowing it to suit a range of products.

“It is also user-friendly, intuitive to assemble and easily slots into supply chains, so provides a genuine alternative to products in the market that are harmful to the environment.”

Meeting the 2025 National Packaging Targets

With reduce, reuse, recover and recycle as the four principles that they both follow to be more sustainable, Pana Organic and Telstra looked at how they have developed innovative renewable, recyclable and recoverable packaging

designs that are meeting the 2025 National Packaging Targets.

Pana Organic marketing project manager Tara Anderson addressed the company’s thought process behind the creation of its drink blends packaging, which it created with Zipform Packaging.

“Our packaging considerations included the need to have a locally produced solution that is compostable or recyclable. It needed to have a premium print finish, show innovation in its category, cut through on shelf, a visual aesthetic in the pantry, be easy to use and keep the product fresh,” Anderson said.

Zipform Packaging business development and marketing manager Nicholas Payne added that the approach included a barrier to oxygen and moisture, quality print capabilities and sustainability credentials.

“We were led by the National Packaging Targets so created a product that was 100 per cent recyclable, reusable or compostable,” he said.

“The plastic packaging used is 70 per cent recycled or composted, which shows an average of 50 per cent in recycled content.”

Telstra senior marketing specialist Alita McMenamin focused her presentation on the Telstra Smart Modem packaging solution project, which it created in collaboration with the Birdstone Collective.

“The Smart Modem Gen 2 was a great pilot to showcase within Telstra the benefits of sustainable packaging.

Now, we’re setting up processes and guidelines to roll out the new packaging. The success of this project has led to greater sustainability targets for Telstra Packaging,” she mentioned.

Birdstone Collective director Grant Davies added that traditionally used as a tool for branding, design also has an important role in aiding in the achievement of sustainability and cost reduction targets.

“It allows us to use those capabilities to unearth opportunities that may exist across the product’s entire lifecycle, design innovative structural packaging to reduce materials and save space and use thoughtful and considered graphic design to activate a brand with less embellishments,” he said.

“This creative thinking broadens sustainable strategy when used as part of a sustainable process.” www.propack.pro

EAST COAST CANNING FOCUS

East Coast Canning gets Australian-first direct-to-can digital printing technology

It has selected a vendor for its new equipment, having considered manufacturers in the US and Germany, and hopes to have the technology up and running by March 2022

A

ustralian mobile beverage canning company East Coast Canning has invested in an Australian-first $5.8 million direct-tocan digital printing capability to meet the needs of its customers.

East Coast Canning founder and general manager Chris Kelly said the investment enables the business with ‘direct-to-shape’ digital printing equipment, which allows for the ability to print directly onto aluminium cans.

Ancillary printing management, as well as e-commerce and customer ordering platforms will support it.

Kelly also mentioned that the investment follows $1 million in funding from the government as East Coast Canning was a recipient of the Manufacturing Modernisation Fund 2.0 grant.

East Coast Canning was started in mid-2016 as Australia’s first mobile canning service, primarily supporting www.propack.pro

East Coast Canning founder and general manager Chris Kelly said the investment follows a $1 million funding from the government

craft brewers. Since that time, the company has gone from growth to growth to have five mobile canning lines servicing areas around Australia.

“During that time, we’ve come across lots of people that face issues screen printing or flexo printing their can labels. We always took the approach not to run in-line labels with our machines as there are a lot of challenges with labelling cans,” he said.

“That’s when we set up a prelabelling service, which we have been running for about three years and has formed part of our core offering.

“Digital printing of short-run beverage cans is certainly the future and we wanted to build on our capabilities, which is why we have now invested in this new technology.”

Kelly took inspiration from digital can printing’s growth in the US, when he made a trip over before the COVID pandemic hit.

“That gave us confidence in executing our strategy and we have been working towards it ever since.

Direct-to-can printing is a developing technology, but it has become mature enough now to invest in,” he said.

“There’s also a trend towards more varied designs on cans resulting in the need for short-runs so we want to deliver on our customers’ needs.”

Sustainability is also a key factor in this strategy as Kelly mentioned that there is a global shift away from the use of plastic labelling.

“We’re marching quickly towards a big sustainability push within our business. The technology allows us

to immediately remove 20 tonnes of plastic that get applied in our current volume per annum as we will avoid the energy and resource needed in creating raw plastic,” he said.

The company has selected a vendor for its new equipment, having considered manufacturers in the US and Germany.

Kelly said East Coast Canning hopes to have the technology up and running by March 2022.

He also identified that there’s no chemical washing or waste stream needed for the can prep process and that the cans go through hyperaccurate systems and servomotors that spin them around to print on them. Varnish is then applied over the print and that is cured by using heat or UV light.

“There is a general challenge into printing into the neck of a can, so this technology will allow us to print into that seam. Most of these machines run at speeds of about 90 pieces per minute for simple, lower resolution designs so it’s a decent output for us,” Kelly said.

It also features a seven-colour process with a print resolution of 1600 dpi, and is able to metalise, spot-gloss or spotmatt elements of the can. Variable data capability is one of the key features Kelly is looking forward to.

“It’s something that some of our customers are excited about. The machine will also be able to work on a number of different can formats – so it can print on slim, sleek or classic cans. That opens us up to a broad range of customers,” Kelly added.

October 2021 ProPack.pro 25

FOCUS LABELS AND LABELLING

How to create unique and innovative labels Eurostampa, internationally considered for its excellence in labels and labelling, focuses on its experience in printing labels for the wine and spirits sectors

I

n a recent web series hosted

by OMET, Eurostampa CEO Gian Franco Cillario delved into the company’s experience in printing labels for the wine and spirits sectors as it is internationally considered for its excellence in these particular markets.

Eurostampa is an international company mainly focused on the wine and spirits sector, with a good market share also in the chocolate and beverage industries. It has six production sites: the main, with about 450 employees, is located in Bene Vagienna (Cuneo, Italy) where the company was born and has grown.

Other offices are located in Europe and the US, following the main wine and spirits markets; in Glasgow to follow the Scottish whiskey market and in Touverac (France) following growth in cognac and champagne.

Over the last 10 years, three locations have been settled in America: in Cincinnati (near Kentucky) to follow the Bourbon market, in California, Napa Valley, to follow the wine sector, and in Mexico in Guadalajara to for the production of Tequila.

According to Cillario, innovation and investment in new technologies are the keys to continuous growth in the label sector, without forgetting the enhancement of collaborators and territory.

“It’s necessary to regularly invest in presses able to work on different materials, and in decorative technologies such as hot foil, cold foil, screen printing, flexography, offset, and all that is needed to make a unique and innovative label. Companies need to have suitable and experienced 26 ProPack.pro October 2021

Gian Franco Cillario, CEO of Eurostampa, addresses the importance of creating unique and innovative labels

resources and follow the dynamics of the market,” he said.

In delivering on the needs of the market, Cillario said the company has invested in R&D where it collects information and data on customer needs before working on solutions.

“We have now opened two centres called ‘Innovation Labels’, where we collect all the needs and requests of customers, and develop the innovations that we want to carry out,” he said.

“In these innovation centres we try to realise what our customers ask, to bring to the market innovative solutions in a very short time.

Investments should be obsessive.

In the last four to five years, we have invested about €50 million in equipment, resources, technologies and infrastructures and we managed to define a truly unique offer based on paper and glue technology, selfadhesive, and digital printing.”

Cillario also mentioned that one of the biggest changes to labels and labelling is the duration that a label can last. He added that this has meant that

customers are increasingly making changes to their labels, resulting in the positive growth of more work for the print and packaging businesses in the industry.

“Up until five years ago, a label could last 10 years. Most of our customers used to think about their label designs and makes over and over again before deciding to change the design of a label or even some details.

Some of them even used to spend some money for this, but in the end, decide that they didn’t want any changes,” he mentioned.

“However, today, we have entered a completely different era: labels can last from six months to a maximum of two years, and so customers are continuously searching for modifications with an obsessive attention to the communication with the consumer.

“They’re also now always trying to innovate or to attract attention with their labels, with the attention to always go to market and satisfy their needs with different products.” www.propack.pro

GRAPH-PAK SUPPLIER SUPPLIER PROFILE PROFILE

Since Since 2006 2006 GRAPH-PAK GRAPH-PAK PTY PTY LTD LTD has has delivered delivered high high quality quality products products and and services services to to the the printing printing and and packaging packaging industries industries in in Australia Australia & & New New Zealand.

Zealand.

Our mission mission is is to to continue continue to to provide provide advanced, advanced, reliable reliable and and functional functional equipment equipment and and engineering engineering Our solutions solutions and and services services that that enable enable our our customers customers to to maximise maximise their their business business potential. potential.

SERIES DIECUTTER CUTTER presentsDIE SERIES SERIES SERIES DIE DIE CUTTER CUTTER

range compact versatile folder gluers TheInsignia Insigniaisisof sheet-fed,rotary, rotary, The aasheet-fed, The Insignia isis aadiesheet-fed, rotary, flexo magnetic cutter designed The Insignia sheet-fed, rotary, flexo magnetic die cutter designed flexo magnetic die cutter designed production-driven operation at crash lock as well as Suitablediefor straight flexo magnetic cutter designed forfor production-driven operation atline, for production-driven operation at application of tape, magnet, silicone and more an affordable price point. for production-driven operation at an affordable price point. an affordable price point. an affordable price point.

INSIGNIAS W/ WASTE STRIPPING UNIT INSIGNIAS W/ WASTE STRIPPING UNIT INSIGNIAS W/ WASTE STRIPPING UNIT INSIGNIAS W/ WASTE STRIPPING UNIT

INSIGNIAS W/ RECEDING STACKER INSIGNIAS W/ RECEDING STACKER INSIGNIAS W/ RECEDING STACKER

Available Available Sizes Sizes •• 510 510 xx 380 380 •• 510 x 510 x 510 510 •• 760 760 xx 610 610

See See us us at at on on stand stand D08 D08

AA TRUE GUIDE && GRIP REGISTER TRUE GUIDE GRIP REGISTER AA TRUE GUIDE && GRIP REGISTER TRUE GUIDE GRIP REGISTER SYSTEM ENSURE SHEET-TO-SHEET SYSTEM ENSURE SHEET-TO-SHEET SYSTEM ENSURE SHEET-TO-SHEET SYSTEM ENSURE SHEET-TO-SHEET AAACCURACY. TRUE GUIDE &&PULL GRIP REGISTER SIDE IS TRUE GUIDE GRIPGUIDE REGISTER ACCURACY. SIDE PULL GUIDE IS ACCURACY. SIDE PULL GUIDE IS ACCURACY. SIDE PULL GUIDE IS SYSTEM ENSURE SHEET-TO-SHEET CAPABLE OF PULLING EITHER ASYSTEM TRUE GUIDE & GRIP REGISTER ENSURE SHEET-TO-SHEET CAPABLE OF PULLING EITHER A TRUE GUIDE & GRIP REGISTER CAPABLE OF PULLING EITHER CAPABLE OF ENSURE PULLING EITHER ACCURACY. SIDE GUIDE IS LEFT OR RIGHT MATCH PRESS SYSTEM SHEET-TO-SHEET ACCURACY. SIDETO PULL GUIDE IS LEFT OR RIGHT TOPULL MATCH PRESS SYSTEM ENSURE SHEET-TO-SHEET LEFT OR RIGHT TO MATCH PRESS LEFTCAPABLE OR RIGHT TO MATCH PRESS OF PULLING EITHER REGISTER EDGES. ACCURACY. SIDE PULL GUIDE IS CAPABLE OFEDGES. PULLING EITHER REGISTER ACCURACY. SIDE PULL GUIDE IS REGISTER EDGES. REGISTER EDGES. LEFT OR RIGHT TO MATCH PRESS CAPABLE OF PULLING EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT TO MATCH PRESS CAPABLE OF PULLING EITHER REGISTER EDGES. LEFT REGISTER EDGES.TO LEFT OR OR RIGHT RIGHT TO MATCH MATCH PRESS PRESS REGISTER REGISTER EDGES. EDGES. AA TOP SUCTION AIR FEEDER TOP SUCTION AIR FEEDER AA TOP SUCTION AIR FEEDER TOP SUCTION AIR FEEDER IS POWERED VIA A BUILT IS POWERED VIA A BUILT IS VIA AA BUILT IS POWERED POWERED VIAPUMP BUILT AAIN SUCTION AIR BLOWER THE TOP SUCTION AIRIN FEEDER INTOP BLOWER PUMP INFEEDER THE IN BLOWER PUMP IN THE IN BLOWER PUMP IN THE IS POWERED VIA A BUILT MACHINE. AN OPERATOR CAN Folding gluing machine A TOP SUCTION AIR FEEDER IS POWERED VIA A BUILT MACHINE. AN OPERATOR CAN Folding gluing machine A TOP SUCTION AIR FEEDER MACHINE. AN OPERATOR CAN MACHINE. AN OPERATOR CAN IN BLOWER PUMP IN THE INDEPENDENTLY ADJUST IS POWERED VIA A BUILT with hand feeder and IN BLOWER PUMP INBUILT THE INDEPENDENTLY ADJUST IS POWERED VIA A with hand feeder and INDEPENDENTLY ADJUST INDEPENDENTLY ADJUST MACHINE. AN OPERATOR CAN VOLUMES OF BOTH && IN BLOWER IN THE delivery MACHINE. ANPUMP OPERATOR CAN VOLUMES OF BOTH BLOW IN BLOWER PUMP INBLOW THE delivery table table VOLUMES OF BOTH BLOW && CAN VOLUMES OF BOTH BLOW INDEPENDENTLY ADJUST SUCTION TO ADJUST FOR THE MACHINE. AN OPERATOR INDEPENDENTLY ADJUST SUCTION TOANADJUST FOR THE MACHINE. OPERATOR CAN SUCTION TO ADJUST FOR THE SUCTION TORANGE ADJUST FOR THE && VOLUMES OF BLOW WIDEST OF MATERIALS INDEPENDENTLY ADJUST VOLUMES OF BOTH BOTH BLOW WIDEST RANGE OF MATERIALS INDEPENDENTLY ADJUST WIDEST RANGE OF MATERIALS WIDEST RANGETO OF MATERIALS SUCTION ADJUST FOR POSSIBLE. INDEPENDENT VOLUMES BOTH BLOW && SUCTION TOOF ADJUST FOR THE THE POSSIBLE. INDEPENDENT VOLUMES OF BOTH BLOW POSSIBLE. INDEPENDENT POSSIBLE. INDEPENDENT WIDEST RANGE OF MATERIALS SUCKER HEADS CAN BE SUCTION TO ADJUST FOR THE WIDEST RANGE OFwatch MATERIALS SUCKER HEADS BE SUCTION TOCAN ADJUST FOR THE Scan to Scan toCAN SUCKER HEADS BE SUCKER HEADS CAN BEwatch POSSIBLE. INDEPENDENT ADJUSTED TO SHEET SIZE. WIDEST RANGE OF MATERIALS POSSIBLE. INDEPENDENT ADJUSTED TO SHEET SIZE. WIDEST RANGE OF MATERIALS ADJUSTED TO SHEET SIZE. ADJUSTED TO SHEET SIZE. SUCKER HEADS CAN BE POSSIBLE. INDEPENDENT SUCKER CAN BE POSSIBLE.HEADS INDEPENDENT ADJUSTED TO SIZE. SUCKER CAN ADJUSTED TO SHEET SHEET SIZE. SUCKER HEADS HEADS CAN BE BE ADJUSTED ADJUSTED TO TO SHEET SHEET SIZE. SIZE. RECESSED SCRIBE SCRIBE LINE LINE ON ON AA RECESSED AA RECESSED SCRIBE ON RECESSED SCRIBE LINE LINE ON SINGLE MAGNETIC MAGNETIC MACHINES SINGLE MACHINES SINGLE MAGNETIC MACHINES SINGLE MAGNETIC MACHINES AAALLOW RECESSED SCRIBE LINE FOR FAST, CONSISTENT RECESSED SCRIBE LINE ON ON ALLOW FOR FAST, CONSISTENT ALLOW FOR FAST, CONSISTENT ALLOW FOR FAST, CONSISTENT SINGLE MAGNETIC MACHINES MOUNTING & ENSURES ADIE RECESSED SCRIBE LINE ON SINGLE MAGNETIC MACHINES MOUNTING & ENSURES DIE ADIE RECESSED SCRIBE LINEDIE ONDIE DIE ALLOW MOUNTING &&FAST, ENSURES MOUNTING ENSURES DIE Same FOR CONSISTENT TOOLS ARE HUNG PARALLEL && SINGLE MAGNETIC MACHINES Same machine machine as as Box Box 1 1 DIE ALLOW FOR FAST, CONSISTENT TOOLS ARE HUNG PARALLEL SINGLE MAGNETIC MACHINES TOOLS ARE HUNG PARALLEL && DIE TOOLS ARE HUNG PARALLEL DIE MOUNTING & ENSURES CENTERED. but is upgradable to add ALLOW FOR FAST, CONSISTENT DIE MOUNTING ENSURES DIE CENTERED. but is upgradable to add CENTERED. ALLOW FOR FAST,& CONSISTENT CENTERED. ARE && DIE ENSURES the TOOLS ARE HUNG HUNG&& PARALLEL PARALLEL DIE MOUNTING MOUNTING ENSURES DIE DIE the automatic automatic continuous continuous TOOLS CENTERED. TOOLS ARE HUNG PARALLEL feeder TOOLS ARE HUNG PARALLEL && feeder PLUS PLUS an an automatic automatic CENTERED. CENTERED. delivery CENTERED. delivery table table A PIN MOUNT SYSTEM ON PIN MOUNT SYSTEM ON DUAL DUAL PINAMAGNETIC MOUNT SYSTEM ON ENSURE DUAL AA PIN MOUNT SYSTEM ON DUAL MACHINES MAGNETIC MACHINES ENSURE Scan to watch Scan to watch MAGNETIC MACHINES ENSURE MAGNETIC MACHINES ENSURE PINALIGNMENT MOUNT SYSTEM ONPAIRED DUAL OF THE AATHE PIN MOUNT SYSTEM ON DUAL THE ALIGNMENT OF THE PAIRED THE ALIGNMENT OF THE PAIRED THEMAGNETIC ALIGNMENT OF THE PAIRED MACHINES ENSURE SET OF DIE TOOLS. CYLINDERS AMAGNETIC PIN MOUNT SYSTEM ON MACHINES ENSURE OFMOUNT DIE TOOLS. CYLINDERS ASET PINDIE SYSTEM ON DUAL DUAL SET OF TOOLS. CYLINDERS SET THE OF DIE TOOLS. CYLINDERS ALIGNMENT OF THE PAIRED ALSO HAVE BUILT-IN MICROMAGNETIC MACHINES ENSURE THE ALIGNMENT OF THE PAIRED ALSO HAVE BUILT-IN MICROMAGNETIC MACHINES ENSURE ALSO HAVE BUILT-IN MICROALSOSET HAVE BUILT-IN MICROOF DIE TOOLS. ADJUSTMENT CAPABILITIES TO THE ALIGNMENT OF THE SET OF DIE TOOLS. CYLINDERS ADJUSTMENT CAPABILITIES TO THE ALIGNMENT OFCYLINDERS THETOPAIRED PAIRED ADJUSTMENT CAPABILITIES ADJUSTMENT CAPABILITIES TO ALSO HAVE BUILT-IN MICROENSURE MATING. SET OF DIE TOOLS. CYLINDERS ALSO HAVE BUILT-IN MICROENSURE MATING. SET OF DIE TOOLS. CYLINDERS ENSURE MATING. ENSURE ADJUSTMENT CAPABILITIES ALSO HAVE MICROADJUSTMENT CAPABILITIES TO ALSOMATING. HAVE BUILT-IN BUILT-IN MICRO-TO ENSURE MATING. ADJUSTMENT CAPABILITIES ENSURE MATING. ADJUSTMENT CAPABILITIES TO TO ENSURE MATING. ENSURE MATING. HYDRAULIC PRESSURE PRESSURE HYDRAULIC Same Same machine machine as as Box Box 1 1 HYDRAULIC PRESSURE HYDRAULIC PRESSURE ASSEMBLIES ARE ADJUSTED ADJUSTED EASILY EASILY ASSEMBLIES ARE but is is also also upgradable upgradable but ASSEMBLIES ARE ADJUSTED EASILY ASSEMBLIES AREPRESSURE ADJUSTED EASILY HYDRAULIC VIA THE THE BLACK BLACK WHEEL. INFINITELY INFINITELY HYDRAULIC PRESSURE VIA WHEEL. by THE INFINITELY by added added second second folding folding VIA VIA ASSEMBLIES THE BLACK BLACK WHEEL. WHEEL. INFINITELY ARE ADJUSTABLE UP TOADJUSTED 3,000 PSIEASILY OF HYDRAULIC PRESSURE ASSEMBLIES ARETO ADJUSTED EASILY ADJUSTABLE UP 3,000 PSI OF HYDRAULIC PRESSURE unit to fold ADJUSTABLE UP TO 3,000 PSI OF unit to fold and and glue glue ADJUSTABLE UP TO 3,000 PSI OF VIA THE BLACK WHEEL. INFINITELY CUTTING PRESSURE IS AVAILABLE. ASSEMBLIES ARE ADJUSTED EASILY VIA THE BLACK WHEEL. INFINITELY CUTTING PRESSURE IS AVAILABLE. ASSEMBLIES AREISADJUSTED EASILY crash CUTTING PRESSURE AVAILABLE. crash lock lock bottom bottom and and CUTTING PRESSURE ISOPERATOR AVAILABLE. ADJUSTABLE UP TO 3,000 PSI OF GAUGES ENABLE VIA THE BLACK INFINITELY ADJUSTABLE UPWHEEL. TO 3,000 PSITO OF GAUGES ENABLE OPERATOR TO VIA THE BLACK WHEEL. INFINITELY GAUGES ENABLE OPERATOR TO machine GAUGES ENABLE OPERATOR TO machine CUTTING PRESSURE IS AVAILABLE. DETERMINE MINIMUM PRESSURES ADJUSTABLE UP TO 3,000 PSI CUTTING PRESSURE IS AVAILABLE. DETERMINE MINIMUM PRESSURES ADJUSTABLE UPtoTOwatch 3,000 PSI OF OF Scan DETERMINE MINIMUM PRESSURES Scan to watch DETERMINE MINIMUM PRESSURES GAUGES ENABLE OPERATOR TO TO EXTEND DIE LIFE. CUTTING PRESSURE IS AVAILABLE. GAUGES ENABLE OPERATOR TO TO EXTEND DIE LIFE. CUTTING PRESSURE IS AVAILABLE. TO DIE LIFE. TO EXTEND EXTEND LIFE. DETERMINE MINIMUM PRESSURES GAUGES ENABLE OPERATOR TO DETERMINE MINIMUM PRESSURES GAUGESDIE ENABLE OPERATOR TO TO EXTEND DIE LIFE. DETERMINE MINIMUM PRESSURES TO EXTEND DIE LIFE. PRESSURES DETERMINE MINIMUM TO TO EXTEND EXTEND DIE DIE LIFE. LIFE.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT OUR HEAD OFFICE

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT OUR HEAD OFFICE Specialising in Equipment Sales, Engineering FOR INFORMATION CONTACT OUR Specialising in Capital Capital Equipment PLEASE Sales, Service, Service, Engineering FOR FURTHER FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT OUR HEAD HEAD OFFICE OFFICE Specialising Equipment Sales, Service, Engineering Solutions and Consumables.

Specialising in in Capital Capital Equipment Sales, Service, Engineering Solutions and Consumables.

Solutions and FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT OUR HEAD Head Office: 1/44 President Avenue Caringbah, NSW, 2229, info@graph-pak.com.au Head 1/44 President Avenue, Caringbah, NSW, 2229, email: info@graph-pak.com.au Solutions and Consumables.

Consumables. info@graph-pak.com.au FOREnquiries: FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT OUR HEAD OFFICE OFFICE Head Office: Office: 1/44 President Avenue Caringbah, NSW, 2229, email: info@graph-pak.com.au Head Office: 1/44 President Avenue, Caringbah, NSW, 2229, email: email: info@graph-pak.com.au Specialising in Capital Capital Equipment Sales, Service, Engineering Enquiries: info@graph-pak.com.au Specialising in Equipment Sales, Service, Engineering Enquiries: info@graph-pak.com.au FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT OUR HEAD OFFICE Enquiries: info@graph-pak.com.au Solutions and Consumables.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT OUR HEAD OFFICE Specialising Equipment Sales, Solutions and Consumables.

Specialising in in Capital Capital Equipment Sales, Service, Service, Engineering Engineering Enquiries: info@graph-pak.com.au Solutions and Consumables.

Enquiries: info@graph-pak.com.au Solutions and Consumables.

Unit Unit 1G, 1G, 1-3 1-3 Endeavour Endeavour Road, Road, Caringbah Caringbah NSW NSW 2229, 2229, email: email: info@graph-pak.com.au info@graph-pak.com.au Unit Unit 1G, 1G, 1-3 1-3 Endeavour Endeavour Road, Road, Caringbah Caringbah NSW NSW 2229, 2229, email: email: info@graph-pak.com.au info@graph-pak.com.au Toll Free: 1300 885 550 www.graph-pak.com.au Toll Free: 1300 885 550 NSW www.graph-pak.com.au Unit 1G, 1-3 Endeavour 2229, Free: 1300 885 550 Unit Toll 1G, 1-3 Endeavour Road, Caringbah NSW 2229, email: email: info@graph-pak.com.au info@graph-pak.com.au Toll Free: 1300Road, 885Caringbah 550 www.graph-pak.com.au www.graph-pak.com.au Unit 1G, 1-3 Endeavour Road, Caringbah NSW 2229, Unit 1G, 1-3Free: Endeavour Road, Caringbah 2229, email: email: info@graph-pak.com.au info@graph-pak.com.au Toll 1300 885 550 NSW www.graph-pak.com.au

UPDATE PHARMA PACKAGING

Future-proofing ph The entire value chain is turning to new technologies to transform pharmaceutical packaging into a safe and efficient ecosystem. The race is on.

1

Piotr Wnuk reports

T

he worldwide health crisis has had an irreversible impact on the pharmaceutical value chain. A report conducted by Research and Markets in January 2021, at the height of the pandemic, suggests that ‘future-proof’ labelling technologies are set to transform the pharmaceutical industry.

The report predicts that technologies such as RFID and NFC will make drugs and medical devices digitally visible, traceable, and well monitored, from the manufacturer all the way through to retail shelves and even to the consumer’s home.

This trend, in turn, is expected to boost interactive technology applications in pharma, registering an enormous CAGR of 14 per cent in the next five years.

“Hospitals, pharmacies and other healthcare providers are looking for ways to manage costs better, increase efficiencies, and ensure the wellbeing of their patients. RFID technology can improve inventory management, ensure quality, and prevent waste,” Cory Keller, senior product manager for the pharmaceutical division of Avery Dennison, said.

“They can also help save lives by supporting clinicians with vital information. Our RFID-enabled labels can improve inventory accuracy by 99 per cent or more. They can help manage costs across the supply chain and prevent counterfeiting.

“Pharmaceutical companies can also use intelligent labels to track the movement of assets and always keep high-demand items available – something that’s critical for the 28 ProPack.pro October 2021

1. ‘Future-proof’ labelling technologies, such as RFID and NFC, are set to transform the pharmaceutical industry

pharmaceutical industry and especially challenging for companies with a global supply chain. RFID provides end-to-end inventory and item tracking solutions for increased accuracy, visibility and security, starting at the point of manufacture.”

UPM Raflatac senior manager for pharma business, Paavo Sillanpaa, agreed, saying, “The FDA’s Drug Supply Chain Security Act is one of the drivers of using this technology. It’s a mandate that you must be able to trace the pharmaceuticals to the point of sale and it’s tracked through the wholesale pharmacies and all stages of the supply chain. Quite often, the tracking is done by using serial numbers and barcodes, but I think there’s an increasing number of RFID and NFC solutions coming into play now.”

Interactive packaging is rapidly gaining acceptance among consumers, so to extend it to the pharma business seems an obvious move.

“For example, a long-standing debate in the industry has been what is the best way to include information about side effects and all other critical information in pharmaceutical packages,” Sillanpaa said.

“Most commonly, this is a leaflet attached to the package. However, you could easily accomplish this by putting that information in a barcode or an NFC tag on the product and making the same information accessible through your smartphone or tablet.”

Schreiner MediPharm, a developer of innovative self-adhesive systems for the pharmaceutical and medical device industry, sees the untapped potential of RFID and NFC technologies going beyond traceability and authentication.

“Smart labeling for pharmaceutical products based on RFID technology offers a significant number of benefits, enabling interactive applications for patient support, digital product authentication and inventory www.propack.pro

PHARMA PACKAGING

UPDATE

harma packaging

management,” Gene Dul, president of Schreiner MediPharm US said.

“This enhances patient and product safety, and helps to optimise processes.

Patient centricity and growing selfmedication has created a demand for medicines that are easy and convenient to administer. Smart labels with an integrated RFID or NFC chip can add value to the primary container or injection device while supporting the digitalisation trend. A label-integrated NFC chip, for instance, enables diverse interactive applications to optimally assist the patient during selfmedication. Via a smartphone, he or she can easily access additional product information, demo videos or special apps, or perform mobile product authentication.”

Ian Axelsen, business development manager at UK-based converter AA Labels, said improved customer communication will benefit pharma companies and patients. www.propack.pro

“The trackable nature of RFID provides huge value by enabling organisations to locate and manage their inventory throughout its lifecycle, making it easier to manage supply chains and improve efficiencies,” Axelsen said.

“Increasing accessibility for consumers is an additional benefit that interactive labeling can offer, providing scannable information for those with visual impairments and offering additional resources and advice for users. Multi-layer labels currently provide improved customer communication, but their life expectancy is often limited by the continual introduction of innovative technology applications, such as encoded inks and NFC.” Steve Wood, president and CEO of track and trace specialist Covectra, said some pharma companies are voicing reservations about RFID tags, concerned with the risk of RF energy’s drug contamination.

“Because of this concern, one of our customers, a pharma company, decided against it and used serialised 2D Data Matrix barcodes on the unit dose, primary carton, cases and pallets,” Wood said.

AlpVision, provider of covert anticounterfeiting technologies, thinks that RFID will remain a niche market owing to cost implications and other constraints. The company said QR Codes or 2D Data Matrix “are better options, especially to give consumers access to electronic leaflets”.

Bart Vansteenkiste, global life sciences business development manager at Domino, said Data Matrix and QR codes have significant advantages over linear barcodes in pharma applications as QR and Data Matrix codes are much smaller, and they can contain a lot more data than linear barcodes.

“A key use of machine-readable codes is supply chain management.

A 2D code can contain a wide range of information including product name, batch number and use by date.

This provides an overview of which products are sitting where in the supply chain, which batch the product came from, and how much shelf-life remains.

This enables manufacturers and suppliers to manage the movement of goods within the supply chain and facilitate the location of products in the event of a recall,” Vansteenkiste said.

Andy Scherz, commercial labels product manager at Epson America, identifies two drivers behind the continued adoption of QR codes.

“First is its potential for counterfeit detection,” he said.

“I can see a QR code being effectively used as part of the online verification of genuine products. The second element is the sheer volume of information or content required on a label, which sometimes exceeds the real estate available – even at the 0.1-point font. A QR code offers a way to augment the information on the label by tapping online resources.”

Ian Axelsen noted an increased interest in QR codes throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, proving vital for track and trace purposes and helping reduce contact in public spaces on everything from menus to bus timetables.

Technology fights counterfeiters

According to the World Health Organisation, counterfeiting globally costs the pharma industry US$75 billion every year. Integrating interactive technologies into pharmaceutical labels is currently the most significant opportunity for vendors. There are already a wide range of label systems targeted at combatting this threat. Keller lists the many kinds of protection available, ranging from overt destructible and Void-effect labels to covert solutions, for example those that fluoresce under black light.

“The most robust solutions combine both overt and covert technologies,” Keller said.

Some brands have already begun using RFID technology to authenticate prefilled syringes and track the time and temperature of products during shipping. The next stage for many pharma brands is integration with the Internet of Things (IoT). Andy Scherz of Epson America agrees that leveraging the internet is the only reliable method to fight counterfeiting.

“Any unique label feature can almost always be copied. Even things like RFID can be programmed and duplicated by a sophisticated counterfeiter. Hence, we must tie a label’s content back to some source of truth. This means that we cannot label large quantities of products with Continued on page 30 October 2021 ProPack.pro 29

UPDATE PHARMA PACKAGING Continued from page 29

2

3

identical labels printed in bulk. Instead, each label must be unique with some codes or elements that can be scanned and verified by an app tying back to a master data source,” he said.

“A counterfeit item will either have a code that fails to match any in the database, or it will have a code that has already been used. Either way, the party knows they have a suspect item.”

Vansteenkiste agreed and said, “Serialisation combined with tamperevident labeling is crucial to prevent counterfeiting and ensure patient safety. With serialisation, when buying products from a pharmacy, you can be sure the product is genuine. Tamperevident labeling then ensures that the product has not been compromised in any way and is safe to use”.

Other features which can add further levels of safety include inks containing taggants, Vansteenkiste said.

“These small particles show up when studied under a spectrometer, which can identify whether the ink used for coding a product came from the correct manufacturer. In addition, there’s the option of using a software program to make a mistake in a code, such as a symbol with a small amount of deliberate damage. A counterfeit product will typically have a perfect code, as the error is difficult for a counterfeiter to spot.”

Schreiner MediPharm considers the specific threat scenario of a pharmaceutical manufacturer and a particular product.

‘To enhance product integrity, there are customised sealing solutions for medicine packs and containers, and which act as the first hurdle against counterfeiters,” Gene Dul said.

30 ProPack.pro October 2021

2. With UPM Raflatac’s tamper-evident labelling, patients can be sure that their pharmaceutical products are authentic and have not been tampered with 3. Schreiner MediPharm developed an NFC label as an injection aid that serves as a communication interface between the injector and an electronic pen add-on 4. Together with Schreiner MediPharm and PragmatIC Semiconductor, Avery Dennison is leveraging NFC technology to extend smart packaging to the unit-level

“In addition, label-integrated authentication features ranging from overt, covert, and forensic to digital technologies are important in offering effective protection against counterfeiting. Track and trace systems to identify and trace products, and thus indicate gray market activities are available. Ideally, multi-level security concepts should be implemented that are individually tailored to a specific use case, combining analog and digital features, which can be verified by different stakeholders within the supply chain.”

“There’s definitely an oversupply of technologies,” Sillanpaa said.

“I think the difficult thing is deciding which to use, as well as how many. With anti-counterfeiting, the key is to combine different technologies, not just one. And there’s also the question of who in the supply chain needs to detect if the product is genuine? Is that the supply chain? Is that the consumer? So the technology applied really depends on the kind of solution desired.

“Typically, it’s a combination of different elements, including cloud software, so you’re able to read from the package or label and then verify online that this is a genuine product.”

Wood starts from the assumption that variable data barcodes can be easily duplicated, “and it would take a considerable amount of time to realise that multiple barcodes with the same number have been used”.

“We believe that the best tool and technology is our security product called StellaGuard, which is a label that employs a 2D serialised barcode printed on a highly secure substrate.

In order to provide maximum security of the substrate, each label has a

number and pattern of visible 3D holograms within the label referred to as ‘stars’. This combination of 2D barcodes plus the unique number and pattern of holographic stars is processed by a smartphone in seconds,” Wood said.

Step into the future

So, what trends might we see in the near future?

“I think we’ll see serialisation of over-the-counter medications introduced as legislation in Europe and the US,” Vansteenkiste said.

“At present, this is limited to prescription medicines only, but I expect it will be a requirement on OTC packages within five years and anticipate that it may become a requirement for other products soon after this. We’re already seeing this trend in Russia, where the Chestny Znak regulation requires serialisation of all prescription and OTC medicines and is now being broadened to cover items such as bottled water and milk.”

“I think mass customisation is likely to be on the cards,” Scherz added.

“Just look at something like airbags – initially introduced as a one-size-fitsall, they now strive to match the force with the size of the occupant. Is one pill ideal for everyone? Can it be tuned by patient size, age, sex? What about a person taking many medications?

Would the ideal formulation vary to accommodate the full spectrum of medications the patient is taking?

I think yes.

“This means producers must focus on nimble manufacturing and labelling techniques that allow for efficient production of many unique products, rather than the bulk production of identical formulations.”

4

www.propack.pro

PACKAGING AND DISPLAY EQUIPMENT

Scan to listen to the Confeta install Podcast

CENTURY LARGE FORMAT DIE CUTTERS

• 1050/1300/1450/1650/1850/2100 and now a NEW size for POS/POP a whopping big 2,300mm x 1,520mm. 2,500 sheets per hour. Does the work of FIVE Clam shell hand fed cutters or cutting tables with one operative!

• Flute and sold fibre.

• Corflute polypropylene etc.

• Full and semi auto with various feeding options. Top sheet suction feed. Lead edge feeder. Lead edge suction feed and semi auto.

• Non stripping. Double action stripping, triple action stripping. Grip edge removal.

AMEIDA CUTTING TABLES • • • •

ROLAM 1600

• 4/6 point folder gluer with hot – cold glue system from HHS • Full auto set now available

Fast Efficient Various Tooling Demo model available now, includes computer

DATIEN HIGH PERFORMANCE, HEAVY DUTY SUBSTRATE CUTTING MACHINES • Sizes from 115cm to 300cm

Graffica Pty Ltd Phone +61 477 200 854 I Email grafficapl@bigpond.com I Visit Us www.graffica.com.au

UPDATE AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF PACKAGING

AIP releases sustainable packaging d The AIP has developed a series of best practice and award-winning examples of innovative and sustainable packaging design from Australia and New Zealand

removed in existing recycling infrastructure. The RecycleMe System provides an end-to-end solution beyond the actual packaging product to guarantee takeaway cup recycling into high quality paper products as part of a circular economy, maintaining product value for as long as possible.

1

Earthwise and Pact Group

Earthwise recently demonstrated its leadership with the launch of 75 per cent recycled HDPE bottles across its household cleaning range. Committed to reducing virgin resin in its product lines, the Earthwise partnership with Pact Group took home the 2020 Australasian PIDA Silver Award for Sustainable Packaging Design - Retail Pack, recognising innovation and leadership in sustainable packaging.

T

he AIP has developed a series of best practice and award-winning examples of innovative sustainable packaging design from Australia and New Zealand.

All of the case studies have received Australian Packaging Innovation and Design (PIDA) Awards and over 95 per cent have gone on to receive global recognition for their innovative sustainable packaging designs through the WorldStar Packaging Awards.

Some of the A/NZ winners have also received WorldStar Sustainable Packaging Special Awards, which is the most prestigious award in the world.

The AIP encourages everyone to use these case studies as best practice examples from across A/NZ and an opportunity to take some of the learnings for your own sustainable packaging design projects.

ICEE Containers

ICEE began life with an idea to create fold flat insulated boxes by putting hinges in expanded polystyrene (EPS).

The team developed a unique, globally patented process to create an integrated hinge during the moulding cycle, removing unwanted bulk and reducing storage costs. The winning entry builds on its original EPS design, popular for perishables such as fish, produce and pharmaceuticals, and upgrades the material to a bio-based, expanded polylactic acid (EPLA) foam to make an industrially compostable fold flat insulated box.

2

Impact International

BioPak

BioPak’s winning design consists of a range of moulded bagasse pulp packaging that is sturdy and provides moisture and grease resistance. Bagasse material is the pulp by-product left behind after sugar is extracted from cane. Bagasse is ideally suited for moulded pulp products such as trays for retail packaging of fresh produce and single use disposable containers used within the foodservice industry.

Coca-Cola Europacific Partners Australia Pacific Indonesia (CCEP API)

Nerida Kelton, AIP

Brownes Dairy

Brownes Dairy is regularly named as one of the country’s most innovative companies as part of the Australian Financial Review’s BOSS annual awards, and is the only dairy company to make the list. With this award, Brownes confirms its place as Australia’s most innovative dairy, and one that is deeply conscious of its environmental impact.

32 ProPack.pro October 2021

1. With this award, Brownes confirms its place as Australia’s most innovative dairy 2. Punchbowl Packaging now replaces its plastic clamshell with a renewable, wheat straw punnet

In 2018 CCEP API released a suite of 10 public Sustainability Goals.

One was to reduce virgin PET resin used in containers by 50 per cent by using post-consumer recycled PET resin (rPET). By 2019, CCEP API delivered a world first by converting all single serve PET bottles from largely petroleum-based PET resin to 100 per cent rPET. CCEP API is also the first to achieve this on carbonated soft drink (CSD) bottles, sensitive warm-filled bottles and aseptic dairy bottles.

Detpak

RecycleMe cups have an innovative mineral based lining that can be easily

Impact International’s winning entry comprises a range of three named tube designs – Margorie, containing between 20 per cent and 90 per cent recycled low-density polyethylene (LDPE); Craig, containing between 25 per cent and 85 per cent sugarcane derived PE resin; and Sarah, containing 41 per cent sugar cane PE; 41 per cent recycled LDPE, and 18 per cent virgin LDPE resins.

Omni Group

Omni Group’s award winning PerformX 100 per cent recyclable stretch wrap is an innovative, effective and sustainable pallet wrapping film.

PerformX Stretch Wrap is guaranteed to reduce plastic usage by over 50 per cent. Reinforcement strips through the film make the PerformX tear resistant, eliminating all breakages and reducing plastic wastage. With regular stretch film, any small puncture will tear through the entire width of the film causing wrapping downtime and film www.propack.pro

AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF PACKAGING UPDATE

design case studies for the industry wastage. Three reinforcement strips restrict splitting the width of the film if punctured, providing superior load containment. The stretch wrap roll is lighter so can be wrapped by hand without strain.

waved paper pads to solve challenges across many different packaging environments and applications.

The product can replace a wide range of existing packaging materials and is dispensed using a custom converter, which is highly programmable to match evolving needs but at the same time small enough to use at a pack table, in-line or as a standalone unit.

3

Pact Group

The winning entry, rPET Moisturelock Meat Tray, is an example of the Pact Group commitment to sustainability.

The tray comprises 50 per cent recycled, clear material that is accepted by every kerbside recycling scheme.

The real innovation lies in the ability of the tray to capture fluid in the base using ‘dimples’ that hold the fluid even when tilted or turned upside down.

Their cross-functional team has created a product that cements Pact Group as leaders in the circular economy.

Sealed Air

Sealed Air Brand TempGuard is a fully curbside recyclable solution designed for the shipping and protection of prepackaged, temperature sensitive goods.

Comprising 100 per cent paper, TempGuard provides excellent insulating properties.

4

UPM Raflatac & Kiwi Labels

Planet Protector Packaging

Planet Protector Packaging was established in January 2016. Its flagship product, Woolpack aims to reduce fossil-fuel based packaging through waste wool based thermal insulation.

Woolpack is an environmentally friendly product that transforms supply chains and is a ‘game changer’ in high performance packaging options for many different industries. This winning entry provides cold chains with scientifically proven environmental performance to deliver temperature sensitive goods.

Plantic Technologies

Kiwi Labels recently launched its new UPM Raflatac RW85C PET wash-off solution at the 2020 Australasian PIDA. Forming part of the UPM Raflatac SmartCircle sustainable product offering, this sustainable label solution took home Bronze in the 2020 PIDA Awards for Sustainable Packaging Design, recognising printing excellence and leadership in sustainable packaging.

Woolworths is combined with renewably sourced, high barrier PLANTIC HP sheet, made from renewable industrial crops including corn and tapioca.

The winning entry was developed with Neat Meat from New Zealand. The PLANTIC RV Skin Pack replaces the previous black high-impact polystyrene tray that was non-recyclable.

Plantic Technologies has successfully developed and commercialised ultrahigh barrier bio-plastic materials including the award-winning PLANTIC R. The R material offers ultra-high barrier, is renewably sourced, has high clarity and is certified. PLANTIC R combines Plantic bio-based high barrier material with PET to create a globally unique product. The material is manufactured using modern technology where thin layers of PET are adhered to a core layer of renewably sourced, ultra-high barrier PLANTIC HP sheet. The PLANTIC HP core provides exceptional gas barrier, and the PET provides moisture/water vapour barrier to the structure.

Punchbowl Packaging’s winning Kaituna Blueberries fibre punnet entry is one example of the 25 years’ experience and authentic innovative spirit present in the team at Punchbowl to rethink fruit and vegetable packaging. This product replaces the plastic clamshell with a renewable, unbleached wheat straw punnet. The wheat straw is a byproduct of existing agricultural practices.

Plantic Technologies

Ranpak

A recipient of the 2020 WorldStar Packaging President’s Bronze Special Award for Materials is Plantic Technologies’ PLANTIC RV high skin barrier Skin Pack, manufactured using modern technology where rPET www.propack.pro

Punchbowl Packaging

Ranpak solutions are more sustainable than plastic-based alternatives, delivering packaging that is renewable, biodegradable, and in many locations, curbside recyclable. The PIDA winning WrapPak Protector product creates

3. Kiwi Labels recently launched its new UPM Raflatac RW85C PET wash-off solution at the 2020 Australasian PIDA 4. Woolworths took action in reducing plastic with this winning entry – the renewable pulp and fibre bakery tray

Woolworths took action in reducing plastic with this winning entry – the renewable pulp and fibre bakery tray.

Woolworths worked with a number of like-minded suppliers who were looking to progress in the same direction to develop the tray.

The award-winning tray replaces a previous polymer-based black tray using non-renewable resources with the new plant-based tray, made from a combination of renewable materials – including unbleached bamboo and unbleached sugarcane.

The AIP is currently working on the next series of case studies which will include all of the 2021 Australasian Packaging Innovation & Design (PDIA) Award winners.

More information about the AIP Sustainable Packaging Design Case Studies is available from http://aipack. com.au/pida-awards-sustainablepackaging-case-studies/ Nerida Kelton is the executive director of the Australian Institute of Packaging (AIP) and vice-president – sustainability and save food of the World Packaging Organisation (WPO).

October 2021 ProPack.pro 33

PACK DIARY

UPCOMING INDUSTRY EVENTS Pack Print Plas Philippines

Foodtech Packtech 2022

October 8-14, 2021 Virtual event Packprintplasphilippines.com

September 20-22, 2022 Auckland, New Zealand foodtechpacktech.co.nz

ProPak and Plaspak Philippines 2021

Labelexpo Southeast Asia 2023

November 11-13, 2021 Pasay City, Philippines propakphilippines.com

February 9-11, 2023 Bangkok, Thailand labelexpo-seasia.com

FPLMA Technical Forum and Awards

AUSPACK 2022

interpack 2023

February 24-25, 2022 Melbourne, Australia fplma.org.au

May 17-20, 2022 Melbourne, Australia auspack.com.au

May 4-10, 2023 Düsseldorf, Germany interpack.com

Labelexpo Europe 2022

Australian Waste & Recycling Expo

FoodPro 2023

April 26-29, 2022 Brussels, Belgium labelexpo-europe.com

August 24-25, 2022 Sydney, Australia awre.com.au

July 23-26, 2023 Melbourne, Australia foodproexh.com

Got an event? Send an email to hosman@intermedia.com.au with all the details and we will put your event on the page.

ww

2021

AWARDS w.p rop rin taw ard Save the date s.c Friday 26 November, 2021

People in Print

Rising Stars in Print

Services in Print

Shangri-la Hotel, Sydney www.proprintawards.com.au

34 ProPack.pro October 2021

Outstanding Achiever in Print

om .

au www.propack.pro

E AD TR Y! NL O

INTERESTED IN

TRADE PRINT PRICES FOR YOUR

NEW ZEALAND CUSTOMERS?

Register with New Zealand’s largest and most reliable wholesale print company for trade print prices www.wholesaleprint.co.nz