SOUTHERN AFRICAN POLYMER TECHNOLOGY

S A P OLY ME R TE C H N OLOGY

POLYMER technology

V OL 17 N R 3

www.sapt.co.za

VOL 17 NR 1 JUNE / JULY 2019

JU N E / JU LY 2019

Banning plastic CAPE TOWN shopping bags RECYCLER goes big – simplistic, with PS rash response Vesconite Bearings IOM conference proves popular

invests in 5-axis capability

IC T S A L P W NE E T A E R C S IST LABLE

SCIENT

Namibia Plastics commissions Reifenhäuser Evolution line

ECYC R Y L L U F LD BE THAT COU

www.sapt.co.za

The Home of Size Reduction

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2018/01/29 12:33

Most advanced 3D printing centre in Africa Amcor launches new recyclable packaging

46

30th Dow awards for packaging innovation

64

Adidas running shoe is fully recyclable

92

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BY THE WAY

Publisher & Managing Editor: Martin Wells (martin@summitpub.co.za) Editor: Tessa O’Hara (tessa@summitpub.co.za) Publisher’s assistant: Heather Peplow (heather@summitpub.co.za) Financial manager: Lisa Mulligan (lisa@summitpub.co.za) Designers: Jeanette Erasmus Graphic Design (jeanette.erasmus@lateraldynamics.co.za) Bronwen Moys Blinc Design (bronwen.clarke@gmail.com) Summit Publishing cc t: +27 (21) 712 1408 f: 086 519 6089 c: +27 (82) 822 8115 e: martin@summitpub.co.za Postnet Suite 42, Private Bag X16, Constantia 7848, Cape Town, South Africa Unit 8, Bergvliet Village Centre, Cnr Hiddingh & Children’s Way Roads, Bergvliet 7945

www.sapt.co.za GAUTENG Lowrie Sharp t: (011) 793 4691 f: (011) 791 0544 c: 082 344 7870 e: lowrieplasticsmedia@absamail.co.za KZN Lynne Askew c: (082) 904 9433 f: (031) 764 0676 e: lynne@summitpub.co.za Printed by: Tandym Print, Maitland, Cape Town SA Polymer Technology is published six times a year and focuses on these industries in South and southern Africa. We welcome news, articles, technical reports, information in general and photographs about events and developments related to the plastics industry.

The views expressed in the magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher. Views expressed are not necessarily those of the Plastics Converters Association, Institute of Materials or Association of Rotational Moulders either.

Copyright: All rights reserved.

ISSN number: 1684-2855 (ISDS Centre, Paris) Summit Publishing: CK 9863581/23 VAT reg: 4600187902

Plastics Institute of Southern Africa

Association of Rotational Moulders of South Africa

Plastics Converters Association

PET Plastic Recycling South Africa

2-3.indd 2

Institute of Materials

New Earth Recycling of Cape Town processes about 40 tons of polystyrene a month and is part of the Western Cape Industrial Symbiosis Programme run by the City of Cape Town municipality, through which it receives incentives for its expansion and job creation activities. New Earth MD Noel Ehrenreich was recently visited by James Vos, the city’s Economic Opportunities & Asset Management director – see page 22

Got to be doubt about sudden bags ban IF, LIKE many of us, you have become somewhat skeptical about the political decision-making process in Africa, you will almost certainly be suspicious of the suddenness of the banning of plastic bags in countries such as Tanzania, which recently implemented such a ban – and with immediate effect. As if that’s not drastic enough, ‘legislation’ has been passed to the effect that anyone caught manufacturing bags could face a fine of 1-billion Tanzanian shillings ($430,000 … about R6-million), alternatively a fairly lengthy spell in ‘chookie’. Many would wage a fairly large bet that the persons behind this ‘legislation’ will quite possibly have a vested interest in whatever alternative solution is being proposed?

NUMSA party flops in elections

THE very poor showing by the Socialist Revolutionary Workers Party, the political party created by the National Union of Metalworkers, at the recent general elections in South Africa reveals just how little support this group actually has. NUMSA claims to have a membership of 339 000, but the SRWP received only 24 439 votes nationally. Besides the fact that this was a decimal percentage of the total electorate, it suggests also that just 7% of the union’s members voted for the party.

Given the violent and aggressive strike action pursued by NUMSA in the plastics industry in the second half of 2018, many may have been under the impression that the union enjoyed far more support, but this certainly does not appear to be the case.

MacNeil sponsors fishing line project

MACNEIL Plastics is the new sponsor of Plastics|SA’s fishing line bin project, supplying PVC pipe, bends, stop and spigot plugs and other accessories used in the Fishing Line Recovery & Recycling Programme. The pipes are erected at beaches around the country as repositories for used and discarded monofilament fishing line.

The project was launched in 2010 by PSA in partnership with the Dyer Island Conservation HAVE … IF YOU Trust, conservation groups and various local G TO SAY IN H ET SOM de: if you si ht authorities and has received wide support by e brig Look at th isdom to w of e gem anglers, boaters and local communities. Well us at have som to te ri ease w impart, pl done to the MacNeil team. com s@iafrica. saplastic

2019/06/05 17:21

VOLUME 17 NR 3

Contents JUNE / JULY 2019

Find out more at www.sapt.co.za

INDUSTRY NEWS

Banning plastic shopping bags is simplistic, rash response Masterbatch from recovered carbon black Namibia Plastics commissions Reifenhäuser Evolution line PET plastic bottles crest SA’s recycling wave Haitian Mars 2 commissioned – another satisfied customer Cape Town recycler wins big with PS Continental consolidates activities Zerma launches new machines at Chinaplas Banbury changes strategy, focus & name

IOM CONFERENCE

Annual conference proves popular Tallant Medal goes to Multotec’s Spike Taylor

ASSOCIATIONS

Operation #CleanupDurban a huge success!

Polystyrene Assoc refutes DEA label of ‘problem plastic’ Assoc plans to increase recycling rate of post-consumer PS SAPPMA doing more with less SAVA launches exciting initiatives New machines boost training for Plastics|SA students

DESIGN

A’Design Awards – world’s largest, most diverse 30th Dow awards for packaging innovation Roll it up!

WORLD

GM’s carbon-fibre pickup bed just a start Truck tyres with less abrasion PET barrier container with handle for craft beer market

SPORTS

Adidas make a running shoe that’s fully recyclable

6 8 10

40

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12 13 34 36 38

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40 42 44 56 64 66

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74 78 79 92

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ON THE COVER A team of researchers working at the US Department of Energy says it has created a kind of plastic that could lead to products that are 100% recyclable. The team at the Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California, say the new material is a plastic polymer called polydiketoenamine, or PDK. Read more on page 47

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2019/01/14 2019/06/05 11:19 17:21

Ready to box? – It wasn’t a joke, but the undertaking was very serious: the #Operation CleanupDurban after the unexpectedly heavy rains of mid-April saw over 300 tons of litter removed from Durban Harbour and surrounding KZN beaches. The programme was initiated by Plastics|SA and supported by other organisations. A chain of clean-up operations also took place along eManzimtoti, Beachwood Mangroves, uMngeni river mouth and various other beaches. – See page 34

THIS ISSUE

SA goods manufacturers

could – and should – be world leaders Already developed post-consumer collection system gives head start

Y

OU ARE unlikely to take me seriously when I say that we in the South African plastics, composites and rubber sectors can and should be world leaders in our industries – and that would be understandable, especially at this time.

a litter problem, which is what needs to be eliminated.

guaranteed. It’s the case globally: now even global material and machine manufacturers are admitting that they neglected the need to use recycled materials and are endeavouring to develop new technologies for this. So, we may have a bit of a head start.

One of the problems for the plastics packaging sector globally is that a lot of brand suppliers switched to plastic as they realised the material offered a better solution – including such factors as being lighter (a huge factor), transparent or easy to print on, impact resistant, offering modified atmosphere features and more – but it also had to be cheaper. Because plastics are lighter does not mean the materials should be cheaper, but that’s what happened and is probably the main reason why plastic packaging has become

Huge support from all after APR tragedy Everyone in the industry, I’m sure, will express condolences to the management and staff at Atlantic Plastic Recycling in Cape Town, where a tragedy in May resulted in the death of four workers. APR, like so many companies in our industry, is virtually a family affair. The show of support for all those involved, from the staff, their families and people across the industry following the event in May, has been overwhelming and humbling for the company’s owners.

4

JUN / JUL 2019

Out of depth in Lake Charles?

Internationally, Sasol is probably the best-known South African company, but the sounds coming out of Lake Charles, Louisiana, USA, are not doing it any good. Construction of the petrochemical plant there has run massively over budget.

Let’s face it, there are few other countries in the world The original figure was $8,9 billion but that ballooned to a where businessmen must face the many ludicrous dynamics now suggested $12,6-12,9-bn – 45% higher. And even while at play here, and now on top of that the packaging sector advising the local financial media of this, the figures were is facing huge environmental pressure. But challenges can given in dollars. To save you the calculation, the difference only make you stronger and it is with that in mind that I between $12,6 and $12,9 billion in our little currency … is make this preposterous suggestion. We can’t fold a huge R4-billion plus. at the environmental pressure and yield to rival Because Surely the quantity surveying couldn’t be that way materials. Some evidence of the ‘fightback’ by off? And to cap it all, the American or Canadian chap plastics are businesses in our market is contained in the who hatched the plan has left the scene. We hear pages that lie ahead here, plus a lot of articles lighter does most of Sasol’s top management now operates and photos of smart design options, including not mean the out of Houston, Texas, but being competitive in quite a number which you may find useful. materials should the American market appears to be proving very One of the main reasons we suggest that challenging … so challenging that it could even the new environmental demands present an be cheaper jeopardise the lofty plan proposed above. opportunity for convertors is that we already have However, in the pages here we supply you with some a core post-consumer collection structure in South design suggestions for the future, and more: we hope you Africa. These businesses and operators can be further enjoy the process and embrace the challenges lying ahead. empowered if demand for ‘r’ materials grows, which is virtually

Martin Wells Publisher Martin Wells,

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Publisher

2019/06/06 09:48

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News

Banning plastic shopping bags is a simplistic, rash response 6 JUNE / JULY 2019

Plastic pollution the real enemy – not plastic bags PLASTICS│SA has slated the move by retailers and shopping malls to ban plastic shopping bags as simplistic, rash responses to a complex problem.

In a statement by association, Executive Director, Anton Hanekom said what is required is a rational solution to the genuine crisis of plastic pollution, not an emotional reaction.

“Many of those championing a ban on plastic shopping bags fail to understand the impact that alternative materials have on the environment, and that inadequate waste management and recycling infrastructure lies at the root of the problem,” he said.

In a groundbreaking 2018 study on plastic bags, the Danish Ministry of Environment and Food found that many of the so-called alternatives would have a far greater negative environmental impact

than plastic bags.

The report went on to find that organic cotton shopping bags, for instance, would have to be reused a staggering 20 000 times to have the same low environmental impact as plastic shopping bags.

“While it’s tempting to imagine a world without plastic as some sort of environmental Utopia, the hard truth is that most plastic products are lifeenhancing, useful and – if disposed of

New Plastics Economy Global Commitment reveals efforts to Financial institutions with over $4-trillion in assets under management endorse the commitment DETAILS of how brands, governments and other organisations are tackling plastic pollution have been set out sideby-side for the first time, thanks to a new report published by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s New Plastics Economy initiative, in collaboration with UN Environment.

Major companies including Carrefour, Colgate Palmolive, MARS, Incorporated, Nestlé, SC Johnson, The Coca-Cola Company and Unilever are publicly disclosing their annual plastic packaging volumes, marking an important step towards greater transparency in today’s plastic system.

Highlights of the report include:

• Consumer goods companies and

•

•

retailers commit to increase recycled content in their packaging to an average of 25% by 2025, compared with the current global average of just 2%.

Leading businesses and governments will end the use of problematic and unnecessary plastic – including PVC and single-use plastic straws and carrier bags - many of them by the end of this year 40 brands and retailers are piloting or expanding reuse and refill schemes. www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation welcomes these initial efforts but calls for more action to eliminate problematic and unnecessary plastic packaging and a greater shift to reuse delivery models that reduce the need for single-use packaging.

The report follows the launch of the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment in October 2018, which established a vision to stop plastic waste and pollution at source by applying circular economy principles. Since then the number of signatories has risen to more than 350 and now includes Apple, Barilla, Tetra Pak and L’OCCITANE en Provence, as well as the Government of Rwanda and the cities

thousands of new jobs while safeguarding the 100 000 formal and informal jobs that the plastics industry currently provides,” Hanekom said.

“Government can do this if it ring-fences the plastic bag levy which has increased from 3c per bag when it was introduced in 2003, to 12c in 2018.

“The nearly R2-billion that has been raised through the levy so far should never have been absorbed into the black hole of our national fiscus. Instead, the levy should have been ringfenced for its intended purpose: to develop better recycling facilities and encourage sustainable consumer behaviour,” he added.

So-called alternatives will have a far greater negative environmental impact than plastic bags

“We need strong, collaborative and meaningful partnerships.

Government, industry and the consumer need to work together to defeat plastic pollution.”

tackle plastic waste & pollution of Sáo Paulo (Brazil) and Ljubljana (Slovenia). Financial institutions with over $4-trillion in assets under management have endorsed the commitment.

“The targets and action plans set out in this report are a significant step forward compared with the pace of change of past decades. However, they are still far from truly matching the scale of the problem, particularly

when it comes to the elimination of unnecessary items and innovation towards reuse models. Ambition levels must continue to rise to make real strides in addressing global plastic pollution by 2025, and moving from commitment to action is crucial.

Major investments, innovations, and transformation programmes need to start now,” said New Plastics Economy lead, Sander Defruyt.

MOVING FROM VISION TO ACTION

IN JUST a few minutes, well organised production at Atlantic Plastic Recycling in Cape Town turned to tragedy when four workers were overcome by a deadly gas whilst attempting to clean a washplant tank.

Two other workers narrowly escaped death in the incident on 21 May. Atlantic MD Steve Cheetham nearly met the same fate when he attempted to enter the tank to rescue the men, only to be restrained by co-workers.

The cleaning of the tank, holding water from the company’s washplant, would otherwise have been a routine operation for the APR maintenance team. The tank, after being drained, had after all been cleaned before. Concern mounted very shortly after the first two men entered the submerged tank, when they fell silent only moments after descending into it. After they failed to respond, two other workers descended to assist, only to fall silent too, by which point the alarm was raised. At least one man was saved by co-workers.

Rescue personnel were on the scene within minutes, amazingly, given that the plant in Beaconvale lies amid a large industrial and sprawling residential area. Their rapid assistance may well have saved two of the workers, who later recovered in hospital.

The investigation into the cause of the tragedy is not yet complete, but one likely cause may have been that a deadly gas was emitted from substances removed from bags processed in the washplant, then lay submerged in the base of the tank only to be stirred up during the cleaning process. The gas may have or must have been odourless as it appears all the victims were caught completely unaware.

APR directors Fred and Steve Cheetham were distraught at the disastrous turn, not least as Atlantic has been one of the most consistently successful performers in the Western Cape recycling sector, and were taken completely by surprise, but have been astounded at the fortitude and resilience of the company’s staff in the wake of the tragedy. Although the washplant area was cordoned off pending the investigation, there was no alternative other than to restart production the following day.

JUNE / JULY 2019 7

JUST BRIEFLY

correctly - more environmentallyfriendly than their touted alternatives.

And this is where the solution to plastic pollution can be found: in the correct disposal and management of plastic waste,” Hanekom added.

“To win the war on plastic pollution, everyone in the plastics industry must face reality. This includes us as the producers of plastic products, brand owners, retailers, shopping malls, government and consumers.”

In 2017 the plastics industry collected more than 43% of packaging placed on the market for recycling with less than 700 000 tons going to landfill.

The industry is showing year-on-year increases in the recycling rate with less plastic waste going to landfills, but industry’s efforts alone are not going to win the war on plastic pollution.

“The correct disposal and management of plastic waste is imperative for our future environmental sustainability.

We need government to urgently fix South Africa’s inadequate waste management facilities and improve infrastructure for collection and recycling. It can create

Odourless gas may have been cause of tragedy at Atlantic

News

Masterbatch from recovered carbon black gives Tuffy ‘100% recycled’ status

The Farrel Pomini CP (Compact Processor) system at Davro in Durban is specifically designed for the processing of highly filled, highly pigmented materials, including highly abrasive materials – in other words, suited for the processing of materials such as carbon black

GAMS, Davro, Carst & Walker team up to unearth value from huge tyres

8 JUNE / JULY 2019

THE fact that an estimated 30 million tons-plus of scrap tyres are lying out in the veld there somewhere, in South Africa alone, suggests this could be an untapped resource of a variety of materials, with carbon black being seen as the one most justifying recovery.

even preferable to virgin material. One of the plusses for rCB is the fact that the production process for carbon black, which is complicated and costly, is bypassed.

Up to now, however, the dormant tyre stockpile has remained neglected … that is until a new programme involving Global Asset Management, Davro Compounding and materials supplier Carst & Walker got underway. The intention of the project is to extract carbon black from scrap tyres Recovered carbon black (rCB) is and from there to manufacture black now being seen as a viable alternative masterbatch and ultimately produce to virgin carbon black and there – can ‘100% recycled’ products. you believe it – is even a conference As one of the main investors in some dedicated to the material, the aptly of South Africa’s biggest mining groups, named ‘Recovered Carbon Black’ event Johannesburg-based Global Asset having taken place in Berlin in mid-May. Management (GAMS) began some If anything, due to the years ago to look at alternative intense scrutiny being means of adding value and placed on goods Oil, pursued the option of extracting manufacturers to value from scrap tyres from recycle and reuse carbon black, mines. Attention focused on (and a lot else steel and gas mine vehicle tyres, which actually), rCB is recovered are often outsize casings in some cases weighing up to five tons each. via pyrolysis For obvious reasons, attempts to recycle these giant tyres had been totally overlooked before. But now there is more motivation for this: the huge tyres are transported to a GAMS subsidiary in Nigel, Gauteng, where they are partially shredded and then treated in a pyrolysis process. (‘Pyrolysis involves the chemical decomposition of organic materials at elevated temperatures in the absence of oxygen, yielding a solid residue containing ash and carbon, small quantities of liquid and gases’ – with the carbon being the sought after item in this case.)

According to Joe Kruger of GAMS, techniques to process the big tyres by pyrolysis had to be custom developed.

“When one processes end-of-life (ELT) tyres thermo-chemically by means of pyrolysis, the products are always oil, recovered carbon black, steel and gas.

Due to the enormous size of mining tyres and the consequential handling difficulties, it never attracted much attention from other companies with similar operations.

However, the way we developed our technology it turned out we could handle these big units,” he explained.

The extracted carbon black is then transported to Davro Compounding in Westmead, Durban, where the company’s Farrel Pomini CP Series II compounding extruder further processes the material into a black masterbatch.

The process began in 2018 and, after a rigorous development phase, the first black masterbatches were produced. To achieve the ‘100% recycled content’ label, Davro used recycled polymer for the carrier as well. According to Crighton du Preez of Davro, most of the problems initially encountered with using the recycled black and recycled polymer have been overcome. High dispersion performance is the most necessary criteria for masterbatch and achieving this has been a noteworthy success for the Davro team.

The black masterbatch, now with ‘fully recycled’ status, is supplied to Tuffy Brands in Cape Town. Tuffy is now able to convincingly claim its black refuse bags are manufactured from 100% recycled material. According to Tuffy marketing manager Rory Murray, masterbatch using a carrier produced from recycled material had been used before, but the carbon black or pigment was not recyclably sourced.

“This backs up our marketing strategy,” said Murray. The bags have been certified by SGS South Africa, the product audit body.

100% – Manfrid Loubser, QC manager at the Tuffy plant in Stikland, Cape Town, overseeing extrusion of the film now produced from 100% recycled materials, including the black masterbatch extracted from carbon black sourced from mining tyres

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2019/05/22 12:08

News

Namibia Plastics commissions Reifenhäuser Evolution line NAMIBIA Plastics of Windhoek has recently commissioned a new Reifenhäuser ‘Evolution’ blown film line in a project which could result in imported film being substituted by locally manufactured films for a number of Namibia’s main brand suppliers.

Set up as recently as 2011 as a supplier of a range of packaging films, Namibia Plastics had by early 2018 grown to the point where it was able to set up its own production plant, which it duly accomplished. The 2600m² plant is in the Shali industrial area in Windhoek and is now fully operational.

The new three-layer line, commissioned by Sabre Equipment, the Reifenhäuser agent for southern Africa, can manufacture a variety of film structures, including film for stretch hood, sheeting, pallet wrap and for form-fill-seal applications and run at an estimated 250 tons/month. The obvious advantage of the German-made line is its versatility.

Namibia Plastics also operates a Comexi F2 flexographic press, giving it the ability to print on films. For example, it prints shrinkwrap films used for Windhoek Lager’s sixpacks.

Floors Coetzee of Sabre Equipment and Sascha Skora of Reifenhäuser setting up the new system at Namibia Plastics in Windhoek

SAPRO & WWF host positive Design for Recycling Indaba

10 JUNE / JULY 2019

D4R event at Propak attracted many, including brand company representatives THE INAUGURAL South African Design for Recycling Indaba was hosted on 13 March as a part of Propak Africa.

Spearheaded by the SA Plastic Recyclers Organisation (SAPRO) and the World-Wide Fund for Nature (WWFSA), the well-supported event grappled with the ins and outs of design to facilitate recycling of plastic packaging, the importance of guidelines for design for recycling, the role of retailers and brand owners in driving demand for well designed products and the use of recyclate, as well as the need for collaboration in the plastic value chain in working towards a new circular plastics economy.

Inspirational speakers on the day included Peter Skelton (head of strategic partnerships at Waste & Resources Action Programme Global) and Sonja Wegge (project manager for the ‘New Plastics Economy’ at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation) who set the stage for the roll out of a host of activities aimed at fostering commitment

by industry partners, to develop a local ‘Plastics Pact in South Africa’.

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation (EMF), in collaboration with UN Environment, has launched an international New Plastics Economy Global Commitment to eliminate plastic waste at source. The Global Commitment has been signed by over 250 organisations, representing 20% of all plastic packaging produced globally.

In support of this global commitment and to achieve the shared vision of a circular economy for plastics in the United Kingdom, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation partnered with the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) to launch the UK Plastics Pact, a bold initiative bringing together the entire plastics packaging value chain behind a common vision and committing to a set of ambitious targets. A number of authorities believe this unique pact between governments, businesses, local authorities, NGOs and consumers is one of the only ways to truly transform

the plastics system. This vision is now supported by 68 members who are responsible for 80% of plastic packaging sold in UK supermarkets, and half of all packaging placed on the market.

Locally, with the endorsement of the National Department of Environmental Affairs and SAPRO, the WWF-SA is codeveloping a South African Plastics Pact (SAPP) with support from WRAP and the EMF. This SAPP will include actions and targets and will be monitored and measured to ensure accountability. This initiative will be complementary to the current projects running in the plastics space (PROs, waste management plans, retailers forums etc) with the difference that this will be a formal commitment between all stakeholders.

• Read more at https://plasticrecyclingsa.co.za/ call-for-partners-for-the-commitment-to-the-codevelopment-of-a-south-african-plastics-pact/ • For the formal presentations please visit https:// www.plasticrecyclingsa.co.za/presentations/

IOM³ National Rubber Conference

IOM’s rubber get-together proves popular NMU students put on good show too

12 JUNE / JULY 2019

RUBBER, with all its complicated mixing formulations and alchemy, was to the fore again at the recent IOM³ National Rubber Conference, the 24th edition of the event.

Played out at the very welcoming Cape St Francis Resort in the southern Cape from 4-6 April, the show drew 109 delegates, which is a record. And hats off to the IOM organisers. For long this association was a fairly British affair, with several of the main characters having arrived from Zimbabwe. But that’s long gone: the Institute of Materials in South Africa (elsewhere the IOM includes ceramics and metals sectors) has transformed itself and drawn in a sizeable contingent of student members, most of who seem to be thriving under the tutelage of Dr Percy Hlangothi at the Polymer Chemistry department at Nelson Mandela University in Port Elizabeth.

The show kicked off with keynote speaker Professor Chris Adendorff of Nelson Mandela University’s address about ‘Future Implications of the 4th Industrial Revolution’ which jolted quite a few in the audience into wake-up mode: let’s just say a daunting path lies ahead. Even though some say Industry 4.0 hasn’t even reached Africa yet, Prof Adendorff suggested there are major implications for those who prepare.

linked to rubber is the automotive tyre, and that’s an area where consistency and reliability is a lot more welcome than experimentation.

Anyone unfamiliar with what’s involved in getting rubber to cure is almost guaranteed to be confused at events such as this, but the net effect for just about everyone in the rubber industry is that toying with the formulae hasn’t been a prominent trend.

Activ8™ – A different means of cure It appears, however, that Robert Bosch of Top SA, int’l speakers – Robert Bosch of Rubber Nano Products has not read the Rubber Nano Products and Dr Joseph Hallett script. RNP has for long been challenging of Aditya Birla of England were adjudged the established norms in the rubber the top local and international speakers, and received their awards from Dr Percy Hlangothi, sector (which seem to apply globally) and chairman of the IOM in the Eastern Cape has been pegging away at alternative vulcanisation and cure technologies.

Bosch has been giving presentations According to Chris, 75% of the jobs to at the IOM events since the early 2000s be realised in this future electronic realm with, as RNP describes on its website: “have not even been created yet”.

‘The Rubber Nano Vision of polymer So, the way it is at present is, curing facilitates a we know very little – new way of looking maybe nothing? – The show drew 109 at a rubber system; about what lies ahead. delegates, which is it provides unique But back to the a record, hats off to tools to achieve present: the fact of the the IOM organisers. previously unattainable matter, is that rubber cost savings while remains a bit of a dark art maintaining and in many cases actually where meddling with formulations is not improving the quality of the final rubber widely welcomed. This is also a relief, product’. given that the product most closely

NUVO team – Nuvo Rubber Compounders was again the Platinum sponsor of the conference, which was a generous and positive gesture

by Collin Ströberg and his team. Here we see Colin with his son Tyron and Donal Ryan

Dr Joseph Hallett gave a presentation about his work on enhancing tread grades, in his capacity as technical manager at Aditya Birla (UK), and doubled up on that as the IOM London’s representative at the SA event, in which capacity he also gave a short address. He was thanked by IOM SA chair Kerry. Aditya Birla is one of the world’s largest suppliers of carbon black additives

Tallant Medal goes to Multotec’s Spike Taylor Activ8™ – The Rubber Nano Products presentation proposed a wholly new look at rubber cure

Originally RNP was outright involved in nano work and then focussed its research on coated nano solutions but has since “gone beyond” nano on a course that led it to the development of Activ8®, an additive activator that can improve modulus in cure and also cut process times by a sizeable margin. Cure temperatures are also reduced, by as much as 10 degrees.

Activ8 is formed by reaction of polyethylene glycol and sodium metasilicate. Results so far suggest that it can substantially outperform and even replace zinc and silanes in the rubber blending process.

Rubber Nano Products has also made some international progress and is working with a large rubber company in Italy, where positive results have been achieved and which could boost commercialisation.

It’s not easy challenging convention, so congrats are due to Bosch, whose presentation earned him the ‘Best Local Paper’ award.

Best international speaker Representing the top global carbon black manufacturer, Birla Carbon, as well as the IOM London, Dr Joseph Hallett was a busy man. The IOM has some 18,000 members, with just 20% of those based outside the UK. The organisation has played a positive role with its global affiliates, however, and created opportunities for members all >>

It didn’t take Brent Hean of West African Group and Wendy Knott Craig of PR Junction, the de facto organiser of the show, long to get into the swing of things at the pool party on the Friday evening

THIS year’s recipient of the IOM’s John Tallant Medal, Spike Taylor of Multotec, has made valuable contributions in all three of the areas for which the award is made: services to and/or achievements in the Southern Africa rubber industry and services to the Institute.

The medal was presented at the conclusion of the IOM’s National Rubber Conference in Cape St Francis on 6 April.

Spike was born and schooled in Zimbabwe. He moved to South Africa to study Metallurgy at the University of Witwatersrand on a De Beers’ bursary in 1973, obtaining a BSc Engineering in Metallurgy in 1977. Thereafter he worked at De Beers Kimberley and then was involved in the commissioning of the main treatment plant of what was then the largest diamond processing plant in the world in Botswana.

Spike joined Multotec in 1985,

working in various sales positions and then as a product manager for screening. In 2002 he was transferred to Multotec Rubber as sales manager, followed by promotion to sales director and then managing director in July 2009.

Spike has been a member of the IOM³ for more than 10 years.

He was chairman of the Northern branch from 2010-2016.

Spike, together with PISA, was also very involved in drawing up the MerSETA Programme for Rubber Technologists under the banner of TRIPCO, a previous education initiative. This initiative allowed for accredited training and advancement of skills in the field of rubber technology and had a positive impact on the lives of those who participated.

Spike is also an honorary game ranger and is passionate about animals.

Tallanted man – Spike Taylor of Multotec received the John Tallant Medal from IOM chairman Kerry Kirkman at the banquet at the end of the conference. The medal is presented to a person who has made an exceptional contribution towards the rubber industry in southern Africa, in which respect Spike, who is MD of Multotec, has set a fine example

Session chair Dr Kathy Garde (right) was able to add much value, due to her knowledge of scientific formulae, to the Q&A of the second session, when presentations were made by Briss Mabuto (NMU), Dr Joseph Hallett of Aditya Birla and Cleopatra Dube (also NMU) JUNE / JULY 2019 13

IOM³ National Rubber Conference

Dr Mohau Phiri chaired the next session, featuring Robert Bosch of RNP, Tapas Padhi (McLube Asia) and Jabulani Gumede (NMU) n chairman tiTech (left) and sessio Bright Rwodzi of Con onke Ketelo Sis ters sen (right) with pre Dianne van Rooyen Malaysia of es itiv Performance Add (NMU) and KP Ho of

14 JUNE / JULY 2019

efficiency, in specific areas such as to >> over the place (including SA). Ties lower tyre rolling resistance, reduce between the SA organisation and the motor energy and achieve longer life for IOM London have remained strong. tyres, conveyor belting or other rubber Birla Carbon (headquarters in India), goods. Part of the problem for the CB where Dr Hallett is technical services manufacturer is that achieving an ideal manager, is a global leader in carbon balance of all parameters (hysteresis, black production, operating over traction, abrasion resistance and 130 manufacturing facilities and has processability) remains a never-ending annual revenues estimated at over quest. (Hysteresis refers to rolling $44,3-billion. Aditya Birla entered the resistance.) Ironically, carbon black is carbon black market when it purchased the one input material which is seen Columbian Chemicals Company of the as most likely to enable improved USA in 2011. performance criteria.

There was much interest in Dr Besides achieving optimum abrasion Hallett’s presentation on ‘Enhanced resistance, other objectives include Performance Tread Grades to reduced mixing Meet 21st Century Most consider times and improved Requirements’ (of carbon black to be processability – both carbon black). Most a standard comof which, obviously, consider carbon black modity, but no sir, would improve goods to be a standard it’s more complex manufacturers’ commodity, but no sir, competitiveness. it’s more complex than than that.

Birla’s EP that. Given that Birla (Enhanced Performance) carbon blacks is one of the global leaders in carbon achieve a shift from the traditional black, it’s no surprise that some of its colloidal approach to optimised top customers are seeking performance morphology, with optimised particle advantages. The ‘enhanced size and distribution and optimised performance’ Joseph spoke of focussed aggregate shape, size and distribution. particularly on improved energy

One of the Aditya Birla carbon black plants. The India headquartered group operates over 130 plants

Comparative data was analysed in Joseph’s presentation.

‘Resilience’ Resilience is a word often applied to rubber, but in this case it was also the title of a presentation by Donal Ryan of Nuvo Rubber. From Ireland originally, Donal has a PhD in polymer technology. He has been in Africa since 2006 and it has to be said, the period since has been challenging for

Furnace reactor – Production of carbon black is challenging, as the powder is light and particle size goes down to extremely fine … and it gets more complicated from there when goods manufacturers (specifically tyres) are trying to achieve further improved performance

Speakers during the afternoon session, with session chairman Dr Percy Hlangothi (second from right), included Matshidiso Makhalema of NMU, Andy Radford of the Mandela Bay Composites Cluster and Rudi van Niekerk of H&R Africa

Khanya Ngobo of Advanced Lab Solutions gave a presentation on the possible use of rubber crumb as a filler in polyurethane foams and was thanked by Percy Hlangothi

the local rubber sector.

There has to be validity in the assessment of the SA industrial rubber sector’s situation by a newcomer to the African scene, plus Donal’s perspective is based on the comprehensive analysis of the sector he undertook. Initial findings suggested that the SA industrial rubber sector may have lost as many as 3500 workers over the last two decades.

“We are in a stagnant industry,” said Donal, “and the first thing we have to do is realise that. Then we can consider initiating an industry-wide strategy.”

Among the factors cited for the lack of growth, he suggested, were the low level of investment in R+D as well as that many of the manufacturers had been reluctant to invest in technology. He proposed that industrial goods manufacturers should form a venture similar to the SA Tyre Manufacturers Conference (SATMC) which could assist in developing strategies to grow the sector. And even that funding from the potential recovery of REDISA could be used as a catalyst for an industry-wide initiative. >>

JUNE / JULY 2019 15

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IOM³ National Rubber Conference

Combatting ozone Accelerated tests were conducted to monitor the effect of ozone on rubber goods; in this case, of crack propagation at 90° of the strain axis

>> Donal presented a number of cases of successes and failures in well-known global corporations, and in the examples cited it was noticeable that the ventures that collapsed seemed wholly oblivious to the problems they faced, and even ignored warning signs.

So, let’s not do that.

Combatting effect of ozone In his presentation ‘Protection of Diennecontaining Elastomers against cracks

by Ozone,’ Rudi van Niekerk of H&R Africa dealt with the problems created by the increase in ozone (caused by elevated UV and air pollution levels) and the direct effect that has on elastomer

Without the inclusion of the wax, tested items began to deteriorate rapidly. In this test, at a load of 10 cycles/min, strain of 30% (temperature 20° and humidity 50%) and exposed to an ozone concentration of 50 pphm, the failure was extreme

and rubber goods. The ozone ‘attacks’ carbon double-bonds in goods in a fairly rapid reaction which leads to the deterioration of elasticity in the moulded product.

H&R supplies waxes which mitigate against this condition and help retain elasticity. The waxes are produced via conventional solvent extraction processes (as in the petrochemical production process) via a vacuum distillation unit. Blended optimally, the wax then ‘migrates’ to the surface of the moulded product and forms a thin layer which protects against ozone attack, thus enhancing performance of the item and prolonging life.

Student presentations The main presentations were interspersed by student presentations, all of them from Nelson Mandela University, the majority of which focussed on treatment of waste tyres and rubber reclaim, which is a massive area that has been badly neglected. A number of the students have progressed to post-grad study and it’s got to be hoped that, should the REDISA tyre recycling venture manage to reflight, their research work will be utilised and implemented.

16 JUNE / JULY 2019

woodie, who is ‘sort The evergreen Ron Dun sion during which ses of’ retired, chaired the ke about the latest spo G WA of ng ssu Wa Alan als, very high teri ma axx tam Vis l ExxonMobi ers ym performance pol The Men (and Lady) in Black – The West Afr ican Group delegation turned out for the clo were superbly sing banquet

Mario Nuenhaus of Huber of Germany gave a presentation about its new halogen-free flame retarding grades, and was thanked by Kerry Kirkman

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Nampak celebrates 50yrs on JSE NAMPAK marked the 50th anniversary of its listing on the JSE on 19 February 1969.

The group’s illustrious history dates back to 1918 when a box-making business was started by John Herzberg in Cape Town.

There have been a number of acquisitions, disposals, expansions and new developments over this time, with Nampak making a valuable contribution to the SA economy, employment and customers.

Today, with 49 manufacturing operations across 13 countries, Nampak’s vision remains that of being Africa’s leading diversified packaging manufacturer.

“To do this, we need to continually develop and create world class packaging products, to not only meet the demands of our customers and the needs of their consumers, but being mindful of the impact on our environment,” said Nampak CEO André de Ruyter.

“The current global phenomenon against single-use plastics is an example of how much more sophisticated and environmentally conscious end-customers are becoming. While it poses a challenge for manufacturers, we at Nampak see is as an exciting development. We can advocate for, and with, consumers to influence customers/retailers to moving towards sustainable packaging and reduce the overreliance on plastics as a substrate, where alternatives with a better environmental footprint are available,” added De Ruyter.

SA ‘plastics pact’ progressing well GREAT strides are being made in the co-development of a South African Plastics Pact, which was unveiled at the Design for Recycling event at Propak Africa and the GreenCape & Sustainable Retailers Forum Circular Economy events in March.

During this scoping and engagement phase driven by WWF, there has been an overwhelmingly positive response with six retailers, four brand owners, industry bodies and PROs confirmed as founding members to take the industry-led initiative forward. The first meeting of the founding members on 14 June will consider proposed targets; organizational structure, steerco & governance; budget and fee model and the roadmap development and next steps.

To be a part of the initiative or find out more, contact • Lorren de Kock at ldekock@wwf.org.za or • Lisa Parkes at lisa@plasticrecyclingsa.co.za 18 JUNE / JULY 2019

Plastic power: Nzima Recycling in Humansdorp, Eastern Cape, started with an average of 9 tons of PET in 2017 and is currently processing 20 tons every month.

The business buys in PET plastic from landfill sites and the local community

PET plastic bottles crest SA’s recycling wave PETCO says 6% year-on-year increase in recycling of PET plastic bottles PETCO chief executive officer, Cheri AS the global movement away from Scholtz, said an average of 6.2 million single-use plastics gathers momentum, PET plastic bottles were collected for South Africa continues to make recycling across South Africa every significant strides in its PET plastic day last year, creating recycling efforts.

68 000 income-generating According to the latest opportunities for small statistics released by “On track and micro-collectors national industry to meet its – up from the 64 000 body PET Recycling Company (PETCO), target of seeing 70% total for 2017.

In addition, an 98 649 tons of of post-consumer estimated R1.2 billion post-consumer PET PET bottles was injected into plastic bottles were the downstream recycled last year recycled by economy, through alone, saving 612 000 2022.” the manufacturing, cubic metres of landfill distribution and sale space and lessening the of products made from country’s carbon emissions recycled PET. Describing the results as footprint by 148 000 tons. ‘encouraging’, Scholtz said it meant that This represents a 6% increase on PETCO was on track to meet its target the 2017 figures of 93 235 tons of of seeing 70% of post-consumer PET polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles recycled by 2022, adding that bottles recycled.

2018 had seen unprecedented pressure and attention on plastics in the public space.

“Now, more than ever, companies failing to address environmental performance in product design and development will find it increasingly difficult to compete in the global market.

“Globally, product stewardship or Extended Producer Responsibility [EPR] has become the requirement for all producers. In South Africa, the Waste Act now makes this a legal requirement,” said Scholtz.

“Clearly, it cannot be right to allow plastics to leak into the environment, but neither is it acceptable to lose the opportunity to utilise plastic as a fit-forpurpose and cost-effective material for so many applications.”

She said PETCO had responded to the call by the Department of Environmental Affairs and submitted an industry waste management plan last year, which she described as a “massive collaborative effort” by all stakeholders in the PET value chain.

“Creating the right balance of legislative drivers and positive long-term business conditions will allow a viable and resilient system to be established which demonstrates the value of plastics as a

Treasure from trash: Informal collectors transporting their recyclables through the streets of Johannesburg to sell to the closest buy-back centre

circular material and prevents plastic in the natural environment. EPR is seen by many as one of the key drivers to achieving these aims,” said Scholtz.

PETCO chairman Dr Casper Durandt, who is also head of sustainable packaging for Coca-Cola’s Southern and East African business unit, explained that high collection and recycling numbers could only be achieved by industry players working together as a team.

“Brand owners must design packaging to be 100% recyclable by, for example, removing colour, PVC and multi-layered packaging,” Durandt said.

“We in the PET industry must also work together in collaboration with other material streams to optimise the collection of post-consumer packaging and create sustainable jobs in the process.”

Green business: Makhabisi Recycling and Trading is committed to being an inclusive green business. Pictured here at its Boksburg site is one of the 60 employees from the local community

KZN ‘invaders’ Skyland take honours in Cape

PISA Western Cape champs – Invaders from KZN walked off with the title at the PISA Western Cape golf day, played on the beautifully manicured Durbanville course in May. It was none other than Team Skyland, who ended with an impressive 98 points on the day, a whopping 10 ahead of the runners-up. Dewalt Spies, of Cape-based Agriflow, Bruce Naidoo, MD of Durbanbased Skyland Masterbatch and Kevin Govender of GPS Plastics, Durban, really shot the lights out.

Missing from the photo was Kumar Naidu of Carst & Walker (also Durban)

Winners of Plastomark golf day ‘019

The winning fourball at the Plastomark golf day in May, played at the River Club course in Bryanston, included Gersh Kauzil of Plastemat, Eden van As of Golden Axe, Joe Viana of Vee Plastics and Guy Moore of Plastomark, seen here with Plastomark’s MD Wolfgang Raffalsky and Zelda Vikos. According to a spokesman for the winners, the course “was in awesome condition and the greens slick due to the club apparently just having had their club champs, so we won on a low 82!”

JUNE / JULY 2019 19

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Recycled Product of the Year Awards, 19 Sept 2019 SAPRO will once again host the Recycled Plastic Product of the Year Awards aimed at raising awareness and highlighting the wide variety of locally designed products manufactured using recycled plastics. The event is a cornerstone of SAPRO’s strategy to grow the demand for plastic recyclate, and help improve market acceptance of locally manufactured recycled plastic products, inspire innovation and encourage new entrants into the market place.

“This year, the Recycled Plastic Product of the Year Awards will also align with the launch of the local Plastics Pact in South Africa. We are also pulling in exciting new implementation partners, pitching the Awards at a higher level, diversifying the Awards categories, increasing the amount of applicants and its reach. The Awards will be hosted on 19 September in the lead up to National Clean-Up SA Week and World Recycling Day, which falls between 23-29 September this year,” says Lisa Parkes, SAPRO spokesperson.

“We envisage it will be an important platform for organisations to demonstrate their commitment to the environment and resource efficiency, as well as alignment with global initiatives that work towards a circular economy!” she adds.

Canadian auto supplier starts plant in Morocco CANADIAN auto parts supplier Magna International has broken ground on a new greenfield production plant in Kenitra, Morocco, to manufacture exterior and interior automotive mirror systems.

Ontario-based Magna will invest $11.3-million in the 5500m² site, which is set to begin operations in mid-2020. Magna injection moulds mirror systems and related auto housings. This will be Magna’s second location in Morocco, following the formation of a Casablanca-based engineering joint venture with Altran Technologies SA in 2018.

Morocco has become an automotive hub in North Africa, as the country offers a competitive export-focused production base for global car makers. The Moroccan government has set its sights on making a million vehicles a year by 2025 and has been successful in attracting automakers and investment in new production plants to achieve that goal. An important advantage for Magna in Morocco is the availability of a ‘high level of skilled employees and engineering talent’ in the region, a company statement said.

20 JUNE / JULY 2019

Bambisana Manufacturing’s Johann Venter and Harry Oberholzer with the new 470-ton Haitian machine

Benjamin Till of MBT Plastics cc with Cabletech’s Lorraine du Plessis and the 160-ton Haitian Mars 2 injection moulding machine

Satisfied customers after Haitian machines commissioned Cabletech provide outstanding service, before and after sale

CABLETECH Marketing recently sold and commissioned Haitian Mars injection moulding machines to Roodepoort-based MBT Plastics cc and Chamdor-based Bambisana Manufacturing.

A 160-ton Haitian MARS 2 International injection moulding machine was commissioned at MBT Plastics cc, established in 2011, which runs countless parts and projects for various customers.

“We pride ourselves on our hard work and determination; this being said, we need the latest technology to ensure the best product,” says Benjamin Till, MBT Plastics’ owner. “After Cabletech met with us, needless to say, we have a new member of the MBT Plastics family in the form of a Haitian MARS 2 International 160 ton!”.

“Cabletech Marketing have been

outstanding with regards to the purchase of the machine, from the actual sale, to the commissioning of the machine, right down to the after-sales visits I received from the sales and technical team when the machine was up and running,” said Till.

“MBT Plastics is very happy with the new addition and will continue to use Cabletech Marketing for its future projects,” he added.

A 470-ton Haitian injection moulding machine was commissioned at Bambisana Manufacturing.

“The Haitian’s high-rise body ensures the most efficient way to manufacture our products,” says Christo Steenkamp, MD of Bambisana Manufacturing. “We also received a high level of service from Cabletech Marketing, in particular, Lorraine du Plessis, who has been looking after us for the past five years.”

www.cabletech.co.za

WAG

Most advanced 3D printing centre in Africa Demaplastech completes installation in Cameroon APRIL 10 saw the Inauguration of the 3D Printing High-Tech Centre, the largest and most advanced of its kind in Africa, at the Polytechnique at the University of Yaounde in Cameroon.

The centre is the ‘brain-child’ of Israeli entrepreneur Uri Sela of Sela Educational Initiatives and incorporates state-ofthe-art Israeli equipment and will offer both Cameroonian and African students an unprecedented opportunity to carry out cutting-edge research.

Moreover, the revolutionary technology of 3D printing will contribute significantly to the modernization of Cameroonian industry (for example by enabling the local printing of foreign designed prototypes) and medical treatment (by producing individual prosthetic implants and artificial limbs).

Demaplastech Rapid Prototyping of Johannesburg, which represents Stratasys 3D printers, was awarded the contract to supply, commission and provide training at the centre. The centre has a mix of FDM and Polyjet technologies and has the combined capability to print almost every material in the Stratasys portfolio.

The 23 printers were installed in a record time of just two weeks by Louis duToit and Jacques Visagie, who are both Stratasys certified engineers.

The set up of the centre at the University of Yaounde was planned by Uri Sela of Israel, with Demaplastech of Jo’burg supplying the 3D systems and training personnel

JUNE / JULY 2019 21

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AfriWaste underway in Eastern Cape AN Eastern Cape start-up company is helping to curb the amount of plastic waste that lands up in fields, dams and landfill sites. East London businesswoman Phumeza Ceshemba has made a living for herself and dozens of other families from AfriWaste, a waste recycling business in Fort Jackson on the outskirts of Mdantsane, Eastern Cape.

Government has through the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) granted a R14-million loan to AfriWaste, which collects, sorts, washes and sanitises mainly postconsumer plastic materials, mainly from landfills. The plant is part of the Operation Phakisa Chemicals & Waste initiative that was also launched by President Ramaphosa.

Ceshemba, who learned the waste recycling business from her mother, is driven by a passion to protect the environment from harmful toxins. She started AfriWaste in 2017 and co-owns it with her husband Thozamile.

The company currently employs 17.

The benefits of the Ceshembas’ business have a ripple effect on various small, medium and micro-enterprises as well as their employees. The plant also provides financial freedom to its employees through a 15% stake of the company.

“We’ve got a Workers’ Trust that benefits 17 people and over 100 cooperatives and waste pickers also benefit. In addition, we collect from landfills,” said Ceshemba, adding that they are the only company in the Eastern Cape that washes plastic.

Woolworths low-cost, reusable bags AFTER a six-month trial in four of its Western Cape stores, including the launch of their first plastic bag free store, Woolworths will be rolling out its new low-cost, reusable bag to more stores across the country as well as announcing three more ‘plastic shopping bag free’ stores.

During the trial, which was launched in November 2018, over 100 000 singleuse bags were saved from going out into the environment as customers opted for affordable, reusable shopping bags.

Steenberg Village Woolies stopped selling single use plastic bags completely.

The project, which aims to positively shift consumer behaviour to choosing reusable bags, is an important part of Woolworths commitments to achieve its ambitious ZERO packaging waste to landfill vision, which includes the commitment to ensuring that all packaging is recyclable or reusable by 2022, and to specifically phase out single-use plastic bags by 2020.

James Vos, City of Cape Town’s Mayco Member for Economic Opportunities and Asset Management, visits New Earth Recycling to find out more about how post-consumer and post-industrial polystyrene is recycled into various new and useful products

Cape Town company recycles

40 tons of polystyrene

Creates new usable items valued at around R3-million each month NEW Earth Recycling, a company based in Parow and a member of the award-winning Western Cape Industrial Symbiosis Programme (WISP), processes 40 tons of waste a month from polystyrene products to create new usable items valued at an estimated R3-million each month.

New Earth Recycling collects recyclables from households and companies and processes these products into clothing hangers, picture frames, curtain rails, bean bag fillings, light-weight concrete bricks, insulated panels and seedling fertilizer mix, among others.

Founded in 2013, the company aims to employ homeless people and has created employment opportunities for 15 permanent staff members and three seasonal workers on a casual basis.

It is funded by the City’s Enterprise and Investment Department and is managed by GreenCape.

More job opportunities for locals New Earth Recycling CEO, Noel Ehrenreich, says that the business is growing and aims to provide more job opportunities for locals.

“There are thousands of tons of polystyrene waste that still goes to landfills every month. To divert more waste we need more space, vehicles and machines to expand the operations and unlock the potential.

We would work with local material recovery facilities receiving more and more household waste through the city’s residential recycling initiatives to assist them in diverting this waste from landfills. Our expansion plans will divert an additional 250 tons of polystyrene a month. This will create at least 50 new job opportunities directly and 150 jobs indirectly in the short to medium term,” he says.

Companies that are members of the WISP programme are provided with a facilitator that offers the business technical expertise by connecting them with unused or residual resources, including materials, energy, water, assets and logistics.

Through the sharing of resources, businesses are able to contribute to the growth of the economy, cut costs and increase profit, improve their business processes, create new revenue streams and operate more sustainably. To date, all companies who are members of WISP have collectively diverted over 67 000 tons of waste which has generated economic benefit equivalent to R69 million in Cape Town’s green economy. www.polystyrenesa.co.za www.newearthrecycling.co.za

22 JUNE / JULY 2019

Untit

Continental Compounders exhibited at this year’ NAACAM Automotive Conference & Exhibition in March in Durban. On the stand were CEO George Dimond (far right) with other members of the Continental management team, Meloshnie Daniel, Lucky Gumede and Darren van Rooyen. By 2020, there will be approximately 1.2 billion cars on the road worldwide, an enormous increase of nearly 300 million compared to 2012. The NAACAM (National Association of Automotive Component and Allied Manufacturers) event delivered a premier event which facilitated localisation, intra-African trade and investment linkages. It enabled Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and technology partnerships as well as promoted the development and growth of black-owned suppliers in South Africa www.naacamshow.co.za

Continental consolidates activities Improved production output, streamlining raw materials, stock holding

KZN-based Continental Compounders has consolidated its engineering polymers compounding line with its PVC compounding line at its Mariann Industrial Estate premises.

Previously, Continental only carried out PVC compounding at the Mariann Industrial Estate plant, but then in 2016, installed and commissioned its engineering polymers compounding line (mainly PP for automotive applications) in Westmead, about 20km away.

“It made more business sense to have both sites under one roof. This resulted in improved production output and streamlining raw materials and stock holding. Another benefit was consolidated loads to Gauteng, especially, therefore optimising transport costs and eradicating duplicate costs and maximising our human resources,” explains George Dimond, CEO of Continental Compounding.

Continental Compounders is probably the biggest PVC compounder in South Africa, possibly even the southern hemisphere, doing about 3300 tons-plus a month. A lot of the material is exported, in which area it cooperates with Snetor of France, a global material supply/logistics operation, which also has an office in SA.

“Despite low local infrastructural spend in our economy, Continental has seized many new opportunities in local and export markets which has seen us grow to over 40 000 tons per year,” says George.

Continental seems to have developed momentum by passing a certain volume threshold and its systems appear to be achieving solid customer acceptance, even in offshore markets. George says this has been achieved through rigorous management systems, enhanced equipment and continuous improvement in quality and consistency that has allowed the company to grow through the support of customers and suppliers alike.

Continental’s move into polyolefins was of great interest to the local polymers industry.To date, the range of polypropylene grades Continental supplies has grown significantly, and almost exclusively at the expense of imported products. Continental has also expanded its polyolefin compounding capacity since.

“Automation in the compounding process resulted in higher efficiencies and output, therefore reducing the possibility of human error and reducing possible waste,” says George.

The fully functional engineering polymer

plant, supplying Nylon and modified PP to the local market, has grown substantially with Continental constantly striving to increase its range of products. With a Level 2 BEEE rating, George says that he anticipates this portion of the business to grow and add value to customers in the industrial and automotive sector.

Continental Compounders’ PP range now includes mineral-filled (up to 60%) or glass-filled (up to 50%) products with FR, HFFR and UV additives as required.

Its range of Nylon (PA) compounds is also growing well, and the company can supply PA6, PA66 or PA6/66 blends. In line with the PP range, these products can be glass-filled (up to 50%) with FR, HFFR, and UV additives.

Continental has also invested significantly in its laboratory and technical facilities and boasts one of the most comprehensive polymer testing services in the country.

New lab equipment was recently acquired to ensure continued developments and polymer modifications.

“We need to be able to adapt to specific customer requirements, maintaining the high standards we have,” concludes George.

www.compounders.co.za

JUNE / JULY 2019 23

IPEX Holdings (Pty) Ltd. Tel: +27 (0) 11 493 7816 | Fax: +27 (0) 11 493 2389 sean.kleingeld@ipex.co.za | john.davies@ipex.co.za | www.ipex.co.za

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2019/04/09 10:33

News Living on the edge! Zerma Africa’s Jeff Cawcutt, is dwarfed by the size of the Zerma ZSS series single-shaft shredders, now available with a convenient internal access door inside the cutting chamber, making access for maintenance, blade changes and cleaning that much easier, faster and safer

Zerma launches new machines at Chinaplas ZERMA exhibited at Chinapas in May and Zerma Africa’s Jeff Cawcutt was there to check out the company’s exciting new machinery – some of which are destined for South Africa. www.zerma.com

Zerma Africa’s Jeff Cawcutt (above) says the Zerma ZCS series shredder/granulator combination machines are gaining popularity with in-house recycling applications due to the compact, clean and reliable operation of this one-step, size reduction system. The shredder reduces a wide variety of materials to a size that can be easily reduced further by the integrated granulator. Discharging the final product is typically done by augers or blowers into bins or bags beside the machine

‘Budget’ range of pipe welding equipment from Plasti-Tech

24 JUNE / JULY 2019

Local market exceptionally price-sensitive THERMOPLASTIC piping specialist Plasti-Tech has launched a ‘budget’ range of plastic pipe welding equipment to meet the needs of a price-sensitive South African market.

In a market that is driven by price, Plasti-Tech has launched a Chinese manufactured range of plastic pipe welding equipment from Suda. The Johannesburg-based thermoplastic piping specialist now offer a full range of products from Suda Plastic Pipe Welding Machinery.

“The Chinese manufactured Suda machines are of very high quality and are a cost-effective alternative to our high-end range of welding equipment manufactured in Germany,” explains Brad Chamont, managing member at Plasti-Tech.

Chamont says the decision to offer these machines was driven by the price-sensitive nature of the local market.

“For this reason, we decided to source a ‘budget’ range of plastic pipe welding equipment that comes at a significantly lower price without compromising quality. Our competitive edge with the Suda range will be the price, quality and availability,” he adds.

Suda Plastic Pipe Welding Machinery offers a wide range of products, including HDPE butt welders, workshop fitting machines and HDPE pipe cutting saws. It offers a wide range of hydraulic butt fusion welding machines, with over 16 models available to choose from – all the way from the SUD160H to the SUD2500H. The range of welding equipment from Suda of China, including hydraulic butt fusion welding machines, comes at a price advantage, and the quality is exceptional according to Plasti-Tech, the Johannesburg based agent

www.plastitech.co.za

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2019/04/11 12:21

News

Vesconite Bearings invests in 5-axis capability Will permit Vesconite Bearings to take on challenging machining projects VESCONITE Bearings, based in the Free State-based, is ramping up its 5-axis machining capability in line with future demands for more complex machined parts made from its advanced engineered plastics.

The company already has a Haas VF 11 and a 6-m Marufuku machining centre with a 5-axis head and is currently investigating the purchase of specialist software that will allow it to produce even more complicated parts.

“We are ready to increase our 5-axis machining,” factory manager, Robin Crabb, says of the initiative that has training, staffing and technology implications.

Four staff members have already been familiarising themselves with 5-axis technology and have trained themselves in the use of the complex 5-axis machines that allow the cutting tool to move across the X,Y and Z linear axes and the workpiece to tilt and to rotate in any direction.

Once the additional specialist 5-axis

software has been bought, selected staff will also undergo further training, with the intention that all staff will be fully familiar with 5-axis machine use and programming.

The decision on which computeraided-design and manufacturing software option to purchase is currently being considered by CEO, Dr JeanPatrick Leger, as this software is regarded as vital for the success of the initiative to place emphasis on 5-axis machining.

“With the additional software, we will be able to undertake continuous cutting on 5 axes,” says Crabb. “This will result in less machine downtime and reduced set-up times,” he notes of the software, which will allow the company to complete technical drawings and programme machines for uninterrupted manufacturing.

Additional 5-axis machining capability will permit Vesconite Bearings to take on challenging machining projects, including many difficult precision-machined

custom wear parts such as daggerboard casings for high-technology sailing boats that are used as an alternative to fixed keels on catamarans.

Vesconite Bearings has a factory floor space of 20 000 m2 and its factory includes polymer compounding, extrusion and moulding shops in addition to its extensive machine shop, which includes 75 computer numericallycontrolled lathes and machining centres.

The company makes rods, machined plates and bushings as stock parts, as well as high-quality finished parts for the agriculture, railways, mining, pump, heavy transport, hydro, renewable, earthmoving and marine industries.

The polymer bushings and wearmaterials manufacturer prides itself on fast production, turnaround and delivery, with an average global delivery time, using various courier companies with global experience, of three to seven working days. www.vesconite.com

Above: Kevin van Zyl sets up the machining centre Left: Gaylin van der Sandt tests the capability of the The 6-m Marufuku machining centre in manufacturing difficult parts 26 JUNE / JULY 2019

Speak to us..

We know material handling!

TEL: 011 462 2990

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www.demaplastech.co.za

News Innovative sealing technology to enable the manufacture of mono-material spouted pouches that are designed for recyclability and help advance plastic circularity goals

Dow and Menshen bring sustainable design to spouted pouches Mono-material spouted pouches designed for recyclability DOW and Menshen, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of caps, closures and single-serve capsules, have launched new Reverse Spout Sealing Technology that enables the production of spouted pouches made of monomaterial films. This exciting technology allows converters to address the recycling criteria for flexible packaging and can help brands meet their sustainability packaging goals.

“We basically reversed the idea of where and when the heat needs to be applied during the spout sealing process”, explained Dr Peter Sandkuehler, global application technology leader at Dow’s Packaging & Specialty Plastics business. “By transferring the heat from the pre-melted spout base directly to the sealant layer of the film, we’ve solved two challenges at the same time: how to easily seal spouts to mono-material films, and how to prevent the hard spout ribs from cutting into the film.”

The new process is designed to easily seal spouts in more heat sensitive, mono-material structures made from all polypropylene or all polyethylene packaging layers. Rather than traditionally applying the heat from outside the pouch forming film to melt the 28 JUNE / JULY 2019

seal layer and the spout, the latter is pre-melted at its base before insertion into the pouch and sealing.

“The beauty of the process is its simplicity,” said Sarah De La Mare, business development officer at Menshen. “It is actually more logical to apply the heat from the inside rather than from the outside, whether you use mono-materials or not. We are currently working with several machine manufacturers to ensure that this technology can be integrated into new and existing spouted pouch making lines.”

Reversing the traditional sealing process helps reduce the excess heat needed to be applied from the outside of the film to seal the inner, lower density film layers to a high-density spout base. At the same time, the packaging structure is less dependent on a film’s thermal resistance and film cut-in is avoided, resulting in good quality spout sealing and a pouch that looks great on the shelf.

The introduction of the reverse spout sealing technology is the result of a remarkable three-year joint development between Dow and Menshen who are working with a number of partners on technology integration and assist brand www.dow.com/k2019

owners and converters to put the new sealing approach into practice. Both companies are working with leading manufacturers of pouch-packaging machines worldwide in order to commercialize the technology.

The reverse spout sealing technology was successfully tested at Dow’s Pack Studios in Horgen, Switzerland, with Menshen spouts sealed in mono or laminate film structures containing Dow solutions such as DOWLEX™ 2750ST, ELITE™ 5960G in outer layers coated with OPULUX™ HGT and AFFINITY™ sealants.

The technology is suitable for most pouch sizes and for a wide range of applications – from baby food, condiments, and detergents, to personal care applications such as shampoos, shower gels, or body lotions. For packaging applications that cannot compromise on content preservation, Dow combines this technology with barrier solutions in structures that are designed for recyclability.

Explore this solution at K 2019 Dow will be attending K 2019, the world’s premier conference for the plastics and rubber industry. Running from 16-23 October in Düsseldorf, Germany.

People

Volker set reliable financial management example Spent over four decades in machine supply business VOLKER Hoffmeister, who passed away earlier this year at the age of 77, made a noticeable and positive impact on the plastics business in South Africa during the more than four decades that he spent at Maritime Marketing, one of longest established equipment supply businesses in the industry in this country.

Originally, from Düsseldorf in Germany, Volker trained as a banking apprentice and arrived in Africa in the early 1960s and at first worked in the construction industry. Many young people from Europe arrived in South Africa around this time: it was an era of

expansion and development and excitement.

Many of them were adventurers who enjoyed the space and the challenges here.

Volker was one who put his hand up for that.

He joined Maritime in 1977, the business being one of the main suppliers to the then rapidly expanding plastics industry. Later, in the early 1980s, he and Peter Cawcutt bought out the original founders of MM, Christoff Schultz and Klaus Stelzer, the latter who had in any event relocated to America.

It was to Maritime’s credit that it was the first to import injection moulding machines from the Far East when it brought in TMC machines from Taiwan in 1986; the TMC systems are still sold and supported locally. That started a trend which was to become hugely popular, as the machines were efficient and offered good price-to-

performance ratios.

With Volker as financial director, Maritime established itself as a top machinery supplier, the core of which process was, not surprisingly, reliable financial management.

As a result, the company grew to the point where it represented a wide range of top international machine makers, including Carint, Macchi, Piovan, Rapid and Toshiba.

Volker, along with Peter Cawcutt, also oversaw Maritime’s move from Wynberg to Kyalami, where it constructed one of the most impressive machinery supply centres in the country.

Volker was also a law and order enthusiast, serving on community police forums wherever he was.

He worked until just before Christmas, but sadly took ill shortly after that.

Farewell to jolly Bulgarian engineering fundi

Bantex’s success was based on Slavin’s ability to identify products

Remembering a sustainability pioneer: Tom McLaughlin

PROFESSOR Dimitri Dimitrov, the Bulgarian mechanical engineering academic who spent nearly two decades at the Department of Process Engineering at Stellenbosch University, passed away in November.

He was 74.

Dimitrov studied engineering in Sofia, but left Bulgaria after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1989, continuing his academic work in Dresden, Germany.

He came to Africa when his wife was appointed as a lecturer in organic chemistry at the University of Zimbabwe in Harare. The couple later arrived in Cape Town where Dimitrov continued his work in the engineering area but ended up running a conference and accommodation centre.

In 1999, Dimitrov joined Stellenbosch University and was essentially the founder of the process-engineering department on the campus.

Dimitrov published numerous academic papers over the next 19 years. He was also the founder of the Conference on Competitive Manufacturing (COMA).

Dimitrov was known for his jolly nature and enthusiasm and his commitment for his African venture remained undimmed until the end.

ROBERT Slavin, the late CEO of Bantex South Africa, passed away in November. Robert’s father, Nathan Slavin, established N Slavin & Co, a leather and plastics factory producing handbags and cases in 1940. The business – under the guidance of Robert – invested in the plastics industry and Slavins Packaging was born, manufacturing PVC bags, packaging for clothing and cosmetics and PVC presentation wallets.

In 1974, Slavins Packaging moved to Industria and expanded. During this time Robert became acquainted with Bantex Denmark A/S and was offered a license agreement to manufacture office stationery under the Bantex brand for distribution in South Africa. In 1976 the factory expanded again, introducing tool making and plastic injection moulding for stationery items and office accessories under the Bantex brand.

In 1979, Bantex Namibia was established and the business started exporting to subSaharan Africa in 1983.

Robert as MD expanded the company steadily, changing its name to Slavepak in the 1990s. When the business acquired registration of the Bantex brand in South Africa and in various African territories in 2012, Bantex South Africa was established.

THE recent death of Tom McLaughlin, longstanding sustainability stalwart, has met with sadness and shock throughout the industry. Tom was on the Board of Directors of PETCO for a number of years representing the retail sector and was a delight to work with, says Cherie Scholtz, CEO of PETCO. “Kind and generous with his time and knowledge, he paved the way for me to present on PETCO to relevant audiences at Woolworths and shared updates and snippets of knowledge even after he had relocated to the UK. “I will always remember him sharing this quote from Theodore Rooseveldt with me: ‘The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming’. He was inspiring and motivating and challenging – I will miss him,” she adds.

Tom’s gentle approach opened many doors and hearts to the importance of sustainability in business. Yet it was underscored by a resolute determination to keep to first principles of sustainability, showing how companies can be a force for environmental and social good while also thriving as a business,” says Hugh Tyrrell, who first met Tom when they were fellow board members of the Fairest Cape Association 25 years ago.

JUNE / JULY 2019 29

News

At the MRF, ferrous and non-ferrous metal contamination is removed from the waste plastic

Metal contamination hinders plastic recycling Bunting Magnetics Europe, a world leader in magnetic technology THE high levels of metal contamination in plastic waste is a challenge most plastic waste recyclers and processors are faced with. Removing the ferrous and non-ferrous metal contamination is a lengthy and complex process using magnetic separators and eddy current separators.

Bunting Magnetics Europe is a world leader in magnetic technology, supplying a full range of magnets, holding magnetics, magnetic products and designing and manufacturing volume and bespoke precision magnetic assemblies and magnetisation equipment, as well as precision bonded rare earth magnets.

Represented in South Africa by Eder Design, the Bunting range of equipment includes Magnetic Separators, Eddy Current Separators and Metal Detectors.

Bunting Magnetics Europe Ltd is part of the Bunting Magnetics Group, a successful, family owned group of companies with four facilities in the USA,

two in the UK and China and agents and distributors covering mainland Europe, the Middle East, South Africa and a partner in Australia.

Separation and decontamination process On arrival at a Materials Recycling Facility (MRF), the collected materials are separated into metal, plastic, cardboard, and any other materials defined within the local strategy.

Separation of these materials is achieved using either technology or, more commonly, a combination of separation equipment and human pickers.

The ability to successfully separate the materials is compromised by the presence of other waste. At the MRF, ferrous and non-ferrous metal contamination is removed from the waste plastic using Magnetic Separators and Eddy Current Separators. Initially, after the plastic is released from the

Metal contamination removed from granulated plastic waste

compacted bale, the waste is fed into a primary shredder. To protect the shredder from damage, an Overband Magnet is suspended across the feed conveyor and removes large ferrous metal packaging.

After the primary shredder, the waste plastic has been reduced in size and many contaminants liberated. This shredded waste plastic is fed onto another magnetic separator, commonly a drum magnet or pulley magnet, to remove liberated smaller ferrous metals.

The type of ferrous metal separated at this stage includes steel spanners, nuts, bolts, screws, fine metal wires, springs, iron shards, fine ferrous dust, and chunks of stainless steel. Most of the ferrous metal was not part of the original plastic packaging and has been introduced between disposal and processing.

The cleansed plastic waste then passes over an eddy current separator to remove non-ferrous metals. Commonly separated metals include aluminium beverage cans, foils, tubes, and even window frames.

After the metal contamination has been removed, the plastic waste moves to the next stage in the plant, which could be further separation of contamination or sorting by colour or plastic type.

The high level of metal contamination highlights the challenges facing waste plastic processors.

• For further information on Bunting Magnetics and Master Magnets and their range of Magnetic Separators, Eddy Current Separators and Metal Detectors, contact Johann Eder at Eder Design CC, Tel: (012) 253 1025 or Laura Joubert 083 267 1813.

30 JUNE / JULY 2019

www.buntingeurope.com

Gear up for Industry 4.0 at KITE 2019 Organisations must retrain their teams to leverage benefits of Industry 4.0 INDUSTRY 4.0 and the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) were merely buzzwords back in 2014. Today, however, the traditional manufacturing industry is in the throes of a digital transformation that is accelerated by the exponential growth of smart technologies.

To remain competitive and sustainable, organisations and industrial processes need to be fully committed to readily adapting to this rapid change and exponential growth. The current digital transformation is not simply synonymous with a greater level of production automation, but rather by the widespread adoption of information and communications technology by the manufacturing industry.

The KwaZulu-Natal Industrial Technology Exhibition (KITE), launched 38 years ago, has continued to embrace changing trends in industry, not least of which is the uptake of those in 4IR. “We recognise that in order to remain competitive on both the local and global stage, organisations need to gear up and retrain their teams to leverage the

benefits that Industry 4.0 brings to the party. The exhibition, which is being held between 24-26 July at the Durban Exhibition Centre, attracts a diverse collection of leading industrial technology suppliers focused on increasing productivity and profitability for the market,” says Nick Sarnadas, portfolio director at Specialised Exhibitions Montgomery.

KITE 2019 showcases a broad spectrum of industrial technology from local manufacturers, suppliers and service providers who understand the idiosyncrasies and specific needs of the local market. Some of the exhibitors using KITE as a launchpad for their products and services include: Gain industry knowledge “KITE not only provides the region with the latest trends and technology available to accelerate uptake of industry 4.0, but furthermore creates a platform for visitors to garner more knowledge. This is achieved through the carefully thought-out seminar sessions

available at the free-to-attend SAIMechE Seminar Theatre. One such session addresses how technological inventions have delivered immense benefits for businesses in all sectors in terms of cost reductions, enhanced productivity and efficiencies. The session will help visitors to gain an understanding into how Industry 4.0 will be the vehicle driving transformation,” says Sarnadas.

Other worthwhile learning sessions at KITE include the free-to-attend MESA (Manufacturing Enterprise Solutions Association) special interest group, and the paid-for Lifting Equipment Association of South Africa (LEEASA) conference.

While all efforts are made to retain the current seminar programme, it may be subject to change. Visitors should visit www.kznindustrial.co.za to view updated seminar schedules. www.kznindustrial.co.za

JUNE / JULY 2019 31

News

System measures product as it’s developed & manufactured CONFORMANCE to size and shape tolerances is critical in technical extrusion profiles used in many different areas of industry. Process stability and capability play an absolutely essential role as the requirement of accurate product measurement to guarantee customer satisfaction is crucial.

And that’s where laser measurement solutions become vital.

WD Hearn, one of the largest CNC machine tool suppliers in South Africa, can provide local customers with a system which measures the product as it’s developed and manufactured, providing the assurance that every profile delivered is dimensionally correct.

Process improvements can be visualised in real time and statistical reports generated at the touch of a button.

Non-contact measurement and data capture of continuous process The Profile360™ measurement sytem – from WD Hearn principal, StarrettBytewise, headquartered in Georgia, USA, a manufacturer of precision tools

32

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www.wdhearn.co.za

www.starrett.com

Assurance that every profile delivered is 100% dimensionally correct

NEWS-BANBURY.indd 32

and measuring instruments – allows noncontact measurement and data capture of the continuous process. The userfriendly and visually pleasing software also allows the system to be versatile.

Profile360 is an in-line, real-time measurement system for continuously monitoring key profile dimensions in complex shapes such as rubber, plastic, ceramic and wood-plastic composite extrusions, roll-formed metal profiles, and profiled wire.

Profile360 employs CrossCheck laser line sensors to acquire thousands of data points around the profile and match them tp a CAD template where key measurement parameters such as width, thickness, radius and angle are extracted. Measurement parameters are compared to allowable control limits and displayed on the operator’s terminal with a green/yellow/red (pass/caution/fail) status indicator. Profile360 runs at rates up to 14 profiles per second. Profile360 is available in sizes of 10mm, 25mm, 50mm, 75mm, 100mm, 150mm, all with circular field-of-view. Custom systems

can be built up to 500mm.

Development engineers can now understand process behaviour in real time Since Profile360 monitors continuously, it will alarm anytime the process goes out of specification so the operator can remedy the problem immediately. Any defective product can be sequestered before being sent to downstream assembly operations.

Since Profile360 acquires such large amounts of measurement data, it can produce data histories that can be used to compare any run with historical performance. Development engineers can now understand process behaviour in real time, reducing development times and cutting costs.

Benefits include the fact that measurement records of production batches are stored automatically and can be accessed immediately. The versatile software allows statistical reports to be generated and supplied with the product. During onsite visits, customers are able to witness the automated measurement of the product at the point of manufacture. The software’s remote access also provides the opportunity for the sales team to login from a customer site and view the profiles as they are manufacturing. Other Profile360 employs CrossCheck laser line sensors to acquire thousands of data points around the profile and match them to a CAD template where key measurement parameters such as width, thickness, radius and angle are extracted. Measurement parameters are compared to allowable control limits and displayed on the operator’s terminal with a green/ yellow/red (pass/caution/fail) status indicator

2019/06/05 17:37

News

Banbury changes strategy, focus & name Progressing to the next stage of development

Profile360 is an in-line, real-time measurement system for continuously monitoring key profile dimensions in complex shapes such as rubber, plastic, ceramic and wood-plastic composite extrusions, roll-formed metal profiles, and profiled wire

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“Starting with a new branding strategy and realigning our focus within the sales and technical divisions will mirror both management’s mind set and our customer expectations. These two critical divisions will drive Banbury strategy going forward,” she adds.

Carlisle Webber goes on to say that the name, Banbury Colour and Dosing Solutions, accurately reflects the company’s brand values and defines the definition of its expertise, namely: quality colourants and additives for a wide range of polymer applications, as well as gravimetric and volumetric dosing systems.

“Our continued focus on customer service will continue to be flexible, cost-effective and strategically tailored for each of the markets we service. Banbury believes in open and clear communication in an ever-changing business world and this will continue to drive our business for the next 25 years!” she adds.

JUN / JUL 2019

advantages include: • Extremely high dimensional accuracy • User-friendly software • Automated measurement and data storage • Simple and easy to operate • Measures 100% of the manufactured product • Real time measurement to reduce set up times • Start-up time and scrap reduced • Assists with design and development of new products.

BANBURY Chemicals has realigned its focus and strategy and also changed its name to mirror this to Banbury Colour and Dosing Solutions.

“We will shortly be celebrating our 25th birthday at Banbury and while the future is exciting with many things to look forward to, we have also reflected on the past years achievements and progress. From our early beginnings the business has been blessed with both suppliers and customers that have supported us, turning most relationships into friendships that we truly value,” explains Ursula Carlisle Webber, general manager.

“Over the years our focus has moved into different segments of the plastics industry and being a small nimble business, we have been able to adapt and change to an everchanging world. Whilst the name Banbury Chemicals is fondly embedded into our business and well known in the industry, we believe the time has come to progress to the next stage of our development.

www.banbury.co.za

NEWS-BANBURY.indd 33

2019/06/06 09:38

Associations

Operation #CleanupDurban THE South African plastics industry has once again proved that it does not merely pay lip service when it comes to looking after the environment - it acts on its promises!

Under the guidance of Plastics|SA’s Sustainability Director, Douw Steyn, supported by the KZN Marine Waste Network and various other organisations and institutions, more than 300 tons of litter was removed from the Durban Harbour after plastic waste and debris washed up on its shoreline as a result of torrential rains in April. A chain of clean-up operations also took place along eManzimtoti, Beachwood Mangroves, uMngeni river mouth and various other beaches.

“The amount of litter that we found clogging the coastline Lindsay Hopkins, Durban cleanup coordinator, with Douw Steyn

before we started our cleanup operations, was staggering,” Steyn said, adding that the pollution could be seen floating along the coastline for several kilometres.

“It was very sad to see so much rubbish on the beaches coming from the rivers. The worst is that 99% of the plastic items we picked up were recyclable items,” Steyn added.

“There is still a lot of work that needs to be done, but we have helped to make a major difference and prevented what could potentially have been an even worse environmental disaster.

The success of these cleanup operations would have been impossible without the assistance of all the volunteers who freely gave up their time to help pick up thousands of pieces

Douw Steyn with Mark Liptrot (formerly of Constantia Afripack)

South Coast Beach Manager, Jace Govender

Curiosity: the path to life-long learning

34 JUN / JUL 2019

Plastics|SA hosts successful info-sharing sessions PLASTICS|SA shared updates and latest developments in its training division with a series of well-attended breakfast sessions held around the country recently. The theme of this year’s breakfasts was ‘Curiosity: the path to life-long learning’.

Explaining the purpose of hosting these annual information-sharing sessions, Kirtida Bhana, Training Executive at Plastics|SA says: “These breakfasts provide the ideal platform to connect with our past, current and potential clients at the beginning of each year. It also allows us to highlight exciting activities in the training division, discuss the latest trends affecting their day-to-day business and identify any specific training needs they might have. The

inspiring theme and related insights offered the attendees ‘food for thought’, rather than simply more information.

Training successes The success of Plastics|SA’s training offerings is clear to see in the more than 3,500 students that successfully completed their training this past year at the company’s training centres in Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban.

“We have been working hard to create oases of learning at each of these centres by upgrading facilities and equipment that will facilitate hands-on training and practical experience,” Kirtida adds.

Commenting on the success of Plastics|SA’s training offering in their business, Geraldine Booyse of Bars >> Some of the happy guests who attended the information sharing breakfast in Cape Town after they had won gifts in the lucky draw. Seated in front: Obaydullah Sanaai (Proficient Packaging and Andrew Murray (Plastics/SA). Standing back: Melanie Venter (Spicoly Plastics), Ingrid Painczyk (Spicoly Plastics), Daniel Maishoane (Merseta), Siseko Sitole (Merseta), Shandre’ Davey (Usabco), Kim Arendse (Plastics|SA), Tessa O’Hara (SA Polymer Technology), Isabelle Brettenny (Plastics|SA), Peter Rebello (SandPlast), Marthinus Van Wyk (Western Cape Government), Kirtida Bhana (Training Executive Plastics|SA),Tony Duss (Alplas Plastics), Zikhona Nokama (Plastics|SA), Geraldine Booyse (Barrs Pharmaceutical Industries) and Pumeza Mbula (Barrs Pharmaceutical Industries)

Assocation News.indd 34

2019/06/05 17:11

a huge success! of litter by hand, corporates such as Safripol and Alpha Plast who made generous donations to help support our efforts, government organisations and community bodies who showed up on various days and at various locations. We have proved what amazing feats can be accomplished through team work and dedication. Thank you to all!� Steyn concluded. www.plasticsinfo.co.za

Clinton and Melanie of Continental Compounders volunteered their time to assist with the beach cleanup

JUN / JUL 2019

Assocation News.indd 35

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2019/06/05 17:13

Associations Plastics/SA hosts successful info-sharing sessions >> Pharmaceuticals had this to say: “The content of the training modules is very interesting and the staff are very knowledgeable. They are able to share their expertise with students across different industries, keep our students motivated and boost their morale”.

Michael Noel, an Engineer at Volkswagen who has benefitted from the Raw Materials Programmes at Plastics|SA, added his observation too. He said that Plastics|SA’s trainers have a real understanding of the industry; the students’ needs and how to impart much-needed knowledge in a practical and flexible way.

“We take great pride in offering our customers specialised, customised and contextualised material that addresses their individual needs and those of their workforce. It is hugely rewarding to receive feedback from our customers and the students that we have trained, but this does not mean that we get too comfortable.

On the contrary, it inspires us to work even harder and refine our “pockets of excellence” through continuous improvement of training expertise in the various areas”, Kirtida concludes. www.plasticsinfo.co.za/training

Matshidiso Phala from Merseta, guest speaker Roxanne Da Mata (Strata-G Labour Solutions), Kirtida Bhana, Isaya Ntuli (Plastics/SA) and Thulani Tshabalala from Merseta

Front row: Kim Arendse, Zandile Mtsewu (QPlas Pty Ltd), Amos Ncanywa (Perspex SA), Pamella Mahuwa (Rehau Polymers), Michael Oelofse (Rhino Manufacturing). Back row: Gerald Pietersen (3D Consulting), Kirtida Bhana (Training Executive Plastics|SA), Dion Nqmakwe (QPlas Pty Ltd), Andy Radford (Mandela Bay Composites), Quintin Thrussel (Rhino Manufacturing), Isabelle Brettenny (Plastics|SA), David Kolm and Nigel Bennet (Ebor Automotive Systems)

DEA label Problem not with the material, THE Polystyrene Association of South Africa (PASA) has responded to a statement made by the Portfolio Committee on Environmental Affairs before the National Assembly earlier this year, identifying polystyrene as one of the five so-called ‘problem plastic products’ that have a short lifespan and are the biggest culprits in our environment. The other items on this list are plastic cutlery, stirrers, earbuds and straws.

The Association’s Chief Executive Officer, Adri Spangenberg, said that polystyrene is so much more than just a single-use plastic, given the fact that South Africa has developed various end-markets that use recycled polystyrene with great effect.

‘Engineered air’ that gets the job done The Association acknowledges that polystyrene is one of the items frequently found in the environment, owing to the fact that it is incredibly lightweight and is therefore easily scooped up and blown away by the wind.

“94% of polystyrene is air, and only 6% is product. This gives polystyrene the reputation of being ‘engineered air’ that has the lowest carbon footprint of all packaging materials, in addition to being affordable. It protects the quality and freshness of food, extends the shelf life of produce and prevents valuable goods from breaking. It is also an excellent insulator for hot or cold foods and beverages.

“In short, it is a material that gets the job done. The problem therefore does not lie with the material, but how it is discarded after use. In our opinion, this highlights the need for proper waste management infrastructure to be developed and implemented by municipalities around the country,” Adri stresses.

36 JUN / JUL 2019

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2019/06/05 17:13

of ‘problem plastic’ refuted by Polystyrene Assoc

The Department of Environmental Affairs agreed that the country cannot afford a knee-jerk reaction to problematic single-use plastics and has called for a thorough socio-economic impact assessment to measure the effect that alternatives to these problem products will have on the industry, consumers and jobs.

37

Assocation News.indd 37

Creating a win-win solution “Banning polystyrene just as we are on the cusp of an exciting breakthrough, will jeopardize the future employment of thousands of people and undermine the excellent work we have been doing over the last 11 years,” stresses Adri.

“Our industry is committed to finding a solution that will permanently bring an end to plastics polluting the environment. We invite Government and other stakeholders, including unions, converters, brand owners and retailers to engage with us in the weeks and months to come as we work together to find what we believe can undoubtedly be a win-win solution that the rest of the world can follow”.

JUN / JUL 2019

Recycling PS to create jobs, build homes, deal with waste “The plastics industry provides employment to more than 60 000 people and the Polystyrene Association has recently unveiled exciting plans that will see this figure increase even further,” says Adri.

“We are partnering with municipalities to take polystyrene collection and recycling to the people with the establishment of Polystyrene Trading Hubs in the larger metro cities and Municipal Polystyrene Recycling Hubs in outlying areas. These hubs will address a much-needed solution for housing, employment and the waste crisis by enabling communities to collect, recycle and produce the material they need to build houses in their immediate areas”.

Projections are that polystyrene recycling in South Africa will be increased to 63.7% (27 870 tons) per annum by 2023 with these hubs.

www.polystyrenesa.co.za

but how it is discarded

2019/06/05 17:13

Lloyd White (Vice Chairman – Cibapac), Adri Spangenberg (CEO: Polystyrene Association), Anton Maingard (Strand Group Development – Chairman) and Neelin Naidoo (Mpact Plastics)

Attending the Polystyrene Association’s AGM were Neelin Naidoo (Mpact Plastics), Craig Easthorpe (Automa), Theunis Marais (Isover), Michael Jones (Kaleco Recycling) and Neil James (Isowall)

Polystyrene Association

Presenting municipalities with a viable solution that tackles employment, housing and waste THE Polystyrene Association of South Africa unveiled exciting plans to increase the collection and recycling rate of post-consumer polystyrene at its Annual General Meeting held in Midrand recently.

“We have had phenomenal success with our various recycling projects over the last 11 years. During the 20172018 financial year, more than 6 300 tons of polystyrene were successfully diverted from our country’s landfills. When considering how light polystyrene weighs (it consists of 94% air) and that our recycling figures in 2013 stood at 1 849 tons, this is truly an achievement of which we are incredibly proud,” Polystyrene Association CEO, Adri Spangenberg, said.

Although various end-markets have been developed for recycled polystyrene, such as used in the production of picture frames, cornices and stationery, the biggest success has undoubtedly been achieved using recycled polystyrene in lightweight concrete solutions. Polystyrene used in this application can be of any colour or grade, clean or slightly contaminated as it gets chopped up and mixed with a special mixture of cement and other ingredients to form lightweight concrete that is waterproof, fire resistant, offers insulation against heat and cold and is cheaper and easier to build with than traditional bricks or concrete.

and to the recyclers in time and on a consistent basis.

“There is a substantial (and growing) demand for the recycled material in South Africa and an abundant supply of polystyrene packaging material that can be recycled. However, the industry has been experiencing bottlenecks in various areas of this supply chain.

A desperate need for material has necessitated the industry to address the logistical issues that are hampering the recycling of polystyrene. Much of our focus, energy and attention this past year has been on developing a workable, financially viable solution which we submitted to Government as part of our Industry Waste Management Plan,” Adri explained.

“Plans to establish three Trading Hub Clusters in major metropoles”

Addressing bottle necks in the recycling supply chain According to Adri, one of the biggest stumbling blocks that has been identified in the recycling supply chain has been the challenge of getting the polystyrene out of the waste stream

Creation of polystyrene trading hubs (metro cities) The first step to address the logistics challenges of recycling polystyrene will be taken by forming Trading Hub Clusters (THCs) which represent all relevant industries in the value chain.

“This is a centralised operation which streamlines the entire process by bringing polystyrene recycling under one roof within a geographical area, thereby relieving the pressure on waste management companies and government. In effect, we as an industry are driving the implementation of a feasible business, taking responsibility for polystyrene earmarked for recycling into an BEE entrepreneur managed operation,” Adri explains.

Initial plans are to establish three major Trading Hub Clusters in major metropoles, i.e. the Western Cape, Gauteng and KwaZulu Natal. The core focus of these clusters will be on

facilitating the recycling of polystyrene in these provinces and ensuring a constant supply of materials for use in décor market (cornices, picture frames), building market (lightweight concrete bricks and screed), beads market (hobbies and crafts), and the Polystyrene Association’s Breadtags for Wheelchairs and Tutu Desk projects.

“Although sales volumes will be determined by the capacity of the trading hub, it is estimated that the initial output to per HUB to be around 50 tons per month. The current demand, however, already outstrips this figure and this number must be increased as a matter of urgency,” Adri explained.

Establishing municipal polystyrene recycling hubs (outlying areas) The second initiative developed this past year, is small-scale municipal polystyrene recycling hub (MPRH) facilities for the small to medium-sized municipalities situated in outlying areas of South Africa.

Each Municipal Polystyrene Recycling Hub will integrate the collection and recycling of polystyrene into a usable form. Lightweight cement blocks and screed will be manufactured on-site, which will be used to build houses and clinics in each district.

“The lack of affordable housing and the need to create employment for communities are two of the biggest socio-economic needs facing South Africa today. Combined with South Africa’s mounting waste crisis and need for proper waste infrastructure that needs to be developed, local municipalities are facing a great challenge. However, we believe these recycling hubs will play an important role in growing the polystyrene recycling value chain and will provide much needed job creation, transformation and recycling initiatives on a community

38 JUN / JUL 2019

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2019/06/05 17:14

Associations

Also at the Polystyrene Association’s AGM were Mike Meyers (EPSASA), Neelin Naidoo (Mpact Plastics), Craig Easthorpe (Automa), Theunis Marais (Isover), Michael Jones (Kaleco Recycling), Neil James (Isowall) and Douw Steyn (Plastics/SA)

plans to increase collection, recycling rate of post-consumer PS

An exciting future awaits Plans to implement these innovative recycling hubs are already underway.

The Polystyrene Association has already met with selected municipalities to test

and discuss the implementation of pilot projects.

“We will be launching our first pilot of a Polystyrene Recycling Hub in partnership with the George Municipality in the Southern Cape later this year.

Land for the project has already been earmarked and discussions are well underway to get the recycling hub off the ground as soon as possible,” Adri revealed. She added that various other municipalities are also showing a keen interest, including the City of Cape Town

and Drakenstein Municipality.

“These projects will enable us to increase polystyrene recycling in South Africa to 63.7% (27 870 tons) per annum by 2023 as the entire process is streamlined and centralized under one roof within a geographical area. Because the local community will be responsible for collecting and sorting the polystyrene, various primary and secondary jobs will be created, while at the same time also raising awareness of polystyrene recycling.

JUN / JUL 2019

www.polystyrenesa.co.za

level. In effect, it will bring the solution of polystyrene recycling to the people at grass roots level and will empower them to improve their living standards and quality of life by being able to produce the material needed to address the housing crisis in their immediate area,” she expands.

39

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Delene Williams,

2019/06/05 17:14

Associations

Doing more

with less

SAPPMA highlights the financial & environmental benefits of using thermoplastic pipes RECENT advances in the production and manufacturing of thermoplastic pipes are not only leading to substantial financial savings, but it also making significant strides to help save the environment and reduce the environmental impact of piping systems.

According to Jan Venter, CEO of the Southern African Plastic Pipe Manufacturers Association (SAPPMA), the local plastic pipes body and its international counterparts have been researching and documenting the environmental impact of plastic pipes, and compared these figures with pipes manufactured from other materials. Results from these studies have proven unequivocally that pipe systems made from thermoplastic pipes have much lower manufacturing and transportation costs, better long-term maintenance and higher recyclability than pipes made from other materials.

“The dramatic increase in the size of the world’s population and the corresponding strain this places on infrastructure, has placed the focus on assessing the net impact products have on the environment. This aspect is increasingly driving the global economies and has increased the demand for plastic pipes. From an environmental and economic point of view, engineers are recognising that investing in plastic pipes make sense because it allows them to do a lot more with the same amount of energy or money they would have spent on traditional materials, because as they offer a design lifespan of 100 years,” Venter says.

Significant advances made in recent years have improved both the quality and strength of the raw materials that are used for the manufacturing of plastic pipes. This, combined with efforts to optimise the entire manufacturing processes of polymers (plastics) pipe, auxiliary components and the jointing for the delivery of optimised PVC and HDPE pipe systems, has ensured that plastic pipes are recognised for quite literally punching above its weight.

“Piping systems are costly elements infrastructure and it is therefore important to evaluate the entire life cycle and energy costs associated with the production, operation and maintenance of plastic pipes,” he said.

Benefits of using plastic pipe vis-à-vis steel or concrete pipes include: 1. High recyclability and recovery: Plastic pipe is being recycled on a relatively large scale because of the high value of polymer used in the manufacturing process.

Although ductile iron and steel pipes can also be recycled, the energy cost to do so is makes the process considerably more expensive than with plastics. Basic calculations show that the power consumption to recycle plastic pipe is approximately R0.09/kg compared to R0.23 – R0.45 for steel, bearing in mind that many steel pipelines are internally lined with material that first needs to be stripped from the steel.

ARMSA to host global roto event at Sun City in September Register at www.armo2019.com ARMSA (the Association of Rotational Moulders of Southern Africa) is to host the international rotational moulding community’s annual global event, ARMO 2019, at Sun City from 16-18 September (Mon-Wed).

The ARMO (Association of Rotational Moulding Organisations) event will overlap with ARMSA’s annual Rotation conference/exhibition 40 JUN / JUL 2019

Assocation News.indd 40

and promises to be an event like no other.

Sun City has been specifically chosen since it caters for everyone’s needs. The Pilansberg National Park bordering on the resort hosts the ‘Big Five’ for breath-taking safaris. The resort also boasts two championship golf courses, a casino, Waterworld (with a beach), and Hot Air Balloon

Safaris to name a few experiences!

Exhibitions, Demonstrations, Seminars, Safari & Socialising – in no particular order gives you a great reason to join us in South Africa for ARMO 2019.

• Visit www.armo2019.com for more information or make contact with us via email info@armsa.co.za

www.armsa.co.za

2019/06/05 17:14

resistance to flow (low friction) and even more importantly, remain virtually unchanged throughout its design life. All of this helps to keep pumping costs to a minimum and saves money on maintenance in the long run.

4. Lower transportation costs: Because plastic pipes weigh much less than steel or concrete, it costs considerably less to transport plastic pipes. As a result, it also has a much smaller carbon footprint and less CO² emissions.

5. Bigger application thanks to new sizes: Plastic pipes are being manufactured in much larger diameters and higher pressure ranges than ever known before. This is an exciting development that is opening up new markets and possibilities plastic pipes that were traditionally occupied by steel pipe market.

Through its association with international bodies and fellow plastic pipe associations, SAPPMA is offering the benefits of being linked to best practices in Europe, the Americas and Australia to its members and the rest of the industry.

“Globally the plastic pipe industry is in a strong position and continues to grow its market share and influence. In South Africa, there is definitely more potential for growth through creating awareness and understanding of the various materials and combination of offerings that can be used. At the same time, we need to create a stronger pull-through effect by increasing market acceptance that will drive the demand by both the end-user, engineers and specifiers who recognise the significant energy savings and environmental benefits afforded to them by specifying thermoplastic pipes.

From our side, SAPPMA will continue to ensure through our memberships that clients are not disappointed with inferior products”, Venter concludes.

JUN / JUL 2019

NOT ALL PLASTICS ARE ALIKE

www.sappma.co.za

“Plastic pipe is not wasted and therefore does not contribute to environmental pollution. 100% of recycled pipe can be re-used although strict quality requirements set by SAPPMA allow most of it to only be used in noncritical applications”, Venter said.

2. Low amount of energy used to manufacture plastic pipes: In order to quantify and correctly assess the amount of energy that is used to manufacture a material or product, an embodied energy analysis is performed. This involved assessing the overall amount of energy that is needed to extract the raw material, manufacture the products and maintain it. The basic factors that influence the embodied energy of a piping system include the pipe size, type of material used, durability and design life of the system, the amount of energy required to pump the fluid etc.

The results of the tests performed on various different pipes showed that even though the material energy of ductile iron is a lot less than that of plastics in terms of mass (MJ/kg), the picture reverses when the wall thickness and mass per metre are taken into consideration (MJ/m). Similarly, the amount of carbon dioxide that is emitted by the production of plastic pipe is far below that of ductile iron.

3. Lower pumping costs: Energy shortages and high electricity costs are increasingly influencing societies around the world. Considering that approximately 60% of the world’s electricity is used by electric motors, of which 20% of this is used for pumping, it has become vitally important to consider the amount of electricity needed to pump fluids through pipelines. Here again plastic pipes have proven to save costs owing to the fact that their walls offer very limited

41

PIPES XII

27 & 28 AUG 2019

Plastics is a generic term covering a very wide array of materials and applications. It could be a simple bag to carry your groceries and needing to last one day, a colourful toy for a toddler, a bearing to enable low-friction rotation of a fast rotating shaft, an impact resistant body part on a modern car, or a large diameter pipe to carry a fluid under pressure and required to last a hundred years.

Each application requires a different grade of polymer and obviously a vastly different design and manufacturing approach. High performance plastic pipes are made from very specialised polymers that were unknown half-a-century ago. It enables pressure pipe sizes with diameters more than 3 000 mm or operating pressure capabilities up to 2 500 kPa. MOST CERTAINLY ARE NOT ALL PLASTICS ALIKE!

Join the Southern African Plastic Pipe Manufacturers Association (SAPPMA) for this year’s

PIPES XII CONFERENCE | 27 & 28 AUGUST 2019 ALTRON BUSINESS PARK, MIDRAND, JHB • Two days of in-depth and world-class presentations on issues relating to plastic piping, water infrastructure and engineering • International and local experts • Exhibitions and displays • Valuable networking opportunities � �

R3500 + VAT per delegate R2600 + VAT per delegate (SAPPMA and IFPA Members) R1900 + VAT per delegate (Group bookings 5+) Sponsorship and marketing opportunities available.

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT OR CONTACT:

Admin@sappma.co.za or visit www.sappma.co.za

“A great platform for learning and interacting with my South African and international peers” - Safripol “A high quality conference with excellent networking opportunities” - Chemsystems

Assocation News.indd 41

2019/06/05 17:14

Associations

SAVA launches Stand to revolutionise the local PVC industry THE Southern African Vinyls Association (SAVA) used its recent AGM in Midrand, Johannesburg, to launch two very important initiatives that stand to revolutionise the local PVC industry.

Speaking at the event, SAVA Chief Executive Officer, Adri Spangenberg, said that worldwide the plastics industry has come under threat and been placed under severe scrutiny.

“However, this should not in any way diminish the important role plastics plays in our modern lives. Whether being used in life-saving medical devices, to providing clean water to communities around the globe, PVC plastic in particular is used in a wide variety of different shapes, forms and applications to improve, protect and save lives every day,” Adri said.

Growing market The local PVC market is diverse and growing. Whilst the largest majority of the market (approximately 50%) belongs to the PVC pipe industry, various other applications and uses for PVC have also been developed, such as cabling (17%), profiles (9%), conduits and accessories (6%) and film (6%).

42 JUN / JUL 2019

Exciting opportunities for the SA vinyl’s industry Unpackaging some of the challenges and opportunities facing the local

Assocation News.indd 42

vinyl’s industry in South Africa at the moment, Sian Cohen, Business Development Key Accounts Specialist at the Green Building Council of SA (GBCSA) highlighted the importance of taking a long-term view when accessing the “green credentials” of PVC products in her talk entitled, “Growing sustainably – what does the future hold of green buildings in SA?” According to Cohen, resource scarcity, rapid urbanisation and technology are three of the biggest challenges and opportunities facing societies around the world today.

However, vinyl products such as flooring, windows and doors, piping and wiring continue to be widely used in building and construction projects and have an ever-important role to play in creating sustainable societies in the years to come.

“It is vital for us to consider the full lifecycle of a product, from cradle to grave, when evaluating the environmental impact it has on the environment,” she said, acknowledging that PVC has made considerable progress in improving its sustainability credentials and winning the approval of the GBCSA. Concerted efforts by SAVA and its members to phase out of hazardous heavy metals and potentially dangerous compounds from the PVC

production process (including mercury, lead, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, Chlorinated Paraffins (CP), EDC and VCM, Bisphenol A and DEHP) and the launch of various recycling initiatives and objectives as part of their Product Stewardship Commitment, has resulted in the GBCSA withdrawing the Mat-7 PVC Minimisation credit from the Green Star SA rating system in 2011, recognition of the value and significant benefits PVC products can offer to modern buildings and communities.

Launching the Vinyl. brand SAVA members who are able to prove that they comply with the association’s Product Stewardship Commitment (PSC) are awarded the new Vinyl. logo, which they are encouraged to display on their products, website and other marketing material.

Explains Adri: “We are hoping to establish the Vinyl. brand as a sign of excellence that gives endusers of locally manufactured PVC products immediate peace of mind and consumer confidence. When they see this logo, they will know that the product meets international safety and quality standards and that it complies with the industry’s Product Stewardship Commitment that specifies sustainable manufacturing, the sustainable and responsible use of additives, closed loop management and a sustainability awareness”.

The process of proving compliance will have to be repeated each year and the logo will be updated annually. This year, 21 SAVA’s members were awarded certificates and the rights to display the Vinyl. 2019 logo on their products at this year’s AGM.

George Dimond, Mark Holtes, Adri Spangenberg, Alistair Calder, Tandy Coleman and Fulufhelo Mamathoni and Richard Black were at the SAVA AGM

2019/06/05 17:15

exciting initiatives Clingfilm compliance Clingfilm is one of the PVC products that is frequently criticised with health concerns over migration levels, use of harmful substances etc. In an effort to address these issues, SAVA has launched a PVC Clingfilm Compliance Framework, which applies to raw material suppliers, Intermediate Compounders, Converters or Film Manufacturers and Distributors and Importers to Wholesale and Retail markets, to be headed up by George Dimond “PVC clingfilm has been widely and commercially used since the 1950’s to wrap and protect foods such as vegetable, fruit, meat, biscuit, etc. It offers a high clarity, puncture resistant packaging solution that keeps food fresher for longer, allows for quick, visual identification and has literally revolutionised the food industry,” George says.

SAVA’s clingfilm compliance framework creates a detailed guidance document whereby industry members: 1. Sign a Declaration of Compliance (DoC) that all raw materials, intermediates and substances used in the manufacture of their PVC Clingfilm, have been Food Approved 2. Agree to comply with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) 3. Agree to the use of correct and

approved labelling codes together with “Intended Use “information 4. Agree to have their products and documents at every level in supply chain audited by an independent SAVA representative

• • • • • •

“We are very excited about launching this Clingfilm Compliance Framework as the first of its kind in South Africa.

We believe it will answer important questions, clarify misinformation and separate truth from fiction. The fact that the clingfilms will be independently sampled and tested to ensure compliance to health, safety and environmental standards before they are able to display the Vinyl-dot logo, will play a major role in establishing consumer trust,” George adds.

Looking ahead “We are very excited about the future of SAVA as an association and the trajectory of the international PVC Community. A lot of our attention and energy this past year was focussed. on preparing our submission for the Industry Waste Management Plan,” Adri said.

“We are eager to move forward on addressing other important aspects that have a direct impact on the size, future and growth of the local vinyls industry. Despite a difficult economic climate, SAVA has welcomed various new members and we have managed to grow our footprint. We are hoping to continue this growth in membership and influence in the months to come as we adopt the international theme of ‘Accelerating Innovation’ and encourage our members to apply global best practices in their day to day activities, think outside the box when it comes to creating solutions and acting responsibly in every aspect of their business.”

Electing SAVA board members for 2019 SAVA members had the opportunity to vote for board members they wanted to represent their interests this coming year during the AGM, as well as cast their ballots for SAVA Chairman.

Alastair Calder (Sun Ace SA) stepped down as Chairman owing to work commitments. George Dimond was elected as the new Chairman. The rest of the SAVA Board for 2019 remains unchanged from the previous year: • George Dimond (Continental Compounders)

Alistair Calder (Sun Ace SA) Richard Black (Elco Plastics) Fulufhelo Mamathoni (SASOL) Mark Holtes (Isegen) Tandy Coleman (Polyflor SA) Adri Spangenberg (CEO)

www.savinyls.co.za

Alistair Calder (Sun Ace), Mark Holtes (Isegen), George Dimond (Continental Compounders), Steve van Rensburg (Alpha Plast), Fulufhelo Mamathoni (Sasol), Mubeen Saddiqi (Innovative PVC), Adri Spangenberg (SAVA), Saalik Saddiqi (Innovative PVC), Tandy Coleman (Polyflor), Richard Black (Elco Plastics), Louise Peplar (Chemsystems), Dean Delaporte (Brenntag), Martie Weitsz (Emeraude Trading) and Terence Hobson (Sun Ace SA) JUN / JUL 2019

Assocation News.indd 43

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2019/06/05 17:16

Associations Grant Crosby, Isabelle Brettenny and Kim Arendse, all from Plastics|SA, with Umberto Favini (UServe), Zikhona Nokama and Andrew Murray (Plastics|SA), and Kevin Joubert (Absolute Rigging) with the new Tederic injection moulding machine

New machines

boost training

for Plastics|SA students Userve donate 100-ton injection moulding machine

STUDENTS training at the Western Cape regional office of Plastics|SA have the privilege of being trained on a brandnew, 100-ton Tederic injection moulding machine thanks to the generous donation by UServe Plastic Machinery, Tederic’s agent in South Africa.

Userve also supplies, services and refurbishes all types of machinery used by plastic manufacturers, including injection moulders, blowmoulders, extrusion lines, bag makers, printers as well as all ancillary equipment.

“Tederic is one of the largest manufacturers of injection moulding machines in the world. We were privileged to have spent months at their main manufacturing plant in Xiasha Hangzhou, China, to ensure the quality, reliability and the serviceability of the machines that are brought into South Africa are up to standard,” says Umberto Favini of Userve.

Commenting on the reason for their donation, Favini explains that chances are high that the students being trained

by Plastics|SA will one day be working on a Tederic machine when they enter the job market.

“It’s our privilege to make a meaningful contribution to the training and equipping of the plastics industry’s workforce by making sure they are confident working with these machines, using them to their full capabilities and avoiding costly mistakes,” he said.

The initial agreement between UServe and Plastics|SA was initiated by David Venter, the founder and Chief Operations Officer of Spicoly Plastics and a regular customer of Plastics|SA. “David recognised the benefits of allowing his workers to train on a proper machine and agreed to buy the training model off our floor when the time came to replace the model every two to three years. This deal was signed at 44 JUN / JUL 2019

Assocation News.indd 44

‘What you put into training is what you’re going to get out.’

Chinaplas in 2016,” explains Isabelle Brettenny, Regional Training Manager for the Western Cape.

She expressed her gratitude to Spicoly for their foresight in setting up the partnership, to Umberto for this generous donation and for volunteering his time and expertise, free of charge, to level the machine for them prior to use and Kevin Joubert of Absolute Rigging who sponsored the delivery and rigging of the machine.

Important to update training facilities regularly Highlighting the importance of regularly updating their training facilities, Training Executive Kirtida Bhana added: “As with so many things in life, what you put into training is what you’re going to get out. It is vitally important for us to create inspiring learning environments where we can train our students on the latest and the best machines available to create a fully equipped, confident and skilled workforce”.

“For this reason we also recently invested in purchasing a new injection stretch blow moulding machine for our Gauteng office, while Durban received a new blow moulder and an extruder. Collaborating with industry leaders such as Rothenberger – who also recently donated welding equipment to help us cope with the increasing training demand in thermoplastic welding training – UServe and Spicoly greatly bolsters our efforts and allows us to stretch our budgets as we strive to make a difference in the lives of our students by giving them the best training possible,” Kirtida added. www.plasticsinfo.co.za/training

2019/06/06 09:36

P|SA Caroline Reid A4_FP advert_P.pdf

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2019/05/29

08:46

Enviro

First chemically recycled polystyrene

INEOS Styrolution:

Breakthrough in chemical recycling of polystyrene

Signals a game changer in polystyrene production

First production of virgin polystyrene from only depolymerised material

INEOS Styrolution, a global leader in styrenics, has completed the first successful test runs producing virgin polystyrene from previously depolymerized material.

These experiments, completed at the company’s Antwerp site in Belgium, can be seen as the practical proof of the recyclability of polystyrene.

A lab-scale quantity of general purpose polystyrene produced from 100% recycled styrene monomer by INEOS Styrolution in Antwerp signals a game changer in polystyrene production. The material is the result of experimental polystyrene production runs with styrene monomer feedstock produced from depolymerisation of styrenic plastic. The tests – done in cooperation

with commercial partners and universities – resulted in the production of virgin material with the same product properties as polystyrene produced from new styrene monomers.

“We are very excited having achieved this breakthrough,” comments Michiel Verswyvel, Global R&D Expert. “Due to its relatively clean decomposition into its building blocks, polystyrene is almost designed to be recycled. Within our global project team we are working to make this a stable process on a commercial level, by learning, for example, more about purity requirements of the feedstock material,” he adds. www.ineos-styrolution.com

Amcor launches new

Unique, recyclable, high-barrier flexible packaging AMCOR has launched AmLite Ultra Recyclable, its first packaging product made from the company’s revolutionary, sustainable high-barrier polyolefin film. The new high-barrier laminate can package a range of food, home and personal care and pharmaceutical products, and be recycled in existing polyolefin recycling streams.

This new generation of AmLite adds recyclability to the environmental benefits 46

ENVIRO NEWS.indd 46

and is the culmination of several years of research and development.

“Our recyclable laminate delivers highbarrier protection, can be used on our customers’ filling machines and can be recycled where polyolefin collection and recycling streams exist,” said Luca Zerbini, vice president of marketing, innovation, and sustainability at Amcor.

AmLite can be used for a variety of formats

JUN / JUL 2019

2019/06/05 16:52

Scientists create new plastic that could be fully

recyclable

The material can be broken down in parts at the molecular level A team of researchers working at the US Department of Energy says it has created a kind of plastic that could lead to products that are 100% recyclable.

The team works at the Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California. It recently reported the discovery in a study in the journal Nature Chemistry.

The researchers say the new material is a plastic polymer called polydiketoenamine, or PDK. The team reports that the material can be broken down in parts at the molecular level.

It can then be built up again to form plastics of different shapes, textures, colours and more. The researchers say this process can be repeated over and over again - without the plastic material losing any performance or quality.

The team explained that all plastics – from water bottles to automobile parts – are made up of polymers with a molecular structure. These polymers are made up of carbon-containing

compounds known as monomers.

The research team reported that, with the newly discovered PDK material, the monomers could be recovered and separated from any chemical additives. This part of the process would involve putting the plastic material into “a highly acidic solution”.

Brett Helms is a scientist at Berkeley Lab’s Molecular Foundry who worked on the study. He said the team is interested in the chemistry that can redirect plastic lifecycles from “linear to circular”. This could be especially important for materials that currently have very few recycling possibilities.

Next, the researchers say they plan to develop PDK plastics “with a wide range of thermal and mechanical properties”. These plastics could be used for many kinds of cloth, as well as things such as 3D printed materials and foams. In addition, the team is looking to include plant-based materials in the process.

recyclable packaging such as pillow pouches, stand-up and spouted pouches, bags, lidding for trays and containers, stick packs and more.

This will be a major shift for brands, as previously, high-barrier flexible packaging was difficult to recycle. To overcome this, Amcor’s R&D team innovated to replace the PET layer of the original AmLite packaging with its breakthrough high-barrier OPP film. To

validate recyclability in real conditions, the package is certified by cyclos-HTP Institute, an independent testing lab.

AmLite achieves a reduced carbon footprint by using an ultra-thin, transparent barrier coating to replace aluminum and metallised barriers. That change, combined with recyclability, can reduce a pack’s carbon footprint by up to 64%. www.amcor.com

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BASF to market bio-based, biodegradable films

BASF and Lactips have signed an exclusive contract to market Lactips’ water-soluble, bio-based and fully biodegradable material. BASF and Lactips will offer this innovative technology to the home care as well as industrial and institutional market.

While Lactips, a French company in the area of biodegradable plastics, focuses on the development of the film material technology based on technical casein obtained from excess of milk protein production, BASF will bring in its expertise in network and supply chain to market the product.

The solution of Lactips aims on the replacement of polyvinyl alcohol films in home care and I&I applications, such as dishwasher tabs. www.basf.com

Indonesia Pledges $1 Billion to Clean up the Ocean INDONESIA is the second worse ocean polluter (next to China), but is now looking to help solve it – by spending $1 billion annually to reduce their plastic pollution by 70% by 2025.

The Indonesian’s plan may include educating the public on the sustainable use of plastics; implementing a tax on plastic bags; supporting new industries that manufacture biodegradable products and providing improved waste management.

Woolworths to roll out low-cost, reusable bags

AFTER a six-month trial in four of its Western Cape stores, including the launch of their first plastic bag free store, Woolworths will be rolling out its new low-cost, reusable bag to more stores across the country as well as three more ‘plastic shopping bag free’ stores.

During the trial in November 2018, over 100 000 single-use bags were saved from going into the environment as customers opted for affordable, reusable shopping bags.

The project is an important part of Woolworths commitments to achieve its ambitious ZERO packaging waste to landfill vision, ensuring that all packaging is recyclable or reusable by 2022, and to phase out single-use plastic bags by 2020.

From May, the more affordable reusable shopping bags will be rolled out to 15 additional top Woolies stores across the country.

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2019/06/05 16:53

Enviro Single-use plastics a serious climate change hazard, study warns

THE proliferation of single-use plastic around the world is accelerating climate change and should be urgently halted, a report warns.

The report says plastic contributes to greenhouse gas emissions at every stage of its lifecycle, from its production to its refining and the way it is managed as a waste product. The contribution of plastic production and disposal to climate change has been largely hidden, say the authors of the report by the Centre for International Environmental Law, which estimates the greenhouse gas footprint of plastic from the cradle to the grave for the first time.

This plastic binge threatens attempts to meet the Paris climate agreement.

It means that by 2050 plastic will be responsible for up to 13% of the total ‘carbon budget’ – equivalent to 615 coal-fired power plants – says the research published in May. The authors say disposable plastic found in packaging and fast-moving consumer goods forms the largest and fastest-growing segment of the plastic economy. They are calling for urgent action to stem production and flow of throwaway plastic.

“At current levels, greenhouse gas emissions from the plastic lifecycle threaten the ability of the global community to keep global temperature rise below 1.5C,” the report says.

The key actions which the authors say are required are: • Immediately end the production and use of single-use, disposable plastic.

• Stop development of new oil, gas and petrochemical infrastructure.

• Foster the transition to zero-waste communities.

• Implement a system where polluters pay for the impact of their products – known as extended producer responsibility.

In 2019 the lifecycle of global plastic production – from extraction to disposal – was equivalent to the impact on the climate of 189 500MW coal-fired power stations. By 2050, the report predicts, the global plastic footprint will be equivalent to 615 coal plants running at full capacity.

Carroll Muffett, one of the authors, said: “It has long been clear that plastic threatens the global environment and puts human health at risk. This report demonstrates that plastic, like the rest of the fossil economy, is putting the climate at risk as well.”

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Best brands turning Paving the way with clothes from recycled plastic are surf and outdoors companies

By Emma Henderson

OUR single-use plastic addiction is declining thanks to plastic bag taxes and the rise of reusable coffee cups and water bottles, but it’s still a massive problem. And while recycling doesn’t solve everything, it’s certainly going to help – especially if plastic is fished out of the sea to be reused.

Jumping on this bandwagon are many clothing brands who are tapping into our new-found consciousness for the environment. Many of these companies are surf brands who see the problem firsthand on our beaches, coastlines and in our oceans, and want to fight back to save the ecosystem they love.

The most common type of recycled plastic is PET bottles. To be reused, the bottles are sorted, cleaned and stripped of labels and caps, melted down into little pellets and then spun into yarn to make garments.

1 Batoko cockatoo swimsuit Having already recycled the equivalent weight of 220 000 plastic bottles, Batoko uses collected ocean waste to make its swimsuits, which come in nine bold designs in a bid to also combat the perils of fast fashion. All of the British brand’s prints use non-toxic inks and are created digitally, which saves water and energy and produces little waste.

Everything is packaged and delivered in compostable bags too, giving them extra brownie points.

2 Brothers We Stand recycled sweatshirt Proving that being ethical doesn’t put a stop to fashionable menswear is the store Brothers We Stand. Every product from Brothers We Stand has a transparent footprint and Soil Association accreditation. Using a

blend of recycled cotton and PET bottles, the crewneck sweatshirts are created from waste cuttings that are shredded and turned back into reusable fibres.

3 Lefrik multi wash bag This Spanish brand has been making bags out recycled PET bottles since 2012 and pride themselves on being functional, fashionable and ecofriendly. This waterproof washbag is great for travelling and any spillages that might occur while doing so.

It has four separate removable compartments, easily attached by poppers.

4 Kanken Fjallraven backpack What started as a simple school bag in Sweden in 1978, designed to help school children carry lots of books, has become a well-loved design around the world. It’s now sold in a huge array of colours and fabrics, and this special edition is made from 11 recycled plastic bottles. It is also dyed using ‘spindye’, which uses much less water than the traditional way of dying materials.

5 O’Neill hybrid mesh leggings O’Neill founder and Californian surfer, Jack O’Neill, has had an eco-friendly activewear line since 2017, called Our Ocean Blue. All of these items are made using recycled bottles and have been created with the help of New York brand Bionic, who create the threads from plastic recovered from beaches. The first line of clothing in the range is estimated to have recovered 200 000 bottles from shorelines worldwide.

6 Picture Organic snow pants Picture Organic has been sustainability focused from its start in 2008. All of its products – designed for skiing, skating, surfing and outdoors

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recycled plastic bottles into clothes – are either made from recycled plastic, organic cotton or material scraps that would otherwise be burned, which are all responsibly sourced and free of harmful chemicals too.

10 Planks Good Times eco snow jacket Founded by ex-professional British skier Jim Adlington, everything by this brand is made for skiers, by skiers.

This limited edition eco jacket is made entirely from recycled bottles, using recycled yarn from Repreve – the world’s leading recycled yarn manufacturer. Repreve has already recycled 10-billion bottles and aims to double that by 2020.

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8 Quiksilver highline boardshorts Quiksilver are best known for their surfing essential board shorts – and

9 Patagonia down sweater jacket Patagonia’s classic down sweater jackets are made from 100% recycled polyester. It’s also made with goose down for the best insulation, but Patagonia promises to use only traceable non-live plucked feathers.

The brand has also remodelled its long-sleeve logo tee – renamed the

responsibility-tee – each of which is now made from 4.8 plastic bottles.

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7 Riley Studio oversized hoody Riley Studio uses a range of waste and recycled materials. This oversized hoody is made in Portugal from a mixture of recycled plastic bottles and cotton. This keeps materials from landfill and reduces the carbon footprint production of the item by 75%.

these are the modern-day version.

Teaming up with Repreve and using recycled PET nylon, around nine bottles go into each pair of shorts. They have so far used more than 109 million bottles – and counting – since starting the line in January 2012.

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Untitled-2 1 ENVIRO NEWS.indd 49

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2018/09/14 2019/06/05 11:41 16:53

Enviro AIMPLAS maintains lead in bioplastic testing

TÜV AUSTRIA, an independent certification body in the bioplastics market, has accredited Aimplas laboratories, allowing companies to obtain the OK Compost Industrial, OK Compost Home, OK Biodegradable soil and seedling labels through their tests.

TÜV Austria’s environment product verification marks offer a customised certification label for each biodegradation environment and are recognised internationally. www.aimplas.net

Bühler joins World Business Council for Sustainable Development

BÜHLER has joined the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), a global network of nearly 200 forward-thinking companies. By connecting with WBCSD, Bühler can make a real impact on global corporate sustainability and on providing the growing world population with the nourishment and mobility solutions of the future.

The World Business Council for Sustainable Development is a CEO-led organization of over 200 companies working together to accelerate the transition to a sustainable world. The WBCSD galvanizes the global business community to create a sustainable future for business, society, and the environment.

Together with its members, who represent all business sectors, the council shares best practices on sustainable development issues and develops innovative tools that change the status quo.

Nearly all countries agree to stem flow of plastic waste into poor nations

ALMOST all the world’s countries have agreed on a deal aimed at restricting shipments of hard-to-recycle plastic waste to poorer countries, the United Nations has announced.

Exporting countries – including the US – now will have to obtain consent from countries receiving contaminated, mixed or unrecyclable plastic waste. Currently, the US and other countries can send lower-quality plastic waste to private entities in developing countries without getting approval from their governments.

The legally binding framework emerged at the end of a two-week meeting of UNbacked conventions on plastic waste and toxic, hazardous chemicals that threaten the planet’s seas and creatures. The pact comes in an amendment to the Basel convention.

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Racing

with purpose The Ocean Race partners with Bluewater

THE Ocean Race will partner with pure water provider Bluewater in a bid to reduce global reliance on single-use plastics. The collaboration builds upon the partnership during the past edition of the race to highlight the broad range of impacts plastic are having on ocean health and biodiversity.

The new programme of work will also explore ways education and science can help advance our understanding of the long-term effects of plastic pollution.

Bluewater intend to use its partnership with The Ocean Race to leverage the power such popular, world-spanning sporting events have to draw public attention to the issue.

The company offers the technology both to slash the need for single-use

plastic bottles and their transportation and to remove plastic particles and the chemicals they leech from tap and washing water.

During the 2017-18 Race, Bluewater delivered clean drinking water for visitors to the Cape Town stopover. At the time, a severe drought meant the city was unable to meet public demand for drinking water from municipal sources.

The round the world sailing events new sustainability programme, ‘Racing with Purpose’, launched in conjunction with The Ocean Race Premier Partner 11th Hour Racing, provides solutions for cleaner and healthier seas, with sustainability as a core value of all its operations.

Chemical recycling for PU from landfills as raw material Process to obtain raw materials through catalytic glycolysis AIMPLAS, the Plastics Technology Centre, is participating in FOAM2FOAM, which aims to obtain raw materials from polyurethane waste that until now ended up in landfills or was mechanically recycled to obtain low value-added products. The objective of the FOAM2FOAM project is to apply chemical recycling to waste decomposing the material by using heat, chemicals or catalysers in a process called catalytic glycolysis, which makes possible to obtain new raw materials called green polyols. This way, we avoid using raw materials from nonrenewable sources to manufacture new products. www.aimplas.net

2019/06/05 16:54

‘Tuneable’ plastics could offer viable solution Teysha Technologies in breakthrough creating viable substitute for existing petroleum-based polycarbonates

A new kind of polymer The platform has already allowed for

the development of a new kind of polymer, which is currently referred to as AggiePol. The bioplastic is derived from sustainable feedstocks and can be physically, mechanically and chemically tuned to suit the needs of its intended application. The versatile material could replace the traditional plastic used in the automotive industry and medical equipment, and longer term could hold the key to mastering environmentallyfriendly single-use packaging.

This is the pragmatic solution for consumers, material scientists and design engineers alike. Not only does it accommodate for the existing lifestyle of the end user, but it also allows materials scientists to create something that serves as a desired, drop-in replacement for petroleum-based plastics.

Traditional plastics might pose a problem for the planet, but tuneable plastics could offer a viable solution that lets us sustain life as we know it.

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inherent versatility in the properties that can be achieved. It can be thought of as a plug-and-play system where various modified natural-product monomers and various co-monomers can be used. In addition to co-monomers, various additives can be used to modify the properties of the final polymer produced. This versatility allows for the formation of a variety of materials that can vary greatly in their thermal and mechanical properties.

Because the platform facilitates the use of various components, everything from strength and toughness to thermal stability and even the degradation rate of the material can be controlled. Most current polycarbonates are prepared from hydrocarbon-based petrochemicals and achieve varied properties through molar mass control, crystallinity control and blending with other polymers, with fewer opportunities to fine tune individual properties. With this new system, that has changed.

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GENERALLY, all biodegradable plastics are bioplastics, and that is why naturally occurring microorganisms can consume them, unlike fossil-fuel derived plastics.

However, not all bioplastics are necessarily biodegradable to industry standards.

This is because, while bioplastics are defined as being based on natural components, they don’t necessarily need to be entirely derived from them.

Theoretically, developing biodegradable plastics means that it’s easy to solve the plastics problem. We simply need to move away from unsustainable plastics and adjust manufacturing processes to use naturally occurring, safely biodegradable polymers instead. Of course, this is not the pragmatic approach.

Following years of research, Teysha Technologies has achieved a landmark breakthrough in creating a viable substitute for existing petroleum-based polycarbonates.

The breakthrough is more of a platform than a single polymer system, providing

www.teyshatech.co.uk

2019/06/05 16:54

Middle East There are now a number of large supermarket chains, both regional and international, in the Middle East.

While a lot of pre-packaged food is still imported from Europe and North America, there is a trend towards locally produced food, packaged using locally manufactured packaging

Flexible packaging a growing market in the Middle East Could easily become an important export indu stry

BY NIALL MARSHALL

NOT all that long-ago, food shopping in the Middle East took place at local markets. ‘Cold stores’, small neighbourhood shops with refrigerators, would sell milk, laban (a yoghurt-type drink) and other perishable goods and in the bigger towns and cities there were a few ‘supermarkets’, similar in size to the typical neighbourhood family-supermarket in South Africa, but with a much smaller selection of pre-packaged convenience and frozen foods – most of which was imported.

This has changed dramatically over the last 10 years: there are now a number of large supermarket chains, both regional and international chains.

While a lot of pre-packaged food is still imported from Europe and North America, there is a trend towards locally produced food, packaged using locally manufactured packaging. The increase in local food production is also driving increased demand for improved distribution and logistics, and this inturn drives the demand for secondary packaging. This is the reason why the plastic packaging sector is the largest plastic conversion sector in the Middle East (including North Africa).

The Middle East plastic-packaging market is estimated to be worth $21 billion per year and has shown growth of more than 5% pa for the last six years with no signs of slowing down. Value-wise this is mostly rigid packaging. But it is the flexible packaging market (pouches, bags and wrap) that is showing the most growth and this is expected to continue.

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There are almost 400 companies selling such bags in the UAE has to first producing flexible packaging in the have them tested according to a local Middle East, most of them local standard and certified. producers. Many of the smaller Saudi Arabia covers all disposable converters produce simple plastics, including plastic table mono- and multilayer cloths and disposable cutlery films, but there are and specifically includes Middle East increasingly producers shipping pouches plastic-packaging of sophisticated (courier envelopes, market is estimated multi-layer barrier Amazon packaging), to be worth $21 billion films. Most of the bubble wrap, box flexible packaging per year and has shown liners, shrink and producers are in growth of more than 5% stretch film and Saudi Arabia, the ‘plastic film rolls for pa for the last six years packaging’.

UAE and Egypt.

While most of the with no signs of But the scope of packaging produced the law is confusing. It’s slowing down in Saudi Arabia is implementation has been used locally, packaging is postponed to allow for some produced in the UAE for export clarification of what is required to be to non-Middle East countries. One bio(oxo)degradable. such example is the BOPP produced And if, as the law states, only products in Dubai by one of the largest BOPP which have been tested and approved producers in the world. by the Saudi Arabian Standards Authority With growing local demand for can be used, does the law also apply, packaging, the ready availability of for example, to packaging produced in polymer, a convenient location on Saudi Arabia for export as a packaging shipping routes for serving export material (rather than used in packaging markets and the cost-effectiveness something being exported)? of exporting flexible packaging this How will Saudi Arabia import from and should surely be is an industry poised export to Europe when the Single-Use for global domination. Except for Plastics Directive, which bans bio(oxo) ‘environmentally-friendliness’. degradable plastics, comes into effect Plastics must be ‘bio(oxo)degradable’ there in 2021?

Flexible packaging is a growing market Everybody wants to be ‘environmentallyin the Middle East, and it could easily friendly’. But no one can agree on become an important export industry. If what this means. In both the UAE and the local regulations are out of step with Saudi Arabia, ‘environmentally-friendly’ global packaging requirements, a lack means making plastic bags ‘bio(oxo) of clarity or forethought could prevent degradable’. The UAE requires that all producers in the Middle East from being plastic bags are bio(oxo)degradable and able to access those global markets. comply with a local regulation. Anyone

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2019/06/05 16:51

Günter Maralik +27 83 441 3206

Wolfgang Maralik +27 82 771 7271

Office Cell: +27 66 250 1937 • admin@mgmwtrading.co.za Log Road Unit No. 17 • Roodekop Industrial Area • Germiston

Please note our new contact details

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MGMW Trading advert Edited.indd 94

Office Add: No.67, 6th Avenue, Xincheng Industrial Park, Dinghai District, Zhoushan City Post code: 316023 Tel.: ++86-580-8806008 8806009

Fax: ++86-580-8806010 Email: lyzon@hitech-china.net ciplas_mchy@yahoo.com.cn

2018/09/14 11:31

Feature

PIPE MATTERS Saint or sinner

– Quo Vadis plastic?

Pipeline infrastructure of the future will be plastic

54 JUN / JUL 2019

By MIKE SMART, Pr. Eng., B.Sc. (Hons) Civ. Eng., MSAICE

WE all carry numerous items made partly or entirely of plastic. At home there is another myriad of items from the appliances in the kitchen to the entertainment devices elsewhere. Our vehicles have a plethora of plastic in the passenger and engine compartments.

And, at work, we’re in another world of items made with varying amounts of plastic. Look around and imagine all these items made without plastics – what material would be used to make them and what would they look like?

Despite its contribution to humanity, plastics have spawned a vocabulary of derogatory terms and garnered thousands of centimetres’ print and hours’ broadcast media coverage. Its durability and great versatility have made it the material we love to hate. It has become the doyen of the ‘disposable society’ – the dominant characteristic of communities globally.

It all began about 5000 BC when Noah used caulking pitch, a bituminous plastic, to make the ark watertight. About 2500 BC, Egyptians used similar substances to help preserve mummies. In 1855, in Birmingham, England, Alexander Parkes invented ‘Parkesine’, a colourless and flammable mixture of cellulose nitrate and camphor and the ‘Parkesine’ patent registration in 1862 is considered the birth of the plastics industry. Unfortunately, Parkes’ business in Hackney, London ceased trading in 1868 and English inventor, Daniel Spill, who had worked with Parkes, started producing the material he called ‘Xylonite’ at his Xylonite Company in 1869.

Meanwhile, American, John Wesley Hyatt acquired Parkes’ patent in 1869 and registered the trade name ‘Celluloid’ in 1870. Between 1877 and 1884 Spill challenged the Hyatt brothers in the courts until a final ruling that both

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companies could produce the product was handed down. The plastics industry has been a great supporter of the legal profession throughout its existence.

Celluloid dominated the film and photographic industries until acetate-safe film came along in the 1950s. Today it is used for table tennis balls, musical instruments and guitar plectrums.

In 1907, Belgian-American Leo Baekeland invented ‘Bakalite’, or polyoxybenzylmethylenglycolanhydride, a thermosetting phenol formaldehyde resin. He filed his patent one day before Swinburn’s company, Damard Lacquer Co, another indicator of the competitiveness of the plastic industry.

Older readers will remember Bakalite electrical plugs, switches, junction boxes and distributor rotors in motor cars – it was an excellent insulator.

It took Wallace Carothers and his team at the American company Du Pont 11 years to develop Nylon that was registered in 1935. Today plastic is the dominant packaging material that preserves, protects and even ripens products whilst in transit. But therein lies the problem, we each generate, on average, more than one third of a ton of waste annually.

Humanity is beginning to realise it cannot continue to generate waste at the current rate indefinitely. Single-use plastics are being restricted and some countries already have legislation banning their use. In South Africa, JSElisted real estate investment trust (Reit), Liberty Two Degree, recently announced, “no plastic shopping bags at its malls” after January 2020 – that’s next year!

Packaging will follow soon because the current situation is unsustainable.

This will present a problem to the gigantic polymer production plants, with capacities of many hundreds of thousands of ton per annum coming into

Will the world ever witness a plastics equivalent of the ‘rust belt’ of obsolete steel production production. plants?

What will these plants do with their surplus capacity when a substantial portion of their market (packaging polymers usually exceed 75% of their capacity) is severely curtailed or disappears completely? Will the world witness a plastics equivalent of the ‘rust belt’ of obsolete steel production plants?

The plastics industry is nothing if not innovative and there are, according to papers presented at a recent polymer conference in Johannesburg, already contingency plans to manage the shift in the packaging market and offer products that will obviate the negative connotations associated with the products.

Furthermore, the world is changing to thermoplastic pipes and the pipeline infrastructure of the future will be plastic because, not only is it the intelligent material of choice because of its inherent properties, the embedded energy of other materials such as steel, ductile iron and cement, used in concrete pipes and ductile iron pipe mortar lining, is beginning to dissuade engineers from using them.

The current ISO protocol for the Allowable Design Stress of thermoplastic pipes is based upon the polymer’s Creep Rupture Regression Curve strength at 50 years. But endusers are now demanding a service life of not less than 100 years for their pipelines and current thermoplastic polymers are more than capable of providing this – ISO must urgently review their stance on this matter.

The use of noble plastics, specifically engineered for any application, will become the materials used in the future for durable products – surely a more noble use than holding used disposable nappies!

2019/06/05 17:34

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2019/02/04 10:48

A’Design Awards

world’s largest, design

Polymers abound in many designs THE A’ Design Award & Competition, the world’s largest and most diffuse international design awards, has chosen their latest winning designs, featuring 1,962 winners from 100 countries in 99 different design disciplines.

Highlighting only the best in design, the A’ Design Awards & Competition is an annual awards platform that

recognises stand-out realised and conceptual projects. It aims to acknowledge, showcase and exemplify good design, innovators and brands, rewarding winning entries with extensive benefits, opportunities and fame.

A small selection of the award winners using polymers can be seen below.

by Diavelo Protanium and Centro Stile

The McCorse Electric Bicycle The aim was to build one of the lightest electric bikes in the world at 12.5kg. Created from the DNA of the original Maserati MCCorse car, new composite materials were used to produce a full carbon autoclave frame. The battery is completely hidden in the frame to optimise the race look. The motor is a very strong mid motor, also hidden in the super-light carbon autoclave frame. The wheels are race carbon wheels from Zipp.

by Rohan Siebel

by Ivan Khalus and Oleh Berezovskyi

56 JUNE / JULY 2019

Pixio Magnetic Сonstruction Set Pixio is a unique construction set in which pixio-blocks are flexibly assembled thanks to a well thought-out system of powerful magnets.

A range of sets from 50 to 1600 pixio-blocks and 16-colour palette have been designed, each with an App guide that shows how easy it is to create actual construction set.

One plastic cube is 8x8x8mm and contains six powerful magnets.

After multiple experiments with the mould and materials, ABS plastic was selected. www.pixio.site

Floh Travel Luggage Floh is a travel luggage system that you can either ride as a scooter, roll as a trolley bag or wear as a backpack or shoulder bag. The drive module is a 3-wheeled scooter that uses Ackerman type steering which allows you to navigate around obstacles at both low and high speeds. The Floh system comes with two different bags where either can be attached to the drive module. The larger bag is a hard shell case with concealed backpack straps. The smaller bag is a messenger type bag.

A short strand glass fibre reinforced nylon was used to manufacture the bag as it provided the high stiffness required for the high stress areas while maintaining small part sizes. The large bag has some very deep features that required a new system of vacuum forming to make sure the film wasn’t stretched too thin during the forming process.

Design

most diverse competition

by Ignas Survila

Raven Kick Scooter The most unique part of the Raven is the orange gap in the middle of the horizontal frame which makes it possible to fold the whole scooter flat. Carbon fibre materials were used to manufacture the Raven which weighs just 980 grams! www.citybirds.lt

by Vladimir Polikarpov

Ora Shower Panel

by Yi-Xuan Lee

The Anenome Sofa Using red and white PU tubing and tying it together using red iron wire, the designer has created a larger-than-life sea anemone that is surprisingly comfortable to sit on.

JUNE / JULY 2019 57

For convenience, the system is equipped with the ability to connect to the ‘smart’ space, which allows this equipment to be able to constantly register the consumption of resources, making the necessary adjustments for a pleasant shower experience by distributing (forwarding or redirecting or keeping) the necessary amount of water in the system for circulation, irrigation or heating.

The body of the shower hanger is made of durable, heat-resistant mineral acrylic resins. The upper part of the watering can is made of coloured glass, formed in the likeness of a leaf of a tropical plant, which is illuminated from the inside. The tray is made of the same material as the shower hanger, with a water absorption capacity of about 60 litres, depending on the pallet sizes selected by the user.

A’Design Awards

by Amos Zhu&hana Feng&willis Chan&zhaoxiong

Ecodining UV Disinfection Tableware Case EcoDining is a new range of portable chopsticks and spoon case that provides UV disinfection functions, is more convenient and more environmentally-friendly.

The project uses a magnetic open or close structure instead of the traditional flip lid or slide lid. The UV light and heat tablets start working once the box is closed.

Stainless steel and polycarbonate were used to ensure the longevity of the product, especially during the disinfection and drying process. A double colour injection mould was used for the upper lid.

by Lei Yu

The Arachne 3D Printed Building Façade 58 JUNE / JULY 2019

Arachne is a digital architectural endeavour to redefine an ordinary building with 3D printed components. The façade is manufactured using FDM 3D printing technology using 5 tons of PLA plastic.

To reflect its literal title, Arachne is designed and installed by the spatially intertwined lattices that hung on the building in the curtain wall mechanism. The mass gift-wrapped by Arachne is a three-floor building of 10 metres in height and 12 metres in width. This assignment was contracted to cover the main façades, which face an important public square.

by Andrei Astapenko

Glens Backup Reading Glasses Glens backup reading glasses are made using injection or hot-moulding of high quality copolyester and weigh less than one gram. They are very small: 78mm x 21mm x 1mm and the package is as thin as a credit-card, so you can put them in even the smallest wallet, pocket or phone case. Glasses can be worn on any part of the nose as due to their extralight weight, they will sit perfectly on almost every nose type. https://glens.com/

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2018/04/05 10:22

A’Design Awards

by Panos Tsakiris

60 JUNE / JULY 2019

Twenty Twenty Packaging Design The main inspiration for this project was the effect alcohol has on the brain and consequently eyesight.

The typeface and graphic elements were created based on this very idea: The delay in communication between the brain and the eyes means that they are not able to function effectively which weakens the eye muscle coordination. This is what causes distorted or double vision. The brief was to create a brand for a drink that promises to prevent hangovers. It is a mix of vitamins and rehydration salts, amino acids that break down toxins, caffeine and one secret ingredient.

The name of the drink is placed partially on the front (20) and on the back (20) of the recycled plastic bottle.

The more the user consumes the more visible the logo becomes. When the drink is finished and the bottle empty, the logo is at its clearest.

by M & N Associates

Jus Cold Pressed Juicery Drink JUS (short for Juice Up Saigon) is a raw, cold-pressed juice company founded in 2015 in Vietnam. Based on the concept of the equilateral triangle of yoga that connects body, spirit and mind together, the designers created a unique 250ml equilateral triangle bottle shape using PET. www.m-n.associates

by Roberto Stein

Whale Spoon The Whale-Spoon is ideal for toddlers who are feeding themselves for the first time. The special cavity prevents spilling when tilted backwards or sidewards, while the soft silicone material on the tip of the spoon makes it easy to remove all the food from the spoon. The shape of the spoon also adapts perfectly to small hands and when the spoon is rested on the ‘fins’, food does not touch the surface. The ‘tail’ is used for feeding firm foods. It can also be used as a ‘teether’. Made from 100% food-grade silicone, the spoon complies with American FDA and German LFGB standards and is BPA free.

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A’Design Awards

by Future Factory Llp

Nowa Staplers The core design DNA of the product was to elevate it to the status of a lifestyle product, from being a purely functional office stationery. A key focus of the design phase was to produce a consistent form and visual language over all the size variants in the family.

Nowa staplers feature interesting functional benefits. The rotating anvil switches between stapling and pinning. It is convenient and is incorporated seamlessly into the base. A handy staple remover is provided at the back which also holds the staples for easy disposal. The staplers come with anti-skid pads to achieve a firm grip on inclined working surfaces. The design of the handle and the base create continuous surfaces, that help in providing a smooth, gentle grip to the user’s hand.

Nowa staplers are available in two different materials to fit the users’ choice. The handle and the base are manufactured in ABS plastic as well as sheet metal. The seamless form and consistent look achieved using both materials, are a result of close attention to design details. Nowa staplers are designed for structural rigidity, ensuring a long life. All plastic parts are moulded in ABS, making the products recyclable.

by Wuxiqinghexiaobei Technology Co

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Dr Bei Efficient Cleaning Toothbrush Dr.Bei toothbrushes consist of three different materials in different heights. The spiral-shaped, coloured layer ensures elasticity, while the grey bristles dry quickly and together with the white brush elements with silver ions, prevent the accumulation of bacteria. Each part has its own unique technology. The coloured parts use non-slip, anti-fouling and good-feeling thermoplastic elastomers to increase the comfort. An optical-grade mirror polishing mould created the handle that is easy to clean. Secondary injection moulding created the perfect looking, scientific layout of brushes to enhance the oral care cleaning effect.

by Ozestudi

The Minimbike Exercise Bicycle The Minimbike’s continuous and compact chassis is manufactured from a single piece of plastic material.

This is an aesthetic and also structural value solution.

Protagonist elements such as the forks and the mechanical drum allow for good stability, but also happen to be the bike’s most striking features.

Weighing just 50kg, Minimbike’s main innovation is focused on its production, but also on how the user manages the exercise. Each user has full control of the bike by using an application installed on their smartphone or personal tablet.

The Minimbike’s main body is manufactured by cold moulding a single piece of plastic into which the other elements are assembled. This production system is fast and guarantees a high quality of finishes with less resources. This is a technological milestone that, with a utility patent, is one of the great technological innovations of the product. The handlebar, which is made of integral polyurethane, has a very soft and pleasant touch and its design allows several positions of use. The saddle is upholstered in a single piece of plastic leather . www.minimfit.com

Fd

by Guorong Luo

ShouldBrella Hand-Free Umbrella

by Hsiang Han Hsu

Should-brella is a safer umbrella that adapts to the modern lifestyle, liberating users’ hands and improving the usage efficiency. Its shoulder support structure increases stability and provides a new ergonomic experience.

The main design of this umbrella is the handle which is divided into two parts. The lower part is similar to the traditional umbrella handle, which is fixed. The upper half can be controlled by the thumb to rotate. It can be pushed through the shoulder and rise to a specific support position, locking on the user’s shoulder.

The handle is injection moulded using recycled PP. www.grluo.com

Undefined Y Multi Module Furniture System Undefined Y is a multi module furniture system which includes component y, sphere connector, straight connector, end connector, trestle connector and LED module by assembling several components with different angle connectors. Injection moulded, it creates a series of different functional products, such as alight system, screen, trestle table and even space.

All components can be intuitively assembled and disassembled.

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CONSULTING (Pty) Ltd. FdB Consulting (Pty) Ltd. the sole representative for

Feeding, Drying and Slio systems

Supplied by FdB Consulting (Pty) Ltd. Bulk Bag Discharge Station with 2 Ton Electric Hoist Regrind Material Bin

Representative in Africa

Frank Blues Engineering Design +27 (0)82-651 3315 frank@fdbconsulting.co.za

Agents for Rapid Granulator FdB Consulting (Pty) Ltd. based in Johannesburg has been appointed the sole distributors for the South Africa and Sub-Sahara Market for Rapid Granulator AB, the Swedish-based world leader in plastics granulation technology.

Design

30 DOW awards for th

PACKAGING Honour innovations in packaging design, materials, technology, processes DOW’s 30th Awards for Packaging Innovation last year successfully continued the DuPont Awards for Packaging Innovation programme, the industry’s longest-running independently judged packaging awards programme. As in years

past, the judging panel featured experts with diverse backgrounds, providing global perspectives across design, engineering, retail, converting and academia. The judges evaluated more than 200 entries from companies in 30 countries.

DIAMOND AWARD THE TOP HONOUR OF THE COMPETITION, WAS AWARDED TO

PROCTER & GAMBLE FOR ITS AIR ASSIST LIQUID PACKAGING TECHNOLOGY. Air Assist is a breakthrough in performance and sustainability for e-commerce and brick-and-mortar packaging. The liquid packaging technology uses compressed gas to provide tailored rigidity to create structure in flexible films.

By utilising a proprietary one-way valve, the new packaging form delivers cleaner dispensing, more controlled dosing and more convenient one-handed use while still being tough enough for e-commerce shipping without extra protection.

Air Assist also uses 50% less plastic than a traditional rigid bottle and has a 360-degree palette for design, making it a more resource-efficient solution.

JUDGES ALSO SELECTED NINE DIAMOND FINALIST WINNERS, EIGHT GOLD AWARD WINNERS AND ELEVEN SILVER AWARD WINNERS. HERE ARE THE DESIGNS WHICH PREDOMINANTLY FEATURE POLYMERS.

DIAMOND FINALIST AWARDS FLAT WINE BOTTLE

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(DELIVERING HAPPINESS LIMITED’S T/A GARÇON WINES) Delivering Happiness Limited, a British company trading as Garçon Wines, is the inventor and granted IP holders of a flat wine bottle, specifically designed for e-commerce in the UK so that it could fit through mail slots or letterboxes, in the doors of UK homes. The primary package, a slender 750ml recycled PET bottle, lays flat in a dye-cut cavity in the same shape as the bottle within the postal pack in which it gets delivered. Using 100% post-consumer recycled PET instead of glass significantly reduces shipping weight and cost, eliminates potential breakage in transit and offers a more eco-friendly packaging material solution than regular plastic or glass.

INNOVATION DIAMOND FINALIST AWARDS

LIQUIFORM® (AMCOR RIGID PLASTICS) LiquiForm is revolutionising the future of liquid packaging.

The technology uses the customer’s liquid product instead of compressed air to simultaneously form and fill containers. The liquid product essentially forms its own rigid plastic container.

This game-changing process helps design, develop and deploy products through fewer steps and a single source, creating a world in which manufacturing is nimbler, supply chains are tighter, systems are more efficient, facilities are more localised, and the entire process is more sustainable.

(THE COCA-COLA COMPANY)

The material for Simply Beverages’ 89-ounce recyclable juice container was developed and commercialised through close collaboration between The Coca-Cola Company, Indorama Ventures and converting partner CKS Packaging Inc to reduce the package’s weight by 9% while also increasing recyclability and maintaining the familiar form of he previous bottle.

TUBAIRLESS®

(PUMPART SYSTEM®)

Tubairless, also known as Tubeasy, is a hybrid packaging solution that bridges the gap between squeezable tubes, soft pouches and airless pump bottles.

The packaging forms a “bag-in-squeezable-tube” by using a vent hole in the middle of the sleeve and integrating an internal flexible pouch. Tubairless reduces product waste by 80%, enhancing natural ingredient preservation, easily dispensing viscous creams, controlling the flow and size of each dose and retaining the shape, aesthetics and ergonomics of the tube. Tubairless is also 50% lighter than traditional airless pump packaging because the pump is replaced with a lightweight PE pouch. Tubairless can be made of bio-based and PCR PE and is 100% recyclable. The packaging eliminates the need to twist, crush, flatten or cut a squeezable tube to get all of the product.

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SIMPLY® BEVERAGES RECYCLE CODE NO. 1 EXTRUDABLE PET JUICE CONTAINER

Design

DIAMOND FINALIST AWARDS WATERLESS INTERNET FLOWER PACKAGING

(UFLEX LIMITED)

Waterless Internet Flower Packaging is based on Active Modified Atmospheric Packaging Technology (AMAP). Uflex Limited has engineered a special proprietary patented polymeric film to offer a packaging solution for fresh fruits, vegetables and flowers. A fast

respiration metre is used to determine the respiration rate of flowers, and associated software then calculates the required film permeability. A special laser system uses the information to adapt the permeability of the film offered by Uflex through micro-

perforations. This proprietary polymeric substrate is the first biodegradable film that maintains the hydration of flowers during transpiration – put simply, evaporation causing loss of moisture during respiration – thus creating a closed loop system.

GOLD AWARDS GREEN GIANT VEGGIE SPIRALSTM PRIMAPAK®

HEAD & SHOULDERS BEACH BOTTLE

The Green Giant Veggie Spirals PrimaPak package is a flexible, stackable, resealable package produced from a single roll of film on modified Ilapak vertical form-fill-seal machinery. PrimaPak is designed as an alternative to bags, stand-up pouches, cartons and rigid containers. The lightweight rectangular box-like shape improves package cube by up to 30%, enhancing space useage on trucks, warehouses and store shelves. All six panels can be printed for maximum space to communicate to consumers.

The microwaveable packaging features vent holes as well as a peelreseal lid for easy opening.

Consumers simply place the package in the microwave to heat. The opening created by the label is big enough to see the contents and gives consumers the option to heat, blend additional ingredients and serve directly out of the package, without the need for a bowl or serving dish.

This was the largestever commercial production of bottles and end products using beach plastic. It is the first-ever application to use 25% plastic reclaimed from beaches to convert a bottle that is also municipally recyclable.

Although this was a limited edition production run, it significantly raises consumer awareness about packaging waste.

(PROCTER & GAMBLE)

(SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY)

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Design SILVER AWARDS DOWNY (LENOR) PARFUM DES SECRETS PACKAGE (PROCTER & GAMBLE) Created by a beauty designer and inspired by fine fragrance packaging, this container from Procter & Gamble is multi-faceted and resembles a fine cut diamond. The use of a removable full body sleeve allows for easy recycling. Because of the sleeve the colorants can be removed from the PET bottle while maintaining shelf appeal. Secondly the sleeve’s perforation allows easy removal of the sleeve, further increasing the pack’s recyclability.

ARIEL PURCLEANTM PACKAGE (PROCTER & GAMBLE)

Procter & Gamble’s Ariel PurClean™ bottle is made from 35% post-consumer recycled content, is 100% recyclable and is even manufactured at a facility in France, using 100% wind energy electricity and sending zero manufacturing waste to landfall with a 0% landfill scrap rate. And moreover, the detergent is made with 70% plant-based and bio-derived ingredients.

ENTRY SUBMISSIONS FOR THE 31ST AWARDS FOR PACKAGING INNOVATION CLOSED IN APRIL AND THE WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED DURING THE 3RD QUARTER OF 2019.

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HIGH THROUGHPUT. WE DRIVE THE DIAMEETS ECONOMY. QUALITY. CIRCULAR

YOUR LOCAL EREMA CONTACT RELLOY S.A. (Pty) Ltd P.O.Box 8190, ZA-1613 Edenglen www.relloy.co.za

Whether it is inhouse, postconsumer or bottle recycling: you can only close loops in a precise and profitable way if machines are perfectly tuned for the respective application.

Count on the number 1 technology from EREMA when doing so: over 5000 of our machines and systems produce around 14 million tonnes of high-quality pellets like this every year – in a highly efficient and energy-saving way.

That’s Careformance!

CAREFORMANCE We care about your performance.

You see a You see a thin, tough thin, tough film that film that keeps food keeps fresh food fresh

The toughness and sealing of Exceed™ XP performance polymers produce packaging with eXtreme Performance. Manufacturers™ can protect and preserve their products from production to the table.

The toughness and sealing of Exceed XP performance polymers produce packaging with eXtreme Performance. Manufacturers can protect and preserve their products from production to the table.

Films based on Exceed XP are ideal for flexible and food packaging, including pouches, bags and bladders, which need to withstand demanding environments.

Films based on Exceed XP are ideal for flexible and food packaging, including pouches, bags and bladders, which need to withstand demanding environments.

This includes packaging for frozen food, dry food, liquid, meat and cheese products.

Depending on the grade, Exceed XP offers exceptional or extreme: This includes packaging for frozen food, dry food, liquid, meat and cheese products.

Depending on the grade, Exceed XP offers exceptional or extreme: • Toughness • Flex-crack resistance • Toughness • Seal performance • Flex-crack resistance • Melt strength • Seal performance • Extrudability • Melt strength • Cost optimization opportunities • Extrudability • Cost optimization opportunities Discover how Exceed XP can bring your packaging to a new level - exxonmobilchemical.com/pe Discover how Exceed XP can bring your packaging to a new level - exxonmobilchemical.com/pe

Exceed™ XP when eXtreme Performance matters Exceed™ XP when eXtreme Performance matters

E0717-051E49 E0717-051E49

She sees her favorite vegetable snack She sees her favorite vegetable snack

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Design

Roll it up!

The foldable trivet Krempel from oha-design, Germany

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Foldable trivet made of high performance plastic Ultrason® P by BASF ways to create stable, three-dimensional shapes like a circle, pillow or fish.

The company oha-design is now using the high-performance plastic Ultrason® P to produce the extremely loadable plastic strips. The polyphenylsulfone (PPSU) from BASF ensures that the trivet always retains its shape, is flame retardant and can be easily cleaned in a dishwasher.

The trivet also consists of stainless

A simple yet technically sophisticated household item shows how playfulness, design and functionality can be combined with engineering plastics: the foldable trivet Krempel® from ohadesign, Germany. This kitchen helper consists of four flexible, flat plastic strips, which are connected to each other with rivet joints. By pushing or pulling the original flat shape, it can be turned inside out or bent in a variety of

www.oha-design.de

steel rivets and silicone disks, which make it slip-resistant. Due to the PPSU, the trivet is characterised by high temperature resistance, good flexibility and recovery, very good notched impact strength and high chemical resistance. Ultrason P is approved for food contact and can also be processed into transparent or opaque components such as refrigerator drawers or display covers.

www.ultrason.basf.com

‘Substantial’ furniture collection from recycled HIPS FURNITURE made of recycled plastic is among winners of the Ro Plastic Prize competition in Milan, Italy.

German designer Alexander Schul won the design category of the contest set up by Milanese gallerist Rossana Orlandi, which challenged designers to develop new ways of recycling and reusing plastic.

His ‘Substantial’ furniture collection – comprising a chair, a lamp and a side table – is made entirely from recycled plastic. Schul created the pieces using sheets of high-impact polystyrene. The designs are intended to be universal, practical and easily manufacturable on a large scale, using efficient production methods.

“Considering the fact that only around 40% of the plastic in Europe gets recycled, this design offers an opportunity to raise that percentage,” said Schul. “Part of the problem could thus be transformed into added value.” www.alexanderschul.com

Equipment

Vishva Exim introduces its latest recycling machine Specially designed for small and medium-scale industries

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consumption as it uses only 25 amps.

The machine is equipped with a conveyor, grinder, extruder, dewatering system, degassing system, die face cutter, cyclone drying system and silo.

Vishva Exim will be hosting a demo of this recycling machine in South Africa. For more information, contact Visha Exim at email info@vishvaexim.com, tel: +91 987 979 7910 (Uday Shah) or tel: +91 909 991 6958 (Jignesh).

• Vishva Exim has a subsidiary company in Cape town, Vishva Africa, 083 324 7293 (Iain Mackintosh)

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VISHVA Exim is a leading manufacturer and exporter of plastics processing machinery, including blow film extruders, bag makers, and slitters and recycling lines. Vishva Exim’s renowned brand, Veloss, is very popular in South Africa.

Now Vishva Exim introduces its latest recycling machine, the Velorex 60, a compact model with a foot print of 7m long x 5m wide x 2m high with an output range of 60 to 80kg/hr.

Uday Shah, Director of Vishva Exim, says the Velorex 60 is specially designed for small and medium-scale industries.

He also added that it is highly efficient in terms of electric

www.vishvaexim.com

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Web

Avery Dennison launches

m_use™design inspiration platform AVERY Dennison recently introduced M_use, a new digital platform to inspire innovative design solutions for label and packaging designers and converters. M_use – short for ‘materials in use’ – is a community where users can find inspiration as they experience the attributes of a label application, “from technical to tactile,” as well as discover more about the science behind the design.

“M_use combines inspirational design content with the materials science expertise of Avery Dennison. It’s an easy-touse interface that shows the magic of materials in use,” said Angus McGuffin, global creative director at Avery Dennison.

The site features an online library of materials. Users get a 360 degree perspective on the texture, colour, tactility, and printability. They also can access bespoke content created

m_use – The new platform is intended to give visitors a 360 degree perspective on the texture, colour, tactility and printability about labels

in collaboration with industry experts that covers insights, trends, and creative design inspiration.

• The site launched with a focus on the wine and spirits industry and will expand into additional segments. To learn more and to register for M_use Monthly, visit my muse.com and follow us on Instagram at @m_uselive. www.averydennison.com

www.nordson.com

Online tool calculates resin savings, investment payback after installation of gear pump NORDSON Corporation has developed an online tool that quickly calculates the resin cost savings achievable with installation of a BKG® BlueFlow™ gear pump, plus the number of months in which the investment in the pump is paid back in full. The company introduced the tool at Chinaplas 2019.

Installed between the extruder and the die, a gear pump shifts the job of building melt pressure from the extruder to the gear pump. Besides reducing stress on the extruder and potentially increasing throughput, the gear pump significantly reduces the effect of process variations on melt pressure.

This enables extrusion processors to run with narrower tolerances without compromising product uniformity.

The new online tool, called the Gear Pump Payback Analysis, is posted at https://www.nordson.com/en/divisions/ polymer-processing-systems/support/ calculators.

The tool calculates resin cost savings and investment payback time on the basis of resin price, output rate, pressure variation with and without the gear pump, and capital investment.

These inputs can be made in either pounds or kilograms and in many of the world’s currencies.

“Even with a new screw, pressure variation without the use of a gear pump typically is in the +/- 5% range, making it necessary for the processor to use more resin in order to ensure that the finished product meets specification,” said Christian Schroeder, global product manager for melt delivery products. “By reducing pressure variation to as little as +/- 1%, the BlueFlow gear pump makes possible resin cost savings that can generate a full return on investment in a matter of months.”

Gear pump calculator (Europe)

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BKG BlueFlow gear pump

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World News Lanxess to deploy artificial intelligence in product development

LANXESS is set to break new ground when it comes to the development of customer-specific high-performance plastics. By deploying artificial intelligence (AI), the specialty chemicals company is looking to drastically cut the amount of time it takes to develop new materials. For this, Lanxess has entered into close collaboration with Citrine Informatics, a US-based AI company specialising in data-driven materials development.

The two companies have launched a pilot project aimed at gauging the potential of AI for the plastics production.

The aim is to further optimise the glass fibres that Lanxess uses for reinforcing many of its high-performance plastics and ultimately to enhance the performance of the materials.

Covestro expands film production in Germany

COVESTRO has started building additional production lines for high-quality polycarbonate films at its Dormagen site. The new coextrusion lines are scheduled for completion by the end of 2020 and will cover the increasing demand. According to current planning, more than 50 new jobs will be created.

“With this capacity expansion, we are strengthening the Dormagen site as a competence centre for specialty films,” said Dr Klaus Schäfer, Covestro’s Board Member for Production and Technology, at the laying of the cornerstone. “At the same time, we are investing in promising technologies and applications.” The high-quality semi-finished products are used, among other things, in cars, in medical products and in security cards.

Milacron exits blow moulding business

PLASTICS processing equipment maker Milacron Holdings Corp met business expectations in first quarter 2019, but experienced a slump in business across the board, with new orders and sales down by double digits and management considering exiting the blow moulding sector.

Also announced in its Q1 2019 sales report is the news that Milacron is exiting its Uniloy blow moulding machinery business. Uniloy’s blow moulding machines includes reciprocating screw blow moulders, injection blow moulding presses, shuttle machines and accumulator head blow moulding machines.

GM’s carbon-fibre CarbonPro project will give GM expertise in application of lightweight carbon-fibre GENERAL Motors will make history in the coming weeks with the start of regular production of a carbon-fibre cargo bed in its ’19 GMC Sierra Denali and Sierra AT4 large pickups, an intensely durable and lightweight technology it hopes to apply to other future products.

As US fuel economy rules tighten, GM, Ford and Fiat Chrysler must find ways to make the trucks they bank on so

heavily more efficient. Ford introduced an aluminium body to its bread-and-butter F-150 several years ago to shave weight, while FCA this year added batterybacked 48V mild-hybrid technology to its Ram line of pickups.

The CarbonPro cargo bed for the Sierra saves 28kg over traditional steel and nearly 45kg with the ability to eliminate bedliners, yet it has six times

Research shows

prefer transparent Transparent package showcases quality of the product RESEARCH by global packaging company Amcor reveals consumers from Latin America are increasingly attracted to transparent dairy packaging that connotes freshness and premium quality. In response, dairy companies are increasingly using clear PET bottles that provide durability and let consumers see dairy products before they purchase them.

In Brazil, leading dairy brand Letti is the first to adopt transparent onelitre PET bottles for its Lettico A2 fermented milk products. These custom containers, made exclusively for Letti

by Amcor, replace the traditional white, opaque high-density polyethylene (HDPE) bottles that have dominated the market.

“We have worked with Letti to

develop a transparent package with high impact to showcase the quality of the milk,” said Daniel Figueiredo, commercial director for Amcor’s Latin America dairy segment. “The PET bottle responds to consumers’ desire for freshness.”

Results from Amcor’s recent consumer focus group in Brazil also uncovered consumer preference for a simple, new bottle cap system. For the Lettico A2 fermented milk bottle, Amcor has eliminated the foil seal barrier (typically found on HDPE bottles) and added a screw cap to communicate inviolability.

The one-litre PET bottle also features an optimised base for improved bottle structure. Thicker wall sections help to avoid deformation, maximise drop

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(left) CarbonPro opens new design opportunities too, such as available moulded floor cavities to more safely secure motorcycles, additional tie-downs and nearly 1.1m2 of extra cargo volume (far left) The CarbonPro cargo bed for the Sierra saves 28kg over traditional steel and nearly 45kg with the ability to eliminate bedliners, yet it has six times the impact resistance of steel and resists dents, scratches and corrosion

pickup bed just a start

the impact resistance of steel and resists dents, scratches and corrosion.

It opens new design opportunities too, such as available moulded floor cavities to more safely secure motorcycles, additional tie-downs and nearly 1.1m2 of extra cargo volume.

Mark Voss, engineering group manager for the Sierra says of the cargo bed’s durability: “When the end of the world comes, all that’s left will be cockroaches and CarbonPro beds.”

However, before the apocalypse arrives GM hopes the CarbonPro project

will give it the foundational expertise in the application of lightweight carbonfibre and ever-increasing volume to drive down costs of the expensive material to broaden its use across the Detroit automaker’s product portfolio.

GM recently made a mixed-materials strategy central to its productdevelopment process, where it employs a combination of as many as 13 different materials to improve fuel economy, driving dynamics and cabin quietness.

Carbon fibre is among the most costly and difficult to integrate with other

materials, but GM says it has found unique bonding and adhesion methods to make it work. The process was first applied to the Cadillac CT6 large luxury sedan and Herrick says GM continues to refine the science, including the best ways to join pieces of the CarbonPro box with rivets and adhesive.

An $8 billion industrial enterprise, Teijin and GM have been developing the carbon-fibre cargo bed for nearly a decade and shortly before the technology was ready for production. www.

consumers from Latin America dairy packaging www.amcor.com

In Brazil, leading dairy brand Letti is the first to adopt transparent one-litre PET bottles for its Lettico A2 fermented milk products. These custom containers, made exclusively for Letti by Amcor, replace the traditional white, opaque high-density polyethylene (HDPE) bottles that have dominated the market

resistance and permit the use of heat-shrink labels without the need for horizontal ribs in the bottle design. To protect the contents, the container includes a 38mm finish and an ultraviolet (UV) blocker.

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World News Big recycling plant in Ohio

AZEK Building Products of Chicago, USA, has opened a $25-million (±R350million) recycling plant capable of turning 45,000 tons of used polyethylene a year into a material for its TimberTech brand composite decking.

The 9500m² plant in Wilmington, Ohio, houses a highly automated operation that takes trucked-in bales of post-consumer and post-industrial goods, such as plastic wrap, shampoo bottles, milk jugs and detergent bottles, from throughout the Midwest for reprocessing. The end product is a granular material formulated with wood fibre and extruded 5kms away at a manufacturing plant for TimberTech Pro and Edge decking boards.

The first of three recycling lines is operating 24/7 with 28 employees. A second line is due to go online in July. The third line is scheduled to start in early 2020 along with 12 more hires. In addition, the recycling operation will help insulate Azek from market fluctuations for virgin resins, said director of operations Bobby Gentile.

Thailand to ditch three kinds of plastic

BY the end of this year, Thailand claims it will be free from three types of plastic – microbeads, cap seals and oxodegradable plastics – and from four other types of single-use plastics by 2022, according to a road map that got the Thai cabinet’s initial nod in April.

The Plastic Waste Management Road Map 2018-2030 also included an ambitious plan for Thailand to use 100% recycled plastic by 2027 in various forms, including turning waste into energy. The four single-use plastics to be ditched by 2022 are lightweight plastic bags less than 36 microns thick; styrofoam food containers for takeaways; plastic cups and plastic straws – with the exception of those who still need to use them such as the elderly, patients and children.

A year of consolidation for Italian machinery makers AMAPLAST (the Italian trade association), through its Statistical Studies Centre, has completed its year-end balance sheet for 2018, incorporating foreign trade data from ISTAT (Italian Institute of Statistics).

After a record-setting 2017 – with double-digit growth in all indicators – the year-end results for 2018 continue the positive trend. While at somewhat more modest levels, production has continued to show growth after the all-time record set the previous year, while exports – which have always been the powerhouse for the sector – show only a slight contraction.

Sicomin provide epoxy resins for revolutionary

flying car concept 2.5m long, 1.5m wide and a full carbon fibre frame weighing 9kg

THE Antelope flying car with its sleek, futuristic design looks like something out of a science fiction movie, but the concept is far less pie-in-sky than several decades ago. Flying vehicles are being developed all around the world and could become the future of urban transport. The Antelope was designed by graduates of the Royal College of Art Intelligent Mobility programme who chose ENATA Aerospace, UAE to manufacture this innovative flying car concept. Sicomin has worked with ENATA since 2016 and was the natural choice when it came to the selection of epoxy resins for this exciting project.

The London-based Master of Arts course attracts designers from across the globe and reflects a world that increasingly requires vehicles to connect, share, electrify and become autonomous. This year’s graduates designed the Antelope: a one-seat, carbon fibre, multi-rotor flying vehicle. The flying car initially demonstrates the ability to hover and tilt to achieve forward motion. The next step will be to take off like a helicopter. This will be followed by a transition to tilted fans. The achieved speed will then generate lift from the body of the car and the Antelope will continue to fly like an airplane.

ENATA Aerospace used ultra-light aerospace materials and techniques to meet the highest quality and tolerancing standards, and to keep the weight to an absolute minimum. Its interactive customer progress report system provided daily updates allowing the graduates to monitor the manufacturing process. Within the challenging deadline of 60 days, ENATA Aerospace delivered the Antelope which is 2.5m long, 1.5m wide and has a full carbon fibre frame with a body weight of only 9kg.

The company used its robotic milling capability to rapidly mill a set of 32 moulds that were used to manufacture the car body. The external surface sandwich panels were moulded from low-density PEI foam and ultra-thin biax carbon fibre non crimp fabric. This carbon fabric is built up from uni directional layers at different orientations; using two to three layers of 30grs, depending on the areas.

The internal structure is made up of sandwich panels using carbon fibre fabrics and a nomex honeycomb core material. All body panels were wet laminated and vacuum consolidated using female moulds to provide the optimum surface finish.

ENATA chose Sicomin’s advanced epoxy laminating systems for the structure of the Antelope, combining excellent mechanical performance with optimised processing characteristics. Epoxy resin is significantly stronger than alternative resin types, has good fatigue performance and durability, and is proven to work well when combined with carbon fibre.

Sicomin’s SR1700 epoxy system has a very low viscosity at ambient temperature and can be used with various hardeners for the vacuum moulding of small or large parts to optimise working time. It offers an excellent adhesion to a variety of reinforcements such as glass, aramid and carbon.

• Sicomin is represented by Aerontec in South Africa www.sicomin.com The Antelope is 2.5m long, 1.5m wide and has a full carbon fibre frame with a body weight of only 9kg

www.aerontec.co.za

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World News

Alpla to join forces to pioneer paper bottles

PLASTIC packaging solutions provider Alpla and paper packaging materials and solutions provider BillerudKorsnäs are to embark on a joint venture to develop a fully bio-based and recyclable paper bottle with Danish paper bottle company ecoXpac. Alpla and BillerudKorsnäs share the ambition to drive packaging innovation in a sustainable direction.

The two companies intend to leverage the development by combining their resources, competencies and strengths to support scaling ecoXpac in the commercialisation of a fully bio-based and recyclable paper bottle.

In late 2016, Carlsberg Group revealed a first physical prototype of a paper bottle, the Green Fibre Bottle, and the first generation of paper bottles has since then been in a testing phase. The plan now is to continue the development to be able to launch and then scale up production. Following generations will be both fully biobased and have

This twin-fuselage aircraft is reportedly the world’s largest aircraft by wingspan and was designed to air launch rockets into space

Successful first flight for Stratolaunch Boasts an unprecedented 117-metre wingspan

2.5-hour journey, reaching a maximum altitude of 17,000 feet (5 182m). It wasn’t carrying a payload, but its trip is still a big deal for a machine that was first announced eight years ago and boasts an unprecedented 117-metre (385-foot) wingspan.

The aircraft is central to the late Paul Allen’s vision for Stratolaunch when he started the company in 2011. In many ways, it’s a larger parallel to Virgin Galactic’s White Knight Two. It’s meant to reduce the costs of spaceflight by ferrying rockets to an altitude of 35,000 feet and making it easier to complete the journey into orbit.

biodegradable barriers. www.alpla.com www.billerudkorsnas.com

Plastic Energy to build chemical recycling plants in Indonesia

www.solvay.com

SOLVAY reports that the Scaled Composites Stratolaunch aircraft has been successfully flown for the first time.

This twin-fuselage aircraft is reportedly the world’s largest aircraft by wingspan and was designed to air launch rockets into space. It features Solvay’s out-of-autoclave prepreg technology on the primary structure, while the company’s VTM 264 epoxy was used to make the plane’s fuselage, wing skins, empennage, ribs, spars and bulkheads.

The dual-fuselage rocket hauler took off from the Mojave Air and Space Port on 13 April and completed a roughly

OMV, Borealis explore next step for chemical recycling of post-consumer plastics OMV and Borealis’ shared industrial site in Schwechat, Austria, is one of the largest integrated plastics production sites in Europe. Now OMV and Borealis are taking the next step to advance the chemical recycling of post-consumer plastics. Borealis has acquired two recycling companies and OMV is now working on scaling up the ReOil process. The OMV ReOil pilot plant has been fully integrated into the refinery and has a processing capacity of up to 100kg per hour, equivalent to 100 litres of synthetic crude. This crude is processed either into feedstock for the plastics industry or fuel and creates a resource-efficient circular economy.

One more scale-up step of the plant is planned before reaching final industrial-scale capacity.

www.borealisgroup.com

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PLASTIC Energy, London, says it has reached an agreement with the province of West Java in Indonesia to build five chemical recycling plants.

The Indonesian government says it has made addressing the plastic waste issue a priority, with a commitment to reduce marine plastic debris by 70% by 2025.

The waste management industry in Indonesia is in its early stages, and infrastructure development still faces a range of challenges. Plastic Energy says it is exploring partnerships with a range of public and private sector organizations to address these challenges and to facilitate the construction of these plants, making West Java a showcase for the rest of Indonesia.

West Java is the biggest province in Indonesia in terms of population with 50 million people and 27 cities. West Java is also known as the province with a vision of green development and are creating a series of strategies to make sure the future is sustainable. One of the big issues is plastic waste, and Plastic Energy can transform plastic waste into fuel. The company converts end-of-life plastics using what it describes as a “patented low carbon footprint technology,” into oils, known as TACOIL, for making new virgin, food-safe plastics or used an alternative fuel with lower emissions.

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World News Initial testing of tyres made from the nature-identical, biomimetic synthetic rubber BISYKA shows that they achieve around 30 to 50% less abrasion compared to natural rubber tyres. (© Fraunhofer IAP, Photographer: Till Budde)

Truck tyres

with less abrasion Synthetic rubber outperforms natural rubber

NATURAL rubber from rubber trees is a raw material with a limited supply, according to research by the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP in Potsdam-Golm.

Synthetically produced rubber has not yet been able to match the abrasion behaviour of the natural product, rendering it unsuitable for truck tyres. But now, for the first time, a new type of synthetic rubber has been developed that achieves 30 to 50% less abrasion than natural rubber.

The problem with natural rubber is that the security of supply for this important raw material is endangered. In Brazil, the original home of the rubber tree, the fungus Microcyclus ulei is laying waste to whole plantations. If the fungus crosses over to Asia, where major cultivation areas are located today, the global production of rubber will be threatened.

In view of this threat, researchers at the Fraunhofer Institutes for Applied Polymer Research IAP, for Microstructure of Materials and Systems IMWS, for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, for Mechanics of Materials IWM and for Silicate Research ISC have now optimised the characteristics of synthetic rubber.

“Our synthetic rubber BISYKA (biomimetic synthetic rubber) actually has superior characteristics to natural rubber,” says Dr Ulrich Wendler, who heads up the project at the Fraunhofer Pilot Plant Centre for Polymer Synthesis and Processing PAZ .

“Tyres made of the synthetic rubber lose 30% less mass than equivalent tyres made of natural rubber. On top of that, the synthetic tyres have only half the tread loss. Furthermore, the synthetic rubber can be produced on an industrial scale using existing plants and equipment. This means that the synthetic rubber offers an excellent alternative to natural rubber – including the domain of high-performance truck tyres.”

Targeted analysis of dandelion rubber But how did the researchers achieve this higher performance?

At Fraunhofer IME, scientists investigated rubber from dandelions. Like the rubber from rubber trees, 95% of dandelion rubber consists of polyisoprene, while the remaining percentage is made up of organic components such as proteins or lipids.

The advantage of dandelion rubber over tree rubber is that the former has a generation succession of just three months as opposed to seven years for the latter. That makes rubber made from dandelions an ideal starting point for investigating the 78 JUN / JUL 2019

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influence of organic components on the rubber characteristics.

After they had identified the organic components that were important for abrasion behaviour, the researchers at Fraunhofer IAP synthesized the BISYKA rubber out of functionalised polyisoprene with high microstructural purity and the respective biomolecules.

Their colleagues at Fraunhofer IWM and IMWS then investigated the characteristics of the rubber variants obtained using extensional crystallisation: If you stretch natural rubber to three times its length, crystalline regions form – the rubber hardens.

“The extensional crystallisation of BISYKA rubber equals that of natural rubber,” explains Wendler. When making truck tyres, the rubber is usually mixed with carbon black. Increasingly, however, manufacturers are adding silicates to the mixture instead of carbon black. This is where the expertise of Fraunhofer ISC comes in: At the institute, scientists investigate how new kinds of silica fillers can lead to optimum alternatives to natural rubber in the automotive industry.

Synthetic rubber yields impressive results in practical tests After the development of the BISYKA rubber, four car tyres were manufactured with a tread made from BISYKA and were then compared with tyres with a tread made from natural rubber.

The tests were carried out directly on a car that drove 700 circuits in one direction and then 700 circuits in the other direction. While the natural rubber tyre was 850 grams lighter after the test and lost 0.94 millimetres of tread, the BISYKA tyre lost only 600 grams and 0.47 millimetres of tread.

The rolling resistance of the synthetic rubber was also better: While the natural rubber achieved a score of C on the traffic light labelling of the rolling resistance, BISYKA achieved the higher score of B. “So far, we have only carried out initial tests with the BISYKA tyre blend, but they are extremely promising. As the next step, we want to further optimise the BISYKA rubber. This concerns above all the proportion and the composition of the organic components. At the same time, we will adapt the formula of the tread compound for truck tyres to the new rubber,” says Wendler. Currently the researcher and his team are looking for cooperation partners who will bring the product to the market. www.iap.fraunhofer.de/en/fraunhofer-iap.html

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Michelin’s ‘Vision’ tyre provides critical feedback to drivers. It also embraces 3D printing technologies to manufacture and renew tread made of recycled and biosourced parts, which makes it 100% recyclable according to Michelin

PET barrier container weighs 106g versus 1.2kg for the glass version monolayer structure which includes a Sherwin Williams’ barrier additive. The barrier prevents oxygen ingress and egress and loss of CO2, providing a 120-day shelf life versus 48 hrs for standard PET growlers. This monolayer barrier solution is compatible with existing recycling streams. The high-density polyethylene (HDPE) handle, designed by JMS International Packaging, is produced separately and attached to the container via a secondary process. The PET container comes with a 38mm finish.

In the future, the JMS production bottles will be manufactured with a new patented PET plastic (PETB1) that has been developed by JMS International Packaging Inc. The new patented plastic (PETB1) offers the best barrier to CO2 plus oxygen egress and ingress on the market. This unique material also protects the product from UV rays and is available in transparent or opaque versions. The product resists impact and ensures a certain economy compared to glass. It has strong resistance to hot filling and is much lighter than glass.

The PET plastic growlers are also available in a clear colour with or without barrier protection for ciders, craft sodas, craft cocktails and liquor. Pressure-sensitive labels can be applied and a screen printing process can also be used.

www.amslerequipment.net

CANADIAN company W Amsler Equipment, a leading supplier of all-electric linear PET stretch blow moulders, has launched a new 64-oz (approx. 2-litres) PET growler jug that mimics the competitive glass design and provides barrier protection for extended shelf life. The PET container is believed to be the first in the industry to include a handle and provide barrier protection.

The amber PET container is manufactured by W Amsler at its Bolton, Ontario, facility on behalf of JMS International Packaging, a leading packaging solutions provider, on a W. Amsler all-electric linear series stretch blow moulder. The PET barrier container weighs 106 grams versus 1.2kg for the glass version, resulting in reduced shipping costs. It is also eventfriendly, unbreakable and 100% recyclable, according to Heidi Amsler, sales and marketing manager for W. Amsler.

A growler is a jug commonly sold at breweries and brew pubs as a means to sell take-out craft beer. The significant growth of craft breweries and the growing popularity of home brewing have also led to an emerging market for the sale of growlers.

The PET growlers have a flat champagne base rather than a carbonated base design and withstand 15 psi of pressure.

For the growlers, W. Amsler selected a barrier with a

www.jmsintpackaging.com

New PET barrier container with handle for craft beer market

Winners of Solvay Additive Manufacturing Cup 2019 University students around the world compete THE winners of Solvay’s Additive Manufacturing Cup 2019 for university students is the Technical University of Munich, Germany.

University teams from around the world had

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The team secured the first prize due to its ability to achieve 100 percent z-axis strength in the Type V size tensile bar and its wavy pipe showed overall dimensional accuracy, surface uniformity, and a remarkable mechanical performance by enduring a burst pressure test of 1,400 psi (96.5 bar) for two hours.

Two teams from Ghent University, Belgium – PPSUsual and PPSUPER – were awarded second and third place respectively. Very little separated the teams as both achieved the next best performance in tensile modulus, tensile strength, and ductility.

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to fabricate specific shapes using Radel PPSU AM filament. Each team was challengeed to replicate an ASTM D638 Type V size tensile bar in the z-axis and a wavy-shaped pressure pipe, a difficult shape to injection mould. Key criteria to be met in the challenge were maximum dimensional accuracy, mechanical performance, including burst pressure tests and translucency.

The overall winner, rewarded for a thorough optimization of all aspects of the printing process and equipment, was the Gekko Performance team from the Technical University of Munich, Germany.

www.solvayspecialtypolymers.com

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Diary of events

Recycling high on K2019 agenda A variety of proposals and solutions to be presented at show THE plastics industry is defending itself against accusations, but it must present concepts for the future and demonstrate that plastic and environmental protection are compatible. What are the ramifications of the present situation for the plastics industry, and

what options does recycling offer today?

Issues such as waste collection systems and collection rates, recovery methods, recycling and the circular economy are now more centre stage than ever before. Unsurprising, therefore, that the circular economy is one of the leading issues at this year’s international K2019 trade fair. Visitors to this event The World’s No. 1 Trade Fair will be greeted by a variety of for Plastics and Rubber proposals and solutions relating to this topic.

The demand for plastics continues to rise – despite, it would seem, their poor image.

In its report “Plastics – The Facts”, Plastics Europe pointed out that the production of plastics worldwide was 348 million tons in 2017, around 4% higher than in 2016. In Europe, the output of the 28 EU countries plus Norway and Switzerland rose from 60 to 64.4 million tons (up 7%).

Europe accounts for around a fifth of global production, placing it second among producers, after China (29%) and just ahead of the NAFTA region (18%).

Although a degree of consolidation has led to a reduction in the number of companies in the European plastics industry to around 60 000 since the last K event, figures for those employed in the sector have increased, with 1.5 million working in the plastics industry and generating stable sales of about €350bn in 2017.

T h i n k i n g . R e t h i n k i n g .

L a t e r a l t h i n k i n g .

T h i n k i n g o u t o f t h e b o x .

K 2 0 1 9

Global

megatrends

are

calling

for

new

approaches from industry to help trigger the paradigm shift for our planet with solutions f i t f o r t h e f u t u r e . Ta k i n g u p t h e s e c h a l l e n g e s , around 3,200 international e xhibitors at K 2019 will be showing you the latest developments and gr o u n db r e a k in g in n ova t io n s in th e plastics and r u b b e r i n d u s t r y . K 2 019 : T h e i n d u s t r y ’ s m o s t important business platform. Be a part of it. www.k -online.com/ticketing

Marine pollution A look at different consumer sectors clearly indicates that the usage duration for plastic products differs greatly, and this in turn influences recycling rates and options. However, as Plastics Europe has established in its study, the appreciation that plastics are much too valuable to simply discard them at the end of their service life, has grown in Europe. Recycling of plastic waste increased by almost 80%

Southern African – German Chamber of Commerce and Industry NPC 47 Oxford Road _ Forest Town, Johannesburg P.O. Box 87078 _ Houghton 2041 Tel. +27 (0)11 486 2775 _ Fax +27 (0)86 675 21 75 tradefairs@germanchamber.co.za

www.germanchamber.co.za

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COM I UP NG

North American body prompts better understanding of pultrusion technology

in the 10 years between 2006 and 2016.

At 40.9%, plastic packaging now accounts for the majority of recycling, followed by energetic recovery at 38.8%.

The compulsion to act that is born of the public perception of plastic waste has contributed to a range of new laws governing higher recycling rates. Following China’s lead, other Southeast Asian countries (and Taiwan in December 2018) have imposed import restrictions on plastic waste. Landfill bans on plastic waste are already in force in 10 European countries.

Recycling is not only a designated product category at K2019, but is also discussed in the K Specials, as is the entire field of Circular Economy. The special show “Plastics shape the Future” aims to involve both politicians and socially relevant groups, while the “Science Campus” of K 2019 stands for the dialogue between science and business.

OVER 200 composites manufacturing business leaders and experts from North America and Europe assembled in Rosemont, Illinois, USA, for the North American Pultrusion Conference from 8-10 April. The event was hosted by the American Composites Manufacturers Association (ACMA) in partnership with the European Pultrusion Technology Association (EPTA).

“ACMA believes it’s vitally important for the composites industry’s suppliers and manufacturers to expand our understanding of pultrusion technology and its varying market applications.

In order to thrive in competitive, global markets like automotive, construction and infrastructure, manufacturers and OEMS are looking for the next level of applications and materials to promote and sustain growth. Pultrusion helps meet that need,” said ACMA president Tom Dobbins.

“With an increase in attendance of 25% since the first year this event was held, it is clear the industry is ready to use the pultrusion process in many market segments.”

With over 15 conference sessions, the conference delivered fresh insights into the pultrusion manufacturing process. Ashley Duncan of Composites One moderated the entire event. Conference highlights included the opening keynote address by Steve Gonzalez, director of major projects at Kone of Finland with insights on Kone’s UltraRope®, a super-light rope technology with carbon fibre core and special high-friction coating that is used for elevators around the world. He shared the advantages of the technology, which eliminates the disadvantages of existing steel ropes used in elevators, including high energy consumption, rope stretch, large moving masses and downtime caused by building sway.

analytica Lab Africa ANALYTICA Lab Africa will be held from 9-11 July at Gallagher Convention Centre, Midrand. With solutions for a range of sectors from pharmaceuticals and cosmetics through to chemicals, analytica Lab Africa will present the latest laboratory technology and analysis equipment, with knowledge exchange platforms and hands on workshops being a key theme throughout. www.analytica-africa.com

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DTI to help SA companies to exhibit at K2019 THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is able to financially assist – under the EMIA (Export Marketing Incentive Assistance scheme) – South African companies wishing to participate in K2019. This is subject to a successful application lodged with the DTI by an exhibitor prior to their participation in the exhibition.

K2019, the world’s largest trade fair for plastics and rubber, will take place from 16-23 October in Düsseldorf, Germany. Main product groups at K2019 include raw materials, auxiliaries, semifinished products, technical parts and reinforced plastics, machinery and equipment for the plastics and rubber industries, and services.

Reimbursements (of a predetermined %) of exhibition costs are paid to individual exhibitors based on an approved application submitted to the DTI up to six months prior to the exhibition.

Individual exhibitors may only apply for a reimbursement of their exhibition costs where TISA (Trade Investment South Africa) does not provide a National Pavilion at the trade fair.

• For further information contact Thoko Mazibuko, representative of Messe Düsseldorf GmbH in South Africa, at Tel: 011 486 2775, Fax: 086 674 3816, or email: tmazibuko@germanchamber.co.za www.k-online.de

• Official Distributor in Southern Africa for BASF

on TPU Elastollan® Thermoplastic Polyurethane

• Official Distributor in Southern Africa for Elastron on TPE, TPV Elastron® SEBS and EPDM/PP

• Official Distributor in Southern Africa for CGFSE on FSE® Fluoroelastomers and Perfluoroelastomers

• Distributor for Weifang on Weipren CPE • Suppliers of EPS, Various Grades • Engineering Polymers • Polyolefins • Reworked and Repaletised Materials • Official distributor for Politem on PA6, PA66 ®

unfilled and filled compounds

Diary of events

Nelson Mandela Bay to host

African 4IR tradeshow Launch of pan-African Advanced Manufacturing trade Initative NELSON Mandela Bay has been confirmed as the host city of the second African Advanced Manufacturing and Composites Show from 27-28 November this year.

The show, according to organisers, represents the largest gathering of Fourth Industrial Revolution roleplayers in Southern Africa. It injected cash flows of R42,8m into the city’s business community in its inaugural edition, with Nelson Mandela Bay retaining host status for the second edition at the iconic Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.

The show is hosted under the auspices of the DTI-supported, national Composites Cluster, in collaboration with government industry and academia.

Composites Cluster MD, Andy Radford said the participation of over 3 000 influential roleplayers positioned

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the inaugural Show as “Africa’s premier initiative in the field, supporting the triple helix model of innovation which involves interaction between academia, industry and governments, to foster economic and social development.”.

Radford said plans announced by the AIDC EC to establish a globally interconnected Smart Industrial Academy in the province, “attached to the prowess of global 4IR companies like Jendamark” positioned the Eastern Cape as a suitable host for the 2019 edition.

Future of African Advanced Manufacturing and Composites Show Radford said future editions of the initiative would rotate between South Africa’s major manufacturing hubs.

Formerly an industrialist at the CSIR, Radford is the visionary behind the show, which he says is “an essential

stepping stone to uniting the country’s stakeholders around a common vision and growing trade”.

“The Advanced Manufacturing sector is highly fragmented in South Africa.

Many associations and industry bodies promote advanced manufacturing but

Colour of the Year has practical implications WITH a joint presentation on 28 March, BASF’s Colours and Effects® Brand and the Pantone Colour Institute™ completed their joint tour for the Colour of the Year 2019 collaboration at the Society of Plastics and Engineers’ European Additives and Colour Conference in Frankfurt, Germany.

In a series of presentations in North America, Asia, and Europe, BASF and Pantone highlighted a collection of plastic designs inspired by the Pantone Colour of the Year 2019, Pantone 161546 Living Coral. Supporting performance as well as aesthetic appearance, the collection features a selection of colours and effects pigments that accentuate colour, finish and design all while meeting versatile industry requirements.

“The Pantone Colour of the Year is a colour that can communicate the colour message that best reflects what is happening in our global culture at a specific moment in time, a colour that we see crossing all areas of design and serves as an expression of a mood or attitude,” said Carola Seybold of Pantone.

“Through these conferences in partnership with BASF, we seek to highlight how colour appeals to and influences consumer behaviours and the importance of colour choices in design.”

COM I UP NG Manufacturing Innovation Awards.

“Over 100 exhibitors showcasing three-dimensional printing, lasers, automation, virtual and augmented reality, artificial intelligence, drones and materials of the future are exciting tools to encourage a new generation of engineers and scientists but we need to expose them and industry to these technologies and there is no time to waste,” Radford said.

National Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Awards 2019 The Awards will take place on 27 November as part of the African Advanced Manufacturing Show.

Entrants benefit substantially from the national and global exposure created around the awards (traditionally hosted by the DTI) and the innovation they showcase.

Closing date is July 31. generally there is a lack of integration and awareness of even our own capabilities, which are substantial,’” Radford said.

The show features a learning programme, technology demonstrations, an exhibition, factory visits and the auspicious National Advanced

For entry forms and more info, email deon@inkanyezi.co.za.

www.africanadvancedmanufacturingshow.co.za

PLAST will be back in 2021 AFTER the excellent results of the past edition, PLAST (International Exhibition for Plastics and Rubber Industries) will take place from 4-7 May 2021 at the Fiera Milano Rho-Pero fairgrounds, again together with The Innovation Alliance.

PLAST 2018 closed its doors on a positive trend, with over 1 500 exhibitors in 55 000m2 of exhibition space drawing in more than 63 000 visitors. There was also a significant increase in foreign representation, partly thanks to over 30 official delegations welcomed to the specialized fair.

There was a rich showcase of technology presented to the operators, especially as regards the core of the exhibition: machinery, equipment and moulds for processing plastics and rubber, with over 3 500 units on display in the six exhibition halls. This is an important sector in Italian manufacturing, with a production value estimated by the trade association AMAPLAST at €4.7 billion in 2018, approximately 70% going to exports.

Registration begins in November 2019. www.plastonline.org/en

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Finnish company Kone is set to double the height elevators inside skyscrapers can travel with a revolutionary new rope that is up to 90% lighter than the existing industry standard. Look at the cables holding up any elevator in a skyscraper today and they will be constructed from steel. And while steel may be very strong, it’s also very heavy. In fact, 75% of the weight in an elevator system can be the steel cables. That has meant the height an elevator can travel is limited to 500 metres – any higher and the cables could snap

Kone Ultrarope® hoisting technology – The latest in a long line of technological breakthroughs, Kone UltraRope sets a new benchmark for high-rise buildings. The superlight Kone UltraRope technology provides unrivalled elevator eco-efficiency, reliability and durability, while also improving elevator performance. It eliminates the disadvantages of existing steel ropes – high energy consumption, rope stretch, large moving masses and downtime caused by building sway. KoneE UltraRope can enable future elevator travel heights up to 1000 metres

Diary of events

Moretto at Chinaplas 2019 with 4.0 solutions Industry 4.0 is evident on all product lines MORETTO, an Italian leading company in the automation for plastics processing industry, participated at Chinaplas 2019 from 21-24 May. Injection, extrusion and PET processing are characterised by specific complexities and high levels of performance in which production and energy efficiency play key roles. Moretto’s local branch promptly respond to the needs of Chinese plastics processors providing efficient and low energy consumption machines, turnkey solutions, and supporting them with know-how and services, pre-, during and after sale.

The impression of Industry 4.0 is evident on all product lines, Moretto offers a wide range of smart and automatic machines, mainly required by sectors such as automotive, medical and packaging.

Among them, Moisture Meter Manager reads the in-line moisture content of the granule, manages and controls in closed

loop the drying process, guaranteeing product certification and energy savings.

Moretto also highlighted the powerful X Comb mini dryers, a complete range characterised by strong turbocompressors, zeolite technology, dew point equaliser (up to -60°C) and the exclusive OTX hopper.

X Comb is ideal for drying small quantities of material (hourly production from 1 to 20kg/hr) and saving 50% of energy.

Another relevant 4.0 innovation displayed at Chinaplas is One Wire 3, a server dedicated to the centralised management of the entire plastic granule transport system. One Wire 3 can simultaneously control up to 80 clients (receivers, suction units, manifolds), coordinating the call priorities according to the FIFO (First InFirst Out) logic and able to operate in Dual Zone mode. An intelligent, self-configurable and easily extensible device capable of controlling the entire transport process at any point of the network by the Master 300

X Comb

removable palmtop and, like most Moretto products, also seamlessly interfaced with Moretto’s MOWIS supervisory control system.

Moretto also presented solutions for thermoregulation and a range of dosing machines: the new loss-in-weight dosing unit DPK, the gravimetric dosing unit DGM Gravix and DBK Gramixo, ideal for extrusion.

These devices allow high precision dosing, modularity, reaction speed, connectivity and remote control.

• Represented in South Africa by DemaPlasTech Machinery (Pty) Ltd www.moretto.com www.demaplastech.co.za

EVENTS COMING UP ...

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Plastic injection moulding workshop at Plastics/SA GOM and RGC Engineering will host the GOM Plastic Injection Moulding International Workshop on 18 July at Plastic/SA’s offices in Midrand as part of its Plastics Knowledge Day series of international events that are taking place at more than 40 locations from Asia to America.

The Plastics Knowledge Day 2019 brings together specialists from the plastics industry and experts in optical metrology in a free one-day event. During the industrial meeting platform for the exchange of knowledge and experience, you get to know how 3D measurement procedures support and accelerate all areas in plastics process chains: from determining material behaviour via toolmaking up to series accompanying production control and trend analyses.

In addition to the exchange of experience, the knowledge transfer is the focus of the event. It takes place in various formats and is supported by renowned representatives of the industry.

In addition to conventional presentations, practical applications are imparted in four areas: 1. Introduction to optical metrology 2. GD&T and Plastics Industry 4.0 3. Optical measuring technology in tooling 4. Digital assembly Live demonstration stations offer attendees the opportunity to get to know the functions and features of the GOM software based on components used in industry.

Supported by well-known users, it will be shown worldwide how precise industrial 3D metrology helps to ensure quality and to identify optimisation potentials in plastics technology processes.

For more information, email Maria@rgcengineering.co.za or Lizette@rgcengineering.co.za

Future Production Technologies at CTICC The inaugural Future Production Technologies Convention will be held from 31 July to 1 August at the International Convention Centre, Cape Town.

The Fourth Industrial Revolution will herald the transformation of entire systems of production, management and governance. There is already a lot of hype around the rapid advances in technology and the disruptive change 4IR will bring. The challenge facing manufacturers in South Africa is grasping and understanding the complex technologies and how these integrate into their manufacturing systems.

To help delegates understand how 4IR will affect their business, experts will present overviews of the different technologies, their application and how these can be integrated into a company’s manufacturing system. These include: • Robotics, AI, Nano Technology, Quantum Computing, Biotechnology, IOT, 3D Printing and Autonomous Vehicles • In addition there will be interactive discussion sessions with manufacturing CEOs, production engineers, entrepreneurs and economists to discuss the economic impact of 4IR and the future outlook for manufacture in South Africa. www.sbs.co.za/fptc2019

Elastollan

A real all-rounder AT Techtextil, the international trade fair for technical textiles and nonwovens from 14-17 May in Frankfurt, BASF showed its expertise in fabrics, films, nonwovens, yarns and hotmelt adhesives – all based on Elastollan®, the company’s thermoplastic polyurethane. Due to its high elasticity and excellent mechanical strength, the plastic is suitable for the production of a wide range of materials for the textile industry.

Elastollan is not only excellent for breathable and watervapour-permeable membranes, but also for highly tear-resistant fabrics, such as those needed in the construction industry.

Roof underlays made of Elastollan, for example, are durable and have a particularly high tear strength. In addition, they are characterised by the fact that they are perfect for bonding and welding.

Also on show at Techtextil 2019 were Elastollan-coated polyester and polyether fibres, whose uses include processing into UV-resistant, highly flexible fabrics for shading systems or leisure furniture. The fibres are characterised by their flexibility, high mechanical strength and tear resistance.

At Techtextil, BASF also presented the full suite of Freeflex™ fibre spun from Elastollan TPU. Each fibre is able to fulfill different applications – from shoe uppers to apparel and even

anti-run upholstery. For consumers, it ensures an impeccable fit thanks to its enormous stretch and recovery. The material also enables design freedom with its versatility in colours and textures provided and is also sustainable. www.basf.com

Freeflex™ fibre spun from Elastollan has inspired the fashion label ‘Seven Crash’ (USA) and resulted in a collaboration with BASF. The resulting collection ‘Quantus’ stands for the combination of fashionable design and high functionality and was shown this year at the New York Fashion Week.

Propak West Africa 2019 in Lagos in Sept PROPAK West Africa 2019 has added a further 25% of exhibition space and has secured Sasol as Gold Sponsor for this year’s edition.

This year from the 17–19 of September, Propak West Africa will once again take over the Landmark Centre in Lagos, Nigeria for its seventh edition. Having gown consistently year on year since its inception, Propak West Africa has become the region’s largest and most attended exhibition for packaging, plastics, printing and foodprocessing.

Following enormous success from the previous year, organisers have announced an additional 25% in floorspace to accommodate the demand to exhibit. Among the brands already confirmed to participate in 2019 are Bobst, Ishida Europe, PanAsia Tech, Sasol, Snetor, SkySat, Windmoeller & Hoelscher and many more.

In 2018, Propak West Africa welcomed 4 265 attendees, an increase of an astonishing 31% from 2017 while the size of the show itself grew by almost half after the addition of a third Hall. With 32 countries represented by exhibitors and visitors alike, the show has established itself firmly as a truly international event.

With more than 5 000 visitors expected this year, and over 200 brands on display, this year’s exhibition set to be the largest to date. With a number of brand new exhibitors joining the fold this September, organisers are confident there will be plenty to see for visitors both new to the exhibition and returning. www.propakwestafrica.com

CONSULTING (Pty) Ltd.

+27 (0)82-651 3315 frank@fdbconsulting.co.za www.labotek.com

Representative in Africa

JUNE / JULY 2019 85

Enormous stretch and high versatility

Due to its high elasticity and excellent mechanical strength, the thermoplastic polyurethane is suitable for the production of a wide range of materials for the textile industry. Elastollan is not only excellent for breathable and water-vapour-permeable membranes, but also for highly tear-resistant fabrics

Diary of events

Carbon fibre fuselage at 53rd Paris Air Show

The carbon fibre fuselage for Eviation’s ‘Alice’ – the first allelectric regional aircraft

EVENTS

86 JUNE / JULY 2019

Capacity expansion for aeronautical and new mobility sectors CARBOMAN Group, the market leading group specialising in development, prototyping and the manufacturing of high-end composite structures, is collaborating with Eviation Aircraft, a global manufacturer of all-electric air mobility solutions, on Eviation’s ‘Alice’ – an all-electric aircraft structure that will debut at the 53rd Paris Air Show in Le Bourget from 17 to 23 June.

Carboman will also showcase

composite parts for new mobility flying solutions. Multiplast will present its new carbon fibre fuselage for Eviation’s first all-electric regional aircraft that will debut at the show. The 9-pax ‘Eviation Alice’ uses the lightest possible carbon fibre composite airframe to provide a cost-effective 1000km (650-mile) range using a sustainable, low noise and zeroemission electric propulsion system.

Decision SA, with its history

in aerospace composites having manufactured the carbon fibre structure of the ‘Solar Impulse’ aircrafts HBSIA and HB-SIB, will also launch components for several projects in the new mobility sector. These autonomous and piloted eVTOL crafts are a rapidly growing market and, with its extensive development and prototyping requirements, form a key part of the group’s future strategy.

Africa Automation Fair 4-6 June, Ticketpro Dome, Northgate, JHB www.africaautomationfair.com

ICCM22 11-16 August, Melbourne, Australia info@iccm22.com

K2019 16-23 October, Düsseldorf, Germany www.k-online.com

Plastic Pollution: Effects & Solutions 5-6 June, Emperors Palace, JHB www.pmsconsulting.co.za

SAPPMA Pipes XII 27-28 August, Altron Business Park, Midrand www.sappma.co.za

OzPipe XIX 7-8 November, Sydney, Australia www.pipa.com.au

Pumps, Valves & Pipes Africa 11-13 June, Gallagher Estate, Midrand www.pumpsvalvesandpipesafrica.com

ACIC 2019 3-5 September, University of Birmingham, UK info@netcomposites.com

Plastics Recycling Technology 18-19 June, Düsseldorf, Germany www.emo-hannover.de

Masterbatch 2019 10-12 September, Vienna, Austria www.ami.international/events

African Adv Manf & Comp 27-29 November, Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, PE, www.mandelabaycompositescluster.co.za

Manufacturing Indaba 25-26 June, Sandton Convention Centre, JHB www.manufacturingindaba.co.za

Composites Europe 10-12 September, Messe Stuttgart, Germany www.composites-europe.com

fdt Africa (Lab Africa, IFAT Africa) 9-11 July, Gallagher, JHB www.fdt-africa.com

ARMO Global (hosted by ARMSA) 16-18 September, Sun City www.armsa.co.za

GOM Plastics Knowledge Day 18 July, Plastics/SA, Midrand maria@rgcengineering.co.za

EMO Hannover 16-21 September, Hannover, Germany www.emo-hannover.de

KITE (KZN Industrial show) 24-26 July, Durban Exhibition Centre www.kznindustrial.co.za

Propak West Africa 17-19 September, Landmark Centre, Lagos, Nigeria, www.propakwestafrica.com

Future Production Technologies 31 Jul-1 Aug, ICC, Cape Town www.sbs.co.za/fptc2019

FachPack 2019 25 September, Nuremberg, Germany www.fachpack.de

pacprocess Middle East Africa 2019 9-11 December, Egypt www.pacprocess-mea.com

2020 Machine Tools Africa 2020 12-15 May, Expo Centre, Nasrec, JHB www.machinetoolsafrica.co.za Electra Mining Africa 2020 7-11 September, Expo Centre, Nasrec, JHB www.electramining.co.za OzPipe XIX 21-23 September, Hotel Okura, Amsterdam, Holland www.pipa.com.au

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-Will Durant

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Diary of events

Manufacturing Indaba to provide platform for enhancing black industrial participation

88 JUNE / JULY 2019

Industrial inclusion, demographic modification of industrial asset ownership, racially equitable enterprise control to be explored THE 6th edition of the Manufacturing Indaba from 25-26 June at the Sandton Convention Centre in Sandton, is set to highlight growth opportunities for black industrialist participation, as communicated in the Black Industrialist Programme (BIP). Pressing concerns such as industrial inclusion, demographic modification of industrial asset ownership and racially equitable enterprise control are to be explored in detail. The event aspires to support South Africa’s Vision 2030 strategy.

Governmental initiatives and frameworks such as the National Development Plan (NDP) and Industrial Policy Action Plan (IPAP) have been developed to eliminate poverty and reduce inequality. Measures for national development articulated under the National Development Plan (NDP) and the industrial strategies forwarded by Industrial Policy Action Plan (IPAP), aim to accelerate robust and sustainable economic growth that can be realised through promoting black industrial inclusion. The trickledown effect of these policies will be widely observed across various segments of marginalised communities by offering decent employment opportunities, thereby enabling them to prosper and secure improved living standards.

An inclusive economy is imperative to restoring economic equality in South Africa. Previously disadvantaged individuals still have minimal participation levels in terms of the country’s trade, manufacturing and industrial concerns, which remains a pressing issue.

Black industrialists are often confronted with various barriers when attempting to start or grow their manufacturing business, one of which is inaccessible funding opportunities. The absence of financial security and track records render them unqualified to secure capital with commercial institutions. In addition, black industrialists haven’t had the opportunities to develop reliable networks within the industry that may inevitably support them in becoming competitive on both a local and global scale. Moreover, their organisational success remains hampered owing to inexperience in terms of business management.

Investing in and involving the underutilised economic resources of our nation, will enable black industrialists to harness the benefits of job creation, revenue generation and innovation. This is projected to improve their competitive standing in the global market, through gaining access to capital and securing significant contracts.

The Manufacturing Indaba 2019

intends to provide a platform that will serve as a practical tool for enhancing black industrial participation. The event encourages the movement of black enterprise towards organisational success by promoting specific measures such as access to markets and enhancing availability of financing options for black entrepreneurs. Empowering black industrialists in the manufacturing realm, may set the scene for a trickledown effect into other sectors of our nation. This is a momentous step in enabling South Africa to achieve a more equitable economy. www.manufacturingindaba.co.za

EVENTS COMING UP ...

Pacprocess MEA annually in Cairo THE interpack alliance of Messe Düsseldorf has expanded into the Middle East Africa (MEA) region with its Pacprocess MEA exhibition which willl be held annually at the Egypt International Exhibition Centre in Cairo, starting in December 2019.

The debut event is scheduled for 9-11 December and will run concurrently with FoodAfrica, the leading food trade fair in the region. The fair addresses the eight core target groups of the interpack alliance: food, beverages, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, confectionery and bakery, non-food and

industrial goods – and all of these across the entire value chain. It also targets the suppliers of packaging means, packaging materials and the associated manufacturing technology. Recycling and environmental technology also play a role here.

The MEA region and the Egyptian market, in particular, are rated as dynamic and highly attractive not least by international groups. This still young democracy provides a gateway to the African world because it maintains extensive free-trade agreements with other states in the region and is a focus of German development policy. It is open to foreign investors, which is why large corporations such as Coca-Cola, Nestlé, and Mondelez

have invested hundreds of millions over the past few years.

Even the Egyptian domestic market is attractive: spending on food and beverage in Egypt is expected to rise by 60% in the period 2013 to 2020. In the pharmaceuticals segment Egypt ranks among the biggest producers and most important sales markets in the MEA region. Here growth is estimated to reach 8% by 2020. The packaging sector is predicted to expand by as much as 35% between 2015 and 2019.

The driver of this development is a young, growing and spend-happy population with rising education levels and growing disposable incomes. www.pacprocess-mea.com

Going further with Experience.

More than 70 years of experience speaks for itself. As a long-standing partner of local and global businesses alike, ENGEL delivers reliable solutions worldwide.

Thirty years ago, our experience and passion for our work inspired us to make one of the most groundbreaking developments in our company’s history. At that time, we began to eliminate the use of tie bars, a move that represented a milestone in our industry.

Tie-bar-less technology ensures an accessible mould area, even greater precision and excellent mould protection. The concept has allowed us to give our customers long-lasting success – from 1989 until the present.

engelglobal.com/tie-bar-less

4957-46 ENG ANZ SAP K2019 experience A4 ZA-en 190510.indd 1

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Books

Global 3D printing market report

www.IDTechEx.com/3d

Includes current and future technologies and 10yr forecasts AFTER initial commercialisation in the 1990s, 3D printing underwent a period of intense interest in 2013. Key players were quick to capitalise on this interest, enjoying exponential revenue growth between 2013 and 2016 as a result.

Since then, the hype has subsided and additive manufacturing is starting to find its place among other manufacturing methods. In particular, focus has now shifted away from the consumer and rapid prototyping, and towards the digitisation of workflows and the manufacture of production quality final products. Several industries are now seriously analysing the benefits and competitive edge that 3D printing can lend their operations, and the most eagerly anticipated technological innovations are catering to these professional users.

Although all signs point to a period of seriousness and readjustment in the 3D printing market as it transitions to cater to the needs of this user group, there remains enormous potential for growth over the next decade: in the recently released report 3D Printing 2019-2029: Technology and Market Analysis, IDTechEx Research of Cambridge, England, forecasts that the global market for 3D printing equipment, materials, software and services is estimated to be worth $31-billion by the year 2029.

Technology and Applications In 2018, the 3D printing market comprises multiple different printer technologies. This report takes an in-depth look into established printer types compatible with polymer, metal and ceramic materials, including Vat photopolymerisation (SLA/ DLP/CLIP), powder bed fusion (SLS/DMLS/EBM); material

extrusion, material jetting, binder jetting, directed energy deposition and sheet lamination.

Key technological capabilities, applicable markets, SWOT analyses and key manufacturers are discussed for each established printer type. In addition, nascent printer technologies that will be commercialised in 2018 are introduced, and their technological capabilities evaluated.

Market analysis The report forecasts the overall 3D printing market to 2029, with in depth discussion of currently commercialised and emerging printer technologies. The current state of the printer market is analysed and long-range forecasts from 20192029 for installed base, units sold and revenue per annum segmented by printer technology, value chain position and end user industry are evaluated.

IDTechEx conducted exhaustive primary research with companies positioned throughout the entire 3D printing value chain for key insights into the trends impacting growth to 2028. Over 60 company profiles have been included in the report including Stratasys, 3D Systems, EOS, Concept Laser GmbH and Arcam AB, amongst others.

• For more information contact research@IDTechEx.com

90 JUN / JUL 2019

What will the future bring for bio-based Brazilian market for building blocks, polymer market? plastics machinery THE international biopolymer expert group of the nova-Institute have published a trend report, Bio-based Building Blocks and Polymers – Global Capacities, Production and Trends 2018-2023, addressing the latest market data from 2018 to 2023, future trends and recent developments.

Which bio-based building blocks, polymers and applications are the most promising? Who is ahead in the global race? The capacities and production of bio-based polymers will continue to grow with an expected CAGR of about 4% until 2023.

The most important market drivers in 2018 were brands that wanted to offer their customers environmentally-friendly solutions and critical consumers looking for alternatives to petrochemicals. If bio-based polymers were accepted as a solution towards sustainability and promoted in a similar way as biofuels, annual growth rates of 10 to 20% could be expected.

The same applies as soon as the price of oil rises significantly.

Nova-Institute’s biopolymer expert group: Wolfgang Baltus, Pia Skoczinski, Harald Käb, Jan Ravenstijn, Dors de Guzman, Raj Chinthapalli, Michael Carus (clockwise)

BRAZIL is Europe’s most important trading partner in Latin America. In 2018 the export of plastics and rubber machinery from the European Union to Brazil amounted to €169-million (R2,7-billion), which is reason enough to have a close look at the Euromap report on Brazilian Market for Plastics Machinery.

As a first market segment, the Brazilian packaging industry was analysed. Therefore, MaxiQuim interviewed 75 companies producing consumer and industrial packaging. The Brazilian plastics converting market is dominated by smaller companies with up to 100 employees and capacities below 5000 ton of processed material per year.

With an average age of 10 years of the machines, the situation in Brazil is similar to Europe. The economic recession in recent years has affected investments and the machine utilization rate was relatively low (average 75%). However, 40% of the companies plan investments in the next five years, more than €1-million. For injection moulding, higher investments are expected than for extrusion.

In total, future investments depend on an effective resumption of the machine utilization rate. Higher value-added products such as multi-layer flexible packaging are identified as a future trend. As consequence, the quality of the machine is seen as a most important purchasing factor, followed by the price.

www.bio-based.eu/reports

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CLASSIFIED

To place a classified advert please Fax: 086 519 6089 or Tel: 021 712 1408 or Email: heather@summitpub.co.za

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EXTRUSION TECHNOLOGY FROM AGRIPAK OF ITALY Mono & multi-layer extrusion lines for the production of: • ‘Cartonplast’ (twinwall/hollow profile sheet) • Multilayer sheet for packaging • Semi-foamed sheet for thermoforming

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Ultra-lightweight seat features carbon fibre structure made with 3D winding

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AN innovative ultra-lightweight seat weighing only 10kg was presented to the public at the ‘Step Change in Lightweight Construction’ symposium near Trier in Germany. The innovative joint project involves a total of seven highly specialised companies from Germany and Austria. The development reportedly not only required the latest technologies, but also faster working methods. The group calls the result a hardware prototype for the interior of the future. An innovative winding process for fibre composite components designed

by AMC is responsible for most of the weight savings. The patented xFK in 3D process uses a continuous fibre impregnated with resin, from which components are wound in a loadcompliant manner and produced wastefree. CSI Entwicklungstechnik used the process’ strengths in the design of the seat structure, which is well suited for hypercars, sports cars or future air taxis.

2019/06/06 10:31

Sport The Futurecraft.Loop project is aimed at tackling the problem of plastic waste, enabling a ‘closed loop’ or circular manufacturing model, where the raw materials can be repurposed again and again. But not just repurposed into a water bottle or a tote, but into another pair of high-performance running shoes

Adidas made a running shoe

that’s fully

recyclable

The Futurecraft Loop features all reusable materials and no glue ADIDAS is strengthening its commitment to tackling plastic waste with the reveal of Futurecraft. Loop – a 100% recyclable performance running shoe.

Together with Parley for the Oceans, in 2015 adidas introduced the first performance footwear concept with an upper made entirely of yarns and filaments reclaimed and recycled from marine plastic waste and illegal deep-sea gillnets. In 2019 adidas will produce 11 million pairs of shoes containing recycled ocean plastic through intercepting plastic waste on beaches, remote islands and in coastal communities. Adidas is committed to using only recycled polyester in every product and on every application where a solution exists by 2024. Creating products with premium materials by Parley, made from up-cycled marine plastic waste, is the first pillar of adidas’ sustainability strategy.

“Taking plastic waste out of the system is the first step, but we can’t stop there,” said Eric Liedtke, Executive Board Member at adidas, responsible

for Global Brands. “What happens to your shoes after you’ve worn them out? You throw them away – except there is no away. There are only landfills and incinerators and ultimately an atmosphere choked with excess carbon, or oceans filled with plastic waste. The next step is to end the concept of ‘waste’ entirely. Our dream is that you can keep wearing the same shoes over and over again.”

“Futurecraft.Loop is the first running shoe that is made to be remade. It is a statement of our intent to take responsibility for the entire life of our product; proof that we can build highperformance running shoes that you don’t have to throw away.”

The Futurecraft.Loop project is aimed at tackling the problem of plastic waste, enabling a ‘closed loop’ or circular manufacturing model, where the raw materials can be repurposed again and again. But not just repurposed into a water bottle or a tote, but into another pair of high-performance running shoes.

Sports footwear typically include

complex material mixes and component gluing – resulting in a shoe which can only be downcycled. After close to a decade of research and development alongside leading material development, manufacturing and recycling partners across Asia, Europe and North America, adidas has found a way to change the process.

Futurecraft.Loop is a transformative approach to designing performance shoes that are made to be remade from the outset, by using one material type and no glue. Each component is made from 100% reusable TPU – it’s spun to yarn, knitted, moulded and clean-fused to a BOOST midsole using adidas Speedfactory technology.

Once the shoes come to the end of their first life and are returned to adidas – they are washed, ground to pellets and melted into material for components for a new pair of shoes, with zero waste and nothing thrown away. Each generation is designed to meet the adidas sports performance standard, without compromise.

Renault Racing & DuPont in partnership RENAULT Sport Racing and DuPont have a multiyear strategic technical partnership to deliver new technology, beginning with hybrid and electric powertrain innovative solutions to help advance Formula 1 and other racing programmes. Areas of collaboration include developing structural adhesive solutions for thermal management of batteries, as well as materials for power, infrastructure and signal electronics.

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2019/04/11 12:47

The Home of Size Reduction

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